Structured Questions and Worked Solutions

1a. Under what conditions does water react with

i. sodium
ii. magnesium

In each case, name the products formed.

b. Water supplies are obtained from rivers, boreholes and reservoirs. The water must be
treated before use. Describe and explain the two main processes in the purification of water
supplies.

c. Water supplies that have passed through iron pipes contain iron(II) ions, Fe2+ and iron(III)
ions, Fe3+.

In the presence of air, iron(II) ions are slowly changes to iron(III) ions.

Construct the equation for the reaction between iron(II) ions, hydrogen ions, H+, and oxygen
to form iron(III) ions and water.

Solution

1ai. In cold water.

Products: sodium hydroxide and hydrogen

1aii. Heated with steam.

Products: magnesium oxide and hydrogen

1bi. filtration: solid particles are removed.

1bii. chlorination: germs and bacteria are killed by sterilising water with chlorine.

1c. 4Fe2+ (aq) + O2 (g) + 4H+ (aq) ---> 4Fe3+ (aq) + 2H2O (l)

2. Calcium oxide is produced by heating a mixture of limestone and coke in a lime kiln.

CaCO3 <---> CaO + CO2

ai. Explain the meaning of the symbol <--->

aii. In the lime kiln, the carbon dioxide is allowed to escape. Why does this increase the yield
of calcium oxide?

b. The calcium oxide reacts with water to form slaked lime.

i. Give the equation for this reaction
ii. State a use of slaked lime
Solution

2ai. It shows that the decomposition of calcium oxide in the lime kiln is a reversible reaction.

2aii. The decrease in carbon dioxide concentration causes the equilibrium to shift to the right to
produce more carbon dioxide to replace those that escaped. Therefore, more calcium
carbonate decomposes to give calcium oxide.

2bi. CaO + H2O --> Ca(OH)2

2bii. It is used to treat acidic soils. It reacts with acid to produce salt and water.

3. Choose from the following metals to answer the questions below.

aluminium calcium copper iron
magnesium potassium sodium zinc

Each metal can be used once, more than once, or not at all.

Name a metal which

a. is manufactured by the electrolysis of its molten oxide

b. has a variable valency
c. is used to galvanise iron
d. has a carbonate which is coloured
e. is alloyed with zinc to make brass

Solution

3a. aluminim
3b. copper/iron
3c. zinc
3d. copper
3e. copper

4. In separate experiments, powdered samples of metal X and metal Y reacted with solutions
of nickel(II) sulphate and of iron(II) sulphate. The following table shows how the colours of
the solutions changed.

nickel(II) sulphate iron(II) sukphate

Solution goes from Solution stays pale
metal X
green to colourless green
 Solution goes from Solution goes from pale
metal Y
green to colourless green to colourless

a. predict the order of reactivity for the four metals X, Y, nickel, and iron.

b. Metal Y was placed in aqueous copper(II) sulphate.

i. What colour change was seen?
ii. Give one other observation

c. Write the ionic equation, with state symbols, for the reaction between iron and aqueous
nickel(II) sulphate.

Solution

a. from least reactive to most reactive: nickel, metal X, iron, metal Y

bi. blue copper(II) sulphate solution decolourises

bii. a reddish brown deposit is formed

c. Fe (s) + Ni2+ (aq) ----> Fe2+ (aq) + Ni (s)

1. (a) Describe everything you see when sodium is added to water containing universal
indicator.

(b) Name the two chemical products of sodium reacting with water and give the symbol
equation for the reaction of sodium with water.

2. (a) Describe the test and result for the gas produced in the reaction between calcium and
cold water. (b) give the symbol equation for magnesium reacting with cold water.

3. (a) Describe what happens when magnesium is heated strongly in oxygen and give equation.

(b) when strongly heated in air, copper forms a black solid. What is the solid?
4. What happens when the product of burning sodium is added to water containing universal
indicator and named the product formed in water.

5. (a) Give three observations that could be made when magnesium reacts with sulphuric acid.

