plumiOrganic synthesis: Edexcel International A Level Chemistry questions
Every Edexcel International A Level Chemistry exam question on Organic synthesis (specification points 20.1–20.5), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q11(a)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ18(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q18(e)
The whole paper ↗Q18(f)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
- Your answer
Q23(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)
The whole paper ↗Q19(c)
The whole paper ↗Q12(a)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ12(b)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ15(c)
The whole paper ↗Q15(b)
The whole paper ↗Q20(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q12(a)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ12(b)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ17(a)
The whole paper ↗Q17(b)
The whole paper ↗
All 48 questions on Organic synthesis, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q11(a) (1 mark): Which is the name of the functional group that is replaced in step A? (1) A phenyl B nitrile C amine D amide
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q18(d)(i) (1 mark): After sunset yellow is formed, it needs to be purified. Name the process that is used. (1)
- June 2025 (A), Unit 5, Q18(e) (1 mark): Name the type of reagent used in Step 5. (1)
- June 2025 (A), Unit 5, Q18(f) (1 mark): Draw a possible structure of K that could be formed in Step 5. (1)
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q10 (1 mark): Which sequence describes recrystallisation? A dissolve in the minimum volume of cold solvent, filter to remove the insoluble impurities, then add hot solvent a
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q11 (1 mark): A synthesis of aspirin from phenol is shown. OH OH OCOCH3 CO2H CO2H Step 1 Step 2 yield 80% yield 75% phenol, Mr = 94 aspirin, Mr = 180 What mass of aspirin is
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q19 (6 marks): Grignard reagents are used to increase the length of the carbon chain in organic molecules. An outline synthesis of propanoic acid from ethanoic acid is shown.
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q23(a) (1 mark): Deduce the molecular formula of procaine. (1)
- January 2025, Unit 6, Q3(c) (1 mark): The molecular formula of X is the same as its empirical formula. Use this information, and your answers to (a) and (b), to deduce the structure of X. (1)
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q19(c) (7 marks): Raspberry ketone can also be synthesised in the laboratory using a Grignard reagent via a multi-step process. The overall reaction is shown. OH O HO HO Devise t
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q12(a) (1 mark): Which metal is involved in the formation of a Grignard reagent? (1) A chromium B copper C magnesium D manganese
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q12(b) (1 mark): What best describes the role of a Grignard reagent in increasing the length of a carbon chain? (1) A reducing agent B oxidising agent C nucleophile D electrophi
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q15(c) (3 marks): Identify three factors that organic chemists would take into account when considering alternative methods for an organic synthesis. (3)
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q15(b) (7 marks): Cooking fresh ginger converts gingerol into zingerone, which is less pungent and has a sweeter flavour. Zingerone can be formed in a four‑step synthesis from co
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q20(b) (7 marks): Devise a synthesis to convert bromobenzene into benzamide. Include reagents, conditions and the structures of the intermediate compounds. O Br C NH2 bromobenzen
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q20 (1 mark): Which carbonyl compound and Grignard reagent would not react to form compound Y? OH compound Y Carbonyl compound Grignard reagent O BrMg A O B BrMg O C BrMgCH3
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q12(a) (1 mark): What type of reaction occurs with a Grignard reagent? (1) A electrophilic addition B free radical substitution C oxidation D nucleophilic addition
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q12(b) (1 mark): Benzaldehyde reacts with a Grignard reagent, followed by hydrolysis, to form 2-methyl-1-phenylbutan-1-ol. OH CH3 H H O C C C C C H H H H H H What is the formula
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q17(a) (4 marks): An organic compound A contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only and has a molar mass of 136 g mol–1. Complete combustion of 5.26 g of A in dry oxygen produces 1
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q17(b) (5 marks): Compound A, C9H12O, contains a benzene ring and one side-chain. A is oxidised when heated with acidified potassium dichromate(VI) to produce a compound B which
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q17(c) (2 marks): Compound F is a structural isomer of A which also has a benzene ring and one side-chain. F is not oxidised when heated with acidified potassium dichromate(VI).
