Structured questions

The diagram below shows a simplified set-up for the industrial preparation of chlorine.

a)
b)

i) Which electrode is the anode?

ii) Name a suitable material for making electrode A. Explain your choice.
Write ionic equations for reactions occurring at the mercury electrode and electrode A
respectively.
c) What will be observed if a piece of moist blue litmus paper is added to the chlorine

gas
obtained? Explain briefly.
d) Explain, with the help of an equation, how sodium hydroxide solution can be
obtained
from the above experimental set-up.
e) i) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between chlorine and sodium
hydroxide
solution.
ii) Suggest a major use of the product obtained in (i) in daily life.
f) Suggest ONE potential hazard in this experiment.
(15 marks)

In industry, chlorine, hydrogen and sodium hydroxide solution can be obtained from the

electrolysis of brine.
a) Explain in terms of preferential discharge of ions, why chlorine is liberated at the
anode
in the electrolysis of brine.
b) Draw a labelled diagram to show the laboratory set-up for the electrolysis of brine
and the
collection of the gaseous products.
c) Suggest TWO problems of using the laboratory set-up shown in (b) for the industrial
preparation of chlorine.
d) In a chemical plant manufacturing chlorine, chlorine is stored in metal cylinders.
Draw a hazard warning label that should be displayed on the metal cylinders.
e) Chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide solution react to produce bleach.
i) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between chlorine gas and sodium
hydroxide solution.
ii) The reaction is a redox reaction. State whether chlorine acts as an oxidizing
agent, a
reducing agent, or both. Explain in terms of the change in oxidation number.
(11 marks)
3

Sodium hydroxide can be manufactured by the electrolysis of concentrated sodium chloride

solution (brine) using a diaphragm cell. The diaphragm allows sodium chloride solution to
pass through the compartments but does not allow gas X and hydrogen gas to pass through.

a)
b)
c)

i) Name gas X.
ii) Give ONE industrial use of gas X.
Which electrode, A or B, is the cathode?
i) Write ionic equations for the formation of hydrogen and gas X respectively.
ii) Using the concept of preferential discharge of ions, explain the reaction at each
electrode and the formation of sodium hydroxide solution in the above electrolysis
process.

d)

The following diagram shows a mercury electrolytic cell.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Suggest ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage for the production of sodium hydroxide
solution using a diaphragm cell compared with using a mercury electrolytic cell.
e) Domestic bleach can be made from the products obtained in the above method.
i) Write an ionic equation for the formation of domestic bleach.
ii) State the active ingredient in domestic bleach.
(13 marks)

Identify the cathode of the cell.

i) Name products A and B respectively.
ii) With the aid of chemical equations, explain the formation of product B.
State TWO potential hazards associated with the electrolysis of brine using a mercury
electrolytic cell.
Explain why chlorine is used in water treatment plants.
Chlorine bleach can be prepared from products of the above process.
i) Write a chemical equation for the formation of chlorine bleach.
ii) What would be observed when the bleach is added to a solution of a coloured dye?
With the aid of an equation, explain the observation.
iii) Explain why small swimming pools usually use sodium hypochlorite solution rather
than chlorine gas for sterilization.
iv) The molarity of sodium hypochlorite in a sample of pool water is 0.15 mol dm-3.
Calculate the mass of sodium hypochlorite in 100 cm3 of pool water.
(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Na = 23.0, Cl = 35.5)
(17 marks)

During the laboratory preparation of chlorine and aqueous chlorine, dilute hydrochloric acid is
added to solution X.

a)
b)
c)
d)

e)
f)

i) What is solution X?
ii) Name apparatus A. What is the function of apparatus A?
Describe what you would observe in flask B.
Write an ionic equation for the reaction that occurs in flask B.
i) Name the method for collecting chlorine gas using gas jar C.
ii) Explain why this method is used.
iii) Suggest a test for the chlorine collected in gas jar C.
Suggest another method by which chlorine gas can be collected.
The chlorine gas collected above is not dry. With the help of the following apparatus,
draw a labelled diagram to show how the chlorine gas can be dried and collected.

