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A-LevelChemistryAnalytical techniques9701/52 · May/June 2020 · Q113 Marks

A student plans to carry out an experiment to find the relative molecular mass, Mr, of a soluble acidic gas, X, by finding the mass of a measured volume of gas X. Gas X can be prepared by the reaction between concentrated sulfuric acid and copper. Two methods of gas collection are available to the student, as shown. [Figure 1.1]

  1. (a)(i)Explain why the first sample of gas collected from either apparatus should not be used for the Mr determination of gas X.[1]
  2. (a)(ii)Give two reasons, other than your answer to (a)(i), why, for this experiment, the apparatus in method A is less suitable than the apparatus in method B for collecting a sample of gas X. reason 1 reason 2[2]
  3. (b)(i)The student is told to use the U-tube shown to find the mass of a sample of gas X. [Figure 1.2] A 100.0 cm³ sample of pure gas X is placed in a gas syringe. The gas syringe is attached to a U-tube containing small lumps of solid soda lime, a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. All of gas X is slowly passed into the U-tube and the mass of gas X absorbed determined. The temperature and the pressure of the room are recorded. State the measurements that are needed to determine the mass of gas X absorbed.[1]
  4. (b)(ii)Suggest why soda lime is used to absorb gas X.[1]
  5. (c)Gas X can cause respiratory distress. State an appropriate precaution that should be taken when doing this experiment.[1]
  6. (d)(i)Experiment 1 is carried out at a temperature of 21°C, a pressure of 9.8 × 10⁴ Pa, and uses 100 cm³ of pure gas X. Calculate the number of moles of gas X present in Experiment 1. You should assume that gas X behaves like an ideal gas and so use PV = nRT. R = 8.31 JK⁻¹ mol⁻¹ moles of gas X =[2]
  7. (d)(ii)The sample of gas X is found to have a mass of 0.251 g. Explain how the student should use this information and their results to determine the Mr of X.[1]
  8. (d)(iii)Not all of gas X is absorbed by the soda lime. State what effect, if any, this has on the student's calculated value of the Mr of gas X.[1]
  9. (d)(iv)In Experiment 2, the same mass of gas X is used, but the student did not record the temperature and pressure. The calculated Mr of X for Experiment 2 is higher than the value calculated by the student for Experiment 1. State and explain how the value of P/T changes from Experiment 1 to Experiment 2.[1]
  10. (e)State how the reliability of the results in Experiment 1 could be improved.[1]
  11. (f)A different gas, methylamine, is alkaline. State a change that would have to be made to the apparatus so that the Mr of methylamine could be determined.[1]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] The sample will contain air from the apparatus OR gas mixture not pure gas
  2. [1] M1 Gas is soluble so should not be collected over water
  3. [1] M2 There is a danger of suck-back
  4. [1] Mass of U-tube + soda lime before the experiment AND Mass of U-tube + soda lime after the experiment
  5. [1] Soda lime is alkaline / a neutralisation reaction will occur.
  6. [1] Carry out the experiment in a fume cupboard
  7. [1] M1 use of correct T (294 K) and V (100 × 10⁻⁶ m³)
  8. [1] M2 Correct use of pV = nRT (9.8 × 10⁴ × 100 × 10⁻⁶ / 8.31 × 294) = 4.01 × 10⁻³
  9. [1] divide mass of X by the number of moles calculated in (d)(i) OR 0.251/1(d)(i) = 62.6
  10. [1] (Smaller mass of gas X absorbed, so) lower Mr value
  11. [1] P/T is less AND Because if Mr is higher, n is less and therefore P/T is less
  12. [1] Repeat the experiment (×3) and take an average
  13. [1] Replace the soda lime with an acid (to absorb the alkaline gas)

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About this question

Topic
Analytical techniques, A-Level Chemistry (syllabus 9701). Structured question, 13 marks.
Source
A-Level Chemistry, May/June 2020 Paper 5 Variant 2, question 1.

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