ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

1. Name the Chemist whose name is associated with addition reactions to double bonds
in Organic Chemistry?
ANSWER: (Vladimir) Markovnikof.
1. Give the systematic name of alkanoic acid associated with ants.

ANSWER: Meltianoic Acid

2. Give the systematic name of any alkanoic acid obtained from the fat of goat.

ANSWERS: Hexanoic Acid (Caproic Acid)

Octanoic Acid (Capyric Acid)
Decanoic Acid (Capric

1. Which group of chemicals dissolved in water cannot be removed by ion-chromatography?

ANSWER: Covalent/ non-ionic/ neutral (inorganic and organic) compounds
1. Give the systematic name for an alkane with eleven (11) carbons in a straight chain.
ANSWER: Undecane
2. Give the systematic name for an alkene with eight (8) carbons with the double bond
between carbon-6 and carbon-7.
ANSWER: 2-octene
3. Give the systematic of a symmetrical alkanone containing seven (7) carbons in a straight
chain.
ANSWER: 4-heptanone
1. How does the carbon – carbon bond length in ethane differ from that in ethene?

ANSWER: C – C bond length longer in ethane than in ethene.

2. Give one method by which bond lengths are measured.

ANSWER: X-ray diffraction.

1. Which class of alkanols when oxidized forms Alkanones? (1 attempt)

ANSWER: Secondary Alkanols.

2. What is the functional group in Alkanes?

 ANSWER: Alkanes do not have any functional group.

1. Why is a small amount of fluoride added to toothpaste?

Answer: Fluorides prevent tooth decay

2. What role do chlorofluoromethanes play in the decomposition of ozone in the

stratosphere?
ANSWER:

chlorofluoromethanes decompose to give chlorine free radical (Cl), which catalyses

the decomposition of ozone to oxygen.

O + O3 
Cl
 2O2

1. Give the systematic name of a benzene compound with OH and CH3 groups attached and
separated by 2 benzene carbons.
ANSWER: 4–methylphenol (Give 1 mark if, 4–hydroxytoluene, or 1–
hydroxyl–4– methylbenzene are given)
2. Give the systematic name of an 8 carbon straight chain with a carbonyl group on the 5th
carbon and a double bond between the 6th and 7th carbons from one end.
ANSWER: 2–octen– 4–one OR Oct–2– ene–4–one.
3. Give the systematic name of a 7 carbon hydrocarbon straight chain with two OH groups
on the 3rd and 6th carbons from one end.
4. ANSWER: 2, 5–heptandiol.

5. State fully the acid functional group of phenol.

ANSWER: An OH group bonded to an aromatic nucleus.
6. How many carbons are present in a molecule of 2–methyleicosane
ANSWER: 21 (Eicosane alone is 20 carbons)
7. What is the name of a long chain saturated hydrocarbon with 11 carbons in a chain
ANSWER: Undecane.
1. Which polymer is most likely to be used for plastic chairs?
ANSWER: Polypropene/ Polypropylene
1. Give the systematic name for an alkane of 11 carbons in a straight chain.

ANSWER: Undecane

2. How many alkanols can be derived from a straight chain of 8 carbons? Name any two
 ANSWER: 4, Octan-1-ol/1-octanol; 2-ol; 3-ol; 4-ol

3. Give the systematic name of a symmetrical alkanone of 9 carbons in a straight chain.

ANSWER: 5-Nonanone

4. During fermentation, yeasts are able to convert pyruvate to what molecule.

ANSWER: Ethanol
1. What is the simplest chemical test for an organic ester
Ans: Warm a mixture of the ester and aqueous KOH or NaOH. The sweet smell of
the ester disappears.

1. Give the systematic names of the compounds that will be obtained by acid hydrolysis

of phenylmethyl benzoate

Ans: (1) Benzoic acid (2) Phenylmethanol

2. Name the ester that will be formed when hexanoic acid and pentanol are reacted

together

Ans: Pentyl hexanoate

3. Give an example of a disaccharide apart from sucrose.

Ans: (1) Maltose (2 glucose with -acetal linkage)

(2) Cellobiose (2 glucose with -acetal linkage)

(3) Lactose (galactose + glucose)

4. Give the systematic names of the compounds that will be obtained by acid hydrolysis

of phenylmethyl benzoate

Ans: (1) Benzoic acid (2) Phenylmethanol

5. Name the ester that will be formed when hexanoic acid and pentanol are reacted

together
 Ans: Pentyl hexanoate

6. Give an example of a disaccharide apart from sucrose.

Ans: (1) Maltose (2 glucose with -acetal linkage)

(2) Cellobiose (2 glucose with -acetal linkage)

1. Two geometric isomers A and B which are organic acids have enthalpies of formation

of – 5524kJmol-1 and -5545kJmol-1 respectively. Which of the isomers is cis and

which is trans? Give your reasons

Ans: A = cis; B = trans

(i) Normally trans isomer is more stable than cis isomer

(ii) Enthalpy of formation of -5545kJmol-1 is an indication of greater

stability than -5524kJmol-1

OR Conversion of A to B involving ∆H of -21 kJ is thermodynamically

more favourable than conversion of B to A involving ∆H of +21 kJ

(3) Lactose (galactose + glucose)

1. Give the systematic name of an unsubstituted butanol that will be optically active and

give the reason

Ans: 2-Butanol; CH3CHOHCH2CH3

Reason: second carbon is chiral/asymmetric or there is a

chiral/asymmetric carbon in the molecule

1. Give the common name of one alkanoic acid that can be obtained from vegetable oils.

ANSWER: Myristic acid (14C); Palmitic acid (16C); Stearic acid (C18)

2. Give the common name of one alkenoic or alkadienoic acid that can be obtained from
vegetable oils.
 ANSWER: Oleic acid (9-Octadecenoic acid); Linoleic acid (9,12-
octadecadienoic acid)

3. Give the number of carbons in stearic acid and palmitic acids.

4. ANSWER: Stearic acid 18 carbons; Palmitic acid 16 carbons

5. Give the systematic name for a derivative of cyclobutane with the formula C6H12.

ANSWER: Ethylcyclobutane; cis or trans-1,2-dimethylcyclobutane, cis or

trans-1,3-dimethylcyclobutane

6. Name all the possible hexenes that be represented by the formula C6H12

ANSWER: 1- or 2- or 3-hexene//hex-1-ene etc

7. What is the difference in the chemical properties of an OH bonded to a saturated carbon

and an OH bonded to an aromatic carbon/nucleus?

ANSWER: OH bonded to a saturated carbon is neutral/an alkanol but one

bonded to an aromatic carbon is acidic/phenolic

1. What type of reaction takes place when 2-hexene decolourises bromine in

trichloromethane?

ANSWER: Addition reaction

2. What type of reaction takes place when the sweet smell of ethyl ethanoate is wiped out by
heating with KOH solution?

ANSWER: Hydrolysis/Substitution
1. What type of organic reaction will methyl chloride undergo most readily and why?
ANSWER: Nucleophilic substitution reactions.
Reason: (1) chlorine being an electron withdrawing group would
render
the carbon it is bonded to an electron deficient centre
which can attract a nucleophile.
(2) Elimination is not possible since there is only one carbon so it
has to be a substitution reaction.

2. What type of organic reaction would benzene undergo most readily and why?
ANSWER: (1) Electrophilic substitution reactions
 Reason: The pi-electron cloud below and above the plane of carbons in
benzene will attract electrophiles.
(2) Substitution rather than addition reactions
Reason: So that the stable structure resulting from the resonance /
delocalization is maintained.

3. Name the type of reagent methyl amine is and the type of reactions it will undergo.
ANSWER: Methyl amine may be regarded as; (a) an organic base and (b) a
nucleophile.
It will therefore undergo acid-base reaction and also nucleophilic substitution
or addition reactions.
1. What is the difference between these two ores of iron, Haematite and Limonite.
ANSWER: Limonite is the hydrated form of haematite. Or vice versa
Limonite Fe2O3.H2O Haematite Fe2O3.
2. In the Blast Furnace what is the major chemical constituent of the SLAG?
ANSWER: Slag = Calcium trioxosilicate (IV) or CaSiO3.
3. In the Blast Furnace, what reaction takes place at the hottest part of the furnace?
ANSWER: The bottom part is hottest reaction is air burns/oxidises coke to Carbon
(II) oxide. 2C(s)+ O2 (g)→ 2CO (g).
1. What precipitate will be formed from Al3+and aqueous NaOH?

ANSWER: White gelatinous precipitate.

2. What will be observed when H2S gas is bubbled through a solution of Zn2+ ion?

ANSWER: White precipitate formed.

3. What will be your observation when dilute ammonia and aqueous ethanedioate are added

to a solution of Ca2+ ions?

ANSWER: White precipitate (of Calcium ethanedioate) is formed.

