CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · An introduction to organic chemistry

An introduction to organic chemistry: explain question

Explain7 marksChallenge

A student is studying the isomers of two compounds, X and Y.

X has the molecular formula CX4HX9Cl\ce{C4H9Cl}. The student draws the structural formulae of two isomers of X, A and B.

A: CHX3CHX2CHX2CHX2Cl\ce{CH3CH2CH2CH2Cl} B: CHX3CHClCHX2CHX3\ce{CH3CHClCH2CH3}

(a) State the type of isomerism shown by A and B, and explain why they are isomers.

(b) The student also draws two further isomers of X, C and D.

C: (CHX3)X3CCl\ce{(CH3)3CCl} D: CHX3CHX2CHClCHX3\ce{CH3CH2CHClCH3}

State the type of isomerism shown by B and D, and explain why they are isomers.

(c) Compound Y is a cyclic alcohol with the molecular formula CX4HX8O\ce{C4H8O}. The student suggests that Y can show both geometrical (cis/trans) isomerism and optical isomerism.

Explain why Y can show both types of stereoisomerism, and identify the structural feature of Y that gives rise to each type.

0 words · 7 marks

No account needed for your first marks. Your answer is used only to mark it.

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.

Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.

More An introduction to organic chemistry questions

All An introduction to organic chemistry questions

Written by Markquill to follow the Cambridge International syllabus. Markquill is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International.