WAEC GCE 2008 Chemistry Paper 2

Questions 1 6 with Answers

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Question 1
(a) Define (i) atomic number;
(ii) mass number.
[4 marks] (b) Elements X and Y have the
following electronic configurations:
X
Y

2p6 3s1 (i)

1s2 2s2 2p4

1s2 2s2
State

the
1.

group to which X belongs;

2.

period to which Y belongs;

3.

type of bond formed between X and Y.

(ii) Write the formula of the compound formed between X and Y.

(iii) Mention two characteristic properties of the compound
formed between X and Y. [6 marks]
(c) Consider the following table:

Atom
20Ne
10
21Ne
10

Relative abundance
(%)
90.48

0.27

22N
e
10

9.25
(i) What phenomenon is exhibited
by Ne?
(ii) Name two other elements that
exhibit such phenomenon.
(iii) Use the information in
the table to calculate the
relative atomic mass of
Ne.
[6 marks]

(d)

Copy and complete the following table:

Type of radiation

Charge

Penetrating
power

Alpha
Beta

Medium

Gamma
(e)
(i) Explain the following
observation:
Helium has a higher first
ionization energy than hydrogen.
(ii) Use electron dot diagram to
show the bonding in ammonium ion.

Question 2
(a)

(i)

Define the terms

I. rate of reaction;
II. Reversible reaction in a state of dynamic
equilibrium.
(ii) Mention three factors that could affect the
rate of a reaction.
(iii) State two properties of a reaction
system that could be used to
determine the reaction rate.
[9 marks]
(b)

Consider the following equilibrium

xpression for the equilibrium constant Kc.

(ii)
What would happen to the equilibrium
position when the

reactio
n:
PC1

5(1)

PC1

3(l)

C12

(g);

+x

kJm

ol-1
(i
)
W
ri
t
e
a
n
e

I. Pressure of the system is reduced;

II. Temperature of the system is increased;
III. Concentration of the reactant is increased?
(iii)
Calculate the amount (moles) of chlorine that would be
produced from
5.10g of phosphorus (V) chloride
[P = 31, Cl = 35.5]
[8 marks]
(c)

(i) What is meant by enthalpy change of a reaction?

(ii) Sketch an energy profile diagram for an endothermic
(iii) reaction.
Name the enthalpychanges involved in each of the
I. dissolution of sodium hydroxide
in water; II. Burning of carbon in
air;
III. Reaction of dilute sodium hydroxide with dilute hydrochloric
acid.

Question 3
(a)

Consider the following reaction scheme:

(i) What processes are represented by X and Y
respectively? (ii) State the reagent used in each
of the processes.
(iii) Write an equation for the complete oxidation
of CH3CH2OH

(b)

[6 marks]

Consider the following

molecule:
CH3CH(CH3)CHCICOOH
(i) Draw the structure of the molecule showing
atoms and bonds. (ii) Give IUPAC name of the
molecule.
(iii) List the constituents in the molecule.
(iv) Give a test for the functional group in the molecule.
[7 marks]

(c)

A hydrocarbon with a vapour density of 28 decolourized bromine

water, but does not form a precipitate with ammoniacal copper (I)
chloride.

(i) Deduce the molecular formula of the

hydrocarbon. (ii) Draw the possible
structures of the hydrocarbon.
(iii) Name three of the structures drawn in 3(c)(ii) above.
[H = 1, C = 12]

Questio
n6
(a)

(i)

State Faradays first law of electrolysis.

(ii)

Mention two factors that influence the preferential

discharge of ions during electrolysis.

(iii) Calculate the time it will take to deposit 1 mole of silver, if a
current of 6A
is passed through a solution of silver
trioxonitrate (V). [IF
=

96500C]

(iv) Give two applications of electrolysis.

[11 marks] (b)

Consider the following redox reaction:

X(s) + Y2+(aq)

X2+(aq) + Y(s).

(i)

Which of X and Y is the more electropositive?

