CHEMISTRY

S4 Final Term Exam

HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION

CHEMISTRY
(SECONDARY FOUR FINAL TERM
EXAMINATION PAPER)

Time allowed: 2 hours

This paper must be answered in English.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. There are TWO sections, A and B, in this Paper.

2. Section A consists of multiple-choice questions in this question paper, while Section B contains
conventional questions printed separately in Question-Answer Book B.

3. Answers to Section A should be marked on the Multiple-choice Answer Sheet while answers to Section
B should be written in the spaces provided in Question-Answer Book B. The Answer Sheet for Section
A and the Question-Answer Book for Section B will be collected separately at the end of the
examination.

4. A Periodic Table is printed on the back of Question-Answer Book B. Atomic numbers and relative
atomic masses of elements can be obtained from the Periodic Table.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SECTION A (MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS)

1. Read carefully the instructions on the Answer Sheet. Write your name, class and class number in the
space provided.

2. When told to open this book, you should check that all the questions are there. Look for the words
‘END OF SECTION A’ after the last question.

3. All questions carry equal marks.

4. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. You are advised to use an HB pencil to mark all the answers on the
Answer Sheet, so that wrong marks can be completely erased with a clean rubber. You must mark the
answers clearly; otherwise you will lose marks if the answers cannot be captured.

5. You should mark only ONE answer for each question. If you mark more than one answer, you will
receive NO MARKS for that question.

6. No marks will be deducted for wrong answers.

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There are 30 questions in this section. Choose the best answer for each question.

Candidates may refer to the Periodic Table printed on the back of Question-Answer Book B.

1. An isotope of an element with an atomic number n has a mass number of 2n + 2. How many
neutrons are there in the nucleus of this isotope?
A. n+2
B. n+1
C. n
D. 2

1
2. H and 2H have different numbers of neutrons but the same number of protons. Which of the
following is the correct description for 1H and 2H?
1
A. H and 2H are isotopes.
1
B. H can be changed to 2H by chemical methods.
1
C. H2O and 2H2O are allotropes.
1
D. H216O and 2H216O exhibit the same physical properties.

3. The following ion is stable at room temperature.

Particle X represents
A. an electron.
B. a neutron.
C. a proton.
D. a nucleus.

4. Which of the following aqueous solutions of 1 dm3 contains the greatest amount of ions?
A. 0.01 M C6H12O6(aq)
B. 0.01 M CaCl2(aq)
C. 0.02 M NaCl(aq)
D. 0.02 M CH3COOH(aq)

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5. After adding some zinc nitrate solution to a sample of solution Y, a precipitate forms. Which of
the following ions is probably present in the sample?
A. Carbonate ion
B. Chloride ion
C. Lead(II) ion
D. Silver ion

6. The colours for the two acid-base indicators on adding to a particular solution are tabulated
below:

Acid-base indicator Colour in the solution

Methyl orange Yellow
Phenolphthalein Colourless

The pH of the solution is between

A. 1 to 4.
B. 5 to 8.
C. 9 to 11.
D. 12 to 14.

7. When the pH of a solution changes from 2.0 to 5.0, the [H+(aq)]

A. increases by a factor of 1000.
B. increases by a factor of 3.
C. decreases by a factor of 3.
D. decreases by a factor of 1000.

8. Which of the following methods can be used to obtain pure water from a mixture of zinc
sulphate crystals and saturated zinc sulphate solution?
A. Decantation
B. Distillation
C. Filtration followed by evaporation
D. Filtration followed by crystallization

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9. Elements X and Y are non-metals. The electron diagram of the compound formed by
combination of X and Y is shown below:

Which of the following is the electron diagram of the compound formed between sodium and
element Y?
A.

B.

C.

D.

10. A sample of sulphuric acid has a density of 1.18 g cm3 and contains 25% sulphuric acid by
mass. The concentration of the sulphuric acid sample is
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, O = 16.0, S = 32.1)
A. 2.55 M.
B. 3.01 M.
C. 3.40 M.
D. 4.25 M.

