Basic Concepts (OCR A Level Chemistry)

Exam Questions

3 hours40 questions
1a4 marks

Propene and hexene are part of the alkene homologous series. 

i)
Define the term homologous series.
 
ii)
Give the general formula for the homologous series of alkenes.
 
iii)
State the formula of an alkene containing eight carbon atoms. 
 
1b2 marks

State two characteristics of a homologous series.

1c4 marks

Give the IUPAC names for the following aliphatic molecules in Table 1.

Table 1

Molecule  Name
CH3CH(Cl)CH3  
CH3CH2CH=CH2  
CH3CH2CH2OH  
CH3CH2CH(Br)CH2OH  

1d1 mark

Describe the structural difference between aliphatic and aromatic organic molecules.

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2a4 marks

Draw the skeletal formulae of the following molecules given in Table 1

Table 1

Compound  Skeletal Formula 

CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH2CH2CH3

 

CH3CH=CH2

 

CH3CH2CH2CN

 

CH3COCH2CH3

 

2b1 mark

State the IUPAC name for the following structure.

4-1_q2b-e-ocr-a-as--a-level-easy-sq
2c2 marks

The compound 2,2-dimethylpentan-3-ol can be represented using different types of formulae.

Its structural formula can be shown as C(CH3)3CH(OH)CH2CH3.

i)
Give the empirical formula of 2,2,dimethylpentan-3-ol.
[1 mark] 

ii)
Draw the displayed formula of 2,2,dimethylpentan-3-ol.
[1 mark] 

2d3 marks

The organic compounds in Table 2 below can be classified using the terms, aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic.

Table 2

v5Jh4IRz_7-2

Identify, using letters E, F, G, H, I, and J, the compound(s) which are the following types.

Each response may contain more than one letter and letters may be used more than once.

  • Aliphatic
  • Alicyclic
  • Aromatic

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3a3 marks

State the three different types of structural isomerism.

3b1 mark

State the type of isomerism that occurs between 2-methylpentane and 2,3-dimethylbutane.

3c1 mark

State the type of isomerism that occurs between butan-1-ol and butan-2-ol.

3d3 marks

Compounds A to F are shown in Table 1

Table 1

4-1_q3d-e-ocr-a-as--a-level-easy-sq
i)
State the IUPAC name for compound B.
[1 mark]
 
ii)
State the type of structural isomerism that occurs between compounds A and D.
[1 mark]
 
iii)
State the type of structural isomerism that occurs between compounds C and E.
[1 mark] 

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4a3 marks

Name the three possible isomers of C5H12. 

4b4 marks

Hexane, C6H14 exists as 5 chain isomers. The structural formula of hexane is CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

Write the structural formula of the other four chain isomers of hexane and state their IUPAC names.

4c4 marks

The molecule C7H7Cl contains a benzene ring. Draw four positional isomers of C7H7Cl.

4d1 mark

Draw the displayed formula of one functional group isomer of propanoic acid. 

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5a1 mark

Figure 1 shows the breaking of a covalent bond, where the more electronegative atom B has taken both electrons from the bond to form a negative ion. 

Figure 1

1-23

State the name of this type of bond fission.  

5b2 marks

When a molecule of chlorine, Cl2, is exposed to UV light two chlorine radicals are formed.

i)
Write an equation for this reaction.
[1 mark] 
ii)
State the type of bond fission involved.
[1 mark] 

Cl2 → 2Cl

5c3 marks

State the three main types of reaction mechanism. 

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1a3 marks

Oleic acid, shown below, is a fatty acid which occurs naturally in different animals and plants. It is also widely produced in industry, for its uses as an emulsifying agent and in the pharmaceutical industry.

oleic-acid-skeletal-formula

i)

State the type of formula shown in the diagram of oleic acid.

ii)

Deduce the molecular formula of oleic acid.

iii)
Draw the displayed formula of oleic acid.
1b1 mark

The structure of another fatty acid commonly found in milk is shown.

octadecanoic-acid-skeletal-formula

Name the fatty acid.

