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Organic synthesis: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions

Every AQA A-Level Chemistry exam question on 3.3.14 Organic synthesis, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,301 questions

  1. Q04.1

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 04.1: Suggest why the apparatus should be set up in a fume cupboard. [1 mark]

  2. Q04.3

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    5 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 04.3: Outline how Steps 7 and 8 should be done to obtain the purified crystalline product. [5 marks]

  3. Q04.4

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 04.4: In Step 8, the distilled water must be ice-cold. Suggest why using water at room temperature lowers the recorded yield of product. [1 mark]

  4. Q04.5

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    4 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 04.5: Figure 4 shows how a student set up the apparatus for measuring the melting point of hexanedioc acid in Step 9 (data book value 152 °C). The apparatus is suppor

  5. Q04.6

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 04.6: Scientists disagree about whether this alternative process is more sustainable or less sustainable than the process starting from cyclohexanol. Use the informat

  6. Q01.6

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 01.6: Complete and label the diagram to show how the impure solid is filtered. [2 marks]

  7. Q01.7

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 01.7: Suggest the identity of two impurities present in the filtered solid aspirin before it is washed in Step 6 of the method. [2 marks] Impurity 1 Impurity 2

  8. Q01.8

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    6 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 01.8: Describe the recrystallisation process used to purify the aspirin. Include the method and apparatus used. [6 marks]

  9. Q01.9

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 01.9: State the physical property that is measured to check the purity of the aspirin. Describe two ways the result would show that the product is impure. [3 marks] P

  10. Q26

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 26: Consider this reaction scheme. Which step is shown with a correct reagent and a correct condition? [1 mark] A Step 1 HCN dissolved in water B Step 2 KOH dissolv

  11. Q30

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 30: Which type of reaction is not involved in this reaction sequence? [1 mark] A esterification B hydrolysis C nitration D reduction

  12. Q08.4

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 08.4: Suggest why chemists usually aim to design production methods • with fewer steps • with a high percentage atom economy. [2 marks] Fewer steps High percentage at

  13. Q04.1

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 04.1: Describe the instruction that is missing from step 4 of the method. Justify why this step is necessary. [2 marks] Instruction Justification

  14. Q04.2

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 04.2: Suggest a suitable piece of apparatus to measure out the ethanoic anhydride in step 5. [1 mark]

  15. Q04.3

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 04.3: Identify a hazard of using concentrated phosphoric acid in step 6. [1 mark]

  16. Q04.6

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 04.6: Suggest two ways in which the melting point of the crude aspirin collected in step 9 would differ from the melting point of pure aspirin. [2 marks] Difference 1

  17. Q04.7

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 04.7: The crude aspirin can be purified by recrystallisation using hot ethanol (boiling point = 78 °C) as the solvent. Describe two important precautions when heating

  18. Q04.8

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 04.8: The pure aspirin is filtered under reduced pressure. A small amount of cold ethanol is then poured through the Buchner funnel. Explain the purpose of adding a s

  19. Q04.9

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 04.9: A sample of the crude aspirin is kept to compare with the purified aspirin. Describe one difference in appearance you would expect to see between these two soli

