1. The human body contains around 0.025 g of iodine molecules, I2.

Which of the following shows

the number of iodine atoms in 0.025 g of I2?

The Avogadro constant is 6.02 × 1023 mol–1.

0.025
A × 6.02 × 10
23

126.9
0.025 23
B × 6.02 × 10
253.8
253.8 23
C × 6.02 × 10
0.025
D 126.9 × 6.02 × 1023
0.025
2010/Jan/ Q-3

2. Magnesium chloride can be made by reacting solid magnesium carbonate, MgCO 3, with dilute
hydrochloric acid.

(a) Write an equation for the reaction, including state symbols.

(b) Give TWO observations you would make when the reaction is taking place.

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(c) In an experiment to make crystals of hydrated magnesium chloride, MgCl 2.6H2O, magnesium
carbonate was added to 25 cm3 of hydrochloric acid with concentration 2.0 mol dm –3. The molar mass of
magnesium carbonate is 84.3 g mol–1.

(i) How many moles of acid are used in the reaction?

(ii) What mass of magnesium carbonate, in grams, reacts with this amount of acid?
(iii) Suggest why slightly more than this mass of magnesium carbonate is used in practice.

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(iv) How would you separate the magnesium chloride solution from the reaction mixture in (iii)?

.....................................................................................

(v) The magnesium chloride solution was left to crystallise. The crystals were separated and dried
carefully. A sample of 3.75g of hydrated crystals, MgCl 2.6H2O, which have molar mass 203.3 g mol–1,
was obtained. Calculate the percentage yield of this reaction.

(vi) Give ONE reason why the yield of crystals is less than 100%, even when pure compounds are
used in the preparation.

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.....................................................................................

.....................................................................................

(d) Blood plasma typically contains 20 parts per million (ppm) of magnesium, by mass.

Calculate the mass of magnesium, in grams, present in 100 g of plasma.

2010/Jan/ Q-16
 3. Sulfamic acid is a white solid used by plumbers as a limescale remover.

(a) Sulfamic acid contains 14.42% by mass of nitrogen, 3.09% hydrogen and 33.06% sulfur. The
remainder is oxygen.

(i) Calculate the empirical formula of sulfamic acid.

(ii) The molar mass of sulfamic acid is 97.1 g mol–1. Use this information to deduce the molecular
formula of sulfamic acid.

(b) A solution of sulfamic acid contains hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ions react with magnesium to
produce hydrogen gas. In an experiment, a solution containing

5.5 × 10–3 moles of sulfamic acid was reacted with excess magnesium. The volume of hydrogen produced
was 66 cm3, measured at room temperature and pressure.

(i) Calculate the number of moles of hydrogen, H2, produced in this reaction. [The molar volume of
a gas is 24 dm3 mol–1 at room temperature and pressure]

(ii) Show that the data confirms that each mole of sulfamic acid produces one mole of hydrogen ions
in solution.
(c) Plumbers use sulfamic acid powder for descaling large items such as boilers. Sulfamic acid acts
as a descaler because the hydrogen ions react with carbonate ions in limescale.

(i) Write an ionic equation for the reaction of hydrogen ions with carbonate ions. State symbols are
not required.

(ii) Suggest ONE reason why sulfamic acid is considered less hazardous than hydrochloric acid as a
descaler.

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2010/Jan/ Q-17

4. The equations below show some reactions of magnesium and its compounds.

A 2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s)

B Mg(NO3)2(s)→ MgO(s) + 2NO2(g) + O2(g)

C MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(1)

D Mg(s) + CuSO4(aq) → MgSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

(a) Which equation is not balanced?

B
 C

2010/May/ Q-1a

5. A sample of gas was prepared for use in helium-neon lasers. It contained 4 g of helium and 4 g of
neon. What is the ratio of helium atoms to neon atoms in the sample?

A 1 :1

B 2.5 :1

C 1 :5

D 5:1

2010/May/ Q-8

6. The overall equation for the reaction between sulfur and oxygen to form sulfur trioxide is shown
below.

2S(s) + 3O 2(g) → 2SO3(g)

0.9 mol of O2(g) reacted completely with excess sulfur. What volume, in dm3, of sulfur trioxide would
form?

