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A Level Chemistry (A2) MCQs with answers

Practise A Level Chemistry (A2) (9701) with 460 exam-style MCQs, each with the answer and a short explanation. Every test is marked the moment you finish and shows your score chapter by chapter, so you know what to revise next. It is free and needs no sign-up.

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A Level Chemistry (A2) MCQs with answers

Practise A Level Chemistry (A2) (9701) with 460 exam-style MCQs, each with the answer and a short explanation. Every test is marked the moment you finish and shows your score chapter by chapter, so you know what to revise next. It is free and needs no sign-up.

460 questions · 15 chapters

What each chapter covers 15 chapters

The questions follow the syllabus chapter by chapter. You can test the whole subject or one chapter at a time.

  1. Chemical energetics 38 questionsLattice energy and Born-Haber cycles, Enthalpies of solution and hydration, Entropy change, ΔS, Gibbs free energy change, ΔG
  2. Electrochemistry 28 questionsElectrolysis, Standard electrode potentials E , standard cell potentials Ecell and the Nernst equation
  3. Equilibria 30 questionsAcids and bases, Partition coefficients
  4. Reaction kinetics 27 questionsSimple rate equations, orders of reaction and rate constants, Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts
  5. Group 2 9 questionsSimilarities and trends in the properties of the Group 2 metals, magnesium to barium
  6. Chemistry of transition elements 55 questionsGeneral physical and chemical properties of the first row of transition elements, titanium to, General characteristic chemical properties of the first set of transition elements, titanium to, Colour of complexes, Stereoisomerism in transition element complexes, Stability constants, K
  7. An introduction to A Level organic chemistry 42 questionsFormulas, functional groups and the naming of organic compounds, Characteristic organic reactions, Shapes of aromatic organic molecules; σ and π bonds, Isomerism: optical
  8. Hydrocarbons 16 questionsArenes
  9. Halogen compounds 10 questions
  10. Hydroxy compounds 26 questionsAlcohols, Phenol
  11. Carboxylic acids and derivatives 38 questionsCarboxylic acids, Esters, Acyl chlorides
  12. Nitrogen compounds 48 questionsPrimary and secondary amines, Phenylamine and azo compounds, Amides, Amino acids
  13. Polymerisation 32 questionsCondensation polymerisation, Predicting the type of polymerisation, Degradable polymers
  14. Organic synthesis 15 questions
  15. Analytical techniques 46 questionsThin-layer chromatography, Gas / liquid chromatography, Carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy, Proton ( H) NMR spectroscopy
Sample A Level Chemistry (A2) MCQs with answers 12 questions

12 questions from the test, one or two from each chapter. Try each one, then open the answer.

1. Which equation represents the lattice energy of magnesium chloride?

  1. A
    MgCl2(s) → Mg2+(g) + 2Cl−(g)
  2. B
    Mg(s) + Cl2(g) → MgCl2(s)
  3. C
    Mg2+(g) + 2Cl−(g) → MgCl2(s)
  4. D
    Mg2+(aq) + 2Cl−(aq) → MgCl2(s)
Show answer

Answer: C. Lattice energy is the enthalpy change when one mole of an ionic solid is formed from its gaseous ions, so it is exothermic. The reverse change is lattice dissociation, and forming the solid from its elements is the enthalpy change of formation.

2. A very dilute aqueous solution of sodium chloride is electrolysed using inert electrodes. What is the main product at the anode?

  1. A
    oxygen
  2. B
    chlorine
  3. C
    hydrogen
  4. D
    sodium
Show answer

Answer: A. E⦵ for O2/H2O (+1.23 V) is less positive than for Cl2/Cl− (+1.36 V), so water is oxidised more easily. Chlorine is the main product only when the chloride concentration is high. Hydrogen and sodium could only form at the cathode.

3. During hard exercise, lactic acid releases H+ ions into the blood. How do hydrogencarbonate ions help to keep the pH of blood close to 7.4?

  1. A
    HCO3− → CO32− + H+, which neutralises the lactic acid
  2. B
    HCO3− + OH− → CO32− + H2O, which removes the lactic acid
  3. C
    HCO3− + H+ → H2CO3, which removes most of the added H+
  4. D
    H2CO3 + H+ → H3CO3+, which stores the extra acid
Show answer

Answer: C. Blood is buffered by the H2CO3/HCO3− system. Added H+ combines with HCO3− to form carbonic acid, which is removed as CO2 in the lungs, so [H+] changes very little.

4. A graph of initial rate (y-axis) against [B] (x-axis) is a straight line through the origin. What is the order of reaction with respect to B?

