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1995 Paper 1
1995 Paper 1
1. Rubidium (Rb) and potassium belong to the same group in the Periodic Table. The relative
atomic mass of rubidium is larger than that of potassium.
(a) Explain whether rubidium is more reactive than potassium.
(b) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between rubidium and water. (State
symbols should be given.)
(c) Suggest how rubidium can be stored safely in the laboratory.
(d) Suggest ONE safety precaution for handling rubidium in the laboratory.
(5 marks)
2. In each of the following groups of substances, there is ONE substance which is different
from the others in terms of their properties. In each group, identify the substance which is
different from the others and explain your choice.
(a) argon, fluorine, helium, neon
(b) nylon, perspex, polyethene, urea-methanal
(c) milk of magnesia, soap, vinegar, window cleaner
(d) carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, nitrogen
(8 marks)
2. (a) fluorine
fluorine is reactive/yellow/coloured gas 1+1
or, others are inert/unreactive/stable/colourless (gases).
(DO NOT accept noble gas/halogens.group VII (0) element)
(b) Urea-methanal
It is a thermosetting plastic (cannot be softened by heat)/the other substances
are thermoplastics (can be softened by heat) 1+1
(c) Vinegar
It is acidic/the others are alkaline 1+1
(d) Nitrogen
It cannot burn in air/the others can burn in air 1+1
3. Some of the ingredients present in a certain brand of cheese sticks are as follows:
benzoic acid, corn meal, cheese, monosodium glutamate (MSG),
sunset yellow (E110), vegetable oil
Which of the above ingredients are food additives? Suggest ONE function for each of the
food additives.
(6 marks)
For questions 4 and 5, candidates are required to give paragraph-Iength answers. 3 out of
the marks for each of these two questions will be awarded for the effective communication
of knowledge in Chemistry.
4. "When atoms combine, they tend to attain noble gas electronic structures."
Discuss how atoms can attain the noble gas electronic structures. In your answer, you
should give suitable examples and the electronic structures of the products formed.
(8 marks)
H Cl Cl Cl
/
When metal and non-metal combine, atoms of the metal donate electrons (to atoms
of non-metal) to form cations/positive ions/metallic ions, while atoms of the non- 1
metal accept electrons to form anions/negative ions/non-metallic ions. 1
(or, award 1 mark for electron transfer, 1 mark for the formation of cation and
anion)
Electronic structure of an ionic compound e.g. NaCl etc. 1
(Any appropriate example)
+ - + -
Na Cl Na Cl
or
Effective communication (3 marks)
General guidelines for marking effective communication:
(i) The mark for effective communication should relate to the candidate's
knowledge in chemistry. A candidates who wrote a paragraph which is totally
unrelated to the question should deserve zero mark both in chemical
knowledge and in effective communication.
(ii) The table below illustrates the relationship between the mark for chemical
knowledge and the maximum mark for effective communication.
mark for chemical knowledge maximum mark for effective communication
4 or above 3
3 or below 2
In cases where the mark for effective communication is 3, points (A), (B) and (C)
below will be marked. In cases where the mark for effective communication is 2
marks, only points (B) and (C) will be marked.
(iii) The three marks for effective communication are awarded as follows:
(A) the ability to present ideas in a precise manner, including the correct
use of chemical terms (this mark should not be awarded to answers
which contained a lot of incorrect/superfluous materials); 1
(B) the ability to present ideas in a systematic manner (i.e., the answer is
easy to follow); 1
(C) the ability to present answer in paragraph form and to express ideas
using full sentence. 1
5. Describe how large crystals of ammonium sulphate can be prepared from an aqueous
solution of ammonia in a school laboratory.
(9 marks)
END OF SECTION A
6. (a) The illustration below shows the plastic bottle of a domestic toilet cleaner and its
label.
(i) Explain, with the help of a chemical equation, why the toilet cleaner should not
be mixed with bleaches.
(ii) (1) Suggest ONE chemical, other than bleaches, that should not be mixed
with the toilet cleaner?
(2) If the chemical suggested in (l) and the toilet cleaner are mixed together,
what change would be observed? Write a chemical equation for the
reaction involved.
(iii) Explain why it is necessary to handle the toilet cleaner with care.
(iv) (1) Explain why plastic is used for making the bottle for the toilet cleaner.
