Free Nitrogen compounds questions for AS Level Chemistry (9701), part of Organic chemistry. Each question has the answer and the marking points an examiner would look for.
Generate a full Nitrogen Compounds worksheet →All Organic chemistry questionsPropanone reacts with HCN in the presence of a small amount of NaCN.
Which row is correct?
| mechanism | role of CN− | |
|---|---|---|
| A | nucleophilic addition | acts as a reducing agent |
| B | nucleophilic substitution | attacks the oxygen |
| C | nucleophilic addition | attacks the carbonyl carbon |
| D | electrophilic addition | attacks the carbonyl carbon |
Answer: C
Which reagent converts bromoethane into propanenitrile?
Answer: B
Which term is described by this statement?
“A compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms with alkyl or aryl groups.”
Answer: C
Propanone reacts with HCN in the presence of a small amount of NaCN.
Which row is correct?
| mechanism | role of CN− | |
|---|---|---|
| A | nucleophilic addition | attacks the carbonyl carbon |
| B | electrophilic addition | attacks the carbonyl carbon |
| C | nucleophilic addition | acts as a reducing agent |
| D | nucleophilic substitution | attacks the oxygen |
Answer: A
Propanal reacts with HCN in the presence of KCN to form 2-hydroxybutanenitrile.
Name and describe the mechanism of this reaction.
Explain why the product is optically inactive.
Name the product when 2-hydroxybutanenitrile is heated with dilute acid.
Name a reagent that reduces the nitrile group to an amine.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | nucleophilic addition: CN⁻ attacks δ+ C, intermediate protonated nucleophilic addition B1 CN⁻ attacks the δ+ carbon of C=O M1 π bond breaks and an O⁻ intermediate forms M1 intermediate takes H⁺ from HCN, regenerating CN⁻ M1 | 4 |
| (b) | racemic mixture C=O is planar so attack is equally likely from either side M1 equal amounts of each enantiomer form (racemic mixture) M1 | 2 |
| (c) | 2-hydroxybutanoic acid 2-hydroxybutanoic acid B1 | 1 |
| (d) | LiAlH₄ or H₂/Ni LiAlH₄ (or H₂ with Ni catalyst) B1 | 1 |
Nitriles can be formed from halogenoalkanes.
State the reagent and conditions to convert bromoethane into propanenitrile.
State why this reaction is useful in synthesis.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | KCN in ethanol, heat under reflux KCN (or NaCN) in ethanol B1 heat under reflux B1 | 2 |
| (b) | increases carbon chain length it increases the length of the carbon chain by one B1 | 1 |
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Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in