Basic

Chemistry — Final Exam 1

Name:________________________________

Student number:_______________________

Autumn Semester

Basic Chemistry for Engineering/
Fundamental Inorganic Chemistry
Final Exam

3 February 2014

Time: 60 minutes

Instructions:

Answer any 4 questions out of 5 possible questions.

You may answer more than 4 questions if you wish.
Your marks will be taken from your top 4 questions.

Show all relevant working.

Write all answers and final working in pen.

Give your answers to an appropriate number of significant figures.

9 pages including: 1 top page, 1 data page, 1 periodic table, 5 question
pages, 1 page for rough working

Hand in all pages at the end of the exam.

Permissible materials:
Calculator.
English or English bilingual Dictionary.
Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 2

Equations and Data

Avagadro number 6.022 x 1023

pV = nRT where p = pressure, V = volume, n= no. of moles, R = ideal gas constant T =
temperature

R = 8.3144 J K–1mol–1 or R = 0.082057 L atm K–1mol–1

Total heat released/gained by reaction = ∑ ∆Hf products – ∑∆Hf reactants

∆Hf CO2(g) = –393 kJ mol–1
∆Hf CH4(g) = –74.9 kJ mol–1
∆Hf H2O(g) = –242 kJ mol–1

Density 37% formaldehyde (HCHO) solution: 1.01 g ml–1

Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 3

Andrew Robertson 31/1/14 8:49 AM
Comment: Clearer black/white periodic
table
Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 4

Question 1

A) i) Circle the metals that are useful for being corrosion resistant.
iron copper aluminium tin calcium manganese
[1]
ii) Choose two metals from the above list and explain how they resist corrosion.

Tin resists corrosion because it is unreactive. Aluminium resists corrosion because it forms a
protective layer of oxide on its surface.
[4] Andrew Robertson 28/1/14 11:19 AM
Comment: One mark for each Cause and
B) Tin (Sn) has two possible crystal structures at normal pressures: the metallic β-form and a effect comment.
brittle, non-metallic α-form.
i) Which form will be a poor conductor of heat?
The α-form
[1]
Consult the phase diagram below. Will tin be a good
choice of metal








ii) for outside electrical applications in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Why?
It will be a good choice of metal in the Pacific Ocean because it resists corrosion.
iii) And at the South Pole? Why?
It will not be a good choice at the South Pole because it will transform to the α-form. [4] Andrew Robertson 28/1/14 11:20 AM
Comment: Two for correct yes/no, two
for correct reasoning.
Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 5

Question 2

A) An inventor says he has invented a catalyst that makes CO2 react with water vapour to give
off heat and generate CH4 and O2 as waste products.
i) Write a balanced equation for this reaction.
CO2 + 2H2O ——> CH4 + 2O2
[1]
ii) Without a catalyst, can CO2 be used to generate heat according to this reaction? Use data Andrew Robertson 28/1/14 5:21 PM
Comment: Need ∆Hf for these compounds.
from the data sheet to explain your answer. Has this calculation appeared in the
notes/set problems? Put basic formula in
∆Hrxn = (–74.9 kJ mol–1 + 0 kJ mol–1) – (–393 mol–1 + 2(–242 kJ mol–1)) = 802 kJ mol–1 data sheet.
This reaction is endothermic so it cannot be used to generate heat.
[2]
iii) Does using a catalyst enable CO2 to be used to generate heat? Why?
No. Catalysts do not change the thermodynamics of a reaction.
[2]
iv) Another inventor has made a catalyst that will turn CO2 and water vapour into CH4 and O2
when heat is added from outside. Give one reason why a catalyst might be necessary for this
reaction.

