Formulae, functional groups and terminology: past paper questions

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• Question 31May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The structural formulae of three compounds are listed. 1 ${\text{CH}}_3\text{COOH}$ 2 ${\text{HCOOCH}}_3$ 3 ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}$ Which compounds are carboxylic acids?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  How many structural isomers are there with the molecular formula ${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_9\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}$?

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• Question 19Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An organic compound, X, has a molecular formula ${\text{C}}_4{\text{H}}_8{\text{O}}_2$ and turns damp blue litmus paper red. What is the displayed formula of X?

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row is correct?

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• Question 31May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The structures of three compounds are shown. Which compounds are structural isomers of each other?

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which compound is not an alkane, alkene, alcohol or carboxylic acid?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which compounds are in the same homologous series?

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marks

  This question is about carboxylic acids. Vinegar is an aqueous solution containing ethanoic acid. During the production of vinegar, ethanoic acid is formed from ethanol.

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Compound X is an alcohol containing only three carbon atoms. Compound Y is an alcohol containing only four carbon atoms. Both compounds have the general formula ${\text{C}}_n{\text{H}}_{2n+1}\text{OH}$.

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  How many different unbranched esters have the molecular formula ${\text{C}}_4{\text{H}}_8{\text{O}}_2$?

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams show four structures of ${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_8$.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured6 marks

  Choose from the following compounds to answer the questions.

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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 33Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about organic compounds is correct?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  This question is about an unsaturated hydrocarbon called ethyne. Fig. 6.1 shows the displayed formula of ethyne. $$\mathrm{H}-\mathrm{C}\equiv \mathrm{C}-\mathrm{H}$$ Fig. 6.1 Draw a dot-and-cross diagram to show the electronic arrangement in a molecule of ethyne.

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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 32May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement is correct?

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured7 marks

  The equation for the reaction of carbon monoxide with hydrogen at a high temperature in a closed container is shown. $$\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g})+2{\mathrm{H}}_2(\mathrm{g})\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}(\mathrm{g})$$ methanol The forward reaction is exothermic.

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

  An organic compound has an $M_r$ of 88. What is the molecular formula of this compound?

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• Question 2May/June 2024, paper 21Structured13 marksHas a diagram

  Calcium carbide, $\mathrm{C}\mathrm{a}{\mathrm{C}}_2$, reacts with water to form a flammable gas ethyne, ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_2$, and calcium hydroxide. Construct the symbol equation for this reaction.

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• Question 33May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The structures of three compounds, W, X and Y, are shown. Which statements about these three compounds are correct?

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• Question 32May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which compound is an alcohol?

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• Question 8May/June 2024, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 8.1 is a flow diagram showing information about some organic chemical reactions. Draw the displayed formula of compound A.

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• Question 34May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What is the displayed formula of propyl methanoate?

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• Question 32May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Compound P is an alcohol with the molecular formula ${\text{C}}_4{\text{H}}_{10}\text{O}$. How many structural isomers are there of compound P?

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• Question 34May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the structural formula of propyl methanoate?

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 21Structured12 marks

  Ethanol, ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$, is a member of the homologous series of alcohols. Give the general formula of the homologous series of alcohols.

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• Question 7May/June 2023, paper 21Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Methanol, propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol are alcohols. The displayed formulae of methanol and propan-1-ol are shown in Fig. 7.1. State the general formula of the homologous series of alcohols.

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• Question 8May/June 2025, paper 21Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 8.1 shows the displayed formula of methylbut-2-enoate. Fig. 8.1 Methylbut-2-enoate is an unsaturated ester. Explain why methylbut-2-enoate is unsaturated.

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 22Structured13 marks

  Ethanoic acid, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$, is a member of the homologous series of carboxylic acids. Give the general formula of the homologous series of carboxylic acids.

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