HKDSE Chemistry (Patterns in the Chemical World)
HKDSE 2012 I Q16 Patterns in the Chemical World
Consider the following oxides :
Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P4O10 SO2 Cl2O
(a) Which of the oxides listed above can conduct electricity in molten state?
(1 mark)
(b) Explain why SiO2 has the highest melting point among the covalent oxides listed above.
(2 marks)
(c) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between Al2O3(s) and NaOH(aq).
(1 mark)
(a) Na2O, MgO, Al2O3 1
(Order is not important. 0 mark if more/ less than these 3 oxides are listed.)
A few candidates wrongly included SiO2 in their answers.
(b) SiO2 has a giant covalent structure, and the Si and O atoms are linked by strong covalent bonds. (Not 1
accept strong covalent structure / giant covalent bonds)
Other covalent oxides are discrete molecules attracted by weak van der Waals’ forces / weak 1
intermolecular forces / weak dipolar interactions. (Not accept VDW forces)
Some candidates wrongly considered that SiO2 exists as molecules.
(c) Al2O3 + 2 OH− + 3 H2O → 2 Al(OH)4− 1
or Al2O3 + 2 NaOH + 3 H2O → 2 NaAl(OH)4
Poorly answered.
HKDSE 2013 I Q13* Patterns in the Chemical World
Lithium, beryllium, carbon (graphite) and nitrogen are elements of the second period of the Periodic Table. Arrange them in
increasing order of melting point, and explain the order in terms of structure and bonding. (5 marks)
Nitrogen < Lithium < Beryllium < Carbon (graphite) 1
N2 has the lowest melting point as it has a simple molecular structure, only weak van der Waals’ forces / 1
intermolecular forces need to be overcome in melting.
Both Li and Be have metallic structure, metallic bond in Li is weaker than that in Be. So Li < Be in melting 1
points.
C has the highest melting point as it has a giant covalent structure, large amount of energy is needed to break 1
millions of strong covalent bonds between atoms in melting.
Communication mark 1
(Chemical Knowledge = 0, 1 or 2, Communication mark = 0
Chemical Knowledge = 3 or 4, Communication mark = 0 or 1
Incomplete answer / difficult to understand, Communication mark = 0)
Most candidates correctly arranged the elements in increasing order of melting point. However, many
candidates failed to use the correct chemical terminology. Mistakes made by the candidates include:
lithium molecules are present in lithium metal;
the interparticle attraction in elemental lithium or beryllium is ionic bond; and
graphite has a simple molecular structure.
HKDSE Chemistry (Patterns in the Chemical World)
HKDSE 2014 I Q11 Patterns in the Chemical World
Vanadium is a transition metal, its chemical symbol is V. The formulae and the colours of three aqueous vanadium-
containing ions are shown below:
Formula VO2+(aq) V3+(aq) V2+(aq)
Colour blue green violet
(a) Based on the given information, suggest TWO properties of vanadium to characterise it as a transition metal.
(1 mark)
(b) Vanadium also forms the ion VO2+(aq). In the presence of acid, 1.0 mol of VO2+(aq) ions and 1.0 mol of SO2(g)
react completely to form SO42−(aq) ions and one of the above aqueous vanadium-containing ions.
(i) By considering the amount of electrons transferred, deduce the final colour of the solution obtained.
(ii) Write a chemical equation for the reaction in (i).
(3 marks)
(a) Vanadium exhibits variable oxidation numbers and its ions in aqueous solutions carry colours. 1
+
(b) (i) 1 (mol of) VO2 (aq) ions gains 2 (mol of) electrons from 1 (mol of) SO2(g) to become 1 (mol 1
of) V3+(aq).
V3+(aq) is green in colour. 1
About half of the candidates failed to give the correct colour of the final solution. Many
candidates only stated the colour of the solution without giving a reason and failed to
point out that VO2+ received 2 electrons from SO2.
(ii) SO2(g) + VO2+(aq) → SO42−(aq) + V3+(aq) (State symbols are not required) 1
2
HKDSE Chemistry (Patterns in the Chemical World)
HKDSE 2019 I Q14 Patterns in the Chemical World
The following graph shows an incomplete sketch of the variation in melting points of the elements in the third period of the
Periodic Table.
melting point
(a) Complete the sketch on the graph above.
(1 mark)
(b) Explain why the melting point of Mg is higher than that of Na.
(1 mark)
(c) Explain why the melting point of Si is higher than that of P.
(2 marks)
(a) 1
( 1. The m.p. of S must not be higher than that of Mg;
2. The m.p. of Cl and Ar must not be higher than that of P;
3. The m.p. of Ar must be lower than that of Cl)
Just below half of the candidates were able to give a correct sketch. Some candidates wrongly
considered that the melting point of sulphur is lower than that of phosphorus.
(b) The metallic bond in Mg is stronger than that in Na as Mg has more delocalised electrons / more 1
outermost shell electrons than Na. OR
The metallic bond in Mg is stronger than that in Na as Mg has two outermost shell delocalised electrons
while Na only has one.
About a third of the candidates were able to correctly explain why the melting point of Mg is
higher than that of Na. Some candidates just stated that Mg has stronger metallic bonds because
Mg atoms have more electrons than Na atoms, without mentioning outermost shell electrons or
delocalised electrons.
