Cambridge O Level

* 3 0 4 3 0 0 7 9 9 3 *

COMBINED SCIENCE 5129/21

Paper 2 October/November 2021

2 hours 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 100.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.

This document has 24 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (CE/CT) 211999/2
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BLANK PAGE

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1 Rock salt is a mixture of sodium chloride and sand.

Sodium chloride is soluble in water. Sand is insoluble in water.

Complete the following sentences about the separation of the rock salt mixture.

Water is added to the mixture to ............................................... the sodium chloride.

The water is acting as a ............................................... .

The mixture is ............................................... to remove the sand.

The sodium chloride solution that passes through the filter paper is known as

the ............................................... .

This solution is evaporated to a smaller volume and cooled so that sodium

chloride ............................................... .
[5]

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2 The speed–time graph for a car on a theme park ride is shown in Fig. 2.1.

14.0
speed
m/s

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
time / s

Fig. 2.1

The car has a constant speed of 10 m / s between 0 s and 1.0 s.

(a) Use the data in the graph in Fig. 2.1 to calculate the change in speed between 1.0 s and 4.0 s.

change in speed = ................................................. m / s [1]

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(b) Using the data in the graph in Fig. 2.1, describe the motion of the car after 4.0 s until it stops.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 4]

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3 Osmosis and diffusion are both processes by which molecules move.

Compare diffusion with osmosis by stating one similarity and two differences between these two
processes.

similarity ...........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

difference 1 ......................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

difference 2 ......................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]

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4 Sulfur is in Group VI of the Periodic Table.

32
An atom of sulfur is represented by 16 S.

(a) Complete Fig. 4.1 to show the electronic structure of a sulfur atom.

Fig. 4.1
[1]

(b) When sulfur reacts with hydrogen, it forms the compound hydrogen sulfide.

State the type of bonding in hydrogen sulfide.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) Hydrogen sulfide burns in oxygen at 300 °C.

The equation for the reaction is shown.

2H2S + 3O2 2SO2 + 2H2O

The relative molecular mass, Mr, of hydrogen sulfide is 34.

[Ar: S, 32; O, 16; H, 1]

(i) Calculate the relative molecular mass of sulfur dioxide.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Complete the following sentences.

68 g of hydrogen sulfide produces .............. g of sulfur dioxide and .............. g of water.

3.4 g of hydrogen sulfide produces .............. g of sulfur dioxide. [3]

(d) An aqueous solution of hydrogen sulfide turns universal indicator orange.

Suggest the pH of the solution. .......................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 7]

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5 Fig. 5.1 shows a simple pendulum.

hook
thread

pendulum bob

Fig. 5.1

The pendulum bob is free to swing from side to side.

(a) Describe a procedure to measure accurately the period of the pendulum.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

(b) Some lengths of parts of the pendulum in Fig. 5.1 and some instruments used to measure
lengths are shown in Fig. 5.2.

Draw a straight line from each length to the most suitable instrument to use for measuring it.

length instrument

diameter of bob micrometer

metre rule with cm

length of thread
divisions

width of thread vernier caliper

[2]

Fig. 5.2

[Total: 6]

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6 The electronic structure of sodium is 2,8,1.

The electronic structure of phosphorus is 2,8,5.

(a) State how the electronic structures show that sodium and phosphorus are in the same period
of the Periodic Table.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Describe the relationship between the group number and the electronic structure of an atom.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) State the general name of the elements in the group to which sodium belongs.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) (i) Describe how the character of the elements changes across a period from left to right.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) The oxides of sodium and phosphorus are both soluble in water.

State the name of the type of oxide of:

sodium oxide .....................................................................................................................

phosphorus oxide. .............................................................................................................

[2]

(e) Phosphorus gains three electrons to form a P3– ion.

The ion has a noble gas electronic structure.

Explain the significance of the noble gas electronic structure.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 7]

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7 Students investigated the effect of light intensity on the size of leaves.

