Carboxylic acids: past paper questions
Real questions on carboxylic acids
The newest 11 of 11 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(iii)[1]
is a carboxylic acid
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2025 · Q8b(iii)[1]
Draw the displayed formula of the carboxylic acid used in this reaction. Permission to reproduce items where third‑party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any ite...
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4a[1]
Give the general formula of the homologous series of carboxylic acids.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4b[1]
One characteristic of a homologous series is that all the compounds share similar chemical properties. Explain why the compounds share similar chemical properties.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4d[3]
Dilute ethanoic acid is a component of vinegar. Describe the manufacture of vinegar. Include the reactants and conditions.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4e(i)[1]
State the molecular formula of butanoic acid.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4e(ii)[1]
Draw the displayed formula of propanoic acid.
See it on the paper → - 5070/22 · May/June 2025 · Q8a(iii)[1]
Explain why compound A is an ester.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2024 · Q8c[1]
Draw the structural formula of propanoic acid.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · May/June 2022 · Q3b[2]
Name and draw the structure of D. name structure
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2021 · Q8a[1]
Explain how this structure shows that angelic acid is an unsaturated compound.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Better performing candidates appreciated the oxidation product. The most common incorrect response was ‘butane’; ‘alcohol’, ‘butanol’ and ‘ethyl butanoate’ were also common.
— Examiner report, May/June 2022, 5070/21 Q3(b) (Cambridge)
Candidates often recognised that the carbon-carbon double bond in the molecule made angelic acid unsaturated. A small proportion of the candidates were imprecise and only mentioned the presence of a double bond and this was not given credit.
— Examiner report, October/November 2021, 5070/21 Q8(a) (Cambridge)
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