What the board asks
We went through the ISC board papers, question by question, and matched each question to a topic. Here is what was asked, how often, and what was never asked.
Chemistry: 384 topics in the 2027 syllabus, across 10 units. The board has asked 252 of them at least once. 132 were never asked in the papers we checked.
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C9 Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen
All the topics in Chemistry: Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen
Asked topics first, the most asked at the top. Tap a topic to see what to write, the result, the years, and the real board questions.
43 topics shown
| # | Topic | Type | Marks | Times asked | Last asked | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify A, B, C: amide, Hoffmann and amine-test chainsWrite the structures (and names) of each lettered compound in a chain that runs acid -> ammonium salt -> amide -> amine (Br2/KOH) -> isocyanide, sulphonamide, secondary amine or alcohol, or deduce them from a molecular formula and observations, and name the reactions asked for. | Conversion | 2 | 7 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 2 | Diazotisation of aniline: equation and conditionsWrite the balanced equation for aniline with NaNO2 and HCl at 273-278 K giving benzenediazonium chloride, name the reaction, and state why the temperature is kept low. | Reaction | 1 | 5 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 3 | Sandmeyer reaction: Cl, Br and CN on the ringWrite the balanced equation for benzenediazonium chloride with CuCl/HCl, CuBr/HBr or CuCN/KCN giving chlorobenzene, bromobenzene or benzonitrile and N2, and name the reaction. | Reaction | 1 | 4 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 4 | Coupling of benzenediazonium chloride with phenolWrite the equation for benzenediazonium chloride with phenol in cold alkaline solution giving orange p-hydroxyazobenzene, show the -N=N- link at the para position, and name the reaction. | Reaction | 1 | 4 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 5 | Carbylamine reaction: equation and use as a testWrite the balanced equation for a primary amine (aliphatic or aniline) heated with CHCl3 and alcoholic KOH giving the isocyanide, name the reaction, and state the foul smell that marks primary amines. | Reaction | 1 | 4 papers | 2025 | Asked |
| 6 | Reduction of cyanides (nitriles) to primary aminesWrite the balanced equation for a nitrile reduced by LiAlH4, Na/C2H5OH (Mendius reduction) or H2/Ni, with 4[H], and name the primary amine that has one carbon more than the alkyl group of the halide used. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 7 | Hoffmann bromamide degradation: equation and useWrite the balanced equation from an amide with Br2 and NaOH or KOH to the primary amine with one carbon less, name the reaction, and state its use to step down the carbon chain. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 8 | Coupling of benzenediazonium chloride with anilineWrite the equation for benzenediazonium chloride with aniline in weakly acidic solution giving yellow p-aminoazobenzene, with the medium and temperature stated. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 9 | Aromatic conversions through the diazonium saltWrite the equations, two or three steps, with reagents and conditions over each arrow, for conversions such as nitrobenzene to benzene, aniline to chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, fluorobenzene, phenol or benzonitrile, and benzene to aniline. | Conversion | 1 | 3 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 10 | Aliphatic conversions: stepping the carbon chain up or downWrite the equations, two or three steps, for conversions such as methyl cyanide to ethanol or ethylamine, ethyl bromide to ethyl isocyanide, acetamide to methylamine, ethylamine to methylamine or to propylamine, choosing Hoffmann to lose a carbon and the cyanide route to add one. | Conversion | 1 | 3 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 11 | Preparation of cyanides from alkyl halides and amidesWrite the equations for an alkyl halide with alcoholic KCN giving the alkyl cyanide, and for an amide dehydrated with P2O5 (or SOCl2) giving the cyanide, with reagent and heat over the arrow. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | 2026 | Asked |
| 12 | Identify A, B, C: halide to cyanide, amine, alcoholWrite the structure and name of each lettered compound in a chain alkyl halide --(KCN)--> nitrile --(LiAlH4 or Na/C2H5OH)--> primary amine --(HNO2)--> alcohol. | Conversion | 2 | 3 papers | 2026 | Asked |
