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Carboxylic acids: Edexcel A‑Level Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Chemistry exam question on 17C Carboxylic acids, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,028 questions

  1. Q6(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    6 marks17B Carbonyl compounds17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 6(a): Benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO) can be distinguished from phenylethanone (C6H5COCH3) and benzoic acid (C6H5COOH) using chemical tests. Describe a series of chemical test

  2. Q7(d)(iii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 7(d)(iii): A student spilled a small amount of 0.40 mol dm–3 sodium hydroxide solution onto a polyester laboratory coat. A hole formed in the laboratory coat as the result

  3. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 9(a)(i): Hydrolysis with aqueous sodium hydroxide is followed by acidification to form benzoic acid. Give a reason why acidification is required after hydrolysis. (1)

  4. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 9(a)(ii): Write an equation, using structural formulae, for the acid hydrolysis of methyl benzoate. (1)

  5. Q1(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 1(c): A condensation polymer can be made from ethane‑1,2‑diol and butanedioic acid. Which is the repeat unit for this polymer? (1) A B O O O O   O (CH2)2 O C (CH2)2

  6. Q8(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 8(c): Deduce the structural formula of the carboxylic acid that could be used to form both isoamyl acetate and amyl acetate. (1)

  7. Q8(d)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 8(d): Deduce the name of the alcohol that forms isoamyl acetate. (1)

  8. Q8(e)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 8(e): Give the systematic name for amyl acetate. (1)

  9. Q8(f)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    3 marks17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 8(f)(i): Complete the skeletal formulae of three of the remaining esters. Names are not required. (3) O O O O O O isoamyl acetate amyl acetate O O O O ester A O O O O es

  10. Q8(f)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 8(f)(ii): Write an equation to show the formation of ester A from an acyl chloride and an alcohol. (2)

  11. Q8(g)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    4 marks17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 8(g): Esters can be hydrolysed by heating under reflux with aqueous acid or alkali. Compare and contrast these two methods of hydrolysis for amyl acetate. (4)

  12. Q9(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marks17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 9(c): While doing background research for the experiment, a student found that three other compounds, D, E and F, are often present in pineapple juice. O O CH3 H3C HO

  13. Q5(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 5(b): The effectiveness of this synthetic oil is much reduced if it is contaminated with water. Give, in terms of a chemical reaction, a possible reason for this. (1)

  14. Q7(a)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    6 marks6C Alkenes17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 7(a): Compare and contrast how each of these monomers forms a polymer. OH HO C O 4-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid cyclohexene Include equations, showing the format

  15. Q8(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 8(c): Which of these is used to convert a dicarboxylic acid into a diol? (1) A LiAlH4 and ether B KMnO4 and H2SO4 C Sn and HCl D Na2Cr2O7 and H2SO4

  16. Q2(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 2(b): Deduce a chemical test which would give a positive result for B but not for A. Include the reagent and observation. (2)

  17. Q4(a)(i)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 4(a)(i): Which of these compounds can be hydrolysed to form methanol as one of the products? (1) A Compound P B Compound Q C Compound R D Compound S

  18. Q4(a)(ii)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 4(a)(ii): Which of these compounds produces carbon dioxide when it reacts with aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate? (1) A Compound P B Compound Q C Compound R D Compound S

  19. Q7(a)(iv)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 7(a)(iv): Step 3 involves the hydrolysis of a nitrile. Give the additional reagent that should be added after heating under reflux with aqueous sodium hydroxide, to pro