(2) Name ONE plastic material suitable for making the bottle for the toilet
cleaner.
(9 marks)
6. (a) (i) +
The H ions/acid (in the toilet cleaner) will react with the bleach ( 1
1
ClO − and Cl − ) to give chlorine which is poisonous/toxic.
Cl − + ClO − + 2 H + → Cl 2 + H 2 O 1
(b) The table below gives some information about five metals.
Metal Abundance in Price per kg Relative resistance of Relative strength of
the earth's ($) corrosion metal
crust (%) (1 = least resistant (1 = lowest
4 = most resistant) 3 = highest)
Al 8.1 170 3 1
Cu 0.0055 140 3 3
Au 0.0000004 1100000 4 2
Fe 5.0 20 1 3
Zn 0.007 160 2 2
(i) Although gold has a very low abundance in the earth's crust, gold was
discovered by man a long time ago. Why?
(ii) Which of the metals in the above table is the most suitable to make pipes for
hot water? Explain your answer.
(iii) (1) Aluminium does not corrode easily. Why?
(2) Aluminium is a principal material for making aircraft but its strength is
relatively low. Suggest how the strength of aluminium can be improved to
make it suitable for making aircraft.
(iv) (1) Based on the information given in the table, suggest ONE factor that
affects the price of a metal.
(2) Suggest ONE other factor (not indicated in the table) that can also affect
the price of a metal.
(9 marks)
6. (b) (i) Gold is very unreactive/inert/is stable/does not combine with other
elements easily/can be found free in nature. 1
(ii) Copper/Cu 1
because it does not corrode easily and has a high metallic strength/is 1
relatively cheap 1
(Award mark for explanation only if Cu is chosen.)
(iii) (1) Al reacts with oxygen in air to form a (thin) layer of oxide 1
which is impervious (not permeable) to oxygen/water and 1
prevents the metal from further corrosion.
(2) Alloying (with other metals e.g. Cu/Mn/Mg...) 1
(DO NOT accept mix with other metal/alloying with Na, K...)
(iv) (1) the price depends on its abundance in the earth's crust. 1
(2) Cost of extraction/cost in mining/supply/demand of the metal. 1
7. (a) (i) Citric acid/vitamin C (ascorbic acid) when dissolves in water gives 1
H + (aq ) which reacts with calcium carbonate to give gas ( CO 2 )
1
bubbles.
CaCO3 + 2 H + → Ca 2 + + CO 2 + H 2 O 1
2− +
(DO NOT accept CO 3 + 2 H → CO 2 + H 2 O
(ii) (1) Formula mass of CaCO3 = 40 + 12 + 16×3 = 100
1 mole of CaCO3 gives 1 mole of CO 2
No. of moles of CO 2 evolved
= No. of moles of CaCO3 present
625 × 10−3
=
100
1
= 6.25 × 10−3
−3 3 1
Theoretical volume of gas = 6.25 × 10 × 24 dm 1
3 3
= 150 cm (0.15 dm )
(Deduct 1 mark for wrong/no units)
(2) Some of the CO 2 produced dissolved in water/ CO 2 is (fairly)
soluble in water 1
(iii) (Keep) out of moisture (water)/(keep) in a dry place 1
Reason: The amount of active ingredients will decrease/the tablet
will lose function/the active ingredients of the tablet will
react in the presence of water. 1
or, (Keep) out of heat/(keep) in a cool place (1)
Reason: at high temperatures, vitamin C deteriorates/ CaCO3
undergoes decomposition/the amount of active
ingredients will decrease/the tablet will lose function. (1)
or, (Keep) away from sunlight (1)
Reason: vitamin C may decompose (1)
CaCO3 can be decomposed by sunlight (0)
(The warning statement and the reason must match each other.
(b) The following flow diagram shows the conversion of a compound X to an acid Y.
oxidation
X Ethanol Y
X can rapidly decolourize a solution of bromine in 1,1,1-trichloroethane.
(i) What is X? Name the industrial process by which X is converted to ethanol.
(ii) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between X and bromine.
(iii) (1) Give the systematic names of Y.
(2) Draw a labelled diagram of the laboratory set-up for the conversion of
ethanol to Y.
(iv) Ethanol can be detected in the breath of a drunken driver. Suggest ONE
chemical test to show the presence of ethanol in his breath and state the
observable change produced by the test.