g)

To prepare aqueous chlorine, set-up D is connected to flask B instead of gas jar C.

i) Explain why an inverted funnel is used to dissolve chlorine in water.
ii) Write an equation for the reaction involved.
(15 marks)

a)

Both chlorine gas and sodium hypochlorite solution can be used to sterilize pool water.
i) How can chlorine gas sterilize pool water?
ii) State ONE advantage of using sodium hypochlorite solution over chlorine gas for
sterilization.
When chlorine gas is dissolved in water, aqueous chlorine is obtained.
i) What is the colour of aqueous chlorine? Explain with an appropriate equation.
ii) What would be observed if a few drops of blue litmus solution are added to aqueous
chlorine? Explain with an appropriate equation.

b)

c)

Aqueous chlorine decomposes under sunlight. This can be illustrated by using the
following experimental set-up.

i)

d)

What would happen to the colour of the aqueous chlorine when it is exposed to
sunlight?
ii) Name gas A.
iii) Suggest a test for gas A.
iv) Write a chemical equation for the decomposition of aqueous chlorine.
In an experiment, aqueous chlorine is added to potassium iodide solution. Then 2 cm3 of
heptane is added to the mixture and shaken.
i) Describe what will be observed in the mixture.
ii) Name the type of the reaction involved.
iii) Write an ionic equation for the reaction.
(17 marks)

A student used the set-up shown below to conduct a microscale experiment to study some
reactions of chlorine.

The student added drops of the test solutions as shown above at the corners of the triangle.
Then he added two drops of bleach to the reaction vessel followed by three drops of dilute
hydrochloric acid. He immediately covered the petri dish with a lid.
a) Write an ionic equation for the reaction occurred in the reaction vessel.
b) Why did the student cover the petri dish with a lid quickly after the addition of dilute
hydrochloric acid to the bleach?
c) Why did the student leave a gap between the lid and the reaction vessel?
d) After a few minutes, what would be observed for the potassium bromide solution?
Explain your answer with the help of an equation.
e) What would be observed for the sodium chloride solution? Explain your answer.
f) i) What would be the observable change for the iron(II) sulphate solution?
ii) Write an ionic equation for the reaction.
iii) However, the student claimed that there seemed to be no observable change on the
drops of iron(II) sulphate solution. Suggest a reason for this.
g) After the experiment, the student added a few drops of sodium hydroxide solution to the
reaction vessel. Why did he do so?
h) In another experiment, the student wanted to study reactions of sulphur dioxide using the
above set-up.
i) What chemicals should he place in the reaction vessel?
ii) If the student wanted to study the reducing property of sulphur dioxide, state ONE
chemical that he should place at the corner of the triangle.
i) The use of microscale experiments in chemistry is becoming more popular nowadays.
Suggest TWO advantages of carrying out experiments in microscale.
(18 marks)

In an experiment to determine the bleaching power of a bottle of bleach, a laboratory

technician poured 150 cm3 of the bleach to a conical flask and then added dilute hydrochloric
acid to the solution. Unexpectedly, a large amount of greenish-yellow gas was given off.
a) i) Name the gas given off.
ii) Write an equation for the formation of the gas.
b) Suggest what the technician should do immediately.
c) He inhaled some of this gas and felt discomfort with his respiratory tract.
Explain why this happened.
d) On the next day, he came back to the laboratory and found that the coloured papers near
to the beaker had turned white. Explain briefly with the help of equations.
e) His supervisor investigated this event and gave him several suggestions for improvement.
One was that the technician should put a warning statement on the bottle of bleach.
i) Write a warning statement that should be displayed on the bottle of bleach.
ii) State another suggestion that may be given by his supervisor.
f) Household bleach diluted by a volume ratio of 1:49 is commonly used as a domestic
disinfectant.
A 100.0cm3 sample of this brand of household bleach contains 5.00 g of sodium
hypochlorite. Calculate the concentration, in mol dm-3, of sodium hypochlorite in the
diluted bleach.
(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Na = 23.0, Cl = 35.5)
(12 marks)

