NATIONAL

SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

PHYSICAL SCIENCES: CHEMISTRY P2

JUNE 2025

MARKS: 150

TIME: 3 hours

This question paper consists of 14 pages and 4 data sheets.

Copyright reserved Please turn over

 Physical Sciences P2 2 MDE/June 2025
NSC

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

1. Write your name in the appropriate space on the ANSWER BOOK.

2. This question paper consists of SEVEN questions. Answer ALL the questions in the
ANSWER BOOK.

3. Start EACH question on a NEW page in the ANSWER BOOK.

4. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
question paper.

5. Leave ONE line between two sub questions, for example between QUESTION 2.1
and QUESTION 2.2.

6. You may use a non-programmable calculator.

7. You may use appropriate mathematical instruments.

8. You are advised to use the attached DATA SHEETS.

9. Show ALL formulae and substitutions in ALL calculations.

10. Round off your final numerical answers to a MINIMUM of TWO decimal places.

11. Give brief motivations, discussions, et cetera where required.

12. Write neatly and legibly.

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 3 MDE/June 2025
NSC

QUESTION 1 : MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each
question has only ONE correct answer. Choose the answer and write only the
letter (A – D) next to the question number (1.1 – 1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, for
example, 1.11 E.

1.1 Which ONE of the following compounds is an alkyne?

A C6H12

B C4H6

C C10H22

D C4H8O (2)

1.2 Which ONE of the following is a functional isomer of ethyl propanoate?

A H H O H H

H C C O C C C H

H H H H

B H H H O H

H C C C O C C H

H H H H

C H H H H O

H C C C C C O H

H H H H

D H H H H H O
H C C C C C C O H
H H H H H (2)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 4 MDE/June 2025
NSC

1.3 For which ONE of the following pairs of compounds will X have a higher
boiling point than Y?

X Y
A CH3CH(CH3)CH3 CH3CH2CH2CH3
B CH3CH3 CH3CH2CH3
C CH3CH2CH2CH3 CH3CH2COCH3
D CH3COOH CH3CH2CH2OH (2)

1.4 Ethanol can be converted into other carbon-containing compounds using

the reactants as shown in the flow chart below.

H2SO4(c) HBr
Ethanol Compound P Compound Q
reaction 1 reaction 2

Compounds P and Q are, respectively:

P Q
A Ethene Bromoethane
B Ethanoic acid Ethanol
C Ethene Bromoethene
D Ethanol Ethanoic acid (2)

1.5 A piece of magnesium ribbon reacts with excess hydrochloric acid according
to the following equation:

Mg(s) + 2HCℓ(aq) → MgCℓ2(aq) + H2(g)

Which ONE of the following changes will NOT affect the reaction rate?

A Putting the reaction mixture in a hot water bath

B Using the same mass of powdered magnesium

C Increasing the volume of the hydrochloric acid

D Increasing the concentration of the hydrochloric acid. (2)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 5 MDE/June 2025
NSC

1.6 Which ONE of the reaction rate versus time graphs below best represents
the reaction between magnesium and EXCESS dilute hydrochloric acid?

A B

Reaction rate
Reaction rate

Time Time

C D
Reaction rate

Reaction rate
Time Time
(2)

1.7 Which ONE of the following will NOT affect the equilibrium position of
reversible chemical reactions?

A Temperature

B Catalyst

C Pressure

D Concentration (2)

1.8 The reaction given below reaches equilibrium in a closed container. The K c
value is 0,04 at a certain temperature.

2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g) ∆H < 0

Which ONE of the following factors will change the Kc value to 0,4?

A Increase in pressure

B Decrease in pressure

C Increase in temperature

D Decrease in temperature (2)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 6 MDE/June 2025
NSC

1.9 During a titration to determine the concentration of an acid using a standard

solution of a base, a learner pipettes the base into a conical flask. The
learner then uses a small amount of water to rinse the inside of the flask so
that all the base is part of the solution in the flask.

