Start learning →

NSC / Matric Organic Molecules — practice questions

Explore 11 free Organic Molecules questions in NSC / Matric Chemistry. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

Practise Organic Molecules with Quill →

Organic Molecules questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–11 of 11.

Diamond and graphite are made only of carbon atoms. How are they classified?Read the answer and worked solution →In organic chemistry, what is meant by catenation?Read the answer and worked solution →What makes a hydrocarbon a saturated compound?Read the answer and worked solution →What does the functional group of an organic molecule decide?Read the answer and worked solution →What do all the members of one homologous series share?Read the answer and worked solution →Where does the carbonyl group sit in a ketone?Read the answer and worked solution →Which two kinds of compound react together to make an ester?Read the answer and worked solution →What does the viscosity of a liquid measure?Read the answer and worked solution →Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature while ethane is a gas. Which difference best explains this?Read the answer and worked solution →What happens to the molecules during hydrocarbon cracking?Read the answer and worked solution →A haloalkane is warmed with sodium hydroxide. Which conditions give an alcohol rather than an alkene?Read the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

Diamond and graphite are made only of carbon atoms. How are they classified?

  1. They are not organic compounds
  2. They are organic compounds
  3. They are organic polymers
  4. They are organic acids
Show answer and solution

Correct answer: A. They are not organic compounds

1. Every organic molecule contains carbon, but not every carbon compound is organic. 2. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonates, carbides and cyanides are all left outside the definition. 3. Diamond and graphite are pure carbon compounds and are also left outside it. 4. So neither of them counts as an organic compound. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 4: Organic molecules_

Open this question →

In organic chemistry, what is meant by catenation?

  1. Like atoms sharing one shell
  2. Like atoms bonding into chains
  3. Unlike atoms swapping places
  4. Unlike atoms forming a ring
Show answer and solution

Correct answer: B. Like atoms bonding into chains

1. A carbon atom can form bonds with other carbon atoms as well as with hydrogen and other elements. 2. That lets carbon atoms link to each other over and over to build long backbones. 3. The bonding of atoms of the same element into longer chains is called catenation. 4. Those chains may be unbranched or branched, and they may carry single, double or triple bonds. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 4: Organic molecules_

Open this question →

What makes a hydrocarbon a saturated compound?

  1. It has one double bond
  2. It has one triple bond
  3. It has only single bonds
  4. It has no carbon rings
Show answer and solution

Correct answer: C. It has only single bonds

1. Saturated means the molecule already holds as many hydrogen atoms as it possibly can. 2. That happens only when every carbon to carbon bond is a single bond. 3. Each carbon is then bonded to four other atoms, with no room for more. 4. A double or triple bond leaves the molecule short of hydrogen atoms, so it becomes unsaturated. 5. Rings are a separate matter and do not decide whether a compound is saturated. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 4: Organic molecules_

Open this question →

How to practise

  1. Choose a Organic Molecules question and try to work out your answer.
  2. Open the question to check the correct answer and read its worked solution.
  3. Continue in the app for bite-sized lessons, explanations and review with Quill. You can start without creating an account.

More Chemistry topics

Electrochemical ReactionsAcids and BasesChemical EquilibriumRate and Extent of ReactionThe Chemical Industry