Questions

Q1.

This question is about carbonic acid. It is a weak acid that dissociates as shown.

(a) (i) Calculate the pH of a solution of carbonic acid with a concentration of 0.00125 mol dm−3.
Assume there is no dissociation of the HCO3 ion.
[pKa for carbonic acid = 6.35]
(3)

(ii) State two further assumptions you have made when calculating the pH in (a)(i).
(2)
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(b) Blood is buffered by a mixture of carbonic acid (H2CO3) and hydrogencarbonate ions (HCO ).
(i) The pH of blood is maintained at 7.4. Calculate the hydrogen ion concentration in the blood and
hence the ratio of carbonic acid to hydrogencarbonate ions.
(3)
 *(ii) Explain how this buffer solution resists a change in pH when extra hydrogen ions enter the blood.
(3)
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(Total for question = 11 mark)

Q2.

This question is about lactic acid, CH3CH(OH)COOH

(a) Give the IUPAC name for lactic acid.

(1)
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(b) Write the equation for the reaction of lactic acid with excess
phosphorus(V) chloride, PCl5, showing the structural formula of the organic product.
State symbols are not required.
(3)

(c) The acid dissociation constant, Ka, of lactic acid is 1.38 × 10–4 mol dm–3.
(i) Write the expression for the acid dissociation constant of lactic acid.
(1)
 (ii) State whether lactic acid is a stronger or weaker acid than ethanoic acid.
Quote data from page 18 of your Data Booklet to justify your answer.
(1)
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(iii) Calculate the pH of a 0.150 mol dm–3 solution of lactic acid, giving your answer to two decimal
places. State two assumptions you have made.
(4)

Assumptions

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(iv) A buffer solution with a pH of 4.00 is prepared using lactic acid and sodium lactate,
CH3CH(OH)COONa.
Calculate the mass of sodium lactate that should be dissolved in 1.00 dm3 of 0.150 mol dm–3 solution
of lactic acid to make a buffer solution of pH 4.00.
Sodium lactate has molar mass of 112 g mol–1.
(4)

*(v) A small volume of hydrochloric acid is added to the buffer solution made in part (iv).
Explain why the pH of the solution does not change significantly.
Include an equation when you refer to any reaction which occurs.
(3)
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(Total for question = 17 marks)

Q3.

Mass spectrometry is used to determine the relative atomic masses of elements.

The diagram shows the main features of a mass spectrometer.

(a) After vaporisation, the sample passes through three stages before reaching the detector.
(i) The first stage is ionisation, which occurs at R. Describe fully the ionisation
process for the element nickel, Ni, writing an equation to illustrate it.
State symbols are not required.
(2)
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(ii) Describe the processes occurring at S and T.
(2)
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(iii) Explain why the sample needs to be ionised.
(1)
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(b) The tallest peak in a mass spectrum (called the base peak) is given a height of 100 and the
heights of all the other peaks are given relative to the base peak. A sample of the element nickel is
analysed in a mass spectrometer and found to have two significant peaks.

(i) Calculate the relative atomic mass of nickel in this sample.

Give your answer to one decimal place.
(2)

(ii) Use the relative peak heights to calculate the percentage abundance of the two isotopes in the
sample.
(2)
 (iii) The mass spectrum of this sample of nickel had a very small peak at m / e = 29.
Identify the species responsible for this peak.
Write an equation to show how it is formed.
State symbols are not required.
(2)
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(c) Mass spectrometry is also used to identify chemical compounds.

State one application for this use of the technique.
(1)
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(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q4.

A sample of zinc has the relative atomic mass 65.44. The sample contains four isotopes.

The abundance of three of these isotopes is shown.

