HKDSE CHEMISTRY — A Modern View (Second Edition)

Part IV Acids and bases

Chemistry: Chapter 14 Introduction to acids and alkalis

Structured questions

Sections 14.114.4
1.
For each of the following reactions,
(i) state ONE observable change and
(ii) write an ionic equation for the reaction involved.

(a) aluminium sulphate solution + excess ammonia solution (2 marks)

(b) iron(II) chloride solution + excess sodium hydroxide solution (2 marks)

(c) copper(II) oxide + dilute sulphuric acid (2 marks)

2.
The following set-ups are used to dissolve hydrogen chloride gas in methylbenzene
and water respectively.
hydrogen chloride gas
hydrogen chloride gas

inverted
funnel inverted
gas syringe funnel
gas syringe
methylbenzene
anhydrous
calcium chloride water

Set-up A Set-up B

(a) State the function of the inverted funnel in the set-up. (1 mark)

(b) State the function of anhydrous calcium chloride in set-up A. (1 mark)

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Part IV Acids and bases

*(c) State and explain the observable changes when calcium carbonate is added in the
above set-up respectively. (5 marks)

(d) State what would be observed when dry litmus paper is dipped into
(i) hydrogen chloride in methylbenzene. (1 mark)

(ii) hydrogen chloride in water. (1 mark)

3.
There are four colourless solutions in four unlabelled beakers. They are dilute
sulphuric acid, sodium carbonate solution, calcium hydroxide solution and sodium
hydroxide solution. A student is asked to identify the four solutions.

(a) With the aid of a chemical equation, suggest how magnesium ribbon can help
identify one of the unknown solutions. (2 marks)

*(b) After identifying one of the unknown solutions, describe how to identify the
remaining three solutions. (5 marks)

4.

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Part IV Acids and bases

The following diagram shows the set-up used to measure the mass of hydrogen
released when excess acid reacts with a known mass of zinc granules.
acid
B

calcium oxide
A

zinc granules

The set-up is weighed before and after zinc granules are added to the flask. Excess
acid is added to the tap funnel and the set-up is weighed again. Tap B is opened to add
all the acid to the zinc granules. When the reaction is complete, a slow stream of dry
air is blown through tap A. The set-up is then weighed again.

(a) (i) Should tap A and tap B be kept open or closed as the reaction takes place?
Explain briefly. (2 marks)

(ii) Why is dry air blown through the set-up when the reaction is complete?
(1 mark)

(iii) How can one know that the reaction has completed? (1 mark)

(iv) Suggest why a tube of calcium oxide is included in the set-up. (1 mark)

(b) Give ONE type of reaction, other than that of an acid on a metal, which leads to
the formation of hydrogen. Write an equation for the reaction. (2 marks)

Sections 14.514.7

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 HKDSE CHEMISTRY — A Modern View (Second Edition)
Part IV Acids and bases

5.
A brand of baking powder contains a mixture of tartaric acid and sodium
hydrogencarbonate. In making cakes, water and a little baking powder are added to
flour. When dissolved in water, the acid and hydrogencarbonate react and liberate
carbon dioxide. When sodium hydrogencarbonate is heated, carbon dioxide is also
produced. The percentage by mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate in baking powder
can be found by the following steps:
Step 1: Add excess dilute sulphuric acid to 2.00 g of baking powder.
Step 2: Collect the carbon dioxide evolved by a gas syringe.
Step 3: Weigh the carbon dioxide collected.

(a) Why should the baking powder be kept in a dry place? (1 mark)

(b) Write a chemical equation for the decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate.

(1 mark)

(c) (i) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between dilute sulphuric acid and
sodium hydrogencarbonate. (1 mark)

(ii) Explain why dilute sulphuric acid added should be in excess. (1 mark)

(iii) If the mass of carbon dioxide collected is 0.64 g, calculate the percentage by
mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate in the baking powder. (3 marks)
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, C = 12.0, O = 16.0, Na = 23.0)

6.
Sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide are common alkalis.

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 HKDSE CHEMISTRY — A Modern View (Second Edition)
Part IV Acids and bases

(a) Suggest ONE chemical test which shows that both solutions contain hydroxide
ions. Write an ionic equation for the reaction involved. (3 marks)

(b) Suggest ONE chemical test to distinguish between sodium hydroxide solution
and calcium hydroxide solution. (2 marks)

(c) Suggest ONE use of sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide respectively.
(2 marks)

7.
Compound X is a white solid. When it is heated with sodium hydroxide solution, a gas
with pungent smell is produced. When X dissolves in water, it forms a colourless
solution. When acidified silver nitrate solution is added to the solution, a white
precipitate forms.

