Cambridge O Level

CHEMISTRY 3173/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2021
1 hour

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*8406600907*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
 The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.

This document has 16 pages.

IB21 06_3173_12/RP
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1 Three pieces of apparatus are shown.

50 cm3 50 cm3 25 cm3

burette measuring pipette

cylinder

Which pieces of apparatus could be used to measure 23 cm3 of liquid?

A burette and measuring cylinder only

B burette and pipette only
C burette, measuring cylinder and pipette
D measuring cylinder and pipette only

2 Copper(II) nitrate is soluble in water. Copper(II) carbonate is insoluble in water.

A mixture of solid copper(II) nitrate and copper(II) carbonate is added to a beaker of water. It is
stirred until no more solid dissolves.

How can separate samples of copper(II) nitrate and copper(II) carbonate be obtained from the
resulting mixture?

A crystallisation followed by distillation

B evaporation followed by distillation
C evaporation followed by filtration
D filtration followed by crystallisation

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3 Two compounds, P and Q, are separately dissolved in water and tested as shown.

test P Q
colour of solution green colourless
aqueous sodium hydroxide added green precipitate, soluble in white precipitate,
excess, giving a green solution insoluble in excess
aqueous sodium hydroxide and no gas given off ammonia given off
aluminium foil added, then warmed
acidified with nitric acid, then white precipitate no precipitate
aqueous barium nitrate added

Which ions are present in P and Q?

P Q

A Cr3+ and SO42– Zn2+ and NO3–

B Cr3+ and SO42– Ca2+ and NO3–
C Fe2+ and NO3– Ca2+ and SO42–
D Fe2+ and NO3– Zn2+ and SO42–

4 Which statement is correct?

A When gaseous ammonia becomes liquid ammonia, the change is endothermic.

B When liquid ethanol becomes solid ethanol, the change is exothermic.
C When liquid water becomes gaseous water, the change is exothermic.
D When solid copper becomes liquid copper, the change is exothermic.

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5 Which diagram shows the ion 73 Li ?

A B

+ +
– + + + – – + + – key
+ + +
+ = proton
= neutron
– – = electron

C D

– + + + – – + + + –

6 Three statements about the elements carbon, nitrogen and sulfur are shown.

1 They are in groups next to each other in the Periodic Table.

2 Their neutron to proton ratios are all two to one.
3 They each form an acidic oxide.

Which statements are correct?

A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

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7 The table shows data for some particles. There are gaps represented by W, X, Y and Z.

proton nucleon number of number of

particle
number number neutrons electrons

Ar 18 40 W 18
K+ 19 39 20 X
Sc 21 Y 24 21
S2– 16 32 16 Z

Which row shows the correct values for W, X, Y and Z?

W X Y Z

A 20 20 42 14
B 20 20 42 16
C 22 18 45 14
D 22 18 45 18

8 Hydrogen can form both H+ ions and H– ions.

Which statement is correct?

A An H+ ion has more protons than an H– ion.

B An H+ ion has no electrons.
C An H– ion has one more electron than an H+ ion.
D An H– ion is formed when a hydrogen atom loses an electron.

9 Iodine and sodium chloride are solids at room temperature and pressure.

Which row correctly shows the structure of iodine and the bonding in sodium chloride?

structure bonding in
of iodine sodium chloride

A giant molecular covalent

B giant molecular ionic
C simple molecular covalent
D simple molecular ionic

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10 It is possible to produce Ar2+ ions from argon atoms in a laboratory.

Which statement is correct?

A Each argon atom gains two electrons and loses the electronic configuration of an inert gas.
B Each argon atom gains two electrons and obtains the electronic configuration of an inert gas.
C Each argon atom loses two electrons and loses the electronic configuration of an inert gas.
D Each argon atom loses two electrons and obtains the electronic configuration of an inert gas.

11 Many elements and compounds contain covalent bonds.

Which statement about covalently bonded elements and compounds is correct?

A Aqueous solutions of covalent compounds always conduct electricity.

B Bonding in the nitrogen molecule involves three shared pairs of electrons.
C Double covalent bonds are present in ethene and in water.
D The formation of covalent bonds always produces atoms with eight electrons in their outer
shells.

12 What is the number of moles of hydrogen atoms in 3.2 g of methane?

A 0.02 B 0.2 C 0.4 D 0.8

13 What is the ionic equation for the reaction between aqueous silver nitrate and aqueous
iron(III) chloride?

A Ag+(aq) + Fe3+(aq)  Ag(s) + Fe2+(aq)

B Ag+(aq) + Cl –(aq)  AgCl (aq)

C Ag+(aq) + Cl –(aq)  AgCl (s)

D Fe3+(aq) + 3NO3–(aq)  Fe(NO3)3(aq)

14 Calcium carbonate, CaCO3, reacts with an acid, HA.

CaCO3(s) + 2HA(aq)  CaA2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

What is the minimum mass of acid required to react completely with 10 g of calcium carbonate?