Bromine is below chlorine in the Periodic table. It is a liquid at room temperature and
pressure. Its chemical properties are similar to those of chlorine. Bromine is commonly
extracted from sea water which contains a considerable amount of dissolved bromide. The
extraction involves the following four stages:
Stage 1: The sea water is made slightly acidic. Chlorine gas is then bubbled into the sea
water

to liberate bromine.
Stage 2: Air is blown through the mixture obtained in Stage 1 to liberate the bromine
vapour.
Stage 3: A mixture of sulphur dioxide and water, is allowed to react with the bromine
vapour
to produce a hydrobromic acid solution.
Stage 4: Chlorine gas is added to the hydrobromic acid solution to displace bromine
from the
a)

b)

10

solution. The bromine obtained is separated off and purified.

i) Write an ionic equation for the reaction between chlorine and bromide ions in
Stage 1.
ii) State the observable change in Stage 1.
iii) Suggest a reason why the reaction should be carried out under slightly acidic
condition.
State ONE physical property of bromine which helps bromine to be liberated from the
mixture in Stage 2.
c) i) Write a chemical equation for the formation of hydrobromic acid in Stage 3.
ii) State the type of reaction involved. Explain your answer.
d) Suggest ONE physical method that can be used to purify bromine in Stage 4.
e) Suppose that the concentration of bromide ions in sea water is 6.0 10-4 mol dm-3.
Calculate the minimum volume of sea water needed to produce 4.0 g of liquid bromine.
(Relative atomic mass: Br = 80.0)
(12 marks)

The following pie chart shows the uses of sulphuric acid in our daily lives.

a)
b)

Name the industrial process for the production of sulphuric acid.

i) One of the major uses of sulphuric acid is to make fertilizers. Explain why the
demand for fertilizers is so high.
ii) Name one common fertilizer which is made from sulphuric acid. Write a

chemical
c)
solution.

equation for the formation of the fertilizer.

White paint additives can be prepared by adding sulphuric acid to calcium nitrate
i)

d)
e)

11

Write an ionic equation for the reaction between sulphuric acid and calcium nitrate
solution.
ii) Name another white paint additive that can be prepared from sulphuric acid.
iii) Suggest ONE reason why paint additives containing lead are seldom used nowadays.
What is the function of sulphuric acid in cleaning metals for electroplating?
Suggest TWO reasons to explain why there is no industrial plant for making sulphuric
acid in Hong Kong.
(11 marks)

The following flow diagram shows the Contact process of the production of sulphuric acid:

a)

Suggest a method for the production of sulphur dioxide. Write an equation for the
reaction.

b)
c)

d)

e)

12

Why should the sulphur dioxide and air be purified before passing into the catalyst
chamber?
i) What are the reaction conditions in the catalyst chamber?
ii) Assuming the conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide in the catalyst
chamber is 100%, calculate the volume of sulphur dioxide, measured at room
temperature and pressure, required for producing 16 kg of sulphur trioxide.
iii) Explain why the actual conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide is less than
100%.
Sulphur trioxide obtained is absorbed by 98% sulphuric acid and then followed by
dilution with water to produce sulphuric acid.
i) Give TWO advantages of this method over dissolving sulphur trioxide directly in
water to form sulphuric acid.
ii) Write equations for the absorption and dilution processes respectively.
The sulphuric acid obtained by the Contact process contains 98% by mass of sulphuric
acid and has a density of 1.84 g cm-3. Calculate the volume of acid required for dilution
to prepare 100.0 cm3 of 1.0 M sulphuric acid.
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, O =16.0, S = 32.1; molar volume of any gas at room
temperature and pressure = 24.0 dm3 mol-1)
(14 marks)

The industrial process used to produce sulphuric acid can be represented by the following flow
diagram:

a)
b)

d)

Name the industrial process used to produce sulphuric acid.

