Test on acid-base chemistry and related topics

1. (18 marks) This question is about the acid-base properties of oxides. Consider the following list
of compounds:

Na2O Al2O3 H2O ZnO MgO SO2 CO2 NO2 NO CO SiO2 P4O10

a) Classify all of them as acidic / basic / amphoteric / neutral [0.5 each, 6 total]

b) Write an equation to show the reaction between sodium oxide and water[2]

c) P4O6 reacts with water to form phosphorous acid, H3PO3. Write a balanced equation for this
reaction.[2]

d) Name the ore of aluminium oxide.[1]

e) Aluminium oxide ore is often contaminated with iron(III) oxide, which is basic. Suggest how
acid-base reactions may help remove this impurity from the aluminium ore. [3]

f) Chromium forms two oxides: chromium(III) oxide and chromium(VI) oxide, respectively

i) State the formula of each of these oxides [2 marks; 1 each]

ii) Predict their acid-base properties given the (unbalanced) equations below: [2 marks; 1 each]
Chromium(III) oxide + HCl → CrCl3 + H2O
Chromium(III) oxide + NaOH → no reaction
Chromium(VI) oxide + HCl → no reaction
Chromium(VI) oxide + H2O → 2H+ + CrO42-
2. [16 marks] Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid while hydrofluoric acid is a weak acid

a) How do strong and weak acids behave differently when added to water? [1]

b) The pH of two separate solutions of HCl(aq) and HF(aq) are both 3. Which solution is more
concentrated and why? [2]

c) Write the equation to show how hydrochloric acid behaves in water. [1]

d) Does a 1.0 mol dm-3 solution of HCl conduct electricity better or worse than 1.0 mol dm-3
solution of HF does? Explain [2]

e) It is given that fluorine gas is explosively reactive. Draw an electrolytic setup to describe the
electrolysis of an aqueous solution of HF using inert electrodes. Indicate
I) the anode and cathode, and their polarity (+ or -) [2]
II) the reduction and oxidation half equations, and the full equation [4]
III) observations at each electrode [2]

f) Universal indicator was added to the solution at the beginning, where the pH is about 3.
Predict and explain the change in its color as the electrolysis reaction takes place. [2]
3. [18 marks] Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate can be formed from an acid base reaction.

a) Write down the formula of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate [1].

b) Write down the equation, including state symbols, for the formation of magnesium nitrate
from a......

i) acid + metal reaction

ii) acid + metal carbonate reaction [4 marks; 2 each]

c) Describe in detail the steps required to isolate pure, dry crystals by employing the reaction in
b-ii) [5]

d) Calculate the expected amount of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate that a student can make
starting from 200.0 mL of 0.440 mol dm-3 of a suitable acid. [5]

Number of moles of acid =

Number of moles of magnesium nitrate =

Number of moles of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate =

Molar mass of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate =

Mass of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate =

e) The student achieved a percentage yield of 76%. Calculate how much magnesium nitrate
hexahydrate he isolated. [1]

f) Some hydrated ionic compound crystals will tarnish and lose its lustre when left in air for a long
enough time. A student claims that the compound has rusted away over time. Evaluate this claim. [2]
4) A student analyzed an unknown ionic substance. Complete the entries in her notebook [17]:

a) A sample of the unknown white substance was dissolved in solution. When this solution
conducts electricity, Gases are formed at both electrodes.
The gas at the _______________(cathode or anode?) was tested with_________________________ .
Observation: ________________________________
Conclusion: the gas must be _________________________.
The gas at the _______________ (cathode or anode?) was tested with a glowing splint
Observation: the glowing splint relights
Conclusion: the gas must be ________________________.

b) The student guessed that the salt would contain chloride ions. Had she been correct she would
have expected to see ________________________ when reacted with an _________________
solution of __________________________. Instead, she saw no precipiate, which indicates that the
solution cannot contain chloride ions, nor can it contain _____________________ ion instead.

c) The student was told by the teacher that the substance was a nitrate salt. To verify that her
teacher was correct, she ________________________________________________________ and
tested for the ammonia gas evolved by
____________________________________________________________. The color changed from
____________________ to _____________________.

d) The substance gives a precipitate when reacted with aqueous ammonia. This precipitate
redissolves when excess ammonia is added. Therefore ____________________ ions must be present.