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Aldehydes and ketones: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions

Every AQA A-Level Chemistry exam question on 3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,301 questions

  1. Q05.2

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 05.2: Three unlabelled bottles are known to contain either propan-1-ol, propanal, or propanone. A sample of each liquid is warmed with a few drops of Fehling’s soluti

  2. Q08.3

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 08.3: State the reagent(s) used for Step 4. Outline the mechanism for Step 4. [5 marks] Reagent(s) Mechanism

  3. Q08.4

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones3.3.7 Optical isomerism
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 08.4: Explain why Step 4 produces a racemic mixture. [3 marks]

  4. Q24

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 24: In which conversion does a nucleophile attack the organic reactant? [1 mark] A CH3CH2CH3 ⟶ CH3CHClCH3 B CH3CH=CH2 ⟶ CH3CHBrCH3 C CH3CH2CH2OH ⟶ CH3CH=CH2 D CH3CH

  5. Q27

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 27: What is the product when 3-methylbutan-2-one reacts with acidified KCN? [1 mark] A 2-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylbutanenitrile B 3-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylbutanenitrile C 2

  6. Q03.3

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    4 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 03.3: Figure 5 shows the reactant species involved in the first step of a mechanism. Figure 5 Complete Figure 5 to show the structure of the intermediate formed with

  7. Q01.8

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 01.8: Name and outline the mechanism for the reaction of butanone with KCN followed by dilute acid. [5 marks] Name of mechanism Outline of mechanism

  8. Q03.1

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    5 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 03.1: Solution X reacts with liquid ketones to form a crystalline solid. This reaction can be used to identify a ketone if the crystalline solid is separated, purifie

  9. Q03.2

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 03.2: Propanone (CH3COCH3) reacts with the weak acid HCN to form a hydroxynitrile. This hydroxynitrile is usually made by reaction of propanone with KCN followed by d

  10. Q03.3

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    4 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 03.3: Outline the mechanism for the reaction of propanone with KCN followed by dilute acid. [4 marks]

  11. Q03.2

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 03.2: Identify the isomer(s) that would react with Tollens’ reagent. State the expected observation when Tollens’ reagent reacts. [2 marks] Isomer(s) Expected observa

  12. Q06.2

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 06.2: State the name of the mechanism for the reaction in step 2. Identify the inorganic reagent needed for step 2. Name the organic product of step 2. [3 marks] Name

  13. Q09.5

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 09.5: Figure 6 shows an incomplete nucleophilic addition mechanism for the reaction of water with chloroethanal. Figure 6 Complete the mechanism in Figure 6 by adding

  14. Q09.6

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 09.6: When an excess of water is added to ethanal a similar nucleophilic addition reaction occurs. CH3CHO(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ CH3CH(OH)2(aq) Suggest why this reaction is s

  15. Q13.1

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 13.1: Show the first step of the mechanism of the reaction between NaBH4 and 2-methylbutanal. You should include two curly arrows. Explain why NaBH4 reduces 2-methylb

  16. Q13.2

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 13.2: A student attempted to reduce a sample of 2-methylbutanal but added insufficient NaBH4 The student confirmed that the reduction was incomplete by using a chemic

  17. Q04.1

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 04.1: Name the mechanism for the reaction between potassium cyanide and ethanal. [1 mark]

  18. Q04.2

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    5 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones3.3.7 Optical isomerism
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 04.2: The 2-hydroxypropanenitrile formed by the reaction in question 04.1 is a mixture of equal amounts of two isomers. State the name of this type of mixture. Explai

  19. Q02.4

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 02.4: Compound Z has the empirical formula C3H4NO Give the structure of Compound Z. Suggest the reagent for Reaction 3. [2 marks] Structure Reagent for Reaction 3

