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Aromatic chemistry: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions

Every AQA A-Level Chemistry exam question on 3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,301 questions

  1. Q05.1

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 05.1: Give the overall equation for the reaction between methylbenzene and nitric acid. [2 marks]

  2. Q05.3

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 05.3: In the mechanism for this reaction, concentrated nitric acid reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid to produce the nitronium ion O2N+ Give an equation for the r

  3. Q10.1

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 10.1: Compare benzene and the theoretical molecule cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene in terms of: • stability • shape • carbon–carbon bond lengths. For each of these properties,

  4. Q10.2

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 10.2: State the two reagents needed for Step 1. Give an equation to show the formation of the reactive intermediate from these two reagents. [2 marks] Reagents Equati

  5. Q10.3

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 10.3: Outline a mechanism for Step 1. [3 marks]

  6. Q03.2

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    4 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 03.2: Figure 4 shows an intermediate formed in the first step of a reaction mechanism of methylbenzene. Figure 4 Complete Figure 4 to show the reactant species and an

  7. Q08.1

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 08.1: Give an equation for the overall reaction when benzene reacts with methanoyl chloride. Name the organic product. [2 marks] Equation Name

  8. Q08.2

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 08.2: Identify the catalyst needed in this reaction. Give an equation to show how the catalyst is used to form the electrophile, [HCO]+ [2 marks] Catalyst Equation

  9. Q08.3

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 08.3: Outline the mechanism for the reaction of benzene with the electrophile, [HCO]+ [3 marks]

  10. Q10.1

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 10.1: State the reagents needed for step 1 and the reagents needed for step 2. [3 marks] step 1 step 2

  11. Q04.1

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.1.4 Energetics3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 04.1: Use Figure 3 and the data shown in Table 1 to calculate ΔH2 [3 marks] Table 1 ΔH / kJ mol–1 Enthalpy of atomisation for carbon +715 Enthalpy of atomisation for

  12. Q04.2

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 04.2: is more thermodynamically stable than [1 mark]

  13. Q04.3

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 04.3: A mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid reacts with benzene. Figure 4 shows the incomplete mechanism for this reaction. Name the me

  14. Q06.1

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 06.1: State the type of reaction in step 1. Identify the reagent(s) and conditions needed for step 1. [3 marks] Type of reaction Reagent(s) Conditions

  15. Q08.1

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 08.1: Name the mechanism of the reaction in Step 1. [1 mark]

  16. Q20

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 20: Methylbenzene reacts with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. What is the name of the mechanism for this reaction? [1 mark] A

  17. Q26

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 26: The reaction between propanoyl chloride and benzene is an example of acylation. Which is a correct representation of part of the mechanism of this reaction? [1

  18. Q06.1

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    6 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 06.1: Explain the bonding in and the shape of a benzene molecule. Compare the stability of benzene with that of the hypothetical cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene molecule. Use

  19. Q06.2

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 06.2: The enthalpy of hydrogenation of cyclohexa-1,3-diene is not exactly double that of cyclohexene. Suggest a value for the enthalpy of hydrogenation of cyclohexa-1

