Ngee Ann Secondary School

Secondary Three Express

Chemistry (with SPA) 5072
Class Test: Speed of Reaction & The Periodic Table

Answers to Section A: MCQ

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

A B D C D B C C C C

Section B: Structured Questions (30 marks)

1 Sandstone contains sand (silicon dioxide) and calcium carbonate.

Excess sandstone was reacted with dilute hydrochloric acid.
CaCO3 + 2HCl  CaCl2 + H2O + CO2

The rate of reaction was monitored by measuring the mass lost during the reaction.

This is the table of results.

Time/ minutes Total mass lost/ g

0 0.00
4 0.18
8 0.30
12 0.38
16 0.44
20 0.48
24 0.51

(a) Use information from the table to show that the rate of reaction decreased. [2]
Thought process:
Students need to make use of the information from the table to show that rate of
reaction decreased in order to obtain maximum mark. If only general
statements made, maximum marks obtained is 1.

1
 Suggested answer:
Rate of reaction can be measured in terms of mass lost per unit time.
From the table, the change in mass at the beginning is 0.045g per minute. It
then decreased to 0.0375g per minute, 0.0317g per minute, 0,0275g per
minute, 0.024g per unit and 0,0213g per minute.

Hence, from the values, we can see that mass lost per unit time decrease over
time showing that rate of reaction decreased.

(b) Explain, using ideas about particles colliding, why the rate of reaction
decreased. [2]
Thought process:
You are to make use of Collision Theory to explain why rate of reaction
decreased. You are required to identify which reactant is the limiting reagent.
Students tend to identify the wrong limiting reagent, hence the explanation is
incorrect.

Suggested answer:
As the reaction progresses, effective collisions between reacting particles –
calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid result in the formation of products. [1]

After some time, there are fewer acid molecules left in the solution (since it
is the limiting reagent) to collide with calcium carbonate particles and
therefore a decrease in rate of reaction. [1]

2
 (c) Draw a labelled diagram to show a different method of following the rate of
reaction between sandstone and hydrochloric acid. [3]
Thought process:
Since the question is focussed on mass lost method, you should not think of the other
method – measuring rate of reaction from changes in the volume of gas produced.

1m: Labels
2m: Correct choice of apparatus, include gas syringe, stopwatch, conical flask with
contents

sandstone

The following drawing not acceptable : using datalogger

2 Magnesium carbonate decomposes when it is heated.

MgCO3 (s)  MgO (s) + CO2 (g)

In an experiment, 10.5 g of magnesium carbonate was heated to a constant
temperature.
(a) Sketch a graph to show how the volume of carbon dioxide collected changes
with time. Label the axes clearly. [2]
Thought process:
Since the key word is “sketch”, there is no need for specific values
Volume of gas / cm3

(b) (iii)

(a)

(b) (ii)

Time / min

3
 Explain why your graph was sketched that way. [1]
Thought process:
The question is testing your understanding on the relationship between the
change in gradient of the graph with rate of reaction over time.

Suggested answer:
At the beginning of the reaction, the rate of reaction is the fastest as shown by
the steep gradient. As the reaction progress, the rate of reaction starts to slow
down and the gradient of the graph becomes less steep. Eventually, the
gradient becomes zero indicating that the reaction is completed.

(b) The experiment was repeated under the same conditions using zinc carbonate
instead of magnesium carbonate. (Zinc is less reactive than Magnesium)

(i) Describe how the rates of the reactions would be different. Explain your
answer. [2]
Thought process: As mentioned in the question, zinc is less reactive than
magnesium. Thus, zinc carbonate is less stable and can be decompose
much easier than magnesium carbonate.

Suggested answer:
Since zinc is less reactive than magnesium, Zinc carbonate is less stable
than Magnesium carbonate. Thus, zinc carbonate decomposes more
readily/faster on heating.

(ii) Draw on the same graph you have answered in part (a) how this graph will
look like and label it ‘(b)(ii)’. [1]

Thought process:
Since all conditions are kept the same, except for the starting material, the
graph drawn will have a steeper gradient than graph drawn in (a). No
change in yield.

(iii Draw another curve on the same graph in (a) how another graph will look
like if a finer zinc carbonate powder was used and label it ‘(b)(iii)’. [1]
)
Thought process:
Since all conditions are kept the same, except the graph drawn will have a
steeper gradient than b(ii), since finer zinc carbonate powder was used.

3 Potassium, atomic number 19, is an element in Group I.

(a) Describe what you observe when a small piece of potassium is added to water. [3]
Thought process:
This question is testing your understanding about the reaction of alkali metals with
water.

Suggested answer:
Reacts violently [1] Potassium melts and darts about the surface of water violently.
OR hydrogen produced burst into flame [1]Lilac flame is seen [1]

4
(b) Potassium fluoride is an ionic solid with a high melting point.
(i) Draw a ‘dot and cross’ diagram to show the bonding in potassium fluoride.
Show only the valence electrons. [2]

Thought process:
This bonding in potassium fluoride is ionic. As the question state only
valence electrons should be shown, deduction of marks will be carried out for
inaccurate drawing.

(ii) Explain why the melting point of potassium fluoride is very high. [2]
Thought process:
This question is testing your understanding of ionic bonding and how it
accounts for the properties of the compound.

Suggested answer:
K+ and F- ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces of
attraction [1] which required a lot of heat energy to overcome. [1]

(c) Caesium, atomic number 55, is another element in Group I. Use your knowledge
of Group I elements to complete the table of information for caesium. [3]
1m for each.
Symbol Cs
Number of electrons in outer One (please spell instead of writing
shell numerical value in future)
Formula of Caesium oxide Cs2O
Names of products of the caesium hydroxide
reaction between Caesium hydrogen gas
and water (both answer must be correct to
obtain 1m)

(d) The reaction between Caesium and water is more vigorous than the reaction
between potassium and water. Explain why this is so. [2]
Thought process:
This question is not simply asking you to recall that chemical reactivity of alkali
metals increase down the group. In fact, you are to connect your understanding
about how the size of atom is linked to chemical reactivity.

Suggested answer: Refer to TB page 290

The size of Cs atom is larger than K atom, [1] hence it is easier to lose its one
valence electron to form Cs+. [1] Thus, it is more reactive than potassium.

5
4 This question is about Halogens.
(a) The table shows data about the melting points of three halogens, chlorine,
bromine and iodine. Complete the table by filling in the name of each halogen. [2]

Thought process:
This question is testing your understanding about halogens. Appearance here
requires you to state both colour and physical state. (However, if only colour of
halogens are stated, answers will be accepted, provided colour stated is accurate)

Name Melting point/ºC Boiling point / ºC Appearance

bromine -7 59 reddish-brown
liquid
chlorine -100 -35 greenish-yellow
gas
iodine 113.8 185 purplish-black
solid.

(b) Sea water contains potassium bromide.

Bromine can be produced from sea water by displacement.
Name an element that can displace bromine. [2]

Give a reason for your choice.

Thought process:
The chemical reactivity of halogens decrease down the group. Hence, in order to
identify an element which can displace bromine, we must look at halogens above
bromine in the group.

Suggested answer

Name: chlorine / fluorine [1]

Reason:
Chlorine/ Fluorine is more reactive than bromine and hence can displace
bromide ions from its halide solution. [1] or

Chlorine / Fluorine is more reactive than bromine and hence can displace
bromide ions to form bromine molecules and chloride ions. [1]

The End