H1 Chemistry 2009 ‘A’ Levels ANSWERS

(Prepared by Mrs Angela Tie, Ms Sharon Tan and Ms Chan Sok Yee with the aid of
examiner’s report)

Paper 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
B D A C C D B C D A D C B A B

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
B B C A D D B C B C A B B C B

Q.12
This question outlined the dissociation of sulfamic acid, H2NSO3H into its constituent ions, and
described it as a strong acid.
H2NSO3H H2NSO3- + H+
[H2NSO3-] = [H+] = 0.10 mol dm-3,  pH = -lg [H+] = 1
Common error: According to the Cambridge examiners, many students thought an aqueous
solution of the acid in which [H2NSO3-] = 0.10 mol dm-3 would not have a pH
value of 1, despite the fact there must be a balance between the proton and the
conjugate base within the solution.

Q.27
In this question, a reaction was given between compounds P and Q proceeding by a two-stage
process:
slow
P+Q →R
fast
R + P → 2S
Three statements were then given, the first two of which were correct:
1 The initial rate of formation of S can be increased by adding R.
2 The relative molecular mass of S is higher than that of P.
Common error: According to the Cambridge examiners, many students could not recognise that
as R = (P+Q),
the formation of 2S by an additional P means
(2P+Q) → 2S
hence, in sum, S = (P+½Q),
and the second statement must always be true.

Q.30
Based on this question, it is crucial that you are able to interpret the structural formulae of
molecules given in the options based on their chemical nomenclatures.
According to the Cambridge examiners’ report, a significant number of students could not
recognise that phenyl benzoate would also give sodium benzoate on heating with aq. NaOH under
reflux condition and this is likely due to the fact that the structural formulae were not given directly
in the question.

1
Paper 2 (Section A)

1 (a) (i) Electron arrangement of Na+: 1s2 2s2 2p6

-
(ii) No. of electrons in HCO3 ion: 32
Δ
(b) 2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O

30
(c) mass of NaHCO3 =  7.0 = 2.10 g
100
2.10
amt. of NaHCO3 = = 0.0250 mol
84.0
2NaHCO3 ≡ CO2
Amt of CO2 produced = ½ × 0.0250 = 0.0125 mol
Volume of CO2 produced = 0.0125 × 24 = 0.300 dm3

(d) (i) pH = -lg [H+] = 4.8

[H+] = 10-4.8 = 1.58 × 10-5 mol dm-3
(ii) HCO3- + H+ → CO2 + H2O

Take note: HCO3- reduces the pH value by reacting with excess H + to form CO2 and H2O, not
the acid H2CO3!!

2 (a) Alkene and Alcohol

6  12.0
(b) % by mass = × 100% = 72.0%
(6  12.0)  (12  1.0)  16.0)

(c)

cis trans

Take note: The molecules must be drawn trigonal planar about the carbon atom in the C=C.

(d) (i)

Take note: Question asked for structural

formulae. Special bonds (i.e. C=C,

-OH, -Br, etc must be shown.)

(ii)

Take note: Besides addition across the C=C bond, do not forget that –OH group can also
be replaced by Br when HBr is added.
2
(e) CH3CH2COOH and CH2(COOH)2

and

Take note: One end of the reacting hex-3-en-1-ol already had a –OH group which would
also be oxidized to a carboxylic acid.

3 (a)

(b) Shape of SCl2: bent Bond angle: 105°

(c) ΔH = 4(+250) + (-264) + 2(-250) + (-244) = -8 kJ mol-1

(d) As the forward reaction is exothermic in nature, when temperature increases, by Le

Chatelier’s Principle, the position of equilibrium will shift left to favour the endothermic
reaction in order to remove some of the excess heat.

(e)
C H Cl S
% mass 30.2 5.0 44.7 20.1
Ar 12.0 1.0 35.5 32.1
No. of moles 2.52 5.0 1.26 0.626
Simplest 4 8 2 1
ratio

Empirical formula of M is C4H8Cl2S

Let molecular formula of M be (C4H8Cl2S)n

159 = n (4 × 12.0 + 8 × 1.0 + 2 × 35.5 + 32.1)
n=1
Thus, molecular formula of M is C4H8Cl2S.

Take note: It is important to show how the molecular formula of M is obtained. Do not
just state the answer.

(f) Cl-CH2CH2-S-CH2CH2Cl
[H  ][HCO 3 ]
-
4 (a)(i) Kc =
[H 2 CO 3 ]

(ii) HCO3- + H+ → CO2 + H2O

When acid is added, the conjugate base, HCO3- would react with the excess H+ ions to
form H2O and CO2, hence pH of the blood would remain approximately constant.

