plumiInfrared spectra: Edexcel International A Level Chemistry questions
Edexcel International A Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 10.D.2 Infrared spectra, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q16(c)(ii)
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All 35 questions on Infrared spectra, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q16(c)(ii) (2 marks): The infrared spectrum of cyclohexanol is shown. Transmittance 3000 2000 1000 Wavenumber / cm–1 Describe two differences, other than the fingerprint region, that
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q20(c) (2 marks): The infrared spectrum for salicylic acid is shown. 100 Transmittance / % 50 0 4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumber / cm–1 Identify two wavenumbers on the spe
- June 2025 (A), Unit 5, Q18(c) (3 marks): There are two possible products in Step 4. Describe how these could be distinguished using infrared spectroscopy. Refer to three different types of bond and the
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q20 (6 marks): *20 A bottle has lost its label. The content of the bottle is thought to be one of 1-hydroxypropanone, propenoic acid or butan-1-ol. O O OH OH OH 1-hydroxypropa
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q15 (1 mark): An infrared spectrum for a compound containing one functional group is shown. 100 Transmittance / % 50 0 4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumber / cm–1 Which fu
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q20(a)(iii) (3 marks): The infrared spectrum of isoprene is shown. R P Transmittance Q / % 3000 2000 1000 Wavenumber / cm–1 State the origins of the peaks labelled P, Q and R. You may
- June 2024 (R), AS Unit 2, Q20(b)(ii) (3 marks): Acetoin also contains the carbonyl group C an aldehyde. Use page 5 of your Data Booklet to show how infrared spectra data could be used to prove that acetoin co
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q23(c)(iii) (2 marks): Give the wavenumber range of an absorption in the infrared spectrum of the organic product of reaction R4, which is not present in the infrared spectrum of CH3C
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q15(b) (1 mark): Compound Y does not react with acidified aqueous sodium dichromate. The infrared spectrum of Y is shown. 100 % Transmittance 0 3000 2000 1000 Wavenumber / cm–1
- January 2024, Unit 6, Q4(f) (3 marks): An infrared spectrum of phenylethanamide and an infrared spectrum of phenylamine were obtained. One of these two spectra is shown with two peaks circled. 100 Tr
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q14(a) (1 mark): When propan‑2‑ol is refluxed with excess acidified potassium dichromate(VI), the product will show a peak due to (1) A O H stretching at 3750 – 3200 cm–1 B C O
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q14(b) (1 mark): When propan‑1‑ol is heated with acidified potassium dichromate(VI), the product that is distilled off as it is formed will show a peak due to (1) A O H stretchi
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q21(c) (2 marks): Explain how the infrared spectra of methanol and methanal can be used to distinguish between the two compounds, stating the relevant bond stretching vibrations
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(d)(ii) (1 mark): Some infrared data are given in the table. Group Wavenumber range / cm–1 O H stretching in alcohols 3750–3200 O H stretching in carboxylic acids 3300–2500 C O s
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q16 (1 mark): Which compound has peaks at 3415 cm–1 and 2250 cm–1 in its infrared spectrum? Refer to the Data Booklet. A H2NCH2CH2C N B CH3CH2CH2COOH C ClCH2CH2C CH D HOCH2CH
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q11(a) (1 mark): Which of these wavenumber ranges would you not expect to have an absorption in the infrared spectrum of valine? (1) A 3500 – 3300 cm–1 B 3095 – 3010 cm–1 C 2962
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q22(c)(iii) (2 marks): Infrared spectroscopy provides information on functional groups. In an experiment, a sample of 2-methylpropan-1-ol was treated with an oxidising agent. Show tha
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q14(c) (1 mark): Cyclohexanol and cyclohexene each has a peak in their infrared spectrum which is not present for the other compound. Which are these peaks? (1) Peak only in cyc
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q24(d)(i) (1 mark): Draw a circle around an absorption in the spectrum that could be due to the stretching of the N H bond. (1)
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q24(d)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the bond responsible for the absorption at 1683 cm−1. . (1)
- January 2022, AS Unit 3, Q2(d) (2 marks): The infrared spectrum of Y is shown. 0.8 0.6 Transmittance 0.4 0.2 4000 3000 2000 1000 Wavenumber / cm–1 The table shows some infrared absorption data. Wavenumb
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q5 (1 mark): The infrared spectrum of a compound X is shown. 100 90 80 70 60 % Transmittance 50 40 30 20 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumber / cm−1 Which could
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q2(e)(i) (2 marks): Z has a fruity smell. Deduce the identity of the functional group present in Z, using all the information given. Include any relevant wavenumber ranges in your
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1 (1 mark): The infrared spectrum of an organic compound is shown. 100 50 0 4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumber / cm–1 Which of these compounds would give this infrared
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q12 (1 mark): Which could be the infrared spectrum of CH2=CHCH2OH? 100 A % Transmittance 50 0 4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumber / cm–1 100 % Transmittance 50 B 0 4000 3
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q22(d) (2 marks): Use your Data Booklet to suggest the wavenumber of a strong absorbance you would expect to see in the infrared spectrum for phosgene. Justify your answer. (2)
- June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(d)(i) (1 mark): Identify the wavenumber range and the bond responsible for one peak which you would expect to see in the infrared spectra of all three compounds. (1)
- June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(d)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the wavenumber range and the bond responsible for one peak which you would expect to see in the infrared spectra of only one of the compounds. (1)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q14 (1 mark): An aliphatic organic compound has the infrared spectrum shown. 100 P 50 Q 0 4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumber / cm –1 What are the bond stretches responsi
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q17(d)(iii) (1 mark): The infrared spectrum of E has an absorption in the range 1750 – 1735 cm−1. Name the functional group in E. (1)
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q17(b)(iv) (3 marks): The infrared spectra of methanol and methanoic acid are shown. Explain how these could be used to show that all the methanol has been converted to methanoic aci
- October 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(a)(v) (1 mark): State whether or not it is possible to distinguish between F and G using infrared spectra. Justify your answer. Wavenumber values are not required. (1)
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q17(c)(i) (4 marks): Identify, by name or formula, compounds V, W and F. Justify your answer by using all the available information. (4)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q17(d)(iii) (1 mark): Give the bond and the wavenumber range of its absorption in the infrared spectrum of 2-methylbutan-2-ol which would not be in the infrared spectrum of this chlo
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q22(b)(ii) (2 marks): Describe, by referring to wavenumbers and bonds, how the infrared spectra of the isomers differ from the infrared spectrum of alcohol Y. (2)
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