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Carboxylic acids and their derivatives: Eduqas A‑Level Chemistry questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Chemistry exam question on OA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,513 questions

  1. Q12(d)(iv)

    June 2025 · Component 1

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 1, question 12(d)(iv): Under the conditions of the reaction, the ion below is formed. State what information this provides regarding the relative Ka values of the protons in 2-hydroxy

  2. Q6(b)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 6(b): Suggest the structure of an intermediate product in stage 2. [1]

  3. Q7(c)(iii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    2 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 7(c)(iii): On strong heating, calcium butanoate undergoes decarboxylation to give calcium carbonate and a ketone. Give the equation for this reaction and name the ketone p

  4. Q8(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 8(a)(i): Suggest one impurity that could be present in the crude amide. [1]

  5. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    2 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 8(b)(i): Complete the mechanism by adding full charges as appropriate. [2]

  6. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 8(b)(ii): Complete the missing words in the sentence below. [1] This reaction is a reaction, where the attacking reagent is acting as a .

  7. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 9(a)(i): In stage 1, methylbenzene is heated with aqueous alkaline potassium manganate(VII) and then acidified. State why it is necessary to acidify the mixture to obtai

  8. Q9(b)(v)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    2 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 9(b)(v): Diazonium compounds have many reactions other than producing azo dyes. 3-Cyanobenzoic acid can be produced from a diazonium intermediate. COOH C N This can then

  9. Q10(d)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    6 marksOA4 Organic synthesis and analysisOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 10(d): 3-Methylbutyl ethanoate is used as a banana flavouring in the food industry. When it is refluxed with aqueous sodium hydroxide it produces sodium ethanoate and

  10. Q11(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    2 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 11(a)(iii): The acid reacts with phosphorus(V) chloride to give the corresponding acid chloride, pivaloyl chloride. (CH3)3C COOH(l) + PCl5(s) (CH3)3C COCl(l) + POCl3(l) + H

  11. Q11(a)(iv)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 11(a)(iv): One method to produce pivalamide, (CH3)3C—CONH2, is to slowly add pivaloyl chloride to a dilute aqueous solution of ammonia. Suggest why this method may give a

  12. Q3(d)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 3(d): Complete the equation for the alkaline hydrolysis of N-propylbenzamide. [1] O + NaOH N H +

  13. Q7(a)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 7(a): Complete the equation for this reaction. [2] H O H O C C C C OCH3 O + + OCH3 C C C C H O H O dimethyl maleate

  14. Q10(a)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    6 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 10(a): Esters can be converted into carboxylic acids by heating with aqueous sodium hydroxide, followed by acidification of the resulting salt of the carboxylic acid.

  15. Q10(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 10(b)(ii): Decanedioyl dichloride can be produced by reacting decanedioic acid with sulfur dichloride oxide, SOCl2 The co-products of the reaction are hydrogen chloride an

  16. Q11(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 11(b)(i): State a reagent that can be used for this reaction. Explain why this process is described as reduction. [2]

  17. Q11(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 11(c)(i): The process of decarboxylation can be used to reduce the number of carbon atoms in a chain, usually producing an alkane. One method is to heat the sodium salt o

  18. Q11(c)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    3 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 11(c)(ii): If solid 2-hydroxybenzoic acid is slowly heated, decarboxylation occurs, giving phenol. OH OH COOH + CO2 At intervals during this reaction, samples were removed

  19. Q12(a)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    6 marksOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivativesC1.3 Chemical calculations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 12(a): You are provided with a sample of a diamide, where R is an alkyl group. O O C R C H2N NH2 6.32 g of the diamide reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide to produce

