Institute of International Professionalism

IGCSE Chemistry

Paper 6 Revision Notes and Model Answers

Dr Mya Thet Htar Swe

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 Chemistry Paper-6 Revision Notes

I. Name of apparatus

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dropping
funnel delivery tube

gas jar

flask

thistle
funnel

delivery tube

flask gas jar

wire gauze

tripod

bunsen burner

Difference between measuring cylinder and gas jar

Measuring cylinder – with scale
Gas jar – without scale

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II. Method used for collecting gases

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III. Improve the accuracy of results in an experiment

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IV. Safety Precautions
When heating flammable liquids (Example – ethanol)

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V. Separation methods
Method of separation Used to separate
Magnetic separation (one is Iron and sulfur
magnetic)
Solvent extraction Salt and iodine
Filtration insoluble solid from a liquid
Evaporation/Crystallisation soluble solid from a liquid
Simple distillation liquid/solvent from a solution/soluble solid
Fractional distillation liquid and liquid mixture (based on different
boiling points)/ gas and gas mixture
Chromatography different substances from solution or ink

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Separating mixture of two solids
Can be done by dissolving one in an appropriate solvent. Then filter one and
extract other from solution by evaporation.

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Note*
1. Do not draw the baseline with pen
Reason – ink will move up the paper with the solvent
2. Solvent is below the baseline
Reason – ink or coloring will dissolve in the solvent

VI. Acids and bases/alkalis

Indicator
It is a substance that has different colors in acids and bases.
1. Litmus paper (red in acid, blue in alkali and purple in neutral)
2. Universal indicator (red to yellow in acid, blue to purple in alkali and green in
neutral)
3. Phenolphthalein (colorless in acid and neutral, pink in alkali)
4. Methyl orange (red in acid, orange in neutral and yellow in alkali)

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Reactions of acids with metals, bases or alkalis and metal carbonates
(1) metal + acid salt + hydrogen
Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2

(2) acid + alkali salt + water

HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O

(3) acid + metal carbonate salt + carbon dioxide + water

2HCl + CaCO3 CaCl2 + CO2+ H2O

(4) base + ammonium salt salt +water + ammonia

NaOH + NH4Cl NaCl + H2O + NH3

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V. Preparation of salts
The method used depends on the type of salt and its solubility in water.

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Salts making process
1. Titration method – to prepare soluble salts
acid + soluble base(alkali) soluble salt + water
2. Adding excess (preparation) – to prepare soluble salts
acid + insoluble base/metal/metal carbonate soluble salt + water
3. Precipitation method – to prepare insoluble salts

1. Titration method
NaOH+ HCl NaCl+ H2O
Put 25cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution in a flask using a pipette and 3 drops
of phenolphthalein are added as the indicator. Add dilute hydrochloric acid from a
burette until the indicator change from pink to colorless. Note the volume of acid
used and repeat the experiment without using indicator. Heat the solution until
crystallisation point and allow to cool. Filter the crystals and dry between filter
papers.

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Practice questions
To determine which solution is more concentrated

Q (1). Oven cleaners contain an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. Plan an

investigation to show which of two different oven cleaners contains the more
concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide. You are provided with common
laboratory apparatus and chemicals
Method
Put 25cm3 of first sodium hydroxide solution into a flask using a pipette and
3 drops of phenolphthalein are added as the indicator. Add dilute hydrochloric acid
from a burette until the indicator change from pink to colorless. Note the volume of
acid used. Repeat the experiment using 25 cm3 of the other alkali solution. The one
that uses more acid is more concentrated.

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2. Adding excess
Measure 50 cm3 of sulfuric acid into a beaker and warm gently. Add copper
(II) oxide until excess and stir the mixture. Filter to remove excess unreacted
copper(II) oxide and transfer the filtrate to the evaporating basin. Heat the solution
until crystallisation point and allow to cool. Filter the crystals and dry between filter
papers.

3. Precipitation
Add silver nitrate solution to sodium chloride solution in a beaker. Silver chloride
forms as a white precipitate. Filter the reaction mixture through filter paper and
funnel. Wash the residue with a few drops of distilled water. Dry the residue between
filter papers.

