Alcohols: past paper questions
Real questions on alcohols
The newest 20 of 29 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(i)[1]
is methanol
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(ii)[1]
is manufactured by the fermentation of aqueous glucose
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(v)[1]
is an ester.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2025 · Q8a(i)[1]
Explain why methylbut‑2‑enoate is unsaturated.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2025 · Q8a(ii)[2]
Describe a chemical test to show that methylbut‑2‑enoate is unsaturated.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2025 · Q8b(i)[1]
State the name of the type of catalyst used in this reaction. (i)
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2025 · Q8b(ii)[1]
State the name of the alcohol used in this reaction.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q8a(ii)[1]
Explain why compound A is an alcohol.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q8c(i)[1]
State the name of the type of catalyst used in this reaction.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q8c(ii)[2]
State the name and draw the displayed formula of the alcohol used in this reaction. displayed formula name
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2023 · Q8b[2]
Ethanoic acid can be produced by bacterial oxidation. Describe one other method of making ethanoic acid by oxidising an alcohol other than methanol. name of alcohol name of oxidising agent
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2023 · Q8c[2]
Ethanoic acid reacts with propan‑1‑ol, CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 OH, to produce an ester. Name the ester and draw its displayed formula. name displayed formula
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · October/November 2023 · Q8b[2]
Methanol reacts with ethanoic acid, CH 3 COOH, to produce an ester. Name the ester and draw its displayed formula. name displayed formula
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2023 · Q7a[1]
State the general formula of the homologous series of alcohols.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2023 · Q7b(i)[1]
State the name given to compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulae.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2023 · Q7b(ii)[1]
Draw the structural formula for propan-2-ol.
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · May/June 2022 · Q3[8]
A student has three colourless organic liquids, W, X and Y. One is an alkene, one is an alcohol and one is a carboxylic acid but the student does not know which liquid is which. Describe a series of tests to determine which liquid, W, X or Y, is the alkene, which is the alcohol and which is the carboxylic acid. Each li...
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2021 · Q8e[1]
Angelic acid reacts with methanol, CH 3 OH, to form an ester. Complete the structure of this ester to show all the atoms and all the bonds. H H C H C C H H C H H
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · October/November 2021 · Q4a(i)[2]
Give one other physical property of alkanes which increases as the number of carbon atoms increases.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · October/November 2021 · Q4b[2]
Two typical reactions of alkanes are combustion and cracking. State the name of another typical chemical reaction of alkanes and the reactant needed to react with the alkanes. type of reaction reactant
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The alcohol was well known although propanol and butanol were quite popular. The oxidising agent was less well known with popular responses including oxygen, potassium(II) manganate, potassium(IV) manganate, potassium manganate, potassium dichromate(IV), potassium iodide and yeast. A small number omitted the question.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5070/21 Q8(b) (Cambridge)
Naming the ester proved quite difficult. Incorrect responses included ethyl ethanoate, proply ethanoate, ethanol ethanoate and names including the acid or the alcohol. The displayed formula proved to be very difficult with many 2-valent linking hydrogens, C-O dangling from a structure, alcohols and acids. A small number omitted the question.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5070/21 Q8(c) (Cambridge)
Candidates found drawing the displayed formula of methyl ethanoate challenging and some candidates drew structures that were ketones or had a hydroxyl group at the end of the chain. Candidates found it much easier to name the ester however, they needed to be careful with the correct spelling for ethanoate.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5070/22 Q8(b) (Cambridge)
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