  20. Q6(a)

    Autumn 2021 · Component 2

    1 markOA2.3 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2021 Component 2, question 6(a): Calcium propanoate, (CH3CH2COO)2Ca, is used as a preservative in bread making. On heating it gives a ketone and calcium carbonate as the only products. Complete
All 48 questions on Carboxylic acids and their derivatives, as a list
  1. June 2025, Component 1, Q12(d)(iv) (1 mark): Under the conditions of the reaction, the ion below is formed. State what information this provides regarding the relative Ka values of the protons in 2-hydroxy
  2. June 2025, Component 2, Q6(b) (1 mark): Suggest the structure of an intermediate product in stage 2. [1]
  3. June 2025, Component 2, Q7(c)(iii) (2 marks): On strong heating, calcium butanoate undergoes decarboxylation to give calcium carbonate and a ketone. Give the equation for this reaction and name the ketone p
  4. June 2025, Component 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest one impurity that could be present in the crude amide. [1]
  5. June 2025, Component 2, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the mechanism by adding full charges as appropriate. [2]
  6. June 2025, Component 2, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): Complete the missing words in the sentence below. [1] This reaction is a reaction, where the attacking reagent is acting as a .
  7. June 2025, Component 2, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): In stage 1, methylbenzene is heated with aqueous alkaline potassium manganate(VII) and then acidified. State why it is necessary to acidify the mixture to obtai
  8. June 2025, Component 2, Q9(b)(v) (2 marks): Diazonium compounds have many reactions other than producing azo dyes. 3-Cyanobenzoic acid can be produced from a diazonium intermediate. COOH C N This can then
  9. June 2025, Component 2, Q10(d) (6 marks): 3-Methylbutyl ethanoate is used as a banana flavouring in the food industry. When it is refluxed with aqueous sodium hydroxide it produces sodium ethanoate and
  10. June 2025, Component 2, Q11(a)(iii) (2 marks): The acid reacts with phosphorus(V) chloride to give the corresponding acid chloride, pivaloyl chloride. (CH3)3C COOH(l) + PCl5(s) (CH3)3C COCl(l) + POCl3(l) + H
  11. June 2025, Component 2, Q11(a)(iv) (1 mark): One method to produce pivalamide, (CH3)3C—CONH2, is to slowly add pivaloyl chloride to a dilute aqueous solution of ammonia. Suggest why this method may give a
  12. June 2025, Component 3, Q3(d) (1 mark): Complete the equation for the alkaline hydrolysis of N-propylbenzamide. [1] O + NaOH N H +
  13. June 2024, Component 2, Q7(a) (2 marks): Complete the equation for this reaction. [2] H O H O C C C C OCH3 O + + OCH3 C C C C H O H O dimethyl maleate
  14. June 2024, Component 2, Q10(a) (6 marks): Esters can be converted into carboxylic acids by heating with aqueous sodium hydroxide, followed by acidification of the resulting salt of the carboxylic acid.
  15. June 2024, Component 2, Q10(b)(ii) (1 mark): Decanedioyl dichloride can be produced by reacting decanedioic acid with sulfur dichloride oxide, SOCl2 The co-products of the reaction are hydrogen chloride an
  16. June 2024, Component 2, Q11(b)(i) (2 marks): State a reagent that can be used for this reaction. Explain why this process is described as reduction. [2]
  17. June 2024, Component 2, Q11(c)(i) (2 marks): The process of decarboxylation can be used to reduce the number of carbon atoms in a chain, usually producing an alkane. One method is to heat the sodium salt o
  18. June 2024, Component 2, Q11(c)(ii) (3 marks): If solid 2-hydroxybenzoic acid is slowly heated, decarboxylation occurs, giving phenol. OH OH COOH + CO2 At intervals during this reaction, samples were removed
  19. June 2024, Component 2, Q12(a) (6 marks): You are provided with a sample of a diamide, where R is an alkyl group. O O C R C H2N NH2 6.32 g of the diamide reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide to produce
  20. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): Calcium propanoate, (CH3CH2COO)2Ca, is used as a preservative in bread making. On heating it gives a ketone and calcium carbonate as the only products. Complete
  21. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): The brown solid produced when iron(III) chloride reacts with benzoic acid is iron(III) benzoate. Write the formula of this compound. [1]
  22. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q11(d) (1 mark): State the reagent(s) needed to convert 1,4-dimethylbenzene to benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, HOOC(C6H4)COOH. [1]
  23. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q11(f)(i) (1 mark): State a reagent that can be used to convert benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid to the corresponding diacyl chloride, benzene-1,4-dicarbonyl dichloride. [1]