| 13 | Identify A, B, C: aromatic chains via diazonium saltWrite the structure and name of each lettered compound or reagent in an aromatic chain through benzamide or aniline, the diazonium salt and a replacement or coupling product, and name the reaction asked for. | Conversion | 2 | 3 papers | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 14 | Choose the route that gives a primary amineFor a set of reactions (MCQ or assertion-reason), decide which give a primary amine, a secondary amine or a mixture, and state the carbon count of the product with a one-line reason. | Give reason | 1 | 2 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 15 | Gattermann reaction: copper powder with HCl or HBrWrite the balanced equation for benzenediazonium chloride with Cu powder and HCl (or HBr) giving the haloarene and N2, name the reaction, and state how it differs from Sandmeyer. | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 16 | Replacement of the diazo group by -OH: phenolWrite the equation for warming an aqueous solution of benzenediazonium chloride giving phenol, N2 and HCl, with the condition stated. | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | 2026 | Asked |
| 17 | Reaction of amines with nitrous acidWrite the balanced equations for a primary aliphatic amine with HNO2 (NaNO2 + HCl) giving the alcohol and nitrogen gas, and state what secondary and tertiary amines and aniline give. | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 18 | Bromination of aniline with bromine waterWrite the balanced equation for aniline with bromine water giving a white precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromoaniline, and show how acetylation first gives the para-monobromo product. | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | 2025 | Asked |
| 19 | Acetylation and benzoylation of ethylamine and anilineWrite the balanced equation for a primary or secondary amine (or aniline) with acetyl chloride, acetic anhydride or benzoyl chloride, naming the amide product and the base (pyridine or NaOH) used to remove HCl. | Reaction | 1 | 2 papers | 2024 | Asked |
| 20 | Give reasons: solubility and boiling points of aminesGive the one- or two-line reason, in terms of hydrogen bonding with water or between molecules and the size of the hydrocarbon part, for solubility and boiling-point facts about amines, aniline and alcohols. | Give reason | 1 | 2 papers | 2023 | Asked |
| 21 | Give reasons: amines are bases; aliphatic stronger than aromaticGive the reason in one or two lines using the lone pair on N, the +I effect of alkyl groups, and delocalisation of the lone pair into the ring in aniline (or the lower electronegativity of N than O when compared with alcohols). | Give reason | 1 | 2 papers | 2023 | Asked |
| 22 | Reduction of nitro compounds; aniline from nitrobenzeneWrite the balanced equation for reducing a nitroalkane or nitrobenzene to the amine with Sn/HCl, Fe/HCl or H2/Pd, with 6[H] and the reagent over the arrow, and name the product. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 23 | Hinsberg's test: primary, secondary and tertiary aminesWrite the equations of the three classes of amine with benzenesulphonyl chloride and state the observation for each: product soluble in alkali (primary), insoluble (secondary), no reaction (tertiary), with the reason. | Tell apart (test) | 2 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 24 | Balz-Schiemann reaction: fluorobenzene from diazonium saltWrite the two steps: benzenediazonium chloride with fluoroboric acid giving the diazonium fluoroborate, then heating to fluorobenzene, BF3 and N2, and name the reaction. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 25 | Replacement of the diazo group by -HWrite the equation for benzenediazonium chloride reduced by hypophosphorous acid (or ethanol) giving benzene and N2, with the reagent named. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | Specimen 2027 | Asked |
| 26 | Alkylation of amines up to quaternary ammonium saltWrite the equations for an amine (or aniline) with an alkyl halide giving successively the secondary and tertiary amine and the quaternary ammonium salt, and name each product. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | 2025 improvement | Asked |
| 27 | Ammonolysis of alkyl halides (Hofmann ammonolysis)Write the step-by-step equations of an alkyl halide heated with alcoholic ammonia in a sealed tube giving primary, secondary and tertiary amines and the quaternary salt, and judge assertion-reason statements about it. | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | 2024 | Asked |
| 28 | Give reasons: reactivity of aniline in substitutionGive one- or two-line reasons about aniline: -NH2 is ortho/para directing and strongly activating, direct nitration gives a meta product, acetylation moderates the activation, and aniline does not undergo Friedel-Crafts reaction because it forms a salt with AlCl3. | Give reason | 1 | 1 paper | 2024 | Asked |
| 29 | Preparation of isocyanides: AgCN route and from primary aminesWrite the equations for an alkyl halide with AgCN giving the isocyanide and for a primary amine with CHCl3 and alcoholic KOH, and give the reason why KCN gives cyanide but AgCN gives isocyanide (ambident CN- ion). | Reaction | 1 | 1 paper | 2023 | Asked |
| 30 | Arrange amines, ammonia and aniline by basic strengthArrange a given set of amines, ammonia and aniline in increasing or decreasing basic strength (or pKb) in aqueous solution, and justify the order using the +I effect, solvation of the cation (hydrogen bonding) and steric hindrance. | Comparison | 1 | 1 paper | 2018 | Asked |
