Lesson 3.3.3.1

3.3.3.1 Nucleophilic substitution Quiz: AQA Chemistry, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.3.3.1, Nucleophilic substitution: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Chemistry (7405), Unit 3: Organic chemistry, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Why are halogenoalkanes more reactive than alkanes?

    • Halogenoalkanes contain double bonds that are very reactive
    • The C-H bonds are polar and are attacked directly by hydroxide ions
    • Halogenoalkanes have no bonds that can break
    • The carbon-halogen bond is polar, making the carbon electron-deficient

  2. Which nucleophile is used to hydrolyse halogenoalkanes to alcohols?

    • OH-
    • H+
    • NO2+
    • Br2

  3. Which nucleophile produces a nitrile from a halogenoalkane?

    • H2O
    • NO3-
    • CN-
    • Cl2

  4. Which nucleophile reacts with a halogenoalkane to form an amine?

    • O2
    • NH3
    • Ar
    • CH4

  5. Which halogenoalkane reacts fastest with hydroxide ions?

    • 1-bromobutane, which is slowest at room temperature
    • 1-iodobutane
    • 1-chlorobutane
    • 1-fluorobutane

  6. Why does the rate of nucleophilic substitution increase down group 17 for halogenoalkanes?

    • The halogens become lighter down the group
    • The carbon-halogen bond enthalpy decreases down the group, so bonds break more easily
    • Halogens become less electronegative so the bond is less polar
    • The bonds become stronger down the group

  7. What is the observed test-tube result for 1-chlorobutane hydrolysis with aqueous silver nitrate after warming with ethanol?

    • No precipitate forms
    • A white precipitate of AgCl forms
    • A cream precipitate of AgBr forms
    • A yellow precipitate of AgI forms

  8. Which silver halide precipitate is yellow?

    • AgBr
    • AgCl
    • AgI
    • AgF

  9. Which halogenoalkane gives a cream precipitate in the silver nitrate test?

    • Bromoalkane
    • Iodoalkane
    • Chloroalkane
    • Fluoroalkane

  10. Which halogenoalkane is the least reactive in nucleophilic substitution?

    • 1-bromobutane
    • 1-iodobutane
    • 1-fluorobutane
    • 1-chlorobutane

  11. Which of these nucleophiles has a lone pair and is negatively charged?

    • OH-
    • H+
    • CH3+
    • BF3

  12. In the SN2 mechanism of a primary halogenoalkane with OH-, how many species are involved in the rate-determining step?

    • Three: the halogenoalkane, hydroxide and water
    • Zero: the reaction is spontaneous
    • One: the halogenoalkane only
    • Two: the halogenoalkane and the hydroxide ion

  13. What is the product of the nucleophilic substitution of 1-bromopropane with aqueous OH-?

    • Propanal
    • Propene
    • Propane
    • Propan-1-ol

  14. What product is formed when bromoethane reacts with excess aqueous ammonia?

    • Ethylamine
    • Ethanol
    • Ethene
    • Ethanenitrile

  15. Which statement explains why C-Br bonds are more reactive than C-Cl bonds in substitution?

    • C-Br has no polarity
    • C-Br has a lower bond enthalpy, so less energy is needed to break it
    • C-Br is a stronger bond than C-Cl
    • C-Br bonds never break in substitution

  16. Which halogenoalkane is the most polar carbon-halogen bond?

    • C-I
    • C-Br
    • C-F
    • C-H

  17. Why is the carbon atom in C-X electron-deficient?

    • The carbon is bonded to a metal atom
    • Halogens are more electronegative, pulling electron density away from carbon
    • The C-X bond has no electrons
    • Carbon is more electronegative than the halogen

  18. Which halogenoalkane is tertiary?

    • 2-chloro-2-methylpropane
    • 1-chloropropane
    • 2-chloropropane
    • Chloromethane

  19. Explain in terms of bond enthalpy why 1-iodobutane hydrolyses faster than 1-chlorobutane.

    • The C-I bond has a lower bond enthalpy, so it is broken more easily in the substitution step
    • The C-I bond is stronger, so more energy is released
    • Iodine is less electronegative so the C-I bond is more polar than C-Cl
    • The C-Cl bond is ionic and reacts faster

  20. Explain why the reaction of halogenoalkanes with silver nitrate in ethanol is used as a test for the rate of hydrolysis.

    • The precipitate forms as the halide ions are released, so the time taken shows how fast the C-X bond breaks
    • The silver ions change colour with the alkane
    • Silver nitrate catalyses the reaction by removing hydrogen
    • Silver nitrate reacts with the alkane to form a gas that shows the rate

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