1c4 marks

Crotonic acid is another fatty acid which has a similar structure to oleic acid. The molecular formula of crotonic acid is C4H6O2.

i)

State the empirical formula of crotonic acid.

ii)

Crotonic acid has a carboxylic acid functional group. Draw the displayed formula of the position and chain isomers of crotonic acid.

iii)

Draw the cyclic functional group isomer of crotonic acid.

1d
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4 marks

Two students, Student A and Student B, discuss the properties of oleic acid and crotonic acid. 

Student A claims that both compounds belong to the same homologous series and Student B claims that both compounds have similar chemical properties.

Are either of the students correct? Explain your answer.

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2a3 marks

Crude oil consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons, which can be separated by fractional distillation.

The shorter hydrocarbons are more useful as fuels such as gasoline and diesel fuel, so longer hydrocarbons are often converted into shorter ones in a process called cracking.

Cracking of hydrocarbons results in the formation of shorter alkanes and alkenes.

A hydrocarbon with molecular formula C12H24 is cracked to form oct-1-ene and one other alkene.

i)

Write an equation for this cracking reaction.

ii)

Draw the skeletal formula of the functional group isomer of the second alkene formed in this reaction

iii)

Draw the displayed formula of the position isomer of the second alkene formed in this reaction.

2b3 marks

The reaction mechanism for the reaction of but-1-ene with hydrogen bromide forming compound X is shown below, with errors:

butene--hbr-electrophilic-addition-mechanism-with-errors

i)

What does the curly arrow going from the C=C bond to the H in H-Br represent?

ii)

State and explain corrections for the errors in the mechanism.

2c1 mark

Give the IUPAC name of compound X.

2d2 marks

Compound X can also be formed from the reaction of butane with bromine using ultraviolet light.

CH3CH2CH2CH3 + Br2 → CH3CH2CHBrCH3 + HBr

The mechanism for this reaction occurs in three steps:

  1. Initiation
  2. Propagation
  3. Termination

State what type of reaction this is and the type of bond fission involved.

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3a4 marks

A chemist is analysing a collection of organic compounds. The formulae of these compounds are shown in the table below:

Compound Formula IUPAC name
1 CH3CHCClCH2OH  
2 3-bromo-2-methylpropan-1-ol-skeletal-formula  
3 2-chloropropanal-mixed-formula  
4 3-methyl-but-2-enoic-acid-displayed-formula  

 Give the IUPAC name for the compounds to complete the table.

3b1 mark

Draw the skeletal formula for a straight chain isomer of compound 2.

3-bromo-2-methylpropan-1-ol-skeletal-formula

3c1 mark

State the empirical formula of compound 1, CH3CHCClCH2OH.

3d2 marks

Compounds 1 and 4 can react in a similar fashion with some chemicals, while other chemicals can be used to distinguish between them.

Compound 1

2-chloro-but-2-en-1-ol-displayed-formula

Compound 4

3-methyl-but-2-enoic-acid-displayed-formula

i)

Describe one chemical test, including expected observations, that both compounds 1 and 4 will give a positive test for.

ii)

Describe one chemical test, including expected observations, that can distinguish between compounds 1 and 4.

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4a2 marks

Pentane belongs to the homologous series of alkanes.

i)

Define the term homologous series. 

ii)

State the general formula for the homologous series of alkanes.

4b4 marks

The compound 2,2-dimethylpropane can be represented using different types of formula.

Its structural formula can be shown as (CH3)4C.

i)

Give the empirical formula of 2,2-dimethylpropane.

ii)

Draw the skeletal formula of 2,2-dimethylpropane.

iii)

Draw the displayed formulae of the two isomers of 2,2-dimethylpropane.

