1.

C
[1]

2. A
[1]

3. D
[1]

4. A
[1]

5. C
[1]

6. (i) calcium ionic charge is twice/greater than the potassium ionic charge /
calcium has more delocalized electrons than potassium;
greater attraction of delocalized electrons and Ca 2+ / less attraction
between the delocalized electrons and K+; 2
+ +
Do not accept calcium ion has a 2 without comparison to K .

(ii) Na2O ionic/(stronger electrostatic) attractions between Na + and O2–;

SO3 has (weak) intermolecular/van der Waals’/London/dispersion/
dipole-dipole attractions;
intermolecular/van der Waals’/London/dispersion/dipole-dipole forces
are weaker/more easily broken than (strong) ionic bonds / ionic bonds
are stronger/harder to break than intermolecular bond/van der
Waals’/London/dispersion/dipole-dipole forces; 3
[5]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 1
7. Award [2 max] for three of the following features:
Bonding
Graphite and C60 fullerene: covalent bonds and van der Waals’/London/
dispersion forces;
Diamond: covalent bonds (and van der Waals’/London/dispersion forces);
Delocalized electrons
Graphite and C60 fullerene: delocalized electrons;
Diamond: no delocalized electrons;
Structure
Diamond: network/giant structure / macromolecular / three-dimensional
structure and Graphite: layered structure / two-dimensional
structure / planar;
C60 fullerene: consists of molecules / spheres made of atoms arranged in
hexagons/pentagons;
Bond angles
Graphite: 120° and Diamond: 109°;
C60 fullerene: bond angles between 109–120°;
Allow Graphite: sp2 and Diamond: sp3.
Allow C60 fullerene: sp2 and sp3.
Number of atoms each carbon is bonded to
Graphite and C60 fullerene: each C atom attached to 3 others;
Diamond: each C atom attached to 4 atoms / tetrahedral
arrangement of C (atoms); 6 max
[6]

8. ;
linear and 180°; 2
Accept crosses, lines or dots as electron pairs.
[2]

9. network/giant structure / macromolecular;

each Si atom bonded covalently to 4 oxygen atoms and each O
atom bonded covalently to 2 Si atoms / single covalent bonds; 2
Award [1 max] for answers such as network-covalent, giant-covalent or
macromolecular-covalent.
Both M1 and M2 can be scored by a suitable diagram.
[2]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 2
10. Silicon dioxide: strong/covalent bonds in network/giant
structure/macromolecule;
Carbon dioxide: weak/van der Waals’/dispersion/London forces between
molecules; 2
[2]

11. triple (covalent) bond;

one electron pair donated by oxygen to carbon atom / dative (covalent)/
coordinate (covalent) bond; 2
Award [1 max] for representation of C≡O.
Award [2] if CO shown with dative covalent bond.
[2]

12. B
[1]

13. A
[1]

14. A
[1]

15. (a) vapour pressure ethoxyethane (81 × 103 Pa) > vapour pressure
benzene (16 × 103 Pa) > vapour pressure water (4 × 103 Pa);
If three correct vapour pressure values related to each substance
are stated alone award M1.
Allow range of 80–85 × 103 Pa, 14–18 × 103 Pa and 3–7 × 103 Pa.
Do not award mark for comparisons of just two substances.
water has hydrogen bonding;
benzene has van der Waals’/London/dispersion forces;
ethoxyethane has dipole–dipole forces (and van der Waals’/London/
dispersion) but they are weaker than benzene; 4

(b) 81 °C; 1
Allow 80–82 °C.
[5]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 3
IB Questionbank Chemistry 4
16. delocalization/spread of pi/π electrons over more than two nuclei;
equal bond order/strength/length / spreading charge (equally) over all
three oxygens;
gives carbonate ion a greater stability/lower potential energy; 3
M3 can be scored independently.
Accept suitable labelled diagrams for M1 and M2 e.g.

OR

Do not penalize missing brackets on resonance structure but 2– charge must

be shown.
Allow –2 for charge on resonance structure.
[3]

17. mixing/combining/merging of (atomic) orbitals to form new orbitals (for bonding);

Allow molecular or hybrid instead of new.
Do not allow answers such as changing shape/symmetries of atomic orbitals.
Carbon dioxide: sp;
Diamond: sp3;
Graphite: sp2;
Carbonate ion: sp2; 5
[5]

18. Molten sodium oxide: conducts because of free moving/mobile ions in

molten state;
Sulfur trioxide: doesn’t conduct because no free moving/mobile charged
particles/it has neutral molecules; 2
Award [1 max] for stating molten sodium oxide conducts but sulfur
trioxide doesn’t.
Do not award M2 for just “sulfur trioxide does not conduct because
it is molecular”.
[2]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 5
19. B
[1]

20. C
[1]

21. B
[1]

22. D
[1]

23. C
[1]

24. (a) (i) +3; 1

Do not accept 3, 3+ or the use of Roman numerals.

