From: Matthew
Re: GAMSAT Chemistry Questions
This article contains some gamsat chemistry questions which are similar to the questions in the actual GAMSAT exam. These GAMSAT chemistry questions test knowledge and reasoning skills. All the knowledge required for the GAMSAT sciences are covered in our GAMSAT Study Package. This package covers everything you need to know for every section of the GAMSAT.
We will now go through some practice GAMSAT chemistry questions. In particular, we will examine organic chemistry questions.
GAMSAT Chemistry Questions – Organic Chemistry
Unit 1
Question 1-3
The nomenclature of organic compounds is ruled by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), with the purpose of providing an unambiguous way to name a certain structure.
- The attribution should be run by identifying the longest carbon structure in the molecule and use that as the skeleton
- The locator numbers for the substituents must be the lowest among all possible options
- The priority of substituents in terms of locator attribution and order in the molecule’s name is based on the English alphabet
If there is more than one functional group in the molecule, the order of precedence shown in the table applies.
| functional group | suffix if higher precedence | prefix if lower precedence |
| -oic acid | ||
| -nitrile | cyano- | |
| -al | oxo- | |
| -one | oxo- | |
| -ol | hydroxy- |
1.Which name for the structure below is the correct one?
A. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene.
B. 1,3,4-Trichlorobenzene.
C. 1,4,6-Trichlorobenzene.
D. 1,2-Dichlorobenzene.
2. Which name for the structure below is the correct one?
A. 7-Ethyl-4,4-difluorocycloheptan-1-ol.
B. 5,5-Difluoro-2-ethylcycloheptan-1-ol.
C. 2-Ethyl-5,5-difluorocycloheptan-1-ol.
D. 4,4-Difluoro-7-ethylcycloheptan-1-ol.
3 Which name for the structure below is the correct one?
A. 5-Methyl-4-oxohex-5-enol.
B. 5-Oxo-4-methylhex-4-enal.
C. 4-Oxo-5-methylhex-5-enal.
D. 5-Methyl-4-oxohex-5-enal.
Before we get to the solutions for these organic chemistry question, you can get your full GAMSAT Practice Test by clicking below. This GAMSAT Practice Test contains questions just like the above questions and is just like the actual GAMSAT exam!
After you have attempted all gamsat chemistry questions scroll below to check your answers.
Answers To GAMSAT Chemistry Questions
Answer to Question 1
The aromatic compound in the picture is a trichlorobenzene, and hence key D is incorrect. The correct numbering (1,2,4) is the one where the numbers are the lowest (as opposed to 1,4,6 or 1,3,4). The key is therefore A.
Answer to Question 2
From the table and the guidelines above, it can be seen that the compound is a cycloheptane-1-ol. To keep the numbering to their minimum value, the remaining two substituents will take position 2 and 5. Hence, by listing them in alphabetical order, the name will be 2-ethyl-5,5-difluorocycloheptan-1-ol. The key is therefore C.
Answer to Question 3
From the table and the guidelines above, it can be seen that the compound is a hex-5-enal. If listed alphabetically, the keto functionality (position 4) and the additional methyl (position 5) will make its name become 5-methyl-4-oxohex-5-enal. The key is therefore D.