(a) (i) Use these data to calculate the relative isotopic mass of the fourth isotope.
Show your working, and give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
(3)
 (ii) State and explain what difference, if any, you would expect between the chemical properties of the
lightest and heaviest isotopes of zinc.
(1)
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(b) Isotopic masses are determined using a mass spectrometer. The sample under investigation is first
converted into gaseous ions.
(i) Ions then pass through slits in a series of electrically charged plates.
Give two reasons for this procedure.
(2)
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(ii) State how ions of different mass are separated.
(1)
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(iii) The ions eventually produce a current in the detector. Data from the detector are used to produce
a mass spectrum.
State how the horizontal axis of a mass spectrum is labelled.
Give your answer in words, not symbols.
(1)
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(c) Complete the electronic configuration of an atom of zinc using s p d notation.

(1)
1s2 .............................................................................................................................................

(d) Describe, with the aid of a diagram, the bonding in a sample of zinc. You should state the attractions
which hold the particles together in the solid.
(3)

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(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q5.

This question is about mass spectrometery.

(a) A diagram of a mass spectrometer is shown.

 (i) Identify P and state its purpose.
(2)
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(ii) Identify Q.
(1)
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(iii) Suggest two ways in which the ions following path R could differ from the ions that reach the
detector.
(2)
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(b) The mass spectrum of magnesium shows the presence of three isotopes.
(i) Complete the table to show the numbers of subatomic particles in the atom of each isotope.
(2)

(ii) Explain, with reference to the subatomic particles of the isotopes of magnesium, the meaning of
the term isotope.
Quote data from the table in (b)(i).
(2)
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(iii) Data obtained using the mass spectrum of magnesium are given in the table.

Calculate the relative atomic mass of magnesium in the sample.

Give your answer to two decimal places.
(2)

(c) State two further uses of mass spectrometers.

(2)
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(Total for question = 13 marks)

Q6.

This question is about mass spectrometry, and the elements gold and copper.

A diagram of a mass spectrometer is shown.

(a) (i) Identify the three parts of the mass spectrometer, E, F and G.
(3)
E ..........................................................................................................................................

F ..........................................................................................................................................

G ..........................................................................................................................................
(ii) Suggest how the ions travelling along paths X and Y differ in mass or charge from the ions
reaching the detector.
(2)
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(b) Copper has two stable isotopes with mass numbers of 63 and 65.
(i) For each isotope of copper, complete the table to show the number of protons, neutrons and
electrons present in Cu+ ions.
(2)
 (ii) State the meaning of the term isotopes, quoting information from the table.
(1)
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(c) Gold and copper are used to make alloys.

The composition of gold-copper alloys may be found using mass spectrometry.
The mass number and percentage abundance of each isotope in an alloy are given in the table.

(i) Calculate the relative atomic mass of copper to one decimal place using the data for the two
copper isotopes only.
You must show your working.
(3)

(ii) Calculate the percentage by mass of copper and of gold in this alloy.
Give your answer to two significant figures.
(2)

(iii) The purity of gold by mass is often expressed in carats, where pure gold is 24 carat.
Calculate the purity of this gold alloy in carats.
Give your answer to two significant figures.
(1)
 (Total for question = 14 marks)

Q7.

(a) The relative atomic masses of elements can be determined using a mass spectrometer.
(i) Define the term relative atomic mass.
(3)

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(ii) Describe fully how positive ions are formed from gaseous atoms in a mass spectrometer.
(2)

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(iii) The following data were obtained from the mass spectrum of a sample of strontium.
 Calculate the relative atomic mass of strontium in this sample.
Give your answer to three significant figures.
(2)

(b) In which block of the Periodic Table is strontium found?

(1)

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(c) Draw the dot and cross diagram for strontium chloride.
Show outer electrons only.
(2)

(d) A solution of strontium nitrate was prepared from strontium oxide and dilute nitric acid.
Write the equation for this reaction, including state symbols.
(2)

(e) A compound of strontium contains 49.9% strontium, 13.7% carbon and 36.4% oxygen, by mass.
Calculate the empirical formula for this compound.
[Use relative atomic masses: Sr = 87.6, C = 12.0, O = 16.0]
(3)
 (Total for question = 15 marks)

Q8.