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HKDSE Chemistry (Patterns in the Chemical World)
(c) Melting of Si needs high energy to break the strong covalent bonds between Si atoms in the giant 1
covalent structure.
Melting of P only needs smaller energy to break the weak intermolecular forces. / P has a simple 1
molecular structure, there are weak van der Waals’ forces between molecules.
Also accept:
Si has a giant covalent structure while P has a simple molecular structure. (1)
High energy is needed to break the strong covalent bonds between Si atoms, while smaller energy is (1)
needed to break the weak van der Waals’ forces between phosphorus molecules.
About half of the candidates were able to give a correct and complete answer. Some candidates
only stated that Si and P have different structures (giant covalent structure / simple molecular
structure) without mentioning the types of bond breaking involved in the melting process. Some
candidates mixed up ‘atoms’ and ‘molecules’.
HKDSE 2020 I Q12 Patterns in the Chemical World
An experiment was performed to study the following reaction :
KO2CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO2Na(aq) + 3H2O2(aq) → HCO2K(aq) + HCO2Na(aq) + 2CO2(g) + 4H2O(l)
(colourless)
When 10 cm3 of 0.25 M KO2CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO2Na(aq) and 3 cm3 of 6% H2O2(aq) were mixed at 60°C, it was found
that only a few gas bubbles evolved. Then a small amount of pink CoCl2(aq) solution was added to the mixture. Gas bubbles
formed vigorously and the mixture turned to green due to the formation of a cobalt(III) compound. When no more gas
evolved, the green mixture turned back to pink.
There is a view saying that cobalt illustrates THREE characteristics of transition metals according to the observation of this
experiment. Suggest reasons to support this view.
(4 marks)
Cobalt/Co2+ acts as a catalyst as the rate of formation of gas bubbles (CO 2) increases / rate of reaction 1
increases when Co2+ ions are added,
and the pink Co2+ ions regenerate / remain (chemically) unchanged / do not consume at the end of reaction. 1
Coloured ion / formation of coloured compound: Co2+(aq) is pink / the cobalt(III) compound formed is green. 1
Variable oxidation states: cobalt has cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) compounds / can exist as Co 2+ and Co3+. 1
(The answers have to be illustrated with the experimental observations provided in the question.)
Even though only a small number of candidates were able to give a correct and complete answer, more than
half of the candidates were able to correctly state at least two characteristics of transition metals and
illustrate their answers by using the observations described in the question. Some candidates failed to
answer using precise terminology. For example, they wrote ‘transition metals have different colours’
instead of ‘transition metals form coloured ions and compounds’. More than a third of the candidates failed
to state that Co2+ was regenerated or it was not consumed upon the completion of the reaction.
8
HKDSE Chemistry (Patterns in the Chemical World)
HKDSE 2021 I Q12 Patterns in the Chemical World
(a) Silicon dioxide is an acidic oxide. However, the pH of a mixture of silicon dioxide and distilled water is 7.
(i) Suggest why silicon dioxide is classified as an acidic oxide.
(ii) Explain why the pH of the mixture is 7.
(2 marks)
(b) Phosphorus(V) oxide is an acidic oxide. With the aid of a chemical equation, explain why the pH of a mixture of
phosphorus(V) oxide and distilled water is smaller than 7.
(2 marks)
(c) Refer to the following reaction :
Cu2O(s) + H2SO4(aq) → Cu(s) + CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
State how this reaction can demonstrate that copper exhibits TWO characteristics of transition metals.
(2 marks)
(a) (i) Silicon dioxide can neutralise / react with alkalis / bases to form salt and water only. 1
About half of the candidates were able to correctly suggest why silicon dioxide is classified
as an acidic oxide. A small number of the candidates wrongly stated that silicon dioxide is
soluble in water.
(ii) Silicon dioxide is insoluble in water. / Silicon dioxide does not react with water. 1
About half of the candidates were able to give a correct answer. A small number of the
candidates merely stated that the concentration of H+ is equal to the concentration of OH−
in water, but did not mention the properties of SiO2.
(b) Phosphorus(V) oxide reacts with / dissolves in water to form phosphoric acid / that can give H+. 1
P4O10(s) + 6H2O(l) → 4H3PO4(aq) / P2O5(s) + 3H2O(l) → 2H3PO4(aq) 1
(State symbols not required) (Ignore incorrect state symbols)
(Accept: P2O5(s) + 3H2O(l) → 6H+(aq) + 2PO43–(aq))
About a third of the candidates were able to provide a correct explanation with an appropriate
chemical equation. Many candidates gave an incorrect chemical formula for phosphorus(V) oxide,
or wrongly stated that phosphorus acid (H3PO3), instead of phosphoric acid, is formed.
(c) Copper has variable oxidation states: +1 in Cu2O, +2 in CuSO4 1
Copper has coloured ions: Cu2+(aq) / CuSO4(aq) is blue. 1
About a third of the candidates were able to give a correct and complete answer. Many candidates
wrongly stated ‘the oxidation number of Cu is 0 in copper metal’ as an example to demonstrate that
copper exhibits variable oxidation numbers. Some candidates wrote ‘transition metals have
different colours’ instead of ‘transition metals form coloured ions and compounds’.
