Lesson 6.2.2

6.2.2 Amino acids, amides and chirality Quiz: OCR Chemistry, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.2.2, Amino acids, amides and chirality: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Chemistry (H432), Unit 5: Organic chemistry and analysis, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the general formula of an alpha-amino acid?

    • RNH2CH2COOH
    • RCH2NH2COOH
    • RCH(NH2)COOH
    • RCH(OH)COOH

  2. Which functional group in an amino acid reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide?

    • Alcohol
    • Alkene
    • Amine
    • Carboxylic acid

  3. Which functional group in an amino acid reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid?

    • Hydroxyl
    • Carboxylic acid
    • Ester
    • Amine

  4. Which structure of an amide is correct for a primary amide?

    • RCONHR'
    • RCONH2
    • RCH2NH2
    • RCOOR'

  5. What feature defines a chiral carbon atom in an organic molecule?

    • Four different groups
    • Three different groups
    • Four identical groups
    • A double bond

  6. What term describes optical isomers that are non-superimposable mirror images?

    • Enantiomers
    • Structural isomers
    • E/Z isomers
    • Diastereomers

  7. Which of the following molecules contains a chiral centre?

    • 1-bromobutane, CH3CH2CH2CH2Br
    • Ethanol, CH3CH2OH
    • 2-bromobutane, CH3CHBrCH2CH3
    • Propane, CH3CH2CH3

  8. Why is glycine the only common alpha-amino acid lacking optical activity?

    • No carboxyl group
    • No amine group
    • No chiral carbon
    • Contains two carbons

  9. How many chiral carbons are present in a molecule of 2-methylbutane?

    • Three
    • One
    • Zero
    • Two

  10. A molecule has two chiral centres. What is the maximum number of stereoisomers it can have?

    • Three
    • Four
    • Eight
    • Two

  11. In which physical property do two enantiomers of alanine differ?

    • Boiling point
    • Water solubility
    • Optical rotation
    • Melting point

  12. Which is the product when ethanoyl chloride reacts with methylamine?

    • Ethyl methylamine
    • N-methylethanamide
    • Methyl ethanoate
    • Ethanoic acid only

  13. What inorganic product is formed when a primary amide is hydrolysed with aqueous acid?

    • Nitrate salt
    • Sodium salt
    • Ammonia gas
    • Ammonium salt

  14. What is an equimolar mixture of two optical enantiomers called?

    • Azeotropic mixture
    • Saturated mixture
    • Zwitterion
    • Racemic mixture

  15. What species is formed by an amino acid carrying both positive and negative charges at neutral pH?

    • Free radical
    • Cation
    • Anion
    • Zwitterion

  16. Which of these amides is a secondary amide?

    • Ethyl ethanoate, CH3COOCH2CH3
    • Ethanamide, CH3CONH2
    • Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH
    • N-methylethanamide, CH3CONHCH3

  17. How many optical isomers exist for a molecule containing a single chiral centre?

    • One
    • Two
    • Four
    • Three

  18. Which molecule is achiral?

    • 2-methylpropan-2-ol, (CH3)3COH
    • Alanine, CH3CH(NH2)COOH
    • 2-bromobutane, CH3CHBrCH2CH3
    • 2-butanol, CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3

  19. Which combination of reagents converts an amino acid into an ester?

    • Alcohol and acid
    • Ester and base
    • Ammonia and acid
    • Alcohol and base

  20. Which carbon atom in alanine, CH3CH(NH2)COOH, acts as the chiral centre?

    • Carbon 2
    • Carbon 3
    • Carbon 1
    • Carbon 4

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