Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Infrared Spectroscopy (CIE AS Chemistry)

Exam Questions

1 hour16 questions
11 mark

Which of the following statements about propanal, CH3CH2CHO, and propanone, CH3COCH3 is not correct?

The compounds have:

  • Molecular ion peaks at different mass to charge ratios.

  • Different fragmentation patterns in the mass spectrum.

  • Absorption in the infrared spectrum due to the carbonyl group.

  • A different fingerprint region in the infrared spectrum.

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21 mark

Which of the following cannot be obtained from an infrared spectrum?

  • The molecular mass

  • The presence of C=O bonds

  • The presence of O-H bonds

  • The identity of a compound through comparison with other spectra

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31 mark

The infrared spectrum of a compound is shown below.

q1-3-6-easy-mcq-organic-analysis

Use the infrared absorptions, in wavenumbers, to identify which organic functional group could have produced the infrared spectrum.

Bond

Wavenumber range / cm-1

C=O (aldehyde or ketone)

C=O (carboxylic acids)

1670 - 1740

1680 - 1730

C−H (aldehyde)

2700 - 2775 and 2820 – 2900

C−H (alkane)

2850 - 2950

O−H (carboxylic acids)

O−H (alcohol)

2500 - 3000

3200 – 3600

  • An aldehyde

  • An alcohol

  • A carboxylic acid

  • A ketone

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11 mark

The infrared spectrum of a compound is shown below.

4-1-m-7

Use the infrared absorptions, in wavenumbers, to identify the compound.

Bond

Wavenumber range / cm-1

O−H (alcohol)

3200 - 3600

C−H (alkane)

2850 - 2950

C−H (aldehyde)

2700 - 2775 and 2820 - 2900

C=O (aldehyde or ketone)

1670 - 1740

Which compound is shown by the infrared spectrum?

  • Propan-1-ol

  • Propan-2-ol

  • Propanal

  • Propanone

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21 mark

The infrared spectrum of a compound is shown below.

q5-3-6-medium-mcq-organic-analysis

Use the infrared absorptions, in wavenumbers, to identify the compound.

Bond

Wavenumber range / cm-1

O−H (alcohol)

3200 - 3600

C−H (alkane)

2850 - 2950

C−H (aldehyde)

2700 - 2775 and 2820 - 2900

C=O (aldehyde or ketone)

1670 - 1740

C=C

1500 - 1600

Which compound is shown by the infrared spectrum?

  • Butanoic acid

  • Butanal

  • But-1-ene

  • Butan-1-ol

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31 mark

The infrared spectrum of a compound is shown below.

q7-3-6-medium-mcq-organic-analysis

Use the infrared absorptions, in wavenumbers, to identify which type of compound does not contain the functional group shown by the infrared spectrum.

Bond

Wavenumber range / cm-1

O−H (alcohol)

3200 - 3600

C−H (alkane)

2850 - 2950

C−H (aldehyde)

2700 - 2775 and 2820 - 2900

C=O (aldehyde or ketone)

1670 - 1740

C=C

1500 - 1600

  • carboxylic acid

  • alcohol

  • ketone

  • aldehyde

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11 mark

The infrared spectrum below shows an unknown compound.

4-1-h-4

 

Bond

Wavenumber range / cm-1

C−O; hydroxyl, ester

1040 – 1300

C═C; aromatic compound, alkene

1500 - 1680

C═O amide

carbonyl, carboxyl

ester

1640 – 1690

1670 – 1740 

1710 - 1750

C≡N; nitrile

2200 – 2250

C−H; alkane

2850 – 2950

N−H; amine, amide

3300 – 3500

O−H; carboxyl

hydroxyl

2500 – 3000

3200 - 3600

Which compound could have produced the infrared spectrum?

  • 4-1-h-4a

  • 4-1-h-4b

  • 4-1-h-4c

  • 4-1-h-4d

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21 mark

The diagram shows an infrared spectrum of a compound.

4-1-h-5

Bond

Wavenumber range / cm-1

C−O; hydroxyl, ester

1040 – 1300

C═C; aromatic compound, alkene

1500 - 1680

C═O amide

carbonyl, carboxyl

ester

1640 – 1690

1670 – 1740 

1710 - 1750

C≡N; nitrile

2200 – 2250

C−H; alkane

2850 – 2950

N−H; amine, amide

3300 – 3500

O−H; carboxyl

hydroxyl

2500 – 3000

3200 - 3600

Which compound would give this spectrum?

  • Butanoic acid

  • Butanal

  • Butan-1-ol

  • 1-bromobutane

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31 mark

Which of the following infrared spectra could show a carboxylic acid?

Bond

Wavenumber range / cm-1

C−O; hydroxyl, ester

1040 – 1300

C═C; aromatic compound, alkene

1500 - 1680

C═O amide

carbonyl, carboxyl

ester

1640 – 1690

1670 – 1740 

1710 - 1750

C≡N; nitrile

2200 – 2250

C−H; alkane

2850 – 2950

N−H; amine, amide

3300 – 3500

O−H; carboxyl

hydroxyl

2500 – 3000

3200 - 3600

  • 4-1-h-6a

  • 4-1-h-6b

  • 4-1-h-6c

  • 4-1-h-6d

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