[Assume the molar gas volume = 24 dm3 mol−1]

A (0.9 × 3/2) × 24

B (0.9 × 3/2) ÷ 24

C (0.9 × 2/3) × 24

D (0.9 × 2/3) ÷ 24

2010/May/ Q-9

7. Which of these solutions does not contain the same total number of ions as the others?

A 10.00 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm−3 NaCl(aq)

B 20.00 cm3 of 0.050 mol dm−3 NaCl(aq)

 C 20.00 cm3 of 0.050 mol dm−3 MgCl2(aq)

D 13.33 cm3 of 0.050 mol dm−3 MgCl2(aq)

2010/May/ Q-10

8. For the oxidation of ammonia

a NH3 + b O2 → NO + d H2O

the values of the coefficients in the balanced equation are

A a = 2, b = 3, c = 2 and d = 3

B a = 4, b = 7, c = 4 and d = 4

C a = 4, b = 5, c = 4 and d = 6

D a = 6, b = 7, c = 6 and d = 9

2011/Jan/ Q-2

9. The Avogadro constant is 6.0 × 1023 mol–1. Therefore the number of atoms in 1 mol of carbon
dioxide is

A 2.0 × 1023

B 6.0 × 1023

C 1.2 × 1024

D 1.8 × 1024

2011/Jan/ Q-3

10. The equation for the complete combustion of octane is

2C8H18 + 25O2 →16CO2 18H2O

(a) The mass of 10 mol of octane is

A 0.66 kg

B 1.14 kg

C 2.10 kg
D 2.28 kg

(b) The volume of 1 mol of any gas (measured at room temperature and pressure)

is 24 dm3. Hence the volume of oxygen (measured at room temperature and pressure) required for the
complete combustion of 10 mol of octane is

A 240 dm3

B 300 dm3

C 3000 dm3

D 6000 dm3

2011/Jan/ Q-4

11. In 2006, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 382 ppm. This is equivalent
to

A 0.00382%

B 0.0382%

C 0.382%

D 3.82%

2011/Jan/ Q-13

12. (a) Coral reefs are produced by living organisms and predominantly made up of calcium
carbonate. It has been suggested that coral reefs will be damaged by global warming because of
the increased acidity of the oceans due to higher concentrations of carbon dioxide.

(i) Write a chemical equation to show how the presence of carbon dioxide in water results in the
formation of carbonic acid. State symbols are not required
(ii) Write the ionic equation to show how acids react with carbonates. State symbols are not required.

(b) One method of determining the proportion of calcium carbonate in a coral is to dissolve a known
mass of the coral in excess acid and measure the volume of carbon dioxide formed.

In such an experiment, 1.13 g of coral was dissolved in 25 cm 3 of hydrochloric acid (an excess) in a
conical flask. When the reaction was complete, 224 cm 3 of carbon dioxide had been collected over water
using a 250 cm3 measuring cylinder.

(i) Calculate the number of moles of carbon dioxide collected in the experiment.

[The molar volume of any gas is 24 000 cm3 mol–1 at room temperature and pressure.]

(ii) Complete the equation below for the reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid
by inserting the missing state symbols.

CaCO3(..............) + 2HCl(..............) o CaCl2(..............) + H2O(l) + CO2(..............)

(iii) Calculate the mass of 1 mol of calcium carbonate. [Assume relative atomic masses: Ca = 40, C =
12, O = 16.]
(iv) Use your data and the equation in (iv) to calculate the mass of calcium carbonate in the sample
and the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate in the coral. Give your final answer to three significant
figures.

2011/Jan/ Q-16

13. The relative atomic mass is defined as

A the mass of an atom of an element relative to 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

B the mass of an atom of an element relative to the mass of a hydrogen atom.

C the average mass of an element relative to 1/12 the mass of a carbon atom.

D the average mass of an atom of an element relative to 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

2012/Jan/ Q-2

14. The definition of the mole is

A the amount of any substance which occupies a volume of 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure.

B the amount of any substance containing the same number of identical entities as there are in exactly 12
g of the carbon-12 isotope.

C the number of atoms in exactly 12 g of the carbon-12 isotope.

D the number of molecules in exactly 2 g of hydrogen at room temperature and pressure.

2012/Jan/ Q-3

15. The concentration of blood glucose is usually given in millimoles per dm3 or mmol dm–3. A
reading of 5.0 mmol dm–3 is within the normal range. Glucose has a molar mass of 180 g mol–1.
What mass of glucose dissolved in 1 dm3 of blood would give this normal reading?
A 0.090 g

B 0.18 g

C 0.90 g

D 9.0 g

2012/Jan/ Q-4

16. (a) An impure sample of sodium hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3, of mass 0.227 g, was reacted
with an excess of hydrochloric acid. The volume of carbon dioxide evolved was measured at
room temperature and pressure and found to be 58.4 cm3.

