CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Carboxylic acids and derivatives

Carboxylic acids and derivatives: describe question

Describe7 marksChallenge

A student carries out the following experiments.

Experiment A: A mixture of methylbenzene, hot alkaline $\ce{KMnO4}$ , and dilute acid is used to produce an organic product.

Experiment B: Propanoic acid is heated with $\ce{PCl5}$ .

Experiment C: Methanoic acid is warmed with acidified $\ce{KMnO4}$ .

Experiment D: Ethanedioic acid is warmed with acidified $\ce{KMnO4}$ .

Experiment E: The relative acidities of methanoic acid, ethanol, phenol, and 2-chloropropanoic acid are compared.

Describe what the student would observe in each experiment, including balanced chemical equations where appropriate, and explain how and why the acidities of the four compounds in Experiment E differ.

How this question is marked

7 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 7 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.

Describe means: Say what happens or what something is like, in order and with detail. You are not being asked why. If there is data, quote it: name the trend, then give figures with units at the points where it changes.

Carboxylic acids and derivatives: describe question

How this question is marked

More Carboxylic acids and derivatives questions