C. Y.

Yeung (AL Chemistry)

AL Chemistry Past Paper Essay Questions & Analysis
(1991 2005)
YEA E!!AY Q"E!#$%&!
2005 1. Hydrogen and helium are the first two elements of the Periodic Table. Discuss the
chemistry of these two elements.
2. Write a newspaper article with the following heading
!"il is running out #hemistry for powering motor $ehicles%
200& 1. Write an essay on the chemistry of the o'ides of hydrogen.
2. (iodegradable polymers are en$ironmentally friendly. Write an article for your school
maga)ine to promote more e'tensi$e use of biodegradable polymers in Hong *ong.
200+ 1. Write an essay on the intercon$ersion between chemical energy and electrical energy.
2. Write a newspaper article, in layman terms, on aromatic compounds commonly
encountered in daily life.
2002 1. Write an essay on the chemistry of sulphuric -./0 acid.
2. Write an essay on air pollution arising from coal1fired electricity generating plants and on
measures to reduce the amount of air pollutants in the flue gas.
2001 1. Write an essay on the chemistry of iron.
2. Write a proposal on behalf of the #hief 2'ecuti$e on the impro$ement of the air 3uality
in Hong *ong. 4our proposal should include the current pollution problems and possible
solutions supported by chemical principles.
2000 1. Write an essay on catalysis and catalytic reactions.
2. Write an essay on the chemistry of aromatic hydrocarbons.
1555 1. Write an essay on nitric-.0 acid.
2. Write an essay on the principles and techni3ues of food preser$ation.
1556 1. Write an essay on the possible boiling point1composition relationships of a mi'ture of
two miscible li3uids.
2. Write an essay on the compound, #H+#H-7H20#""H.
4our essay should include such topics as its e'pected chemical reactions and physical
properties, and how the compound may be obtained from natural sources.
1558 1. Write an essay on the $ariation in properties of the 9roup // elements and their
compounds.
2. Write an essay on the chemistry of amines.
1558
-:ample
Paper0
1. Describe how the atomic emission spectrum of hydrogen has de$eloped our
understanding of the electronic structure of the hydrogen atom.
2. Discuss as fully as you can the causes of air pollution and water pollution in Hong *ong
and describe the effects on the en$ironment of the pollutants concerned.
4our answer should emphasi)e the chemical aspects of pollution.
1;+
C. Y. Yeung (AL Chemistry)
(1996) 1. Write an essay on the structures of different types of solid, and the relationship between
structure and physical properties of solids.
2. Write an essay on amino acids, polypeptides and proteins.
4our essay should include the properties of amino acids in a3ueous solutions and a
method of separation for a mi'ture of amino acids, as well as the constitution of
polypeptides and proteins and their hydrolysis.
(1995) 1. Write an essay on hydrogen bonding.
2. Write an essay on transition metal comple'es, co$ering their stability, stereochemistry
and the 3uantitati$e in$estigation of their stoichiometry.
+. Write an essay on the synthesis and the uses of poly-al<enes0.
4our essay should include a mechanism for the formation of poly-ethene0 and the
reasons why poly-al<enes0 are widely used.
(1994) 1. Write an essay to account for the fact that at 850

* and 200 atmosphere pressure, the
energetically1fa$orable formation of ammonia
72-g0 = + 72-g0 27H+-g0
proceeds $ery slowly, but in the presence of iron surface it proceeds at a much faster
rate.
2. Write an essay to discuss and compare the chemistry of the chlorides of the elements
from sodium to chlorine in the Periodic Table.
+. Write an essay on the chemistry of ben)ene and its deri$ati$es.
(1993) 1. Discuss how our understanding of the electronic structure of the atom has de$eloped
from the emission spectrum of hydrogen.
2. Write an essay on the chemistry of the transition elements from titanium to copper in
the Periodic Table.
+. Write an essay on polymeri)ation and polymers.
4our answer should include the details of the $arious types of polymers, mechanisms
for their polymeri)ation, and sources of raw materials.
(1992) 1. "rganic reactions in$ol$e reacti$e species such as electrophiles and nucleophilics.
Write an essay on the general classification of organic reaction types in$ol$ing such
species.
2. Write an essay on electrode potentials.
+. Write an essay to describe the typical reactions of halogens and the uses of halides.
(1991) 1. Write an essay on chemical bonding.
-/ntermolecular interactions are 7"T re3uired.0
2. Write an essay on the o'ides of 2/TH2> nitrogen "> sulphur.
+. Write an essay on the stereoisomerism shown by carbon compounds.
-4our answer should include some rele$ant chemistry of your e'amples.0
2;+
C. Y. Yeung (AL Chemistry)
Analysis:
Appro'( ) !e*tion Contents Essay #ype Question in
+,ALE
Physical
#hemistry
-&5?0
1 @toms, Aolecules and :toichiometry 111
2 The 2lectronic :tructure of @toms
and the Periodic Table
1993 emission spectrum of H
+ 2nergetics 111
& (onding and :tructure 1991 chemical bonding
1995 hydrogen bonding
1996 structure and physical
properties of solids
5 #hemical *inetics 1994 rate of reaction
B #hemical 23uilibria 1992 electrode potential
200+ intercon$ersion between
chem..and elect.energy
8 Phase 23uilibrium 1556 >aoultCs Daw
/norganic
#hemistry
-15?0
6 Periodic Properties of 2lements in
the Periodic Table
1994 chlorides
200& o'ides of hydrogen
2005 hydrogen and helium
5 The s1(loc< 2lements 1997 9roup //
10 The p1(loc< 2lements 1991 nitrogen ; sulphur
1992 halogens
1555 nitric -.0 acid
2002 sulphuric -./0 acid
11 The d1(loc< 2lements 1993 Erom Ti to #u
1995 TA comple'es
2000 catalysis
2001 iron
"rganic
#hemistry
-25?0
12 Eundamental of "rganic #hemistry 1991 stereoisomerism
1992 electrophile ; nucleophile
1+ #hemistry of the "rganic #ompounds 1993 polymers
1994 ben)ene F de$.
1995 polymers
1997 amines
2000 aromatic hydrocarbon
200+ aromatic hydrocarbon
200& polymers
2005 petroleum
#hemistry
and :ociety
-15?0
1& #hemistry and the 2n$ironment
#hemistry and Eood
1996 protein
1556 protein
1555 food preser$ation
2001 air pollution
2002 air pollution
+;+