plumiPreparing and purifying organic compounds (Core Practical 16: aspirin): Edexcel International A Level Chemistry questions
Edexcel International A Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 20.1.4 Preparing and purifying organic compounds (Core Practical 16: aspirin), 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q18(d)(i)
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All 70 questions on Preparing and purifying organic compounds (Core Practical 16: aspirin), as a list
- 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, Unit 6, Q4(d) (2 marks): Give two reasons why the crude product is washed with water in Step 3. (2)
- June 2025, Unit 6, Q4(e)(i) (1 mark): The recrystallisation in Step 4 was carried out using this method: • transfer the crude product to a boiling tube and cover in ethanol • place the boiling tube
- June 2025, Unit 6, Q4(e)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the crystals are washed with cold ethanol. (2)
- June 2025, Unit 6, Q4(f) (3 marks): Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus that could be used to measure the melting temperature of phenyl benzoate in Step 5. You should assume that electrical e
- June 2025 (A), Unit 5, Q15(a) (1 mark): Which reagents are used in Step 2? (1) A chloroethane and aluminium(III) chloride B ethanoic anhydride and sulfuric acid C ethanol and sulfuric acid D potassium
- 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 6, Q2(b) (2 marks): The student suggested using the apparatus shown to carry out the heating under reflux in Step 2. There are two mistakes with this set-up. water in water out hea
- January 2025, Unit 6, Q2(c)(iv) (3 marks): Explain why a student carrying out Step 4 was told to ensure they used the minimum amount of hot ethanol to dissolve the azo dye. (3)
- January 2025, Unit 6, Q2(c)(v) (1 mark): State how the purified azo dye could be dried in Step 5. (1)
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q16(d)(i) (2 marks): Add a single curly arrow to Step 1 and a single curly arrow to Step 2 to complete this part of the mechanism. (2)
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q16(d)(ii) (1 mark): State the role of the H+ ion in the synthesis of aspirin. (1)
- October 2024, Unit 6, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used to filter off the crystals under reduced pressure in Step 5. (2)
- October 2024, Unit 6, Q4(b)(iii) (3 marks): Outline how the melting temperature of the crystals may be measured to ensure that an accurate value is obtained. (3)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q11(a) (1 mark): Which is a suitable liquid to go in the beaker? (1) A deionised water B ethanol C hexane D mineral oil
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q11(b) (1 mark): Which is likely to be the main impurity in the sample of aspirin? (1) A ethanoic acid B ethanoic anhydride C ethanol D 2‑hydroxybenzoic acid
- June 2024, Unit 6, Q4(c) (3 marks): Draw a diagram of the apparatus used in Step 3 when the mixture is heated under reflux. (3)
- June 2024, Unit 6, Q4(d) (2 marks): Describe how to wash the organic layer with sodium carbonate solution in Step 5. (2)
- January 2024, Unit 6, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): The filter paper used should fit in the funnel and lie flat on the base of the Büchner funnel rather than curl up the sides of the funnel. correct incorrect Exp
- January 2024, Unit 6, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the solid collected in Step 4 is washed with a small volume of cold water. (2)
- January 2024, Unit 6, Q4(d) (1 mark): In Step 5 the recrystallisation of phenylethanamide involves hot filtration. State the purpose of this filtration. (1)
- January 2024, Unit 6, Q4(e) (1 mark): Give the two effects of impurities on the melting temperature range of phenylethanamide. (1)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q21(b)(ii) (1 mark): Write the equation for the reaction of salicylic acid and ethanoic anhydride. (1)
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q21(d)(ii) (2 marks): Describe, in outline, how the product of this reaction may be used to confirm the identity of hexane-2,5-dione. Experimental details are not required. (2)
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q4(c) (3 marks): One student drew the suction filtration apparatus in Step 6 as shown. base of Buchner funnel flask Identify the three ways in which this diagram is incorrect. Y
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q4(d) (4 marks): Describe the stages in the recrystallisation of methyl 3‑nitrobenzoate in Step 7, stating which stages are required to remove the insoluble and soluble impuriti
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q4(e)(i) (1 mark): The crystals must be dried before the melting temperature can be determined. Methyl 3‑nitrobenzoate cannot be dried by the addition of a solid drying agent such
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q4(e)(ii) (1 mark): State how the crystals of methyl 3‑nitrobenzoate could be dried. (1)
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q4(g) (2 marks): The melting temperature range of methyl 3‑nitrobenzoate is given in a data book as 78–80 °C. Suggest a melting temperature range for a sample of the methyl 3‑ni
- January 2023, Unit 6, Q4(a) (2 marks): Give two reasons why it is often necessary to heat a reaction under reflux as in Step 3. (2)
- January 2023, Unit 6, Q4(c) (3 marks): Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used for filtration under reduced pressure in Step 7. (3)
- January 2023, Unit 6, Q4(d)(i) (2 marks): Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus you would use to measure the melting temperature. (2)
- January 2023, Unit 6, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): State how this melting temperature determination would show that a pure sample of 2‑ethanoylaminobenzoic acid had been prepared. (2)
- 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 6, Q3(b) (2 marks): Explain why it is important from time to time in Step 4 either to invert the separating funnel and open the tap, or to remove its stopper. Include an equation t