(ii)

Give the change in oxidation number of the less

electropositive species. (iii)

Write half-cell equation for the

I. oxidation reaction,
II. Reduction reaction respectively.
[4marks]

(c)
(i)
Explain why copper plated iron pillar would corrode when
the surface is
Scratched.
(ii)

Mention one advantage of lead acid battery cell over

Leclanche
dry cell. [4
marks]

(d)

(i)

Write an equation to show the dissociation of each of

the following acids:
I.

CH2COOH;
II.

H2CO3.

Questio
n 7 (ii)

Give the basicity of each of the

following acids: I.

H3PO4;

II.
(iii)

HCOOH.

Arrange the following solutions in order of increasing

pH values: KNO3(aq), NH4C1(aq), Na2CO3(aq) .
[6 marks]

Question 5
(a)

(i)

(ii)

State how the following procedures would be carried out

in the laboratory: I.
soften temporary hard water without
heating it;
II.
Obtain pure water from muddy water;
III.
Remove sediments in a sample of water.
State the function of
I.
Alum,
II.
Chlorine in a water treatment plant.

(iii)
State two advantages of soft water over hard water.
[8 marks]
(b)

(i)

Name one metallic oxide which increases in mass without

dissolving
exposed
to when
the atmosphere.

(ii)

What phenomenon is exhibited in 7(b)(i) above;

(iii)

Write a balanced chemical equation between the metallic

oxide in 7(b)(i)
above and dilute trioxonitrate (V) acid.
[4 marks]

(c) Consider the following diagram for the laboratory

preparation of a gas W. (i)
Identify W, X, Y and Z.
(ii)
State the function of the manganese (IV) oxide.
(iii)
Write a balanced chemical equation for the
preparation of the gas W. (iv)
Give the reason why W
cannot be collected by the displacement of air.
[8 marks]
(d)

Calculate the number of molecules in 2.8g of nitrogen gas.

* N = 14, Avogadros constant = 6.02 x 1023 mol-1]
[5 marks]

Questio
n9
(a)

(i)

Give one example of

I.
a deliquescent
substance; II.
a
hygroscopic substance; III.
an efflorescent substance;
(ii)

Name three products of the destructive distillation of coal.

(iii)
Give two uses of graphite.
marks]

[8

(b)

(i)

Write a balanced chemical equation for the complete

reaction between dilute tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid and
aqueous sodium hydroxide.

(ii)

State the type of reaction involved in 8(b)(i) above.

(iii)
If 20cm3 of 0.125 moldm-3 of tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid solution
reacted with a solution of sodium hydroxide, calculate the number of moles
of sodium hydroxide required for a complete reaction.
(iv)
Outline how a solid sample of the product of the reaction in
8(b)(iii) could be obtained.
[11 marks)
(c)
(ii)
(iii)

(i)
Draw two resonance structures of
benzene.
Give two types of reactions that benzene
undergoes give two physical properties of
benzene.

[6
marks]

Solution to Questions
Question 1 Solution
This question was attempted by most candidates and the performance was
good.
In(a)(i) and (ii), candidates correctly defined atomic number and mass
number as the number of protons/electrons in an atom and the sum of the
protons and neutrons in an atom
respectively. However, a few of them lost the marks because they
confused atom with element.

In (b)(i) I III, candidates correctly stated that X belongs to group 6, Y

belongs to period 3 and that the type of bond formed between X and Y is
ionic/electrovalent.
In (b)(ii), most candidates correctly wrote the formula of the compound
formed
between X and Y as Y2 X. However some lost marks because they wrote
the formula as XY2, they did not know that the metallic component of the
compound was to be written first
while others wrote the compound as Na2O, identifying the elements.
In (b)(iii), candidates mentioned two characteristic properties of the
compound formed between X and Y from among the following
properties.
1.

solid at room temperature

2.

high boiling/melting point

3.

dissolves in water readily

4.

Conducts electricity in solution/molten form.