How will the extra water added to the flask affect the results of this titration?

The concentration of the acid …

A cannot be determined.

B will be lower than expected.

C will be higher than expected.

D will be the same as expected. (2)

1.10 Which ONE of the following statements is ALWAYS true for monoprotic
acids?

A The lower the concentration of the acid solution, the weaker the
acid.

B There will be more H3O+ ions in 100 cm3 of a strong acid solution
than in 100 cm3 of a weak acid solution.

C The pH of a strong acid is lower than the pH of a weak acid.

D One mole of a strong acid will produce more H3O+ ions in water than
one mole of a weak acid. (2)
[20]

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 7 MDE/June 2025
NSC

QUESTION 2 (Start on a new page)

The letters A tot H in the table below represent EIGHT organic compounds.

H2C CH3

A 2,4-dichloro-3-ethyl-6-methyloctane B H2C CH C C CH CH3

CH3 CH3
C H H H

H C C C C H D CH3CH2CHOHCH3

H H H O
E O
F C5H12
H3C C OH
G CH3COCH2CH3 H Butan-1-ol

2.1 Write down the LETTER(S) that represents the following

2.1.1 A functional isomer of compound G. (1)

2.1.2 A haloalkane (1)

2.1.3 Belongs to the same homologous series as compound H. (1)

2.2 Write down the:

2.2.1 IUPAC name of compound B. (3)

2.2.2 Structural formula of compound A. (3)

2.2.3 Name of the homologous series to which compound C belongs. (1)

2.2.4 Structural formula of the FUNCTIONAL GROUP of compound G. (1)

2.3 Consider compound D

2.3.1 Define the term positional isomer. (2)

2.3.2 Write down the STRUCTURAL FORMULA of the positional isomer

of compound D. (2)

2.3.3 Is compound D a PRIMARY, SECONDARY or TERTIARY alcohol?

Give a reason for the answer. (2)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 8 MDE/June 2025
NSC

2.4 Compound E and H are heated together in the presence of a catalyst in a

test tube to produce an ESTER.

Write down the:

2.4.1 Name of the reaction that takes place. (1)

2.4.2 NAME or FORMULA of the catalyst used. (1)

2.4.3 STRUCTURAL FORMULA of the ester that is produced. (2)

2.4.4 IUPAC name of the ester that is produced. (2)

2.5 The reaction below illustrates the complete combustion of compound F in

EXCESS oxygen.

C5H12 + 8O2 → 5CO2 + 6H2O

45 g of compound F reacts completely with oxygen at standard temperature

and pressure (STP). If the percentage yield of carbon dioxide (CO2) is 76%,
calculate the volume of carbon dioxide formed. (5)
[28]

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 9 MDE/June 2025
NSC

QUESTION 3 (Start on a new page.)

Students use alcohols A to C to investigate a factor that affects the boiling point of
alcohols.

They use equal volumes of each alcohol and heat them separately in a water bath.

Compounds Alcohols
A CH3OH
B CH3CH2OH
C CH3CH2CH2OH

3.1 Define the term boiling point. (2)

3.2 What property of alcohols makes it necessary for them to be heated in a

water bath? (1)

3.3 What structural requirements must the alcohols meet to make this a fair
comparison? (2)

3.4 Write down the:

3.4.1 Independent variable. (1)

3.4.2 Name of the FUNCTIONAL GROUP of these compounds. (1)

3.4.3 IUPAC name of compound B (1)

3.5 Which ONE of the three compounds has the HIGHEST boiling point? (1)

3.6 Explain the answer to QUESTION 3.5 in full. (3)

3.7 The boiling point of compound C is now compared with that of compound X.

COMPOUND BOILING POINT

(°C)
C CH3CH2CH2OH 98
X CH3COOH 118

3.7.1 Besides the conditions used to determine boiling points, give a

reason why this is a fair comparison. (1)

3.7.2 Fully explain the difference in the boiling points of compounds C and
X. (4)
[17]

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 10 MDE/June 2025
NSC

QUESTION 4 (Start on a new page.)

