Alkanes: past paper questions

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• Question 33May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Propane is an alkane that can react with chlorine. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which equation represents the reaction of ethane with chlorine in the presence of ultraviolet light?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Alkenes can be produced by the cracking of alkanes, such as decane, ${\text{C}}_{10}{\text{H}}_{22}$. Which equation shows the cracking of decane to produce two different alkenes and at least one other product?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The complete combustion of $20{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^3$ of a gaseous alkane, X, requires $130{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^3$ of oxygen.

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• Question 32May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  X and Y are hydrocarbons obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum. Their molecular formulae are shown. X: ${\text{C}}_{18}{\text{H}}_{38}$ Y: ${\text{C}}_8{\text{H}}_{18}$ Three statements are listed.

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about alkanes is correct?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about hydrocarbons is correct?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An incomplete equation for the reaction of propane with chlorine is shown. $${\mathrm{C}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_8+\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_2\to {\mathrm{C}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_7\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}+\mathrm{X}$$

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 22Structured5 marks

  Choose from the following compounds to answer the questions.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured7 marks

  Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons most of which are alkanes. Table 8.1 shows some of the unbranched alkanes present in petroleum and the number of carbon atoms in one molecule of the alkane.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  This question is about alkanes and alkenes. But-1-ene belongs to the alkene homologous series. Members of the same homologous series differ from one member to the next by a –CH${}_2$– group and have similar chemical properties.

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 42Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 1.1 shows the apparatus a student uses to separate a mixture of three different alkanes. State the name of apparatus A.

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• Question 35May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Three statements about alkanes are listed. 1 They contain carbon and hydrogen only. 2 They contain only single covalent bonds.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured13 marksHas a diagram

  This question is about alkanes and alkenes. Butane belongs to the alkane homologous series. Members of the same homologous series have the same functional group and the same general formula.

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• Question 36May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which equation shows the reaction of ethane with chlorine in the presence of ultraviolet light?

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• Question 36May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The flowchart shows some reactions of hydrocarbons.

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• Question 20May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The flow chart shows some of the processes and reactions in the formation of ammonia. What are the names of process X, substance 1 and substance 2?

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• Question 35May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about ethane is correct?

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• Question 33May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Alkanes undergo a substitution reaction with chlorine. Which row shows two correct statements about the reaction between alkanes and chlorine?

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Alkanes are saturated compounds containing carbon and hydrogen only. Structures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are saturated hydrocarbons. Which pair of structures are isomers?

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• Question 3May/June 2025, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The equation for the reaction between methane and chlorine is shown in Fig. 3.1. Fig. 3.1 State one condition for this reaction.

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• Question 35May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Compound Q is a hydrocarbon that has no structural isomers. Compound Q does not decolourise bromine in the dark. Which compound is Q?

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• Question 36May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which equations represent the reactions of alkanes?

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• Question 35May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which equation represents a substitution reaction?

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• Question 2May/June 2024, paper 22Structured12 marksHas a diagram

  Aluminium carbide, ${\mathrm{A}\mathrm{l}}_4{\mathrm{C}}_3$, reacts with water to form methane, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_4$, and aluminium hydroxide. Construct the symbol equation for this reaction.

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