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VI. Qualitative analysis/Inorganic analysis
Test for anions

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Test for cations

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Test for gases

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Flame tests

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Color of elements and compounds
Fluorine yellow gas
Chlorine green gas
Bromine reddish brown liquid
Iodine grey solid
Copper reddish brown
Copper sulphate blue
Copper hydroxide blue
Copper carbonate green
Copper oxide black solid
Magnesium oxide white ash
Nitrogen dioxide gas reddish brown fumes
Carbon black solid
Manganese dioxide black solid (acts as catalyst)

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VII. Rate of reaction

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Practice questions
Q (2). An aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide decomposes very slowly to form
oxygen. The speed of decomposition can be increased by using a catalyst. Two
possible catalysts are the solids copper (II) oxide and chromium (III) oxide. Plan an
investigation to find out which of these two oxides is the better catalyst for this
decomposition.
Method-Weigh 5 g of the first catalyst using a balance. Put into a flask connected
to a gas syringe. Add 25 cm3 of hydrogen peroxide solution to the flask through a
dropping funnel. Determine the volume of gas collected in two minutes. Repeat
using 5 g of the other catalyst and 25 cm3 of the hydrogen peroxide solution. The
one that gives more gas in 2 minutes is the better catalyst.

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Preparation of ethanol

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Practice questions
Q (3). To compare energy value of fuels
Method- Measure 30 cm3 of water into a test tube using a measuring cylinder.
Determine the initial temperature of the water using a thermometer. Put 25 g of the
first fuel into a spirit burner using a balance. Place the burner below the test tube and
light it. Allow it to heat the water for 5 minutes. Note the final temperature of the
water. Repeat the experiment using 25 g of the other fuel and the same volume of
water for 5 minutes. Determine the final temperature of the water. The fuel that
causes a higher increase in the temperature of the water is the better fuel.

VIII. Metals and their reactions

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Practice questions
Q (4). Plan an investigation to show the order of three metals: tin, zinc and silver.
Method- Weigh 5 g of the first metal using balance and put into a conical flask
connected to a gas syringe. Add 25 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid to the flask using
a dropping funnel. Determine the volume of gas collected in 5 minutes. Repeat using
5 g of each of the other metals and same volume of hydrochloric acid. The one that
gives larger volume of gas in 5 minutes is more reactive.
Q (5). Calcium burns in air to form calcium oxide. The reaction is vigorous and some
of the calcium oxide can be lost as smoke. Plan an investigation to determine the
maximum mass of oxygen that combines to form calcium oxide when 2g of calcium
granules are burnt in air.
Method- Put 2 g of calcium into a crucible with a lid and measure the mass using
balance. Cover the crucible and heat using Bunsen burner. During heating, remove
the cover several times to allow more air in. Afterwards, it is allowed to cool and
measure the mass of crucible and its contents. Reheat and reweigh several times till
constant mass. Subtract the initial mass of crucible, lid and calcium from the final
mass to obtain the mass of oxygen used.

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Iron rusting

Practice questions
Q (6). Iron rusts when in coated with air and water. You are provided with iron nails
and three different samples of water: tap water, sea water and distilled water. Plan
an investigation to find out which sample of water causes iron to rust the fastest.
Method- Weigh iron nails separately using balance and put into different test tubes.
Add 20 cm3of one of the samples of water to each test tube and leave at room
temperature for 5 days. Afterwards, remove the nails and put into separate beakers.
Dry in an oven and weigh the nails. The one with more increase in mass has rusted
more.

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To prevent rusting:
1-Painting
2-Coating with plastic
3-Coating with oil and grease
4-Galvanizing: covering the iron with a layer of zinc by dipping or spraying.
5-Sacrificial protection: blocks of more reactive metal are strapped to the steel.
6-Electroplating with silver or nickel or chromium.

VII. Electrolysis

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 Grey beads of
Reddish brown gas
molten lead
or fumes

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Electroplating with silver:
To electroplate a spoon with silver:
Connect a silver rod to the positive end of the battery using copper wires. Clean the
surface of the spoon with sand paper. Put the spoon in a beaker containing silver
nitrate solution. Connect the spoon to the negative end of the battery.

