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Organic synthesis: OCR A‑Level Chemistry A questions

Every OCR A-Level Chemistry A exam question on 6.2.5 Organic synthesis, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,820 questions

  1. Q4

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 4: The structure of the painkiller paracetamol is shown below. OH O N H Paracetamol Which functional groups are present in paracetamol? A alcohol, amide B alcohol,

  2. Q18(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 18(c): Describe how to purify the impure crystals in Step 3. [3]

  3. Q19

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 19: 19* A student intends to synthesise compound Z, as shown in the flowchart below. H Br H C C C H H H Stage 1 Intermediate 1 Stage 2 Intermediate 2 Stage 3 Br H H

  4. Q22(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    9 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 22(b): Complete the flowchart by filling in each box. reagent(s) catalyst unsaturated alcohol diol (major product) reagent(s) H H reagent(s) C C H C O H acrolein carbo

  5. Q3

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    6 marks6.2.2 Amino acids, amides and chirality6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3: 3* A chemist is investigating compound A, shown below, as a potential organic intermediate. O OH CN Compound A Describe the type of stereoisomerism shown by com

  6. Q4

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 4: The skeletal formula of an organic compound is shown below. N OH O Which functional groups are present? A amide and alcohol B amide and carboxylic acid C amine

  7. Q19(e)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 19(e): This question is about compounds that contain the carboxylic acid functional group. (e)* A student intends to synthesise compound I. O O NH2 Compound I Plan a s

  8. Q18(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    7 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 18(b): Complete the flowchart for two synthetic routes to the amino acid valine. ester C7H14O3 O HO OH C5H10O3 acyl chloride C5H9O2Cl O H2N OH valine haloalkane C5H11N

  9. Q19(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    7 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 19(a)(ii): Complete the flowchart below for the synthesis of two compounds starting from prenal. O NaBH4 prenal reagent(s): reagent(s): catalyst: reagent(s): reagent(s): c

  10. Q19(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.2.4 Carbon–carbon bond formation6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 19(b): This question is about organic synthesis. (b)* A student intends to synthesise compound A using the two-stage route below. O Stage 1 Stage 2 CH2 Cl Intermediate

  11. Q20(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 20(b)(i): Describe how the student could recrystallise the impure crystals to obtain a pure sample of C. [3]

  12. Q17(c)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    5 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 17(c)(ii): The chemist develops a three-stage synthesis of compound D from compound C. Complete the flowchart. Show structures for organic compounds. reagent: catalyst: co

  13. Q21(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    5 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 21(a): Salt H, (CH3)2CHNH3Cl , is used in the manufacture of garden weedkillers. The flowchart shows the synthesis of the salt H from propanone. Complete the flowchart

  14. Q21(b)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 21(b)(i): Aspartame contains several functional groups. Apart from the benzene ring, name the functional groups in aspartame. [3]

  15. Q1(a)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3, question 1(a)(ii): Draw a labelled diagram to show apparatus set up for filtration under reduced pressure (vacuum filtration). [2]

  16. Q15

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 15: The structure of a compound used to treat influenza is shown below. O O O HN NH2 O Which functional group(s) is/are in a molecule of the compound? 1 Ester 2 Sec

  17. Q18(e)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 18(e)(i): Plan a two-stage synthesis to prepare 12.75 g of ester C starting from 2-methylpropanal, (CH3)2CHCHO. Assume the overall percentage yield of ester C from 2-meth

  18. Q19(b)(iv)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    7 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 19(b)(iv): Complete the flowchart for the synthesis of compounds D and E from phenylethanone. O H3C C NaBH4 phenylethanone NaCN(aq) / H+(aq) H C H H C CH3 compound D Br C

  19. Q2(e)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    2 marks6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 2(e): In Step 3, describe how the student can recrystallise the impure crystals to obtain pure benzoic acid. [2]

