Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP1/14

Part 5: Acids and Alkalis

1. The label on a bottle of ‘Effervescent calcium’ tablets is shown below.

Effervescent Calcium
Each bottle contains 10 tablets.

Each tablet contains :

Calcium carbonate 625 mg
Vitamin C 1000 mg
Citric acid 1350 mg

Dosage : 1 tablet daily

Administration : Dissolve one tablet in a glass of water.

Warning : (1) Keep out of reach of children.

(2) Handle with care

(a) Effervescence occurs when a tablet of ‘Effervescent Calcium' is added to water. Based on the

information given on the label, explain why effervescence occurs. Write the ionic equation for the

reaction that occurs.

(b) Suppose that a student puts a tablet of 'Effervescent Calcium' into an excess amount of water and

collects the gas liberated.

(i) Assuming that the tablet completely dissolves, calculate the theoretical volume of gas liberated.

(ii) It is found that the volume of gas collected in the experiment is less than the theoretical volume

calculated in (1). Give ONE reason to explain the difference, assuming that there is no leakage

of gas in the experiment.

(c) On the label, some words are missing in the second warning statement. Complete the second

warning statement, beginning with the word 'Keep'. Explain your answer.

(Relative atomic masses : C = 12.0, O = 16.0, Ca = 40.0; Molar volume of gas at room temperature and

pressure = 24.0 dm3) (9 marks)

[1995-CE-7a]
 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP2/14
2. Describe how large crystals of ammonium sulphate can be prepared from an aqueous solution of

ammonia in a school laboratory.

(9 marks)

[1995-CE-5]

3. (a) Suggest ONE method to determine the pH of an aqueous solution.

(b) Arrange the following substances in the order of increasing pH and explain your answer.

1 M ethanoic acid, 1 M hydrochloric acid, 1 M sulphuric acid (4 marks)

4. The mass of a sample of copper powder contaminated with copper(II) oxide is known. Describe how you
would conduct an experiment to determine the percentage by mass of copper powder in the sample.
State the expected observation of the experiment. (Hint: You may use an acid in the experiment.) (9
marks)
[2000-CE-4]

5. For each of the following experiments, state an expected observation and write a chemical equation for
the reaction involved.
(a) adding dilute hydrochloric acid to zinc granules
(b) adding sodium hydroxide solution to iron(II) sulphate solution (4 marks)
[2001-CE-2]

6. Magnesium can be extracted from sea water which contains magnesium ions. The extraction of

magnesium from sea water involves three stages:

Stage 1: Add slaked lime to sea water to precipitate magnesium ions as magnesium hydroxide.

Stage 2: Heat the magnesium hydroxide obtained in a stream of hydrogen chloride gas to give

magnesium

chloride.

Stage 3: Extract magnesium by electrolysis of the molten magnesium chloride.

 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP3/14
(a) What substance is mainly present in slaked lime?

(b) Write a chemical equation, with state symbols, for the reaction in Stage 2.

(c) Explain why molten magnesium chloride can conduct electricity.

(d) One major use of magnesium is to make aluminium alloys. Name ONE such alloy which is used to

make aircraft. (5 marks)

[2002-CE-6a]

7. Calcite is a mineral which contains mainly calcium carbonate. An experiment, consisting of the following
five stages, was conducted to determine the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate in a sample of
calcite.
Stage 1: Weigh the sample. Add dilute nitric acid to it until the acid is in excess.

Stage 2: Filter the mixture obtained in Stage 1 to remove any undissolved solid.

Stage 3: Add excess sodium sulphate solution to the filtrate to precipitate out calcium sulphate.

Stage 4: Collect the calcium sulphate precipitate and wash it with distilled water.

Stage 5: Allow the calcium sulphate to dry and weigh it.

(a) Write a chemical equation for the reaction of calcium carbonate with dilute nitric acid. Suggest how

one can know that excess acid has been added in Stage 1.

(b) Draw a labelled diagram of the set-up used in the filtration process in Stage 2.

(c) Write the ionic equation for the reaction in Stage 3.