NaHCO 3 + HCl→NaCl + H2O + CO2

The molar volume of any gas at the temperature and pressure of the experiment is 24 dm 3 mol–1. The
molar mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate is 84 g mol –1.

(i) Calculate the number of moles of carbon dioxide given off.

(ii) Calculate the mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate present in the impure sample.

(iii) Calculate the percentage purity of the sodium hydrogencarbonate. Give your answer to two
significant figures.
(b) (i) The total error in reading the gas syringe is ±0.4 cm 3. Calculate the percentage error in
measuring the gas volume of 58.4 cm3.

(ii) Suggest why the carbon dioxide should not be collected over water in this experiment.

2012/Jan/ Q-20

17. On strong heating, calcium carbonate decomposes to calcium oxide and carbon dioxide:

CaCO 3(s) →CaO(s) + CO2(g)

Owing to the conditions under which the reaction occurs, it is not possible to measure the enthalpy
change directly.

An indirect method employs the enthalpy changes when calcium carbonate and calcium oxide are
neutralized with hydrochloric acid.

Write the equation for the reaction of calcium carbonate with hydrochloric acid. State symbols are
not required.

2012/Jan/ Q-21a(i)

18. A solution contains 66 ppm of a solute. The mass of the solute dissolved in 1 kg of this solution is

A 66 g

B 0.66 g

C 0.066 g

D 0.000066 g
 2012/May/ Q-1

19. Complete combustion of 50 cm3 of a hydrocarbon vapour gave 350 cm3 of carbon dioxide, both
gas volumes being measured at the same temperature and pressure. The formula of the
hydrocarbon could be

A C8H18

B C7H16

C C6H14

D C5H12

2012/May/ Q-2
 20. Which of the following statements is true? The Avogadro constant is the number of

A grams of any element which contains 6.02 × 1023 atoms of that element.

B atoms contained in one mole of any element.

C atoms contained in one mole of any monatomic element.

D particles (atoms, molecules or ions) required to make one gram of a substance.

2012/May/ Q-2

21. A compound Z contains, by mass, 26.7% carbon, 2.2% hydrogen, and 71.1% oxygen. The
empirical formula of Z is

A CHO2

B C2H2O4

C CHO

D C2H2O2

2012/May/ Q-15

22. The equation representing the reaction between copper(II) oxide and dilute sulfuric acid is

CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) → CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

The ionic equation for the reaction is

A Cu2+(s) + SO42–(aq) CuSO4(aq)

B O2–(s) + H2SO4(aq) H2O(l) + SO42–(aq)

C CuO(s) + 2H+(aq) Cu2+(aq) + H2O(l)

D CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) Cu2+SO42–(aq) + H2O(l)

2012/May/ Q-18

23. Sodium burns in oxygen to give a pale yellow solid X.

(a) (i) 1.73 g of sodium reacts with 1.20 g of oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula of X.
(ii) The molar mass of X is 78 g mol–1. Give the molecular formula of X.

(iii) Write the equation, including state symbols, for the reaction of sodium with oxygen to produce X.

(iv) Calculate the volume of oxygen in dm3 (at room temperature and pressure) which reacts with 1.73
g of sodium. (The molar volume of any gas at room temperature and pressure is 24 dm 3 mol–1.)

(v) Calculate the number of oxygen molecules that react with 1.73 g of sodium. (The Avogadro
constant = 6.02 × 1023 mol–1.)

(b) If sodium is burnt in air, compound X is not the only product. Suggest why this is so.

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2012/May/ Q-25
 24. How many moles of ions are present in 20 cm3 of 0.050 mol dm–3 calcium chloride solution,
CaCl2(aq)?

A 0.0050

B 0.0030

C 0.0020

D 0.0010

2013/May/ Q-6

25. The Avogadro constant is 6.0 x 1023 mol–1. The number of atoms in 1 mol of dinitrogen tetroxide,
N2O4, is

A 3.6 × 1024

B 1.8 × 1024

C 6.0 × 1023

D 1.0 × 1023

2013/May/ Q-7

26. The equation for the complete combustion of ethane is

2C2H6(g) + 7O2(g) → 4CO2(g) + 6H2O(l)

What volume of oxygen, measured at room temperature and pressure, is needed to completely burn 0.1
mol of ethane?