  20. Q5(a)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marks17C Carboxylic acids
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 5(a): Complete the equation for the reaction between benzoic acid and sodium hydrogencarbonate. (2) O OH C + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → . . . . . . . . . . . .
All 29 questions on Carboxylic acids, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q6(a) (6 marks): Benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO) can be distinguished from phenylethanone (C6H5COCH3) and benzoic acid (C6H5COOH) using chemical tests. Describe a series of chemical test
  2. June 2024, Paper 2, Q7(d)(iii) (1 mark): A student spilled a small amount of 0.40 mol dm–3 sodium hydroxide solution onto a polyester laboratory coat. A hole formed in the laboratory coat as the result
  3. June 2023, Paper 3, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): Hydrolysis with aqueous sodium hydroxide is followed by acidification to form benzoic acid. Give a reason why acidification is required after hydrolysis. (1)
  4. June 2023, Paper 3, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): Write an equation, using structural formulae, for the acid hydrolysis of methyl benzoate. (1)
  5. June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): A condensation polymer can be made from ethane‑1,2‑diol and butanedioic acid. Which is the repeat unit for this polymer? (1) A B O O O O   O (CH2)2 O C (CH2)2
  6. June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(c) (1 mark): Deduce the structural formula of the carboxylic acid that could be used to form both isoamyl acetate and amyl acetate. (1)
  7. June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(d) (1 mark): Deduce the name of the alcohol that forms isoamyl acetate. (1)
  8. June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(e) (1 mark): Give the systematic name for amyl acetate. (1)
  9. June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(f)(i) (3 marks): Complete the skeletal formulae of three of the remaining esters. Names are not required. (3) O O O O O O isoamyl acetate amyl acetate O O O O ester A O O O O es
  10. June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(f)(ii) (2 marks): Write an equation to show the formation of ester A from an acyl chloride and an alcohol. (2)
  11. June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(g) (4 marks): Esters can be hydrolysed by heating under reflux with aqueous acid or alkali. Compare and contrast these two methods of hydrolysis for amyl acetate. (4)
  12. June 2022, Paper 3, Q9(c) (3 marks): While doing background research for the experiment, a student found that three other compounds, D, E and F, are often present in pineapple juice. O O CH3 H3C HO
  13. November 2021, Paper 2, Q5(b) (1 mark): The effectiveness of this synthetic oil is much reduced if it is contaminated with water. Give, in terms of a chemical reaction, a possible reason for this. (1)
  14. November 2021, Paper 2, Q7(a) (6 marks): Compare and contrast how each of these monomers forms a polymer. OH HO C O 4-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid cyclohexene Include equations, showing the format
  15. November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(c) (1 mark): Which of these is used to convert a dicarboxylic acid into a diol? (1) A LiAlH4 and ether B KMnO4 and H2SO4 C Sn and HCl D Na2Cr2O7 and H2SO4
  16. November 2021, Paper 3, Q2(b) (2 marks): Deduce a chemical test which would give a positive result for B but not for A. Include the reagent and observation. (2)
  17. October 2020, Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these compounds can be hydrolysed to form methanol as one of the products? (1) A Compound P B Compound Q C Compound R D Compound S
  18. October 2020, Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these compounds produces carbon dioxide when it reacts with aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate? (1) A Compound P B Compound Q C Compound R D Compound S
  19. October 2020, Paper 2, Q7(a)(iv) (1 mark): Step 3 involves the hydrolysis of a nitrile. Give the additional reagent that should be added after heating under reflux with aqueous sodium hydroxide, to pro
  20. October 2020, Paper 3, Q5(a) (2 marks): Complete the equation for the reaction between benzoic acid and sodium hydrogencarbonate. (2) O OH C + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → . . . . . . . . . . . .
  21. October 2020, Paper 3, Q5(e) (2 marks): Explain why the addition of hydrochloric acid in Step 6 results in the precipitation of benzoic acid. (2)
  22. October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(a)(i) (4 marks): Add curly arrows and relevant lone pairs of electrons to complete the mechanism. (4) O C2H5 H H H H O O O O H H C C H C C H C C H C C O H O+ H O+ C2H5 O C2H5 H
  23. October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): In an experiment, the oxygen atom in ethanol is replaced by the oxygen-18 isotope, 18O. The products of the esterification are H O H H H C C and H O H O C C H H
  24. October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(b) (3 marks): Ethyl ethanoate can also be formed by reacting ethanol with ethanoyl chloride, CH3COCl. Identify three differences in the esterification reaction when ethanoyl
  25. June 2018, Paper 3, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): State the type of polymerisation occurring in this reaction. (1)
  26. June 2018, Paper 3, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): On the diagram, draw a circle around the repeat unit of the polymer. (1)
  27. June 2018, Paper 3, Q6(d)(i) (2 marks): Write the equation for the reaction between structure 1 and sodium hydroxide solution. State symbols are not required. (2)
  28. June 2017, Paper 2, Q6(d)(iii) (1 mark): Biodegradable polyesters break down naturally. State why this is an advantage. (1)
  29. June 2017, Paper 3, Q8(b) (3 marks): Predict the mechanism for the reaction of CH3CH2COCl with ammonia. Include curly arrows and relevant lone pairs. (3)

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