(ii) +5 / –3; 1
Penalize incorrect format only if not penalized in (a)(i).

1
(b) (i) Sb2S3 + 4 2 O2 → Sb2SO3 + 2SO2 / 2Sb2S3 + 9O2 → 2Sb2O3 + 6SO2;
2Sb2O3 + 3C → 4Sb + 3CO2 / Sb2O3 + 3C → 2Sb + 3CO; 2
Ignore state symbols.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 6
 (ii) the SO2 causes acid rain / OWTTE;
the CO2 is a greenhouse gas/causes global warming / OWTTE;
CO is a poisonous gas / OWTTE; 2 max
[6]

25. methoxymethane is very weakly polar

weak van der Waals’/dipole-dipole forces exist between methoxymethane
molecules;
Accept alternatives to van der Waals’ such as London and dispersion forces.
ethanol contains a hydrogen atom bonded directly to an electronegative
oxygen atom / hydrogen bonding can occur between two ethanol
molecules / intermolecular hydrogen bonding in ethanol;
the forces of attraction between molecules are stronger in ethanol than
in methoxymethane / hydrogen bonding stronger than van der Waals’/
dipole-dipole attractions; 3 max
Award [2 max] if covalent bonds breaking during boiling is
mentioned in the answer.
Penalize only once if no reference given to intermolecular nature
of hydrogen bonding or van der Waal is missing.
[3]

26. (i)

Accept any combination of dots/crosses and lines to represent

electron pairs.
(trigonal/triangular) pyramid;
Allow 3D representation using wedges and dotted bonds of
trigonal pyramidal molecule.
107°; 3
Accept any angle between 105º and 108.5º.
No ECF for shape based on incorrect Lewis structure.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 7
 (ii)

Charge needed for mark.

tetrahedral;
Allow a 3D representation using wedges and dotted bonds
of tetrahedral molecule.
109.5°/109°/109° 28'; 3
No ECF for shape based on incorrect Lewis structure.
[5]

27. C
[1]

28. D
[1]

29. A
[1]

30. D
[1]

31. A
[1]

32. D
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 8
33. D
[1]

34. A
[1]

35. A
[1]

36. B
[1]

37. (i)

Accept lines, dots or crosses for electron pairs.

Lone pairs required on chlorine.
(approximately)120°;
Accept any bond angle in the range 113–120°. 2

(ii)

Brackets not required for mark.

Allow correct condensed structural formula.
Continuation bonds from each carbon are required.
Cl atoms can be above or below carbon spine or alternating
above and below. 1

IB Questionbank Chemistry 9
 (iii) plastics are cheap/versatile/a large industry / plastics have
many uses / OWTTE;
plastics are not biodegradeable / plastics take up large amounts of space
in
landfill / pollution caused by burning of plastics / OWTTE;
Do not accept plastics cause litter.
Allow plastics don’t decompose quickly / OWTTE. 2
[5]

38. A
[1]

39. B
[1]

40. C
[1]

41. D
[1]

42. B
[1]

43. A
[1]

44. B
[1]

45. D
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 10
IB Questionbank Chemistry 11
46. (a) N2H4(g) + 2F2(g) → N2(g) + 4HF(g)
Award [1] for reactants and products.
Award [1] if this equation is correctly balanced.
Ignore state symbols. 2

(b) Hydrazine:

Nitrogen:
  N
N 
;
Accept lines, dots and crosses to show electron pairs.
Penalize missing lone pairs once only. 2

(c) ΣBE (bonds broken) = (4 × 391) + 158 + 2(158) / 2038(kJ);

ΣBE (bonds formed) = (945) + 4(568) / 3217 (kJ);
∆HO = 2038 – 3217 = –1179 (kJ);
Award [3] for correct final answer.
Award [2] for (+)1179 (kJ). 3

(d) (N2H4 / F2) better rocket fuel;

ECF: answer must be consistent with equation in (a) and ∆H in (c).
5 vol/mol (g) > 3 vol/mol (g) / more moles/greater amount of gas produced;
∆HO (N2H4 / F2) > ∆HO (N2H4 / O2) (per mole) / (N2H4 / F2) reaction more
exothermic; 2 max
[9]