  20. Q21

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.3.14 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 21: A possible synthesis of a compound found in jasmine flower oil is shown. Which mechanism is not used in this synthesis? [1 mark] A Electrophilic substitution B
All 25 questions on Organic synthesis, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.1 (1 mark): Suggest why the apparatus should be set up in a fume cupboard. [1 mark]
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.3 (5 marks): Outline how Steps 7 and 8 should be done to obtain the purified crystalline product. [5 marks]
  3. June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.4 (1 mark): In Step 8, the distilled water must be ice-cold. Suggest why using water at room temperature lowers the recorded yield of product. [1 mark]
  4. June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.5 (4 marks): Figure 4 shows how a student set up the apparatus for measuring the melting point of hexanedioc acid in Step 9 (data book value 152 °C). The apparatus is suppor
  5. June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.6 (2 marks): Scientists disagree about whether this alternative process is more sustainable or less sustainable than the process starting from cyclohexanol. Use the informat
  6. June 2024, Paper 3, Q01.6 (2 marks): Complete and label the diagram to show how the impure solid is filtered. [2 marks]
  7. June 2024, Paper 3, Q01.7 (2 marks): Suggest the identity of two impurities present in the filtered solid aspirin before it is washed in Step 6 of the method. [2 marks] Impurity 1 Impurity 2
  8. June 2024, Paper 3, Q01.8 (6 marks): Describe the recrystallisation process used to purify the aspirin. Include the method and apparatus used. [6 marks]
  9. June 2024, Paper 3, Q01.9 (3 marks): State the physical property that is measured to check the purity of the aspirin. Describe two ways the result would show that the product is impure. [3 marks] P
  10. June 2023, Paper 3, Q26 (1 mark): Consider this reaction scheme. Which step is shown with a correct reagent and a correct condition? [1 mark] A Step 1 HCN dissolved in water B Step 2 KOH dissolv
  11. June 2022, Paper 3, Q30 (1 mark): Which type of reaction is not involved in this reaction sequence? [1 mark] A esterification B hydrolysis C nitration D reduction
  12. November 2021, Paper 2, Q08.4 (2 marks): Suggest why chemists usually aim to design production methods • with fewer steps • with a high percentage atom economy. [2 marks] Fewer steps High percentage at
  13. November 2020, Paper 2, Q04.1 (2 marks): Describe the instruction that is missing from step 4 of the method. Justify why this step is necessary. [2 marks] Instruction Justification
  14. November 2020, Paper 2, Q04.2 (1 mark): Suggest a suitable piece of apparatus to measure out the ethanoic anhydride in step 5. [1 mark]
  15. November 2020, Paper 2, Q04.3 (1 mark): Identify a hazard of using concentrated phosphoric acid in step 6. [1 mark]
  16. November 2020, Paper 2, Q04.6 (2 marks): Suggest two ways in which the melting point of the crude aspirin collected in step 9 would differ from the melting point of pure aspirin. [2 marks] Difference 1
  17. November 2020, Paper 2, Q04.7 (2 marks): The crude aspirin can be purified by recrystallisation using hot ethanol (boiling point = 78 °C) as the solvent. Describe two important precautions when heating
  18. November 2020, Paper 2, Q04.8 (1 mark): The pure aspirin is filtered under reduced pressure. A small amount of cold ethanol is then poured through the Buchner funnel. Explain the purpose of adding a s
  19. November 2020, Paper 2, Q04.9 (1 mark): A sample of the crude aspirin is kept to compare with the purified aspirin. Describe one difference in appearance you would expect to see between these two soli
  20. June 2019, Paper 3, Q21 (1 mark): A possible synthesis of a compound found in jasmine flower oil is shown. Which mechanism is not used in this synthesis? [1 mark] A Electrophilic substitution B
  21. June 2019, Paper 3, Q34 (1 mark): Which compound can be purified by forming a hot aqueous solution that recrystallises on cooling? [1 mark] A Cyclohexene B Ethanoic acid C Phenylamine D Benzoic
  22. June 2017, Paper 2, Q11.2 (5 marks): Amine F can be prepared in a three-step synthesis starting from methylbenzene. Suggest the structures of the two intermediate compounds. For each step, give rea
  23. June 2017, Paper 3, Q03.8 (6 marks): After the solid benzoic acid has been filtered off, it can be purified. Describe the method that the student should use to purify the benzoic acid. [6 marks] 12
  24. Specimen, Paper 2, Q09.2 (4 marks): The minimum quantity of hot water was used The flask was cooled to room temperature before the crystals were filtered off The crystals were compressed in the fu
  25. Specimen, Paper 2, Q09.3 (2 marks): 5

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