  1. A
    zero
  2. B
    first
  3. C
    second
  4. D
    it cannot be found from this graph
Show answer

Answer: B. Rate proportional to [B] means rate = k[B]1. On a rate–concentration graph a zero-order reactant gives a horizontal line, and a second-order reactant gives an upward curve through the origin.

5. Saturated solutions of Mg(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, Sr(OH)2 and Ba(OH)2 are made at 25 °C. Which solution has the highest pH?

  1. A
    Mg(OH)2
  2. B
    Ca(OH)2
  3. C
    Ba(OH)2
  4. D
    Sr(OH)2
Show answer

Answer: C. Group 2 hydroxides become more soluble down the group, so saturated Ba(OH)2 has the highest [OH−] and the highest pH. Magnesium hydroxide is only sparingly soluble, giving a pH of only about 10.

6. Zinc is a d-block element but is not a transition element. Why?

  1. A
    its only ion, Zn2+, has a full 3d sub-shell
  2. B
    it has no electrons in its 3d sub-shell
  3. C
    its Zn2+ ion has an incomplete 3d sub-shell
  4. D
    it does not form any complex ions
Show answer

Answer: A. A transition element forms at least one stable ion with an incomplete d sub-shell. Zinc forms only Zn2+, [Ar] 3d10, with a full 3d sub-shell. Zinc does form complex ions, such as [Zn(NH3)4]2+.

7. Which pair of compounds would be expected to have the most similar chemical reactions?

  1. A
    phenol and phenylmethanol
  2. B
    phenol and 4-methylphenol
  3. C
    ethanol and ethanal
  4. D
    benzoic acid and methyl benzoate
Show answer

Answer: B. Phenol and 4-methylphenol both have an –OH joined directly to a benzene ring, so both are phenols (both react with NaOH(aq) and with bromine water). Phenylmethanol, C6H5CH2OH, has its –OH on a side-chain carbon, so it behaves as an alcohol.

8. In the bromination of benzene using Br2 and AlBr3, what happens in the final step of the mechanism?

  1. A
    the intermediate loses H+, which reacts with AlBr4− to form HBr and regenerate AlBr3
  2. B
    the intermediate gains a Br− ion from AlBr4− to give 1,2-dibromocyclohexa-3,5-diene
  3. C
    AlBr3 reacts with the intermediate and is used up, forming AlBr4− and HBr
  4. D
    the intermediate loses Br+ to AlBr4−, regenerating benzene and bromine
Show answer

Answer: A. The positive intermediate loses a proton to restore aromatic stabilisation: H+ + AlBr4− → HBr + AlBr3. The catalyst is regenerated, so it is not used up.

9. Chloroethane and chlorobenzene are warmed separately with NaOH(aq). Each mixture is then acidified with dilute nitric acid and aqueous silver nitrate is added. What is observed?

  1. A
    a white precipitate forms only with the chloroethane mixture
  2. B
    a white precipitate forms only with the chlorobenzene mixture
  3. C
    a white precipitate forms with both mixtures
  4. D
    a cream precipitate forms with both mixtures
Show answer

Answer: A. Chloroethane is hydrolysed, releasing Cl− ions that give white AgCl. The C–Cl bond in chlorobenzene is not hydrolysed under these conditions, so no chloride ions are released.

10. An alcohol Y (Mr 104) contains only –OH groups as functional groups. It reacts with excess ethanoyl chloride, and every –OH group is converted into an ester group. The organic product has Mr 188. How many –OH groups does each molecule of Y contain?

  1. A
    1
  2. B
    2
  3. C
    3
  4. D
    4
Show answer

Answer: B. Each –OH → –OCOCH3 replaces H (1) by COCH3 (43), an increase of 42. The total increase is 188 − 104 = 84 = 2 × 42, so Y has two –OH groups.

11. Which reagent gives a positive result with methanoic acid but not with ethanoic acid?

  1. A
    Tollens' reagent, warmed
  2. B
    NaHCO3(aq)
  3. C
    sodium metal
  4. D
    magnesium ribbon
Show answer

Answer: A. Methanoic acid, HCOOH, contains an H–C=O group and is oxidised to CO2 and water, reducing Ag+ to a silver mirror. Both acids react with carbonates, sodium and magnesium, so those do not distinguish them.

12. Which compound is the weakest base?

  1. A
    ethylamine
  2. B
    ammonia
  3. C
    ethanamide
  4. D
    phenylamine
Show answer

Answer: C. In ethanamide the nitrogen lone pair is delocalised over the C=O group, making it almost neutral. Phenylamine is a weak base but still stronger than an amide; ethylamine is the strongest of these.

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