(9 marks)
3
or
(If more than 1 diagram is drawn, only the first diagram will be
marked.)
deduct 1 mark for wrong reagents/incomplete indication of reagents.
deduct 1 mark for closed/open system
deduct 1 mark for wrong/no indication of direction of water flow
deduct 1 mark for no indication of heat
(maximum mark deducted = 3)
(iv) pass the breath into acidified potassium dichromate (solution). The 1
colour of the solution will change from orange to green. 1
†correct spelling is required
8. (a) The fumes emitted from a factory using diesel fuel contain several gaseous pollutants.
One of these pollutants, Z, has a choking smell and can decolourizes bromine water.
(i) (1) What is Z?
(2) What is the effect of Z on the environment?
(3) Suggest ONE way reduce the amount of Z in the fumes.
(ii) (1) Suggest ONE other pollutant that is present in the fumes.
(2) Explain how this pollutant is formed.
(3) What is the effect of this pollutant on the environment?
(4) Suggest ONE way to reduce the amount of this pollutant in the fumes.
(iii) If a fire is caused by the burning of diesel fuel, what type of fire extinguisher
should not be used to put out the fire?
(8 marks)
(b) Small swimming pools usually use sodium hypochlorite solution rather than chlorine
gas to sterilize the pool water.
(i) Suggest ONE reason for using sodium hypochlorite solution rather than
chlorine gas in small swimming pool.
(ii) Suggest ONE chemical test to show the presence of hypochlorite ions in a
sample of pool water. State the observable change in the test.
3
(iii) A 100 cm sample of pool water contains 5.0 g of sodium hypochlorite.
−3
Calculate the concentration, in moldm , of sodium hypochlorite in the
sample.
(iv) What would be observed if a petal of red flower was put into a sodium
hypochlorite solution? Using an equation, explain this observation.
(v) Briefly describe how sodium hypochlorite solution can be produced
industrially.
(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Na = 23.0, Cl = 35.5)
(10 marks)
9. (a) Sodium hydroxide can be used as a raw material in the manufacture of both soapy
and soapless detergents.
(i) Briefly describe how a soapy detergent can be prepared from a vegetable oil in
a school laboratory.
(ii) The formula of a certain soapy detergent is C n H 2 n +1COONa and its formula
mass is between 300 and 310. Calculate the value of n.
(iii) The structure of a certain soapless detergent is shown below:
CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3
H H H
C C C C - +
CH3 C C C SO3 Na
H H H H
CH3 CH3 CH3
(1) What other raw materials, apart from sodium hydroxide, are required in
the manufacture of this soapless detergent?
(2) Give ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of using this soapless
detergent for domestic cleaning compared with using a soapy detergent.
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, C = 12.0, O = 16.0, Na = 23.0)
(10 marks)
9. (a) (i) Heat/boil vegetable oil with sodium hydroxide solution. 1+1
Add concentrated NaCl solution/salt solution/brine/salt out the soap. 1
Separate (filter) the soap from the solution. 1
(ii) Formula mass of the soap
= 12(n+1) + (2n+1) + 2×16 + 23
= 14n + 68 1
300 < 14n + 68 < 310
16.6 < n < 17.3
∴ n = 17 1
(iii) (1) petroleum (fraction) 1
(concentrated) sulphuric acid/oleum 1
(DO NOT accept dilute sulphuric acid)
(2) advantage: the soapless detergent can be used in hard
water/acidic solution. 1
(DO NOT accept can be used in sea water.)
disadvantage: the soapless detergent is non-biodegradable/may
causes water pollution/may cause skin allergies/can kill marine
lives 1
(b)
When the circuit in the set-up shown above is closed, the acidified potassium
permanganate solution loses its colour gradually.
(i) Write a half equation for the reaction that occurs in the acidified potassium
permanganate solution. Explain whether the permanganate ion is oxidized or
reduced.
(ii) What would be observed in the potassium iodide solution after some time?
Write a half equation for the reaction that would occur.
(iii) Identify the direction of electron flow in the external circuit.
(iv) Write an ionic equation for the reaction that occurs when an acidified potassium
permanganate solution and a potassium iodide solution are mixed together.
(v) (1) What is the function of the salt bridge in the set-up?
(2) Explain whether a sodium sulphite solution can be used instead of a
potassium nitrate solution in the salt bridge.
(8 marks)
END OF PAPER