(b) Give the word and symbol equation for zinc reacting with sulphuric acid.

(c) Give the test, and result, for the gas formed in the reaction between a metal and the acid.

(d) From copper, iron, magnesium and zinc: Which reacts with acid (i) fastest?, (ii) slowest?

6. (a) What substances must be in contact with iron before it will rust?

(b) What is the chemical structure of rust? (name and formula) and explain why it is an example
of oxidation.

(c) Car bodies can be doubly protected from rusting with paint and galvanising. Describe and
explain the two methods. Will the car body automatically rust if it is deeply scratched? explain
your answer.

(d) Blocks of magnesium are bolted to a ships hull. Explain how this reduces steel corrosion.
Why must there be no paint between the magnesium and the steel hull?

7. (a) Give three observations that could be made after adding zinc to copper(II) sulphate
solution.

(b) give the symbol equation for the reaction between zinc and copper(II) sulphate solution.

(c) explain why this is an example of a displacement reaction.

(d) give the ionic equation for the reaction between zinc and copper(II) sulphate solution and
explain the reaction in terms of oxidation, reduction and electron transfer.

8. Copper(II) carbonate is heated with carbon powder. (i) The green carbonate powder
changes to a black powder at first, and (ii) after further strong heating, reddish-brown bits of a
metal are formed.

(a) Describe with the aid of symbol equations what is happening in stage (i) and stage (ii).

(b) Why is stage (i) called a thermal decomposition? and stage (ii) called a reduction reaction?

9. A mixture of aluminium powder and iron(III) oxide is made and a magnesium strip placed
in it.
(a) describe what happens after the magnesium fuse is ignited and what do the products look
like.

(b) Give the symbol equation for the reaction and explain it in terms of oxidation and reduction.

(c) Mg + CuO ==> ??? Will these two react on heating Y/N? explain your answer.

(d) Given part of the metal reactivity series: (high) sodium magnesium zinc iron copper gold
(low)

(i) where should hydrogen be placed? and explain why?

(ii) give a full equation to show iron dissolving in dilute sulphuric acid and name the products.

(iii) give the ionic equation to show iron dissolving in any acid.

(iv) why is gold found as the pure element?

10. balance and complete the following equations

(a ) Fe + O2 ==> Fe3O4

(b) Mg + O2 ==>

(c) Fe2(SO4)3 + Zn ==>

(Some formulae to help: Al2O3 , CuO , CuCO3 , Fe2O3 , FeSO4 , H2 , H2SO4 , NaOH , Mg(OH)2)

Answer

1a its a fast reaction, indicator turns purple (alkali formed), metal melts to a silvery ball
whizzing over the surface, colourless gas (hydrogen, can be ignited by this very exothermic
reaction, test - pops with lit splint)

1b word equation: sodium + water ==> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen

and in symbols: 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) ==> 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

2a hydrogen gas - always formed if a metal reacts with water - pops with a lit splint

2b magnesium + water ==> magnesium hydroxide + hydrogen

Mg(s) + 2H2O(l) ==> Mg(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

3a burns brightly in air/oxygen to form the white powder magnesium oxide

2Mg(s) + O2(g) ==> 2MgO(s) ; 3b copper(II) oxide CuO

4 readily dissolves and reacts, sodium oxide + water ==> sodium hydroxide, very alkaline,
indicator purple, pH 13-14

5a fizzing of gas, colourless gas, all dissolves in fast reaction, temperature rises (exothermic
reaction)

5b zinc + sulphuric acid ==> zinc sulphate + hydrogen; Zn + H2SO4 ==> ZnSO4 + H2

5c hydrogen gas - usually formed if a metal reacts with acid - pops with a lit splint

5d 'mini' reactivity series (fastest) Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu (slowest)

6a RUSTING needs BOTH oxygen and water to be in contact with the iron.

6b red-brown solid of hydrated iron(III) oxide Fe2O3, or more correctly, Fe2O3.xH2O , where x is
a variable amount of water.