11. Hydrogen has three isotopes: H ( 11 H ), D ( 21 H ) and T ( 31 H ). How many types of water
molecule form when hydrogen combines with 16O?
A. 3
B. 6
C. 8
D. 9

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12. A solution contains Fe3+(aq), Zn2+(aq) and Cu2+(aq). Which of the following solutions should
be added in excess in order to precipitate Fe3+(aq) only?
A. HNO3(aq)
B. NaOH(aq)
C. HCl(aq)
D. NH3(aq)

13. Which of the following equations correctly represents the reaction of calcium with cold water?
A. Ca + 2H2O  Ca(OH)2 + H2
B. Ca + H2O  CaO + H2
1
C. Ca + H2O  CaOH + H2
2
D. Ca + 2H2O  CaO2 + 2H2

14. What are the values of a, b, c and d respectively in the following equation?
aCl2(g) + bOH–(aq)  cCl–(aq) + ClO3–(aq) + dH2O(l)
A. 1, 2, 1, 1
B. 2, 2, 3, 1
C. 2, 3, 2, 1
D. 3, 6, 5, 3

15. Excess hydrochloric acid was added to calcium carbonate. The following graph showed the
result.

time

What would X represent?

A. Mass of calcium carbonate
B. Volume of carbon dioxide evolved
C. pH of the reaction mixture
D. Temperature of the reaction mixture

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Directions: Questions 16 and 17 refer to the following experiment.

Rust indicator solution was added to each of the following Petri dishes to cover the metal nails,
which were wrapped with different metal strips. The dishes were allowed to stand in air for some
time.

copper nail wrapped copper nail wrapped iron nail wrapped iron nail wrapped
with iron strip with silver strip with zinc strip with magnesium strip
Dish 1 Dish 2 Dish 3 Dish 4

16. In which of the dishes would the metal nail corrode the fastest?
A. Dish 1 B. Dish 2
C. Dish 3 D. Dish 4

17. In which of the above dishes would the rust indicator solution show a blue colour?
A. Dish 1 B. Dish 3
C. Dishes 1 and 3 D. Dishes 1, 3 and 4

18. Which of the following statements about 10.0 cm3 of 1 M H2CO3(aq) and 20.0 cm3 of 1 M
HNO3(aq) is correct?
A. They react with the same mass of limestone powder at the same rate.
B. They have the same pH value.
C. They require the same number of moles of potassium hydroxide for complete
neutralization.
D. They have the same electrical conductivity.

19. Element Y forms two oxides YO2 and YO3. If 1 mole of YO2 contains n atoms, 0.5 mole of YO3
would contain
2
A. n atoms.
3
4
B. n atoms.
3
C. 2n atoms.
D. 3n atoms.

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20. Gas X is bubbled into liquid Y as shown below:

gas X

test tube

liquid Y

Which of the following combinations would give no observable change in the test tube?
X Y

A. ammonia universal indicator solution

B. nitrogen dioxide methyl orange solution

C. carbon dioxide limewater

D. hydrogen chloride phenolphthalein solution

Directions: Questions 21 and 22 refer to the following experiment.

A carboxylic acid has a formula of H(CH2)nCOOH, where n = 0, 1, 2, etc. To determine the value of
n, the acid is titrated against 25.0 cm3 of 0.05 mol dm–3 sodium hydroxide solution, using
phenolphthalein as the indicator.
21. Refer to the diagrams below, what is the volume of the carboxylic acid added to the sodium
hydroxide solution?

initial burette reading (cm3) final burette reading (cm3)

A. 25.90 cm3
B. 26.00 cm3
C. 26.10 cm3
D. 33.80 cm3

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22. Given that the concentration of carboxylic acid is 3.55 g dm–3, and the average volume of the
acid for neutralizing 25.0 cm3 of 0.05 mol dm–3 sodium hydroxide solution is 26.04 cm3. What
is the value of n?
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, C = 12.0, O = 16.0)
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