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q3(c) (2 marks): A student set up a separating funnel in Step 5 as shown and opened the tap to remove the lower layer. Explain what happens. Assume that the funnel is supported
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): Identify, by name or formula, a suitable drying agent for use in Step 5. (1)
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q3(d)(ii) (1 mark): State how a student would decide whether or not more drying agent was needed in Step 5. (1)
- October 2022, Unit 6, Q3(d)(iii) (1 mark): Name the technique used to obtain a pure sample of the dry organic liquid in Step 6. (1)
- 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 6, Q2(b)(i) (4 marks): The orange precipitates produced on the addition of Brady’s reagent to samples of C and E are called derivatives. The melting temperatures of derivatives are us
- June 2022, Unit 6, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason for using steam distillation to extract limonene. (1)
- June 2022, Unit 6, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): The distillate may be collected in a pear‑shaped flask. Complete a labelled diagram showing the distillate. You should show clearly the limonene layer. (1)
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q4(c) (1 mark): This question is about the preparation of phenylamine by the reduction of nitrobenzene. NH2 NO2 + 6[H] → + 2H2O phenylamine nitrobenzene Outline procedure Step
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q4(d) (1 mark): This question is about the preparation of phenylamine by the reduction of nitrobenzene. NH2 NO2 + 6[H] → + 2H2O phenylamine nitrobenzene Outline procedure Step
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q4(e)(i) (2 marks): This question is about the preparation of phenylamine by the reduction of nitrobenzene. NH2 NO2 + 6[H] → + 2H2O phenylamine nitrobenzene Outline procedure Step
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q4(e)(ii) (1 mark): This question is about the preparation of phenylamine by the reduction of nitrobenzene. NH2 NO2 + 6[H] → + 2H2O phenylamine nitrobenzene Outline procedure Step
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q4(f) (1 mark): This question is about the preparation of phenylamine by the reduction of nitrobenzene. NH2 NO2 + 6[H] → + 2H2O phenylamine nitrobenzene Outline procedure Step
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q4(g) (2 marks): This question is about the preparation of phenylamine by the reduction of nitrobenzene. NH2 NO2 + 6[H] → + 2H2O phenylamine nitrobenzene Outline procedure Step
- 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
- October 2021, Unit 6, Q4(a) (3 marks): A student drew a diagram of the apparatus set up for distillation in Step 3. There are three errors in the diagram. Assume the apparatus is clamped correctly an
- October 2021, Unit 6, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): State what should be done to separate the benzoic acid from the mixture produced in Step 4, before carrying out Step 5. (1)
- October 2021, Unit 6, Q4(d) (1 mark): Describe the first stage in the recrystallisation process in Step 5. (1)
- October 2021, Unit 6, Q4(e) (2 marks): The melting temperature of pure benzoic acid is 122 °C. State two ways in which the melting temperature changes if the benzoic acid is not pure. (2)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State why a reflux condenser is needed when the mixture is warmed. (1)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): Draw a diagram of the apparatus used to warm under reflux in this experiment. (3)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest why the reaction mixture is stirred continuously. (2)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(b) (1 mark): The excess acid is removed from the reaction mixture. The layer containing nitrobenzene is separated and dried before being purified by distillation. Identify a
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): State why a minimum volume of hot solvent is used in Step 1. (1)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(d)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why a preheated funnel is used in Step 2. (1)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(d)(iii) (2 marks): Give a reason for each of the two filtrations in Steps 2 and 3. (2)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(d)(iv) (1 mark): Give a possible reason why it is preferable to dry the solid in a desiccator rather than in an oven in Step 5. (1)
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q3(e) (1 mark): The melting temperature of the recrystallised Organol Brown is measured to check its purity. State what you would observe if the sample was pure. (1)
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(a) (1 mark): Give a reason for placing the flask in cold water in Step 1. (1)
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(b) (1 mark): Suggest the purpose of the concentrated sulfuric acid added in Step 2. (1)
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(c) (3 marks): Show, by calculation, that the ethanoic anhydride is in excess in this preparation. (3)
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(d) (3 marks): One student drew a diagram of the apparatus used for reflux in Step 4. water in water out anti-bumping granules heat Ide
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(e) (1 mark): Suggest the purpose of adding crushed ice and distilled water in Step 5. (1)
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(f) (2 marks): The filtration in Step 7 is carried out under reduced pressure. State two advantages of this method compared with ordina
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(g) (2 marks): Describe how the purity of the recrystallised aspirin could be tested. Experimental details are not required. (2) (Total
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