The flow chart below shows how alkenes can be used to prepare other organic
compounds. The letters A to G represent different organic reactions.

Compound 5
F
G
Br2
H2O
Compound 4
C But-1-ene A
Compound 1 (Main product)
Pd D
B HCℓ

Compound 2 E Compound 3
(Main product) (Main product) + NaCℓ + ----
-

4.1 Write down the type of reaction represented by:

4.1.1 C (1)

4.1.2 F (1)

4.1.3 D (1)

4.2 For reaction A write down the:

4.2.1 IUPAC name of compound 4. (2)

4.2.2 NAME or FORMULA of the inorganic reactant needed for this

reaction. (1)

4.2.3 Type of addition reaction. (1)

4.3 For reaction G, bromine water is added to compound 1.

4.3.1 Is compound 1 a saturated or unsaturated? Give a reason for the

answer. (2)

4.3.2 Write down the reaction condition for this reaction. (1)

4.4 Write down a balanced chemical equation using STRUCTURAL

FORMULAE for reaction E. (6)

4.5 For reaction B write down two reaction conditions required for this reaction (2)
[18]

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 11 MDE/June 2025
NSC

QUESTION 5 (Start on a new page.)

A student is asked to design an industrial process to produce sulphuric acid.

5.1 One of the reactions in the production of sulphuric acid is the roasting
(heating in oxygen) of a metal ore that contains lead(II) sulphide:

2PbS(s) + 3O2(g) → 2PbO(s) + 2SO2(g)

The student does a test experiment in which 36,8 g of O 2 gas completely

reacts with 800 g of the metal ore. All of the PbS in the ore reacts, and ONLY
the PbS in the ore reacts with the oxygen.

5.1.1 Calculate the amount (in moles) of O2 that reacted. (3)

5.1.2 Calculate the mass of pure PbS in the metal ore. (3)

5.1.3 Calculate the percentage mass of the PbS in the metal ore. (2)

5.2 In another experiment, 50 g of sulphur trioxide reacts with water:

SO3(g) + H2O(ℓ) → H2SO4(ℓ)

The amount of sulphur trioxide present in the container is monitored over

time.

The following graph is plotted:

50
Mass of SO3 (g)

25

15

2 4 6
Time (min)

5.2.1 Write down the formula of the limiting reactant. (1)

5.2.2 At what time on the graph was the reaction rate the fastest. (1)

5.2.3 What happened at 6 minutes. (1)

5.2.4 Define the term reaction rate. (2)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 12 MDE/June 2025
NSC

5.2.5 Calculate the rate of the reaction in (g∙s-1) during the first 2 minutes. (3)

5.2.6 Copy the above graph in your answer book. On the same set of
axes, use a DOTTED LINE to show the curve that will be obtained
when the temperature increases. No numerical values are required. (2)

5.2.7 In terms of the COLLISION THEORY, explain why the rate of a

chemical reaction increases with increasing temperature. (3)
[23]

QUESTION 6 (Start on a new page)

6.1 Nitrosyl chloride (NOCℓ) is a yellow gas that decomposes into colourless
nitrogen monoxide gas (NO) and green chlorine gas (Cℓ2) at temperatures
above 100 °C.

2NOCℓ(g) ⇌ 2NO(g) + Cℓ2(g)

Yellow Green

Consider an equilibrium mixture of NOCℓ, NO, and Cℓ 2, which is initially

yellow–green, in a sealed container.

6.1.1 Explain the term closed system. (1)

6.1.2 NO(g) is added to the container at constant volume. What colour

change will be observed in the container. Explain the answer (4)

6.1.3 State Le Chatelier's principle. (2)

6.1.4 When the pressure in the container is changed, the colour becomes
green. Use Le Chatelier's principle to explain whether the pressure
was INCREASED or DECREASED. (4)

6.2 The Haber process uses nitrogen and hydrogen gases to produce ammonia
gas, represented in the reversible reaction below.