[Mr: HA, 46; CaCO3, 100]

A 4.6 g B 9.2 g C 10 g D 20 g

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15 When 1.0 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid reacts with excess sodium carbonate, 1.2 dm3 of
carbon dioxide is produced, measured at room temperature and pressure.

Na2CO3(s) + 2HCl (aq)  2NaCl (aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

Which volume of 1.0 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid is used?

A 50 cm3 B 100 cm3 C 200 cm3 D 1000 cm3

16 Which solutions contain the same number of moles of solute?

1 10 cm3 of 0.01 mol / dm3 copper(II) sulfate

2 100 cm3 of 0.05 mol / dm3 sulfuric acid

3 100 cm3 of 0.001 mol / dm3 sodium hydroxide

4 50 cm3 of 1 mol / dm3 copper(II) sulfate

A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

17 Which statement about the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is correct?

A Chlorine is produced at the cathode.

B Hydrogen is produced at the cathode.
C Oxygen is produced at the cathode.
D Sodium is produced at the cathode.

18 The equations for three reactions are shown.

1 C + O2  CO2

2 Al 3+ + 3e–  Al

3 2O2–  O2 + 4e–

Which reactions occur in the extraction of aluminium from purified aluminium oxide?

A 1 and 2 only B 2 only C 2 and 3 only D 1, 2 and 3

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19 An energy profile diagram is shown.

100 kJ / mol
reactants
energy
100 kJ / mol
products

progress of reaction

Which row shows the activation energy of the reverse reaction and the description of the forward
reaction?

activation energy of
description of the forward reaction
the reverse reaction
A +100 kJ / mol more energy is given out forming bonds in the products
than is taken in breaking bonds in the reactants
B +100 kJ / mol more energy is taken in breaking bonds in the reactants
than is given out forming bonds in the products
C +200 kJ / mol more energy is given out forming bonds in the products
than is taken in breaking bonds in the reactants
D +200 kJ / mol more energy is taken in breaking bonds in the reactants
than is given out forming bonds in the products

20 Petroleum (crude oil) is a mixture of hydrocarbons which can be separated into fractions by
fractional distillation.

Which row correctly shows the fractions in order of decreasing boiling point?

highest lowest

A diesel paraffin naphtha petrol

B naphtha petrol diesel paraffin
C paraffin naphtha petrol diesel
D petrol naphtha paraffin diesel

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21 The rate of a chemical reaction decreases as the temperature decreases because at a lower
temperature:

1 a lower proportion of molecules have energy that exceeds the activation energy
2 the molecules are further apart
3 the frequency of successful collision is less.

Which reasons correctly explain this decrease?

A 1 and 2 only B 1 and 3 only C 2 and 3 only D 1, 2 and 3

22 The rate of the reaction between a metal carbonate and a dilute acid is followed by measuring the
volume of carbon dioxide produced and plotting this against time.

The line labelled X shows the results of an experiment using 50 cm3 of 1.0 mol / dm3
hydrochloric acid and excess metal carbonate.

The experiment is repeated using different conditions and lines Y and Z are drawn to show the
volumes of carbon dioxide produced against time.

Z
X
volume
of CO2 Y

0
0 time

Which row shows the conditions that could give lines Y and Z?

conditions for Y conditions for Z

A 50 cm3 of 0.5 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid 25 cm3 of 2.0 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid
at same temperature. at same temperature
B 50 cm3 of 0.5 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid 12.5 cm3 of 4.0 mol / dm3
at same temperature with a catalyst. hydrochloric acid at same temperature.
C 50 cm3 of 1.0 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid 50 cm3 of 1.0 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid
at a lower temperature. at a higher temperature.
D 50 cm3 of 0.5 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid 50 cm3 of 1.0 mol / dm3 sulfuric acid at
at a higher temperature. same temperature.

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23 In which equation is the underlined substance oxidised?

A Cr2O3 + 2Al  2Cr + Al 2O3

B MnO2 + 4HCl  MnCl 2 + 2H2O + Cl 2

C Na2SO3 + 2HCl  2NaCl + H2O + SO2

D 2NO2  2NO + O2

24 A compound decolourises acidified potassium manganate(VII).

What could this compound be?

1 magnesium chloride, MgCl 2

2 iron(II) chloride, FeCl 2

3 ethanol, C2H5OH

A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 2 and 3 only D 3 only

25 If a sample of ammonia is passed over heated iron, two gases, X and Y, are formed. Gas X
reacts with oxygen. Gas Y is unreactive.

Which statement is correct?

A Gas X reacts with oxygen to form water.

B Gas Y is a compound.
C The formation of the two gases from ammonia cannot be reversed.
D There is a triple covalent bond in one molecule of gas X.