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q17(d) (2 marks): Compound G is a structural isomer of A which also has a benzene ring and one side-chain. The mass spectrum of G has a peak at m / z = 107. Deduce the structure
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q19(b) (5 marks): Devise a synthesis of N-phenylethylethanamide from (bromomethyl)benzene without the use of a Grignard reagent. Include reagents, conditions and the structures o
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q18 (1 mark): The use of recrystallisation to purify a chemical compound depends on how its solubility in the chosen solvent varies with temperature. How should the solubilit
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q21(a)(ii) (2 marks): Deduce the molecular formula of the alkyl group R, using the structure of coniine and its molar mass. You must show your working. (2)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q23(d) (4 marks): Salicylaldehyde may be used in the synthesis of coumarin, a compound which occurs in many plants. Coumarin is in turn used to prepare warfarin, a compound presc
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q9(a) (1 mark): Which solvent is used in this preparation? (1) A ethanol B ether C pentane D propanone
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q9(b) (1 mark): Why are anti-bumping granules added to the flask? (1) A to lower the boiling temperature of the solvent B to prevent the solvent evaporating C because the solve
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q9(c) (1 mark): The structure of 2-methylpropylmagnesium bromide is shown. MgBr Which statement best describes the circled carbon atom? (1) A positive and electrophilic B posit
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q9(d) (1 mark): Which compound reacts with 2‑methylpropylmagnesium bromide to form 4‑ethyl‑2‑methylheptan‑4‑ol? OH MgBr 2‑methylpropylmagnesium bromide 4‑ethyl‑2‑methylheptan‑4
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q14(b) (6 marks): Tests on samples of Q show that it • burns in air with a very sooty flame • forms an orange precipitate with Brady’s reagent (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine solutio
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q16 (6 marks): The ester ethyl 2‑methylbutanoate is found in wild berries such as bilberries. Devise a synthesis to convert but‑2‑ene into ethyl 2‑methylbutanoate in four step
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q13 (1 mark): But‑2‑ene‑1,4‑diol may be converted into 2‑oxobutanedioic acid in a two‑step synthesis through an intermediate compound W. steam and H2SO4 W HOCH2CH CHCH2OH HO2
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q15(a) (4 marks): Combustion analysis of 4.91 g of Q produces 14.6 g of carbon dioxide and 3.58 g of water. Show that the molecular formula of Q is C10H12O . You must show all yo
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q16(a) (6 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to produce benzoic acid from benzene, via bromobenzene and then a Grignard reagent. Include the reagents and essential conditions for e
- October 2021, Unit 4, Q16(b)(i) (6 marks): Deduce the two possible structures of X, showing how this information supports your answer. (6)
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q16 (1 mark): Grignard reagents react with A water giving primary alcohols B all aldehydes giving secondary alcohols C ketones giving secondary or tertiary alcohols D carbon
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q17 (1 mark): The melting temperature is determined for impure crystals of an organic compound. When compared with a data book value for the pure compound, the measured melti
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q19(d) (1 mark): Draw the structure of compound X. (1)
- June 2021, Unit 6, Q3(d)(i) (2 marks): Identify, by name or formula, suitable substances for solids M and N. (2) Solid M Solid N
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q17 (1 mark): When a sample of a hydrocarbon is burned completely in oxygen, 2.64 g of carbon dioxide and 0.81 g of water are formed. Which of these could be the molecular fo
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q18 (1 mark): Benzenecarboxylic acid may be produced from benzene in a two-step synthesis. O OH CH3 C Step 1 Step 2 Yield 45% Yield 60% benzene methylbenzene benzenecarboxyli
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q20(b) (4 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to prepare propan-1-ol from butanone, using no more than four steps. Identify the reagents and essential conditions for each step and g
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q20(c) (5 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to prepare 2-methylbut-2-ene from butanone, using no more than four steps. Identify the reagents and essential conditions for each step
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q22(a) (3 marks): Determine the molecular formula of CxHy . You must show your working. (3)
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q11 (1 mark): Which organic compound reacts with a Grignard reagent to give a product that forms a secondary alcohol on hydrolysis? A carbon dioxide B ethanal C methanal D pr
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q23(b) (6 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to convert butan-2-ol into 1-amino-2-methylbutan-2-ol in three steps. H H OH H H H OH H H C C C C H H C C C C H H H H H H H CH2 H NH2 1
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q25(e)(ii) (4 marks): The Lanthanides The lanthanides form a series in the Periodic Table comprising the elements from lanthanum, La (Z = 57) to lutetium, Lu (Z = 71). They have impo
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