TECHNIQUES OF

ANSWERING
SPM CHEMISTRY
Paper 2
Prepared by
ChenSC

Paper 1
Objective
Test:
50
objective
questions
(answer
all)

50 marks
(25 %)

1 hour 15
minutes

Paper 2

Paper 3

Subjective Test:
Section A : 6 structured items

Written Practical
Test:

Section B : 2 restricted
response items (essay) choose ONE
Section C: 2 open response
items
(essay) - choose ONE
100 marks (50 %)
Section A: 60 marks
Section B: 20 marks
Section C: 20 marks
2 hours
Section A: 90 minutes

1 2 structured
items
1- 2 open response
items (essay)

50 marks
(25 %)

1 hour 30
minutes

Paper 2 Section A : Structure

Questions

1. Structured questions are usually based on

labelled diagrams, tables, data, charts or

graphs related with the experiments or facts
2. Write short and precise answers.
3. Answers may be a few sentences, a short

phrase, a word, a number or an equation.

4. The number of lines for the answers is a

guide to how much to write.

PAPER 2 Section B & C

1. Read through all the questions carefully.
2. Underline important command words in the

question.
3. Prepare an outline to include all the important facts
so that important no information is not left out.
4. Use simple English.
5. Use the marks allocated as a guide to the number
of points in the answer.

6. One mark is given for one point.

7. Use labelled diagrams, tables, graphs, examples,

equations, or show workings for calculations

to support the answer.

COMMAND WORDS
Questions usually begin with

command words.

Examples of important Command

Words
Name
Compare
Calculate
State
Predict
Explain
Draw
Define
Sketch
Differentiate
Predict
Determine`

1. Name / state the name

Give the name not the formula
Example: Name another element

that has the same stability as

argon
[1 mark]
Suggested answer:
Helium

2. Define / State The Meaning / What

Is The Meaning Of
Give the meaning or definition of a term

precisely.
Example: Define proton number

[1 mark]

Suggested answer:
Proton number is the number

of protons in an atom

3. STATE
Give a brief answer
(explanation is not required)
Example: State all the ions present

in zinc sulphate solution.

[2 marks]

Suggested answer:
Zinc ion / Zn2+ , sulphate ions / SO42- ,

hydrogen ions / H+ , hydroxide ions /

OH-

State the conditions for the rusting of

iron
[2 marks]
Suggested answer:
Presence of water and air /

oxygen.

4. STATE THE OBSERVATION:

I

State the colour change (from initial

colour to final colour)
Example : State the change in
colour of copper (II) sulphate
solution.
[1 mark]
Suggested answer:
The blue colour of the solution

becomes colourless

4. STATE THE OBSERVATION:

II

Write what is observed

physically
Example : State one observation
when zinc powder is added to
sulphuric acid.
[1 mark]
Suggested answer:
Bubbles of colourless gas

released.

5. EXPLAIN

Give reasons to explain a fact / statement /

observation
Example: Explain why potassium chloride
cannot
conduct electricity in solid state but can
conduct
electricity in aqueous solution.
[2
marks]

Suggested answer:
There is no free moving ions in solid state
There are free moving ions in aqueous solution

Explain how zinc plates protect iron

ship from rusting.
[2 marks]

Zinc is more electropositve than

iron //
Zinc is above iron in the
Electrochemical
Series.
Zinc atoms lose electrons // zinc is

oxidised.

DESCRIBE
(a) 6aDescribe
a chemical / confirmatory
test

for ion / gas

1. Procedure & correct reagent
2. Observation
3. Conclusion
Example: Describe a confirmatory test for the

gas released at the anode

marks]

[3

Suggested answer:
1. Place a glowing wooden splinter into the

test tube.
2. The glowing splinter lights up / rekindles
3. Oxygen gas is released

6a DESCRIBE
Example:
Describe a confirmatory
test for chloride ions
[3 marks]
Suggested answer:
1. Add dilute nitric acid
2. Followed by silver nitrate
solution
3. White precipitate is formed

6(b) DESCRIBE AN EXPERIMENT :

No mark for diagram (The diagram can help

students write the steps in the procedure)
1. Substances & materials
2. Procedure
3. Observation / example / tabulation of data /
equation / calculation / sketch of graph /
conclusion

Example : Describe the preparation of

lead(II)
sulphate in the laboratory.
In your description, include the chemical
equation involved.

[10 marks]

6(b) DESCRIBE AN EXPERIMENT. .

Suggested answer:
Substances: Lead(II) nitrate solution, sodium
sulphate solution
Apparatus: Beaker, filter funnel, filter paper

Procedures:
1. Pour 100 cm3 of 1.0 mol dm-3 lead(II) nitrate solution
into a
beaker.
2. Add 100 cm3 of 1.0 mol dm-3 sodium sulphate solution
3. Stir the mixture
4. Filter
5. Wash the solid using water.
Equation:
Pb(NO3)2 + Na2SO4 PbSO4 + 2NaNO3 // Pb2+ + SO42 PbSO4

 1. State the physical state of the substance used :

sodim hydroxide solution, magnesium oxide

powder.
2. State the correct quantity (volume and

concentration of solution, mass of solid used.)