1. Explain how or why soaps can clean fats and vegetable oil stains.
ANSWER: Soaps contain sodium or potassium salts of stearate or palmitate ions.
The ions contain long hydrocarbon chains in which the fats are soluble while
the charged ends are hydrophilic. The fat/oil is emulsified.
2. Explain why calcium or magnesium ions are not the only metal ions that make water
hard.
ANSWER: Any multivalent metal ion whose stearate or palmitate is insoluble in
water will make the water hard. For example Fe2+ and Fe3+
3. Explain why kettles in the United Kingdom tend to have white scales in them after they
have been used for a while.
ANSWER: The water contains Ca2+and Mg2+ ions and HCO3- ions. Heating or
boiling of the water causes the decomposition of the HCO3- ions to CO32-, H2O and
CO2. The Ca2+ combines with the CO32- to give insoluble CaCO3 –- the scales.
1. What do compounds that rotate the plane of polarized light have in common structurally?
ANSWER: They all have chiral carbon/centre or they all lack plane of symmetry

2. Butane can exist in several conformations. What are conformations?

ANSWER: They are structures of the same compound formed as a result of
rotation around a single bond within the molecule

3. Why are cis-trans isomers also stereoisomers?

ANSWER: They are isomers that differ only in the arrangement of the
atoms/groups in space.

1. What electronic effect does the ethyl group exert on a saturated carbon?

ANSWER: Electron donating Inductive Effect (+I effect)

2. What electronic effect does the OH bonded to benzene exert on it?

ANSWER: Electron withdrawing Inductive Effect(-I Effect) and Electron

donating Resonance/Mesmeric Effect (+M Effect)
3. The –COOH group is a good proton donor. What accounts for this?

4. State the essential features of a tertiary alkanol.

ANSWER: An OH group bonded to a carbon, which in turn is bonded to 3 sp3
saturated carbons.
5. State the essential features of an alkanone.
ANSWER: A carbonyl bonded to two other carbons.
6. State the essential features of a secondary amine.
 ANSWER: A compound in which the nitrogen of the amino group is bonded to
two carbons

ANSWER: The conjugate base COO- is stabilized by resonance.

1. A compound was wrongly named as 3,3-dimethybutane. What should be the actual
name?

ANSWER: 2,2-dimethylbutane

2. A compound was wrongly named as 3,4-dimethylpentane. What should be its actual

name?

ANSWER: 2,3-dimethylpentane

3. A compound was wrongly named as 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutane. What should be its

actual name?

ANSWER: 3-methylbutan-2-ol or 3-methyl-2-butanol

ROUND 2

1. An organic molecule is known to contain a number of ester groups. The number was

determined by treating 0.02 mol of the compound with 50.0cm3 of 1.0 moldm-3 NaOH

solution. The excess alkali required 10.0 cm3 of 1.0 moldm-3 of HCl solution for

complete neutralisation. Calculate the number of ester groups per molecule

Ans: mmole of base that reacted with the ester = (50 – 10) = 40

mmole of organic compound = 20

Hence, ester groups per mole/molecule = 40/20 = 2

1. The Breath analyzer, an instrument used by the Police to determine the alcohol level

in the blood of drunken drivers contains K2Cr2O7 dissolved in tetraoxosulphate (VI)

acid. Explain the chemistry of this test.

Ans: (i) If there is any alcohol/ethanol present in the blood of the driver, it will

appear in the person’s breath

 (ii) When the breath is blown into the tube/instrument the alcohol gets

oxidised to ethanoic acid and the Cr2O72- gets reduced to Cr3+.

(iii) The solution which is originally yellow-orange turns green due to the

reduction of chromium in oxidation state 6+ to Cr3+ ions

(iv) The intensity of the green colour measures the amount of the alcohol

originally present in the breath.

ROUND 2

1. Pick the odd one out and give your reason; Beer, Sea water, wine, urine, orange juice

and ethanol

Ans: Odd one is ethanol. Ethanol is a pure substance, the rest are solutions or

mixtures

1. What type of polymer is natural rubber?

Ans: Addition polymer

1. If one reacts Propanoic acid with thionyl chloride, SOCl2, what product will be
obtained?
ANSWER: Propanoyl chloride, an acid chloride of propanoic acid.
2. When a molecule of an alkanoic acid is refluxed with an alkanol in the presence of a
mineral acid, a nucleophilic reaction takes place. Which species acts as the nucleophile?
ANSWER: The alkanol
3. When a molecule of an alkanoic acid is refluxed with an alkanol in the presence of a
mineral acid, an ester is formed. What role does the mineral acid play? Explain in detail.
ANSWER:(1) It protonates the oxygen of the carbonyl group of the acid to help
polarize the carbonyl thus facilitating the nucleophilic attack by the alkanol on
the carbonyl carbon.
(2) It protonates the OH group of the acid in the intermediate so that H2O
can leave the intermediate with ease.
 If the answer is simply that it serves as a catalyst award only 1 mark.

1. Butane (C4H10) and Pentane (C5H12) belong to the same homogolous series. What is
the difference in their molecular formula?
ANSWER: CH2

2. What is the difference in mass between propanol and pentanol?

ANSWER: Propanol CH3CH2CH2-OH pentanol CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2-OH
Difference CH2CH2, hence difference in mass =28
1. Pick the odd one out and give your reasons ; NCl3, CCl4, CH4, PCl3, BCl3, NH3

Ans: BCl3

Reason: EITHER Central atom B is sp2 hybridised, the rest are all sp3

OR BCl3 is planar the rest are tetrahedral or pyramidal

2. In a molecule, a central atom has 6 hybridised orbitals and the molecule has

octahedral shape. Which orbitals of the atom would have undergone hybridisation to

give this shape

Ans: sp3d2; i.e. one s, three p, two d orbitals

3. There are three types of carbons in organic compounds; the sp-, sp2- and sp3-

hybridised carbons. They are known to have different electronegativities. The sp-

hybridised carbon has the highest electronegativity, why?

Ans: Electronegativity is the ability of an atom of an element to pull electrons to

itself. The s-orbital is closest to the nucleus. The sp hybrid orbital has the

highest s – character and so has the greatest ability to pull electrons.

1. Which of the following functional groups, monoester, diester and triester is commonly
found in fats and oils?

ANSWER: Triester
 2. Fats and oils are both natural products. Name the natural sources.

ANSWER: Fats from animals Oils from plants/vegetable sources,

3. Why are oils liquid and fats solid?

ANSWER: Oils are polyunsaturated and fats a are fully saturated

1. If a substituent in an organic compound is ‘decyl’ what is the formula of the substituent?

ANSWER: C10H21—

2. If a substituent in an organic compound is ‘benzyl’ what is the formula of the substituent?

ANSWER: C6H5CH2—

3. If a substituent in an organic compound is ‘oxo’ what is the formula of the sustituent?

ANSWER: --C=O

1. What is the general formula for alkynes

ANSWER: CnH2n-2

2. Two compounds have been shown to be carbonyl compounds, one aldehyde (alkanal) and
the other a ketone (alkanone).How can you establish their identities

ANSWER: Aldehyde gives positive test with Fehling’s or Tollens’ reagent

but ketone does not (Do not accept hydroxylamine,
hydrazine, phenylhydrazine, 2,4-
dinitophenylhydrazine)

3. A compound of general formula CnH2n does not decolourise bromine in CHCl3. What
may be the type of compound?

ANSWER: Compound is likely to be a cycloalkane

Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y= f(x) at the point on the curve with given
x-value.
4. y = x3 – 3x2 at x = 2

ANSWER: y = -4, [dy/dx = 3x2 – 6x, at x = 2,m = 12 – 12 = 0, and y = 8 –

12 = -4, hence equation of tangent is (y + 4) = 0(x – 2), or y = -
4]
5. y = x – 1/x at x = -1

ANSWER: y = 2x + 2 [dy/dx = 1 + 1/x2,at x = -1, m = 1 + 1 = 2, y = -1+ 1=

0, hence equation of tangent is y = 2(x + 1)]
6. y = x2 – 3x
 ANSWER: y = -x – 1 [ dy/dx = 2x – 3, at x = 1, m = 2 – 3 = -1, and y = 1 –
3 = -2, hence equation of tangent is (y + 2) = - (x – 1) or y = -x – 1 ]
1. Name the reagent required to convert ethene to 1,2-dibromoethane

ANSWER: Br2 in CHCl3 or CCl4

2. Name the reagent required to convert ethene to 1,2-ethanediol

ANSWER: Dilute, neutral KMnO4

3. Name the reagent required to convert ethene to chloroethane

ANSWER: HCl gas

1. The oxidation state of sulphur in the compound Na2S4O6 is +2

ANSWER: FALSE It is 2.5

2. The oxidation state of oxygen in H2O2 is -1

ANSWER: TRUE

3. The oxidation state of iodine in HIO4 is +7

ANSWER: TRUE

4. 1-Butanol and 2-methyl-2propanol are isomers

ANSWER: TRUE

5. 2-Methyl-2-propanol can bend the plane of polarized light.