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Practice Questions
Q (7). Beach sand is a mixture of sand and broken shells made of calcium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form a solution of calcium
chloride. Plan an investigation to find out the percentage of shell material in a given
sample of beach sand.

Method-Weigh 10 g of beach sand using a balance and put into a beaker. Add excess
dilute hydrochloric acid and stir with a glass rod. Calcium carbonate dissolves and
bubbles of carbon dioxide gas are given off. Filter through filter paper and funnel.
Sand is collected as residue and dry the residue between filter papers. Weigh the
mass of residue, subtract from original mass and calculate the percentage.

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Q (8). Ethanedioic acid dihydrate is a white crystalline solid. This acid is water-
soluble and is found in rhubarb leaves. Plan an investigation to obtain crystals of
ethanedioic acid from some rhubarb leaves. You are provided with common
laboratory apparatus, water and sand.

Method- Crush the leaves with some sand in a mortar and pestle. Put the mixture
into a beaker, add water and stir with a glass rod. Filter the extract through filter
paper and funnel. Heat the filtrate to point of crystallization and allowed to cool.
Filter the crystals and dry between filter papers.

Q (9). Copper (II) oxide and carbon are both black solids. Copper (II) oxide reacts
with dilute sulfuric acid to form aqueous copper (II) sulfate. Carbon does not react
with dilute sulfuric acid. You are given a mixture of copper (II) oxide and carbon
and access to dilute sulfuric acid. Plan an experiment to investigate the percentage
of copper (II) oxide in the mixture.
Method- Weigh 10 g of the mixture using a balance and put the mixture into a
beaker. Add excess sulfuric acid and stir with a glass rod. Filter through filter paper
and funnel. Wash the residue with a few drops of distilled water. Dry the residue
between filter papers and weigh using a balance. Subtract from the original mass and
calculate the percentage.

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Q (10). Calcium carbonate and kaolinite are both white solids found in sedimentary
rocks.
Calcium carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form aqueous calcium
chloride. Kaolinite does not react with dilute acids.
You are provided with a mixture of calcium carbonate and kaolinite and access to
dilute hydrochloric acid. Plan an experiment to determine the percentage by mass of
calcium carbonate in the mixture.
Method-Weigh the mixture of calcium carbonate and kaolinite using a balance and
put the mixture into a beaker. Record the initial mass of mixture. Add excess
hydrochloric acid until no more gas is given off. Filter through filter paper and
funnel. Wash the kaolinite and then dry between filter papers. Weigh kaolinite,
subtract from original mass and calculate the percentage using the formula
change in mass/initial mass x 100.
Or
Weigh the mixture of calcium carbonate and kaolinite using a balance and put the
mixture into a beaker. Add excess hydrochloric acid until no more gas is given off.
Collect the gas in a gas syringe and measure the volume of gas collected. Calculate
the number of moles of calcium carbonate. Find the mass of calcium carbonate and
calculate the percentage using the formula
change in mass/initial mass x 100.

Q (11). Some cleaning products are mixtures. The three substances present in a
cleaning product are listed in the table.

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Use the information in the table to plan an experiment to obtain a sample of each
substance from a mixture of the three substances. You are provided with a mixture
of the three substances and common laboratory apparatus.
Method- Put the mixture into a flask and heat using an electric heater. Ethanol will
boil first at 78oC, pass out of the fractionating column, condense and collect in the
receiver flask. Limonene will boil second at 176oC and collect in another flask. This
separation is done by fractional distillation. Sodium carbonate will be left as residue.

Q (12). An orange drink may contain artificial colours E110 (sunset yellow) or E129
(Allura red). Plan an investigation to determine the presence of these artificial
colours in a sample of orange drink.
Method-Use chromatography for this investigation. Draw the baseline about 1 cm
from the bottom of the paper. Put a spot of the orange drink next to a spot of E110
and E129 on the baseline and allow to dry. Put the paper into a beaker containing a
very small amount of solvent so that the solvent is below the baseline. Allow the
solvent to move up the paper. Measure the distance travelled by the spots using the
ruler and compare the Rf values. If the orange drink has same Rf value as the
artificial colorings, it can conclude that orange drink contains these artificial dyes.

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