23. Which of the following oxides gives oxygen on heating?

A. Calcium oxide
B. Copper(II) oxide
C. Silver oxide
D. Zinc oxide

24. Which of the following correctly describes the sequence of steps to separate a solid mixture of
lead(II) oxide, lead(II) nitrate and iodine?
A. Dissolving in distilled water  filtration  evaporation to dryness
B. Dissolving in distilled water  filtration  distillation
C. Dissolving in hexane  filtration  evaporation to dryness
D. Heating gently to collect the vapour  dissolving in distilled water  filtration

25. When phosphorus pentachloride dissolves in water, the following reaction occurs:
PCl5(s) + 4H2O(l)  H3PO4(aq) + 5HCl(aq)
2.0 g of phosphorus pentachloride dissolves in water and the solution is made up to 500 cm3.
What is the concentration of chloride ions in the resultant solution?
(Relative atomic masses: P = 31.0, Cl = 35.5)
A. 0.038 M
B. 0.096 M
C. 0.100 M
D. 0.192 M

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26. Which of the following apparatus are commonly used in a titration?

(1) (2) (3)

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

Directions: Each question below (Questions 23 and 24) consists of two separate statements.
Decide whether each of the two statements is true or false; if both are true, then
decide whether or not the second statement is a correct explanation of the first
statement. Then select one option from A to D according to the following table:

A. Both statements are true and the 2nd statement is a correct explanation of the 1st statement.
B. Both statements are true and the 2nd statement is NOT a correct explanation of the 1st
statement.
C. The 1st statement is false but the 2nd statement is true.
D. Both statements are false.

1st statement 2nd statement

27. Barium sulphate is soluble in water. Barium sulphate is an ionic compound.

28. The basicity of citric acid (C6H8O7) is 8. One molecule of citric acid contains eight
hydrogen atoms.

29. Both dry ice and quartz consist of Carbon and silicon atoms have four electrons
discrete molecules. in their outermost shells.

30. Copper(II) hydroxide solid can dissolve Sodium hydroxide is a stronger alkali than
in excess sodium hydroxide solution but aqueous ammonia of the same concentration.
cannot dissolve in excess aqueous
ammonia.

END OF SECTION A

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B Name
HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION Class

CHEMISTRY Class no.

(SECONDARY FOUR FINAL TERM
EXAMINATION PAPER)

SECTION B : Question-Answer Book B

This paper must be answered in English.

Question
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SECTION B Marks
No.

1 7
(1) Write your name, class and class number in the space
provided on this page. 2 8

3 4
(2) Refer to the general instructions on the cover of the
Question Paper for Section A. 4 5

5 5
(3) Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the 6 7
spaces provided in this Question-Answer Book. Do
not write in the margins. Answers written in the 7 10
margins will not be marked.
8 5

(4) An asterisk (*) has been put next to the questions 9 8

where one mark will be awarded for effective
communication. 10 7

11 4
(5) Supplementary answer sheets will be provided on Total 70
request. Write your name, class, class number and
question number on the answer sheets and fasten
them with a string INSIDE this Question-Answer Book.

(6) No extra time will be given to you for filling in your

name, class and class number in the Question-
Answer Book after the ‘Time is up’ announcement.

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Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

1. X and Y are the elements in the same group. The electronic configurations of X and Y are 2, 8, 8,
p and 2, 8, 18, q, 1 respectively.

(a) What are the values of p and q respectively?

(2 marks)

(b) What is the special name of the group which X and Y belong to?

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(1 mark)

(c) Suggest a method to show that X and Y have similar chemical properties.

(1 mark)

(d) How are X and Y stored in the school laboratory?

(1 mark)

(e) Which element, X or Y, is more chemically reactive? Explain your answer.

(2 marks)

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2. The following is a part of the Periodic Table:

Group
I II III IV V VI VII 0
2 Li Be B C N O F Ne
Period

3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
4 K Ca

(a) State the similarity in electronic arrangement between fluorine and chlorine atoms.