  24. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q11(f)(ii) (2 marks): The diacyl chloride reacts with ammonia to give the corresponding diamide and ammonium chloride as products. Give the equation for this reaction. [2]
  25. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give an advantage of using benzoyl chloride in this reaction. [1]
  26. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q2(f)(iv) (4 marks): Draw the structures of all four esters with the molecular formula C4H8O2. Identify and label esters A and B. [4]
  27. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q7(a) (1 mark): Describe how the replacement of hydrogen atoms by chlorine atoms affects the strength of the acid. [1]
  28. Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q10(d)(iii) (1 mark): Nitration of N-phenylethanamide gives N-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanamide which is then reacted with aqueous sodium hydroxide to give 4-nitrophenylamine. Complete the e
  29. Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q11(a)(iii) (2 marks): After heating, a white solid containing only diphenyl and phenyl benzoate remained. To obtain diphenyl, the white solid was heated with aqueous sodium hydroxide
  30. Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q1(b)(iii) (2 marks): Give one reaction common to both optical isomers. Give the reagent and the structural formula of the organic product formed. [2] Reagent Product
  31. June 2019, Component 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): State the name of reagent A. [1]
  32. June 2019, Component 2, Q3 (1 mark): An aqueous solution contains sodium benzoate, C6H5COO–Na+, and benzamide, C6H5CONH2. A student was asked to suggest a simple chemical method to produce a soluti
  33. June 2019, Component 2, Q4 (2 marks): A colourless solution contains either benzoic acid or 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, C6H4(OH)CHO. State two chemical tests, apart from using indicator paper, which can
  34. June 2019, Component 2, Q8(d)(ii) (8 marks): Another method of disposal is by the conversion of CS gas to (2-chlorophenyl)ethene, ammonium sulfate, carbon dioxide and other products. Cl Cl stage 1 CN H C C
  35. June 2019, Component 2, Q10(a)(iii) (1 mark): State the reagent(s) needed to convert 1,4-dimethylbenzene to benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid in Stage 2 [1]
  36. June 2019, Component 2, Q10(a)(iv) (3 marks): In stage 3 the dicarboxylic acid is converted to the acid dichloride. The student found that the preferred reagent for this reaction was sulfur dichloride oxide
  37. June 2019, Component 2, Q13(a) (4 marks): Diacetin is an ester of propane-1,2,3-triol that is used by some plants to attract bees. It reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide to produce propane-1,2,3-triol
  38. June 2018, Component 2, Q2 (1 mark): Give the structure of a product obtained when 1,4-dimethylbenzene is oxidised by alkaline potassium manganate(VII) and acidified. [1]
  39. June 2018, Component 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): Give the structure of the organic compound produced when 2-hydroxybenzenecarboxylic acid reacts with ethanoyl chloride. [1]
  40. June 2018, Component 2, Q7 (2 marks): Benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (or its sodium salt) is heated with sodalime. State the type of reaction that occurs and give the name of the product. [2]
  41. June 2018, Component 2, Q12(d)(ii) (3 marks): pKa is a term used to express the acidity of organic compounds. The lower the value, the greater the tendency for the compound to lose a hydrogen ion, making it
  42. June 2018, Component 2, Q14(b)(iv) (3 marks): The final stage to make DEPA is shown in the equation below. O CH2 C + (CH3CH2)2NH CI diethylamine O CH2 C + HCI N(CH2CH3)2 DEPA A teacher asked some students f
  43. June 2018, Component 2, Q15(b)(ii) (4 marks): Tests on liquid L showed that • it did not liberate carbon dioxide with sodium hydrogencarbonate solution. • it contained 2 oxygen atoms in each molecule • when
  44. June 2017, Component 2, Q3(b) (1 mark): Suggest a reagent that could be used to produce ammonia from the amide urea, when the mixture is heated. [1]
  45. June 2017, Component 2, Q4(a) (1 mark): State a suitable oxidising agent, used in alkaline solution, for this reaction. [1]
  46. June 2017, Component 2, Q8(f) (3 marks): A solution contains either compound A, compound B or compound C. CH2COOH CH2COOH OH CH2COOH OH OH compound A compound B compound C It is possible to identify th
  47. June 2017, Component 2, Q10(e)(i) (3 marks): Use the equations to suggest why the method using ethanoyl chloride gives a higher yield of 1-butyl ethanoate than the method using ethanoic acid. [3]
  48. June 2017, Component 2, Q10(e)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one practical disadvantage of the method that uses ethanoyl chloride. [1]

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