Structured questions

a)

b)

Hazard warning labels are often found on bottles containing chemicals.

i)
State the hazardous nature of each chemical shown above.
ii) Give ONE precaution you should take when handling each of the chemicals.
The diagram below shows a student heating a mixture of solids to prepare ammonia gas.
He is trying to detect the smell of ammonia.

State TWO inappropriate laboratory practices of the student and suggest the proper
actions that should be taken.
(8 marks)
2

X is the most abundant element in air. Air also contains oxygen and other substances.
a) Identify element X.
b) Is oxygen an element or a compound? Explain briefly.
c) What is the most abundant compound in air?
d) Both oxygen and element X can be obtained by the fractional distillation of liquid air.
i) Where does the fractional distillation of liquid air take place in industry?
ii) Explain briefly why oxygen and element X can be obtained by the fractional
distillation of liquid air.
iii) Does the fractional distillation of liquid air involve a physical or chemical change?
Explain briefly
e) Suggest a test which allows you to distinguish between oxygen and element X.
f) Suggest a test to identify the compound suggested in (c).
g) State the hazard warning label that should be displayed on a jar containing oxygen.
(13 marks)

Consider the following substances:

Sodium chloride, water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, argon

a)
b)

c)

Classify the above substances into elements and compounds.

Suggest a test for each of the following species:
i) oxygen;
ii) sodium in sodium chloride;
iii) chloride in sodium chloride;
iv) water.
The table below gives some information of certain components in a sample of liquefied
air.
Compound
Boiling point (oC)
Argon
-186
Nitrogen
-196
Oxygen
-183
In what order are these components distilled out when the liquefied air undergoes
fractional distillation? Explain your answer.
(14 marks)

Some ice cream and ice cubes were taken out from a freezer at the same time and allowed to
stand in the air. Their temperatures were recorded every minute until both had melted
completely. The results are given in the table.
Time (minute)
Temperature of ice cream (oC) Temperature of ice(oC)
0
-12
-12
1
-10
-6
2
-8
-3
3
-7
-1
4
-6
0
5
-5.5
0
6
-5
0
7
-4.5
0
8
-4
0
9
-3.5
0
10
-3
0
11
-2.5
0
12
-2
0
13
-1
0
14
0
0
15
2
0
16
4
1
17
6
4
a) Draw curves for both sets of results on the same graph.
b) According to the graph in (a), determine
i) the period of time in which the ice was melting; and
ii) the time at which both ice cubes and ice cream had melted completely.
c) Is ice cream a mixture or a compound?
d) Ice is the solid state of water.
i) Suggest an experiment to prove that water is a compound.
ii) Suggest a test to show the presence of water in ice.
(9 marks)

The following is a sample of sea water collected by a student from a beach.

a)
b)
c)

Explain whether the sample is a mixture, an element or a compound.

i) Suggest a method for removing the sand and mud from the sample.
ii) Draw a labelled diagram of the experimental set-up for the separation method
suggested in (i).
i) Suggest a method for obtaining solid sodium chloride from the sample of sea water.
ii) Draw a labelled diagram of the experimental set-up for the separation method
suggested in (i).
iii) Describe how you can show the presence of chloride in the solid sodium chloride
obtained.
iv) Suggest ONE daily use of sodium chloride.
(13 marks)

Consider the following flowchart.

a)

b)
c)

i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
i)
ii)
i)
ii)

Name the physical change shown above.

What might solid X be?
Suggest ONE use of solid X.
Name a process for obtaining pure solid X from sea water.
Name the chemical change shown above.
Draw a labelled diagram of the experimental set-up for conducting the above
chemical change in the laboratory.
Suggest what gas Y might be.
State ONE use of chlorine gas and gas Y respectively.
(11 marks)

A colourless solid melts at 0 oC and becomes a liquid at room temperature and pressure. When
the liquid undergoes electrolysis, two colourless gases are formed.
a) Identify the physical and chemical change in the above description.
b) i) From the above description, give ONE evidence that the liquid is water.
ii) Suggest a chemical test to show that the liquid is water.
c) i) Identify the TWO gases formed during electrolysis.
ii) Suggest tests to identify these two gases.
(9 marks)

