JEE Purification & Characterisation PYQ
JEE Purification & Characterisation PYQs help you understand the methods used to separate, purify, identify, and analyse organic compounds. Questions from this topic are usually based on crystallisation, sublimation, distillation, chromatography, qualitative analysis, and quantitative analysis.
This topic does not involve very lengthy calculations. Most questions test whether you can select the correct purification method based on properties such as solubility, boiling point, volatility, and sublimability. You may also be asked to identify the elements present in an organic compound or calculate their percentage composition.
The chapter becomes easier when you understand the purpose of each method instead of memorising its name. Solving JEE Purification & Characterisation Questions regularly will help you learn the important methods, observations, and formulas.
In this blog, you can download important PYQs, revise the key formulas, understand common mistakes, and attempt selected questions as a short chapter-wise test.
JEE Purification & Characterisation Important PYQ PDF
The JEE Purification & Characterisation Important PYQ PDF includes selected questions from crystallisation, sublimation, simple distillation, fractional distillation, steam distillation, differential extraction, chromatography, and elemental analysis.
Practising these questions will help you understand how purification and characterisation concepts are tested in the examination. First, try to identify the property that separates the given compounds. Then select the method that uses that difference.
You should also solve questions from a JEE Mains PYQ paper to understand the actual difficulty level of the chapter. After completing the PDF, revise your incorrect answers using reliable JEE Study Material. You can then take a JEE Mains Mock Test to check whether you can apply these concepts correctly under exam pressure.
Important Formulas for Purification & Characterisation PYQ
Purification questions are mostly concept-based, but characterisation questions may require formulas from chromatography and quantitative analysis. The following formulas are useful for solving JEE Questions from this chapter.
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Retention factor | Rf=Distance travelled by solvent frontDistance travelled by solute |
| Percentage of carbon | %C=4412×Mass of compoundMass of CO2×100 |
| Percentage of hydrogen | %H=182×Mass of compoundMass of H2O×100 |
| Percentage of nitrogen by Dumas method | %N=22400×W28×V at STP×100 |
| Percentage of nitrogen by Kjeldahl method | %N=W1.4×N×V |
| Percentage of chlorine | %Cl=143.535.5×WMass of AgCl×100 |
| Percentage of bromine | %Br=18880×WMass of AgBr×100 |
| Percentage of iodine | %I=235127×WMass of AgI×100 |
| Percentage of sulphur | %S=23332×WMass of BaSO4×100 |
Here, W represents the mass of the organic compound in grams, V represents volume in millilitres, and N represents the normality of the solution.
Along with these formulas, remember the basic principle behind each purification method. Crystallisation depends on differences in solubility, while distillation mainly depends on differences in boiling points.
Top 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid in JEE Purification & Characterisation PYQs
1. Confusing simple and fractional distillation
Simple distillation is generally used when the difference in boiling points is large. Fractional distillation is used for miscible liquids with closer boiling points.
2. Selecting crystallisation for every solid mixture
Crystallisation works only when there is a suitable difference in solubility between the compound and its impurities.
3. Mixing up adsorption and partition chromatography
Adsorption chromatography depends on differences in adsorption. Partition chromatography depends on the distribution of substances between two phases.
4. Using the wrong mass in percentage formulas
Students sometimes use the mass of the precipitate directly without multiplying by the required atomic-mass ratio.
5. Forgetting the conditions for elemental analysis
Lassaigne’s test requires sodium fusion. Nitric acid is used before the silver nitrate test to remove interfering sulphide and cyanide ions.
List of JEE Purification & Characterisation PYQs
Below, you can attempt selected JEE Purification & Characterisation PYQs as a chapter-wise test.
Question 1
0.8 g of an organic compound was analysed by Kjeldahl's method for the estimation of nitrogen. If the percentage of nitrogen in the compound was found to be 42%, then _________ mL of 1M H$$_2$$SO$$_4$$ would have been neutralized by the ammonia evolved during the analysis.
correct answer:- 12
Question 2
Consider two chemical reactions (A) and (B) that take place during metallurgical process:
(A) ZnCO$$_{3(s)} \xrightarrow{\Delta}$$ ZnO$$_{(s)}$$ + CO$$_{2(g)}$$
(B) 2ZnS$$_{(s)}$$ + 3O$$_{2(g)} \xrightarrow{\Delta}$$ 2ZnO$$_{(s)}$$ + 2SO$$_{2(g)}$$
The correct option of names given to them respectively is:
correct answer:- 1
Question 3
Which of the following compound is added to the sodium extract before addition of silver nitrate for testing of halogens?
