Chemistry

for Cambridge IGCSE

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The language in exam papers

You must read exam questions carefully, and answer only what they ask. You will get no marks for writing a really good answer to the wrong question! Here are some terms used in exam papers, and their meanings, with examples. Note that the mark after each question gives you another clue about how to answer. For example, [2] means the examiner expects you to give two key points.
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Chemistry
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1 Define means give the precise meaning of a word, phrase, or physical quantity. Example: Define the term isotopes. [1] Answer: Isotopes are atoms of the same element, with different numbers of neutrons.

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Chemistry
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2 What do you understand by/What is meant by is similar to Define. Example: What do you understand by the term cracking? [2] Answer: Cracking is the process in which molecules with long carbon chains are broken into more useful molecules with shorter chains. It always gives at least one product with a carbon-carbon double bond.

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3 State means give a specific name, value, or other brief answer without explanation or calculation. State and Name are very similar instructions. Example: State the chemical name for quicklime. [1] Answer: Calcium oxide

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Chemistry
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4 List means give a sequence of names or other brief answers with no explanation. If the question asks for three points, give only three. Example: List three physical properties that metals tend to share. [3] Answer: Good conductors of electricity; malleable; high melting points.

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Chemistry
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5 Explain means give a detailed account of causes, reasons, or mechanisms. Example: Explain why chlorine is added to water at water treatment works. [1] Answer: It kills bacteria, so it makes the water safer to drink.

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Chemistry
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6 Describe means give a detailed account. If you are asked to describe a process, you could set the steps out as numbered points. You could include a diagram if that is appropriate. Example: Desribe how dry crystals of copper(II) sulfate could be obtained from an aqueous solution of copper(II) sulfate. [4] Answer: The crystals could be obtained by these steps: 1 Heat the solution to evaporate some of the water. 2 Leave the solution to cool. Crystals form. 3 Filter off the crystals and pour a little distilled water over them in the funnel, to rinse them... 4 Use filter paper to pat the crystals dry.
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Chemistry
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7 Describe and explain means give a detailed account, including causes, reasons, or mechanisms. Example: Describe and explain the colour change, when orange bromine water is shaken with ethene gas. [2] Answer: The orange colour disappears. This is because the bromine molecules add on to the ethene molecules at the double bond, giving the colourless liquid 1,2-dibromoethane. (Note: you could also explain here by drawing out the structural formulae.)
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Chemistry
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8 Outline means give a brief account or summary. Example: Barium sulfate is an insoluble salt. Outline the preparation of pure, dry barium sulfate, starting from solid barium chloride. [4] Answer: These are the steps: 1 Prepare a solution of barium chloride. 2 Add a solution of a soluble sulfate, such as magnesium sulfate. A precipitate of barium sulfate forms. 3 Filter off the precipitate, and rinse it in the filter paper, using distilled water. 4 Dry it in a warm oven.
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9 Predict means suggest an answer, based on other pieces of information. If your answer is a number, you could write roughly, or about before the number. Example: The element caesium is two places below potassium in Group I of the Periodic Table. Using what you know about potassium, predict one physical and one chemical property of caesium. [2] Answer: Physical property: very soft metal. Chemical property: reacts explosively with water, giving an alkaline solution of caesium hydroxide.

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Chemistry
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10 Deduce means to reach a conclusion from the information given. You should include a sentence to support your answer where you explain your reasoning, or refer to a principle or law that you have learnt. Example: The formulae for the first three members of the alkene family are: C2H4 C3H6 C4H8. Deduce the formulae for the next two members. [2] Answer: C5H10 and C6H12 (general formula for alkenes is CnH2n)
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Chemistry
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11 Suggest means propose a hypothesis or other possible answer. You may have to use your general knowledge and apply it to a new situation. Example: Suggest a suitable method for obtaining sodium from sodium chloride. Answer: Electrolysis of the molten compound will give sodium at the cathode.

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Chemistry
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12 Calculate find a numerical answer, showing the relevant stages in your working (unless you are instructed not to do so). The question will provide the data you need to complete the calculation. Example: Calculate the relative formula mass for ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3. The Ar values are: N = 14, H = 1, O = 14. Answer: 80

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13 Find means work out. You usually have to do a calculation. Example: Find the % of silicon by mass, in silicon dioxide, SiO2. The Ar values are: Si = 28, O = 16. [1] Answer: 46.7% (Mr for SiO2 pt = 28 + 2 x 16 = 60; the % which is silicon = 28/60 100 = 46.7%)

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Chemistry
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14 Determine It usually means you have to do a calculation, by substituting known values into a formula. Example: 6 g of carbon reacts completely with 16 g of oxygen to give 22 g of carbon dioxide. Determine the masses of carbon and oxygen needed to give 55 g of carbon dioxide. Answer: 15 g of carbon and 48 g of oxygen (55/22 6 = 15, 55/22 16 = 40)

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Chemistry
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15 Estimate find an approximate value for an unknown quantity. You may need to do a calculation. You should use the term about, approximately, or roughly, in your answer. Example The carboxylic acids form a homologous series. This table gives data for four of them.
acid methanoic ethanoic butanoic pentanoic formula HCOOH CH3COOH C3H7COOH C4H9COOH boiling point /C 101 118 164 187

Answer:

Estimate the boiling point of propanoic acid, C2H5COOH. Around 140 C

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Chemistry
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16 Sketch means draw freehand. Your sketch can be quite rough, but make sure you show the key points correctly. Example: Excess hydrochloric acid is added to small lumps of calcium carbonate in a flask. Carbon dioxide bubbles off. The flask is weighed at intervals. Curve X below shows the results. On the same axes, sketch the curves obtained if the experiment is repeated: a a more concentrated solution of acid. Label this curve Y. b larger lumps of calcium carbonate, of the same mass. Label this curve Z. [2] Answer:

Y Loss of mass/g X Z
Note that: - the curves all start at zero - the final loss of mass is the same each time - each curve gets less steep as the reaction proceeds - Y has the steepest slope, and Z the least steep, overall.

Time/mins
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