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Organic functional groups: OCR A‑Level Chemistry B questions

Every OCR A-Level Chemistry B exam question on WM Organic functional groups (specification points WM(a)–(b)), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,049 questions

  1. Q2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 2: Which of these is a tertiary alcohol? A CH3CH(OH)CH3 B OH C H H H H C C C OH H H H D OH [1] Your answer

  2. Q3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 3: Which row has the homologous series named correctly? Compound Homologous series A CH3CHO ketone B CH3NH2 amine C CH3COOCH3 carboxylic acid D CH3COCH3 aldehyde Y

  3. Q21(d)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 21(d): Bisphenol A can be converted to polycarbonate. O CH3 O O n CH3 Polycarbonate Name the functional group inside the oval ring. [1]

  4. Q4(a)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 4(a)(i): Classify propan-2-ol as primary, secondary, or tertiary, explaining your reasoning. Classification Reasoning [2]

  5. Q34(a)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marksWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 34(a): Butanone can be formed by the oxidation of the alcohol CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3. Classify this alcohol as primary, secondary or tertiary. Give the structural reason for

  6. Q2(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 2(a)(ii): Name the other functional group in aspirin. [1]

  7. Q3(f)

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 3(f): The other product in the reaction to produce biodiesel is propane-1,2,3–triol. The structure of propane-1,2,3–triol is shown below. CH2 OH OH CH CH2 OH Classify

  8. Q2(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 2(a): Phenacetin has a secondary amide group attached to a benzene ring. It also has one other functional group. Name this functional group. [1]

  9. Q4(e)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marksWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 4(e): Classify propan-2-ol, CH3CH(OH)CH3, as primary, secondary or tertiary and give a reason for your answer. Classification (primary, secondary or tertiary) Reason:

  10. Q19

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 19: The table shows some homologous series and the molecular formulae of compounds that may be members of those series. Which row is correct? Molecular formula of o

  11. Q24(d)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 24(d): Polyvinyl alcohol is another useful polymer. However, the monomer, vinyl alcohol, is unstable and forms its isomer ethanal. H H O O H C H C C H C H H H Vinyl al

  12. Q3(a)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 3(a): The structure of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid is shown below. O OH OH 2-hydroxybenzoic acid Give the name of the –OH functional group attached directly to the benzene

  13. Q3(d)(ii)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 3(d)(ii): Classify C6H5CH2CH2OH as a primary, secondary or tertiary alcohol. [1]

  14. Q3(a)(i)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 3(a)(i): Explain why the alcohol functional group in compound A is classified as primary. [1]

  15. Q1(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marksWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(b): Butan-2-ol is an isomer of butan-1-ol. Alcohols can be categorised as primary, secondary or tertiary. Which is the correct category for butan-2-ol? Explain your

  16. Q20

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 20: Which row correctly describes the homologous series of the compound shown? Compound Homologous series A CH3COOCH3 ester B C6H5OH alcohol C CH3OCH3 acid anhydrid

  17. Q5

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 5: What is the functional group in C6H5COCH3? A Aldehyde B Carboxylic acid C Ester D Ketone Your answer [1]

  18. Q4(f)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 4(f): Maleic acid can be made from ‘maleic anhydride’, C4H2O3. Suggest a skeletal formula for maleic anhydride. [1]

  19. Q3(c)

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 3(c): Give the name of the functional group enclosed by the dashed line in the structure of 4-acetoxybenzoic acid. O H3C C O C OH O [1]

