HKCE PAST PAPERS 86-94/SECTION 1/PAGE 1

SECTION 1 FUNDAMENTALS OF MATTER

1986 B. hydrogen fluoride
C. methane
1. The atomic structure of an element is: D. water

Number of electrons 17 37. The melting points of some chlorides are given below:
Number of protons 17 NaCl 801°C
Number of neutrons 19 MgCl2 712°C
SiCl4 -68°C
In its compounds, this element is most likely to have an oxidation number of Which of the following statements would be consistent with the above data?
A. +2.
(1) NaCl can conduct electricity at 801°C.
B. +1.
C. -1. (2) MgCl2 is a liquid at 600°C.
D. -2. (3) SiCl4 is a covalent compound.
A. (1) only
2. The melting points of diamond, sodium chloride and potassium increase in the B. (2) only
order: C. (1) & (3) only
A. diamond, sodium chloride, potassium D. (2) & (3) only
B. potassium, sodium chloride, diamond
C. sodium chloride, diamond, potassium 38. Bromine exists in two isotopic forms, 79 81
35 Br and 35 Br . The relative atomic
D. sodium chloride, potassium, diamond mass of bromine is 79.9. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(1) The relative abundance of each isotopic form is about the same.
8. An element X forms an oxide X2O3 which contains 30% of oxygen by mass. (2) The two isotopes have different numbers of protons.
The relative atomic mass of X is (3) The two isotopes have different numbers of neutrons.
(Relative atomic mass of oxygen = 16) A. (2) only
A. 11. B. (3) only
B. 27. C. (1) & (2) only
C. 31. D. (1) & (3) only
D. 56.
43. At room temperature and pressure, iodine exists as
11. Which of the following molecules has the greatest number of lone pairs of (1) molecules held together by covalent bonds.
electrons? (2) ions in a lattice.
A. ammonia (3) molecules held together by van der Waals’ forces.
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A. (1) only B. conducts electricity when it is in the molten state.

B. (3) only C. has a formula A2B.
C. (1) & (2) only D. is insoluble in water.
D. (2) & (3) only
28.
44. Sulphur is classified as a non-metal because
(1) it has a low density.
(2) it forms acidic oxides.
(3) it is a non-conductor of electricity in the solid state.
A. (1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) & (2) only
D. (2) & (3) only

48. Astatine (At) is a halogen at the bottom of group VII in the Periodic Table.
From knowledge of trends in periodicity, which of the following predictions is
UNLIKELY?
A. It will form an anion At-.
B. It will exist as a solid at room temperature.
C. It will be readily soluble in water.
D. It will exist as diatomic molecules in the gaseous state.
If the glass plate in the above diagram is removed, a brown coloration
1987 gradually appears in gas jar Y because
A. nitrogen dioxide is lighter than air.
1. The atomic number of an element X is 12. The atomic number of another B. nitrogen dioxide reacts with air to form a brown compound.
element with chemical properties similar to those of X is C. molecules of both gases are in continual random motion.
A. 8. D. weak intermolecular forces exist between air molecules and nitrogen
B. 16. dioxide molecules.
C. 20.
D. 22. 31. Silicon has a higher melting point than aluminium because silicon
(1) is a non-metal.
2. The atomic numbers of two elements A and B are 20 and 17 respectively. The (2) has a giant covalent network structure.
compound formed between A and B (3) has a higher relative atomic mass.
A. is a liquid at room temperature. A. (2) only
B. (3) only
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C. (1) & (2) only (3) Their colours darken as their relative molecular masses increase.
D. (1) & (3) only A. (1) only
B. (1) & (3) only
39. In industry, graphite electrodes are always used in the electrolysis of C. (2) & (3) only
concentrated sodium chloride solution because graphite D. (1), (2) & (3)
(1) is cheap.
(2) conducts electricity. 1988
(3) is chemically inert.
(4) is a reducing agent. 1. Which of the following statements concerning the Periodic Table is correct?
A. (1) & (3) only A. In any group, the atomic size of the elements decreases with
B. (2) & (4) only increasing atomic number.
C. (1), (2) & (3) only B. In any period, the metallic character of the elements increases with
D. (2), (3) & (4) only increasing atomic number.
C. Group I elements are oxidizing agents and Group VII elements are
40. The production cost of helium is much higher than that of oxygen because reducing agents.
(1) helium is very difficult to liquefy. D. The compounds formed between Group IV elements and other
(2) helium is very inert. elements are mostly covalent.
(3) there is not much helium in air.
A. (1) only 2. The atomic number and mass number of a sodium atom are 11 and 23
B. (1) & (2) only respectively. Its nucleus contains
C. (1) & (3) only A. 11 neutrons and 12 protons.
D. (2) & (3) only B. 12 neutrons and 11 protons.
C. 12 neutrons and 23 protons.
49. In which of the following pairs would both members have the same electronic D. 23 neutrons and 11 protons.
configuration?
A. O2-, F 3. Which of the following compounds has the largest number of lone pairs of
B. Ne, Na+ electrons on the central atom?
C. Na, Mg2+ A. CCl4
D. S, Cl- B. NH3
C. H2S
43. Which of the following statements is/are true for chlorine, bromine and iodine? D. CO2
(1) They exist as diatomic molecules at room temperature and pressure.
(2) Their oxidizing power decreases as their relative molecular masses 15. Which of the following solutions is a weak electrolyte?
increase. A. 0.1 M glucose solution
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B. 2.0 M propanoic acid B. 43.

