PART IV Suggested Answers of Public Examination Questions

PART IV Acids and Bases

1. D
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. D
9. D
10. D
11. C
12. A
13. C
14. A
15. D
16. C
17. A
18. (a) (i) (1) H2SO4(aq) + CuO(s)  CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l) OR 1
2H+(aq) + CuO(s)  Cu2+(aq) + H2O(l) (1)
(2) To ensure that the product is not contaminated with the 1
sulphuric acid. OR
To ensure that all the sulphuric acid has been reacted. (1)
(ii) The remaining CuO can be removed by filtration. 1
(iii) As the temperature of the solution drops, the solubility of 1
CuSO4 decreases.
(iv) (1) Anhydrous CuSO4 / CuO will be obtained as product. OR 1
The water of crystallization will be removed. (1)
(2) Dry the crystals by using filter paper. 1
(b) (i) H2SO4(aq) + CuO(s)  CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
From the equation, mole ratio of H2SO4 to CuSO4 = 1 : 1.
Number of moles of CuSO4 obtained = number of moles of
150
H2SO4 used = 1.0 × 1000 mol = 0.15 mol 1
(ii) Molar mass of CuSO4 • 5H2O
= [63.5 + 32.1 + (16.0 × 4) + 5 × (1.0 × 2 + 16.0)] g mol–1
= 249.6 g mol–1
Number of moles of CuSO4 • 5H2O obtained

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 PART IV Suggested Answers of Public Examination Questions

16.2
= 249.6 mol = 0.065 mol 1
(iii) The answer in (i) is greater than that in (ii). 1
This is because some CuSO4 did not crystallize out and remain 1
dissolved in the solution. OR
This is because some CuSO4 crystals have been lost during
filtration. (1)

19. First, dissolve solid lead(II) nitrate in distilled water. 1

Then mix the lead(II) nitrate solution with (excess) dilute sulphuric acid /
potassium sulphate solution / sodium sulphate solution. 1
After that, filter the mixture to obtain the solid residue (lead(II) sulphate).
Wash it with distilled water and then dry it using filter paper or in oven. 1
(Communication mark) 1

20. (a) NH4+(aq) + OH–(aq)  NH3(g) + H2O(l) 1

(b) HCl is corrosive. OR 1
NH4NO3 is explosive. OR (1)
KOH is very corrosive. (1)
(c) To prevent sucking back because ammonia is very soluble in water.
1
(d) (i) 25.0 cm3 pipette 1
(ii) From red to orange 1
(iii) Number of moles of HCl left in the beaker
41.00 100.00
= 0.100 × 1000 × 25.00 mol
= 0.0164 mol 1
Number of moles of NH3 produced
= (0.0485 – 0.0164) mol
= 0.0321 mol 1
Molar mass of NH4NO3
= (14.0 × 2 + 1.0 × 4 + 16.0 × 3) g mol–1 = 80.0 g mol–1
Percentage by mass of NH4NO3 in the sample of fertilizer
0.0321  80.0 g
= 3.150 g ×100% = 81.5% 1
(e) Potassium-containing compounds give a lilac flame in a flame test. 1

21. (a) Ethanedioic acid 1

(b) H2C2O4(aq) C2O42–(aq) + 2H+(aq) OR 1

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 PART IV Suggested Answers of Public Examination Questions

H2C2O4(aq) HC2O4–(aq) + H+(aq) (1)

Ethanedioic acid is a weak acid which ionizes slightly in water.
Thus, the concentration of H+(aq) in the aqueous solution should be
smaller than 0.1 mol dm–3.
As pH = –log[H+(aq)], the pH of the solution is greater than 1. 2
(c) Solid sodium hydroxide absorbs water vapour/ reacts carbon dioxide
in air. Hence, it is difficult to measure its mass accurately by
weighing. 1
(d) (i) From colourless to pink 1
(ii) Number of moles of H2C2O4 reacted
25.00
0.0500 × 1000 mol = 1.25 × 10–3 mol
2NaOH(aq) + H2C2O4(aq)  Na2C2O4(aq) + 2H2O(l)
From the equation, mole ratio of H2C2O4 to NaOH = 1 : 2.
∴number of moles of NaOH reacted
= 2 × 1.25 × 10–3 mol
= 2.5 × 10–3 mol
2.5  10 3 mol
17.20
dm 3
Concentration of NaOH(aq) = 1000 = 0.145 mol dm–3 2
(e) (i) After the conical flask is rinsed with H2C2O4(aq), a small
amount of H+(aq) may be left in the conical flask. Hence, more
alkali than actually required is needed to reach the end point of
the titration. 1
(ii) NaOH(aq) clinging on the stem of filter funnel may fall into the
burette. As a result, the volume of alkali used to reach the
titration end point is smaller than that expected. 1

22. (a) The term ‘strong’ means that nitric acid completely ionizes in water.
1
HNO3(aq)  H (aq) + NO (aq)
+
3
–
1
(b) (i) MgCO3(s) + 2HNO3(aq)  Mg(NO3)2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) 1
(ii) Magnesium carbonate dissolves to give a colourless solution. 1
OR Effervescence occurs (or colourless gas bubbles evolve). (1)
OR A fizzing sound is heard. (1)
(iii) MgCO3(s) + 2H+(aq)  Mg2+(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) 1
(c) (i) This is because ammonia is a base. 1
(ii) Molar mass of NH4NO3
= (14.0 × 2 + 1.0 × 4 + 16.0 × 3) g mol–1 = 80.0 g mol–1 1

