SchO 2024 ROUND 1

Time allowed: 2 hours

Constants and Formulae

Avogadro constant NA = 6.022×1023 mol-1 Gas constant R = 8.314 J mol-1 K-1
Planck constant h = 6.626×10-34 J s Boltzmann constant kB = 1.381×10-23 J K-1
Elementary charge e = 1.602×10-19 C Mass of electron me = 9.109×10-31 kg
Faraday constant F = 96485 C mol-1 Speed of light in vacuum c = 2.998×108 m s-1
Standard pressure p0 = 105 Pa = 1 bar Atmospheric pressure patm = 1.01325×105 Pa
0 degree Celsius 0°C = 273.15 K
First law of thermodynamics ΔU = q + w Arrhenius law k = A exp(-Ea/RT)
Enthalpy H = U + pV Integrated rate laws
Entropy ΔS = qrev/T Zeroth order [A] = [A]0 – kt
Gibbs free energy G = H – TS First order ln [A] = ln [A]0 – kt
ΔG° = –RTlnK = –nFE°cell Second order 1/[A] = 1/[A]0 + kt
Ideal gas law pV = nRT Beer-Lambert law A = εlc
Nernst equation RT cox Energy of a photon E = hf = hc/λ
E = E° + ln
nF cred
1. In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, radioactivity is always a safety concern to the
scientific community and general public. The radioactivity is measured in the SI unit of
becquerel (Bq). One becquerel is defined as one decay per second. For example, if a
radioactive material undergoes 26000 decays in 5 seconds, its radioactivity is 5200 Bq
or 5.2 kBq.
Banana equivalent dose is an informal measurement of radioactivity in our everyday life.
An average-size banana contains about 0.5 g of potassium element. Naturally occurring
potassium contains 39K (93.3%), 40K (0.012%) and 41K (6.7%). The radioactive isotope
40K has a half-life of 1.25×1010 years.
Write the nuclear reaction equation of 40K undergoing β-decay. [1 pt]
Calculate the amount of 40K in an average-size banana, in mol. [1 pt]
Calculate the radioactivity of an average-size banana, assuming 40K is the only
radioactive isotope/element present. [3 pt]

2. Hydrogen has two stable isotopes, 1H and 2H (D), while oxygen has three stable isotopes
of 16O, 17O and 18O. Considering these isotopes, there are three possible types of
hydrogen molecules: H2, D2, and HD.
Calculate/count the number of types of O2 [1 pt], H2O [1 pt] and H2O2 [3 pt] molecules
respectively.

3. Petrol is by far the most common fuel for car engines due to its high energy density.
Calculate the mass of carbon dioxide produced [2 pt] and the energy released [3 pt] upon
complete combustion of 1 L petrol. Assume the density of petrol is 754 kg/m³ and its
composition is 90% octane and 10% heptane by mass.
Bond energy (kJ mol⁻¹): C–C 350; C=C 610; C≡C 840; C–H 410; O–H 460; O=O 150;
O=C 496; C=O 360; C=O (in CO2) 805.

4. Water splitting reaction, H2O(g)  H2(g) + ½ O2 (g), is a potential method to produce

hydrogen. The energy for water splitting reaction may come from electrolysis, photons
(with suitable catalyst) or solar thermal energy.
 In an experiment set-up, sun light is focused by a large concave mirror to heat up water
in a 1 dm³ closed vessel (air has been removed prior to experiment). When equilibrium
is established, 0.490% of the water is split into H2 & O2 and the total pressure in the
vessel is 0.250 bar.
Calculate the equilibrium constant K. [3 pt]
Calculate the temperature of the vessel, given that the temperature-independent
∆fH°(H2O, g) = −241.8 kJ mol-1, and ∆Sm° is 130.7, 205.1, 188.8 J mol-1 K-1 for H2(g),
O2(g) and H2O(g) respectively. [2 pt]

5. In electrochemistry experiments, silver chloride electrode is a common reference

electrode because of its ease of operation and low toxicity. Silver chloride electrode is
made up of a silver wire submerged in KCl solution containing AgCl precipitate.
Write the half equation [1 pt] and cell notation [1 pt] of the silver chloride electrode with
state symbols.
Calculate the standard reduction potential of the silver chloride electrode at 298 K, given
that E°Ag+ /Ag = 0.7996 V and Ksp(AgCl) = 1.77×10-10. [3 pt]

6. At a constant temperature, 20.0 g anhydrous copper(II) sulfate was added to 100.0 g

water. The obtained mixture was a saturated solution without any solid. An additional 2.0
g anhydrous copper(II) sulfate was added and some blue solid was observed.
Write the formula of the blue solid formed. [1 pt]
Calculate the mass of the blue solid. Assume no evaporation of water. [4 pt]

7. In the reaction A  P, the reactant concentration [A] can be described as:

[A] = [A]0 − kobs t0.5

Give the unit of kobs. [1 pt]