Ions are separated in the mass spectrometer by

A a vacuum pump.
B a magnetic field.
C an ionization chamber.
D electron bombardment.

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q9.

A sample of oxygen contains the isotopes 16O, 17O, 18O.

How many peaks would there be for the O ions in the mass spectrum of this sample of oxygen?

A 3

B 5

C 6

D 9

(Total for question = 1 marks)

Q10.

The diagram shows a mass spectrometer.

The region of the mass spectrometer in which ions are accelerated is
A A
B B
C C
D D

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q11.

A model of the atom describes a nucleus containing protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons in
energy levels.

(a) Complete the table below.

(3)

(b) State, in terms of the sub-atomic particles present, the meaning of the term isotopes.
(2)
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(c) The element rubidium exists as the isotopes 85Rb and 87Rb.
 (i) Explain how gaseous atoms of rubidium are ionized in a mass spectrometer.
(2)
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(ii) In a sample of rubidium, the isotope 85Rb has an abundance 2.5 times greater than that of 87Rb.
Calculate the relative atomic mass of rubidium in this sample. Give your answer to one decimal
place.
(3)

Relative atomic mass = ...........................................................

(d) The diagram below illustrates a model of the metallic bonding in rubidium.

Write appropriate labels in the two empty boxes in order to complete the diagram.
(2)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q12.

A sample of an element, X, was extracted from a meteorite.

The table gives the percentage abundance of the isotopes of X obtained from the mass spectrum of the
sample.
(a) (i) Calculate the relative atomic mass of the element in this sample.
Give your answer to three significant figures.
(2)

(ii) Identify X and hence give the numbers of subatomic particles present in the species at m/e = 56 in
the mass spectrum.
(2)
X ......................................................................................................................

(iii) A peak at m/e = 28 was also detected in the mass spectrum of X.

Identify the species which produced this peak.
(1)
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(iv) Explain why the three isotopes of X have the same chemical properties.
(2)
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(b) (i) Outline how a solid sample of element X is converted into ions in a mass spectrometer.
(2)
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(ii) Following the formation of ions, there are three steps in the production of a spectrum in the mass
spectrometer.
Name the three steps in order and state how the first two are carried out.
(3)
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(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q13.

A mass spectrometer can be used to measure relative isotopic masses.

(a) State the meaning of the term isotopes.

(1)
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(b) (i) In a mass spectrometer, a sample of the vapour of an element is ionized.

State how this ionization is carried out.
(1)
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(ii) Complete the equation showing the simplest ionization of a vaporised element M.
(1)

(iii) How are the ions accelerated in the mass spectrometer?

(1)
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(iv) Ions with the same charge and travelling with the same velocity are then passed through a
magnetic field.
(1)
 The path of one ion is shown.
Add a line to the diagram to show the path of a lighter ion as it passes through the magnetic field and
travels to the detector.
(c) A sample of silicon is analysed in a mass spectrometer.

Calculate the relative atomic mass of silicon, showing your working.

Give your answer to four significant figures.
(2)

(d) A high resolution mass spectrometer measures masses to four decimal places.
The relative molecular mass of a compound is found to be 84.0581.
The relative atomic mass of an oxygen atom, 16O, is 15.9949
The relative atomic mass of a hydrogen atom, 1H, is 1.0079
Use these data to deduce whether the compound is C6H12 or C5H8O. Show your working, and state the
assumption you make.
(3)

Assumption

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(e) A helium mass spectrometer is an instrument used to detect leaks in containers.

A sealed container filled with helium is placed in a vacuum chamber. Any helium leaking out of the
container is detected by the mass spectrometer.
Suggest one reason that makes helium suitable for this purpose, other than its lack of reactivity.
(1)
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(Total for question = 11 marks)