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Chirality: Edexcel A‑Level Chemistry questions

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

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2,028 questions

  1. Q8(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 8(a)(i): State what is meant by the term ‘chiral carbon atom’. (1)

  2. Q8(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    2 marks17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 8(a)(ii): Draw diagrams of the two stereoisomers of alanine, showing their three‑dimensional shape. (2)

  3. Q7(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    3 marks17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 7(b)(ii): Explain whether or not the 2‑hydroxybutanenitrile formed will be a racemic mixture. (3)

  4. Q8(d)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    6 marks6C Alkenes17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 8(d): Discuss the different types of stereoisomerism that occur in organic compounds. Use only molecules A and B as examples. CHCl C(CH3)Br CH3CH(OH)COOH A B Include

  5. Q9(c)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 mark17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 9(c)(ii): Draw a circle around each of the chiral carbon atoms in glutathione. (1) SH O O O H N N OH HO H O NH2

  6. Q8(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 8(b)(ii): The product of this reaction, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpentanenitrile, has a chiral centre. Explain why a racemic mixture of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpentanenitrile is formed

  7. Q6(e)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marks17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 6(e): 2-bromobutane can react with aqueous hydroxide ions by an SN1 mechanism. Explain why the butan-2-ol produced from a single optical isomer of 2-bromobutane, usi

  8. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    1 mark17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 4(c)(ii): Deduce the number of optical isomers of the addition product that can exist. (1) A 2 В 3 C 4 X D 8

  9. Q4(c)(iii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    1 mark17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 4(c)(iii): When plane-polarised light is passed through an optical isomer, the plane of polarisation is (1) A diffracted • B reflected • C refracted • D rotated

  10. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    2 marks17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 9(a)(i): Explain the effect, if any, of an aqueous solution containing glycinate ions on plane-polarised monochromatic light. (2)

  11. Q6(c)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    3 marks17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 6(c): The product of the hydrolysis of 2-bromobutane is butan-2-ol. Both molecules are chiral. State what is meant by the term chiral, using three-dimensional diagram

  12. Q6(d)(i)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    2 marks17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 6(d)(i): Draw the two enantiomers of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid. (2)

  13. Q6(d)(ii)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    1 mark17A Chirality
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 6(d)(ii): State how separate samples of these two enantiomers could be distinguished in a laboratory. (1)
All 13 questions on Chirality, as a list
  1. June 2024, Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term ‘chiral carbon atom’. (1)
  2. June 2024, Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): Draw diagrams of the two stereoisomers of alanine, showing their three‑dimensional shape. (2)
  3. June 2023, Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain whether or not the 2‑hydroxybutanenitrile formed will be a racemic mixture. (3)
  4. June 2023, Paper 2, Q8(d) (6 marks): Discuss the different types of stereoisomerism that occur in organic compounds. Use only molecules A and B as examples. CHCl C(CH3)Br CH3CH(OH)COOH A B Include
  5. November 2021, Paper 2, Q9(c)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a circle around each of the chiral carbon atoms in glutathione. (1) SH O O O H N N OH HO H O NH2
  6. November 2021, Paper 3, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): The product of this reaction, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpentanenitrile, has a chiral centre. Explain why a racemic mixture of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpentanenitrile is formed
  7. October 2020, Paper 2, Q6(e) (3 marks): 2-bromobutane can react with aqueous hydroxide ions by an SN1 mechanism. Explain why the butan-2-ol produced from a single optical isomer of 2-bromobutane, usi
  8. June 2019, Paper 2, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Deduce the number of optical isomers of the addition product that can exist. (1) A 2 В 3 C 4 X D 8
  9. June 2019, Paper 2, Q4(c)(iii) (1 mark): When plane-polarised light is passed through an optical isomer, the plane of polarisation is (1) A diffracted • B reflected • C refracted • D rotated
  10. June 2019, Paper 3, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain the effect, if any, of an aqueous solution containing glycinate ions on plane-polarised monochromatic light. (2)
  11. June 2018, Paper 2, Q6(c) (3 marks): The product of the hydrolysis of 2-bromobutane is butan-2-ol. Both molecules are chiral. State what is meant by the term chiral, using three-dimensional diagram
  12. June 2017, Paper 2, Q6(d)(i) (2 marks): Draw the two enantiomers of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid. (2)
  13. June 2017, Paper 2, Q6(d)(ii) (1 mark): State how separate samples of these two enantiomers could be distinguished in a laboratory. (1)

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