1 Chemical quantities

Practical

CP2 Studying chemical reactions

In this class practical, you will be studying different types of
chemical reactions, interpreting your observations and then
writing equations.

Procedure
Wear eye protection throughout this class practical.
1 Thermal decompositions

cobalt(ii) sulfate, barium chloride

Heat gently 1cm depth of copper carbonate (CuCO3) in a

borosilicate test tube. Try to identify the gas produced.

1 a) Describe your observations

b) What do you think the products are?
2 a) Write a balanced equation with state symbols for the
reaction.
B

Gently heat 1cm depth of hydrated cobalt sulfate

(CoSO4.7H2O) or hydrated copper(II) sulfate (CuSO4.5H2O)
in a borosilicate test tube.

harmful
copper carbonate, copper oxide, copper(ii) sulfate
3 a) Describe your observations.

b) What products are formed?

4 Write a balanced equation for the reaction with state symbols.
2 Reactions of acids
irritant
sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid

zinc powder

Add 0.5g of zinc powder to 3cm3 of 2moldm3 hydrochloric

acid and warm gently. Try to identify the gas produced.

5 a) Describe your observations.

b) What are the products of the reaction?
6 Write a balanced equation for the reaction including state
symbols.
7 Rewrite the equation showing ions in the acid and in the
metal compound produced.
8 Cancel any spectator ions to obtain a simpler ionic equation.
D

Add 0.2g of copper(II) oxide to 3cm3 of 1moldm3 sulfuric

acid in a borosilicate test tube. Warm the mixture gently.

9 a) Describe what happens.

b) What are the products of the reaction?
10 Write a balanced equation for the reaction including state
symbols.
11 Rewrite the equation showing ions.
E

Add one small limestone chip (calcium carbonate) to 3cm3 of

2moldm3 hydrochloric acid. Try to identify the gas
produced.

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G. Hill and A. Hunt 2008 Edexcel Chemistry for AS

1 Chemical quantities

Practical

12 How did you identify the gas produced?

13 Write a balanced equation and then an ionic equation for the
reaction.
14 Cancel the spectator ions to obtain a simple and clearer ionic
equation for the reaction.

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G. Hill and A. Hunt 2008 Edexcel Chemistry for AS

1 Chemical quantities

Practical

3 Precipitations

Add 3cm3 of copper(II) sulfate solution separately to 3cm3 of

each of the following solutions:
sodium hydroxide solution (0.4moldm3)
dilute hydrochloric acid (2moldm3)
barium chloride solution (1moldm3)

15 a) Describe what happens in each case.

b) Explain why there is no precipitate with dilute hydrochloric
acid.
16 Write balanced equations including state symbols for the
reactions with sodium hydroxide solution and barium chloride
solutions. (The Data sheet: Solubilities of acids, bases and
salts on the CD-ROM will help you here.)

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G. Hill and A. Hunt 2008 Edexcel Chemistry for AS