47. (i) energy/enthalpy change/required/needed to remove/knock out an electron

(to form +1 /uni-positive/ M+1 ion);
in the gaseous state;
Award [1] for M(g) → M+(g) + e–.
Award [2] for M(g) → M+(g) + e– with reference to energy/enthalpy
change. 2

(ii) increasing number of protons/atomic number/Z/nuclear charge;

atomic radii/size decreases / same shell/energy level / similar shielding/
screening (from inner electrons);
No mark for shielding/screening or shielding/screening increases. 2

IB Questionbank Chemistry 12
 (iii) Na: delocalized electrons / mobile sea of electrons / sea of electrons
free to move;
No mark for just “mobile electrons”.
P: atoms covalently bonded / no free/mobile/delocalized electrons; 2
[6]

48. B
[1]

49. B
[1]

50. D
[1]

51. D
[1]

52. D
[1]

53. C
[1]

54. D
[1]

55. A
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 13
56. metallic (bonding);
positive ions/cations and delocalized/sea of electrons;
electrostatic attraction between the two;
Award [2 max] for description of bonding
Conductivity:
electrons delocalized/free to move;
Malleability:
atoms/ions/cations can move without breaking bonds / atoms/ions/
cations can slide past each other; 4
[4]

57. (a) (i)

Accept ×’s, dots or lines for electron pairs. 2

(ii) H–C–H:
any angle between 118° and 122°;
due to three negative charge centres/electron domains/electron
pairs;
H–N–H:
any angle between 104° and 108°;
due to four negative charge centres/electron domains/electron pairs;
extra repulsion due to lone electron pairs;
Do not allow ECF for wrong Lewis structures. 5

(b) (i) (relative) measure of an atoms attraction for electrons;

in a covalent bond / shared pair; 2

(ii) C–H is less polar as C is less electronegative / N–H bond is more

polar
as N is more electronegative / difference in electronegativity is
greater
for N-H than C-H; 1

(iii) bond polarities cancel in C2H4 / OWTTE; 1

IB Questionbank Chemistry 14
 (c) weaker van der Waals’/London/dispersion/intermolecular forces in ethene;
stronger (intermolecular) hydrogen bonding in hydrazine;
If no comparison between strengths then [1 max]. 2
[13]

58. (i) acid-base/neutralization; 1

(ii) 109° /109.5°; 1

[2]

59. B
[1]

60. A
[1]

61. A
[1]

62. (a) (i) (bond formed by) sideways overlap;

(of) p orbitals;
Marks awarded either from sketch or from explanation. 2

(ii) C(l) is sp3 and C(2) is sp2; 1

(b)

cis but-2-ene/Z-but-2-ene; 2

IB Questionbank Chemistry 15
 (c)

1
[6]

63. (i) acid-base/neutralization; 1

(ii) 109° /109.5°; 1

(iii) sp3;
No ECF if bond angle incorrect in (ii). 1
[3]

64. D
[1]

65. C
[1]

66. D
[1]

67. A
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 16
68. (i)

All outer electron pairs must be shown for mark in each case.
Accept electrons shown as all x rather than • and x. 3

(ii) CO < CO2 < CH3OH;

triple bonds are shorter than double bonds which are shorter than single
bonds / the more pairs of electrons that are shared the stronger the
attracting so the shorter the bond / OWTTE;
The order must be correct to gain the second marking point
unless ECF from (a). 2
[5]

69. (i) (CO2) linear;

180°; 2

(ii) (CO32–) trigonal planar/triangular planar;

120°; 2

(iii) (BF4–) tetrahedral;

109.5° / 109° / 109° 28’; 2
[6]

70. D
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 17
71. D
[1]

72. A
[1]

73. A
[1]

74. (i)

trigonal pyramid;
in the range of 100–108°; 3

(ii)

Must include minus sign for the mark.

bent/V–shaped;
in the range of 100–106°; 3

(iii)

square planar;
90°;
Penalize once only if electron pairs are missed off outer atoms. 3
[9]

75. D
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 18
76. B
[1]

77. C
[1]

78. C
[1]

79. (i) atoms of the same element with the same atomic number/Z/same number
of protons, but different mass numbers/A/different number of neutrons; 1

(ii) (0.9223 × 28) + (0.0468 × 29) + (0.0309 × 30);

28.1/28.11;
Working must be shown to get [2], do not accept 28.09 on its own (given
in the data booklet). 2

(iii) Silicon dioxide

single covalent (bonds);
network/giant covalent/macromolecular / repeating tetrahedral units;
Carbon dioxide
double covalent (bonds);
(simple / discrete) molecular;
Marks may be obtained from suitable structural representations
of SiO2 and CO2. 4
[7]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 19
80.