ANSWER: FALSE lacks a chiral/asymmetric carbon.

6. 2-Methyl-2-propanol can be oxidized to a an alkanone

7. Which of the compounds 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol and 3-pentanol will affect the plane of
polarized light?
ANSWER: 2-pentanol
8. Which is stable, cis-2-butene or trans-2-butene? Give your reason.
ANSWER: trans-2-butene. In the trans isomer the bulky groups are farther apart.
9. Which of the isomeric alkenes 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene and 2-hexene will be a more stable
compound and why?
ANSWER: 2, 3-Dimethyl-2-butene. It has a more substituted double bond.
ANSWER: FALSE it is tertiary alkanol hence cannot be oxidized to alkanone
1. State all electronic effects experienced in a molecule of 3-nitrotoluene. How many
straight chain isomeric alkanones can a hydrocarbon of 6 carbons possess? Name them.
ANSWER: 2. 2-hexanone and 3-hexanone
2. How many straight chain isomeric alkanals can a hydrocarbon of 7 carbons possess?
Name them.
ANSWER: One. Heptanal
3. How many straight chain isomeric alkanols can a hydrocarbon of 8 carbons possess?
Name any one of the isomers.
ANSWER: 4. 1-octanol, 2-octanol, 3-octanol and 4-octanol
4.
ANSWER: Electron donating inductive effect (+I) of the CH3 group.
Electron withdrawing inductive effect (-I) of the nitro group.
5. State all the electronic effects experienced in a molecule of chlorobenzene
ANSWER: Electron withdrawing inductive effect (-I) of the chloro group.
1. A fully saturated hydrocarbon of 10 carbons is converted into a di-alkanone. What will be
the difference in the number of hydrogens in the saturated hydrocarbon and the di-
alkanone.
ANSWER: 4 hydrogens. Each O replaces 2H.
2. Give the main difference between the structure of an alkanal and that of an alkanone
ANSWER: The carbonyl group in an alkanal is terminal but in the case of an
alkanone it is within the molecule.
3. OR In the alkanal the carbonyl group is bonded to a carbon (R or Ar) and a State one of
the main characteristics of vessel elements.
ANSWERS:
a) The vessels are long cylindrical tube like structures.
b) They have lignified walls which have wide central lumen.
c) The cells are dead and without protoplast.
d) The walls contain perforations.
e) The perforation may be simple or multiple perforations.
f) The pores of the multiple perforation plates may be arranged in reticulate or
scalariform type.
Hydrogen whereas in an alkanone, the carbonyl group is bonded to two
carbons (R’s or Ar’s)
4. Explain why the reagent acidified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine cannot be used to
distinguish between an alkanal and an alknone.
ANSWER: The reaction is between the carbonyl group and the reagent and since
both contain the carbonyl group, it cannot be used to distinguish between the
two.
1. To which class of organic compounds do cellulose and starch belong?
ANSWER: Carbohydrates
2. To which class of organic compounds do sex hormones belong?
ANSWER: Steroids
3. To which class of organic compounds do soaps (detergents) belong?
ANSWER: Sodium or potassium salt of fatty acids (Na/K salts of long chain
alkanoic acid)
PREAMBLE: Solve the linear inequality.

1. When aspirin is hydrolyzed with a mineral acid, what benzene compound will be
obtained?
ANSWER: 2-hydroxybenzoic acid or salicylic acid
2. If paracetamol is hydrolyzed with a mineral acid, what benzene compound will be
obtained?
ANSWER: 4-hydroxyaniline (If 4-amino-hydroxybenzene award only 2 marks)
3. If an organic compound has a substituent, the tertiary-butyl group, what is the structure
of this substituent?
ANSWER: A central carbon atom bonded to three methyl groups i.e. (CH3)3C–
[not carbon bonded to 3 other carbons in a straight chain]
4. Electron d Calculate the percentage oxygen in tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid
molecule and give your answer to one place of decimal.
S = 32.0, O = 16.0, H = 1.0
ANSWER: H2SO4 = 2 + 32 + 64 = 98
O% = 64/98*100 = 65.3%
5. Calculate the percentage oxygen in 2-hexanone and give your answer to one place of
decimal. O = 16.0; C = 12.0; H = 1.0
ANSWER: CH3COC4H9 = 6*12 + 16 + 12 = 100
O% = 16/100*100 = 16.0%
 6. Calculate the percentage nitrogen in nitrobenzene and give your answer to two places
of decimal.
O = 16.0; N = 14.0; C = 12.0; H = 1.0,
ANSWER: C6H5NO2 = 72 + 5 +14 + 32 = 123
N% = 14/123*100 = 11.38%

onating mesomeric effect (+M) of the chlorine group

1. Give an isomer of 1–pentanol that is a butanol and also a tertiary alkanol.

ANSWER: 2 – methyl – 2 – butanol or 2 – methylbutan – 2 – ol
2. Give one positional isomer of cyclohexene.
ANSWER: It has no positional isomer
3. Give the stereoisomer of 1,3–dichlorocyclopentane that will not show optical isomerism
ANSWER: cis–1,3–dichlorocyclopentane (has a plane of symmetry, trans
has no
plane of symmetry).
1. Give the systematic or IUPAC name for the organic compound benzyl alcohol.
ANSWER: Phenyl methanol (C6H5CH2OH)
2. Give the systematic or IUPAC name for the α–amino acid, glycine.
ANSWER: (2-)Aminoethanoic acid (H2N–CH2COOH)
1. Give the IUPAC name for alcohols [1 attempt]
ANSWER: Alkanols

2. Give the IUPAC name for aldehydes [1 attempt]

ANSWER: Alkanals

1. Explain why the inter-molecular hydrogen bonding is higher in propanol than in

propanone.
ANSWER: In propanol the H is bonded directly to an electronegative atom but
this is absent in propanone
2. Hexane and cyclohexane both contain six carbons each and yet the heats of combustion of
the compounds are different. Why?

ANSWER: Hexane has 5C-C and 14C-H bonds whereas cyclohexane has
 6C-C and 12C-H bonds

1. When ethanol is heated over alumina a gas that can be collected over water is formed.
What is this gas?
ANSWER: Ethene or C2H4
2. When vegetable oils are fully saponified an alkanol is formed among other products.
What is this alkanol?
ANSWER: 1,2,3-propantriol or glycerol
3. What is the product formed when toluene is heated with alkaline KMnO4?
ANSWER: Benzoic acid
4. Why is the strength of the carbon-carbon double bond not twice as much as that of
carbon-carbon single bond?

ANSWER: The double is made up of one sigma bond and one pie bond. The
strength of the pie bond is not as much as the sigma bond

5. Why does the carbon-carbon double bond strongly attract electrophiles?

ANSWER: The pie cloud extends above and below the plane of the molecule and
it can easily accessed by electrophiles.

6. Why do alkanones and alkanals strongly attract nucleophiles?

ANSWER: Alkanones and alkanals contain the carbonyl group which is carbon-
oxygen double bond. The group is planar and polarized with positive charge
on the carbon. Nuleophiles can approach the positively charged carbon with
ease.

1. Give the systematic name for the ester formed from ethanoic acid and 1-butanol.
ANSWER: Butyl ethanoate
2. Give the systematic name for the alkanone of seven carbons in a straight chain with the
relevant functional group four carbons from one end.
ANSWER: 3-heptanone
3. What is the systematic name for the ester derived from phenol and benzoic acid
ANSWER: Phenyl benzoate
4. In alcoholic fermentation, name the molecule that is the final acceptor of electrons
stripped from glucose.
ANSWER: Acetaldehyde

1. What is mesomerism?
 ANSWER: It is when a molecule can be represented by several electronic
structures, ie different electron positions but the same positions for the atoms.
2. What do we call the two structures written to represent the actual structure of benzene?
ANSWER: Resonance structures or canonical forms or mesomers.
3. The amino group bonded to an alkyl group tends to pull electrons to itself. What is this
phenomenon called?
ANSWER: Electron Withdrawing Inductive Effect

1. The performance characteristics of petrol are given an octane rating. Why the name
octane?
ANSWER: The burning characteristics of petrol are compared with those of
various mixtures of heptane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, an isomer of octane
where the pentane derivative is given octane rating of 100.
2. How does a refinery increase the yield of gasoline/petrol from crude petroleum oil?
ANSWER: By cracking heavy fractions/distillates
3. How can the octane rating of petrol be improved?
ANSWER: By adding additives or blending with reformed products

1. What type of experiment will you be performing if you pack a glass tube containing an
organic solvent with alumina and try to separate an organic mixture on it?
ANSWER: Column chromatography.
2. A test tube is suspected to contain a solution of NaCl. What test will you perform to
establish the identity of the anion present?
ANSWER: Add dilute AgNO3 followed by dilute ammonia. White precipitate
is obtained, precipitate soluble in excess ammonia.
3. Describe the Brown Ring test for the NO3- ion in solution
ANSWER: Add freshly prepared FeSO4 solution followed by concentrated
H2SO4 poured slowly down the walls of the tilted test tube. Brown
ring is formed at the junction of the acid and the solution
1. Ethanol is not acidic yet beer is acidic, why?
ANSWER: Beer contains CO2, by-product of fermentation.
2. What is the organic substance in vinegar?
ANSWER: Ethanoic acid
1. Give the systematic names of the three alkanol isomers of 1-butanol.
ANSWER: 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol and 2-methyl-1-propanol
 1. Which of the isomers of 1-butanol, namely, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol and 2-
methyl-1-propanol will not react with acidified K2Cr2O7 and why? What is the
functional group in the monomer of PVC? [1 attempt]
ANSWER: Carbon-carbon double bond

2. Name one application of the polymer tetrafluoroethene. [1 atempt]

ANSWER: Polymer-teflon, used as non-stick material in frying and sauce pans.