(d) Explain why it is necessary to wash the precipitate with distilled water in Stage 4.

(e) The results obtained in the experiment are listed below:

mass of the calcite sample = 7.98 g; mass of the calcium sulphate obtained = 10.52 g
 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP4/14
(i) Calculate the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate in the sample of calcite.

(ii) State ONE assumption in the calculation. (10 marks)

[2002-CE-7a]

8. Ammonia is a weak alkali. It is used as an active ingredient in domestic glass cleaners.

(a) (i) Write a chemical equation to represent the ionization of ammonia in water.

(ii) Explain why an alkaline solution can help remove oily dirt on glass.

(b) Suggest, with explanation, a precaution necessary when using such glass cleaners. (4 marks)

[2002-CE-9a]

9. In an experiment to determine the concentration of ammonia in a sample of glass cleaner, 25.0 cm3 of the

sample was diluted to 250.0 cm3 in a volumetric flask. 25.0 cm3 of the diluted sample was transferred to a

conical flask and was then titrated against 0.23 M hydrochloric acid. 28.7 cm3 of the acid was required to

reach the end-point.

(a) State the liquid that should be used to rinse the following pieces of apparatus used in this

experiment.

(i) volumetric flask

(ii) conical flask

(b) Name the apparatus that should be used to transfer 25.0 cm3 of the diluted sample to the conical
 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP5/14
flask.

(c) Calculate the concentration, in mol dm-3, of ammonia in the sample of glass cleaner.

(You may assume that ammonia is the only substance in the sample that reacts with hydrochloric

acid.) (6 marks)

[2002-CE-9b]

10. Discuss the similarities and differences in chemical properties of concentrated sulphuric acid and dilute

sulphuric acid. Illustrate your answer using appropriate examples. (9 marks)

[2003-CE-4]

11. An experiment was carried out to determine the concentration of a nickel(II) sulphate solution. The

experiment consisted of the following three stages:

Stage 1: 25.0 cm3 of 0.503 M sodium hydroxide solution was added to 25.0 cm3 of the nickel(II) sulphate

solution to precipitate out nickel(II) hydroxide.

Stage 2: The mixture obtained in Stage 1 was filtered and the residue was washed thoroughly with

distilled water.

Stage 3: The excess alkali in the filtrate was titrated against 0.25 1 M hydrochloric acid with methyl

orange as indicator. 18.5 cm3 of the acid was required to reach the end-point.

(a) Write the ionic equation for the reaction in Stage 1.

(b) State the colour change at the end-point of the titration in Stage 3.

(c) (i) Based on the titration result in Stage 3, calculate the number of moles of hydroxide ions

present in the filtrate.

(ii) Calculate the number of moles of sodium hydroxide that was added in Stage 1.

(iii) Using your results in (1) and (2) above, calculate the molarity of the nickel(II) sulphate

solution.

(d) Why was it necessary to wash the residue thoroughly in Stage 2? (9 marks)

[2003-CE-8b]
 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP6/14
12. An experiment, consisting of the three stages listed below, was carried out to determine the basicity of a

solid acid:

Stage 1: 1.15 g of a sample of the acid was weighed.

Stage 2: The sample of acid was dissolved in some distilled water and then made up to 250.0 cm3 with

distilled water.

Stage 3: 25.0 cm3 of the solution obtained in Stage 2 was titrated against 0.100 M sodium hydroxide

solution using phenolphthalein as indicator. 25.7 cm3 of the sodium hydroxide solution was

required to reach the end point.

(a) Briefly describe how the 250.0 cm3 solution was made up in Stage2.

(b) State the colour change at the end point of the titration in Stage 3.

(c) (i) Calculate the number of moles of sodium hydroxide used in the titration.

(ii) Given that the molar mass of the solid acid is 90.0 g, calculate its basicity. (8 marks)

[2004-CE-7a]

13. State what would be observed in each of the following experiments and explain your answer.

(a) A beaker containing some concentrated sulphuric acid was left in air for a long period of time.

