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Reactions of functional groups
9 MDCAT Chemistry questions with answers and explanations.
Printable worksheet with answer key
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A carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol, in the presence of a little acid, to form:
- 1 An ester
- 2 An ether
- 3 An alkane
- 4 An aldehyde
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Correct answer: An ester
This reaction is called esterification, and water is also formed.
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Hydrolysis of an ester with sodium hydroxide solution is known as:
- 1 Esterification
- 2 Polymerisation
- 3 Saponification
- 4 Hydrogenation
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Correct answer: Saponification
Alkaline hydrolysis of an ester gives an alcohol and the sodium salt of the acid. It is the basis of soap making.
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Cold, dilute, alkaline potassium permanganate turns an alkene into a:
- 1 Diol
- 2 Alkane
- 3 Haloalkane
- 4 Ketone
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Correct answer: Diol
It adds two OH groups across the double bond and the purple colour fades.
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Bromoethane reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide to give mainly:
- 1 Ethanol
- 2 Ethane
- 3 Ethene
- 4 Ethanal
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Correct answer: Ethanol
The hydroxide ion replaces bromine in a nucleophilic substitution reaction.
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Which type of alcohol is hardest to oxidise with acidified dichromate?
- 1 All oxidise equally
- 2 Tertiary
- 3 Primary
- 4 Secondary
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Correct answer: Tertiary
A tertiary alcohol has no hydrogen on the carbon carrying the OH group, so it resists oxidation.
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What is the functional group of an amine?
- 1 -CN
- 2 -COOH
- 3 -NO2
- 4 -NH2
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Correct answer: -NH2
Amines contain the amino group, -NH2, for primary amines.
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What is the name of CH3CONH2?
- 1 Ethanamide
- 2 Ethanamine
- 3 Ethanoic acid
- 4 Ethyl amine
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Correct answer: Ethanamide
It is an amide derived from ethanoic acid, so it is named ethanamide.
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Polythene is made by polymerising:
- 1 Ethene
- 2 Ethyne
- 3 Ethane
- 4 Propene
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Correct answer: Ethene
Ethene molecules join through their double bonds to form long chains of polythene.
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Which of these compounds gives a positive iodoform test?
- 1 Ethanoic acid
- 2 Propan-1-ol
- 3 Methanol
- 4 Propanone
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Correct answer: Propanone
The iodoform test is given by compounds containing a CH3-CO- group. Propanone has one.