Benzene & Aromatic Compounds (OCR A Level Chemistry)

Exam Questions

3 hours30 questions
1a3 marks

Benzene can exist as C6H6 or be substituted in a number of different ways to form aromatic compounds.

State the IUPAC name for compounds W, X and Y


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1b1 mark

State the IUPAC name for compound Z.

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1c1 mark

State the bond angle that is present in the benzene molecule.

1d2 marks

Cyclohexene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon and can undergo hydrogenation as shown in Figure 1

Figure 1
Hydrogenation of Cyclohexene


When benzene undergoes the same reaction with three hydrogen molecules, the actual
 enthalpy change of the reaction is lower than expected. 

i)
State the expected value of the hydrogenation of benzene.
[1] 
ii)
Explain why the enthalpy value for the hydrogenation of benzene is lower than expected.
[1] 

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2a1 mark

This question is about the bromination of benzene.

State the name of the mechanism that benzene will undergo if reacted with bromine in the presence of a halogen carrier to form bromobenzene, C6H5Br.   

2b2 marks

Write an equation to show how the halogen carrier generates the Br+ ion in order to allow the reaction in part a) to occur. 

2c3 marks

Using 'curly arrows' complete the mechanism for the formation of bromobenzene. Include relevant charges where appropriate. 

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2d2 marks

Explain why methylbenzene is more reactive than benzene.

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3a5 marks

This question is about the reactions of the aromatic alcohol, phenol.

Phenol behaves as a weak acid.

i)
Write the equation for phenol reacting with sodium hydroxide.
[2]
ii)
Write the equation for phenol reacting with sodium metal. 
[3]

 

3b1 mark

Phenols also undergo electrophilic substitution reactions when reacted with bromine water at room temperature. During this reaction the bromine water is decolourised. Give one other observation. 

3c2 marks

Draw the structures of the two possible products from the reaction of phenol with dilute nitric acid.

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4a2 marks

This question is about the nitration of benzene.

1,3 dimethylbenzene can react with concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid to form compound A shown in Figure 1.

Write the equation for the generation of the electrophile in this reaction. 

Figure 1
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4b1 mark

Draw the structure of compound A

4c4 marks

Using 'curly arrows' describe the mechanism for the formation of compound A

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5a2 marks

Phenylethanone can be used as a fragrance in soaps, a flavouring agent in food and also as a solvent.

The production of phenylethanone, shown in Figure 1, is produced from the reaction between an acid chloride and benzene in the presence of aluminium chloride. 

Figure 1

4-1

Write an equation for the generation of the electrophile required for this reaction.

5b4 marks

Using 'curly arrows' describe the mechanism for the production of phenylethanone from benzene.

5c2 marks

Write an equation to show how the catalyst for this reaction is regenerated.

5d2 marks

Explain why the species generated in the reaction in your answer to part (a) is classed as an electrophile.

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1a4 marks

Describe the structure of cyclohexene. Explain why the molecule is not planar. Your answer should include any necessary bond angles.

1b3 marks

The following information is known about the hydrogenation of cyclohexene:

cyclohexene + hydrogen → cyclohexane ΔHΘ = -120 kJ mol-1

Use this data to predict a value for the hydrogenation of the theoretical compound, cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene.

State and explain the stability of benzene compared to the theoretical cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene compound.

1c5 marks

Benzene and three of its chemical derivatives, chlorobenzene, methylbenzene and phenol, are aromatic compounds which have a variety of industrial applications. 

Benzene is mainly used in the manufacture of other more complex chemicals, such as ethylbenzene and cumene. Billions of kilograms of ethylbenzene and cumene are produced annually.

Like benzene, chlorobenzene is used to make several other chemicals. It is also used to degrease car parts and in some pesticide formulations. 

In industry, methylbenzene is known by its common name, toluene. It is used as a solvent in paint thinner, permanent markers, contact cement and glue.

Phenol is a benzene ring with an -OH group attached in place of one of the hydrogen atoms, and its chemical derivatives are used in the manufacture of various plastics, nylon, detergents, herbicides and various pharmaceutical drugs.

Compare the relative reactivities of benzene, chlorobenzene, methylbenzene and phenol in terms of electrophilic substitution reactions.

1d5 marks

Explain why a molecule of benzene, C6H6 won’t tend to react with bromine whereas hexene, C6H12, will react to form dibromohexane, C6H12Br2

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2a5 marks

Benzene can undergo electrophilic substitution with ethanoyl chloride in the presence of a suitable catalyst.

Name the catalyst and write an equation to show the formation of the electrophile.

Outline the mechanism for this reaction

2b2 marks

The organic product from part (a) can be reduced to form an alcohol.

Name a suitable reducing agent and write a chemical equation to show this reduction, using [H] to represent the reducing agent.

2c2 marks

Outline the mechanism for the reaction of the ethanoyl chloride with the catalyst to form the acylium ion needed for electrophilic substitution.

2d2 marks

Aluminium chloride is used as the catalyst in the reaction between benzene and ethanoyl chloride. Explain how the catalyst reforms.

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3a2 marks

State the reagents and the name of the mechanism used to convert benzene into nitrobenzene.