Express the first half-life of the reaction, t1, in terms of [A]0 and kobs. [2 pt]
Deduce the equation relating the nth half-life, tn and (n+1)th half-life, tn+1. [2 pt]
8. The energy levels that an electron can occupy in a hydrogen atom or hydrogen-like atoms
(atom/ion with only one electron, e.g. He+, Li2+) is given below.
𝑍 m e
𝐸 = −
8h ε 𝑛
where n = principal quantum number, Z = atomic number, me = mass of electron, e =
elementary charge, h = Planck’s constant, ε0 = vacuum permittivity = 8.854×10-12 C2 m-3
kg-1 s2.
Be3+ is excited from n1 = 5 to n2 with light of wavelength 179.5 nm.
Calculate the energy of one photon of the light [2 pt] and n2 [3 pt].

9. In A-level chemistry, sulfuric acid is considered a strong acid. In reality, only the first
dissociation of H2SO4 is complete, whereas its second dissociation is partial, with Ka2 =
1.02×10-2.
Calculate [SO42-]A in 0.100 mol dm-3 KHSO4 solution. [2 pt]
Calculate [SO42-]B in 0.100 mol dm-3 H2SO4 solution. [3 pt]

10. A mixture of equal masses of strontium carbonate and aluminium was treated with an
excess of hydrochloric acid solution.
Calculate the average density ρ (g dm-3) of the resulting gas mixture at 20°C and 1 atm.
[5 pt]

11. When 8.004 g of ionic compound B was carefully heated at 250°C in a 1 dm-3 closed
vessel, it completely decomposed to two gases without any residue, and the pressure in
the vessel was 13.05 bar. When the vessel was cooled down to 25°C, the pressure
decreased to 2.48 bar.
Calculate molar ratio of the two gases. [2 pt]
Deduce the formula of B [2 pt] and write the balanced equation of its decomposition. [1
pt]

12. Binary compound C contains 32.86% element Y by mass. Y is one of the elements that
is abundant in air. Deduce the formula of compound C [4 pt] and write its name [1 pt].
13. Common household mirrors are coated with a thin layer of metal (typically silver) and the
process is called "silvering." Generally, the silver layer is formed when Tollen’s reagent is
reduced by an aldehyde (e.g., glucose). In this question, use R-CHO to represent the
aldehyde.
Write the overall ionic equation for the formation of Tollen’s reagent. [2 pt]
Write the ionic equation for the "silvering" process, taking the pH of Tollen’s reagent into
consideration [3 pt].

14. Metal oxo complexes are key species for biological/chemical activation of strong C–H
bonds via hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA). Complex D (illustrated on the right) is very
suitable for the study of the activation of C–H bonds.
Deduce the oxidation state of the metal in complex D. [2 pt]
Write the electronic configuration of the metal in complex D. [3 pt]

15. Lab-grown diamond is produced by treating graphite at high pressure and temperature
in the laboratory. To purify the obtained diamond, the remaining unreacted graphite is
removed by HClO4 at room temperature. During this purification process, three products
are formed: a colourless liquid, a colourless, non-toxic gas and a coloured, toxic gas.
Which allotrope of carbon is thermodynamically more stable under standard condition?
[1 pt]
Write the reaction equation for the purification process. [4 pt]

16. The crystal structure of binary compound

E is shown on the right. The unit cell is
tetragonal (a = b ≠ c, α = β = γ = 90°).
Black ball is Cl and grey ball is Hg. The
density of the crystal is 7.162 g/cm³.

Identify the formula of E in one unit cell.

[2 pt]
Calculate the lattice parameter a, given that c = 1090.5 pm. [3 pt]
17. Compound F (C9H18N6) is used for the treatment of ovarian cancer. F can be synthesised
in one step from G (C3N3Cl3) by reacting with compound H. Both F and G are
characterised by 3-fold axis of symmetry (i.e., rotation by 120° results in a molecule
indistinguishable from the original). All hydrogen atoms in F are equivalent.
Draw the skeletal structure of F [2 pt], G [2 pt] and H [1 pt].

18. 1.000 g of a ternary organic compound I is completely combusted in excess oxygen. The
product is a mixture of two gases at 150°C. The total mass of the two gases is 2.974 g
and their total volume is V. When this gaseous mixture is cooled to 30°C, the volume is
reduced to 44.77%V at the same pressure.
Calculate the empirical formula of I. [5 pt]

19. Draw structures of compounds 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7. [10 pt, 2 pt for each structure]

benzene HBr, AcOH

1 3 4
AlCl3
2
t-BuOK C21H20Cl2O4 heating C16H12Cl2O2
v
H2
Pd/C

H2 CH3NH2 1. SOCl2
7 6
Pd/C C15H15Cl2N TiCl4 C16H12Cl2O 2. AlCl3

8 5

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