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A Level H2 Chemistry Organic Chemistry Quiz
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A-Level Chemistry H2 Quiz - Organic Chemistry - ANSWER KEY
Total Marks: 50
Section A: Multiple Choice (5 marks)
1. C. But-2-ene [1 mark]
But-2-ene has different groups on each carbon of the C=C bond (CH₃ and H on each carbon), allowing cis/trans isomerism. 2-methylpropene and but-1-ene have two identical groups on one carbon of the double bond; 2-methylbut-2-ene has two CH₃ groups on one carbon.
2. B. Ethanoic acid [1 mark]
Primary alcohols are oxidised to aldehydes then carboxylic acids. Under reflux with excess oxidising agent, ethanol is fully oxidised to ethanoic acid.
3. A. LiAlH₄ in dry ether [1 mark]
Nitriles are reduced to primary amines using lithium aluminium hydride (a strong reducing agent). NaBH₄ is not strong enough; H₂/Ni reduces nitriles but requires different conditions; Sn/HCl is used for nitro compounds.
4. B. NO₂⁺ [1 mark]
The nitronium ion (NO₂⁺) is the electrophile generated from HNO₃ and H₂SO₄ in the nitration of benzene.
5. A. The rate of hydrolysis increases from chloroalkane to iodoalkane. [1 mark]
The C-X bond strength decreases down Group 17 (C-I is weakest), making iodoalkanes hydrolyse fastest. The mechanism is nucleophilic substitution, tertiary halogenoalkanes react faster via S_N1, and aqueous NaOH is required.
Section B: Structured Questions (45 marks)
6. (a) Carboxylic acid / carboxyl group (-COOH) [1 mark]
Reaction with Na₂CO₃ producing CO₂ confirms the presence of a carboxylic acid group.
(b) Displayed formula of butanoic acid: CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH (or structural formula showing all bonds) [1 mark]
(c) Compound B is ethyl butanoate. [1 mark]
Equation: CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH + C₂H₅OH ⇌ CH₃CH₂CH₂COOC₂H₅ + H₂O [1 mark]
Accept reversible arrow with H₂SO₄ catalyst indicated.
(d) Product: CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH (butan-1-ol) [1 mark for structure, 1 mark for name]
LiAlH₄ reduces carboxylic acids to primary alcohols.
7. (a) Excess concentrated ammonia in ethanol, heated under pressure / in a sealed tube. [2 marks]
Accept: NH₃(conc) in ethanol, heat.
(b) Mechanism (S_N2):
- Curly arrow from lone pair on N of NH₃ to the carbon attached to Br [1 mark]
- Curly arrow from C-Br bond to Br (showing Br leaving) [1 mark]
- Transition state shown with partial bonds, Br with δ−, N with δ+ [1 mark]
- Product: CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₃⁺ Br⁻ (then deprotonation by NH₃ to give amine)
(c) Compound C is a primary halogenoalkane. [1 mark]
The carbon attached to Br is relatively unhindered, allowing backside attack by the nucleophile. The primary carbocation that would form in an S_N1 mechanism is too unstable. [1 mark]
8. (a) Benzene has a delocalised π-electron system which is highly stable (aromatic stabilisation). [1 mark]
Electrophilic addition would disrupt this delocalisation and destroy the aromatic stability, requiring a large activation energy. Substitution preserves the aromatic ring. [1 mark]
(b) Equation: C₆H₆ + CH₃COCl → C₆H₅COCH₃ + HCl [1 mark]
Product: phenylethanone (acetophenone) [1 mark]
(c) Mechanism:
- Formation of electrophile: CH₃COCl + AlCl₃ → CH₃CO⁺ + AlCl₄⁻ [1 mark]
- Curly arrow from benzene ring to CH₃CO⁺ [1 mark]
- Formation of arenium ion (positive charge delocalised in ring) [1 mark]
- Curly arrow from C-H bond to ring, restoring aromaticity; AlCl₄⁻ removes H⁺ [1 mark]
- Products: C₆H₅COCH₃ + HCl + AlCl₃ (regenerated)
9. (a) Compound E is a ketone (positive 2,4-DNP test; negative Tollens' test). [1 mark]
Structure: CH₃COCH₃ (propanone) [1 mark]
(b) Reduction product: CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ (propan-2-ol) [1 mark for structure, 1 mark for name]
(c) Test: Add Tollens' reagent (ammoniacal silver nitrate) and warm. [1 mark]
Observation: Propanal gives a silver mirror; propanone gives no reaction. [1 mark]
Accept: Fehling's solution (propanal gives red ppt; propanone no reaction).