(1 mark)
(b) Explain why the size of a chlorine atom is larger than that of a fluorine atom.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(1 mark)

(c) Fluorine can react with magnesium and chlorine to form compounds P and Q respectively.
Draw the electron diagrams for compounds P and Q respectively, showing electrons in the
outermost shells only.

(2 marks)
(d) Discuss, with explanation, the electrical conductivity of compound P with reference to the
property of the particles in it.

(2 marks)

(e) Both magnesium and strontium belong to Group II of the Periodic Table. Strontium is a
Period 5 element.
(i) Write the electronic arrangement of a strontium atom.

(ii) Write an equation for the reaction between strontium and fluorine.

(2 marks)

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3. A student wanted to study the order of reactivity of four different metals (tin, manganese, silver
and zinc). He/she carried out a set of experiments based on displacement reactions. The
following results were obtained.
Zinc Manganese Tin Silver
Zinc nitrate
–   
solution
Manganese(II)
 –  
nitrate solution
Tin(II) nitrate
  – 
solution
Silver nitrate
   –
solution

(Note:  means that a reaction occurred;  means that no reaction occurred)

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(a) Arrange the four metals in order of reactivity, writing the most reactive first.

(1 mark)

(b) Write an ionic equation for the reaction between tin and silver nitrate solution.

(1 mark)

(c) Manganese can be extracted from manganese(IV) oxide by heating the oxide with coke in
a blast furnace. The carbon monoxide produced during the process would reduce the
manganese(IV) oxide.
(i) Write an equation for the reaction between manganese(IV) oxide and carbon
monoxide.

(ii) State an environmental problem associated with this extraction method of manganese.

(2 marks)

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4. Some people with zinc deficiency take hydrated zinc sulphate as a dietary supplement. A
student used the following set-up to study the dehydration of hydrated zinc sulphate crystals,
ZnSO4•xH2O.
boiling tube
hydrated zinc
sulphate crystals

heat

(a) Write a chemical equation for the dehydration of hydrated zinc sulphate crystals.

(1 mark)

(b) Suggest why the boiling tube should be held with its mouth pointing downwards?

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(1 mark)

(c) When the student heated 6.57 g of hydrated zinc sulphate crystals, 3.69 g of anhydrous
zinc sulphate was obtained. Calculate the value of x in ZnSO4•xH2O.
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, O = 16.0, S = 32.1, Zn = 65.4)

(3 marks)

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5. Potash is a mixture of potassium-containing compound. It can be used as a fertilizer. A potash

sample contains potassium carbonate and potassium chloride. In the aqueous solution of the
sample, the mole ratio of K+ : CO32 is 9 : 4.

(a) Determine the mole ratio of K+: CO32: Cl.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(2 marks)

(b) Deduce the chemical formula of the potash sample.

(1 mark)

(c) Calculate the percentage by mass of potassium in the potash sample.

(Relative atomic masses: C = 12.0, O = 16.0, Cl = 35.5, K = 39.1)

(2 marks)

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6. Refer to the following set-ups:

1 M CuSO4(aq) 1 M CuSO4(aq) 1 M ZnSO4(aq)

Cu Zn Cu
Set-up 1 Set-up 2 Set-up 3

(a) In which of the above set-ups will a chemical reaction occur? Write the ionic equation for
the reaction involved.

(2 marks)

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(b) (i) If copper is replaced by potassium in set-up 1, state TWO observable changes in the
beaker.

(ii) Write the chemical equations for the reaction in (b)(i).

(4 marks)

(c) Explain why it is NOT suitable to store copper(II) sulphate solution in a galvanized iron
container.