[0.1 2.0] mol dm-3 of [20 100] cm3 hydrochloric
acid.
Test tube : 2 5 cm3 solution
Boiling tube : 2 10 cm3 solution
Beaker : 20 100 cm3 solution
0.5 - 5 g zinc powder.

3. Use action words: Add, mix, pour, stir, filter, heat.

6(c) DESCRIBE AN EXPERIMENT INCLUDE A

LABELLED DIAGRAM IN YOUR ANSWER.
1. Substances dan materials
2. Diagram
3. Procedure
4. Observation / example / tabulation of data / equation /

calculation / sketch of graph / conclusion

Example : Describe a laboratory experiment to
electroplate an iron ring with silver.
Your answer should include the following:
List of apparatus and materials
Labelled diagram showing the apparatus set-up
Procedure of the experiment
Half-equations for the reactions at the anode and cathode

[10 marks]

6(c) DESCRIBE AN EXPERIMENT INCLUDE

A
LABELLED DIAGRAM IN YOUR ANSWER.
Suggested answer:
List of apparatus and materials:
Iron spoon, silver plate, batteries,
connecting wire, beaker, silver nitrate
solution, sand paper

Silver plate
Iron spoon

Silver nitrate
solution

6(c) DESCRIBE AN EXPERIMENT INCLUDE

A
LABELLED DIAGRAM IN YOUR ANSWER.
Procedure:
1. Clean the iron spoon with sand paper
2. Pour silver nitrate solution into a beaker
3. Iron spoon is made the cathode and
silver plate is
made the anode
4. Immerse both electrodes in the solution
5. Close the switch
Half-equation at anode:
Ag
Ag+ + e
Half-equation at cathode:
Ag+ + e Ag

7. CALCULATE
Show the steps in your calculation.
Give final answer with correct unit.

Example : A balloon contains 0.01 mol helium

gas. Calculate the volume of helium gas

produced in the
balloon at room conditions.
[1 mol of gas occupies 24 dm 3 at room
conditions]

[1 mark]
Suggested answer:

Volume of helium gas = 0.01 x 24 dm 3

= 0.24 dm3

 Functional set-up of apparatus

8.
Draw
a
labelled
diagram
of
the
set-up
of
Label the important apparatus
and materials used
apparatus
If it involves solution, shade the
solution with dash lines
If the experiment involves
heating, draw an arrow and label
Heat below the arrow

9. DRAW ENERGY LEVEL DIAGRAM

Draw an arrow for the vertical axis and

label Energy
Draw two horizontal lines for the

reactants and products

Show value of H

DRAW ENERGY LEVEL DIAGRAM

Energy
H+ + OH H = - 57.3 kJ mol-1
H2O

10. Draw the arrangement of

particles in solid, liquid and gas.
Solid

Draw at least three layers of

particles closely packed in orderly manner.
The particles do not overlap.

10. Draw the arrangement of

particles in solid, liquid and gas.
Liquid : The particles are packed closely

but not in orderly manner

Gas

: The particles are very far apart

from each other.

11. DIFFERENTIATE
Give the differences between two terms /

phenomenon.
Example: State one property that can

differentiate ionic compound from covalent

compound.
Suggested answer:

Ionic compound can conduct electricity

in molten or aqueous state whereas

covalent compound cannot conduct
electricity in molten or aqueous state.

12. COMPARE AND CONTRAST

List the similarities and differences

between two terms / phenomenon.

Example: Compare the chemical
properties between hexane and hexene.
Similarities:
Both can burn in excess oxygen to produce

carbon dioxide and water.

Differences:
Hexane

Hexene

Does not decolourise

purple colour of acidified
potassium
manganate(VII) solution

Decolourises purple
colour of acidified
potassium
manganate(VII) solution

Does not decolourise

reddish brown colour of
bromine water

Decolourises reddishbrown colour of bromine

water

Burns with a sooty flame. Burns with a more sooty

flame.

13. WRITE
EQUATIONS
Chemical
equation
Ionic equation
Half-equation
Thermochemical equation

13.
WRITE
EQUATIONS
a.
Chemical
Equation:

Zn + CuSO4 ZnSO4 + Cu

b. Ionic Equation:

Zn + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu
c. Half-equation
(i) Zn Zn2+ + 2e
(ii) Cu2+ + 2e Cu
d. Thermochemical equation
Zn + CuSO4 ZnSO4 + Cu H = -210 kJ mol-1

14. PREDICT
Deduce an answer from the information in the

question or own knowledge or from an earlier

answer.
Example: Astatine is an element below iodine in

Group 17 of the Periodic Table. Based on your

knowledge about the properties of chlorine, bromine
and iodine, predict one physical property of astatine.
Suggested Answer:

Astatine is a black solid at room

temperature.

15. DRAW GRAPH

Label both axes with the correct units.
Use suitable scales for both axes.
Size of the graph at least of the size

of graph paper
Plot all the points correctly.
Draw smooth curve with the correct
shape.

Graph of temperature against time for the

heating of naphthalene
Temperature / oC

80 oC

Time / s

THANK YOU