BOTSWANA EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education

CANDIDATE
NAME

CENTRE CANDIDATE
NUMBER NUMBER

CHEMISTRY 1429/03
Paper 3 Alternative to Practical Test For Examination from 2025
SPECIMEN PAPER
1 hour 15 minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper
Additional Materials: Answer Booklet
Electronic calculator
30 cm ruler

INSTRUCTIONS
• Answer all questions.
• Write your candidate name, Centre number and candidate number in the spaces provided at the
top of this page and on all work you hand in.
• Write in dark blue or black pen.
• Write your answer to each question in the spaces provided.
• You may use and HB pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.
• Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
• Do not write in any barcodes.
• Electronic calculators may be used.

INFORMATION
• The total marks for this paper is 50.
• You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if
you do not use appropriate units.
• The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each
question or part question.
• The Periodic Table is on page 12.

For Examiner’s Use

Total

This document consists of 10 printed pages and 2 blank pages.

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1. A student investigates the temperature change when solid sodium hydrogen carbonate
reacts with dilute sulphuric acid.

Procedure

The student:

Step 1 Measures 30.0 cm3 of dilute sulphuric acid using a 100 cm 3 measuring cylinder.
Step 2 Transfers the sulphuric acid to a polystyrene cup.
Step 3 Records the temperature of the acid.
Step 4 Adds a leveled full spatula of sodium hydrogen carbonate to the acid.
Step 5 Records the maximum temperature reached in the table.
Step 6 Repeats steps 4 and 5 until a total of 7 spatulas of sodium hydrogen carbonate
have been added.

Table of results.

Number of spatulas of sodium Maximum Temperature

hydrogen carbonate added reached / OC
0 26
1 24
2 22
3
4 18
5
6 16
7 16

(a) The diagrams show the thermometer readings when 3 and 5 spatulas were added

INSERT Thermometer diagrams showing readings at 17 oC and 20oC labelled 3

spatulas added and 5 spatulas added respectively.

Record the temperatures in the table 1.1 [2]

(b) (b) Explain why a polystyrene cup was used in the experiment instead of a glass
beaker.

……………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

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(c) Plot a graph of maximum temperature against number of spatulas of sodium
hydrogen carbonate added in the grid provided. [4]

(d) State the relationship between the number of spatulas of sodium hydrogen
carbonate and maximum temperature reached.

…………………………………………………………………………………….……….[1]

(e) State one precaution to be observed in this experiment.

…………………………………………………………………………………….………..[1]

[Total: 9]

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2. The student is to determine the formula of an oxide of magnesium by experiment. The
student heated the magnesium ribbon in a the apparatus X as shown in the set up.

apparatus X
magnesium ribbon

heat

(a) (i) The diagrams show the results of the experiment. Read and record the results in
the table. [2]

Insert diagram of electronic balance with apparatus X with lid on top of it (22.0g)
Insert diagram of electronic balance with apparatus X, magnesium ribbon with lid
on top of it(24.4g)
Insert diagram of electronic balance with apparatus X,oxide of magnesium with lid
on top of it (26.0g)

Table of results.

mass of apparatus X and lid /g

mass of apparatus X and lid and magnesium
ribbon/ g
mass of apparatus X and lid and oxide / g
[2]
(ii) Name apparatus X.

……………………………………………………………………………….………...[1]

(iii) Suggest the apparatus that can be used to heat apparatus X.

……………………………………………………………………………….………...[1]

(iv) Explain why apparatus X with a lid is used.

……………………………………………………………………………….………...[1]

(b) Calculate the mass of magnesium at the start of the experiment

mass of magnesium = ………………..g

1]

(c) Calculate the mass of oxygen that has reacted with magnesium.

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mass of oxygen =
…………….g[1]

(d) Deduce the formula of the oxide of magnesium. Show your working.

[2]

[Total: 9]

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3. The student is provided with three samples eggshells, solid R and solution T. Solution
T is a compound of potassium. Tests were carried out on the samples. Complete the
table by writing the missing observations and conclusions.

Test observations Conclusion

…………………………
The student:
- adds the eggshell Test tube feels warm.
…………………………
powder to a test tube
(a) produced [1]
half filled with 1.0 mol/ The gas produced turns lime
dm3 hydrochloric acid water milky.
…………………………
- tests the gas produced.
ions present [1]

- filters the mixture in (a)

……………………………………
and adds few drops of
calcium ions
(b) (i) aqueous sodium
………………………………...[2] suspected
hydroxide to the filtrate

- then, adds excess

……………………………………
aqueous sodium calcium ions, Ca+2
(ii)
hydroxide to the mixture confirmed
………………………………...[1]
in (b) (i).

Test on solid R and solution T

- adds solid R to a test

tube half filled with …………………………
(c) water. green solution forms
- then shakes the ……………………...[1]
mixture thoroughly until
all the solid dissolves
- divides the mixture
from (c) into two
portions.
- adds a few drops of
……………………………………
(d) (I) aqueous sodium iron (II) present
hydroxide to the first
………………………………...[1]
portion of the mixture
from (c).

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Then adds excess
aqueous sodium
………………………………..[1]
hydroxide.
Adds
….………………………
(ii) [1] , then aqueous White ppt
barium nitrate to the third
portion from (c).

- adds acidified
potassium
(iii) permanganate to the ……………………………………
second portion of the
mixture in (c) until a ……………………………… [2]
change is seen.

- adds a few drops of

aqueous sodium ……………………………………
(iv)
hydroxide. Iron (iii) ions present
to the mixture in (c) (ii), ……………………………….. [1]

Adds acidified lead (ii)

(e) (I) Yellow ppt forms.
nitrate.

……………………………………
-adds aqueous solution
(ii) T to hydrogen peroxide oxygen gas produced
……………………………………
until a change is seen.
……………………………….. [3]

(f) Use your results from (d) to deduce the effect of potassium permanganate on the
cation in solid R.

…………………………………………………………………………………….………..[1]

(h) Name solid R and solution T

solid R…………………………………………………………………………….…………..

solution T……………………………………………………………………………………..
[2]

[Total: 18]

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4 A student is required to investigate the rate of reaction between calcium carbonate and
citric acid.

The student is provided with.

• 100 cm3 of 0.15 mol / dm3 of citric acid
• 5.0 g lumps of calcium carbonate
• Apparatus Q for measuring temperature
• Apparatus R for measuring mass
• 50 cm3 measuring cylinder.
• Stopwatch
• 5.0 g of calcium carbonate powder

(a) Suggest the names of apparatus Q and R.

Q ……………………………………………………………………………………….

R …………………………………………………………………………………….[2]

(b) A piece of litmus paper is placed in the citric acid

State the colour change of the litmus paper when placed in the acid
……………………………………………. to …………….……………………………[2]

(c) The student added 2.5 g of calcium carbonate lumps to 30 cm 3 of citric acid. A
stopwatch is immediately started to monitor the time taken for the reaction to
complete.

State any three observation the student will make during the reaction.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………[3]

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(d) The time taken for the reaction to end is shown in Fig. 4.1.

1:4560

Record the time.

………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]

(e) The student repeats the experiment using calcium carbonate powder. The time
taken for the reaction is shown.

0:3060

Record the time ……………………………….………………………………………….[1]

(f) (i) state the conclusion can be made from the two experiments?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………..[1]

(ii) Explain your conclusion using the kinetic particle theory.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

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(g) Suggest another way the reaction rate can be altered.

………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]

(h) Suggest one precaution that should be taken when taking the reading on the
measuring cylinder.

………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]

[Total: 14]

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