(1 mark)

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7. Methanoic acid (HCOOH) is a monobasic acid. It is the active ingredient of some

environmentally friendly cleansing products today. An experiment was carried out to study the
concentration of methanoic acid in a bottle of 750 cm3 toilet bowl cleanser. 25.0 cm3 of the
cleanser sample was diluted 10 times. 25.0 cm3 of the diluted sample was then titrated against
1.80 M of sodium hydroxide solution. The titration results are tabulated as follows:

1 2 3 4
Final burette reading (cm3) 21.30 25.30 21.80 21.40
Initial burette reading (cm3) 4.60 8.70 5.20 4.82
Volume of NaOH(aq) added (cm3) 16.70 16.60 16.60 16.58

(a) Explain, with the aid of an equation, the meaning of the term ‘monobasic acid’.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(2 marks)

(b) Calculate the reasonable average volume of sodium hydroxide solution used in the
experiment.

(1 mark)
–3
(c) Calculate the concentration, in mol dm , of methanoic acid in the bottle of toilet bowl
cleanser.

(3 marks)

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(d) Given that the pH of the solution mixture was around 8.7 when the end point of titration
was reached.
(i) Suggest a suitable acid-base indicator for the titration.

(ii) State the colour change of the solution mixture at the titration end point.

(2 marks)

(e) The following are considered INAPPROPRIATE practices when diluting the toilet bowl
cleanser. For each of them, explain why it would lead to inaccurate titration results.
(i) Rinse the 25.0 cm3 pipette with distilled water only.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(ii) Blow the last drop of the toilet bowl cleanser sample out from the 25.0 cm3 pipette.

(2 marks)

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8. Silicon carbide, SiC, can be made by heating pure sand, which is made of silicon dioxide, with
carbon at a very high temperature. Carbon monoxide is also produced during the process.

(a) Write a chemical equation for the formation of silicon carbide from pure sand.

(1 mark)

(b) Below is the structure of silicon carbide, which is very similar to that of the diamond.

carbon atom

silicon atom

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Name the type of structure that silicon carbide has.

(1 mark)

(c) Sandpaper is made by sticking several thin layers of silicon carbide together.
(i) When we study the reaction of a metal with oxygen in an experiment, the metal is
rubbed with sandpaper first. What is the purpose of this action?

(ii) Suggest ONE property of silicon carbide which makes it suitable for this purpose.

(2 marks)

(d) State ONE structural difference between silicon dioxide and silicon carbide.

(1 mark)

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9. Hydrogen, chlorine and oxygen form several acids with the general formula of HClOx, where x
= 1, 2, 3 or 4. P is one of these acids. The concentration of a sample of P is 8.46 g dm3. To
determine what P is, 25.0 cm3 of 0.1 M NaOH was titrated with P. 24.45 cm3 of P was required
for complete neutralization.

(a) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between P and sodium hydroxide solution.

(1 mark)

(b) Suggest a suitable indicator for the titration and state the colour change at the end point.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(2 marks)

(c) Determine the value of x.

(3 marks)

(d) Suggest a method to show that P is a strong acid.

(2 marks)

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10. A student performed an experiment to study the reaction between metal and oxygen. A small
amount of zinc powder was placed in a crucible and strongly heated for 10 minutes. The student
opened and closed the lid of crucible occasionally.

The data collected was listed below:

Mass of crucible + lid = 20.35 g
Mass of crucible + lid + zinc powder = 22.45 g
Mass of crucible + lid + zinc oxide = 22.90 g

(a) Calculate the mass of zinc oxide in the crucible.

(1 mark)

(b) Determine the empirical formula of the zinc oxide from the above data.
(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Zn = 65.4)

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(3 marks)

(c) The student dissolved all the zinc oxide in 100.0 cm3 of 0.5 M hydrochloric acid to make
zinc chloride crystals.
(i) Given that the chemical formula of the zinc oxide is the same as the empirical
formula. Write a chemical equation for the reaction between zinc oxide and
hydrochloric acid.

(ii) Show that the zinc oxide used is in excess by calculation.

(Relative atomic masses: O = 16.0, Zn = 65.4)

(3 marks)

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*11. Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the formation of dative covalent bond in hydronium ion.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(4 marks)

END OF SECTION B

END OF PAPER

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