CAIE A-Level Chemistry 22.2.4 Identifying Fragment Ions
Practise assigning simple fragment-ion formulae and using diagnostic peaks to distinguish organic structures.
- Syllabus
- 2028–2030
- Course
- Chemistry 9701
- Level
- AS
Practise assigning simple fragment-ion formulae and using diagnostic peaks to distinguish organic structures.
Fig. 4.1 shows a possible synthesis of propene, C3H6.

Fig. 4.1
Under different conditions, two molecules of propene can combine to form compounds X and Y.

Fig. 4.2 shows the mass spectrum of either compound X or compound Y.

Fig. 4.2
Identify which of X and Y gives this mass spectrum.
Give one reason for your answer, referring to the fragmentation pattern.
(The spectrum is of) X
AND
41 is [CH2=CCH3]+/41 is C3H5+
OR 43 is [CH3CHCH3]+/43 is C3H7+
OR X would NOT have significant peak at 54/[(CH3)2C=C+]/C4H6+
OR X would NOT have significant peak at 42 due to [(CH3)2C+]/C3H6+