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Mass spectrometry: Edexcel A‑Level Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Chemistry exam question on 7A Mass spectrometry, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,028 questions

  1. Q1(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 1(a): Which molecule would not give a molecular ion peak with m/z = 74? (1) A C2H5COOH B CHOCOOH C CH2(OH)COOH D CH3COOCH3

  2. Q1(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 1(b): The fragmentation pattern in a mass spectrum can be used to distinguish between structural isomers. Which m/z peak would be present in the mass spectrum of prop

  3. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 5(a)(i): Identify the relative molecular mass of this carboxylic acid, using information from the spectrum. (1)

  4. Q5(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 5(a)(ii): Write the formula of a possible fragment ion with a peak at m / z = 15. (2)

  5. Q5(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 5(a)(iii): Identify, by name or formula, this carboxylic acid. (1)

  6. Q6(d)

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 6(d): The mass spectrum of another compound, D, is shown. 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 m / z Use the spectrum to determine

  7. Q5(c)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 5(c): The student concluded that alcohol Q was either propan‑1‑ol or propan‑2‑ol because the mass spectrum had the molecular ion peak at m / z = 60. Explain one peak

  8. Q4(c)(i)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 4(c)(i): Determine the relative molecular mass of compound B. (1) 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 m / z Relative molecular mass of compound

  9. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 4(c)(ii): Deduce the molecular formula of hydrocarbon B. (1)

  10. Q5(b)(iv)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 5(b)(iv): The mass spectra of the two isomers of dichloroethane are shown. 100 100 80 80 60 60 Relative Relative intensity intensity 40 40 20 20 0 0 60 80 100 60 80 100 m

  11. Q5(b)(v)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 5(b)(v): State why in both spectra the peaks at 98, 100 and 102 have different relative intensities. (1)

  12. Q5(b)(vi)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 5(b)(vi): Explain how the presence of the peaks at 83, 85 and 87 in Spectrum B allows the identification of the isomer responsible for this spectrum. (2)

  13. Q8(b)(iii)

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 8(b)(iii): The mass spectrum of compound B is shown. 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 m/z Deduce the relative molecular mass of compound

  14. Q8(b)(iv)

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 8(b)(iv): In the mass spectrum of cyclohexanol, there is a peak at m/z = 83. Give the formula of a fragment that could be responsible for this peak. (2)

  15. Q6(c)(iii)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marks7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 6(c)(iii): Give the formula of a fragment ion, with its m/z value, that you would expect to be present in the mass spectrum of benzoic acid but not in the mass spectrum of

  16. Q1(b)(ii)

    October 2020 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 AS Paper 2, question 1(b)(ii): Use the mass spectrum to show that the empirical and the molecular formulae of this compound are the same. (1) 100 80 60 relative intensity 40 20 0 0 20 40 60 8

  17. Q1(b)(iii)

    October 2020 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 AS Paper 2, question 1(b)(iii): Suggest the species responsible for the peak at m / z = 69 . (1)

  18. Q10(b)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    2 marks7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 10(b): Part of the mass spectrum of D is shown. 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 m / z Deduce the molecular formula of D.

  19. Q10(c)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 10(c)(i): Give the molecular formula of the species that causes the peak at m / z = 76 in the mass spectrum of D. (1)

  20. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2018 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark7A Mass spectrometry
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 AS Paper 2, question 8(b)(i): The relative molecular mass of 2-methylpropan-2-ol is 74. Give a possible reason why there is no molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum of 2-methylpropan-2-ol.
All 27 questions on Mass spectrometry, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which molecule would not give a molecular ion peak with m/z = 74? (1) A C2H5COOH B CHOCOOH C CH2(OH)COOH D CH3COOCH3
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): The fragmentation pattern in a mass spectrum can be used to distinguish between structural isomers. Which m/z peak would be present in the mass spectrum of prop
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify the relative molecular mass of this carboxylic acid, using information from the spectrum. (1)
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Write the formula of a possible fragment ion with a peak at m / z = 15. (2)
  5. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify, by name or formula, this carboxylic acid. (1)
  6. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q6(d) (1 mark): The mass spectrum of another compound, D, is shown. 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 m / z Use the spectrum to determine
  7. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q5(c) (2 marks): The student concluded that alcohol Q was either propan‑1‑ol or propan‑2‑ol because the mass spectrum had the molecular ion peak at m / z = 60. Explain one peak
  8. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Determine the relative molecular mass of compound B. (1) 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 m / z Relative molecular mass of compound
  9. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Deduce the molecular formula of hydrocarbon B. (1)
  10. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(iv) (2 marks): The mass spectra of the two isomers of dichloroethane are shown. 100 100 80 80 60 60 Relative Relative intensity intensity 40 40 20 20 0 0 60 80 100 60 80 100 m
  11. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(v) (1 mark): State why in both spectra the peaks at 98, 100 and 102 have different relative intensities. (1)
  12. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(vi) (2 marks): Explain how the presence of the peaks at 83, 85 and 87 in Spectrum B allows the identification of the isomer responsible for this spectrum. (2)
  13. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(iii) (1 mark): The mass spectrum of compound B is shown. 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 m/z Deduce the relative molecular mass of compound
  14. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(iv) (2 marks): In the mass spectrum of cyclohexanol, there is a peak at m/z = 83. Give the formula of a fragment that could be responsible for this peak. (2)
  15. October 2020, Paper 3, Q6(c)(iii) (2 marks): Give the formula of a fragment ion, with its m/z value, that you would expect to be present in the mass spectrum of benzoic acid but not in the mass spectrum of
  16. October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Use the mass spectrum to show that the empirical and the molecular formulae of this compound are the same. (1) 100 80 60 relative intensity 40 20 0 0 20 40 60 8
  17. October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest the species responsible for the peak at m / z = 69 . (1)
  18. June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(b) (2 marks): Part of the mass spectrum of D is shown. 100 80 60 Relative intensity 40 20 0 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 m / z Deduce the molecular formula of D.
  19. June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(c)(i) (1 mark): Give the molecular formula of the species that causes the peak at m / z = 76 in the mass spectrum of D. (1)
  20. June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): The relative molecular mass of 2-methylpropan-2-ol is 74. Give a possible reason why there is no molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum of 2-methylpropan-2-ol.
  21. June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): Write the formula for a species that could be responsible for the peak at m / z = 59. (1)
  22. June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(e)(i) (1 mark): State how you would find the molar mass of 3-methylbutan-2-one from the mass spectrum. (1)
  23. June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(e)(ii) (2 marks): The mass spectrum shows a peak at m/z = 43. Draw the displayed formulae of two fragment ions that might be responsible for this peak. (2)
  24. June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Show that this mass spectrum can be used to confirm the molar mass of geraniol. (1)
  25. June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Identify an ion that could be responsible for the peak at m / z = 69. (1)
  26. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(iii) (1 mark): The mass spectrum of alcohol X has a major peak at m/z = 45. Draw the structure of the species that could give this peak. (1)
  27. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(iv) (2 marks): Alcohol X has a branched chain. Identify alcohol X, explaining your reasoning. (2)

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