ACS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - GRADED A+ | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | VERIFIED.
In oxidative addition products of alkenes and alkynes, which reagents can be used?
Cold, alkaline permanganate, osmium tetroxide and proxy acids.
How are reductions of carbonyl compounds usually done?
complex metal hydrides
How are reductions of alkenes usually done?
Catalytic hydrogenation
How are reductions of alkynes usually done?
Catalytic hydrogenation or alkali metals in ammonia (dissolving metal reductions)
What can react with alcohols to produce a ketone?
,ACS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FINAL EXAM 2025
PCC (converts primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones;
doesn't affect C=C bonds.
Chromic acid is an oxidizing reagent that does not oxidize
ketones; but it can oxidize C-C double bonds.
What can react with secondary alcohols to give ketones?
KMnO4, NaOH. But it can also react with double bonds.
What are the two types of free-radical reactions? substitution
and addition.
What is the IUPAC priority for naming?
Carboxylic acid > Ketone > Aldehyde > Alcohol
In IUPAC naming, what is the suffix used for ketone groups?
-one
In IUPAC naming, what is the suffix used for alcohol groups?
-nol
,In IUPAC naming, what is the suffix used for esters?
-noate
Benzyl group
Phenyl group
ethanoic acid
(E) isomers vs. (Z) isomers. Which one is observed when the higher ranked
molecules are on the same side? opposite?
highest on same side: Z highest
on opposite sides: E Electron-
withdrawing groups are what
type of directors? What is the
one and only exception?
Meta (deactivators)
Halogens
, ACS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FINAL EXAM 2025
If the atom directly attached to the aromatic ring has lone pairs what type of
director is it? what if it does not have lone pairs?
lone pairs: activating, ortho, para director no
lone pairs: deactivating, meta director
If there is a NO2 group present, what IUPAC prefix will also be evident?
nitro
What is the predicted reaction? 1º alkyl halide with a strong base? weak base? poor
nucleophile? strong base: Sn2 favored but E2 with strong non-nucleophilic bases
weak base: Sn2 poor nucleophile: no reaction
What is the predicted reaction? 2º alkyl halide with a strong base? weak base? poor
nucleophile?
strong base: mostly E2
strong non-nucleophilic bases: mostly Sn2
poor nucleophile: Sn1/E2 (slow) in polar, protic solvents
What is the predicted reaction? 3º alkyl halide with a strong base? weak base? poor
nucleophile? strong base: E2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - GRADED A+ | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | VERIFIED.
In oxidative addition products of alkenes and alkynes, which reagents can be used?
Cold, alkaline permanganate, osmium tetroxide and proxy acids.
How are reductions of carbonyl compounds usually done?
complex metal hydrides
How are reductions of alkenes usually done?
Catalytic hydrogenation
How are reductions of alkynes usually done?
Catalytic hydrogenation or alkali metals in ammonia (dissolving metal reductions)
What can react with alcohols to produce a ketone?
,ACS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FINAL EXAM 2025
PCC (converts primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones;
doesn't affect C=C bonds.
Chromic acid is an oxidizing reagent that does not oxidize
ketones; but it can oxidize C-C double bonds.
What can react with secondary alcohols to give ketones?
KMnO4, NaOH. But it can also react with double bonds.
What are the two types of free-radical reactions? substitution
and addition.
What is the IUPAC priority for naming?
Carboxylic acid > Ketone > Aldehyde > Alcohol
In IUPAC naming, what is the suffix used for ketone groups?
-one
In IUPAC naming, what is the suffix used for alcohol groups?
-nol
,In IUPAC naming, what is the suffix used for esters?
-noate
Benzyl group
Phenyl group
ethanoic acid
(E) isomers vs. (Z) isomers. Which one is observed when the higher ranked
molecules are on the same side? opposite?
highest on same side: Z highest
on opposite sides: E Electron-
withdrawing groups are what
type of directors? What is the
one and only exception?
Meta (deactivators)
Halogens
, ACS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FINAL EXAM 2025
If the atom directly attached to the aromatic ring has lone pairs what type of
director is it? what if it does not have lone pairs?
lone pairs: activating, ortho, para director no
lone pairs: deactivating, meta director
If there is a NO2 group present, what IUPAC prefix will also be evident?
nitro
What is the predicted reaction? 1º alkyl halide with a strong base? weak base? poor
nucleophile? strong base: Sn2 favored but E2 with strong non-nucleophilic bases
weak base: Sn2 poor nucleophile: no reaction
What is the predicted reaction? 2º alkyl halide with a strong base? weak base? poor
nucleophile?
strong base: mostly E2
strong non-nucleophilic bases: mostly Sn2
poor nucleophile: Sn1/E2 (slow) in polar, protic solvents
What is the predicted reaction? 3º alkyl halide with a strong base? weak base? poor
nucleophile? strong base: E2
