HKCEE & HKAL Past Paper Questions: Part 13 Industrial Chemistry II

Fertilizers
1. HKCEE 1996 Q8a
The table below lists some information about four nitrogen-containing compounds which may be used as
fertilizers.
Compound

Solubility in water at

Cost per kg of Cost per kg of nitrogen in

25oC / mol dm-3

compound / $

the compound / $

NH3

31.1

12.0

14.6

NH4NO3

26.8

20.0

(NH4)2SO4

5.8

15.0

70.7

(NH4)2HPO4

4.4

141.0

664.7

(i)

Explain why nitrogen is essential for the growth of plants.

(ii)

Calculate the value of x.

(iii)

Suggest TWO reasons why farmers do not prefer using ammonia (gas or solution) directly as a
fertilizer.

(iv)

The growth of some plants such as turnips requires a large amount of nitrogen. Which of the four
compounds is the most suitable for use as a fertilizer for these plants? Explain your answer.

(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, N = 14.0, O = 16.0)

(8 marks)

2. HKCEE 1999 Q8b

Manufacturing ammonia by the Haber process involves the following exothermic reaction:

2NH3(g)
N2(g) + 3H2(g)

(i)

(1) Name a catalyst used in the process.

(2) Suggest how the heat liberated in the reaction can be used in the process.

(ii)

A sufficient amount of hydrogen and 6.0 109 dm3 of nitrogen, measured at room temperature and
pressure, are allowed to react in the reaction chamber to give ammonia.
Suppose that the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia is 15%. Calculate the mass of ammonia formed.

(iii)

Upon reaction with a suitable chemical, ammonia gives a nitrogenous fertilizer. Write a chemical
equation for such a reaction.

(iv)

Most window cleaners contain ammonia solution as an active ingredient.

(1) Explain why ammonia solution is used in window cleaners.
(2) State ONE reason for using ammonia solution instead of sodium hydroxide solution in window
cleaners.

(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, N = 14.0;

molar volume of gas at room temperature and pressure = 24.0 dm3)
(9 marks)

3. HKCEE 2000 Q9c

Nitrogen constitutes about 78% of the atmosphere. The flow diagram below shows the conversion of
atmospheric nitrogen to plant proteins.

atmospheric
nitrogen

nitrates
in soil

plant
proteins

(i) Draw the electronic diagram for a molecule of nitrogen, showing electrons in the outermost shells only.
(ii) Describe ONE process by which atmospheric nitrogen can be converted to nitrates in soil.
(iii) When plants are eaten by animals, the plant proteins are transformed into animal proteins. State ONE way
by which the nitrogen in animal proteins can return to soil.
(4 marks)

4. HKCEE 2000 Q9d

Fritz Haber, a German chemist, discovered the transformation of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia which can be
used to produce nitrogenous fertilizers and explosives. He also managed to successfully use chlorine and mustard
gas as chemical weapons. In 1918, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry, several other Nobel
Prize winners refused to accept their awards because of Habers involvement.
State whether or not you agree that Habers inventions contributed to the well-being of the world. Explain your
answer.
(2 marks)

5. HKCEE 2001 Q8b

The flow diagram below shows the four key stages in the production of ammonium nitrate from ammonia.

(i)

(1)

Give the name of X.

(2)

Write a chemical equation for the reaction in Stage I.

(ii)

Is the reaction in Stage II a redox reaction? Explain your answer in terms of oxidation number.

(iii)

Suggest how nitrogen dioxide can be converted to nitric acid in Stage III.

(iv)

Suggest ONE use of ammonium nitrate in daily life.

(v)

Ammonium nitrate can be prepared by reacting ammonia with nitric acid. Calculate the theoretical
volume of ammonia gas, measured at room temperature and pressure, required to produce 5.0g of solid
ammonium nitrate.
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, N = 14.0, O = 16.0;
molar volume of gas at room temperature and pressure = 24 dm3)
(9 marks)

6. HKCEE 2003 Q6b

Ammonia is manufactured by the Haber process. In the process, a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen is
passed over heated iron in the reaction chamber. The reaction of nitrogen with hydrogen can be represented
by the following equations:

2NH3(g)
N2(g) + 3H2(g)

(i)

in the equation stand for?