4c2 marks

Pent-1-ene (C5H10) is a member of the homologous series of alkenes. 

i)

State the general formula for the homologous series that pent-1-ene belongs to.

ii)

Draw the skeletal formula of pent-1-ene.

4d3 marks

Pent-1-ene (C5H10) has structural isomers but no stereoisomers.

i)

Define the term structural isomerism. 

ii)

Give the IUPAC names of any possible functional group isomers of pent-1-ene.

iii)

Draw the skeletal formula of the position isomer(s) of pent-1-ene.

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5a3 marks

This question is about the structure of organic compounds.

The structure of an alcohol X is shown below.

butan-2-ol-displayed

i)

Give the IUPAC name for alcohol X.

ii)

What is the general formula of the homologous series of alcohols, which contain only one -OH group per molecule?

iii)

State the empirical formula of alcohol X.

5b2 marks

2,3-dimethylpentan-1-ol is distilled with acidified potassium dichromate(VI) solution. During this distillation, 2,3-dimethylpentan-1-ol is oxidised to an aldehyde. 

i)

Name the aldehyde formed by the oxidation of 2,3-dimethylpentan-1-ol.

ii)

Draw the displayed formula of this aldehyde.

5c2 marks

1-Bromopropane reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide according to the following reaction mechanism.

bromopropane-nuc-sub-outline-by-oh-

i)

State the type of reaction that is occurring.

ii)

Draw the skeletal formula of compound X.

5d
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1 mark

1-Bromobutane can also react via a free-radical substitution mechanism as shown. 

free-radical-initiation-of-1-bromopropane

Explain how the butyl and bromine radicals are formed.

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1a3 marks

This question is about organic compounds

Terpenes are a class of organic compounds widely used as fragrances in products such as perfumes. For example, one of the simpler terpenes, nerol is found in many essential oils such as lemongrass and hops. The structure of nerol is shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1

4-1_q1a-h-ocr-a-as--a-level-hard-sq

 

i)
Deduce the molecular formula of nerol. Use your answer to calculate the molar mass of nerol in g mol−1. 
ii)
Draw the displayed formula of nerol.
1b5 marks

Figure 2 shows the skeletal formula of a type of fuel.  

i)
Give the IUPAC name of the compound shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

4-1_q1b-ocr-a-as--a-level-hard-sq

ii)
State the number of monochloro isomers which would be possible for the molecule in Figure 2.
 
iii)
Draw the skeletal formulae of these monochloro isomers. Don’t include chain isomers but only move the position of the chlorine atom.
1c
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7 marks

A compound with a molar mass of 72.0 g mol-1 is composed of 66.63% C, 11.18% H, and 22.19% O. 

i)
Calculate the molecular formula of this compound.

ii)
Draw and name the skeletal formula of the isomers of this compound which contain a carbon-oxygen double bond.

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2a2 marks

This question is about Ethers.

Ethers are a homologous series of organic compounds containing the R−O−R functional group.

The structures and names of two ethers are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

4-1_q2a-ocr-a-as--a-level-hard-sq

i)
Draw the skeletal formula of the ether, 2-ethoxy-2,3-dimethylbutane.

ii)
Determine the molar mass of 2-ethoxy-2,3-dimethylbutane.
2b1 mark

Ethers can be prepared by nucleophilic substitution of haloalkanes with alkoxide ions, RO

Alkoxide ions can be prepared by reacting sodium with an alcohol. A gas is also formed.

Write an equation for the formation of methoxide ions from sodium and an alcohol.

2c3 marks

Methoxyethane, shown in part (a), can be prepared by reacting bromoethane, CH3CH2Br, with methoxide ions, CH3O.

Outline the mechanism for the nucleophilic substitution of CH3CH2Br with CH3O using skeletal formulae.

Your answer should include relevant charges, dipoles and the products formed.

2d2 marks

In this mechanism, CH3O ions have acted as a nucleophile.

i)
Explain how CH3O ions have acted as a nucleophile.
[1]
ii)
A student commented that this is an example of homolytic fission.