correct answer:- 1
Question 4
Which one of the following techniques is not used to spot components of a mixture separated on thin layer chromatographic plate?
correct answer:- 3
Question 5
Compound that will give positive Lassaigne's test for both nitrogen and halogen is
correct answer:- 2
Question 6
Match List I with List II: LIST I (Technique): A. Distillation B. Fractional distillation C. Steam distillation D. Distillation under reduced pressure. LIST II (Application): I. Separation of glycerol from spent-lye II. Aniline - Water mixture III. Separation of crude oil fractions IV. Chloroform-Aniline. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
correct answer:- 2
Question 7
The fragrance of flowers is due to the presence of some steam volatile organic compounds called essential oils. These are generally insoluble in water at room temperature but are miscible with water vapour in the vapour phase. A suitable method for the extraction of these oils from the flowers is:
correct answer:- 4
Question 8
In sulphur estimation. 0.471 g of an organic compound gave 1.4439 g of barium sulphate. The percentage of sulphur in the compound is _____ (Nearest Integer)
(Given: Atomic mass Ba: 137u, S: 32u, O: 16u)
correct answer:- 42
Question 9
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Griss-Ilosvay test is used for the detection of nitrite ion, which involves the use of sulphanilic acid and $$\alpha-naphthylamine$$ reagent.
Statement II: In the above test, sulphanilic acid is diazotized by the acidified nitrite ion, which on further coupling with $$\alpha-naphthylamine$$ forms an azo-dye.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below
correct answer:- 4
Question 10
correct answer:- 2
Question 11
Question Stem (Q17 & Q18): Consider the following reaction sequence in which J , K , L and M are the major products.
1,3-dimethylbenzene ($$m$$-xylene) $$\xrightarrow[\text{3. sodium 3-nitrophenoxide (}\mathrm{NaO}\text{-}\mathrm{C_6H_4}\text{-}\mathrm{NO_2}\text{)}]{\text{1. } \mathrm{ClCH_2COCl},\ \text{anhyd. } \mathrm{AlCl_3}\quad\text{2. NaI, heat}} \mathbf{J} \xrightarrow[\text{2. } \mathrm{PBr_3}]{\text{1. } \mathrm{NaBH_4}} \mathbf{K}\ (\text{molar mass } 350\ \mathrm{g/mol})$$
$$\mathbf{K} \xrightarrow{\mathrm{NH_3}\ (\text{excess})} \mathbf{L}\ (\text{nitrogen containing compound})$$
$$\mathbf{K} \xrightarrow{\mathrm{PhSNa}} \mathbf{M}\ (\text{sulphur containing compound})$$
Given: Atomic mass (in amu): H : 1, C : 12, N : 14, O : 16, S : 32, Br : 80, Ba : 137
The volume of 1 M aqueous $$\mathrm{H_2SO_4}$$ required to completely neutralize the ammonia evolved from 5.72 g of L in Kjeldahl's method of nitrogen estimation is ___ mL.
correct answer:- 10.00
Question 12
Question Stem (Q17 & Q18): Consider the following reaction sequence in which J , K , L and M are the major products.
1,3-dimethylbenzene ($$m$$-xylene) $$\xrightarrow[\text{3. sodium 3-nitrophenoxide (}\mathrm{NaO}\text{-}\mathrm{C_6H_4}\text{-}\mathrm{NO_2}\text{)}]{\text{1. } \mathrm{ClCH_2COCl},\ \text{anhyd. } \mathrm{AlCl_3}\quad\text{2. NaI, heat}} \mathbf{J} \xrightarrow[\text{2. } \mathrm{PBr_3}]{\text{1. } \mathrm{NaBH_4}} \mathbf{K}\ (\text{molar mass } 350\ \mathrm{g/mol})$$
$$\mathbf{K} \xrightarrow{\mathrm{NH_3}\ (\text{excess})} \mathbf{L}\ (\text{nitrogen containing compound})$$
$$\mathbf{K} \xrightarrow{\mathrm{PhSNa}} \mathbf{M}\ (\text{sulphur containing compound})$$
Given: Atomic mass (in amu): H : 1, C : 12, N : 14, O : 16, S : 32, Br : 80, Ba : 137
In sulphur estimation by Carius method, the amount of $$\mathrm{BaSO_4}$$ formed from 3.79 g of M is ___ g.
correct answer:- 2.33
Question 13
0.1 mol of the following given antiviral compound (P) will weigh _______ $$\times 10^{-1}$$ g.

