Question/statement
Response/Answer/Proper Concept
(misconception)
1 Comment on the following
statement:
Physical changes are reversible w
hile chemical changes are not
2 Comment on the following
statement:
Chemical reactions will continue
until all the reactants are
exhausted
3 Comment on the following
statement:
The strength (of acids and bases),
and concentration mean the
same thing; for example:
Are strong acids the same as
concentrated acid?
4 The practice followed in Dilution We add acid to water, because a large amount of heat is
of Acids in the lab:
Do we add acid to water or water extremely concentrated solution of acid initially. So much heat
to acid? Justify
5 How does the reactivity of metals As we move down the group, the atomic number increases and
change as you move down a
group or across a period?
A very common misconception. Chemical changes are also
reversible. Consider equilibrium reactions in which forward
and backward reactions are both occurring at the same time.
Some physical changes are also hard to reverse, for example,
crushing a rock
Reactions can reach equilibrium before the reactants are
exhausted. Equilibrium constants and Le Chatalier’s Principle
Concentration is the number of moles of solute
that are dissolved in one liter of solvent. Strength is the
percentage of those molecules that dissociate into ions.
An interesting fact:
some weak acids (e.g. acetic acid or vinegar) actually increase
in strength as their concentration decreases.
released when strong acids are mixed with water. Adding more
acid releases more heat. If you add water to acid, you form an
is released that the solution may boil very violently, splashing
concentrated acid out of the container! If you add acid to
water, the solution that forms is very dilute and the small
amount of heat released is not enough to vaporize and spatter
it. So Always Add Acid to water, and never the reverse.
the number of energy levels increase too. The attraction
between the effective nuclear positive charge and the valence
electron decreases too. Therefore, losing an electron from the
outer shell level will be very easy, i.e. increasing the reactivity
In the contrary, as we move across a period from left to right,
although the atomic number increases, the effective nuclear
positive charge increase too without increasing the number of
energy levels. That’s mean, the attraction increases between
the nucleus and the valence electrons ,i.e, losing electrons
from the outer shell level will be difficult and reactivity
becomes less.
6 Which of the following processes
will make water molecules
larger? Freezing, melting,
evaporation, condensation?
7 Which is faster: the exothermic
or endothermic reaction? Justify
The size of water molecule will never change during any of
these physical changes.
Exothermic, because the reactants require less activation
energy than in the exothermic reaction, and therefore,
products will be formed faster

8 Ask the candidate to write the
chemical equilibrium equation of
Haber process, then ask them
the following:
Discuss the effect of
1. decreasing the pressure
2. Adding a catalyst
3. Increasing the temperature
on the concentration of
ammonia, and why?
N2(g) + H2(g) ⇄ NH3(g)
Given: ΔH= ̶ 92kJ.mol ⎻1
1. Effect of pressure: The candidate needs to balance the
chemical equation to become as follow:
N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇄ 2 NH3(g)
As the pressure decreases, the volume increases. Therefore,
the equilibrium will be shifted to the direction where the total
number of moles is more, i.e. towards the reactants. Therefore,
the concentration of ammonia decreases.
2. Adding a catalyst: It will NOT effect on the equilibrium
direction, because the catalyst will increase the rate of forward
and reverse reaction at the same rate.
3. Increasing the temperature
Because the reaction is exothermic, as the temperature
increases, the system will respond by moving the position of
equilibrium to the reactant, i.e, producing less heat. Therefore,
the ammonia concentration decreases.

9 Shape of liquids in capillary tube This is all attributed to the capillary action of liquids that is
Discuss the difference in shape controlled by Two different types of forces: Cohesive and
between water and mercury in a adhesive forces
capillary tube In water adhesive forces are stronger than cohesive forces so
water particles are pulled up and surface of water is concave
In mercury, cohesive forces are stronger than adhesive forces
so the surface of liquid has a convex shape
10 Dynamic Equilibrium. Two opposing process occurring simultaneously at the same
Give example from common life rate but in opposite directions leading to no macroscopic
practice changes.
Example: Closed bottle of water, evaporation and condensation
occur simultaneously and level of water is same
11 An egg boils at the top of The higher the altitude, the lower the pressure. This is an a life
mountain at a lower temperature application of Charles’s law P1/T1=P2/T2
than at sea level. Justify? Pressure and temperature are directly proportional to each
other
12 Explain the specific heat capacity 1. Water has high specific heat capacity. Large amount of heat
and the density of water. Discuss is needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1ºC.
the effect of these properties on 2. Density of ice is less than density of water (liquid) and this is
 aquatic life.
13 What is the difference between
end point and equivalence or
(stoichiometric point)
opposite to the common trend. When ice floats on surface of
water in cold zone areas, aquatic life is not affected by drop in
temperature
End point is the point where the indicator (weak organic acid)
changes color. It represents one drop extra of the titrant.
Equivalence point is the point where number of moles of titrant
and analyte are equal