[The volume of 1 mol of any gas measured at room temperature and pressure is 24 dm 3]

A 2.4 dm3

B 4.8 dm3

C 8.4 dm3

D 16.8 dm3

2013/May/ Q-8
 27. A sample of swimming pool water contains 0.482 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine. This is
equal to a percentage of

A 0.000482

B 0.0000482

C 0.00000482

D 0.000000482

2013/May/ Q-9

28. The radioactive isotope iodine-131, 13153I, is formed in nuclear reactors providing nuclear power.
Naturally occurring iodine contains only the isotope, 12753I.

(a) Complete the table to show the number of protons and neutrons in these two isotopes.

131 127
Isotope 53I 53I

Number of protons

Number of neutrons

(b) When iodine-131 decays, one of its neutrons emits an electron and forms a proton. Identify the
new element formed by name or symbol.

2013/May/ Q-18a-b

29. Copper(II) sulfate solution, CuSO4(aq), can be made by adding an excess of solid copper(II)
oxide, CuO, to boiling dilute sulfuric acid. This is an exothermic reaction. The balanced equation
for this reaction is

CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) →CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

(a) Complete the ionic equation for this reaction, including state symbols.

CuO(s) +
(b) Calculate the mass of copper(II) oxide needed, if a 10% excess is required, when 0.020 mol of
sulfuric acid is completely reacted.

[Relative atomic masses: Cu = 63.5 and O = 16.0]

(c) (i) Calculate the molar mass of copper(II) sulfate-5-water, CuSO 4.5H2O. Remember to include the
appropriate units in your answer. You will need to use the Periodic Table as a source of data.

(ii) Calculate the percentage yield if 2.7 g of copper(II) sulfate-5-water is obtained from 0.020 mol of
sulfuric acid.

(iii) What is the most likely reason for the yield being well below 100%?

.....................................................................................

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2013/May/ Q-20a-c
 30. Which of the following represents a pair of isotopes?
14
A C and 14N
6 7

B 32 S and 32S2– 2013/May/ Q-5-1R

16 16

C O2 and O3
208
D 206Pb and Pb

31. A compound was found to contain 2.8 g of nitrogen and 8.0 g of oxygen. What is the empirical
formula of the compound?

Use the Periodic Table as a source of data.

A NO

B NO2

C N2O3

D N2O5

2013/May/ Q-11-1R

32. What is the total number of atoms in 1.8 g of water, H2O?

DATA

The molar mass of H2O is 18 g mol–1

The Avogadro Constant is 6.0 × 1023 mol–1

A 6.0 × 1022

B 6.0 × 1023

C 1.8 × 1023

D 1.8 × 1024
2013/May/ Q-12-1R
 33. Phosphorus(V) chloride, PCl5, reacts with water according to the equation

PCl5(s) + 4H2O(l) →H3PO4(aq) + 5HCl(aq)

If 1.04 g of phosphorus pentachloride (molar mass = 208 g mol –1) is reacted completely with water and
the solution made up to 1 dm3, the concentration of the hydrochloric acid in mol dm –3 is

A 0.001

B 0.005

C 0.025

D 0.250

2013/May/ Q-13-1R

34. A sample of sodium chlorate(V), NaClO3, was heated and 120 cm3 of oxygen gas was collected.

2NaClO3(s)→ 2NaCl(s) + 3O2(g)

Calculate the number of moles of sodium chlorate(V) that were decomposed in the above reaction.

[Molar volume of a gas under the conditions of the experiment = 24000 cm 3 mol–1]

A 2.50 × 10–3

B 3.33 × 10–3

C 5.00 × 10–3

D 7.50 × 10–3

2013/May/ Q-14-1R

35. 3.0 dm3 of sulfur dioxide reacts with 1.5 dm3 of oxygen, under suitable conditions, according to
the equation below.

2SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2SO3(g)

What is the maximum volume of sulfur trioxide that can be formed in the above reaction?

[The volumes of the gases are measured at the same temperature and pressure.]
A 6.0 dm3

B 4.5 dm3

C 3.0 dm3

D 1.5 dm3

2013/May/ Q-16-1R

36. Ethene, C2H4, was prepared from ethanol, C2H5OH, by the following reaction

C2H5OH →C2H4 + H2O

A chemist reacted 9.2 g of ethanol, C2H5OH, and obtained 4.2 g of ethene.

Calculate the percentage yield of ethene in the reaction.

2013/May/ Q-24c-1R