Cambridge International AS & A Level
CHEMISTRY 9701/23
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions May/June 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 60
Published
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2024 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.
This document consists of 11 printed pages.
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9701/23 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2024
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Generic Marking Principles
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:
Marks must be awarded in line with:
the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:
Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:
Marks must be awarded positively:
marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
marks are not deducted for errors
marks are not deducted for omissions
answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.
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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:
Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.
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Science-Specific Marking Principles
1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.
2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the question should be ignored.
3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).
4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.
5 ‘List rule’ guidance
For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):
The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response.
Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.
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6 Calculation specific guidance
Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.
For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded
by the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.
For answers given in standard form (e.g. a 10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient (a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.
Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.
7 Guidance for chemical equations
Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.
State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.
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Question Answer Marks
1(a)(i) M1 (N2 molecules /molecule(s) of N2) have a strong triple (covalent) bond 2
M2 (N2 molecules /molecule(s) of N2) are non-polar
1(a)(ii) 4
𝜎 bond 𝜋 bond
no of bonds 1 2
how orbitals direct (orbital overlap) sideways (overlap
overlap of adjacent p orbitals)
1(b)(i) (+)III 1
1(b)(ii) number of outer / valence electrons 1
1(c)(i) both states shown as solid 1
1(c)(ii) M1 correctly balanced equation for aluminium oxide 2
Al2O3 + 2NaOH + 3H2O → 2NaAl (OH)4
M2 correctly balanced equation for P4O10 and an excess of NaOH
P4O10 + 12NaOH → 4Na3PO4 + 6H2O
1(d)(i) (+)IV 1
1(d)(ii) thermal decomposition 1
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Question Answer Marks
2(a) 58% / no change / stays the same AND catalysts don’t affect yield / iron is a catalyst 1
2(b)(i) less yield (in C than A) AND (as) exothermic (forward reaction) 1
2(b)(ii) (increase in temperature / energy from A to C (so)) 2
M1 more collisions with particles that have E Ea AND increase frequency of effective collisions
M2 (initial) rate (of the forward reaction) increases
2(c)(i) M1 Kp = (pNH3)2 / (pN2)(pH2)3 2
M2 atm–2
2(c)(ii) M1 correct amount N2 at equilibrium = 1 – 1.16 / 2 = 0.42 2
AND correct amount H2 at equilibrium = 3.0 – (1.16 3 / 2) = 1.26
M2 express amount of ammonia as a mol fraction in terms of total amount of N2+H2+NH3 at equilibrium = 1.16 / (N2 + H2 +
1.16) = 0.408 OR 0.41
2(c)(iii) 0.625 1000 = 625 (atm) 1
2(d)(i) M1 catalyst 3
M2 2 equations to show the catalytic activity of NO2 in formation of SO3 from SO2
SO2 + NO2 → NO + SO3
2NO + O2 → 2NO2
M3 describe production of H2SO4 from SO3 and water (can be shown in an equation).
SO3 then reacts with (rain)water / moisture / water vapour to make sulfuric acid / H2SO4 OR SO3 + H2O → H2SO4
2(d)(ii) M1 unburned hydrocarbons combine with NO and / NO2 2
M2 to form PAN / peroxyac(et)yl nitrate
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Question Answer Marks
3(a) H2 (g) + ½O2 (g) → H2O(l) 2
M1 correct equation only
M2 correct state symbols based on this equation
3(b) ∆H = –(–1264) – (2 –46) + (2 –134) + (3 –286) = (+)230 kJ mol–1 2
M1 correct expression in terms of all 4 enthalpy changes of formation AND correct stoichiometry (as described in given
equation)
M2 correct calculation based on figures given
3(c)(i) giant (molecular and) covalent 1
3(c)(ii) M1 give correct expression or calculate mol B compared to mol C 2
78.26 / 10.8 (= 7.246 / 7.25 mol B) AND 21.74 / 12 (=1.81(2) mol C)
M2 Find B : C ratio AND use this to state empirical formula
7.246 to 7.25 / 1.817 to 1.82 = 3.99 to 3.98 mol B : 1 mol C
(so) B4C OR CB4
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Question Answer Marks
4(a) 2
OR
Correct representation or label showing
M1 (ionic bond between) NH4+ and Cl – AND 4 N—H covalent bonds OR 4 shared pairs of electrons in NH4
M2 1 N—H coordinate bond OR arrow on bond/line in correct direction or only 1 bonding pair using the same symbol for
electrons1
4(b)(i) acid–base reaction 1
4(b)(ii) NH4+ + OH– → NH3 + H2O 1
4(c)(i) nucleophile 1
4(c)(ii) OH– (more reactive because) negatively charged species more attracted to halogenoalkane and / or C+ and / or 1
intermediate and / or C+
OR NH3 (more reactive because) N electrons less tightly held
OR N is more able to donate (lp) electrons (to make the covalent bond)
OR N is less electronegative
ORA
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Question Answer Marks
4(d) 2
M1 same start energy and finishing energy AND single hump
M2 transition state / activation energy shown in answer is higher than both transition state energies shown in reaction profile
(as the reaction is slower)
4(e)(i) 3
M1 dipole and correct arrow on C—Br of 2-bromobutane
M2 lone pair on NH3 attacking C(+) of the intermediate drawn
M3 curly arrow showing bond between N—H breaking and pointing towards the N
4(e)(ii) NH4Br / ammonium bromide 1
4(e)(iii) butan-2-amine OR butyl-2-amine 1
4(f)(i) 1
4(f)(ii) M1 2-bromo-2-methylpropane AND more stable carbocation / C+ 2
M2 alkyl groups have an inductive effect (of alkyl groups)
AND 2-bromo-2-methylpropane has more / most alkyl groups attached (to C+) / carbocation contains more alkyl groups
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Question Answer Marks
5(a) cold dilute KMnO4 OR cold dilute potassium manganate(VII) 1
5(b)(i) step 1 …..Br2 (in the dark) 2
step 2 …..NaOH(aq) + heat
5(b)(ii) electrophilic addition 1
5(c) 2
G
F
M1 peak shown around 2850–2950 labelled F AND (corresponds to) C—H
M2 peak shown around 3200–3600 labelled G AND (corresponds to) O—H (in hydroxy(l) / alcohol)
5(d)(i) 1
W=
5(d)(ii) NH4Cl 1
5(d)(iii) C8H12O4 + 8[H] → C8H16O2 + 2H2O 1
5(d)(iv) LiAl H4 1
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