plumiTests for organic functional groups: Edexcel International A Level Chemistry questions
Edexcel International A Level Chemistry past-paper questions on P.1.6 Tests for organic functional groups, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q16(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ20(c)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(j)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ21(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ17(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(b)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(c)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ2(d)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDF
All 50 questions on Tests for organic functional groups, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q16(a) (2 marks): Give a chemical test, including the result, to show that alcohols contain an OH group. (2)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q1(a) (1 mark): Phosphorus(V) chloride is added to separate samples of P and Q. A gas, R, is evolved in each reaction. Identify R, by name or formula. (1)
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the colour change of the mixtures during heating. (1) From To
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the functional group present in P and Q. (1)
- January 2025, Unit 6, Q3(a) (4 marks): Qualitative tests on X show that it • burns in air with a very smoky flame • forms an orange precipitate with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (Brady’s reagent) does
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): The purified product was treated with a small volume of bromine water and shaken. The bromine water was not decolourised. State the most likely conclusion that
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): The purified product was also treated with Fehling’s reagent. No colour change was observed. State the most likely conclusion that can be made from this informa
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q20(c) (6 marks): Three students were asked to carry out a single chemical test to unambiguously identify the presence of the ‒OH group in the three terpenoid compounds, menthol,
- June 2024, AS Unit 3, Q2(j) (4 marks): State a chemical test for the –OH group in ethanol and a chemical test for the –Br group in bromoethane. Include the expected positive observations. (4) –OH gro
- June 2024, Unit 6, Q1(a) (2 marks): Test 1 A small amount of phosphorus(V) chloride, PCl5, is added to 2 cm3 of A. Observation misty fumes given off Test 2 Aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3
- June 2024, Unit 6, Q1(b) (1 mark): Test 3 A few drops of A are added to 2 cm3 of Tollens’ reagent (ammoniacal silver nitrate solution). The mixture is placed in a warm water bath. Observation sil
- January 2024, Unit 6, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the functional group in X identified by this test. (1)
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q21(a)(iii) (2 marks): Reagents were added to separate samples of X to identify the functional groups in the molecule. Complete Table 1. (2) Table 1 Reagent Observation Functional gro
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q17(a) (6 marks): These four isomers can be identified using three chemical tests. Each test gives a positive result for only one isomer. All three tests give a negative result f
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(a) (1 mark): A small amount of phosphorus(V) chloride, PCl5 , is added to separate 2 cm3 samples of each compound. Observations C D Misty fumes are given off Misty fumes are
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(b) (1 mark): 2 cm3 of aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3(aq), is added to separate 2 cm3 samples of each compound. Any gas given off is tested with limewater. Observat
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(c) (2 marks): 2 cm3 of Benedict’s or Fehling’s solution is added to separate 2 cm3 samples of each compound. The test tubes are placed in a warm water bath. Observations C D
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q2(d)(i) (3 marks): Deduce the structure of C and the two possible structures of D. Use the molecular formula and the results from (a), (b) and (c). (3) Structure of C Possible str
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Deduce the functional group in X. Justify your answer by referring to the observations. (3)
- June 2023, Unit 6, Q2(d)(ii) (2 marks): A student prepared an ester using X and a suitable compound. Explain why the student added aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate to the reaction mixture to allow the
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q4(a) (2 marks): Give a chemical test, with the expected result, which would show the presence of the –OH group in any alcohol. (2) Test Result
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q4(b)(iv) (3 marks): Give one chemical test, with the expected results, which would distinguish these oxidation products of isomers L and M. (3) Test Result for oxidation product of
- October 2022, AS Unit 3, Q4(c)(iv) (4 marks): Give a further chemical test and the positive result for each of the oxidation products of propan‑1‑ol. (4)
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(g)(i) (2 marks): State a chemical test and the expected observation for a C C double bond. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(g)(ii) (2 marks): State a chemical test and the expected observation for an –OH group. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(g)(iii) (1 mark): State whether or not the test in (g)(ii) could be used on the organic product to show if cyclohexanol remains when Step 5 is complete. Justify your answer. (1)
- June 2022, Unit 6, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): The student carries out three tests on separate samples of each compound. Complete Table 1 to show the observations that the student makes. (3) Observations on
- January 2022, AS Unit 3, Q2(b) (1 mark): When phosphorus(V) chloride is added to X, steamy white fumes are seen. State what can be deduced about compound X from this observation only. (1)
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q2(b) (3 marks): Three chemical tests are carried out on X. Test 1 When Brady’s reagent (2,4‑dinitrophenylhydrazine solution) is added to X, an orange precipitate is observed.
- January 2022, Unit 6, Q2(d)(i) (1 mark): When aqueous sodium carbonate is added to Y, effervescence is observed. Identify, by name or formula, the functional group present in Y. (1)
- October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(a) (4 marks): Geraniol has two different types of functional group. Name the functional groups, giving a chemical test and its positive result to show the presence of each gr
- October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(e) (1 mark): State the appearance of the flame when geraniol is ignited. (1)
- October 2021, Unit 6, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Complete the statements in the inference column by writing the names or formulae of the functional groups. (2) Test Observation Inference Test 1 A could contain
- October 2021, Unit 6, Q2(c)(i) (2 marks): Complete the statements in the observation and inference columns. (2) Test Observation Inference Test 3 2 drops of B were dissolved in 2 cm3 of water The colour
- October 2021, Unit 6, Q4(b) (2 marks): The distillate collected in Step 3 is the alcohol ROH. Describe a chemical test, and its positive result, to show the presence of an –OH group in any alcohol. (
- June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Give a chemical test to show the presence of the OH group in all three compounds, including the expected result. (2)
- June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Give a chemical test to show the presence of the carbon-carbon double bond in Z-hex-3-en-1-ol, including the expected result. (2)
- June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): The test you have given in (b)(i) is repeated with 1-methylcyclopentanol. Give the observation for this test with 1-methylcyclopentanol. (1)
- June 2021, Unit 6, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): A and B O O OH OH O B A (2)
- June 2021, Unit 6, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): C and D O O O C D (2)
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q17(d)(ii) (1 mark): Aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate is added to a sample of E. No effervescence occurs. State what can be deduced by this observation. (1)
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q17(b)(iii) (2 marks): Give a chemical test, and its positive result, that could be used to confirm the functional group in methanoic acid. (2)
- October 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify, by name or formula, the steamy fumes produced in Test 1. (1) Test 2 About 1 cm3 of sodium hydrogencarbonate solution was added to 1 cm3 of each liquid
- October 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify, by name or formula, the gas produced in Test 2. (1)
- October 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Using the results from Tests 1 and 2 and the information at the start of the question, name the functional groups present in F and G. (2) Functional group in F
- October 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(b) (4 marks): The organic liquid H is a pheromone thought to be involved in communication between rabbits. H O H3C CH3 State the initial and final appearance of each mixture
- January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): Give a chemical test, with the expected observation, to confirm the presence of the hydroxy group. (2) Test Observation
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q22(a) (2 marks): Describe a chemical test and its positive result for the alcohol functional group in Y. (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): A chemical test may be used to confirm the presence of the hydroxyl group in A. Identify a suitable reagent for this test, giving the positive result. (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): A chemical test may be used to confirm the presence of an aldehyde. Identify the reagent used, giving the positive result of the test. (2)
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Edexcel International A Level Chemistry past papers.
The Plumi iPad app also offers exam-style questions with AI feedback on your handwritten working.