N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 13 MDE/June 2025
NSC

The Haber process was researched. The graph (below) shows how
the percentage yield of ammonia is affected by changes in
temperature and pressure.

120

100
Amount ammonia produced (%)

80

60

40
400 atmosphere
200 atmosphere
20 100 atmosphere
50 atmosphere
100 200 300 400
Temperature (°C)

In industry, the Haber process is typically operated at a temperature of

250 °C and a pressure of 200 atmospheres (200 atm).

6.2.1 Is the forward reaction in the Haber process EXOTHERMIC or

ENDOTHERMIC? (1)

6.2.2 Explain the answer to Question 6.2.1 in terms of Le Chatelier's

principle by referring to the graph. (4)

6.2.3 What is the percentage yield of ammonia at 250 °C and

200 atmosphere? (1)

6.3 A solution is prepared by dissolving 4 mol of CuCℓ2−

4 completely in water to
make a solution of volume 2 dm3. When equilibrium is established, there are
2,2 mol of Cu(H2O)2+6
ions present at 25 °C.

Cu(H2O)2+
6
(aq) + 4Cℓ−(aq) ⇌ CuCℓ2−
4 (aq) + 6H2O(ℓ)

Determine the value of the equilibrium constant, K c, for this reaction at

25 °C. (8)
[25]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Physical Sciences P2 14 MDE/June 2025
NSC

QUESTION 7 (Start on a new page.)

Consider the following balanced chemical equations showing some acid-base

reactions.

A HNO3 + KOH → KNO3 + H2O

B H2SO3 + H2O ⇌ HSO−

3 + H3O
+

7.1 Define an acid according to the Lowry- Brønsted theory. (2)

7.2 Consider the chemical equations (A and B) above.

7.2.1 Describe the term amphoteric substance. (2)

7.2.2 Write down the formula of an amphoteric chemical substance (other

than H2O). (1)

7.2.3 Write down the formulae of the conjugate acid-base pairs in

reaction B. (2)

7.3 Which indicator must be used in reaction A. Choose from METHYL

ORANGE, BROMOTHYMOL BLUE or PHENOLPHTHALEIN. Give a
reason for the answer (3)

7.4 Consider reactions A and C, shown below.

A: HNO3 + KOH → KNO3 + H2O

C: 2HNO3 + Na2CO3 → 2NaNO3 + CO2 + H2O

A 13 g, impure sample of KOH is initially dissolved in 200 cm3 of a

1,2 mol·dm−3 nitric acid solution. The nitric acid was in EXCESS. Assume
that the volume remains constant.

HNO3

KOH

50 cm3 of the resulting solution was then titrated to neutralisation using

23,67 cm3 of a standard 0,85 mol·dm−3 sodium carbonate solution.

7.4.1 Determine the amount (in mol) of nitric acid that was added to the
KOH. (2)

7.4.2 Calculate the percentage purity of the KOH sample. (9)

[21]
TOTAL [150]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Physical Sciences P2 15 MDE/June 2025
NSC
DATA FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCES GRADE 12
PAPER 2 (CHEMISTRY)

GEGEWENS VIR FISIESE WETENSKAPPE GRAAD 12

VRAESTEL 2 (CHEMIE)

TABLE 1: PHYSICAL CONSTANTS/TABEL 1: FISIESE KONSTANTES

NAME/NAAM SYMBOL/SIMBOOL VALUE/WAARDE

Standard pressure
p 1,013 x 105 Pa
Standaarddruk
Molar gas volume at STP
Vm 22,4 dm3∙mol-1
Molêre gasvolume by STD
Standard temperature
Standaardtemperatuur T 273 K

Avogadro's constant NA 6,023 x 1023 mol-1

TABLE 2: FORMULAE/TABEL 2: FORMULES

m N
n= n=
M NA
n m V
c= OR/OF c = n=
V MV Vm
na c V pH = -log[H3O+]
= a a
nb c b Vb

