Skip to main content
A-LevelChemistryIntroduction to organic chemistryOct/Nov 2009Paper 1 Q201 Mark

The presence of 11-cis retinal, C20H28O, in cells in the eye is important for vision. The structure of retinal includes an aldehyde group, a cyclohexene ring and a long aliphatic side chain, in which a carbon-carbon double bond exists between carbons numbered 11 and 12. Which pair of statements about 11-cis retinal could be correct?

Atotal number of >C=C< double bonds: 5, arrangement around the adjacent carbons 11 and 12: [Diagram showing R1 and R2 on the same side (cis) of the double bond]
Btotal number of >C=C< double bonds: 5, arrangement around the adjacent carbons 11 and 12: [Diagram showing R1 and R2 on opposite sides (trans) of the double bond]
Ctotal number of >C=C< double bonds: 6, arrangement around the adjacent carbons 11 and 12: [Diagram showing R1 and R2 on the same side (cis) of the double bond]
Dtotal number of >C=C< double bonds: 6, arrangement around the adjacent carbons 11 and 12: [Diagram showing R1 and R2 on opposite sides (trans) of the double bond]

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is A: total number of >C=C< double bonds: 5, arrangement around the adjacent carbons 11 and 12: [Diagram showing R1 and R2 on the same side (cis) of the double bond]

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

🔒

Unlock the Examiner's Analysis

Sign up for free to reveal the full examiner report, trap analysis, and mark scheme breakdown for this question.

Sign Up Free to Unlock →

Join thousands of Cambridge students already using Oracle Prep

About This A-Level Chemistry Question

Topic

This multiple-choice question tests Introduction to organic chemistry in A-Level Chemistry (syllabus code 9701). It is worth 1 mark.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Chemistry Oct/Nov 2009 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2.

Practice on Oracle Prep

Oracle Prep provides AI-powered practice for all Cambridge O-Level and A-Level subjects. Our platform includes topic predictions with 87.7% accuracy, AI essay grading, and a comprehensive question bank spanning 25 years of past papers across 29 subjects.

Related Chemistry Questions

© 2026 Oracle Prep — The AI-Powered Cambridge Exam Engine