(a) (i) Name the gas with pungent smell produced. (1 mark)

(ii) Suggest a test for the gas. (2 marks)

(b) (i) Name the acid that is used to acidify silver nitrate solution. (1 mark)

(ii) What is the white precipitate produced in the silver nitrate test? (1 mark)

(iii) Write an ionic equation for the formation of the precipitate. (1 mark)

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Part IV Acids and bases

(c) When the precipitate is exposed to sunlight, a silvery grey solid forms. Suggest
what the solid would be. (1 mark)

8.
The following flow diagram shows a series of reactions of zinc.
Gas Y
H2SO4(aq)
Zinc
little NH3(aq)
Solution Z Solid W
excess NH3(aq)

Solution R

(a) (i) Name gas Y. (1 mark)

(ii) Suggest a chemical test for gas Y. (2 marks)

(b) Write the equation for the reaction between solution Z and NH3(aq). (1 mark)

(c) State an expected observation when an aluminium foil is added to solution Z.

(1 mark)

(d) (i) Write the equation for the reaction between solid W and excess NH3(aq).
(1 mark)

(ii) State the colour of solution R. (1 mark)

9.
A sodium hydroxide solution has been exposed to air for a long time. When dilute

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Part IV Acids and bases

hydrochloric acid is added, colourless gas bubbles are given out. Explain the
observation with the help of equations. (4 marks)

10.
Iron rusts when it is exposed to air for a period of time.

(a) Write a chemical equation for the formation of rust. (1 mark)

(b) Explain why an iron nail does not rust when it is in contact with a magnesium
ribbon. (2 marks)

(c) A student found that FeSO4(aq) also gives a brown precipitate when exposed to
air for a period of time.
(i) Is the precipitate considered as rust? Explain your answer by describing the
formation of the precipitate. (3 marks)

(ii) Inspired by the method in (b), the student proposed adding a magnesium
ribbon to FeSO4(aq) to prevent the formation of the precipitate. Do you
think it works? Explain your answer with the aid of an equation. (2 marks)

11.
Solution X forms by dissolving a solid mixture of sodium hydroxide, magnesium
chloride and aluminium chloride in distilled water. 1.16 g of white precipitate is

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Part IV Acids and bases

produced in solution X. Then 1.0 M hydrochloric acid is added drops by drops to

solution X and the change in mass of the precipitate is shown below.

Mass of precipitate (g)

Volume of 1 M HCl (cm3)

(a) Is the reaction mixture acidic, neutral or alkaline before adding 1.0 M HCl?
(1 mark)

(b) Besides hydroxide ions, write the chemical formulae of the anions present in
solution X. (2 marks)

(c) Name the white precipitate in solution X. (1 mark)

(d) Write the ionic equation for the reaction occurred from A to B. (1 mark)

(e) Explain why the mass of precipitate decreases gradually from B to C. (1 mark)

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Part IV Acids and bases

(f) Calculate the mass of magnesium chloride in the solid mixture. (2 marks)
(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Mg = 24.3, Cl = 35.5)

Section 14.8
12.
A student prepared dilute hydrochloric acid from concentrated hydrochloric acid and
water.

(a) Suggest a hazard warning label on a bottle of concentrated hydrochloric acid.

(1 mark)

(b) State TWO safety precautions for the dilution process. (2 marks)

(c) The student accidentally spilt some concentrated acid on his hand. Another
student suggested washing the hand with some alkali to neutralize the acid. Do
you agree? Explain your answer. (1 mark)

(d) After dilution, the student forgot to label the beakers containing the acids.
Suggest a method to distinguish between the two acids. State the expected
observations. (2 marks)

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Part IV Acids and bases

13.
Below is part of a label on a bottle of solid drain cleaner:
Active Ingredient: Caustic Soda
Instructions:
1. Put the cleaner into the drain. (Avoid contact with skin)
2. Add two equivalents of water to the drain. (Beware of any irritating fume
evolved.)
3. Leave the cleaner solution in the drain for five minutes.
4. Rinse the drain with plenty of water for several minutes.

A housewife follows the instructions to remove any clog in the drain.

(a) (i) Suggest ONE hazard of the solid drain cleaner. (1 mark)

(ii) Suggest TWO safety precautions that she should take when using the solid
cleaner. (2 marks)

(b) What is the chemical name of caustic soda? (1 mark)

(c) Suggest what the housewife should do if the cleaner solution is spilled onto the
skin. (1 mark)

(d) The housewife knows that glass cleaners are also alkaline. Do you suggest her to
use the drain cleaner to clean the glass? Explain your answer. (1 mark)

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