3b1 mark

Using your answer to (a), formulate the equation for the formation of the nitronium ion.

3c4 marks

Using curly arrows to indicate the movement of electron pairs, explain the mechanism for the nitration of benzene.

3d2 marks

Nitrobenzene can be converted into aniline in a two-step process. State the reagents for this conversion.

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4a4 marks

Paracetamol is a common painkiller that is often manufactured in a multi-step process using 4-aminophenol. Phenol is a common organic chemical, comprised of a benzene ring with one hydroxyl group attached.  

Suggest a two-step synthetic route to form 4-aminophenol from phenol. 

Step 1 of your route should include reagents, conditions and the identity of the product.

Step 2 of your synthetic route should include the reagents to form 4-aminophenol from your Step 1 product.

4b5 marks

The uncontrolled nitration of phenol can lead to the formation of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, commonly known as picric acid.

This reaction would require formation of a dinitrophenol intermediate. Draw the possible isomers of this intermediate and name the type of isomerism displayed.

4c2 marks

A student reacted phenol with bromine at room temperature forming a white precipitate. Draw the structure for the organic product that forms the white precipitate.

4d3 marks

When phenol reacts with sodium hydroxide it acts as a weak acid. Explain why phenol can act as a weak acid.

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5a2 marks

A student investigated two reactions of phenylethene, C6H5CHCH2. First she reacted phenylethene with excess bromine at room temperature to form Compound A. She then added aluminium bromide, AlBrto the reaction mixture to form Compound B

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Draw the structures of Compound A and B. 

5b4 marks

Name and outline the mechanism for the formation of Compound B from Compound A.

5c3 marks

2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) can be manufactured from benzene as shown below.

Chem OCR A2 6.1 Q5c

Step 1 involves the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene to produce methylbenzene, commonly known as toluene.

Calculate the percentage atom economy for Step 1.

5d3 marks

Step 2 involves the formation of a nitronium ion for the nitration of Toluene,
as shown in the following equation:

HNO3 + 2H2SO4 → NO2+ + 2HSO4- + H3O+

i)

Explain the role of the nitric acid in the formation of the electrophile.

ii)

Explain the role of the sulphuric acid in the overall nitration reaction.

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1a7 marks

This question is about the reactions of phenol, cyclohexene and benzene. 

Explain the difference in bromination of phenol and benzene. In your answer, include structures of any organic products formed in the reaction. 

1b3 marks

Explain why cyclohexene does not require aluminium bromide when it undergoes bromination. 

1c5 marks

A mixture of 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol can be formed via the pathway shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

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i)
State the reagents required for reaction 1.
[1]

ii)
Calculate the mass of phenol required to form 30 g of 2-nitrophenol assuming 35% yield.

[4]

1d3 marks

Phenol reacts with sodium to form a salt and hydrogen gas in an acid base reaction.

Explain why phenol behaves as a weak acid.

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2a3 marks

The nitration of benzene is the first important step in the manufacture of dyes and explosives. 

Outline the generation of the electrophile for the nitration of benzene by writing and indicating in your equation which reactant is acting as a Brønsted Lowry base. Explain your answer and identify the conjugate acid and base pairs in the reaction. 

2b5 marks

Compound B is produced in two steps.

Figure 1 
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i)
Outline the reagents and conditions required for the production of Compound A drawn in Figure 1
[2]

ii)
Using curly arrows, describe the mechanism for step 1.
[3]
2c2 marks

Draw the Lewis structure for the structure of the catalyst once the electrophile has been generated in part b).

2d4 marks

Explain why benzene can only undergo substitution reactions. 

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3a3 marks

The energy change for hydrogenation of cyclohexene is -120 kJ mol-1. However, when benzene undergoes hydrogenation, the energy change is 152 kJ mol-1 less than expected. 

Use this data to explain the relative stabilities of benzene and the theoretical cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene molecule. 

3b3 marks

When cyclohexa-1,3-diene undergoes hydrogenation it will have a different value than expected. 

Using the data given in part a) explain why cyclohexa-1,3-diene has a different value than expected and suggest a value for the energy change for this reaction.

3c2 marks

Explain why the energy change for the hydrogenation of cyclohexa-1,4-diene will be different from the value for the hydrogenation of cyclohexa-1,3-diene.

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4a2 marks

Figure 1 shows the formation of a ketone followed by an alcohol. 

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Using curly arrows, describe a mechanism to show the formation of the catalyst responsible for step 1.

4b5 marks

Using curly arrows, describe the mechanism for the formation of the ketone, including the regeneration of the catalyst required.

4c2 marks

State the reagents required for step 2.

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5a5 marks

Nitration of a benzene ring forms nitrobenzene. 

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The structures of the products have the same molecular formula. Explain why these products are different. In your answer include the structures of compound X and Y and reagents for reactions A and B. 

5b3 marks

Using curly arrows, describe the mechanism for reaction A

5c2 marks

A student suggests that both 4-bromophenylamine and compound Y will have the following peaks in the 13C NMR spectrum

  • Between 20 and 50 ppm for the C-N bond
  • Between 30 and 70 ppm for the C-Br bond

Evaluate the student’s suggestion

5d2 marks

State the IUPAC name of Compound Z and draw the structure.

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