2.
ANSWER: 2-methyl-2-propanol. Reason It is a tertiary alkanol.
3. Which of the isomers of butanol, including 1-butanol will give alkanal when oxidized and
why?
ANSWER: 1-butanol, and 2-methyl-1-propanol. Reason they are primary
alkanols.
PREAMBLE: Pick the odd ones out and give your reasons.
1. Carbohydrates, proteins, nylon and lipids
ANSWER: Nylon.
Synthetic polymer/compound. The rest are biomolecules/biochemical.
2. Ethyl propanoate, ethanoic acid, butanoyl chloride and methanamide.
ANSWER: Ethanoic acid. It is an alkanoic acid, the rest are acid derivatives.
3. Tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid.
ANSWER: Heptadecanoic acid. It has an odd number of carbons and cannot be
obtained from hydrolysis of vegetable oils and fats. The rest have even
number of carbons and can be obtained from vegetable oils and fats.
1. Find the length of a diagonal of a rectangle whose sides are 8 cm and 15 cm.
ANSWER: 17 cm [ d = √(82 + 152) = √(64 + 225) = √289 = 17]
2. Find the width of a rectangular plate whose length is 4 m and a diagonal is 5 m long.
ANSWER: 3 m [ w = √(52 - 42 ) = √(25 – 16) = √9 = 3]
3. Find the length of a diagonal of a square whose side is 10 cm long.
ANSWER: 10√2 cm [ d = √(102 + 102) = 10√2 ]
4. How many carbons are present in Palmitic acid?
ANSWER: 16 carbons
5. How many carbons are present in Stearic acid?
ANSWER: 18 carbons
6. What is the main difference between Oleic acid and Stearic acid?
 ANSWER: Oleic acid contains a double bond whereas stearic acid is fully
saturated

1. Explain why primary and secondary alkanols can be oxidized but a tertiary alkanol cannot
be.
ANSWER: In the primary and secondary alkanols there is a hydrogen atom on the
carbon atom carrying the hydroxyl group. Two hydrogens one from the
oxygen and the other from carbon are eliminated during oxidation. There is no
hydrogen on the carbon in the case of tertiary alkanol.
2. Tollens’ test can be used to distinguish between an alkanal and an alkanone. Why is this
possible?
ANSWER: Tollens’ Reagent is a mild oxidizing agent which can oxidize the
alkanal but cannot oxidize the alkanone.
3. What is observed when a Tollens’ Test is positive and what is the chemistry behind this?
ANSWER: Tollens’ Reagent contains silver (I) complex. The silver is reduced to
silver metal which forms a thin layer of the metal in the glass resulting in a
silver mirror.
1. What are the main functional groups in glucose?
ANSWER: 1) An alkanal group 2) Primary alkanol 3)
Secondary alkanol.
2. What are the main functional groups in fructose?
ANSWER: 1) An alkanone group 2) Primary alkanol 3)
Secondary alkanol
3. Chemically what are the similarities and dissimilarities between cellulose and starch?
ANSWER: Similarity: They both consist of glucose units
Dissimilarity: Monomers are different (stereo) isomers of glucose

4. Which of these two acids will be stronger, 2-chlorobutanoic acid and 3-chlorobutanoic
acid? Give reasons for your choice.
ANSWER: 2-chlorobutanoic acid. Inductive effect decreases with distance
5. Which of these two acids will be stronger, 2-chlorobutanoic acid and 2-iodobutanoic
acid? Give reasons for your choice.
ANSWER: 2-chlorobutanoic acid. Chlorine being more electronegative has higher
inductive efffect
6. Which of these phenols will ionize more readily; 3-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol? Give
reasons for your choice.
ANSWER: 4-Nitrophenol. The anion is more stabilized by the electron
withdrawing resonance effect shown by NO2 in position 4
1. Name the product that will be formed when butanoic acid is heated with PCl5.
ANSWER: Butanoyl chloride/Butanoic acid chloride
2. Name the product that will be formed when benzoic acid is heated with ammonia.
ANSWER: Benzanamide (not ammonium benzoate)
3. Name the product formed when methyl ethanoate is treated with ammonia and heated.
ANSWER: Ethanamide

1. Describe the functional group of alkanols.

ANSWER: It is an OH bonded to a saturated carbon.

2. Distinguish between an alkanol and a phenol

ANSWER: In alkanol OH is bonded to saturated carbon whereas in a phenol OH is
bonded to an aromatic nucleus/ benzene ring.

1. Chemically what are vegetable oils

ANSWER: Triglycerides or triacyls of glycerol or Esters or 1,2,3- propan-triol

2. Give one of the commnest ions formed when vegetable oils are saponified
ANSWER:
a. Stereate ion or (octodecanoate)
b. Palmitate ion or (hexadecanoate)
c. Myristate ion or (tetradecanoate)

1. When alkanoic acids are tested with sodium hydrogentrioxocarbonate (IV), there is
effervescence. Explain the chemistry of this test.
ANSWER: The HCO3- combines with the proton from the alkanoic acid to form
H2CO3, which decomposes to give CO2 and H2O.
2. When phenol reacts with sodium metal, two products are formed. Name the products.
ANSWER: Sodium phenoxide and Hydrogen gas.
PhOH + Na → PhO-Na+ + ½ H2
3. Alkanoic acids can be tested with a solution of either sodium hydrogentrioxocarbonate
(IV) or sodium trioxocarbonate (IV). Which of the two is a better or a more sensitive
reagent and why?
ANSWER: NaHCO3 is better than Na2CO3.
NaHCO3 requires only one (1) H+ to form H2CO3 but Na2CO3 needs two H+ to
form H2CO3.
1. If one heats an organic compound with aqueous NaOH and a gas identified as ammonia is
detected what type of compound could it be?
ANSWER: An (unsubstituted) amide

1. What is a dibasic acid?

ANSWER: An acid that possesses two ionisable protons. OR an acid that
can donate two protons to a base.
2. Why is 2-chloropropanoic acid a stronger acid than 3-chloropropanoic acid.
ANSWER: The electron-withdrawing inductive (-I) effect of the Cl is closer to the
acid functional group in 2-chloro than in 3-chloro.
-I effect stabilizes the conjugate base of the acid.
3. Chlorine is more electronegative than bromine, and yet HCl is a weaker acid than HBr.
Why?
ANSWER: The H-Cl bond is stronger than the H-Br bond OR it requires more
energy to ionize HCl than HBr.
4. Define the term Isomerism.
ANSWER: Isomerism occurs when a chemical formula can represent two or more
compounds of different structures.
5. What are stereoisomers?
ANSWER: They are isomers that differ only in the orientation of the atoms or
units of the compounds in space.
6. What type of isomerism is shown by cis and trans 2- butene?
ANSWER: Stereoisomerism (Geometric isomerism 2 marks)
1 Give the systematic name of an alkanol with the OH group on carbon–7 of a seven carbon
open chain.
ANSWER: 1-heptanol.
2 Give the systematic name of a saturated, six membered ring with an OH group and a
methyl group as substituents and as far apart as possible in the molecule.
ANSWER: 4-methylcyclohexanol
 3 Give the systematic name of the most symmetrical alkanone with nine carbons in a
straight chain.
ANSWER: 5-Nonanone (Hydrocarbon is nonane, for alkanone, replace -e- with
-one-).
1. Name the nucleophile you would react with ethyl chloride to form ethyl butanoate.
ANSWER: Butanoate ion C3H7COO-
2. Name the nucleophile you would react with ethyl chloride to form propyl ethyl ether.
ANSWER: Propoxide ion C3H7O- [alkoxide]
3. Name the nucleophile you would react with ethyl chloride to form ethanol.
ANSWER: OH- or H2O
1. Name one reagent that can be used to convert propanoic acid to propanoyl chloride.
ANSWER: Thionyl chloride (SOCl2), Phosphorus (V) chloride
(PCl5)
2. Name the products that will be obtained by treating butyl benzoate with hot HCl solution.
ANSWER: 1) Butanol 2) Benzoic acid
3. Name the products that will be obtained by treating propyl nonanoate with dry LiAlH4 in
ether followed by H2O.
ANSWER: 1) Propanol 2) Nonanol.
1. What is the systematic name for the amide derived from propanoic acid and ammonia?
ANSWER: Propanamide
2. What is the systematic name for the amide derived from butanoic acid and ethylamine?
ANSWER: N-Ethylbutanamide
3. What is the systematic name for the amide derived from benzoic acid and
dimethylamine?
ANSWER: N,N-dimethylbenzamide/benzanamide
1. Which property of the C-C double bond enables alkenes to have stereoisomers?
ANSWER: Rigidity or restricted rotation in the double bond
2. What property of the triple bond makes the hydrogen of a terminal alkyne acidic?
ANSWER: Higher electronegativity of the carbon of the terminal group.
3. What property of cyclobutane makes it possible to have cis-trans isomers?
ANSWER: Rigidity in the ring
1. What observation can be made about the number of carbons in the fatty acid residues in fats
and oils?
ANSWER: There are even numbers of carbons
2. Generally what is the main difference between the fatty acid residues in oils and fats?
ANSWER: Fatty acid residues in oils contain more unsaturated carbon-carbon
double bonds.
3. What is the alkanol residue common to all fats and oils?
ANSWER: 1,2,3-propantriol/ glycerol
4. State the number of stereoisomers that 1-butene would have.
ANSWER: Nil, Double bond with identical groups (H) on one of the carbons.
5. How many stereoisomers would the compound 3-chloro-3-methylpentanol have?
ANSWER: 2 optical isomers/enatiomers. Molecule contains a chiral carbon
6. How many isomers would the compound chlorophenol have?
ANSWER: 3 isomers, 2-chloro-, 3-chloro-, and 4-chlorophenol