  20. Q07.1

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    4 marks3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 07.1: CH3CH2COCl reacts with benzene in the presence of AlCl3 in an electrophilic substitution reaction. Give an equation for the reaction of CH3CH2COCl with AlCl3 to
All 25 questions on Aromatic chemistry, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q05.1 (2 marks): Give the overall equation for the reaction between methylbenzene and nitric acid. [2 marks]
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q05.3 (5 marks): In the mechanism for this reaction, concentrated nitric acid reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid to produce the nitronium ion O2N+ Give an equation for the r
  3. June 2024, Paper 2, Q10.1 (5 marks): Compare benzene and the theoretical molecule cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene in terms of: • stability • shape • carbon–carbon bond lengths. For each of these properties,
  4. June 2024, Paper 2, Q10.2 (2 marks): State the two reagents needed for Step 1. Give an equation to show the formation of the reactive intermediate from these two reagents. [2 marks] Reagents Equati
  5. June 2024, Paper 2, Q10.3 (3 marks): Outline a mechanism for Step 1. [3 marks]
  6. June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.2 (4 marks): Figure 4 shows an intermediate formed in the first step of a reaction mechanism of methylbenzene. Figure 4 Complete Figure 4 to show the reactant species and an
  7. June 2022, Paper 2, Q08.1 (2 marks): Give an equation for the overall reaction when benzene reacts with methanoyl chloride. Name the organic product. [2 marks] Equation Name
  8. June 2022, Paper 2, Q08.2 (2 marks): Identify the catalyst needed in this reaction. Give an equation to show how the catalyst is used to form the electrophile, [HCO]+ [2 marks] Catalyst Equation
  9. June 2022, Paper 2, Q08.3 (3 marks): Outline the mechanism for the reaction of benzene with the electrophile, [HCO]+ [3 marks]
  10. June 2022, Paper 2, Q10.1 (3 marks): State the reagents needed for step 1 and the reagents needed for step 2. [3 marks] step 1 step 2
  11. November 2021, Paper 2, Q04.1 (3 marks): Use Figure 3 and the data shown in Table 1 to calculate ΔH2 [3 marks] Table 1 ΔH / kJ mol–1 Enthalpy of atomisation for carbon +715 Enthalpy of atomisation for
  12. November 2021, Paper 2, Q04.2 (1 mark): is more thermodynamically stable than [1 mark]
  13. November 2021, Paper 2, Q04.3 (5 marks): A mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid reacts with benzene. Figure 4 shows the incomplete mechanism for this reaction. Name the me
  14. November 2020, Paper 2, Q06.1 (3 marks): State the type of reaction in step 1. Identify the reagent(s) and conditions needed for step 1. [3 marks] Type of reaction Reagent(s) Conditions
  15. June 2019, Paper 2, Q08.1 (1 mark): Name the mechanism of the reaction in Step 1. [1 mark]
  16. June 2019, Paper 3, Q20 (1 mark): Methylbenzene reacts with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. What is the name of the mechanism for this reaction? [1 mark] A
  17. June 2019, Paper 3, Q26 (1 mark): The reaction between propanoyl chloride and benzene is an example of acylation. Which is a correct representation of part of the mechanism of this reaction? [1
  18. June 2018, Paper 2, Q06.1 (6 marks): Explain the bonding in and the shape of a benzene molecule. Compare the stability of benzene with that of the hypothetical cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene molecule. Use
  19. June 2018, Paper 2, Q06.2 (3 marks): The enthalpy of hydrogenation of cyclohexa-1,3-diene is not exactly double that of cyclohexene. Suggest a value for the enthalpy of hydrogenation of cyclohexa-1
  20. June 2018, Paper 2, Q07.1 (4 marks): CH3CH2COCl reacts with benzene in the presence of AlCl3 in an electrophilic substitution reaction. Give an equation for the reaction of CH3CH2COCl with AlCl3 to
  21. June 2018, Paper 3, Q23 (1 mark): The nitration of benzene uses a nitrating mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. HNO3 + 2H2SO4  NO2 + + H3O+ + 2HSO4 – Which state
  22. June 2017, Paper 2, Q08.1 (1 mark): Nitrobenzene reacts when heated with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid an concentrated sulfuric acid to form a mixture of three isomeric dinitrobenzenes. Wr
  23. June 2017, Paper 2, Q08.2 (4 marks): Name and outline a mechanism for the reaction of this species with nitrobenzene to form 1,3-dinitrobenzene. [4 marks Name of mechanism Mechanism
  24. Specimen, Paper 2, Q09.5 (1 mark): A reagent for step 2 is a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid, which react together to form a reactive intermediate. Write an equ
  25. Specimen, Paper 2, Q09.6 (1 mark): Name a mechanism for the reaction in step 2. [1 mark] 0 9 . 6

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