They studied two species of plant, C and D.

Leaves from each species were grown in three different light intensities and the surface areas
measured.

The results are shown in Fig. 7.1.

7000

6000

5000

4000
average
leaf surface
area
/ mm2 key
3000
species C
species D

2000

1000

0
10 50 100 10 50 100
light intensity / arbitrary units

Fig. 7.1

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(a) (i) State the average leaf surface area of a leaf from species C when it is grown in a light
intensity of 100 arbitrary units.

average leaf surface area = ................................................. mm2 [1]

(ii) State the light intensity that produced an average leaf surface area of 2800 mm2 in
species D.

light intensity = .................................. arbitrary units [1]

(iii) Describe how light intensity affects the average leaf surface area of leaves in species C
and in species D, as shown in Fig. 7.1.

species C ..........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

species D ..........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) Suggest why the average leaf surface area of the leaves in species C changes as the light
intensity changes.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 7]

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8 Fig. 8.1 shows a tower crane.

counterweight
5.0 m 20.0 m
load

tower

Fig. 8.1

The crane is used to lift a load. The vertical line through the centre of the tower is the pivot.

A counterweight of 250 000 N is used to balance the load.

(a) State how the principle of moments applies to this crane.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Calculate the moment of the counterweight when it is 5.0 m from the centre of the tower.

moment = .................................................. Nm [2]

(c) The crane is used to lift a load of 125 000 N at a distance of 20.0 m from the tower.

The counterweight is moved further away from the tower.

Calculate the distance between the counterweight and the tower that balances the load.

distance = ..................................................... m [2]

[Total: 6]

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9 Fig. 9.1 shows the alimentary canal and associated organs.

R J

K
P

Fig. 9.1

(a) Table 9.1 lists some processes that take place in the digestive system.

Complete Table 9.1 by writing an appropriate letter from Fig. 9.1 to indicate where the process
takes place.
Table 9.1

process letter on Fig. 9.1

absorption
digestion
egestion
ingestion
[4]

(b) State the name of one enzyme which acts on food in the alimentary canal and state the name
of the substrate it acts on.

name of enzyme .......................................................................................................................

name of substrate .....................................................................................................................

[2]

[Total: 6]
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10 Oxygen and nitrogen are components of clean air.

(a) State the approximate percentages of oxygen and nitrogen in clean air.

oxygen ..............................

nitrogen ..............................
[2]

(b) State one industrial use of nitrogen.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) Nitrogen and oxygen react together in a car engine to produce oxides of nitrogen.

State one adverse effect that oxides of nitrogen have on the environment.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) Lithium burns in both oxygen and nitrogen forming lithium oxide, Li2O, and lithium nitride.

(i) Deduce the balanced equation for the reaction between lithium, Li, and oxygen, O2.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) The lithium ion has the formula Li+.

The nitride ion has the formula, N3–.

Deduce the formula of lithium nitride.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 6]

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11 Fig. 11.1 shows a liquid-in-glass thermometer.

110
thread 100
90
80
70
60
bulb 50
40
30
20
10
0
-10
°C

Fig. 11.1

(a) On Fig. 11.1, draw arrows to show on the scale of the thermometer:

• the temperature in Celsius at which water freezes. Label this arrow F

• the temperature in Celsius at which water boils. Label this arrow B.

[2]

(b) (i) Determine the temperature shown on the thermometer.

temperature = .................................................... °C [1]

(ii) A student places the thermometer in a beaker of hot water.

Explain how the hot water causes the reading on the thermometer to increase.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Suggest how the sensitivity of a thermometer can be increased.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 6]

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12 Table 12.1 contains some processes that occur during respiration.

Place ticks (3) in Table 12.1 to show if each process:

• occurs in aerobic respiration only

• occurs in anaerobic respiration in muscle cells only

• occurs in both types of respiration.