Suppose the conversion of sulphur to sulphuric acid is 100%. If 52 kg of sulphuric acid is
produced, calculate the mass of sulphur consumed in the process.
c) i) Which of the above steps requires a catalyst?
ii) State a suitable catalyst for this step.
iii) What should be done on the reactants before this step proceeds? What is the
importance of this action?
i) Name one common fertilizer which is made from sulphuric acid.
ii) Why is it important for plant growth?
iii) Explain why the demand for fertilizers is increasing annually.
e) Sulphuric acid is used in the paint industry. Name one paint additive that is produced
from sulphuric acid.
f) Suggest TWO other uses of sulphuric acid.

(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, O = 16.0, S = 32.1)

(14 marks)

13

a)

b)

Concentrated sulphuric acid is added dropwise to a beaker containing some cane sugar.
i) What would be observed in the above reaction?
ii) Write a chemical equation for the reaction involved.
iii) Which property of concentrated sulphuric acid is responsible for the reaction?
iv) Give another example that illustrates the property of concentrated sulphuric acid
stated in (iii). Write a chemical equation for the reaction.
When the reaction is completed, excess concentrated sulphuric acid is added to the
reaction mixture. The resulting solution is then heated.
i) What would be observed in the above reaction?
ii) Write a chemical equation for the reaction involved.
iii) Which property of concentrated sulphuric acid is responsible for the reaction?
Explain briefly.
iv) Give another example that illustrates the property of concentrated sulphuric acid
stated in (iii). Write a chemical equation for the reaction.
(13 marks)

14

A student writes notes for his revision. However, the following INCORRECT statements are
made by him.
Statements
a) Chlorine bleach is used to bleach delicate materials, e.g. silk and wool.
b) When a piece of blue litmus paper is added to sodium hypochlorite solution, the paper
turns red and then white.
c) In diluting concentrated sulphuric acid, water should be added to the acid while stirring.
d) Copper reacts with sulphuric acid of any concentration to give sulphur dioxide.
e) When a few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid is spilt onto the skin, the skin should be
washed with dilute sodium hydrogencarbonate solution immediately.
f) Concentrated sulphuric acid can be used to dry ammonia gas.
Explain why each statement is INCORRECT. Make amendment in each case and write an
equation where appropriate.
(16 marks)

14

In an experiment to investigate some reactions of sulphur dioxide, a mixture of yellow solid X

and concentrated sulphuric acid was heated in test tube as shown in the diagram below.

a)
b)

c)

d)
e)

i) Suggest what the yellow solid X may be.

ii) Write an equation for the reaction between X and concentrated sulphuric acid.
i) State the observable change in test tube B.
ii) Write an equation for the reaction involved.
iii) Which property of sulphur dioxide does this reaction show?
i) State the observable change in test tube C.
ii) Explain the change with the help of an equation.
iii) What is the function of sulphur dioxide in the reaction?
i) State the observable change on the filter paper.
ii) Write an equation for the reaction.
After removing test tubes B and C, the delivery tube can be connected to a suitable set-up
for collecting the sulphur dioxide produced.
i) Explain why set-ups 1 and 2 shown below are NOT suitable for the collection.

ii)

Draw a suitable set-up for collecting the sulphur dioxide produced.

(14 marks)

16

The diagram below shows the set-up used in an experiment to study the reaction of carbon and
concentrated sulphuric acid.

a)
b)

Write a chemical equaton for the reaction that occurred in test tube A.
What property of concentrated sulphuric acid is responsible for the reaction in test tube

c)

Consider test tube B containing iron(III) sulphate solution.

i) State and explain the observable change in test tube B.
ii) Write an equation for the reaction occurred.
State and explain the observable change in test tube C.
Draw a hazard warning label that should be displayed on a bottle of concentrated
sulphuric acid.
State ONE safety precaution that should be taken in the experiment. Explain your answer.
(10 marks)