3
 4
(b)(i) Mass of iron in haemoglobin =  15 = 0.600 g
100

(ii) no. of red blood cells = 5 million × 100 = 500 million

10000
(ii) mass of Fe required daily = 0.6 × = 12.0 g
500
12.0
amt. of Fe needed = = 0.215 mol.
55.8

(iii) This is because the iron within the haemoglobin is available for further use even if the
red blood cells have died.

35.80
(c) Amt of MnO4- =  0.020  7.16 × 10-4 mol
1000
MnO4- ≡ 5Fe2+

Amt of Fe2+ present = 5 × 7.16 × 10-4 = 3.58 × 10-3 mol

Mass of Fe present = 3.58 × 10-3 × 55.8 = 0.200 g or 2.00 mg (to 3 s.f.)
No. of tablet dissolved = 1 tablet

4
SECTION B

5 (a)

T1 (Temperature 150 °C > T1)

150 °C
No. of molecules : No. of molecules with
with energy, E energy ≥ Ea at T1

: No of molecules with
energy ≥ Ea at T2

0
Energy, E

[Graph must start from origin]

[Axes drawn and labeled correctly]
[Curves are BOTH clearly labeled]
o
[150 C curve has its peak lower and to the right of the T curve]
[Correct indication of activation energy]

An increase in temperature increases reaction rate because:

For the same activation energy, there would be more particles possessing energy
greater than or equal to Ea at the higher temperature.
There is a higher collision frequence and thus results in more effective collisions
occurring at higher temperature, hence reaction rate increases. (The word ‘effective’ must
be in answer to gain this mark.)

(b) (i) 3H2(g) + N2(g) 2NH3(g)

(ii) A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a reaction by providing an alternative
reaction pathway of lower activation energy.
(iii) Iron
(iv) Pressure of 200 to 300 atm and temperature of 450 – 500oC.
(v) When temperature is increased, by Le Chatelier’s principle, position of equilibrium
will shift left to favour the endothermic reaction so that the heat energy will be
absorbed. The yield will decrease.

When more H2 is added, by Le Chatelier’s principle, position of equilibrium will shift

right to remove some of the added H2. The yield will increase.

5
(c)

(i) Graph to be plotted on graph paper:

[Axes correct way around and labeled correctly]
[6 correctly plotted points]
Students to note: graphs should have convenient scales. Scales like 10 squares to 3 units is odd
and will be penalised.

6
 (ii) Since the graph of rate against [NH3] is a straight line,

Order of reaction wrt NH3 is 1.

(iii) Rate = k[NH3]

(iv) Units of k = s-1. (or shown in final answer is also accepted.)
Using the first set of data, 22.7 x 10-4 = k(2.20)
k = 1.03 x 10-3 s-1.
(Using other sets of data is acceptable, as long as k is correctly calculated and should be of
similar value.)

(v)
[NH3]
c0

½ c0

¼ c0

t1 t2 t3 time

6 To find the empirical formula of A:

C H O
% mass 60.0 13.3 26.7
Ar 12.0 1.0 16.0
%/Ar 5 13.3 1.67
simplest ratio 3 8 1

The empirical formula of A is C3H8O.

Given Mr of A is 60, let the molecular formula of A be (C3H8O)n.

n[3(12.0) + 8(1.0) + 16.0] = 60
n =1

The molecular formula of A is C3H8O.

Information/ Functional group(s) [NH3] / mol dm-3

Type of reaction Structure
observations present
Heating A with acidified A undergoes B is likely to be an
K2Cr2O7 followed by oxidation with aldehyde and A is
distillation gives B. K2Cr2O7 to form B. likely to be a
primary alcohol.
B gives an orange- B undergoes B is is a carbonyl [NH3] / mol dm-3
yellow crystalline solid condensation compound, contain
with 2, 4-DNPH reagent C=O group

7
B gives a red B undergoes B is an aldehyde B is
precipitate of Cu2O with oxidation with Thus A is a primary
Fehling’s solution Fehling’s solution alcohol
and Tollens’
reagent.
A is
B gives silver mirror
with Tollens’ reagent

When A is heated A undergoes C contains CO2H C is

under reflux with excess oxidation with group
acidified K2Cr2O7, C is K2Cr2O7 to form C
formed, which turns
moist blue litmus red.
Heating A under reflux A undergoes D is a bromoalkane D is
with a mixture of NaBr nucleophilic
and concentrated substitution with
H2SO4 gives D. HBr to form D.

