Module 6 - Organic Chemistry & Analysis - Exam Questions Flashcards
What does the symbol [H] represent? (1)
Reducing agent
Suggest a reagent that would convert the -OH group in phenol to an -O(-) group (1)
NaOH (sodium hydroxide) takes the H from phenol
Explain what is meant by the term 1,4-diamino (2)
Diamino: two amine groups
1,4: Their position on the ring
1,4-dinitrobenzene is converted to 1,4-diaminobenzene, what type of reaction is this? (1)
Reduction
State reagents and conditions required to convert 1,4-dinitrobenzene to 1,4-diaminobenzene (2)
Tin and HCl
Conc acid under reflux
Explain how the amino groups in a primary amine allow the molecule to act as a base (2)
Accepts H+ using the lone pair on N
Which forms a dative covalent bond
State whether you would expect hexane-1,6-diamine to be a stronger or weaker base than 1,4-diaminobenzene. Explain your reasoning (3)
Hexane-1,6-diamine is a stronger base because:
Electrons move towards the N in hexane-1,6-diamine
Lone pair from N is partially delocalised around the ring in diaminobenzene
So electron pair is more easily donated
Suggest possible problems of making a chiral drug such as salbutamol and describe two
ways that the pharmaceutical industry might overcome these problems (4)
Production of a single isomer is more expensive One of the isomers is more active Overcome by using: Enzyme catalyst Chiral catalyst
Explain what is meant by an α-amino acid (1)
Both NH2 and COOH are joined to the same C
Explain the evidence that led scientists to doubt the model proposed by Kekulé (3)
Bond length intermediate between/different from (short) C=C and (long) C–C
ΔH hydrogenation less exothermic than expected
Only reacts with Br2 at high temp or in presence of a halogen carrier
The chemist observed that bromine decolourises when it reacts with phenol
What other observation would she have made? (1)
White precipitate
Cyclohexene also decolourises bromine
Name the organic product formed (1)
1,2-Dibromocyclohexane
Explain the relative resistance to bromination of benzene compared to phenol and compared to cyclohexene (5)
Benzene - π bonds are delocalised Phenol - a lone pair of electrons on the OH is partially delocalised into the ring Cyclohexene - electrons are localised Benzene has a lower electron density Benzene cannot induce a dipole in Br2
State the general formula of an α-amino acid (1)
C bonded to NH2, COOH, H and R
The mixture of tripeptides can be analysed by using gas chromatography, coupled with mass spectrometry. Summarise how each method contributes to the analysis (3)
Gas chromatograph separates the tripeptides
Mass spectrometer produces a distinctive fragmentation pattern
Identification by computer using a spectral database
State what is meant by the term zwitterion (1)
Ion has both + and - charges
What is meant by the term stereoisomer? (1)
Molecules with the same structure but different arrangements in space
How does cis-trans isomerism arise in organic molecules? (1)
Double bond does not rotate
State a use for Kevlar (1)
Bullet proof clothing
Kevlar is formed from a diamine and a dioic acid, what kind of polymerisation is this reaction? (1)
Condensation`
Chlorobenzene can be nitrated to form a mixture of products. Suggest why the reaction forms a mixture of products (1)
Nitration at different positions on the ring
State what the biochemist would see when hydroxyethanal reacts with
Tollens’ reagent (1)
Silver mirror
The biochemist also reacted hydroxyethanal with acidified dichromate by heating
under reflux. Write an equation for this oxidation. [O] is oxidising agent (2)
HOCH2CHO + 3[O] -> HOOCCOOH + H2O
The biochemist then reduced hydroxyethanal using aqueous NaBH4.
Write the structural formula of the organic product (1)
HOCH2CH2OH
What is meant by the term nucleophile? (1)
Electron pair donor
Describe a simple chemical test that would show that but-2-enal is an aldehyde (2)
Heat with Tollens’ reagent
Gives a silver mirror
Explain why Tollens’ reagent test gives a different result for aldehydes and ketones (1)
Aldehydes can reduce Ag+ to Ag
Tollens’ reagent can be used to identify the aldehyde group in cinnamaldehyde. (6)
• Describe how you would make Tollens’ reagent and carry out this test in the
laboratory.
• Explain what happens to both the Tollens’ reagent and the cinnamaldehyde in
this reaction.