A?

d)
e)
f)

17

Sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide are the two oxides of sulphur.
a) Give ONE use of sulphur dioxide that depends on each of the following properties of
sulphur dioxide.
i) Ability to kill bacteria
ii) Bleaching property
b) Sulphur trioxide can be made from sulphur dioxide.
2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g)
i) Why is this reaction important industrially?
ii) What does the sign in the equation stand for?
iii) What are the conditions for this reaction in industry?
c) Consider the following three experiments for aqueous sulphur dioxide.
i) What colour change would be observed when an excess of aqueous sulphur dioxide
is added to a reddish purple vegetable dye. Explain your observation.
ii) What colour change would be observed when an excess of aqueous sulphur dioxide
is added to acidified potassium dichromate solution?
Write an equation for the reaction involved.

d)

18
a)
b)

c)
d)
e)

iii) To aqueous sulphur dioxide, acidified barium chloride solution is added. The
mixture remains clear. When aqueous bromine is added, a thick white precipitate
forms. What is the white precipitate? Explain why it forms.
Sulphur dioxide reacts with chlorine to form sulphuryl chloride according to the
following equation.
SO2(g) + Cl2(g) SO2Cl2(l)
3 000 cm3 of sulphur dioxide were mixed with 4 800 cm3 of chlorine, measured at room
temperature and pressure.
Calculate the mass of sulphuryl chloride formed by this mixture.
(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, S = 32.1, Cl = 35.5; molar volume of any gas at room
temperature and pressure = 24.0 dm3 mol-1)
(17 marks)

Both aqueous sodium hypochlorite and aqueous sulphur dioxide can be used as bleaching
solutions.
Give an advantage of using each of the bleaching solution.
i) A 200 cm3 sample of chlorine bleach contains 12 g of sodium hypochlorite.
Calculate the concentration, in mol dm-3, of sodium hypochlorite in the bleach.
ii) A 500 cm3 sample of sulphur dioxide bleach contains 3.0 mg of sulphur dioxide.
Calculate the volume, in cm3, of sulphur dioxide gas dissolved in 500 cm3 of the
solution at room temperature and pressure.
Draw a labelled diagram for the laboratory preparation of aqueous sulphur dioxide.
Specify the reagents required on the diagram.
What would be observed if a few drops of blue litmus solution were added to aqueous
sulphur dioxide? Explain this observation with appropriate equations.
The following label is displayed on a container of chlorine bleach:
STRONG Bleach
New formula with super bleaching action
Warning: Keep out of reach of children
Keep.......................
Store in a cool place
i)
ii)

Why chlorine bleach should be kept away from children?

Complete the second warning statement, beginning with the word Keep.
Explain your answer.
iii) Explain why the bleach should be stored in a cool place.
(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Na = 23.0, S = 32.1, Cl = 35.5; molar volume of any
gas at room temperature and pressure = 24.0 dm3 mol-1)

(19 marks)

19

A laboratory technician tried to prepare sulphur dioxide using the following experimental
set-up.

a)

b)
c)
d)

e)

20

i)

Write a chemical equation for the reaction between copper strips and 18.0 M
sulphuric acid.
ii) Is the reaction a redox reaction? Explain your answer in terms of oxidation number.
50.0 cm3 of 18.0 M sulphuric acid are added to 0.95 g of copper strips. Calculate the
volume of sulphur dioxide collected, measured at room temperature and pressure.
State the function of the filter paper soaked with acidified potassium dichromate solution.
Explain briefly with the help of an equation.
Aqueous sulphur dioxide can be used as a bleaching agent.
i) Suggest a simple experiment that can demonstrate the bleaching action of aqueous
sulphur dioxide.
ii) State ONE difference between the bleaching actions of sulphur dioxide bleach and
chlorine bleach.
Suggest another method of preparing sulphur dioxide in the laboratory. Write a chemical
equation for the reaction involved.
(Relative atomic mass: Cu = 63.5; molar volume of any gas at room temperature and
pressure = 24.0 dm3 mol-1)
(15 marks)

A company proposes to build an industrial plant for the production of sulphuric acid in town
X. There are two possible locations, A and B. The following map shows the environment of
town X.

a)
b)
c)

d)

21

What is the raw material for the production of sulphuric acid?