1. Name two isomers of n-hexane with a maximum of 5 carbons in an open chain.

ANSWER: 2-Methylpentane; 3-methylpentane
2. Name two isomers of n-hexane with a maximum of 4 carbons in an open chain.
ANSWER: 2,2-dimethylbutane; 2,3-dimethylbutane.
3. Name any two compounds with the formula C6H12 containing cyclobutane ring.
ANSWER: Ethylcyclobutane; 1,1-dimethylcyclobutane; ( cis or trans-)1,2- `
dimethylcyclobutane; ( cis or trans-)1,3-dimethylcyclobutane

4. A factory manufactures vinegar by converting ethanol into ethanoic acid. What is the
percentage yield if 69kg of ethanol gave 81kg of ethanoic acid? [O = 16.0; C = 12.0;
H = 1.0]
ANSWER: CH3CH2OH → CH3COOH
46 kg → 60 kg
Therefore 69kg → 90kg
Hence %yield = (81/90) x 100
= 90
5. An experiment in the laboratory converts toluene by oxidation to benzoic acid. What is
the percentage yield of the conversion if 195.2g of benzoic acid is obtained from 184 g of
toluene? [O = 16.0; C = 12.0; H = 1.0]
ANSWER: C6H5CH3 → C6H5COOH
92g → 122g
Therefore 184g → 244g
`Hence %yield = (195.2/244) x 100
 = 80
6. 1-Butanol is prepared by hydration of 1-butene. What is the percentage yield if 56g of
the alkene yields 55.5g of the alkanol. [O = 16.0; C = 12.0; H = 1.0]
ANSWER: C 4 H8 → C4H9OH
56g → 74g
Therefore % yield = (55.5/74) x 100
=
75
1. How many fused benzene rings are in the compound ANTHRACENE?

ANSWER: 3
2. How many fused benzene rings are in the compound PHENANTHRENE?

ANSWER: 3
3. Naphthalene has two fused benzene rings. How many isomeric OH derivatives can it
have?
OH
OH

ANSWER: 2; α- and β-naphthol

1. Which of the two indicators, methyl orange and phenolphthalein, will you choose for the
titration of dilute HCl with NaHCO3 solution?
ANSWER: Methyl orange

2. Which of the two indicators, methyl orange and phenolphthalein, will you choose for the
titration of ethanoic acid solution against sodium hydroxide solution?
ANSWER: Phenolphthalein Solution will be alkaline at end point.

3. State whether methyl orange or phenolphthalein or both will be suitable for the titration
Na2CO3 solution and dil HCl and give reasons for your choice.
ANSWER: Both will be suitable. Balanced equations will be different but will
give same result.

1. Give the reagent and condition for the preparation of CHCl3 from methane.
ANSWER: Add chlorine gas to methane in the presence of (UV) light.

2. How would you prepare ethanoic acid from ethanol?

 ANSWER: React ethanol with either acidified K2CrO7 solution or KMnO4
solution.

3. How would you convert propanoic acid to propanoyl chloride?

ANSWER: Heat propanoic acid with PCl5 or PCl3 or SOCl2 (Not conc HCl).

1. In an Oil Refinery, there is a unit that converts straight chain alkanes into branched
and cyclic ones. Why is this done?
ANSWER: The branched and cyclic alkanes have better octane rating.

2. In the Oil Refinery set up, vapours of large molecules are passed over catalyst during
which the large molecules break down to give smaller ones. What is this process
called?
ANSWER: Catalytic cracking.

3. In time past, tetraethyllead was added to the gasoline fraction before the gasoline is
sold to motorists in Ghana. What was the essence of adding this additive?
ANSWER: To increase the octane rating of the gasoline.

1. Give one isomer of 1-chlorobutane which is a derivative of propane.

ANSWER: 1-chloro-2-methylpropane or 2-chloro-2-methlypropane.

2. Give the stereoisomer of cis-2-pentene

ANSWER: trans-2-pentene

3. Give a positional isomer (or structural) isomer of 2-pentene

ANSWER: 1-pentene

1. Zinc hydroxide reacts with hydroxide ions to form the complex anion Zn(OH)42-. Give me
a balanced equation for the reaction.
ANSWER: Zn(OH)2 + 2OH- → Zn(OH)42-.
2. Magnesium when heated to redness, reacts with ammonia to give magnesium nitride and
hydrogen. Give me a balanced equation for the reaction.
ANSWER: 3Mg + 2NH3 → Mg3N2 + 3H2
3. Glucose in the presence of an enzyme is fermented to give ethanol and CO2. Give me
 a balanced equation for this.
ANSWER: C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
1. Explain how ethyne can be prepared on industrial scale from coke.
ANSWER: (a) Coke is made to react with lime or CaO at high temperature
(over 1000◦C).

(b) The calcium carbide formed is treated with water to give

ethyne.
2. Which compound would you need as reactant in order to prepare propyne using hot
alcoholic KOH?
ANSWER: 1, 2-Dibromopropane.

3. Which compound would you need in addition to methyl iodide in order to prepare
propyne?
ANSWER: Sodium ethynide / sodium acetylide (CH≡CNa).

4. Which of the following materials would you consider using as an electrical insulator: graphite,
polyethylene, glass?
ANSWER: Polyethylene and glass
5. Which of the following would you consider using as a thermal insulator: rubber, graphite,
expanded polystyrene?
ANSWER: Rubber and expanded polystyrene
6. Which of the following would you use as an electrical insulator: rubber, porcelain, lead?
ANSWER: Rubber and porcelain

1. What property of alkenes allows them to have stereoisomers?

ANSWER: Rigidity of the carbon-carbon double bond.

2. Which of the two, cis and trans 2-butene, is more stable?

ANSWER: trans-2-butene.