Kw = [H3O+][OH-] = 1 x 10-14 at/ by 298 K

Eθcell = Eθcathode − Eθanode / E θsel = Ekatode

θ
− E θanode

OR/OF

Eθcell = Ereduction
θ
− Eθoxidation / E θsel = Ereduksie
θ
− E θoksidasie

OR/OF

agent / E sel = E oksideermi ddel − Ereduseermi ddel

θ θ θ
E θcell = Eθoxidising agent − Ereducing
θ

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 16 MDE/June 2025
NSC

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 17 MDE/June 2025
NSC
TABLE 4A: STANDARD REDUCTION POTENSTIALS
TABEL 4A: STANDAARD-REDUKSIEPOTENSIALE
Half-reactions/Halfreaksies Eθ (V)
F2(g) + 2e− ⇌ 2F− + 2,87
Co3+ + e− ⇌ Co2+ + 1,81
H2O2 + 2H+ + 2e− ⇌ 2H2O + 1,77
−
MnO4 + 8H+ + 5 e− ⇌ Mn2+ + 4H2O + 1,51
Cℓ2(g) + 2e− ⇌ 2Cℓ- + 1,36
2−
Cr2 O7 + 14H+ + 4e− ⇌ 2Cr3+ + 7 H2O + 1,33
O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e− ⇌ 2H2O + 1,23
Increasing strength of oxidising agents/Toenemende sterkte van oksideermiddels

Increasing strength of reducing agents/Toenemende sterkte van reduseermiddels

MnO2 + 4H+ + 2e− ⇌ Mn2+ + 2H2O + 1,23
Pt2+ + 2e− ⇌ Pt + 1,20
Br2(ℓ) + 2e− ⇌ 2Br− + 1,07
−
NO 3 + 4H+ + 3e− ⇌ NO(g) + 2H2O + 0,96
Hg2+ + 2e− ⇌ Hg(ℓ) + 0,85
Ag+ + e− ⇌ Ag + 0,80
−
NO 3 + 2H+ + e− ⇌ NO2 (g) + H2O + 0,80
Fe3+ + e− ⇌ Fe2+
+ 0,77
O2(g) + 2H+ + 2e− ⇌ H2O2 + 0,68
I2 + 2e− ⇌ 2I− + 0,54
Cu+ + e− ⇌ Cu + 0,52
SO2 + 4H+ + 4e− ⇌ S + 2H2O + 0,45
2H2O + O2 + 4e− ⇌ 4OH− + 0,40
Cu2+ + 2e− ⇌ Cu + 0,34
2−
SO 4 + 4H+ + 2e− ⇌ SO2(g) + 2H2O + 0,17
2+ − Cu+
+ 0,16
Cu + e ⇌
Sn4+ + 2e− ⇌ Sn2+ + 0,15
S + 2H+ + 2e− ⇌ H2S(g) + 0,14
2H+ + 2e− ⇌ H2(g) 0,00
Fe3+ + 3e− ⇌ Fe − 0,06
Pb2+ + 2e− ⇌ Pb − 0,13
Sn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Sn − 0,14
Ni2+ + 2e− ⇌ Ni − 0,27
Co2+ + 2e− ⇌ Co − 0,28
Cd2+ + 2e− ⇌ Cd − 0,40
Cr3+ + e− ⇌ Cr2+ − 0,41
Fe2+ + 2e− ⇌ Fe − 0,44
Cr3+ + 3e− ⇌ Cr − 0,74
Zn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Zn − 0,76
2H2O + 2e− ⇌ H2(g) + 2OH− − 0,83
Cr2+ + 2e− ⇌ Cr − 0,91
Mn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Mn − 1,18
Aℓ3+ + 3e− ⇌ Aℓ − 1,66
Mg2+ + 2e− ⇌ Mg − 2,36
Na+ + e− ⇌ Na − 2,71
Ca2+ + 2e− ⇌ Ca − 2,87
Sr2+ + 2e− ⇌ Sr − 2,89
Ba2+ + 2e− ⇌ Ba − 2,90
Cs+ + e- ⇌ Cs - 2,92
K+ + e− ⇌ K − 2,93
Li+ + e− ⇌ Li − 3,05