State TWO factors that should be considered when the industrial plant is to be set up.
State TWO advantages of choosing
i) site A
ii) site B
to build the plant respectively.
If a plant for production of sulphuric acid is to be set up in Hong Kong, suggest a suitable
site.
(8 marks)

The table below shows some information of two atoms, hydrogen H and deuterium D.

a)
b)
c)
d)

Atom

Number of protons

Number of neutrons

Hydrogen H

Deuterium D

Suggest a term to indicate the relationship between a hydrogen atom and a deuterium
atom.
State the mass number of deuterium.
Is it possible to separate a mixture of hydrogen and deuterium by chemical methods?
Explain your answer.
Deuterium reacts with oxygen in the same way as hydrogen.
2D2(g) + O2(g) 2D2O(l)
H< 0

The product of the reaction is known as heavy water?

i) What is meant by H< 0 ?
ii) 80.0 cm3 of deuterium and 60.0 cm3 of oxygen, both measured at room temperature
and pressure, are allowed to react. Assuming that the two gases undergo complete
reaction, calculate
(1) the mass of heavy water produced.
(2) the volume of the remaining gas, measured at room temperature and pressure,
at the end of the reaction.
(Relative atomic mass: O = 16.0; molar volume of any gas at room temperature and
pressure = 24.0 dm3 mol-1)
(9 marks)
22

The problem is to determine the exact concentration of a solution of sodium carbonate, which
is known to have a concentration of about 0.1 mol dm-3. Two techniques are to be used. Read
the instructions below for each method and answer the questions which follow.
a) React 25.0 cm3 of the sodium carbonate solution with excess dilute hydrochloric acid.
Collect and measure the volume of the carbon dioxide gas evolved.
i) Write an ionic equation for the reaction of carbonate ions with hydrogen ions from
the dilute hydrochloric acid.
ii) Explain why excess acid is used.
iii) In the above experiment, 64.8 cm3 of carbon dioxide, measured at room temperature
and pressure, were evolved. Calculate
(1) the number of moles of carbon dioxide evolved.
(2) the concentration of the sodium carbonate solution.
b) React 50.0 cm3 of the sodium carbonate solution with excess calcium chloride solution.
Remove the precipitated calcium carbonate by filtration. Wash the precipitate well with
water and then heat to dryness.
i) Write an ionic equation for the reaction of carbonate ions with calcium ions.
ii) Explain why it was necessary to wash the precipitate.
iii) Explain why the precipitate was dried.
iv) In the above experiment, 0.540 g of calcium carbonate were obtained from the
50.0 cm3 of solution. Calculate
(1) the number of moles of calcium carbonate formed.
(2) the concentration of the sodium carbonate solution.
c) State one further different method which could be used to determine the concentration of
the sodium carbonate solution. Specify any reagent required. (Your method should NOT
involve evaporation to dryness.)
(Relative atomic masses: C = 12.0, O = 16.0, Ca = 40.1; molar volume of any gas at room

temperature and pressure = 24.0 dm3 mol-1)

(13 marks)

23

24

Compare the bleaching actions of chlorine bleach and sulphur dioxide bleach. Write chemical
equations where appropriate.
(You are required to give a paragraph-length answer. In this question, 6 marks will be awarded
for chemical knowledge and 3 marks for effective communication.)
(9 marks)

Concentrated sulphuric acid and concentrated nitric acid show some different chemical
properties when compared with their dilute acids respectively. Discuss the differences.
Illustrate your answer with appropriate examples and equations.
(You are required to give a paragraph-length answer. In this question, 6 marks will be awarded
for chemical knowledge and 3 marks for effective communication.)
(9 marks)