3. In principle 1-butene can react with hydrogen bromide to yield two possible
products, 1-bromobutane and 2-bromobutane. Which product is the preferred
product?
ANSWER: 2-bromobutane.
1. Define a primary alkanol
ANSWER: The OH is bonded to a carbon bonded to 2 hydrogens or one
carbon
 2. What is the first product of oxidation of alkanols
ANSWER: Alkanals

3. Name the final product formed when 2-butanol is made to react with acidified
K2Cr2O7.
ANSWER: 2-butanone.

1. Define the term isomerism.

ANSWER: Isomerism occurs when a chemical formula can represent two
or more
Compounds.
2. Two organic molecules have the same formula but differ in the orientation of the
atoms or units in space. What type of isomers are the compounds?
ANSWER: Stereoisomers
3. What name do we give to isomers that affect the plane of polarized light to the same
extent but in the opposite direction?
ANSWER: Enantiomers (Do not accept optical isomers.)
1. Name the product given by a reaction of ethanoyl chloride with benzene in the presence
aluminum chloride.
ANSWER: Phenyl methyl ketone or methyl phenyl ketone or acetophenone
2. What reagent must be added to propene to give 2-bromopropane.
ANSWER: HBr gas
3. Which compounds must be reacted together to give the ester propyl methanoate.
ANSWER: 1 – propanol and methanoic acid
: An organic compound A decomposes by second order kinetics. The integrated form of the
second order rate equation is 1/At = kt + 1/A0, where A0 is the initial concentration of A and
At is its concentration after time t.
1. Calculate the rate constant if 25% of the initial concentration of 0.1 moldm-3 of A is
decomposed after 60 seconds. Remember to give your answer in the standard or scientific
form.
ANSWER: 1/At = kt + 1/A0
Concentration of A after 60 s = 0.075
1/0.075 = k*60 + 1/0.1; 13.3 = 60k + 10
k = 3.3/60 = 1.1/20 = 5.5*10-2 mol-1dm3s-1
2. Calculate the rate constant if in another reaction 80% of the 0.1 moldm-3 of A had
decomposed in 160 seconds. Give your answer in the standard form.
ANSWER: 1/At = kt + 1/A0
1/0.02 = k*160 + 1/0.1; 50 = 160k + 10
k = 40/160 = 2.5*10-1 mol-1dm3s-1
3. In another decomposition reaction of A, determine how long it takes 70% of the initial
concentration of 0.1 moldm-3 of A to decompose if the rate constant of that reaction is found
to be 2.33*10-1 mol-1dm-3s-1
ANSWER: 1/At = kt + 1/A0
1/0.03 = k*t + 1/0.1; 33.3 = 2.33*10-1t + 10
t = 23.3/2.33*10-1 = 100 sec
1. Give me the name of the product formed when propanoic acid is treated with a hot
solution of ammonia.
ANSWER: Ammonium propanoate

2. Give me the name of the product formed when an aqueous solution of ammonium
propanoate is heated strongly.
ANSWER: Propanamide

3. Give me the products when ethanoic acid is treated with sodium trioxocarbonate (IV)
solution.
4. In obtaining aluminium from its ore, what are the processes that may be described as
concentration?
ANSWER: (a) The bauxite is treated with hot concentrated NaOH solution under

pressure which dissolves the aluminium oxide and silicon oxide

(b) The aluminium hydroxide is seeded out using small amount of

pure crystalline Al(OH)3

(c) The hydroxide is roasted to give pure Al2O3

5. Which of the general stages, concentration, reduction and purification is absent in the
extraction of gold from its ore and why?
ANSWER: The missing stage is chemical reduction

Reason: Gold occurs in the uncombined state.

1. Give the systematic name for an alkanoic acid with 5 carbons in an open chain with
bromine bonded to the 2nd carbon from the other end.
ANSWER: 4-Bromopentanoic acid
2. Give the systematic name of an ester that is derived from phenylmethanol and butanoic
acid.
ANSWER: Benzyl butanoate OR Phenylmethyl butanoate
3. What is the systematic name of an alkene with 7 carbons in an open chain and the double
bond the between 4th and 5th carbons from one end
ANSWER: 3-Heptene.
10. Name an alkene which will react with HBr gas to give 2-bromopentane
ANSWER: 1-pentene
11. Give the reagent that can convert 2-butene to 2,3-butandiol
ANSWER: Cold, neutral and dilute KMnO4 solution.
12. How would you prepare a mixture of chloro-, dichloro-, and trichloromethane from
methane?
ANSWER: Mix CH4 and Cl2 in a flask and expose the mixture to (UV)
light.
20. Name the product when 1-propanol is treated with warm acidified K2Cr2O7 solution
ANSWER: Propanoic acid (If Propanal 1mark)
21. Name the product when toluene is treated with acidified KMnO4
ANSWER: Benzoic acid (or phenylmethanoic acid)
22. Name the product when 2-butanol is treated with warm acidified K2Cr2O7solution
ANSWER: 2-butanone.

6. Give the name of a saturated hydrocarbon with nine carbons in an open chain
ANSWER: Nonane
7. What is the molecular formula of an alkene of 5 carbons
ANSWER: C5H10
8. A hydrocarbon is a 6-membered ring. What could be its molecular formula
ANSWER: C6H12
1. What are organic esters?

ANSWER: They are compounds derived from the reaction of alkanoic acid / carboxylic acid
with alkanols/ alcohols OR compounds that can be hydrolysed to give alkanoic acids and
alkanols
2. What are amides?
ANSWER: They are compounds obtained from the reaction of ammonia or primary or
secondary amines with carboxylic / alkanoic acid or alkanoic acid halides OR compounds
that can be hydrolsed to give alkanoic acids and ammonia or 1◦/ 2◦ amines.
3. What are amines

ANSWER: They are organic compounds in which one or two of or all three hydrogens in
ammonia have been replaced with alkyl (or aryl groups).
1. What is the main physical characteristic property of esters, especially the simple ones?
ANSWER: Pleasant / sweet fragrance
2. Name one natural source of esters apart from fats and vegetable oils

ANSWER: Fruits, flowers, essential oils, bees honeycomb

3. Which functional group is common to all esters?

ANSWER: C double bond O and O- (O=C-O- )

1. What are the building blocks of proteins?
ANSWER: α-amino acids/ 2-amino acids
2. What is the alkanol unit of fats and vegetable oil?
ANSWER: 1, 2, 3-propantriol or glycerol
3. Give the systematic name of the monomer of polystyrene
ANSWER: Phenylethene

1. How many different chlorinated compounds can be obtained when methane and excess
chlorine are mixed in the presence of light?
ANSWER: 4 CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, CHCl3, and CCl4.
2. How many different chlorinated compounds can be obtained when a mixture of toluene
and chlorine is exposed to light
ANSWER: 3 chloromethylbenzene; dichloromethylbenzene, and
trichloromethylbenzne.
3. Chlorination of methane in the presence of sunlight proceeds via free radical mechanism,
how many reaction steps are involved in the mechanism? Name them
ANSWER: 3 steps (Chain initiation, propagation and termination

1. How can one confirm that an organic compound contains carbon?

ANSWER: The compound is burnt in excess O2 and the gas passed through
lime water. The lime water turns milky.
2. How would you test for the presence of a carbon-carbon π-bond in an organic compound?
 ANSWER: Test the (ethanolic solution of the) compound with Br2 in
HCCl3 or CCl4 OR bromine water OR dilute, cold, aqueous KMnO4.
The colour of Br2 or KMnO4 disappears.
3. An organic compound is heated with dilute NaOH solution and a gas that is shown to be
ammonia is evolved. What class of compounds does the organic compound belong?
ANSWER: An (unsubstituted) amide
1. Name two functional groups present in a molecule of vitamin A.
ANSWER: Alkene and Alkanol
2. What functional groups are present in the open chain structure of D-glucose?
ANSWER: a) Alkanal b) Primary alkanol c) Secondary alkanol
3. What functional groups may be present in a protein molecule?
ANSWER: a) Amide b) alkanoic acid group c) amino group

1. What accounts for the greater

stability of the ethyl carbonium ion?
ANSWER: Electron donating inductive effect of the methyl group on the
positively charged carbon
1. Complete the following sentence: ‘In
chromatography the components of a
mixture being separated are
distributed between two phases:
…….. phase and ……… phase.
ANSWER: Stationary phase and mobile phase
1. Give the systematic name of an alkanoic acid with a total of nine carbons in a straight
chain.
ANSWER: Nonanoic acid.
2. Which functional group is present in pentanonitrile
ANSWER: Cyano or carbon triple bond nitrogen or CN
3. An organic compound has a substituent of formula C8H17- which is an open chain. What
is the name of this substituent?
ANSWER: Octyl.
1. Resonance is responsible for the greater acidity of ethanoic acid compared to ethanol.
How do you explain this?
ANSWER: The conjugate base formed when ethanoic acid loses a proton is the
ethanoate ion. The ethanoate is stabilized by resonance
2. The ethanamide molecule contains the NH2 group just like ethylamine but ethanamide is
an extremely weak base, why?
ANSWER: The lone pair on the nitrogen in ethanamide is delocalized by
resonance OR the lone pair is attracted by the partial positive charge on the
carbonyl carbon.
3. Why is the enthalpy of hydrogenation of benzene less than three times the enthalpy of
hydrogenation of cyclohexene (which contains only one double bond)
ANSWER: Because of resonance, benzene is more stable than the hypothetical
cyclohexatriene. Hydrogenation will release less energy than three times an
isolated double bond will release.