Table 12.1

occurs in
occurs only both aerobic
occurs only
in anaerobic respiration
process in aerobic
respiration in and anaerobic
respiration
muscle cells respiration in
muscle cells
carbon dioxide is released
energy is released
glucose is used
oxygen is used
water is produced
[5]

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13 Some reactions of ethene are shown in Fig. 13.1.

ethane
gas A

react with oxygen

ethene carbon dioxide + liquid B

polymerisation
solid C

Fig. 13.1

(a) Identify:

gas A ..............................................

liquid B ..............................................

solid C. ..............................................
[3]

(b) (i) Explain why ethene is described as an unsaturated hydrocarbon.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Name the reagent used to distinguish between unsaturated hydrocarbons and saturated
hydrocarbons.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Energy is produced when ethane reacts with oxygen.

State the name given to reactions that produce energy.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) Draw the structure of ethane.

[1]

[Total: 7]

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14 A sodium lamp can be used as a source of visible light radiation.

Fig. 14.1 represents some of the visible light radiation given out by a sodium lamp.

0
0

589 1178 1767

distance / 10–9 m

Fig. 14.1

The scale shown for distance on the graph is unusual.

(a) (i) On Fig. 14.1, draw an arrow to show the amplitude of the radiation.

Label this arrow A. [1]

(ii) Use Fig. 14.1 to determine the wavelength of this radiation.

wavelength = ........................................... × 10–9 m [1]

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(b) Fig. 14.2 shows three types of radiation that make up part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

visible
P light Q

order of increasing wavelength

Fig. 14.2

State the name of the radiations P and Q.

P ...............................................................................................................................................

Q ...............................................................................................................................................
[2]

(c) The speed of the radiation shown in Fig. 14.1 is 3.0 × 108 m / s.

Use your answer to (a)(ii) to determine the frequency of this radiation.

Give your answer to 2 significant figures and use standard notation.

frequency = .................................................... Hz [3]

[Total: 7]

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15 Plant structures carry out specific functions.

On Fig. 15.1, draw a straight line from each structure to its function.

structure function

transports water

anther

produces pollen

carpel

produces seeds

root

attracts insects

xylem

absorbs water

[4]

Fig. 15.1

16 Some reactions of four metals W, X, Y and Z are listed.

The letters do not represent the symbols of the elements.

W can be extracted from its oxide by heating with metal X.

Y reacts with steam and dilute hydrochloric acid.

Z reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid but not with steam.

Z displaces both X and W from an aqueous solution of their sulfates.

Deduce the order of reactivity of the metals.

most reactive ............

............

............

least reactive ............

[2]

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17 Fig. 17.1 represents an electrical device which changes an input voltage to an output voltage.

input output
voltage voltage

primary coil secondary coil

Fig. 17.1

(a) Identify the device shown in Fig. 17.1.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) There is an alternating current in the primary coil.

Explain how the device changes the voltage from input to output.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 4]

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18 Fig. 18.1 shows sections through three different types of blood vessels.

not to scale

X Y Z

Fig. 18.1

(a) Name the type of blood vessel represented by Y.

.......................................................... [1]

(b) Draw straight lines from the box on the left to three boxes on the right to complete three
correct sentences about veins.

… carry blood away from the heart.

… carry blood at high pressure.

… contain valves.
Veins …
… have thicker walls than arteries.

… have a wider lumen than arteries.

… usually carry deoxygenated blood.

[3]

[Total: 4]

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19 There are many methods of birth control.

Complete these sentences about birth control.

A surgical method of birth control in a man is to cut the ............................................... .

One mechanical method of birth control in a woman is to place a ...............................................

over the cervix.

A mechanical method of birth control in a man is to place a ............................................... over the

penis.

A hormonal method of birth control is when a person takes a ............................................... .

[4]

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2021 5129/21/O/N/21

 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group

© UCLES 2021
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
1 2

H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10

Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
24

85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

5129/21/O/N/21
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 114 116
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Fl Lv
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium flerovium livermorium
– – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –

The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).