C. 0.5 M ammonium chloride solution C. 62.
D. 0.2 M sodium carbonate solution D. 67.

3. Solid lead(II) bromide is a non-conductor of electricity because

A. it is a covalent compound.
B. it is not soluble in water.
C. the lead and bromide ions are not freely moving.
D. lead conducts electricity but bromine does not.

33. Which of the following exists as discrete molecules at room temperature and
pressure?
17. (1) graphite
A potential difference is applied between the electrodes as shown in the above (2) bromine
set-up. After some time a yellow colour is observed near the positive (3) hydrogen chloride
electrode. This is because (4) calcium chloride
A. copper(II) chromate is yellow in colour. A. (1) & (4) only
B. copper(II) ions and chromate ions repel each other under the B. (2) & (3) only
influence of the electric field. C. (1), (2) & (3) only
C. copper(II) ions move away from the positive electrode, leaving D. (2), (3) & (4) only
chromate ions behind.
D. chromate ions move towards the positive electrode.
34. Which of the following electronic structures is/are correct?
(1) N N (for N2)
1989
2-
1. With reference to the data given in the table: S
(2) (for S2-)
Element Atomic number Mass number
X 12 24 (3) O C O (for CO2)
Y 9 19 A. (1) only
B. (1) & (2) only
The relative molar mass of the compound formed between X and Y is C. (2) & (3) only
A. 21. D. (1), (2) & (3)
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(1) the size of the atoms.

1990 (2) the melting point of the elements.
(3) the oxidizing power of the elements.
1. Which of the following elements in the third period of the Periodic Table is the Which of the following combinations is correct?
strongest reducing agent? A. (1) & (2) only
A. sodium B. (1) & (3) only
B. sulphur C. (2) & (3) only
C. chlorine D. (1), (2) & (3)
D. aluminium
25. Bromine has a low melting point because
2. A cation of a certain element has 22 electrons and a mass number of 55. If the A. it is a non-metal.
charge on the cation is +3, the number of neutrons in the cation is B. it is a member of the halogen family.
A. 19. C. the atoms in each bromine molecule are bonded together by a
B. 23. covalent bond.
C. 25. D. the bromine molecules are attracted together by van der Waals’
D. 30. forces.

3. The atomic numbers of element X and element Y are 13 & 16 respectively.

The formula of the compound formed between X and Y is likely to be
A. XY2.
B. X2Y. 26. Dry zinc chloride solid is a non-conductor of electricity because
C. X2Y3. A. it is a non-electrolyte.
D. X3Y2. B. it exists as molecules.
C. its ions are not mobile.
4. Which of the following combinations concerning the isotopes of an element is D. metallic bonding is not present.
correct?
No of protons No of neutrons No of electrons 1991
A. same different same
B. same same different Directions: Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following table.
C. different same different
D. same different different Element W X Y Z
Atomic number 4 8 14 20
5. In going down the group VI elements of the Periodic Table, there is an
increase in 1. Which of the following elements are likely to be metals?
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A. W and X A. Both X and Y are metals.