Method: Silver nitrate Ammonia Heat Silver mirror forms Explanation: Silver ions reduced Aldehyde oxidised to a carboxylic acid
How does gas chromatography separate the compounds in the mixture? (1)
Relative solubility in stationary phase
Two compounds pass through a gas chromatogram, what is suggested about the one that comes out first? (1)
Less soluble in the stationary phase
Three compounds: Ketone & primary alcohol (A), Aldehyde & secondary alcohol (B), Ketone & tertiary alcohol (C) Describe chemical tests to distinguish between the compounds (4)
First react all with Tollens’ reagent, silver mirror forms with compound B
B + [O] -> carboxylic acid
Then react A and C with acidified potassium dichromate, colour change for A
A + 2[O] -> carboxylic acid and water
An alcohol is reacted with excess K2Cr2O7/H2SO4 under reflux, state observation during reaction? (1)
Colour changes from orange to green
Describe a chemical test that you could use to detect the presence of a carbonyl group in an organic compound, reagent and observation (2)
2,4-DNPH
Orange precipitate
State one possible health risk of a diet that is high in trans oils (1)
Heart disease
A chemical with chiral centres can be synthesised from naturally occuring steroids. Suggest an advantage of having a synthetic route (1)
Ensures correct chirality
Explain what is meant by the term condensation polymerisation (1)
Monomers form polymer and a small molecule i.e H2O
Before any skin cream can be sold to the public, it must be tested to ensure it is safe to
use. Suggest why (1)
To test for adverse side effects
Methylglyoxal, CH3COCHO, is formed in the body during metabolism.
Describe one reduction reaction and one oxidation reaction of methylglyoxal that could be carried out in the laboratory.
Include reagents, equations and observations (5)
Methylglyoxal is reduced by NaBH4
CH3COCHO + 4[H] -> CH3CHOHCH2OH
Methylglyoxal is oxidised by H2SO4 and K2Cr2O7, turns green
CH3COCHO + [O] -> CH3COCOOH
A synthetic polymer can be easily hydrolysed compared with other synthetic polymers, explain why it is thought polymers such as this one are better for the environment (1)
Biodegradable, whereas hydrocarbon based polymers are not
Explain how the student could use infrared spectroscopy to confirm which compound is a carboxylic acid (1)
Peak in range 2500-3300
The aldehyde has the molecular formula C5H10O.
The 1H NMR spectrum of the aldehyde contains a doublet at δ = 0.9 ppm with a relative peak area of six compared with the aldehyde proton.
Analyse this information to deduce the structure of the aldehyde. Explain your reasoning (3)
Relative peak area indicates 2 x CH3 in the same environment
(CH3)2CH-CH2-CHO
State what is meant by retention time (1)
The time from the injection of the sample for the component to leave the column
How could a specific carbonyl be identified not using spectroscopy after reaction with 2,4-DNPH? (2)
Take melting point of orange crystals
Compare melting point with known values
Outline purification (4)
Recrystallisation
Dissolve impure solid in minimum volume of hot water
Cool solution and filter solid
Wash with cold water and dry
Phenol undergoes easier nitration than benzoic acid, explain this (3)
Lone pair of OH partially delocalises into ring
COOH is an electron withdrawing group
Phenol has greater electron density in the ring and so is more susceptible to attack
Suggest why a polyester is biodegradable (1)
Ester bond can be hydrolysed
A CHO based molecule is slightly acidic but has no visible change when Na2CO3 is added, suggest the functional group responsible (1)
Phenol
Explain why phenol is nitrates more readily than benzene (3)
In phenol a lone pair of electrons on O is donated into π system
Electron density increases
Phenol accepts electrophile more
Explain what is meant by molecular ion peak (1)
Peak caused by unfragmented molecule
Explain what is meant by base peak (1)
Peak with the greatest relative intensity
Name the process by which TLC separates α-amino acids (1)
Adsorption
A student used TLC to separate three different α-amino acids, explain how the student could analyse the chromatogram to identify the α-amino acids present (2)
Calculate the Rf value
Compare Rf values to those known for amino acids
Several α-amino acids have structures that are very similar. Suggest why this could cause problems when using TLC to analyse mixtures of α-amino acids (1)
Amino acids won’t separate because similar compounds have similar Rf values
Define Rf value (1)
Distance moved by a component divided by distance moved by solvent
What are the roles of the gas and liquid in gas/liquid chromatography? (2)
Role of gas: Mobile phase
Role of liquid: Stationary phase
Explain how the gas/liquid chromatogram could be used to determine the percentage composition of each component in the mixture (3)
Measure area under each peak
Find total area
% = area of one peak/total area (as a percentage)