4. Calculate the percentage carbon in octane and give your answer to one place of decimal.
C = 12.0; H = 1.0
ANSWER: Octane = C8H18 = 12*8 + 18 = 114
%C = 96/114*100 = 84.2
5. Calculate the percentage oxygen in 2-butanone and give your answer to one place of
decimal. O = 16.0; C = 12; H = 1
ANSWER: 2-Butanone = CH3COCH2CH3 = C4H8O = 72
%O = 16/72*100 = 22.2
6. Calculate the percentage oxygen in propanoic acid and give your answer to one place of
decimal. O = 16.0; C = 12; H = 1
ANSWER: Propanoic acid = CH3CH2COOH = C3H6O2 = 74

%O = 32/74*100 = 43.2
1. Arrange the following petroleum products in the order of increasing boiling point,
aviation fuel, diesel and gasoline.
ANSWER: gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel
2. Name any of the two organic compounds used in determining the octane rating of
gasoline.
ANSWER: 1) 2,2,4–Trimethylpentane/isooctane
2) n–heptane
3. Name any product that can be obtained from the residue of crude oil distillation.
ANSWER: 1) Fuel oil 2) bitumen 3) wax
1. State the expected observation when an alkanoic acid is tested with NaHCO3 solution and
explain the chemistry of the test.
ANSWER: Effervescence is observed
Chemistry: The alkanoic acid protonates the HCO3- ion to give
H2CO3 which decomposes to CO2 gas and H2O
2. Give the expected product when butanoic acid is treated with a hot solution of ammonia.
ANSWER: Ammonium butanoate
3. State the expected observation when methyl butanoate is treated with a dilute solution of
NaOH and the mixture heated. Explain the chemistry of the observation.
ANSWER: The sweet smell of methyl butanoate (an ester) disappears
when treated
with hot NaOH solution.
Chemistry: Methyl butanoate is an ester and is hydrolyzed by the
alkali (to give butanoate ion and methanol)
1. Name the types of stereoisomerism known.
ANSWER: 1) Geometrical isomerism 2) Optical isomerism
2. What are the minimum conditions that a compound must satisfy to be optically active.
ANSWER: The compound must have a carbon atom with 4 different substituents.
OR The compound must lack a plane of symmetry.
OR The compound is not superimposable on its mirror image.
3. How do the optical isomers of a compound behave towards polarized light.
ANSWER: Isomers rotate the plane of polarized light, (Or in the case of
enatiomers one rotates clockwise and the other anticlockwise).
1. What kind of isomers are 1-pentene and 2–pentene.
ANSWER: Position isomers (if structural isomers award only 1mark)

2. 2-pentene shows both structural and stereo–isomerism. Name the possible stereoisomers.
ANSWER: Cis- and Trans-2–pentene
 3. Derivatives of cyclobutane can show cis–trans isomerism. Why?
ANSWER: The cyclobutane ring is rigid.

1. What are the essential structural properties of soaps and detergents that enable them to
clean oils and dirt?
ANSWER: They have both polar and non–polar portions.
2. In the act of cleaning grease from articles of clothing by detergents, which portion of the
detergent interacts with the grease?
ANSWER: The non–polar end of the structure of the detergent.
3. A typical detergent is sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate. Which part of the molecule will
interact with water?
ANSWER: The end with sodium (Na+) and sulphonate (SO32-) ions.
1. Give the systematic name of the isomeric tertiary alkanol of 1–pentanol.
ANSWER: 2–methyl–2–butanol or 2– methylbutan–2–ol.
2. Name the product formed, when 2–methyl–2–propanol is made to react with
acidified K2Cr2O7 solution.
ANSWER: No product/ cannot be oxidized
3. Which of the two alkanols, 2–butanol and 2–methyl–2-propanol will be optically
active?
ANSWER: 2-Butanol
1. Give the systematic name for the monomer of polystyrene.
ANSWER: Phenylethene
2. What is the common trade name of the polymer made from chloroethene.
ANSWER: PVC or Polyvinylchloride
3. Complete the sentence: 1, 2–Ethanediol is a useful co–monomer in the synthesis of …..
ANSWER: Polyester
1. Name the functional group of alkynes.
ANSWER: Carbon – Carbon triple bonds or C≡C
2. What are the components of a triple bond?
ANSWER: One sigma and two pi bonds (do not accept single bond and double
bonds)
3. Which reagent is needed to convert 1,2–dibromopropane to propyne?
ANSWER: Alcoholic KOH (Accept alcoholic NaOH)
 1. To a sodium salt solution, was added lead ethanoate solution in excess. If a precipitate is formed
which anion or anions could be present?
ANSWER: SO32-, SO42-, CO32-, or a halide (I-, Br-, I-)
2. To a solution of sodium salt, lead ethanoate solution is added in excess and the mixture heated.
The precipitate formed dissolves and reappears when the mixture is cooled. Which anion could be
present?
ANSWER: Chloride
3. To a solution of sodium salt, lead ethanoate solution was added followed by dilute HNO3. The
precipitate that formed dissolved in the acid. Which anion could have been present?
ANSWER: CO32-, or SO32- (trioxocarbonate IV or trioxosulphate IV
ion)

1. In the presence of light bromine reacts with propane. Name one monobrominated product
that can be formed.
ANSWER: 1 – Bromopropane or 2 - bromopropane
2. Give the first step of the reaction mechanism for the bromination of propane in the
presence of light.
ANSWER: Dissociation of bromine molecule into free radicals or bromine atoms
with unpaired electrons
3. Explain what happens in a chain terminating step.
ANSWER: Two free radicals, one of them involved in the chain propagating step,
come together to form a neutral compound
1. State which of the following three compounds is likely to be the most stable.
1 – butene, trans–2–butene and cis–2–butene
ANSWER: trans–2–butene. (The 2–butenes are more stable than 1–butene.
Of the 2, the trans is more stable than cis
2. Name one positional isomer of 2–hexane.
ANSWER: 1–hexene or 3–hexene
3. By what type of reaction will 2–methyl–2–propanol be converted to 2–methyl–2-
bromopropane by HBr gas in ether as solvent?
ANSWER: By substitution reaction
4. What are the essential structural properties of soaps and detergents that enable them to
clean oils and dirt?
ANSWER: They have both polar and non–polar portions.
 5. In the act of cleaning grease from articles of clothing by detergents, which portion of the
detergent interacts with the grease?
ANSWER: The non–polar end of the structure of the detergent.
6. A typical detergent is sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate. Which part of the molecule will
interact with water?
ANSWER: The end with sodium (Na+) and sulphonate (SO32-) ions.
PREAMBLE: State whether a given polymer is natural or synthetic and whether it is an
addition or condensation polymer.
1. Rubber (or latex)
ANSWER: Natural; addition
2. Protein
ANSWER: Natural; condensation
3. Polystyrene
ANSWER: Synthetic; addition

1. Explain why although alkynes also contain C – C pi bonds just like alkenes, they do not
show the stereoisomerism shown by alkenes.
ANSWER: Molecules are linear
2. Which saturated compound will react with alcoholic KOH to give propyne?
ANSWER: 1, 2 –dibromopropane
BrCH2BrCHCH3 + 2KOH → HC ≡ C–CH3 + 2H2O + 2KBr.
3. Give the product of the reaction of sodium ethynide (or dicarbide) and 1–iodopropane.
ANSWER: 1–pentyne
HC ≡ C-Na+ + ICH2CH2CH3 → HC≡C-CH2CH2CH3
1. Give the product or products that will be formed when 2–bromobutane is refluxed with
concentrated alcoholic KOH.
ANSWER: 1–butene and 2–butene
2. When 2–bromopentane is refluxed with concentrated alcoholic KOH, which product will
be the major product?
ANSWER: 2–pentene.
3. Which compound, whose vapour when passed over hot alumina, will yield propene?
ANSWER: 2–propanol (if 1–propanol, award only 1 mark)

1. Which of the two alkanols can be oxidized to an alkanal, 1-butanol and 2–butanol?
 ANSWER: 1 – Butanol
2. The breath analyser used in catching drunken drivers is a tube containing acidified K2Cr2O7.
Explain the basis of the test.
ANSWER: When a drunken driver blows his or her breath into the tube the alcohol/
ethanol gets oxidised and Cr2O72- is reduced to Cr3+. There is a colour
change from yellow to green.
3. What property of alkanols makes them higher boiling liquids than hydrocarbons of
comparable molar mass?
ANSWER: Intermolecular hydrogen bonding in alkanols which is absent in
hydrocarbons.