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 PART IV Suggested Answers of Public Examination Questions

Percentage by mass of N in NH4NO3

2  14.0
= 80.0 ×100% = 35.0 % 1

23. (a) HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq)  NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) OR 1

H+(aq) + OH–(aq)  H2O(l) (1)
(b) Number of moles of NaOH added to the flask
900.0
= 0.0222 × 1000 mol = 0.0200 mol
Number of moles of HCl in the flask before NaOH is added
100.0
= 1.00 × 1000 mol = 0.100 mol
Number of moles of HCl remained after NaOH is added
= (0.100 – 0.0200) mol = 0.080 mol
Concentration of HCl(aq) in the volumetric flask
0.080 mol
= 1 dm 3 = 0.080 mol dm–3 2
(c) The calculated concentration of sodium hydrogencarbonate 1
solution will be higher than the true value. This is because the
molarity of HCl solution is smaller than expected and hence a larger
volume of the ‘standard’ hydrochloric acid is required to reach the
end point of the titration. 1

24. (a) (i) HSO4– /+ H

/ SO
4
2–

2
(ii) K2CO3 dissolves to give a colourless solution.
OR

1
Effervescence occurs (or colourless gas bubbles are given out)
(1)
OR A fizzing sound is heard.

(1)
2CO3(s) K
H2SO4(aq) + K 2SO4(aq) + CO
2(g) + H
2O(l)

1
(b) (i) Number of moles of H2SO4 used
24.60
= 0.100 × 1000 mol = 2.46 × 10–3 mol 1

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 PART IV Suggested Answers of Public Examination Questions

(ii) From the equation, mole ratio of H2SO4 to NaOH = 1 : 2.

∴number of moles of NaOH in the 25.0 cm3 solution
= 2.46 × 10–3 × 2 mol = 4.92 × 10–3 mol 1
(iii) Number of moles of NaOH in the 250.0 cm3 solution
250.0
= 4.92 × 10–3 × 25.0 mol = 0.0492 mol
Mass of NaOH in the 2.00 g sample of caustic soda
= (23.0 + 16.0 + 1.0) × 0.0492 g = 1.97 g
Percentage by mass of NaOH in the sample
1.97 g
= 2.00 g × 100% = 98.5% 3

25. (a) MgCO3(s)  MgO(s) + CO2(g) 1

(b) (i) MgCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) 2
(ii) Similarity:
In both test tubes, the solids dissolve to give a colourless
solution. 1
Difference:
In one of the test tubes / tube B, effervescence occurs. OR 1
In one of the test tubes / tube B, a fizzing sound is heard. OR (1)
In one of the test tubes / B,
tube
colourless gas bubbles evolve.
(1)
(iii) Formula mass of MgCl2 • H2O
= 24.3 + 35.5 × 2 + (1.0 × 2 + 16.0) = 113.3 1
(iv)

1
(c)
Mg Si O
Mass (g) 1.82 1.05 2.40
Number of moles of 1.82 1.05 2.40
atoms (mol) 24.3 =0.0749 28.1 =0.0374 16.0 =0.150
Simplest whole
0.0749 0.0374 0.150
number mole
0.0374 =2 0.0374 =1 0.0374 =4
ratio of atoms

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 PART IV Suggested Answers of Public Examination Questions

The empirical formula of the compound is Mg2SiO4. 1

∴the empirical formula of the compound is Mg2SiO4. 2
(d) (i) Number of moles of HCl used
32.00
= 0.5001000
× mol = 0.0160 mol 1
(ii) From the equation, mole ratio of HCl to Mg(OH)2 = 2 : 1.
∴number of moles of Mg(OH)2 present in the tablet
0.0160
= 2 mol = 8–3 ×mol10 1
(iii) Molar mass of Mg(OH)2 = 24.3 + 2 × (1.0 + 16.0) g mol–1
= 58.3 g mol–1 1
Mass of Mg(OH)2 in the tablet = 58.3 × 8 × 10–3 g = 0.466 g 1
Percentage by mass of Mg(OH)2 present in the tablet
0.466 g
= 0.5 g ×100% = 93.2% 1

26. (a) From colourless to pink 1

(b)

2
(c) (i) 0.52 g 1
(ii) Both acids are dibasic. 1 mole of the acid requires 2 moles of
sodium hydroxide for complete neutralization.

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 PART IV Suggested Answers of Public Examination Questions

25.0
Number of moles of NaOH = 0.400 × 1000 mol = 0.01 mol 1
Number of moles of the unknown acid
0.01
= 2 mol = 5 × 10–3 mol
Molar mass of the unknown acid
0.52
= 5  10 3 g mol–1 = 104.0 g mol–1 1
(iii) Molar mass of acid A = (12.0 × 3 + 16.0 × 4 + 1.0 × 4) g mol–1
= 104.0 g mol–1
Molar mass of acid B = (12.0 × 4 + 16.0 × 4 + 1.0 × 6) g mol–1
= 118.0 g mol–1
∴the unknown acid is A. 1