10. (a) Zwitterion of glycine: ⁺H₃NCH₂COO⁻ [1 mark]
(b) Amino acids exist as zwitterions in the solid state. [1 mark]
Strong ionic/electrostatic attractions between the ⁺NH₃ and COO⁻ groups of neighbouring molecules require significant energy to overcome, resulting in high melting points. [1 mark]
(c) Dipeptide structure: H₂NCH₂CONHCH₂COOH [1 mark for structure]
Peptide linkage: -CONH- (amide group) [1 mark]
11. (a) Order of increasing boiling point: G < H < F [1 mark]
- G (CH₃COOCH₃): ester, only permanent dipole-dipole and van der Waals' forces [1 mark]
- H (CH₃CH₂CHO): aldehyde, permanent dipole-dipole and van der Waals' forces (similar Mr to G but more polar)
- F (CH₃CH₂COOH): carboxylic acid, forms hydrogen bonds (dimers), strongest intermolecular forces [1 mark]
(b) In CH₃CH₂COOH, the conjugate base CH₃CH₂COO⁻ is stabilised by resonance/delocalisation of the negative charge over two oxygen atoms. [1 mark]
In ethanol, the conjugate base CH₃CH₂O⁻ has the negative charge localised on one oxygen atom, making it less stable. The more stable conjugate base corresponds to the stronger acid. [1 mark]
12. (a) Compound J is but-2-ene (CH₃CH=CHCH₃).
- (E)-but-2-ene / trans-but-2-ene: CH₃ groups on opposite sides [1 mark]
- (Z)-but-2-ene / cis-but-2-ene: CH₃ groups on same side [1 mark]
(b) Polymer: poly(but-2-ene)
CH₃ H CH₃ H
| | | |
—[C—C]—[C—C]—
| | | |
H CH₃ H CH₃
[2 marks for correct repeat unit structure]
(c) The polymer has a carbon-carbon backbone with no functional groups that can be hydrolysed. [1 mark]
Accept: The polymer is not susceptible to enzymatic degradation / lacks hydrolysable linkages.
13. The lone pair on the oxygen atom in phenol is delocalised into the benzene ring. [1 mark]
This increases the electron density of the ring, making it more susceptible to electrophilic attack compared to benzene. [1 mark]
14. Mechanism of acid-catalysed hydrolysis of ethyl ethanoate:
- Protonation of carbonyl oxygen by H⁺ [1 mark]
- Nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon, curly arrow from O of H₂O to C [1 mark]
- Proton transfer and loss of ethanol, curly arrow showing C-O bond breaking [1 mark]
- Deprotonation to give ethanoic acid; products: CH₃COOH and C₂H₅OH [1 mark]
15. Compound K is ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH). [1 mark]
Equation: CH₃COOH + NaHCO₃ → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂ [1 mark]
16. Tertiary halogenoalkanes form relatively stable tertiary carbocations. [1 mark]
The stability of the tertiary carbocation lowers the activation energy for the S_N1 pathway, whereas primary carbocations are too unstable to form readily. [1 mark]
17. Each carbon in benzene uses three sp² hybrid orbitals to form sigma bonds: two C-C and one C-H. [1 mark]
The remaining p orbital on each carbon overlaps sideways to form a delocalised π system above and below the ring. [1 mark]
This delocalisation gives benzene extra stability (aromaticity). [1 mark]
18. Optical isomers of alanine:
- Draw tetrahedral carbon with CH₃, NH₂, COOH, H; one with NH₂ on left, one with NH₂ on right (mirror images). [1 mark each]
19. In amides, the lone pair on nitrogen is delocalised into the carbonyl group (resonance with C=O). [1 mark]
This makes the lone pair less available for protonation compared to amines, where the lone pair is localised on nitrogen. [1 mark]
20. Compound L is propan-2-ol (CH₃CH(OH)CH₃) or a tertiary alcohol (not possible with C₃H₈O) – actually propan-2-ol is a secondary alcohol; it does react with acidified dichromate. Correction: Compound L is methoxyethane (CH₃OC₂H₅) or propan-2-ol? Wait, C₃H₈O with no reaction with dichromate must be an ether: methoxyethane. [1 mark]
Ethers do not undergo oxidation with acidified dichromate because they lack the O-H group necessary for oxidation. [1 mark]
END OF ANSWER KEY