1. Which is not a conjugate acid-base pair?

A. HNO3 and NO3

B. CH3COOH and CH3COO

+
C. H3O and OH

2
D. HSO4 and SO4

(Total 1 mark)

2. Explain, using the Brnsted-Lowry theory, how water can act either as an acid or a base. In each
case identify the conjugate acid or base formed.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)

3. Water is an important substance that is abundant on the Earths surface. Water dissociates
according to the following equation.
+
H2O(l) H (aq) + OH (aq)

(i) State the equilibrium constant expression for the dissociation of water.
(1)

(ii) Explain why even a very acidic aqueous solution still has some OH ions present in it.
(1)

(iii) State and explain the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant above
given that the dissociation of water is an endothermic process.
(3)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 1
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 (iv) The pH of a solution is 2. If its pH is increased to 6, deduce how the hydrogen ion
concentration changes.
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

4. A solution of acid A has a pH of 1 and a solution of acid B has a pH of 2. Which statement must
be correct?

A. Acid A is stronger than acid B

B. [A] > [B]

+
C. The concentration of H ions in A is higher than in B
+ +
D. The concentration of H ions in B is twice the concentration of H ions in A
(Total 1 mark)

5. (a) The nitrite ion is present in nitrous acid, HNO2, which is a weak acid. The nitrate ion is
present in nitric acid, HNO3, which is a strong acid. Distinguish between the terms strong
and weak acid and state the equations used to show the dissociation of each acid in
aqueous solution.
(3)

(b) A small piece of magnesium ribbon is added to solutions of nitric and nitrous acid of the
same concentration at the same temperature. Describe two observations that would allow
you to distinguish between the two acids.
(2)

(c) A student decided to investigate the reactions of the two acids with separate samples of
3
0.20 mol dm sodium hydroxide solution.

(i) Calculate the volume of the sodium hydroxide solution required to react exactly
3 3
with a 15.0 cm solution of 0.10 mol dm nitric acid.
(1)

(ii) The following hypothesis was suggested by the student: Since nitrous acid is a

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 3
weak acid it will react with a smaller volume of the 0.20 mol dm sodium
hydroxide solution. Comment on whether or not this is a valid hypothesis.
(1)

(d) The graph below shows how the conductivity of the two acids changes with
concentration.

Identify Acid 1 and explain your choice.

(2)
(Total 9 marks)

3
6. When equal volumes of four 0.1 mol dm solutions are arranged in order of increasing pH
(lowest pH first), what is the correct order?

A. CH3COOH < HNO3 < CH3CH2NH2 < KOH

B. HNO3 < CH3COOH < CH3CH2NH2 < KOH

C. CH3CH2NH2 < HNO3 < CH3COOH < KOH

D. KOH < CH3CH2NH2 < CH3COOH < HNO3

(Total 1 mark)

7. Which list contains only strong acids?

A. CH3COOH, H2CO3, H3PO4

B. HCl, HNO3, H2CO3

IB Questionbank Chemistry 4
 C. CH3COOH, HNO3, H2SO4

D. HCl, HNO3, H2SO4

(Total 1 mark)

2
8. What is the formula of the conjugate base of the hydrogenphosphate ion, HPO 4 ?

A. H2PO4

B. H3PO4

C. HPO4

3
D. PO4

(Total 1 mark)

9. The equations of two acid-base reactions are given below.

NH 4 (aq)
Reaction A NH3(aq) + H2O(l) + OH (aq)

The reaction mixture in A consists mainly of reactants because the equilibrium lies to the left.

NH 3 (aq)
Reaction B NH2 (aq) + H2O(l) + OH (aq)

The reaction mixture in B consists mainly of products because the equilibrium lies to the right.

(i) For each of the reactions A and B, deduce whether water is acting as an acid or a base and
explain your answer.
(2)

(ii) In reaction B, identify the stronger base, NH2 or OH and explain your answer.

(2)

+
(iii) In reactions A and B, identify the stronger acid, NH4 or NH3 (underlined) and explain
your answer.
(2)

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 (Total 6 marks)

10. (i) Define a Lewis acid and state an example that is not a Brnsted-Lowry acid.
(2)

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 (ii) Draw structural formulas to represent the reaction between the Lewis acid named in (i)
and a Lewis base and identify the nature of the bond formed in the product.
(4)
(Total 6 marks)

11. Which species can act as a Lewis acid?

A. BF3

B. OH

C. H2O

D. NH3

(Total 1 mark)

12. Which methods will distinguish between equimolar solutions of a strong base and a strong acid?

I. Add magnesium to each solution and look for the formation of gas bubbles.

II. Add aqueous sodium hydroxide to each solution and measure the temperature
change.

III. Use each solution in a circuit with a battery and lamp and see how bright the lamp
glows.

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

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