| 31 | Classify amines and name them by IUPACClassify each amine as primary, secondary or tertiary (and aliphatic or aromatic), write its general formula, draw the structure, and give the IUPAC and common name. | Structure or name | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 32 | Amines from alcohols with ammoniaWrite the equation for an alcohol vapour and ammonia passed over heated alumina, naming the catalyst and temperature, and state that a mixture of amines forms. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 33 | Gabriel phthalimide synthesis: steps and limitsWrite the three steps (phthalimide with alcoholic KOH, the potassium salt with an alkyl halide, then hydrolysis with NaOH or hydrazine) and state that it gives pure primary amines only and not aryl amines. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 34 | Arrange amines and alcohols by boiling pointArrange isomeric amines (and an alcohol of similar mass) in order of boiling point and justify the order by the number of N-H bonds and the strength of hydrogen bonds. | Comparison | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 35 | Effect of substituents on the basic strength of anilineArrange substituted anilines (for example p-toluidine, aniline, p-nitroaniline, p-methoxyaniline) by basic strength and give the reason: electron-donating groups raise and electron-withdrawing groups lower the electron density on N. | Comparison | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 36 | Mechanism of alkylation and acylation of aminesDraw curly-arrow mechanisms showing the nitrogen lone pair attacking the alkyl halide carbon (SN2) and the acyl chloride carbonyl carbon (addition then loss of Cl- and H+). | Mechanism | 2 | never | Never asked | |
| 37 | Distinguish pairs of amines by a chemical testFor a given pair (for example ethylamine and aniline, methylamine and dimethylamine, aniline and N-methylaniline), name a test, write what each compound does, and the observation that tells them apart. | Tell apart (test) | 2 | never | Never asked | |
| 38 | Aniline with HCl and H2SO4: salt formationWrite the equations of aniline with HCl and with H2SO4 giving the anilinium salts, and state that heating anilinium hydrogen sulphate at about 453-473 K gives sulphanilic acid. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 39 | Nitration and sulphonation of anilineWrite the equations for nitration of aniline (direct nitration gives a meta product as well; protection by acetylation gives p-nitroaniline) and sulphonation with conc. H2SO4 to sulphanilic acid, with conditions. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 40 | Tests for aniline and uses of amines and anilineState the laboratory tests for aniline (carbylamine smell, azo dye with beta-naphthol, violet colour with bleaching powder) with observations, and list two uses each of amines and aniline. | Statement | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 41 | Give reasons: stability and synthetic importance of diazonium saltsGive short reasons why arenediazonium salts are stable only in cold solution, why they are more stable than alkyl diazonium salts, and why they are important in synthesis (N2 is an excellent leaving group, giving routes to ArF, ArCl, ArBr, ArCN, ArOH, ArNO2, ArH and azo dyes). | Give reason | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 42 | Replacement of the diazo group by -NO2Write the steps: diazonium salt with HBF4 to the fluoroborate, then heating with NaNO2 and copper powder to give nitrobenzene and N2. | Reaction | 1 | never | Never asked | |
| 43 | Reduction of isocyanides gives secondary aminesWrite the equation for an isocyanide reduced by LiAlH4, Na/C2H5OH or H2/Ni giving an N-methyl secondary amine, and contrast it with the primary amine from the isomeric cyanide. | Reaction | 1 | 3 papers | Specimen 2027 | Not in syllabus |
This list was made from the 2027 syllabus and checked with 9 board papers, including the 2027 specimen paper. It is not yet checked with the textbook.
The 10 topics Chemistry papers ask most
Counted on the board papers from 2018 to the 2027 specimen paper, which every unit has been checked against.
- 1.IUPAC names of coordination compounds from formulaC5 Coordination Compounds · asked 8 times since 2018
- 2.Faraday's first law: mass, charge, current or timeC2 Electrochemistry · asked 7 times since 2018
- 3.Give reasons: transition metal ions are coloured, some colourlessC4 d- and f-Block Elements · asked 7 times since 2018
- 4.Alcohols from Grignard reagent: 1, 2, 3 degreeC7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers · asked 7 times since 2018
- 5.Williamson's synthesis of ethersC7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers · asked 7 times since 2018
- 6.Identify A, B, C, D in a given reagent chainC8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids · asked 7 times since 2018
- 7.Identify compounds from formula and test results (case problem)C8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids · asked 7 times since 2018
- 8.Identify A, B, C: amide, Hoffmann and amine-test chainsC9 Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen · asked 7 times since 2018
- 9.Gibbs energy and maximum work from cell emfC2 Electrochemistry · asked 6 times since 2018
- 10.Coordination number and oxidation state of the central metalC5 Coordination Compounds · asked 6 times since 2018