Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 18M.3.hl.TZ1.10 |
Level | HL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ1 |
Command term | Explain | Question number | 10 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant pigments. Depending on the solution pH, they can exist as quinoidal bases or flavylium cations as shown in section 35 of the data booklet.
Outline why anthocyanins are coloured.
Explain why the blue colour of a quinoidal base changes to the red colour of a flavylium cation as pH decreases.
Markscheme
highly conjugated systems
OR
alternating single and double bonds
OR
many delocalized electrons
electron transitions occur when visible light is absorbed
[2 marks]
gaining protons
decreases electron density/extent of conjugation «in aromatic backbone»
increases energy of electron transitions
[3 marks]