Heating D under reflux D undergoes E contains CN E is

with aqueous ethanolic nucleophilic group
NaCN gives compound E substitution with
NaCN (step-up) to
form E.
D is heated under reflux D undergoes D is a bromoalkane
with aqueous KOH to nucleophilic and A is an alcohol
form A substitution with
KOH(aq) to form
A.
D is heated under reflux D undergoes F contains C=C
with alcoholic KOH to elimination with
form F. KOH(alc) to form
F.
When aqueous Br2 is F undergoes F contains C=C F is
added to F, a colour electrophilic (C=C)
change of orange to addition with Br2.
colourless observed

To form B,

When B is reacted with 2, 4-DNPH,

8
When B is reacted with Tollen’s reagent,

When B is reacted with Fehling’s solution,

When A is heated under reflux with excess acidified K2Cr2O7, to form C is formed,

Heating A under reflux with a mixture of NaBr and concentrated H2SO4 to give D.

D will undergo a substitution reaction with aqueous ethanoic NaCN to form E.

9
When D is heated under reflux with aqueous KOH to form A, an alcohol.

Wwhen D is heated under reflux with alcoholic KOH, to form F.

When aqueous Br2 is added to F, an addition reaction occurs, resulting in a colour

change of orange to colourless observed.

Take note: There are a total of 23 marking points here, but students need only to get
20 correct to obtain the full marks.

10
7 (a)(i)

(ii)
-1
First IE / kJ mol

(iii)
1600
Si
1400 Take note: The values on the y-axis
are not important. You
1200
are not expected to
1000 memorized them

800
melting point / oC

Al
Mg
600

400

200 Na S
P
0
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
-200 proton number Cl
Ar
-400 Each graph must have correct shape. 1 mark per graph.

11
(b)(i) The atoms across the period all have the same number of shells. Across the period, there
is an increase in nuclear charge that is attracting electrons in the same shell more
strongly. Hence, the atomic radius decreases across the period from Na to Ar.

(ii) There is a general increase in first ionization energy across the period.
Less energy is required to remove a 3p electron in Al than a 3s electron in Mg because
the 3p electron is higher in energy and
it experiences slightly better shielding (from the 3s electrons).

First ionisation energy of S is lower than that of P.

P 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3px1 3py1 3pz1 ; S 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3px2 3py1 3pz1
In S, the two electrons occupying the same 3p orbital (i.e. 3px) give rise to inter-electron
repulsion. Thus, less energy is required to remove a paired 3p electron from S, as
compared to the energy required to remove an unpaired 3p electron from P.

(iii) Na, Mg and Al have giant metallic lattices with strong metallic bonds, Si has a giant
covalent structure with strong covalent bonds between atoms.

P, S, Cl are simple covalent molecules, Ar exists as atoms and these have weak Van der
Waals’ forces of attraction between the molecules (or atoms only in the case of Ar).

Hence Na to Si have high melting points, while P to Ar have low melting points.

(c)(i)

Take note: The charges on the ions

are VERY important.

(ii)

Take note: The lone pairs on oxygen

are important.

(iii) The sigma bonds between P and each Cl occurs due to the head-on overlap of the p
orbitals.

Take note: The diagram just needs to show the head-

on overlap between the orbitals. For
simplicity, the p-orbitals of phosphorus are
represented as ‘half a dumb-bell’ so that
the focus will be on the head-on overlap of
the P and Cl orbitals.

12
 The sigma bonds between C and O occurs due to the head-on overlap of the orbitals. But
the pi bonds between C and O occurs due to the side-on overlap of the orbitals.

Take note: The diagram may seem difficult to

draw, but examiners were looking for
a simple representation of a side on
overlap for pi bonding. In the
diagram, the two pi bonds are: an
overlap above and below the molecule
for one CO pi bond, and in front of
and behind the molecule for the other
CO pi bond. Remember the p orbitals
on carbon are 3-D and perpendicular
to each other.

(d)(i) (I) +2, (II) + 2.5 [1,1]

Take note: Although unusual for an oxidation state to be +2.5, it is actually the average of
different oxidation states of sulfur in the ion. It’s just for your information and
it’s not important.

25
(ii) No of moles of S2O32− = 1000 × 0.75 = 0.01875
1
No of moles of I2 = 2 × mol of S2O32−
= 9.375 x 10-3

9.375 x 10-3
Volume of I2 = 0.25 = 0.0375 dm3 = 37.5 cm3

(iii) The brown colour of iodine will disappear.

Take note: With starch, iodine and starch form a DARK BLUE complex. So the observation
will be BLUE to colourless. Without starch, it’s just brown iodine to colourless
iodide.

13