Allow crosses or dots for lone-pair.

trigonal/triangular pyramidal;
(~)107° / less than 109.5°;
Do not allow ECF.
LP-BP repulsion > BP-BP repulsion / one lone pair and three bond pairs /
lone pairs/non-bonding pairs repel more than bonding-pairs;
Do not accept repulsion between atoms. 4
[4]

81. boiling points increase going down the group (from PH 3 to AsH3 to SbH3);
Mr/number of electrons/molecular size increases down the group;
Accept electron cloud increases down the group for the second marking point.
greater dispersion/London/van der Waals’ forces;
NH3/ammonia has a higher boiling point than expected due to the hydrogen
bonding between the molecules;
Do not accept hydrogen bonding alone. 4
[4]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 20
82. CO:

Award [1] for showing the net dipole moment, or explaining it in words
(unsymmetrical distribution of charge).
NO2:

Award [1] for correct representation of the bent shape and [1] for showing the
net dipole moment, or explaining it in words (unsymmetrical distribution of
charge).
CO2:

Award [1] for correct representation of the linear shape and [1] for showing the
two equal but opposite dipoles or explaining it in words (symmetrical
distribution of charge).
For all three molecules, allow either arrow or arrow with bar for
representation of dipole moment.
Allow correct partial charges instead of the representation of the
vector dipole moment.
Ignore incorrect bonds.
Lone pairs not needed. 5
[5]

83. A
[1]

84. A
[1]

85. A
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 21
86. (a) (i) dumbbell-shaped representation along the z-axis:

Sign of wave function not required. 1

(ii) 1s22s22p63s23p63d5 / 1s22s22p63s23p64s03d5 / [Ar]4s03d5 / [Ar]3d5;

Do not allow 2, 8, 13. 1

(iii) Lewis base / (species/ion/molecule) with lone pair and dative

covalent/coordinate bond (to metal) / bonds with metal (ion)/
complex ion; 1

(iv) has partially filled d subshell/sublevel/orbitals;

d orbitals are split (into two sets of different energies)
colour due to electron transition between (split) d orbitals;
frequencies of visible light absorbed by electrons moving from lower
to higher d levels, colour due to remaining frequencies;
Allow wavelength as well as frequency. 3 max

(v)

Accept half-arrows or full arrows.

Do not penalize if additional sublevels are shown, if sublevels are
not labelled or if no boxes are drawn (providing system of
arrows correct).
Do not award mark if sublevels are incorrectly labelled.
Orbital diagram may also be represented with sublevels shown
at different relative energy positions. 1
[7]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 22
87. (i)

octahedral/octahedron/square bipyramidal;
90° / 90° and 180°; 3

(ii)

linear;
180°;
Allow dots, crosses or lines in Lewis structures.
Penalize missing charge, missing bracket once only in (i) and (ii).
Lone pairs required for BOTH (i) and (ii). 3
[6]

88. Structure:
network/giant lattice / macromolecular / repeating tetrahedral units;
Bonding:
(single) covalent (bonds);
It is not necessary to identify which part refers to structure and bonding
specifically. 2
[2]

89. B
[1]

90. C
[1]

91. C
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 23
92. B
[1]

93.
PF3 SF2 SiF4

Lewis
structure 1 lone pair on P 2 lone pairs on S
required for the required for the
mark mark
Name of trigonal/triangular bent/angular/V tetrahedral/
shape pyramidal; shaped; tetrahedron;
Penalize missing lone pairs on fluorine atoms once in correct structures only.
For Lewis structures candidates are not expected to draw exact shapes of
molecules.
Do not allow ECF for wrong Lewis structures.
Accept dots or crosses instead of lines. 6
[6]

94. D
[1]

95. B
[1]

96. B
[1]

97. A
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 24
98.
SF2 SF4 SF6

Lewis
structure
2 lone pairs on S 1 lone pair on S
required for the required for the
mark mark

bent/angular/V Seesaw/distorted octahedral;

Name of
shaped; tetrahedral; Accept square
shape
bipyrimidal
Penalize missing lone pairs on fluorine atoms once in correct structures only.
For Lewis structures candidates are not expected to draw exact shapes of
molecules.
Do not allow ECF for wrong Lewis structures.
Accept dots or crosses instead of lines. 6
[6]

99. [Fe(CN)6]4– = +2;

[FeCl4]– = +3;
Award [1 max] if 2+ and 3+, 2 and 3 or II and III stated. 2
[2]

100. B
[1]

101. D
[1]

102. A
[1]

103. B
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 25
104. B
[1]

105. (i) Find number of electron pairs/charge centres in (valence shell of)
central atom;
electron pairs/charge centres (in valence shell) of central atom repel
each other;
Any one of the following:
to positions of minimum energy/repulsion / maximum stability;
pairs forming a double or triple bond act as a single bond;
non-bonding pairs repel more than bonding pairs / OWTTE; 3 max
Do not accept repulsion between bonds or atoms.