  20. Q07.2

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 07.2: The organic product in Question 07.1 can be converted into the alcohol shown. Give the IUPAC name of the alcohol. Give the reagent needed for this reaction and
All 33 questions on Aldehydes and ketones, as a list
  1. June 2024, Paper 2, Q05.2 (3 marks): Three unlabelled bottles are known to contain either propan-1-ol, propanal, or propanone. A sample of each liquid is warmed with a few drops of Fehling’s soluti
  2. June 2024, Paper 2, Q08.3 (5 marks): State the reagent(s) used for Step 4. Outline the mechanism for Step 4. [5 marks] Reagent(s) Mechanism
  3. June 2024, Paper 2, Q08.4 (3 marks): Explain why Step 4 produces a racemic mixture. [3 marks]
  4. June 2024, Paper 3, Q24 (1 mark): In which conversion does a nucleophile attack the organic reactant? [1 mark] A CH3CH2CH3 ⟶ CH3CHClCH3 B CH3CH=CH2 ⟶ CH3CHBrCH3 C CH3CH2CH2OH ⟶ CH3CH=CH2 D CH3CH
  5. June 2024, Paper 3, Q27 (1 mark): What is the product when 3-methylbutan-2-one reacts with acidified KCN? [1 mark] A 2-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylbutanenitrile B 3-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylbutanenitrile C 2
  6. June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.3 (4 marks): Figure 5 shows the reactant species involved in the first step of a mechanism. Figure 5 Complete Figure 5 to show the structure of the intermediate formed with
  7. June 2022, Paper 2, Q01.8 (5 marks): Name and outline the mechanism for the reaction of butanone with KCN followed by dilute acid. [5 marks] Name of mechanism Outline of mechanism
  8. November 2021, Paper 3, Q03.1 (5 marks): Solution X reacts with liquid ketones to form a crystalline solid. This reaction can be used to identify a ketone if the crystalline solid is separated, purifie
  9. November 2021, Paper 3, Q03.2 (2 marks): Propanone (CH3COCH3) reacts with the weak acid HCN to form a hydroxynitrile. This hydroxynitrile is usually made by reaction of propanone with KCN followed by d
  10. November 2021, Paper 3, Q03.3 (4 marks): Outline the mechanism for the reaction of propanone with KCN followed by dilute acid. [4 marks]
  11. November 2020, Paper 2, Q03.2 (2 marks): Identify the isomer(s) that would react with Tollens’ reagent. State the expected observation when Tollens’ reagent reacts. [2 marks] Isomer(s) Expected observa
  12. November 2020, Paper 2, Q06.2 (3 marks): State the name of the mechanism for the reaction in step 2. Identify the inorganic reagent needed for step 2. Name the organic product of step 2. [3 marks] Name
  13. November 2020, Paper 2, Q09.5 (3 marks): Figure 6 shows an incomplete nucleophilic addition mechanism for the reaction of water with chloroethanal. Figure 6 Complete the mechanism in Figure 6 by adding
  14. November 2020, Paper 2, Q09.6 (3 marks): When an excess of water is added to ethanal a similar nucleophilic addition reaction occurs. CH3CHO(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ CH3CH(OH)2(aq) Suggest why this reaction is s
  15. June 2019, Paper 2, Q13.1 (5 marks): Show the first step of the mechanism of the reaction between NaBH4 and 2-methylbutanal. You should include two curly arrows. Explain why NaBH4 reduces 2-methylb
  16. June 2019, Paper 2, Q13.2 (2 marks): A student attempted to reduce a sample of 2-methylbutanal but added insufficient NaBH4 The student confirmed that the reduction was incomplete by using a chemic
  17. June 2019, Paper 3, Q04.1 (1 mark): Name the mechanism for the reaction between potassium cyanide and ethanal. [1 mark]
  18. June 2019, Paper 3, Q04.2 (5 marks): The 2-hydroxypropanenitrile formed by the reaction in question 04.1 is a mixture of equal amounts of two isomers. State the name of this type of mixture. Explai
  19. June 2018, Paper 2, Q02.4 (2 marks): Compound Z has the empirical formula C3H4NO Give the structure of Compound Z. Suggest the reagent for Reaction 3. [2 marks] Structure Reagent for Reaction 3
  20. June 2018, Paper 2, Q07.2 (3 marks): The organic product in Question 07.1 can be converted into the alcohol shown. Give the IUPAC name of the alcohol. Give the reagent needed for this reaction and
  21. June 2018, Paper 3, Q28 (1 mark): How many structural isomers with the molecular formula C5H10O react with Tollens’ reagent? [1 mark] A 3 B 4 C 5 D 6
  22. June 2017, Paper 2, Q04.1 (1 mark): Give the IUPAC name of CH3CH2CH2CH2CH(OH)CN [1 mark
  23. June 2017, Paper 2, Q04.3 (3 marks): Explain why the reaction produces a racemic mixture. [3 marks
  24. June 2017, Paper 2, Q04.4 (2 marks): An isomer of CH3CH2CH2CH2CHO reacts with KCN followed by dilute acid to form a compound that does not show stereoisomerism. Draw the structure of the compound f
  25. June 2017, Paper 3, Q13 (1 mark): Which pair of compounds does not form a racemic mixture when the compounds react? [1 mark] A B C D
  26. June 2017, Paper 3, Q21 (1 mark): In concentrated alkali, propanone reacts with hydroxide ions to form an equilibrium mixture as shown. Which curly arrow does not appear in the mechanism of this
  27. June 2017, Paper 3, Q23 (1 mark): Which alcohol could not be produced by the reduction of an aldehyde or a ketone? [1 mark] A 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol B 2-methylbutan-2-ol C 3-methylbutan-2-ol D
  28. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q09 (1 mark): Which of the following compounds would form an orange-red precipitate when heated with Fehling’s solution? [1 mark] A CH3CH2CN B CH3CH2COOH C CH3CHO D CH3COCH3
  29. Specimen, Paper 2, Q11.1 (1 mark): 11 Butanone is reduced in a two-step reaction using NaBH4 followed by dilute hydrochloric acid. Write an overall equation for the reduction of butanone using [H
  30. Specimen, Paper 2, Q11.2 (6 marks): 9
  31. Specimen, Paper 3, Q01.5 (5 marks): 5
  32. Specimen, Paper 3, Q29: Which alcohol could not be produced by the reduction of an aldehyde or a ketone [1 mar A 2-methylbutan-1-ol B 2-methylbutan-2-ol C 3-methylbutan-1-ol D 3-methyl
  33. Specimen, Paper 3, Q30: Which compound forms optically active compounds on reduction? [1 mar A CH3CH2C(CH3)=CHCH3 B CH3CH2C(CH3)=CH2 C CH3COCH3 D CH3CH2COCH3 3 0

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