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Physical Sciences P2 18 MDE/June 2025
NSC
TABLE 4B: STANDARD REDUCTION POTENSTIALS
TABEL 4B: STANDAARD-REDUKSIEPOTENSIALE
Half-reactions/Halfreaksies Eθ (V)
Li+ + e− ⇌ Li − 3,05
K+ + e− ⇌ K − 2,93
Cs+ + e- ⇌ Cs - 2,92
Ba2+ + 2e− ⇌ Ba − 2,90
Sr2+ + 2e− ⇌ Sr − 2,89
Ca2+ + 2e− ⇌ Ca − 2,87
Na+ + e− ⇌ Na − 2,71
Mg2+ + 2e− ⇌ Mg − 2,36
Increasing strength of oxidising agents/Toenemende sterkte van oksideermiddels

Increasing strength of reducing agents/Toenemende sterkte van reduseermiddels

Aℓ3+ + 3e− ⇌ Aℓ − 1,66
Mn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Mn − 1,18
Cr2+ + 2e− ⇌ Cr − 0,91
2H2O + 2e− ⇌ H2(g) + 2OH− − 0,83
Zn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Zn − 0,76
Cr3+ + 3e− ⇌ Cr − 0,74
Fe2+ + 2e− ⇌ Fe − 0,44
Cr3+ + e− ⇌ Cr2+ − 0,41
Cd2+ + 2e− ⇌ Cd − 0,40
Co2+ + 2e− ⇌ Co − 0,28
Ni2+ + 2e− ⇌ Ni − 0,27
Sn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Sn − 0,14
Pb2+ + 2e− ⇌ Pb − 0,13
Fe3+ + 3e− ⇌ Fe − 0,06
2H+ + 2e− ⇌ H2(g) 0,00
S + 2H+ + 2e− ⇌ H2S(g) + 0,14
Sn4+ + 2e− ⇌ Sn2+ + 0,15
Cu2+ + e− ⇌ Cu+ + 0,16
2−
SO 4 + 4H+ + 2e− ⇌ SO2(g) + 2H2O + 0,17
2+ −
Cu + 2e ⇌ Cu + 0,34
2H2O + O2 + 4e− ⇌ 4OH− + 0,40
SO2 + 4H+ + 4e− ⇌ S + 2H2O + 0,45
Cu+ + e− ⇌ Cu + 0,52
I2 + 2e− ⇌ 2I− + 0,54
O2(g) + 2H+ + 2e− ⇌ H2O2 + 0,68
Fe3+ + e− ⇌ Fe2+ + 0,77
−
NO 3 + 2H+ + e− ⇌ NO2 (g) + H2O + 0,80
+ −
Ag + e ⇌ Ag + 0,80
Hg2+ + 2e− ⇌ Hg(ℓ) + 0,85
−
NO 3 + 4H+ + 3e− ⇌ NO(g) + 2H2O + 0,96
− −
Br2(ℓ) + 2e ⇌ 2Br + 1,07
Pt2+ + 2e− ⇌ Pt + 1,20
MnO2 + 4H+ + 2e− ⇌ Mn2+ + 2H2O + 1,23
O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e− ⇌ 2H2O + 1,23
2− + 1,33
Cr2 O7 + 14H+ + 4e− ⇌ 2Cr3+ + 7 H2O
Cℓ2(g) + 2e− ⇌ 2Cℓ- + 1,36
−
MnO4 + 8H+ + 5 e− ⇌ Mn2+ + 4H2O + 1,51
H2O2 + 2H+ + 2e− ⇌ 2H2O + 1,77
Co3+ + e− ⇌ Co2+ + 1,81
F2(g) + 2e− ⇌ 2F− + 2,87

Copyright reserved Please turn over