  20. Q33(f)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    1 markWM Organic functional groups
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 33(f)(i): Name the functional group in (CH3)3CCH2CH(CH3)CHO. [1]
All 30 questions on Organic functional groups, as a list
  1. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Which of these is a tertiary alcohol? A CH3CH(OH)CH3 B OH C H H H H C C C OH H H H D OH [1] Your answer
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which row has the homologous series named correctly? Compound Homologous series A CH3CHO ketone B CH3NH2 amine C CH3COOCH3 carboxylic acid D CH3COCH3 aldehyde Y
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q21(d) (1 mark): Bisphenol A can be converted to polycarbonate. O CH3 O O n CH3 Polycarbonate Name the functional group inside the oval ring. [1]
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Classify propan-2-ol as primary, secondary, or tertiary, explaining your reasoning. Classification Reasoning [2]
  5. June 2024, Paper 1, Q34(a) (2 marks): Butanone can be formed by the oxidation of the alcohol CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3. Classify this alcohol as primary, secondary or tertiary. Give the structural reason for
  6. June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the other functional group in aspirin. [1]
  7. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q3(f) (2 marks): The other product in the reaction to produce biodiesel is propane-1,2,3–triol. The structure of propane-1,2,3–triol is shown below. CH2 OH OH CH CH2 OH Classify
  8. June 2023, Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): Phenacetin has a secondary amide group attached to a benzene ring. It also has one other functional group. Name this functional group. [1]
  9. June 2023, Paper 2, Q4(e) (2 marks): Classify propan-2-ol, CH3CH(OH)CH3, as primary, secondary or tertiary and give a reason for your answer. Classification (primary, secondary or tertiary) Reason:
  10. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q19 (1 mark): The table shows some homologous series and the molecular formulae of compounds that may be members of those series. Which row is correct? Molecular formula of o
  11. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q24(d) (1 mark): Polyvinyl alcohol is another useful polymer. However, the monomer, vinyl alcohol, is unstable and forms its isomer ethanal. H H O O H C H C C H C H H H Vinyl al
  12. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q3(a) (1 mark): The structure of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid is shown below. O OH OH 2-hydroxybenzoic acid Give the name of the –OH functional group attached directly to the benzene
  13. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q3(d)(ii) (1 mark): Classify C6H5CH2CH2OH as a primary, secondary or tertiary alcohol. [1]
  14. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Explain why the alcohol functional group in compound A is classified as primary. [1]
  15. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(b) (2 marks): Butan-2-ol is an isomer of butan-1-ol. Alcohols can be categorised as primary, secondary or tertiary. Which is the correct category for butan-2-ol? Explain your
  16. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Which row correctly describes the homologous series of the compound shown? Compound Homologous series A CH3COOCH3 ester B C6H5OH alcohol C CH3OCH3 acid anhydrid
  17. November 2020, Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): What is the functional group in C6H5COCH3? A Aldehyde B Carboxylic acid C Ester D Ketone Your answer [1]
  18. November 2020, Paper 2, Q4(f) (1 mark): Maleic acid can be made from ‘maleic anhydride’, C4H2O3. Suggest a skeletal formula for maleic anhydride. [1]
  19. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q3(c) (1 mark): Give the name of the functional group enclosed by the dashed line in the structure of 4-acetoxybenzoic acid. O H3C C O C OH O [1]
  20. June 2019, Paper 1, Q33(f)(i) (1 mark): Name the functional group in (CH3)3CCH2CH(CH3)CHO. [1]
  21. June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q24(a) (2 marks): Name the two types of hydroxyl group that are present in salicyl alcohol. 1 2 [2]
  22. June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Draw a structural formula for phenyl benzoate, showing the bonding in the ester group. [1]
  23. June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Name the functional group in HCHO. A aldehyde B ketone C alcohol D carboxylic acid Your answer [1]
  24. June 2017, Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the functional group that is present in the linear form only. [1]
  25. June 2017, Paper 2, Q3(a)(iv) (2 marks): Circle a primary alcohol group on each structure below, giving a reason for your choice. HO OH OH OH H O O OH OH Reason [2]
  26. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): What is the functional group in the compound CH3COOCOC2H5? A carboxylic acid B ester C acid anhydride D ketone [1] Your answer
  27. June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(e)(iii) (1 mark): 1-phenylethanol is an example of a secondary alcohol. Explain why the alcohol is classified as secondary. [1]
  28. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q22(c)(ii) (1 mark): Classify alcohol A as primary, secondary or tertiary, giving a reason. [1]
  29. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q22(d)(i) (1 mark): Name the functional group in MTBE. [1]
  30. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which functional group does aspirin contain that is not in either of the two reactants? [1]

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