The reaction will be too slow without a catalyst. (The activation energy is too high without a
catalyst).
[1]
B) i) Explain, in terms of collision theory, why raising the temperature of a reaction increases
the rate of reaction.
Raising the temperature of a reaction increases the proportion of reactant molecules that
have enough energy for a reaction.
[2]
ii) Explain, in terms of collision theory, why using a heterogeneous catalyst can increase the
rate of reaction.
A heterogeneous catalyst increases the number of reactant molecules that meet with the
correct orientation for reaction and/or decreases the activation energy, meaning more
reactant molecules have enough energy for reaction.
[2]
Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 6

Question 3

A) A laboratory technician is constructing a voltaic cell. Which of the following components
and solutions will she need to use. Illustrate your answer with a diagram of the voltaic cell.

strip of zinc metal, strip of copper metal, strip of plastic, wooden toothpick, wire(s), voltmeter,
salt bridge, zinc sulfate (Zn2+SO42–) solution, copper sulfate (Cu2+SO42–) solution, beaker(s), a
tap, glass beads, lighter, battery, cotton wool

(Diagram requires: beaker, solutions, metal strips, voltmeter, wires, salt bridge.)

[6]
Andrew Robertson 28/1/14 3:07 PM

Comment: Beaker, solutions, metal strips,
B) Given that copper has a stronger affinity for electrons than zinc, write the full equation, voltmeter, wires, salt bridge.
ionic equation and two half equations for this reaction.

Zn + CuSO4 ——> Cu + ZnSO4
Zn + Cu2+ ——> Cu + Zn2+
Zn – 2e– ——> Zn2+
Cu2+ + 2e– ——> Cu
[4]
Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 7

Question 4


A) Refer to the line drawing of a molecule below:

i) How many carbon atoms does this molecule have?
17
[1]

ii) Which of the following functional groups appear on this molecule? Circle the functional
groups on the line drawing and write the name next to the circle.

benzene ring, double bond (not as part of other functional groups), alcohol (not as part of
other functional groups), amine, nitro, ether, carboxylic acid, ketone, halide

amine
benzene NH 2 Andrew Robertson 28/1/14 4:01 PM
ring inductive Comment: Similar to benzyl penicillin but
effects amide changed to ketone and amine for
S sake of question.
CH 3

O N CH 3
O
ketone OH
resonance
O
carboxylic
acid

[4]
Andrew Robertson 28/1/14 4:02 PM

Comment: One for each f.g.
iii) Show on the diagram one place where you would expect to find resonance and one place
where you would expect to find strong inductive effects.
(Note, there may be other answers)
[2]
B) i) Draw two constitutional isomers of the following molecule:
Andrew Robertson 5/2/14 11:25 AM
Comment: These two terms were
incorrectly switched on the actual exam

OH OH OH
[2]
ii) Draw one configurational isomer of the following molecule:

[1]
Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 8

Question 5
A) i) A student accurately measures the boiling point of tap water and finds it to be 101 ˚C.
What is the most likely explanation for this high boiling point?
Impurities in the water have raised the boiling point of the water.
[1]
ii) Fish can have difficulty breathing at elevated temperatures. What is the most likely
explanation for this problem?
There is less dissolved oxygen in higher temperature water.
[1]

B) i) An aqueous solution of formaldehyde (HCHO) is labelled as being 37% by weight. What
is the concentration of this solution in molar units (M)? (refer to the data sheet for necessary Andrew Robertson 28/1/14 5:06 PM
Comment: Need mol dm–3 on data sheet.
information)
1 dm3 37% HCHO solution weighs 1000 ml x 1.01 g ml–1 = 1010 g
mass of HCHO = 1010 g x 0.37 = 373 g
Mr HCHO = 2(1.01 g mol–1)+ 12.0 g mol–1 + 16.0 g mol–1 = 30.0 g mol–1
373 g ÷ 30.0 g mol–1 = 12.5 mol (12.45 mol)
Molarity = 12 mol dm–3 (12 mol dm–3 is acceptable)
[3]
ii) Given that formaldehyde is a gas, should the solution be stored at low or high temperatures
to maintain its maximum concentration? Why?
Formaldehyde solution should be stored at low temperatures because gases are less soluble
at high temperatures.
[2]
iii) Could this solution be stored at –1 ˚C and still be ready for immediate use as a liquid?
Why?
Yes, because the solute will lower the freezing point of the solvent (water).
[2]
iv) If the solution partially froze, what would happen to the concentration of formaldehyde in
the remaining liquid?
It would increase.
[1]
Basic Chemistry — Final Exam 9

Rough Working