What does the sign

(ii)

What is the function of iron in the reaction chamber?

(iii)

As air contains about 78% of nitrogen by volume, can air be used instead of nitrogen in the reaction
chamber? Explain.

(iv)

In the process, only about 15% of the nitrogen is converted to ammonia. Suggest how the gaseous
mixture that emerges from the reaction chamber can be treated so as to reduce the wastage of raw
materials.
(6 marks)

7. HKCEE 1988 Q1b

8. HKCEE 1991 Q5a

9. HKCEE 1993 Q3a

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Chloro-alkali Industry
10. HKCEE 1995 Q8b
Small swimming pools usually use sodium hypochlorite solution rather than chlorine gas to sterilize the pool
water.
(i)

Suggest ONE reason for using sodium hypochlorite solution rather than chlorine gas in small
swimming pools.

(ii)

Suggest ONE chemical test to show the presence of hypochlorite ions in a sample of pool water. State
the observable change in the test.

(iii)

A 100 cm3 sample of pool water contains 5.0 g of sodium hypochlorite. Calculate the concentration,
in mol dm-3, of sodium hypochlorite in the sample.

(iv)

What would be observed if a petal of red flower was put into a sodium hypochlorite solution? Using
an equation, explain this observation.

(v)

Briefly describe how sodium hypochlorite solution can be produced industrially.

(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Na = 23.0, Cl = 35.5)

(10 marks)

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11. HKCEE 1988 Q2b

12

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12. HKCEE 1992 Q5

14

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Green Chemistry
13. HKAL 2007 I Q8
14.6 g of benzoin was obtained by heating 15.9 g of benzaldehyde with potassium cyanide in a solvent-free
condition.

(a) Calculate the percentage yield of benzoin from benzaldehyde.

(2 marks)
(b) What is the function of potassium cyanide in this conversion?
(1 mark)
(c) Is this conversion an example of green chemistry?

Explain.
(1 mark)

(d) Devise an experimental procedure to remove potassium cyanide from the crude product.
(2 marks)
(e) The benzoin obtained can be purified by recrystallisation.

Suggest three criteria for an appropriate

solvent for the recrystallisation.

(3 marks)
(f) Cyanide waste is usually treated with oxidising agents.

Explain whether acidified KMnO4(aq) is

suitable for such a purpose.

(1 mark)

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14. HKAL 2008 I Q10

Write an essay on the application of the principles of green chemistry in industry.
(20 marks)

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15. HKAL 2008 II Q7b

#(i) The following reaction gives an organic intermediate J which by elimination of water gives product
K.

(I)

Give the structure of J and that of K.

(II)

Outline a mechanism for the formation of J.

(ii) Polyimines, with a highly conjugated backbone, belong to a type of conducting polymer which has a wide
variety of applications, such as in electronics and optoelectronics. A part of the structure of a polyimines L
is shown below:

(I)

Draw the structure of the repeating unit of L.

(II)

Draw the structure of the monomer(s) of L.

(III)

Suggest TWO reasons why the formation of L from its monomer(s) is an example of green
chemistry.
(9 marks)

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16. HKAL 2009 II Q4c

Compound B (m.p. 39

) and compound D (m.p. 42) react in the presence of a small amount of NaOH(s)

to give compound E. The E obtained can be purified by recrystallisation from 90% ethanol.

(i)

Given that the relative molecular masses of B and D are 132.0 and 166.0 respectively, calculate the
atom economy of the reaction.

(ii)

In a typical experiment, 2.64 g of B and 3.32 g of D yielded 4.40 g of E. Calculate the percentage
yield of E.

(iii)

Given FOUR reasons why this reaction is considered as an example of green chemistry.
(6 marks)

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