In (c)(i), candidates knew that the phenomenon exhibited by Ne in the table

is isotopy.
In (c)(ii), most candidates named two other elements that exhibit such
phenomenon from among the following list: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen, chlorine, phosphorus etc. However, some of them lost marks
because they wrote the symbols of the elements instead of the names.

In (c)(iii), candidates correctly calculated the relative atomic mass of Ne

thus:
20 x 9.48 + 21 x 0.27
+ 22 x 9.25
100
100
100
=
=

18.096 0.0567 + 2.035

20.1877
20.2

In (d), majority of the correctly copied and completed the table as follows:

Type of radiation

Charge

Penetrating Power

Apha

2+ or + 2

Low

Beta

1- or - 1

Medium

Gamma

O/neutral

High

Some of the candidates however lost marks as they could not correctly give
the charge on each
type of radiation.
In (e)(i), candidates did not know that in spite of the fact that helium and
hydrogen are in the same period, helium has a greater nuclear charge (of
x 2) than hydrogen (+1). Hence, the electron to be removed in helium is
more tightly held to the nucleus than in
hydrogen.
In (e)(ii), most candidates could not draw the electron dot diagram to
show the bonding in ammonium ion thus:

Question 2 Solution
This question was attempted by most candidates but the performance was
poor.
In(a)(i), candidates could not correctly define the terms rate of reaction and
reversible reaction in a state of dynamic equilibrium . The correct
definitions of the terms are:
I.
Rate of reaction is a measure of the change in concentration of
reactants/products per unit time or the number of moles of reactants used
or products formed with time or it is equal to dx
dt
where dx is a measure of a very small quantity of chemical change taking
place in a very small time dt.
II.
Reversible reaction is in a state of dynamic equilibrium when
the rate of forward reaction equals the rate of backward/reverse reaction.
In (a)(ii), majority of the candidates could not correctly state two
properties of a reaction system that could be used to determine the
reaction rate. The expected answers were any two from
1.

mass of reactants,

2.

volume of gaseous products,

3.

amount of precipitate formed,

4.

change in pH,

5.

change in colour intensity.

In(b)(i), candidates could not write the correct expression for the equilibrium
constant Kc because they did not know that it is the concentration of the
gaseous substance written as Kc = [Cl2].
In (b)(ii) candidates did not know that the equilibrium position for each of
I, II and III shifts to the right.
In (b)(iii), most candidates correctly calculated the amount (moles) of
chlorine that would be produced from 5.10g of phosphorus (V) chloride
thus:
Molar mass of PCl2
= (31 + 35.5 x 5) =
208.5gmol . From given equation,
208.5g PCl5

1 mole Cl2
5.10g PCl5

1 x 5.10 Cl2
208.
5
In (c)(i); only few candidates correctly stated that enthalpy of a reaction is
the heat change that occurs in a reaction.
In (c)(ii), candidates could not correctly draw the energy profile diagram
of an endothermic reaction as follows

In (c)(iii), candidates could not name the enthalpy changes involved in each
of the processes in I
III.
The expected answers were
I
enthalpy of solution (exothermic)
II
enthalpy of combustion
(exothermic) III
enthalpy of
neutralization (exothermic)

Question 3 Solution

This question was attempted by most candidates and the performance was fair.
In (a)(i), candidates correctly stated that X and Y represented dehydration and
chlorination/addition reaction respectively.
In (a)(ii), candidates correctly stated the reagent used in each of the processes
X and Y as follows: X

(conc) H2SO4/alumina/CaO/H3PO4/

KH3SO4;
Y Cl2 or
chlorine
In (a)(iii), candidates wrote the equation for complete oxidation of CH3CH2OH thus:
acidified K2Cr2O7/KMnO4
CH3CH2OH
OR
K2Cr2O7/KMnO4
CH3CH2OH + 2[O]

CH3COOH

CH3COOH + H2O

In (b)(i) most candidates correctly drew the structure of the molecule showing atoms
and bonds thus:

