Case study·Standard multi-step (3/5)·No calculator
Difficulty guide
The label describes the problem, not your ability.
1/5 - Foundational
Warm-up setup; checks one basic idea.
2/5 - Routine exam skill
Normal syllabus skill; usually one main rule or interpretation.
3/5 - Standard multi-step
Exam-style problem with multiple steps or a common trap.
4/5 - Hard exam skill
High-end exam problem; combines methods carefully.
5/5 - Challenge
Stretch problem beyond normal exam pressure.
Question
Three solids are labelled X, Y and Z. X is phenol, Y is -nitrophenol and Z is -cresol. A student compares their acidity before choosing bases for separation.
Total: 3 marks
(a) Which is the strongest acid? (1 mark)
(b) Which is less acidic than phenol? (1 mark)
(c) Explain the trend using substituent effects. (1 mark)
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