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Modern analytical techniques: OCR A‑Level Chemistry B questions

Every OCR A-Level Chemistry B exam question on PL Modern analytical techniques (specification points PL(r)–(t)), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,049 questions

  1. Q29

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 markPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 29: A student has high-resolution and low-resolution mass spectra for a gas sample that might be either N2 or CO. What would help the student decide which gas was i

  2. Q32(d)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 32(d): Butyl ethanoate is an ester found in apples. O O (d)* A scientist extracts an aromatic compound from cherries, which contains 72.0% C, 6.7% H and 21.3% O by mas

  3. Q34(f)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 34(f): The plastic welding agent butanone, CH3CH2COCH3, is sold as “model cement” and used for joining the plastic parts of scale model kits. (f)* A chemist sets out t

  4. Q2(e)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 2(e): Phenacetin was used as a pain-relieving medicine until its harmful side-effects were discovered. H N O O Phenacetin (e)* An aromatic acid has the formula C10H12

  5. Q35(g)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 35(g): Benzocaine is a local anaesthetic used to relieve toothache. Benzocaine has the following structure: O H2N C O CH2 CH3 benzocaine (g)* A molecule of another aro

  6. Q3(f)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 3(f): Benzaldehyde gives the smell and taste of almonds to almond oil. O C H benzaldehyde (f)* When benzaldehyde is reacted with alkali, and then neutralised, it form

  7. Q24

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    1 markPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 24: CO and N2 both have Mr values of 28. What is the reason that CO and N2 can be distinguished by high-resolution mass spectrometry? A CO has a dipole, unlike N2.

  8. Q4(d)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 markPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 4(d): The mass spectra of maleic and fumaric acid both have a peak at 71. Suggest a reason for this. [1]

  9. Q4(h)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 4(h): ‘Fumaric acid’ is used as an acidity regulator in food. ‘Maleic acid’ is a stereoisomer of fumaric acid. The structure of the two acids are shown in Fig. 4.1. O

  10. Q2(g)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 2(g): The students sent pure samples of their reagents and products to a university lab. Spectra of all the compounds were produced. The spectra from one of the compo

  11. Q31(d)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    2 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 31(d): The propene produced in equation 31.1 has many uses in the chemical industry. C12H26 2C3H6 + C6H14 Equation 31.1 One of the substances produced from propene is

  12. Q31(g)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 31(g): Long chain alkanes can be cracked to provide better fuels and raw materials for the chemical industry. One such cracking reaction is shown in equation 31.1. C12

  13. Q2(a)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    2 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 2(a)(ii): Propene has an isomer, cyclopropane. Explain why high-resolution mass spectrometry would not distinguish between propene and cyclopropane. [2]

  14. Q2(a)(iii)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    4 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 2(a)(iii): Suggest, with reasons, two spectroscopic methods (apart from mass spectroscopy) that would distinguish between cyclopropane and propene. Method 1 Reason: Method

  15. Q3(d)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    6 marksPL Modern analytical techniques
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 3(d): Deoxyribose, C5H10O4, has a vital role in our biochemistry as a component of DNA. Deoxyribose exists in solution as several forms, two of which are shown below.
All 15 questions on Modern analytical techniques, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q29 (1 mark): A student has high-resolution and low-resolution mass spectra for a gas sample that might be either N2 or CO. What would help the student decide which gas was i
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q32(d) (6 marks): Butyl ethanoate is an ester found in apples. O O (d)* A scientist extracts an aromatic compound from cherries, which contains 72.0% C, 6.7% H and 21.3% O by mas
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q34(f) (6 marks): The plastic welding agent butanone, CH3CH2COCH3, is sold as “model cement” and used for joining the plastic parts of scale model kits. (f)* A chemist sets out t
  4. June 2023, Paper 2, Q2(e) (6 marks): Phenacetin was used as a pain-relieving medicine until its harmful side-effects were discovered. H N O O Phenacetin (e)* An aromatic acid has the formula C10H12
  5. June 2022, Paper 1, Q35(g) (6 marks): Benzocaine is a local anaesthetic used to relieve toothache. Benzocaine has the following structure: O H2N C O CH2 CH3 benzocaine (g)* A molecule of another aro
  6. November 2021, Paper 2, Q3(f) (6 marks): Benzaldehyde gives the smell and taste of almonds to almond oil. O C H benzaldehyde (f)* When benzaldehyde is reacted with alkali, and then neutralised, it form
  7. November 2020, Paper 1, Q24 (1 mark): CO and N2 both have Mr values of 28. What is the reason that CO and N2 can be distinguished by high-resolution mass spectrometry? A CO has a dipole, unlike N2.
  8. November 2020, Paper 2, Q4(d) (1 mark): The mass spectra of maleic and fumaric acid both have a peak at 71. Suggest a reason for this. [1]
  9. November 2020, Paper 2, Q4(h) (6 marks): ‘Fumaric acid’ is used as an acidity regulator in food. ‘Maleic acid’ is a stereoisomer of fumaric acid. The structure of the two acids are shown in Fig. 4.1. O
  10. June 2019, Paper 3, Q2(g) (6 marks): The students sent pure samples of their reagents and products to a university lab. Spectra of all the compounds were produced. The spectra from one of the compo
  11. June 2018, Paper 1, Q31(d) (2 marks): The propene produced in equation 31.1 has many uses in the chemical industry. C12H26 2C3H6 + C6H14 Equation 31.1 One of the substances produced from propene is
  12. June 2018, Paper 1, Q31(g) (6 marks): Long chain alkanes can be cracked to provide better fuels and raw materials for the chemical industry. One such cracking reaction is shown in equation 31.1. C12
  13. June 2018, Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Propene has an isomer, cyclopropane. Explain why high-resolution mass spectrometry would not distinguish between propene and cyclopropane. [2]
  14. June 2018, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iii) (4 marks): Suggest, with reasons, two spectroscopic methods (apart from mass spectroscopy) that would distinguish between cyclopropane and propene. Method 1 Reason: Method
  15. June 2017, Paper 2, Q3(d) (6 marks): Deoxyribose, C5H10O4, has a vital role in our biochemistry as a component of DNA. Deoxyribose exists in solution as several forms, two of which are shown below.

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