In (b)(ii), only few candidates could correctly give the IUPAC name of the molecule
as
2 chloro 3 methylbutanoic acid.
In (b)(iii), candidates could not list the substituents in the molecule. The
substituents are chloro (Cl) and methyl (CH3).
In (b)(iv), candidates knew that when NaHCO3/ Na2CO3 is added, there is
effervescence or evolution of a colourless, odourless gas which turns lime water
milky or on addition of ethanol and conc H2SO4 to the substance followed by
warming, a sweet/fruity smell of alkanoate is formed or when magnesium ribbon is
put in the substance, there is effervescence of a colorless, odorless gas which gives
a pop
sound with lighted taper.
In (c)(i), candidates correctly deduced that the hydrocarbon is either an alkene
or a non terminal alkyne.

Hence they deduced the formula as follows:

R. M. M.

= 2 x vapour
= 2density
x 28
= 56

The general formula of alkene or nonterminal alkyne I CnH2n

or
CnH2n-2
14n = 56
or 14n 2 = 56
n = 4
or n is not a whole number
Hence, molecular formula = C4H8.
In (c)(ii) and (iii), only very few candidates could correctly draw and name the
possible structures of the hydrocarbon thus:

Question 4 Solution
This question was attempted by many candidates and the performance was good.
In(a)(i), candidates correctly stated Faradays first law of electrolysis that the
mass of an element discharged during electrolysis is directly proportional to
the quantity of electricity passed.
In (a)(ii), candidates could mention two factors that influence the preferential
discharge of ions during electrolysis from among the following:
1.

position of the ions in the electrochemical series

2.

concentration of the ions in the electrolyte

3.

nature of the electrodes.

In (a)(iii), candidates correctly calculated the

time as follows: Ag+(aq) + eAg
(s)
1 mole of electrons IF = 96500C
96500C deposit 1 mole
of Ag
Q = It
t = 96500C
6A
= 16083.3s
In (a)(iv), candidates correctly gave two applications of electrolysis from the
following applications:
extraction of
metals

1.

purification

2.

preparation of some named compounds/elements.

In (b)(i), candidates knew that X is more

electropositive.
In (b)(ii), candidates correctly gave the change in oxidation of the less
electropositive species as + 2 to O
and in (b)(iii) they correctly wrote the half cell
equation thus:
I.
X(s)
((aq) + 2- II.
(aq) + 2-

+ X2+
X2+
Y(s).

In (c)(i), only very few candidates could explain why copper plated iron pillar
would corrode when the surface is scratched. The expected answer was that iron
is higher than copper in the electrochemical series hence, more reactive than
copper. When the surface is scratched, an electrolytic cell develops and the iron
is oxidized by forming a brown deposit of iron (III) compound. In (c)(ii), most
candidates correctly gave one advantage of lead acid battery cell over Leclanche
dry cell.
In (d)(i), most candidates correctly wrote an equation for the dissociation of
each of the acids thus: In (d)(ii), candidates correctly gave the basicity of
H3PO4 and HCOOH as 3 and 1 respectively.
In (d)(iii), most candidates gave a correct arrangement of the solution in order of
increasing pH values as NH4Cl, KNO3, Na2CO3.

Question
Solution

This question was attempted by very few candidates and the

performance was fair.
In(a)(i), candidates correctly stated the procedures that would be carried out in the
laboratory for each of I III as follows:
I.

II.

Add washing soda (Na2CO3 10H2O)/pass it through an

ion-exchange resin add calculated amount of slaked
lime (Ca(OH)2).
Distillation
III.
Filtration (accept
decantation)/centrifuging.

In (a) (ii), candidates stated correctly that alum is for coagulation of fine/colloidal
particles and chlorine is for killing bacteria in a water treatment plant.

In(a)(iii), candidates correctly gave two advantages of soft water over hard
water from among the following:
1.

it does not waste soap/lathers readily with soap

2.
3.

it does not cause furring/scales/deposits in

kettles and boilers

it is cheaper when used in dyeing and tanning industries.