  20. Q14

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.2.5 Organic synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 14: A solid organic compound can be purified by recrystallisation. Which statement(s) about recrystallisation is/are true? 1 The organic compound is more soluble in
All 23 questions on Organic synthesis, as a list
  1. June 2023, Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): The structure of the painkiller paracetamol is shown below. OH O N H Paracetamol Which functional groups are present in paracetamol? A alcohol, amide B alcohol,
  2. June 2023, Paper 2, Q18(c) (3 marks): Describe how to purify the impure crystals in Step 3. [3]
  3. June 2023, Paper 2, Q19 (6 marks): 19* A student intends to synthesise compound Z, as shown in the flowchart below. H Br H C C C H H H Stage 1 Intermediate 1 Stage 2 Intermediate 2 Stage 3 Br H H
  4. June 2023, Paper 2, Q22(b) (9 marks): Complete the flowchart by filling in each box. reagent(s) catalyst unsaturated alcohol diol (major product) reagent(s) H H reagent(s) C C H C O H acrolein carbo
  5. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3 (6 marks): 3* A chemist is investigating compound A, shown below, as a potential organic intermediate. O OH CN Compound A Describe the type of stereoisomerism shown by com
  6. June 2022, Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): The skeletal formula of an organic compound is shown below. N OH O Which functional groups are present? A amide and alcohol B amide and carboxylic acid C amine
  7. June 2022, Paper 2, Q19(e) (6 marks): This question is about compounds that contain the carboxylic acid functional group. (e)* A student intends to synthesise compound I. O O NH2 Compound I Plan a s
  8. November 2021, Paper 2, Q18(b) (7 marks): Complete the flowchart for two synthetic routes to the amino acid valine. ester C7H14O3 O HO OH C5H10O3 acyl chloride C5H9O2Cl O H2N OH valine haloalkane C5H11N
  9. November 2021, Paper 2, Q19(a)(ii) (7 marks): Complete the flowchart below for the synthesis of two compounds starting from prenal. O NaBH4 prenal reagent(s): reagent(s): catalyst: reagent(s): reagent(s): c
  10. November 2021, Paper 2, Q19(b) (6 marks): This question is about organic synthesis. (b)* A student intends to synthesise compound A using the two-stage route below. O Stage 1 Stage 2 CH2 Cl Intermediate
  11. November 2021, Paper 2, Q20(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the student could recrystallise the impure crystals to obtain a pure sample of C. [3]
  12. November 2020, Paper 2, Q17(c)(ii) (5 marks): The chemist develops a three-stage synthesis of compound D from compound C. Complete the flowchart. Show structures for organic compounds. reagent: catalyst: co
  13. November 2020, Paper 2, Q21(a) (5 marks): Salt H, (CH3)2CHNH3Cl , is used in the manufacture of garden weedkillers. The flowchart shows the synthesis of the salt H from propanone. Complete the flowchart
  14. November 2020, Paper 2, Q21(b)(i) (3 marks): Aspartame contains several functional groups. Apart from the benzene ring, name the functional groups in aspartame. [3]
  15. November 2020, Paper 3, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Draw a labelled diagram to show apparatus set up for filtration under reduced pressure (vacuum filtration). [2]
  16. June 2019, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): The structure of a compound used to treat influenza is shown below. O O O HN NH2 O Which functional group(s) is/are in a molecule of the compound? 1 Ester 2 Sec
  17. June 2019, Paper 2, Q18(e)(i) (6 marks): Plan a two-stage synthesis to prepare 12.75 g of ester C starting from 2-methylpropanal, (CH3)2CHCHO. Assume the overall percentage yield of ester C from 2-meth
  18. June 2019, Paper 2, Q19(b)(iv) (7 marks): Complete the flowchart for the synthesis of compounds D and E from phenylethanone. O H3C C NaBH4 phenylethanone NaCN(aq) / H+(aq) H C H H C CH3 compound D Br C
  19. June 2019, Paper 3, Q2(e) (2 marks): In Step 3, describe how the student can recrystallise the impure crystals to obtain pure benzoic acid. [2]
  20. June 2018, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): A solid organic compound can be purified by recrystallisation. Which statement(s) about recrystallisation is/are true? 1 The organic compound is more soluble in
  21. June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Name the functional groups present in paracetamol. [2]
  22. June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (6 marks): This question is about two compounds used in medicine. (ii)* A chemist prepares a pure solid sample of paracetamol from 4-nitrophenol in two stages: H Stage 1 S
  23. June 2017, Paper 2, Q17(a)(ii) (6 marks): This question is about the chemistry of aromatic compounds. (ii)* A chemist carries out the reaction in Equation 17.1 using 4.97 g of benzoic acid. The chemist

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