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Chromatography and qualitative analysis: OCR A‑Level Chemistry A questions

Every OCR A-Level Chemistry A exam question on 6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,820 questions

  1. Q14

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 14: The structure of vitamin C is shown. HO OH OH O O OH Which reagent(s) will react with vitamin C? 1 Aqueous bromine water Acidified potassium dichromate(VI) 2 3

  2. Q21(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 21(c): A student is provided with three unlabelled sample tubes, containing either pyruvic acid, methylglyoxal or acetol. The student carries out three chemical tests

  3. Q22(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 22(a)(i): Determine the Rf values of the two α-amino acids in the chromatogram. [1]

  4. Q5

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 5: Geraniol, shown below, is a component in many natural oils. OH Geraniol Which pair of reagents identifies both functional groups in geraniol? Acidified dichroma

  5. Q13

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 13: A sample containing a mixture of 3 components, X, Y and Z, is analysed using gas chromatography. The gas chromatogram below is obtained. The relative peak areas

  6. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 5(a)(i): Determine the Rf value of propan-1-ol. Show your working. Rf = [1]

  7. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    6 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 5(b)(ii): This question is about the analysis of organic compounds. (ii)* The student is provided with further information about compounds F–I. • They all have the molecu

  8. Q20(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 20(a)(i): What chemical test(s) could be used to confirm the presence of the phenol group in compounds K and L? [1]

  9. Q10

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 10: A TLC chromatogram for two compounds is shown below. solvent front origin What is the Rf value for the compound that is most strongly adsorbed onto the stationa

  10. Q21

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 21: 21* Compounds D, E and F are isomers with the molecular formula C5H10O. One of the compounds is alicyclic. A student carries out test-tube tests on the compound

  11. Q13

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 13: Which statement(s) is/are correct for gas chromatography? 1 The components in a mixture can be identified from their retention time. 2 The relative peak areas g

  12. Q17(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 17(b)(i): What is the Rf value of serine (ser) in solvent W? Rf = [1]

  13. Q17(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 17(b)(ii): Analyse the chromatograms to identify the unknown amino acid. Explain your reasoning. Name of unknown amino acid Explanation [2]

  14. Q4(a)(iii)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    2 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 4(a)(iii): Name the functional group responsible for the acidity of chloroxylenol and describe a simple test which would confirm the presence of this group. Functional gro

  15. Q20(b)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 20(b)(i): Suggest a suitable chemical test to confirm that both compounds contain an unsaturated carbon chain. Your answer should include the reagent and observations. [1

  16. Q21(c)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 21(c)(i): The concentration of ester K in the cosmetic product is 9.13 × 10−2 g dm−3. Using the results, calculate the concentration, in mol dm−3, of ester M in the cosme

  17. Q20(b)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 20(b): Qualitative tests are carried out on the aromatic compound. The results are shown below. Test Acidity Na2CO3(aq) 2,4-DNP Tollens’ reagent No observable No obser

  18. Q5(b)

    June 2017 · Paper 3

    6 marks6.3.1 Chromatography and qualitative analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 3, question 5(b): This question is about organic molecules that have a strong smell. (b)* The structures for six naturally occurring organic compounds with pleasant smells, B–G,
All 18 questions on Chromatography and qualitative analysis, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): The structure of vitamin C is shown. HO OH OH O O OH Which reagent(s) will react with vitamin C? 1 Aqueous bromine water Acidified potassium dichromate(VI) 2 3
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q21(c) (3 marks): A student is provided with three unlabelled sample tubes, containing either pyruvic acid, methylglyoxal or acetol. The student carries out three chemical tests
  3. June 2025, Paper 2, Q22(a)(i) (1 mark): Determine the Rf values of the two α-amino acids in the chromatogram. [1]
  4. June 2024, Paper 2, Q5 (1 mark): Geraniol, shown below, is a component in many natural oils. OH Geraniol Which pair of reagents identifies both functional groups in geraniol? Acidified dichroma
  5. June 2024, Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): A sample containing a mixture of 3 components, X, Y and Z, is analysed using gas chromatography. The gas chromatogram below is obtained. The relative peak areas
  6. June 2024, Paper 3, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Determine the Rf value of propan-1-ol. Show your working. Rf = [1]
  7. June 2024, Paper 3, Q5(b)(ii) (6 marks): This question is about the analysis of organic compounds. (ii)* The student is provided with further information about compounds F–I. • They all have the molecu
  8. June 2022, Paper 2, Q20(a)(i) (1 mark): What chemical test(s) could be used to confirm the presence of the phenol group in compounds K and L? [1]
  9. November 2021, Paper 2, Q10 (1 mark): A TLC chromatogram for two compounds is shown below. solvent front origin What is the Rf value for the compound that is most strongly adsorbed onto the stationa
  10. November 2021, Paper 2, Q21 (6 marks): 21* Compounds D, E and F are isomers with the molecular formula C5H10O. One of the compounds is alicyclic. A student carries out test-tube tests on the compound
  11. November 2020, Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): Which statement(s) is/are correct for gas chromatography? 1 The components in a mixture can be identified from their retention time. 2 The relative peak areas g
  12. June 2019, Paper 2, Q17(b)(i) (1 mark): What is the Rf value of serine (ser) in solvent W? Rf = [1]
  13. June 2019, Paper 2, Q17(b)(ii) (2 marks): Analyse the chromatograms to identify the unknown amino acid. Explain your reasoning. Name of unknown amino acid Explanation [2]
  14. June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): Name the functional group responsible for the acidity of chloroxylenol and describe a simple test which would confirm the presence of this group. Functional gro
  15. June 2018, Paper 2, Q20(b)(i) (1 mark): Suggest a suitable chemical test to confirm that both compounds contain an unsaturated carbon chain. Your answer should include the reagent and observations. [1
  16. June 2018, Paper 2, Q21(c)(i) (2 marks): The concentration of ester K in the cosmetic product is 9.13 × 10−2 g dm−3. Using the results, calculate the concentration, in mol dm−3, of ester M in the cosme
  17. June 2017, Paper 2, Q20(b) (3 marks): Qualitative tests are carried out on the aromatic compound. The results are shown below. Test Acidity Na2CO3(aq) 2,4-DNP Tollens’ reagent No observable No obser
  18. June 2017, Paper 3, Q5(b) (6 marks): This question is about organic molecules that have a strong smell. (b)* The structures for six naturally occurring organic compounds with pleasant smells, B–G,

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