26 The equation shows the reaction for the formation of sulfur trioxide using a catalyst.

2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g) H = –197 kJ / mol

Which change in reaction conditions would produce more sulfur trioxide?

A adding more catalyst

B decreasing the pressure
C increasing the temperature
D removing some sulfur trioxide

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27 Ammonia gas is produced by heating a mixture of ammonium chloride and calcium hydroxide.

2NH4Cl + Ca(OH)2  CaCl 2 + 2NH3 + 2H2O H = +444 kJ / mol

How can this reaction be described?

A a decomposition
B a redox reaction
C an acid-base reaction
D an exothermic reaction

28 A student prepares a pure sample of barium sulfate.

The student dissolves 0.1 mol of barium chloride in water, then adds an excess of aqueous
sodium sulfate.

The equation for the reaction is shown.

BaCl 2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq)  BaSO4(s) + 2NaCl (aq)

Which statement is correct?

A 0.1 mol of sodium chloride is produced.

B A giant ionic lattice is produced.
C After filtering the reaction mixture, barium sulfate is obtained by crystallising the filtrate.
D Aqueous sodium sulfate can be used to test for a chloride.

29 Which pair of reagents is most suitable for the laboratory preparation of copper(II) chloride?

A aqueous copper(II) nitrate and aqueous sodium chloride

B copper and chlorine
C copper and dilute hydrochloric acid

D copper(II) oxide and dilute hydrochloric acid

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30 Titration and precipitation are two of the methods used in salt preparation.

In which row could the salts be prepared by the method stated?

titration precipitation

A calcium sulfate lead chloride

B magnesium chloride iron(II) sulfate
C potassium chloride silver chloride
D sodium nitrate copper(II) sulfate

31 The manufacture of sulfuric acid by the Contact process involves three main reactions.

1 S + O2  SO2
2 2SO2 + O2 2SO3

3 SO3 + H2O  H2SO4

Which reactions are oxidation processes and which require the use of a catalyst?

oxidation process uses a catalyst

A 1, 2 and 3 1 and 2
B 1, 2 and 3 2 only
C 1 and 2 only 1 and 2
D 1 and 2 only 2 only

32 Some information about elements X and Y is given.

Elements X and Y exist as diatomic molecules.

Element X has a lower boiling point than element Y.

Which row shows possible identities for elements X and Y?

X Y

A bromine iodine
B bromine chlorine
C neon argon
D potassium sodium

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33 Iron is produced in the blast furnace.

waste gases

raw materials

hot air

slag

molten iron

Which statement about this process is correct?

A Carbon is oxidised to carbon dioxide.

B Carbon monoxide is produced by the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate.
C Haematite is reduced by calcium carbonate.
D Impurities are removed by hot air.

34 Some pollutants enter the air by natural processes.

Which natural processes release pollutants into the air?

1 bacterial decay of vegetable matter

2 lightning activity
3 volcanoes

A 1 and 2 only B 1 and 3 only C 2 and 3 only D 1, 2 and 3

35 Which statement about the pollution and purification of water is correct?

A Carbon is used to disinfect water for drinking.

B Desalination produces drinkable water by using fractional distillation.
C Eutrophication results in water having too little dissolved oxygen.
D Nitrates from detergents restrict plant growth.

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36 The structures and names of four alkanes are given.

1 2
H
H H
H C H
H C C H
H H H
H C C H
H C C C C H
H H
H H H H

cyclobutane methylbutane

3 4

H C H
H H H H H H

H C C C H H C C C C H

H H H H H H
H C H

H
dimethylpropane butane

Which two alkanes are isomers of each other?

A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

37 A hydrocarbon, CxHy, undergoes an addition reaction with chlorine.

A second hydrocarbon, CpHq, undergoes a substitution reaction with chlorine.

If x = 4 and p = 6, what are the values of y and q?

y q

A 8 16
B 8 14
C 10 12
D 10 14

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38 An organic compound has an empirical formula C2H4O.

What could the compound be?

A butanoic acid
B butanol
C ethanoic acid
D ethanol

39 The partial structure of a polymer is shown.

H C 2H 5 H C 2H 5

C C C C

Cl CH3 Cl CH3

Which monomers could produce this polymer?

1 2 3

H CH3 Cl C 2H5 H C 2H 5 H C 2H5

C C C C C C C C

Cl C 2H 5 CH3 H Cl CH3

A 1 only B 1 and 2 C 2 and 3 D 3 only

40 X is a polymer formed by a condensation reaction. X contains nitrogen.

Which statements about X are correct?

1 X could also contain oxygen.

2 X could be starch.
3 X could have the same linkage as proteins.
4 X could be formed from one monomer or two different monomers.

A 1, 3 and 4 B 1 and 2 C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4 only

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publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.

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 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group

© UCLES 2021
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
1 2
H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
16

85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

3173/12/M/J/21
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 114 116
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Fl Lv
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium flerovium livermorium
– – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –

The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).