Iron + water + oxygen => an iron oxide is an oxidation because iron has gained/combined with
oxygen and the formation of the iron(III) ion in the oxide involves electron loss Fe ==> Fe3+ + 3e-
(e- details for higher only).

6c … below

• Paint forms a simple physical barrier between the iron and the oxygen/water.
• Galvanising involves coating the iron/steel with a thin layer of zinc.
 • Galvanising works because zinc is more reactive than iron and preferentially
reacts/corrodes before the iron to form a layer of zinc oxide even if the bodywork is
scratched. The zinc oxide layer does flake away like iron rust.
• The car should not rust at first, the zinc should react first if

6d Magnesium (or zinc) blocks will corrode first, being more reactive than iron and leaves the
steel/iron intact. This is known as sacrificial corrosion. Higher only … However the reactions
involve oxidation/reduction via electron transfer. The magnesium must lose electrons, which
move to another part of the metal structure i.e. the iron and ensure the iron doesn't get
oxidised by electron loss. If they are electrically insulated from each other by paint, they will
both oxidise by electron loss, though the Mg or Zn will corrode faster BUT to no protective
effect!

7a zinc dissolves, dark crystals on zinc/brown bits formed at bottom of test tube (copper), blue
colour fades (copper removed from solution), heats up (exothermic)

7b Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) ==> ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

7c the more reactive zinc has replaced or displaced the less reactive copper in the sulphate salt
solution, the rule is - for a displacement reaction to occur, the added metal must be higher in
the reactivity series.

7d Zn(s) + Cu2+ (aq) ==> Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s) (the SO42- ion is not involved)

the zinc atom Zn loses 2 electrons - oxidation/is oxidised

the copper ion Cu2+ gains 2 electrons - reduction/is oxidised

the two electrons lost by the zinc atom are the two electrons gained by the copper(II) ion

8a (i) the green copper(II) carbonate is decomposed into the black powder, copper(II) oxide,
and the colourless gas carbon dioxide

copper(II) carbonate ==> copper(II) oxide + carbon dioxide

CuCO3(s) ==> CuO(s) + CO2(g)

8a (ii) the black copper(II) oxide powder is reduced by the carbon to form bits of copper and
colourless carbon dioxide gas
copper(II) oxide + carbon ==> copper + carbon dioxide (another displacement reaction)

2CuO(s) + C(s) ==> 2Cu(s) + CO2(g)

8b (i) thermal decomposition means breaking down a larger molecule into smaller ones with
heat

8b (ii) reduction means oxygen loss, the CuO has lost its oxygen to leave the Cu

(higher only: the Cu2+ ion in the copper(II) oxide gains two electrons from the carbon, i.e. the
copper ion is reduced by electron gain)

9a the magnesium strip burns brightly, a very exothermic reaction, this triggers the real
'thermit' reaction which goes off with lots of sparks and the mixture glows red. At the end a
white powder (aluminium oxide) and a grey blob (iron) remain.

9b aluminium + iron(III) oxide ==> aluminium oxide + iron

Fe2O3 + 2Al ==> Al2O3 + 2Fe

9c Mg + CuO ==> MgO + Cu

they will react on heating together because magnesium is higher in the reactivity series and can
therefore displace the less reactive copper from its oxide

9d (i) between copper and iron. Iron reacts with acid to displace hydrogen but copper will not
react with acid in the same way.

9d (ii) Iron + sulphuric acid ==> iron(II) sulphate + hydrogen

Fe(s) + H2SO4(aq) ==> FeSO4(aq) + H2(g)

9d (iii) Fe(s) + 2H+(aq) ==> Fe2+(aq) + H2(g)

9d (iv) gold is very low in the reactivity series and does not readily combine with other
elements.

10a 3Fe + 2O2 ==> Fe3O4

10b 2Mg + O2 ==> 2MgO

10c Fe2(SO4)3 + 3Zn ==> 3ZnSO4 + 2Fe