B. W and Z B. The chloride of Y is a solid at room temperature.
C. X and Y C. The chloride of X conducts electricity in the solid state.
D. Y and Z D. The chloride of Y is a covalent compound.

2. The formula of the compound formed between X and Z is likely to be 3. Which of the following electron diagrams is correct?
A. XZ. A. F F
B. XZ2.
C. X2Z. -
D. X2Z3. B. O

4. Which of the following groups of ions/atoms has the same number of

electrons? C. N N
A. K+, Ca2+
B. Cl-, S
C. H+, He D. He He
D. O2-, Ar
4. Consider the following table:
1992
Element W X Y Z
1. Rubidium (Rb) is a group I element below potassium in the Periodic Table. Atomic number 9 10 14 19
Which of the following statements about rubidium is correct?
A. Rubidium forms an acidic oxide. Which of the following elements is likely to be an oxidizing agent?
B. Rubidium is more reactive than potassium. A. W
C. Rubidium can be obtained from its oxide by reduction with carbon. B. X
D. The formula for rubidium chloride is RbCl2. C. Y
D. Z
2. X and Y are elements. The melting points of their chlorides are given below:
30. The atomic number and mass number of element E are 8 & 17 respectively.
Melting point (°C) What are the numbers of protons & neutrons in an atom of E?
Chloride of X 772 No. of protons No. of neutrons
Chloride of Y -68 A. 8 9
B. 8 17
Which of the following statements is correct? C. 9 8
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D. 9 17 24. There is a gradual change in the properties of halogens from chlorine to

iodine. Which of the following properties are in the order
33. Which of the following ions is/are coloured? chlorine < bromine < iodine
(1) Pb2+(aq) (1) oxidizing power
(2) Cr3+(aq) (2) density
(3) MnO4-(aq) (3) boiling point
A. (1) only A. (1) & (2) only
B. (3) only B. (2) & (3) only
C. (1) & (2) only C. (1) & (3) only
D. (2) & (3) only D. (1), (2) & (3)

1993

1. Which of the following pairs of atoms/ions has the same number of electrons? 1994
A. Mg2+ & F
B. Cl- & Ne 1. If the atomic number of an element X is 13, the formula of its oxide is
C. K+ & O2- A. XO2.
D. Cl- & S2- B. XO3.
C. X2O3.
2. The elements, sodium to chlorine, in the third period of the Periodic Table D. X3O2.
show a gradual change in properties. Which of the following changes is 2. Consider the information given in the table below:
correct?
A. Their melting points increase. Atom Atomic number Mass number No. of neutrons
B. Their ability to gain electrons increases. P 6 14
C. Their oxides change from acidic to basic. Q 7 14
D. Their chlorides change from covalent to ionic. R 13 7
S 18 10
4. The element with atomic number 11 will combine most readily with the T 10 10
element whose atomic number is
A. 12. Which of the following atoms are isotopes?
B. 13. A. P and Q
C. 17. B. P and R
D. 18. C. R and S
D. S and T
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C. yellow
3. Which of the following molecules has the greatest number of lone pairs of D. black
electrons?
A. fluorine 7. The main aim of this experiment is to show that
B. hydrogen A. ions exist in silver nitrate solution and sodium iodide solution.
C. nitrogen B. sodium ions can react with nitrate ions.
D. oxygen C. silver ions can react with iodide ions.
D. potassium nitrate is an electrolyte.

36. X, Y and Z are three different elements. The electronic diagram (showing
electrons in the outermost shells only) of the compound formed by X, Y and Z
Direction: Questions 6 and 7 refer to the following experiment: is shown below:

A drop of silver nitrate solution and a drop of sodium iodide solution are placed
respectively at X and Y as shown in the diagram below:

Which of the following statements are correct?

(1) There is one electron in the outermost shell of an atom of X.
(2) There are five electrons in the outermost shell of an atom of Y.
After the circuit has been closed for some time, a coloured patch is formed (3) There are eight electrons in the outermost shell of an atom of Z.
between X and Y. A. (1) & (2) only
B. (1) & (3) only
6. What is the colour of the patch? C. (2) & (3) only
A. brown D. (1), (2) & (3)
B. purple
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