The results of three tests for substances A and B are summarized in the following table:
Substance
Test 1:
Test 2:
Test 3:
Flame test Addition of acidified silver nitrate
Addition of dilute
solution to solution of substance
hydrochloric acid
A
Golden yellow A white precipitate is formed
No observable change
flame
B
Brick-red flame Insoluble in water
A gas which can turn
limewater milky is evolved
a) According to the results of Test 1, what are present in A and B respectively?
b) According to the results of Tests 2 and 3, explain briefly what are present in A and B
respectively.
c) Name substances A and B.
d) State ONE source of substances A and B respectively.
e) What will happen if
i) A is heated strongly?
ii) B is heated strongly?
(12 marks)

The above set-up is used to collect the liquid given off when copper(II) sulphate crystals are
heated. Tube X is held in position using stands and clamps.
a) At which position along tube X should it be clamped? Explain your answer.
b) Why should tube X be clamped in a slanting position as shown above?
c) Why is the free end of the delivery tube kept above the liquid collected in tube Y?
d) Why is tube Y put in a beaker containing ice and cold water?
e) Suggest a test to show that the liquid collected in tube Y is water.
f) What would be the colour change of the crystals in tube X upon heating?
g) Decide whether the copper(II) sulphate crystals undergo a chemical change or physical
change in this experiment.
(9 marks)
10

In the manufacture of beer, brewers often add small amounts of calcium sulphate and
magnesium sulphate to the water used. These chemicals influence the chemical reaction during
the brewing process.
a) Flame test can be used to show that a solid sample contains calcium.
i) Describe how you would carry out a flame test.
ii) State the colour of the flame you expect to observe if the sample under test contains
calcium.
iii) Impurities may lead to other colours being observed in the flame. What species is
likely to be present if a yellow flame is seen?
b) Describe a test you would carry out to show that a solid sample contains sulphate. State
also the expected observation.
(8 marks)

11

Consider three substances: chalk, limestone and marble.

a) i) What is the common substance present in chalk, limestone and marble?
ii) Suggest chemical tests to show the presence of this substance in limestone.
b) Which substance is the hardest among chalk, limestone and marble?
c) State the conditions for the conversion of limestone to marble.
d) Suggest ONE use of limestone.
e) A chalk is heated strongly.
i) What will happen if chalk is heated strongly?
ii) Water is added to the solid remained after heating. Solution Y is formed.
(1) Write a word equation for the reaction.

f)

12

The following diagram shows some natural processes in our environment.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

13

(2) State ONE use of solution Y.

State TWO observable changes when a piece of chalk is added into dilute hydrochloric
acid? Write a word equation for the reaction.
(15 marks)

What is Process 1?
Classify processes 1, 2 and 3 into physical change(s) and chemical change(s).
Explain briefly how rainwater causes the erosion of limestone.
i) What is the main substance left after a sample of sea water is evaporated to dryness?
ii) Suggest TWO uses of this substance in our daily lives.
Pure water can be obtained from distillation of sea water.
i) Does distillation of sea water involve a physical or chemical change?
ii) Draw a labelled diagram of the experimental set-up for simple distillation of sea
water.
(13 marks)

A student carried out an experiment on thermal decomposition of limestone.

a) i) What is the major constituent of limestone?
ii) Name a natural occurring substance with the same major constituent as limestone.
b) Write a word equation for the thermal decomposition of limestone.
c) A gas is evolved during the thermal decomposition of limestone.
i) Draw a labelled diagram of an experimental set-up for heating the limestone and
testing the gas evolved.
ii) State any observable change for the test of the gas evolved. Write a word equation
for the change involved.
d) Describe briefly how you can show the presence of calcium in limestone.
(11 marks)

14

Answer this question with reference to the diagram below:

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

15

Name substances A, B and C.

What should process X be?
Write a word equation for
i) the decomposition of substance A on strong heating; and
ii) addition of dilute hydrochloric acid to substance A.
Carbon dioxide is bubbled into substance C. What will be observed? Write a word
equation for the reaction involved.
A student wants to obtain pure calcium chloride crystals from a calcium chloride solution.
i) Describe briefly how he can obtain the crystals from the solution.
ii) The student cannot distinguish between sodium chloride crystals and calcium
chloride crystals. Suggest a test that allows him to distinguish them.
(14 marks)

Describe briefly, using the following apparatus and materials, how you can distinguish
hydrated calcium chloride crystals, calcium oxide and calcium carbonate.
Test tubes, a test tube holder, a Bunsen burner, limewater, dry cobalt(II) chloride papers,
delivery tubes
(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)

16

Suppose you are provided with a mixture of impure sodium chloride powder and sand.
Describe how you can obtain pure sodium chloride crystals from the mixture.
(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)