Using your knowledge of organic mechanisms, justify this statement.

[1]

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3a
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2 marks

This question is about saturated hydrocarbons.

Compound A is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

4-1_q3a-ocr-a-as--a-level-hard-sq

The reaction of compound A with excess fluorine forms compound D, which has a molar mass of 140 g mol−1.

Draw a possible structure for compound D and write the equation for its formation from compound A. Use molecular formulae in the equation.

3b7 marks

The hydrocarbon propane can be reacted with chlorine to prepare 2-chloropropane, CH3CHClCH3, by free radical substitution.

i)
Write the overall equation and state the conditions for this reaction.

ii)
Outline the mechanism by naming and providing relevant equations for each step in the formation of 2-chloropropane.

iii)
Describe the limitations of this method of preparation.
3c1 mark

Oxybenzone is a UV light-absorbing chemical which is found in certain sun creams. The structure of oxybenzone is shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2
4-1_q3c-ocr-a-as--a-level-hard-sq


Oxybenzone contains an ether functional group, C-O-C. Identify the other functional groups present in oxybenzone.

3d2 marks

One of the starting molecules used in the synthesis of oxybenzone is shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3
4-1_q3d-ocr-a-as--a-level-hard-sq

Draw the skeletal formula of two other structural isomers of this molecule.

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4a3 marks

This question is about molecules containing hydroxyl groups.

A student named the alcohol molecule shown in Figure 1 as E-1,3-dichlorohex-2-ene-6-ol.

Figure 1

4-1-molecule-2

State the errors the student has made in naming the molecule and give the correct IUPAC name.

4b3 marks

Aspirin is an ester of salicylic acid, HOC6H4CO2. Aspirin is formed when an ester bond is created between the salicylic acids OH group and ethanoic anhydride, (CH3CO)2O, in the presence of an acid catalyst, as shown in Figure 2. Ethanoic acid is also formed as a product.

Figure 2

aspirin-formation-reaction

i)
Draw the skeletal formulae for both products of this reaction.
ii)
Determine the molar mass of aspirin.
4c3 marks

The organic compounds in Figure 3 below can be termed aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic.

Figure 3

cyclic-moleculesEach response may contain more than one letter for the questions below.

i)
Identify, using letters E, F, G, H, I, and J, the compound(s) which are aliphatic.

ii)
Identify, using letters E, F, G, H, I, and J, the compound(s) which are alicyclic.

iii)
Identify, using letters E, F, G, H, I, and J, the compound(s) which are aromatic.
4d4 marks
i)
Using Figure 3 in part (c), state which compounds E, F, G, H, I, and J can be categorised as aliphatic but not alicyclic.
Justify your answer.
ii)
Describe a simple test that the student could carry out to confirm the presence of the functional group in compound H.
Draw the structure of the organic product from the test.

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5a2 marks

This question is about organic compounds found in living organisms.

Two structural isomers of C10H18O are linalool and geraniol. They are unsaturated alcohols with similar chemical properties and are both used in perfumes. 

The IUPAC names for both linalool and geraniol are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Isomer

IUPAC name

Linalool

3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol

Geraniol

3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-ol

Draw the skeletal formulae for these two isomeric alcohols.

5b3 marks

The organic compounds below in Figure 2 are all made by living organisms.

Figure 2

molecule-skeletal-formulae

i)
State the IUPAC name for compound A.

ii)
Compound D reacts readily with hydrogen chloride in an addition reaction.

Two products are formed in this reaction, but one of the products is formed in much greater amounts than the other.

Draw the structures of both possible addition products of this reaction.
5c
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3 marks

5.175 g of compound D (from part C) is reacted with an excess of hydrogen chloride. The mixture of products contains 90% by mass of one product and 10% by mass of the other product.

Calculate the mass of each product formed.

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