Nitrogen compounds — AS & A Level Chemistry (9701) questions by topic
Amine basicity and dye synthesis both feature in this topic: ranking ethanamide, diethylamine and ethylamine by basicity, calculating a nitrile hydrolysis yield, and tracing a two-step synthetic route to the Sunset Yellow dye via a diazonium intermediate.
State, draw, identify, deduce and describe top the command words across 16 questions from 2023 to 2025 papers, worth from 1 to 27 marks, the widest single-topic range in this syllabus, mixing short recall with long synthetic-route answers. Drafting each step of a synthesis or basicity explanation for instant marking exposes a wrong diazonium temperature or a missing alkaline condition before it recurs in a later multi-step question.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is placing the positive charge on the wrong nitrogen atom of the diazonium compound.
- Examiners flag using HNO3 instead of HNO2, or an incorrect temperature, in the diazonium-formation step, and omitting alkaline conditions such as NaOH(aq) in the coupling step.
- Reports note incorrectly using species such as H2NCH(CH3)COO- or H3N+CH(CH3)COOH, which exist only at low concentration in aqueous alanine.
- Strong scripts gave the correct basicity order of diethylamine, ethylamine, then ethanamide, with good explanations.
- Candidates who knew that a buffer solution resists pH changes rather than maintaining a constant pH answered well.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Compound W contains atoms of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. Compound W reacts with HCl(aq) to produce propanoic acid. Which row is correct? A functional group = amine, name =…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Which row gives pentanenitrile as one product? A 1-bromobutane + heat with HCN B 1-bromobutane + heat with KCN using ethanol as solvent C 1-bromopentane + heat with HCN D…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
0.200 mol ethanenitrile reacts with an excess of dilute sodium hydroxide. The reaction produces organic compound S and ammonia gas only. The reaction has an 80.0% yield. Which…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 14
Separate samples of 1-bromopropane are used in two different reactions. reaction 1 1-bromopropane is converted into compound X by heating it under pressure with ammonia in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 41
Phenylamine, C6H5NH2, and propylamine, CH3CH2CH2NH2, can be produced by different reduction reactions. (i) Identify an organic compound that can be converted into C6H5NH2 by a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
Serine (ser) and lysine (lys) are amino acids. Serine: H2N−CH(CH2OH)−COOH Lysine: H2N−(CH2)4−CH(NH2)−COOH (i) Draw the structure of the dipeptide ser-lys. (ii) Define the term…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
Phenylamine, C6H5NH2, and propylamine, CH3CH2CH2NH2, can be produced by different reduction reactions. (i) Identify an organic compound that can be converted into C6H5NH2 by a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
State the relative basicities of phenylamine, C6H5NH2, benzylamine, C6H5CH2NH2, and ammonia, NH3, in aqueous solution. Place them in order from most basic to least basic. Explain…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
A reaction scheme is shown in Fig. 7.1. The reagents needed for reaction 2 and reaction 3 are stated. Reaction 5 takes place when C2H5NH2 is mixed with compound V. No special…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
A reaction scheme is shown in Fig. 7.1. The reagents needed for reaction 2 and reaction 3 are stated. Reaction 5 takes place when C2H5NH2 is mixed with compound V. No special…
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 42
Ethylamine (CH3CH2NH2) and phenylamine (C6H5NH2) are primary amines, synthesised by different methods. Ethylamine forms when ethanamide, CH3CONH2, is reduced by LiAlH4. Write an…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
State the relative basicities of ethanamide, diethylamine and ethylamine in aqueous solution. Explain your answer.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 43
State the relative basicities of ethanamide, diethylamine and ethylamine in aqueous solution (from most basic to least basic). Explain your answer.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
Sunset Yellow is an additive used for colouring foods. A synthetic route is shown (Fig. 7.1): molecule E (⁻O₃SC₆H₄NH₂) reacts in step 1 to form F; F reacts with G (HOC₁₀H₆SO₃⁻) in…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
State the reactants and conditions for two different types of reactions that both produce diethylamine, CH₃CH₂NHCH₂CH₃.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
Sunset Yellow is an additive used for colouring foods. A synthetic route is shown (Fig. 7.1): molecule E (⁻O₃SC₆H₄NH₂) reacts in step 1 to form F; F reacts with G (HOC₁₀H₆SO₃⁻) in…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Chemistry topics
- Practical skills (106)
- Hydrocarbons (65)
- Chemical bonding (63)
- The Periodic Table: chemical periodicity (59)
- Chemical energetics (53)
- Equilibria (53)
- Introduction to organic chemistry (53)
- Reaction kinetics (52)
- Carboxylic acids and derivatives (52)
- Group 2 (51)
- Carbonyl compounds (45)
- Atomic structure (44)