(ii) 6
Lewis (electron-
Specie
dot) Shape Bond angle(s)
s
structure

– + Allow values in
O
Trigonal/
the
H3O+ H ; triangular
H H range 106° to
pyramidal;
109.5°;

H H Trigonal/ Allow values of

C2H4 ; triangular approximately
H H
planar; 120°;
Accept crosses and dots for electrons in Lewis
structures also.
As the Lewis structures were asked for, and not 3D
representations, do not penalize incorrectly drawn
geometries.
Do not accept structure of hydronium cation without
lone pair on oxygen.
No penalty for missing charge.

(iii) H3O+: is polar and explanation either using a diagram or in words,

involving the net dipole moment;
e.g. the three individual O-H bond dipole moments
add as vectors to give a net dipole moment.
C2H4: is non-polar and explanation either using a diagram or in words,
involving no net dipole moment; 2
e.g. the vector sum of the individual bond dipole
moments is zero.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 26
 For simple answers such as bond polarities do not
cancel for H3O+ and do cancel for C2H4, Award [1],
only for the last two marking points.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 27
 (iv) O-H is most polar;
O-H has greatest difference between electronegativities / calculation
showing values of 1.4, 0.5 and 0.9 respectively; 2
[13]

106. BF3, N2O, P4O6 and CBr4;

Non-metals only / small difference in electronegativity values of the elements; 2
[2]

107. (i) 3
Allotrope Structure
Diamond 3D array/network involving tetrahedral
carbons / each carbon atom joined to four
others;
Graphite layer structure involving trigonal (triangular)
planar carbons / with each carbon atom
joined to three others / with hexagonal (six-
membered) rings of carbon atoms;
C60 truncated icosahedrons;
fullerene Accept carbon atoms form a “ball” with 32
faces, of which 12 are pentagons and 20
are hexagons, exactly like a soccer ball.
Do not accept soccer ball alone.

(ii) Diamond: covalent bonds (only);

Graphite: covalent bonds and the separated layers held together by
(weak) London/van der Waals’/dispersion forces; 2
[5]

108. Electrical conductivity:

Bonding electrons are delocalized;
Current flow occurs without displacement of atoms within the metal /
able to flow within the metal;
Malleability:
Can be hammered into thin sheets;
atoms capable of slipping with respect to one another; 4
[4]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 28
109. C
[1]

110. D
[1]

111. (i)
Lewis (electron-
Specie
dot) Shape Bond angle(s)
s
structure

Bent/V-
NO2– 109.5° < θ < 120°;
shaped/angular;

|Inplane Cl-I-out-of-plane Cl| <

90°;
Square Allow corresponding correct
ICl5
pyramidal; statement for other correctly
identified
bond angles.
|Equatorial F-S-Equatorial F| <
120°;
Allow corresponding correct
SF4 See-saw;
statement for axial-equatorial
and
axial-axial F-S-F angles.
9
Accept crosses and dots for electrons in the Lewis
structures also.
If all ideal bond angles are given, penalize once only.
As the Lewis structures were asked for, and not 3D
representations, do not penalize incorrectly drawn
geometries.

(ii) (equatorial F-S-equatorial F) less than 120° since non-bonding electron

pairs
(exert greater repulsive forces and thus) compress the bond angles /
OWTTE; 1

(iii) orbital diagram representation of carbon ground-state going to carbon

excited-state electron configuration;
mixing of orbitals to give three new entirely equivalent hybrid orbitals, sp2,
on each carbon;
sp2 orbitals trigonal (triangular) planar in shape;
IB Questionbank Chemistry 29
 unhybridized orbitals overlap to give π-bond; 4

IB Questionbank Chemistry 30
 (iv) sp2;
both N-O bond lengths equal, (intermediate between double and single
bonds) due to resonance/delocalization; 2

(v) O-H is most polar;

O-H has greatest difference between electronegativities / calculation
showing values of 1.4, 0.5 and 0.9 respectively; 2
[18]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 31