(Given: molar mass in g mol$$^{-1}$$ H: 1, C: 12, N: 14, O: 16, F: 19, I: 127)
correct answer:- 372
Question 14
During estimation of nitrogen by Dumas' method of compound X (0.42 g) :

_________ mL of $$N_2$$ gas will be liberated at STP. (nearest integer)
(Given molar mass in g mol$$^{-1}$$ : C : 12, H : 1, N : 14)
correct answer:- 111
Question 15
The technique used for purification of steam volatile water immiscible substance is :
correct answer:- 4
Question 16
Given below are two statements :
Statement I : A mixture of C$$_{12}$$H$$_{22}$$O$$_{11}$$ (sugar) and NaCl can be separated by dissolving sugar in alcohol, due to differential solubility.
Statement II : Rose essence from rose petals is separated by steam distillation due to its high volatility and insolubility in H$$_2$$O.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
correct answer:- 1
Question 17
The principle of column chromatography is:
correct answer:- 1
Question 18
Which method of purification is used when the difference in the boiling points of two liquids is low (<25K)?
correct answer:- 1
Question 19
Copper wire test for halogens is known as
correct answer:- 2
Question 20
On a thin layer chromatographic plate, an organic compound moved by $$3.5 \text{ cm}$$, while the solvent moved by $$5 \text{ cm}$$. The retardation factor of the organic compound is ____________ $$\times 10^{-1}$$.
correct answer:- 7
Question 21
Chromatographic technique/s based on the principle of differential adsorption is/are
A. Column chromatography B. Thin layer chromatography C. Paper chromatography
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
correct answer:- 3
Question 22
1.4 g of an organic compound was digested according to Kjeldahl's method and the ammonia evolved was absorbed in 60 mL of M/10 $$H_2SO_4$$ solution. The excess sulphuric acid required 20 mL of M/10 NaOH solution for neutralization. The percentage of nitrogen in the compound is:
correct answer:- 4
Question 23
Question Stem (Q17 & Q18): Consider the following reaction sequence in which J , K , L and M are the major products.

Given: Atomic mass (in amu): H : 1, C : 12, N : 14, O : 16, S : 32, Br : 80, Ba : 137
The volume of 1 M aqueous $$\mathrm{H_2SO_4}$$ required to completely neutralize the ammonia evolved from 5.72 g of L in Kjeldahl's method of nitrogen estimation is ___ mL.
correct answer:- 10.00
Question 24
The ammonia evolved from the treatment of $$0.30$$ g of an organic compound for the estimation of nitrogen was passed in $$100$$ mL of $$0.1$$ M sulphuric acid. The excess of acid required $$20$$ mL of $$0.5$$ M sodium hydroxide solution for complete neutralization. The organic compound is
correct answer:- 3
Question 25
Match the organic compounds in column - I with the Lassaigne's test result in column - II appropriately:
Column - I Column - II
A. Aniline i. Red colour with FeCl$$_3$$
B. Benzene sulfonic acid ii. Violet color with sodium nitroprusside
C. Thiourea iii. Blue color with acidic solution of FeSO$$_4$$
correct answer:- 2
Question 26
The correct match between items of List-I and List-II is
List - I List - II
(A) Coloured impurity (P) Steam distillation
(B) Mixture of o-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol (Q) Fractional distillation
(C) Crude Naphtha (R) Charcoal treatment
(D) Mixture of glycerol and sugars (S) Distillation under reduced pressure
correct answer:- 3
Question 27
In Dumas' method for the estimation of nitrogen, $$0.5\text{ g}$$ of an organic compound yielded $$60\text{ mL}$$ of nitrogen gas collected at $$300\text{ K}$$ temperature and $$715\text{ mm Hg}$$ pressure. Calculate the percentage composition of nitrogen in the compound.
(Given: Aqueous tension at $$300\text{ K} = 15\text{ mm Hg}$$).
correct answer:- 4
Question 28
Which one of the following set of elements can be detected using sodium fusion extract?
correct answer:- 1
Question 29
A flask contains a mixture of isohexane and 3-methylpentane. One of the liquids boils at 63$$^\circ$$C while the other boils at 60$$^\circ$$C. What is the best way to separate the two liquids and which one will be distilled out first?
correct answer:- 1
Question 30
In Dumas' method for estimation of nitrogen, 0.5 gram of an organic compound gave 60 mL of nitrogen collected at 300 K temperature and 715 mm Hg pressure. The percentage composition of nitrogen in the compound (Aqueous tension at 300 K = 15 mm Hg) is
correct answer:- 4
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