1. Name the first and the last steps of a reaction that proceeds through a free radical
mechanism.
ANSWER: Chain initiation step.
Chain termination step
2. Give any two reaction steps that can be considered to be chain termination steps of the
chlorination of methane to chloromethane in the presence of UV light.
ANSWER: 1) Chlorine radical + chlorine radical to give chlorine molecule
Cl + Cl → Cl2
2) Methyl radical + chlorine radical to give methyl chloride.
CH3 + Cl → CH3Cl
3) Methyl radical + methyl radical to give ethane.
CH3 + CH3 → CH3CH3.
3. Give any two reaction steps that may be considered as chain propagation steps in the
chlorination of methane to chloromethane in the presence of UV light.
ANSWER: 1) Methane molecule + chlorine radical to give methyl radical and
HCl
CH4 + Cl → CH3 + HCl
2) Methyl radical + chlorine molecule to give chloromethane and
chlorine radical.
CH3 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + Cl
1. Give the angle of hydrogen–carbon–hydrogen in methane.
ANSWER: 109.5o (tetrahedral angle)
 2. The H–O–H bond angle in water is one of the following, 109.5o, 104.5o and 120o, select
the right one and give your reason.
ANSWER: 104.5o; Reason:- Orbitals on oxygen are sp3 hybridized. The two
non–bonding orbitals carrying the lone pairs, repel each other and push the
bonding orbitals closer together. Hence the final angle is smaller than the
tetrahedral angle 109.5o
3. Describe the geometry or shape of the ethene molecule, indicating the position of the pi
cloud.
ANSWER: The six atoms, 2C and 4H are all in the same plane, with the pi cloud
extending above and below the plane.
1. Which atoms or elements are bonded directly to the carbonyl group in acid chloride?
ANSWER: Carbon and chlorine [RCOCl]
2. Which atoms or elements are bonded directly to the carbonyl group in an amide?
ANSWER: Carbon and nitrogen [RCONH2]
3. Which elements or atoms are bonded directly to the carbonyl group in an acid anhydride?
ANSWER: Carbon and Oxygen [RCO-O-COR].
1. Name the functional groups present in a molecule of glucose.
ANSWER: 1) Alkanal functional group
2) Alkanol functional group
2. Name the functional groups present in a molecule of urea.
ANSWER: Amide (if the answer is carbonyl or amine, award only 1 mark)
3. Name the functional groups in cholesterol.
ANSWER: 1) Alkanol 2) Alkene
1. Distinguish between an elimination reaction and a substitution reaction.
ANSWER: In an elimination reaction, two groups or atoms on adjacent atoms are removed
(to create an unsaturated bond). In a substitution reaction, an atom/ion or group
displaces an atom/ions or group in a molecule
2. Distinguish between condensation reaction and substitution reaction
ANSWER: In a condensation reaction, two groups or units come together with a
simultaneous elimination of a molecule. In a substitution reaction, an atom/ion or
group displaces an atom/ion or group in a molecule.
3. Explain why nylon is a condensation polymer.
ANSWER: A monomer with an amino group and another with alkanoic acid functional
group come together to form an amide bond with the elimination of a molecule of
water.
 -NH2 + HOOC- → - NH-CO- + H2O
1. What are the two major constituents of crude petroleum?
ANSWER: Alkanes and cycloalkanes
2. What process is used in an oil refinery to increase the amount of petrol or gasoline that can be
obtained from crude oil?
ANSWER: (Thermal or catalytic) Cracking
3. What is the scale used to determine the anti–knock characteristic of a gasoline.
ANSWER: Octane number or rating.F

1. Give one reagent which can be used to convert an alkanone or alkanal into alkanol
ANSWER: 1) NaBH4/H3O+, [not LiAlH4] or 2) Grignard Reagent or RMgX/H3O+.
2. Give a reagent for converting an alkanoic acid into an alkanol.
ANSWER: LiAlH4/H2O
3. How would you convert an alkene into alkanol?
ANSWER: 1) Hydration using acidified water or H3O+.
1. By what type of reaction will 2-bromopropane be converted into propene?
ANSWER: By Elimination reaction.
2. By what type of reaction will 2-propanone be converted into 2-methyl-2-propanol?
ANSWER: By Addition reaction.
3. By what type of reaction will 1-bromopropane be converted into 1-propanol
ANSWER: By substitution reaction.
1. The name, 1,3-dimethylpropane is incorrect. Give the correct systematic name.
ANSWER: Pentane
2. The name, tert-butylmethane is incorrect. Give the correct systematic name.
ANSWER: 2,2-dimethylpropane
3. The name, 2-ethylpentane is incorrect. Give the correct systematic name.
ANSWER: 3-methylhexane.
1. Name the product formed when concentrated H2SO4 is made to react with ethane.
ANSWER: Ethyl hydrogentetraoxosulphate (VI)
2. Name the product formed when warm water is added to ethyl hydrogentetraoxosulphate (VI).
ANSWER: Ethanol. Reaction is the hydrolysis of the sulphate
3. Name the product formed when ethene reacts with cold, dilute and neutral KMnO4 solution.
ANSWER: 1,2-Ethanediol (or ethylene glycol).
PREAMBLE: When ethyne gas is heated in a copper tube and under pressure, three moles combine
to give a mole of benzene.

4. What is the percentage yield if 39g of ethyne could only produce 31.2 g of benzene?
C = 12.0, H = 1.0
 ANSWER: 3 CH ≡ CH → C6H6
3*26 78
39g of ethyne ≡ 39g of benzene
Therefore, %yield = 31.2/39*100 = 80%
5. What is the percentage yield if 67.2 dm3 of ethyne at STP gave 70.2 g of benzene. Molar volume
of a gas is 22.4 dm3 at STP.
ANSWER: 67.2 dm3 of ethyne = 3*22.4 dm3 = 3 moles of ethyne.
3 moles of ethyne ≡ 1 mole of benzene ≡ 78.0 g
Therefore, percentage yield = 70.2/78*100 = 90%
6. An apparatus used in converting ethyne into benzene operates at 80% yield. If 124.8g of benzene
was harvested in one such preparation, what mass of ethyne was used? C = 12.0, H=
1.0
ANSWER: 3C2H2 → C6H6.
3*26 78
Since apparatus operates at 80% yield.
At 80% yield mass of benzene = 124.8
Therefore, at 100% mass of benzene = 124.8*100/80 = 156g
The contact angle between a solid and liquids 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, and 𝐷 are 0°, 20°, 120°, and 130°
respectively.

1. Which of the liquids forms a concave meniscus in a tube made of the solid?
ANSWER: 𝐴 and 𝐵
2. Which of the liquids forms a convex meniscus in a tube made of the solid?
ANSWER: 𝐶 and 𝐷
3. Which of the liquids completely wets the solid?
ANSWER: 𝐴 only
1. Which gas is in the greatest quantity in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sold in cylinders for
domestic use in Ghana?
ANSWER: Butane

2. Which gas forms the bulk of Natural Gas?

ANSWER: Methane

3. Give the approximate boiling range of petrol or gasoline.

ANSWER: 70 – 200o C (accept ± 10o C at lower and upper limits;

e.g. 60 – 210 oC; 80 – 190oC )

4. Describe your observation when dilute sodium hydroxide solution is added drop-wise and in
excess to a solution containing Al3+ ions.
ANSWER: A white gelatinous precipitate soluble in excess is formed.

5. Describe the expected observation when potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) solution is added to iron
(II) solution.
ANSWER: A dark blue precipitate is formed.

6. Describe your observation when potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) solution is added to copper (II)
solution.
ANSWER: A reddish–brown (gelatinous) precipitate is formed.

1. Give the name and type of any one isomer of 1-butene.

ANSWER: 2-Butene - Position isomer
2-Methyl-1-Propene - Chain/Branch isomer.
2. Give an isomer of 1-pentene that may not be considered to be either a position or a chain isomer.
ANSWER: cyclopentane (C5H12). OR methylcyclobutane OR ethylcyclopropane or
1,2-dimethylpropane
3. Name one isomer of 1-butanol that is neither a primary nor secondary alkanol.
ANSWER: 2-methyl-2-propanol

1. Name the two broad types of isomerism in chemistry.

ANSWER: Structural isomerism and Stereo isomerism
2. Explain why dichloromethane cannot show stereo isomerism.
ANSWER: There is only one way the chlorine and hydrogen atoms on the carbon atom
can be arranged in space.
3. What type of structural isomerism can a compound of formula C2H6O show?
ANSWER: Isomers are CH3OCH3 and CH3CH2OH – Functional group isomerism

1. Explain why amines are regarded as organic bases.

ANSWER: They contain nitrogen with an unpaired electron. The nitrogen can accept a
proton
2. Explain why dimethylamine is expected to be a stronger base than methylamine.
ANSWER: The methyl group is electron donating thus increasing the charge density on
the nitrogen. Dimethylamine has two of the methyl group while methylamine has
only one.
3. If aniline which is phenylamine, is weaker than methylamine, what does this imply?
 ANSWER: In aniline/phenylamine, the phenyl group is acting as an electron withdrawing
group.
1. Explain why methane is not soluble in water but methanol is infinitely soluble in water.
ANSWER: Methane is non–polar while water is polar. Methanol with the OH group is
polar
and there is intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

2. How many position isomers does methylcyclohexanol have? Name them.

ANSWER: 3.
2-methylcyclohexanol; 3-methylcyclohexanol; 4-methylcyclohexanol
3. Although phenol and cyclohexanol possess the OH functional group, phenol is acidic but
cyclohexanol is not, why?
ANSWER: When phenol loses a proton, the conjugate base is stabilized by
resonance. This will be absent if cyclohexanol loses a proton