Nitrogen compounds: past paper questions
Real questions on nitrogen compounds
The newest 12 of 12 written questions, plus 5 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9701/22 · February/March 2025 · Q4b(i)[4]
Complete Fig. 4.2 to show the mechanism for this reaction. Include charges, dipoles, lone pairs of electrons and curly arrows, as appropriate. H 3 C K N O OH C H 3 C C 2 H 5 C C 2 H 5 CN CN
See it on the paper → - 9701/22 · February/March 2025 · Q4b(ii)[1]
Identify the class of compound of which N is a member.
See it on the paper → - 9701/22 · February/March 2024 · Q4b(iii)[1]
Complete the equation for reaction 3. R is represented as C 4 H 9 CN. C 4 H 9 CN +
See it on the paper → - 9701/43 · May/June 2023 · Q7a[4]
State the relative basicities of ethanamide, diethylamine and ethylamine in aqueous solution. Explain your answer. > > most basic least basic
See it on the paper → - 9701/41 · October/November 2021 · Q9b(ii)[1]
Identify the other product formed in stage 2.
See it on the paper → - 9701/41 · October/November 2021 · Q9c(i)[1]
State the formula of a suitable reagent for stage 3.
See it on the paper → - 9701/41 · October/November 2021 · Q9c(ii)[1]
Name the type of reaction that occurs in stage 3.
See it on the paper → - 9701/43 · October/November 2021 · Q10a[1]
Draw the structure of valine at pH 6.0.
See it on the paper → - 9701/43 · October/November 2021 · Q10b[3]
A solution of lysine is produced with pH 9.7. Dilute sulfuric acid is added slowly until the pH of the solution is 1.0. The sulfuric acid reacts with lysine to produce different organic ions that are not present in significant concentrations at pH 9.7. Draw the structures of three of the organic ions that form during...
See it on the paper → - 9701/22 · February/March 2019 · Q1b(ii)[1]
Solid lithium nitride, Li 3 N, reacts with water according to the following equation. Li 3 N(s) + 3H 2 O(l) 3LiOH(aq) + NH 3 (aq) State one observation you would make during this reaction.
See it on the paper → - 9701/22 · February/March 2019 · Q1c(i)[1]
State the industrial importance of ammonia.
See it on the paper → - 9701/22 · February/March 2019 · Q1c(ii)[2]
One method of producing NH 3 is by heating ammonium chloride, NH 4 Cl, with CaO. 2NH 4 Cl + CaO 2NH 3 + CaCl 2 + H 2 O Explain why the reaction of NH 4 Cl with CaO produces ammonia.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Candidates’ mechanistic drawings were often poorly set out. Curly arrows need to start from lone pairs or from the centre of covalent bonds. Many candidates showed the cyanide ion attacking an implausible intermediate. A large minority of candidates attempted to show the movement of an electron pair from an H+ ion.
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9701/22 Q4(b)(i) (Cambridge)
Many candidates gave a correct order: diethylamine – ethylamine – ethanamide. Stronger candidates gave some good explanations. Weaker candidates found the explanation challenging. It should be noted that: • The basicity of these compounds is due to the ability of the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom to accept a proton. • ‘Attract a proton’ is not equivalent to ‘accept a proton’. ‘Accept...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 9701/43 Q7(a) (Cambridge)
This was usually well known. A common error was hydrochloric acid.
— Examiner report, October/November 2021, 9701/41 Q9(b)(ii) (Cambridge)
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