(b) A few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid were added to an aqueous solution of methanal saturated

with urea. (5 marks)

[2004-CE-7c]
 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP7/14

14. Coral consists mainly of calcium carbonate. An experiment was carried out to determine the percentage

by mass of calcium carbonate in a sample of coral using the set-up shown below:

(a) Write a chemical equation for the reaction of calcium carbonate with dilute hydrochloric acid.

(b) The mass of the sample used was 0.36 g. At the end of the experiment, 78 cm3 of carbon dioxide

was collected at room temperature and pressure.

Calculate

(i) the number of moles of carbon dioxide collected; and

(ii) the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate in the sample.

(c) Assuming that there was no leakage of gas in the set-up, suggest ONE source of error in the

experiment.

(Molar volume of gas at room temperature and pressure = 24 dm3) (7 marks)

[2004-CE-8a]

15. The flow diagram below shows some reactions involving five substances, calcium chloride, calcium oxide,

F, G and H. F, G and H can be calcium, calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide.

 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP8/14
(a) Identify F, G and H.

F: G: H:

(b) For the conversion of G to CaCl2(aq),

(i) state the reagent(s) required;

(ii) name the type of reaction involved.

(c) In the conversion of H to CaO(s), another product J is also formed. What is J? Suggest a chemical

test of J. (6 marks)

[2005-CE-S-2]

16. Three pieces of magnesium ribbon of the same mass were added separately to three acids as follows:

Experiment Reactants
I 0.1 g of magnesium + 20 cm3 of 1M hydrochloric
acid
II 0.1 g of magnesium + 20cm3 of 1M ethanoic acid
III 0.1 g of magnesium + 20cm3 of 1M sulphuric acid

(a) Suggest ONE way to indicate the completion of the reaction in these experiments.

(b) A gas is liberated in each of the experiments. Draw a labelled diagram to show a set-up that can be

used to collect the gas liberated.

(c) Calculate the volume of the gas liberated at room temperature and pressure in Experiment I.

(d) For each of Experiments II and III, state whether the time required for complete reaction would be

the same as that in Experiment I. Explain your answer in each case.

(Molar volume of gas at room temperature and pressure = 24 dm3) (9 marks)

[2005-CE-S-10]

17. A student proposed the following methods to accomplish three tasks, (a), (b) and (c) The proposed

methods were all considered inappropriate.

(a)Task: To neutralise acidic soil in a flower bed.

Proposed method: Add solid sodium hydroxide to soil.

 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP9/14
(b)Task: To prepare hydrogen gas from an acid.

Proposed method: Add copper to dilute hydrochloric acid.

(d) Task: To dilute concentrated sulphuric acid with water.

Proposed method: Add water to concentrated sulphuric acid and stir the mixture.

(i) State ONE reason why the method is inappropriate.

(ii) Suggest an appropriate method to accomplish the task. (6 marks)

[2005-CE-3]

18. The information below was found on the label of a brand of effervescent vitamin C tablets:

Each tablet contains 1000mg of vitamin C.

Other ingredients: sodium hydrogencarbonate, citric acid, sugar and colourant

(a) With the help of a chemical equation, explain why effervescence occurs when a tablet of the

effervescent vitamin C is added to water. (2 marks)

(b) An experiment was carried out to study the action of water on a tablet of the effervescent vitamin

C using the set-up as shown below. The graph shows the results obtained in the experiment.
 Chemistry HKCEE Past Paper Acids and AlkalisP10/14

(i) Find, from the graph, the mass of gas liberated from the reaction of the tablet with water.

(You may assume that the gas liberated is NOT soluble in water.)

(ii) At the end of the experiment, the sodium hydrogencarbonate in the tablet had been

completely used up. Calculate the mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate present in the tablet.

(iii) Suggest ONE advantage of using a data-logger in this experiment.

(iv) The experiment was repeated using warm water instead of cold water. Sketch, on the same

graph, the results that would be obtained in the repeated experiment. (6 marks)

[2005-CE-10]