In (b)(i), candidates gave the name of a metallic oxide which decreases in mass
without dissolving in it when exposed to the atmosphere as calcium
oxide/copper(II) oxide/magnesium oxide.
In (b)(ii), most of the candidates knew that the phenomenon is hygroscopy.
In (b)(iii), candidates could not write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction
between the metallic oxide and dilute trioxonitrate (V) acid. The expected answer
was
CaO(s) + 2HNO3(aq),
Ca(NO3)2(aq) + H2O OR
CuO(s) + 2HNO3(aq),
Cu(NO3)2(aq) + H2O In (c)(i), candidates could
not identify W, X, Y and Z.
The expected answers were:
W
X
Y
Z

oxygen/ O2(g)
flat bottom flask
conc H2SO(4)/fused CaCl2/U-tube
mercury

In (c)(ii), candidates knew that manganese (IV) oxide is acting as a catalyst.

In (c)(iii), candidates could not give a balanced chemical equation for the
preparation of the gas W MnO2
2H2O2(aq)
2H2O(l) +
O2(g)
In (c)(iv), candidates knew that W cannot be collected by the displacement of air
because it has nearly the same density with air.
In (d), most candidates did not know that nitrogen is diatomic hence lost marks for
using N = 14 instead of N2 = 28. The expected solution to the question is as
follows:
Number of moles of nitrogen = mass
= 2.8 molar mass
28
= 0.10
moles
1 mole of nitrogen = 6. 02 x 1023 moles

0.1 moles of nitrogen will contain 6.02 x1023 x 0.10

= 6.02 x 1022
particles

Question 6 Solution
This question was attempted by most candidates and the performance was good.
In(a)(i), candidates correctly gave one example each of I III from the list
of examples thus: I.FeCl3 /KOH/CaCl2/NaOH/MgCl2/P2O5.
II.
CuO/CoCl2/conc H2SO4/ silica gel/CuSO4.
III.
Na2CO3 IOH2O/ Na2SO4 IOH2O /MgSO4 7H2O .
IUPAC names of any of the compound were accepted instead of the formula.
In (a)(ii), candidates gave three products of the destructive of coal from the
following:
1.

coke

2.

ammoniacal liquor

3.

coal tar

4.

coal gas

In(a)(iii), candidates correctly gave two uses of graphite from among the following
uses:
1.

as lubricant

2.

as electrodes

3.

for making lead pencils

4.

moderators in nuclear reactors

In(b)(i), candidates correctly wrote a balanced chemical equation for the

complete reaction thus: H2SO4(aq) +

2NaOH(aq) Na2SO4(aq) +

2H2O(l),
In(b)(ii), candidates correctly stated that the reaction is neutralization.
In(b)(iii), majority of the candidates could correctly calculate the number of moles
of sodium hydroxide required for a complete reaction as follows:

No. of moles of H2SO4 = 20 x 0.125

100
0
= 0.0025
moles
1 mole of H2SO4

2 moles of NaOH

0.005 moles of H2SO4

2 x 0 . 0025 moles of NaOH
1
= 0.005 moles of
NaOH. Other correct method was
accepted.
In (b)(iv), only few candidates could correctly outline how a solid sample of the
product of the reaction in (b)(iii) could be obtained. The expected answer from
candidates is as stated below:
1.

put solution into evaporating dish

2.

heat to concentrate/evaporate

3.

obtain the solid/allow to cool and crystallize.

In (c)(i), most candidates could not draw resonance structure of benzene.

The correct structures expected from candidates are as follows:

In (c)(ii), only few candidates knew that benzene undergoes substitution and
addition reactions.
In (c)(iii), most candidates gave chemical properties of benzene instead of
physical properties: The expected answers were as follows:
1.

colorless liquid

2.

less dense than water

3.

insoluble in polar solvents/soluble in organic solvents

4.

has boiling point of 80C.