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CAIE A-Level Chemistry AS 19.2 Nitriles and Hydroxynitriles Questions

Practise preparing nitriles and hydroxynitriles and converting nitriles into acids or other nitrogen compounds.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Chemistry 9701
Level
AS

Exam points

  • extend a carbon chain by substituting a halogenoalkane with CN− from ethanolic KCN
  • form a hydroxynitrile by catalytic HCN/KCN addition to an aldehyde or ketone carbonyl
  • hydrolyse –CN to –COOH with dilute acid or alkali followed by acidification

Covered syllabus points

19.2.1—Preparation of nitriles19.2.2—Preparation of hydroxynitriles19.2.3—Hydrolysis of nitriles with dil. acid or dil.

Question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

Compounds P and Q are structural isomers.

Fig. 4.1

Fig. 4.1

Question (a)

(a)

Fig. 4.3 shows a synthesis starting from T, a different isomer of R and S.

Fig. 4.3

Fig. 4.3

[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Identify the reagent and conditions for reaction 1.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Reaction 2 is a hydrolysis reaction.

Construct an equation for reaction 2 .
(C2H5)2CHCN\left(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{5}\right)_{2} \mathrm{CHCN}

[ 1 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

Which reagents and conditions would result in the formation of butanenitrile, CH3CH2CH2CN\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{CN} ?

A

1-bromobutane heated under pressure with ammonia in ethanol

B

1-bromopropane heated with potassium cyanide in ethanol

C

propanal heated with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of potassium cyanide

D

propanone heated with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of potassium cyanide

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