Each student in a class of nine students performs an experiment to find the formula of a chloride of iron. Each student prepares the chloride of iron by passing a stream of chlorine gas over a sample of iron wire as shown in the diagram. [Figure 2.1]
- (a)(i)Each student carries out the following steps in the order shown in the list. Some of the measurement steps are missing from the list. • Weigh the reaction tube containing a quantity of iron wire. • Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram. • Start the flow of dry chlorine gas. • Heat the iron wire until it has completely reacted. • Allow the apparatus to cool, with chlorine gas still flowing. • Weigh the side-arm conical flask containing the chloride of iron. State the two additional measurement steps that each student must perform in order to find the formula of the chloride of iron. 1 2[1]
- (a)(ii)The flow of dry chlorine gas must start before the iron wire is heated. Explain why.[1]
- (a)(iii)State an assumption that has to be made for the measurements made in this experiment to be valid.[1]
- (b)(i)The class results are shown in the table. student | mass of iron wire /g | mass of iron chloride /g | mass of chlorine /g | amount of iron /mol | amount of chlorine atoms /mol ---|---|---|---|---|--- 1 | 0.57 | 1.64 | | | 2 | 1.10 | 3.16 | | | 3 | 1.40 | 4.03 | | | 4 | 1.95 | 5.61 | | | 5 | 2.18 | 5.89 | | | 6 | 2.75 | 7.90 | | | 7 | 3.05 | 8.77 | | | 8 | 3.45 | 9.80 | | | 9 | 3.90 | 11.18 | | | Calculate the mass of chlorine that reacts with the iron wire in each experiment. Record each mass to two decimal places. Calculate the amount of iron, in mol, and amount of chlorine atoms, in mol, that reacts in each experiment. Record the number of moles to three significant figures. [Ar: Fe, 55.8; Cl, 35.5][3]
- (b)(ii)Plot a graph on the grid of the amount of chlorine atoms against the amount of iron. Use a cross (x) to plot each data point. Draw a line of best fit through the plotted points. You should consider whether (0,0) should be on the line of best fit.[2]
- (b)(iii)Circle the point on the graph you consider to be most anomalous. Suggest one reason why this anomaly may have occurred during this experimental procedure.[2]
- (c)Use the graph to determine the gradient of the line of best fit. State the coordinates of both points you used in your calculation. These must be on your line of best fit. Give your answer to three significant figures. coordinates 1 coordinates 2 gradient =[2]
- (d)The formula of the chloride of iron produced in this experiment is FeCl₃. State how the results student 4 obtains could be used to determine this formula.[1]
- (e)(i)Student 3 weighs the conical flask using a balance accurate to two decimal places and records its mass. After the chloride of iron is produced the mass increases by 4.03 g. Calculate the percentage error in measuring the mass of this chloride of iron. percentage error =[1]
- (e)(ii)Student 8 follows the same procedure as student 3. State whether the results from student 8 will have more or less percentage error than those from student 3. Explain your answer.[1]
- (f)(i)Another student suggested that the chloride of iron could also be prepared by the reaction between iron wire and hydrochloric acid. A sample of a chloride of iron prepared in this way contains 44% iron by mass. Show that the formula of this chloride of iron is FeCl₂. [Ar: Fe, 55.8; Cl, 35.5][1]
- (f)(ii)Explain, using the electrode potential values in the table, why the methods in (a) and (f) do not produce the same chlorides of iron. reaction | electrode potential, E/V ---|--- Fe²⁺(aq) + 2e⁻ ⇌ Fe(s) | -0.44 2H⁺(aq) + 2e⁻ ⇌ H₂(g) | 0.00 Fe³⁺(aq) + e⁻ ⇌ Fe²⁺(aq) | +0.77[1]
This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.
Mark scheme
Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- [1] The mass of the empty reaction tube AND The mass of the empty side-arm conical flask
- [1] The iron could react with oxygen or air (instead of the chlorine)
- [1] any one from: • The mass of air in the flask is equal to mass of chlorine in the flask • All the iron (wool) has reacted • Any residue in the reaction tube is iron
- [1] M1 Mol of iron (column 5)
- [1] M2 Mol of chlorine (column 6) [
- [1] M3 all entries to 3 SF
- [1] M1 5 points plotted correctly
- [1] M2 Line of best fit drawn
- [1] M1 Circle around the point at 0.0391,0.105
- [1] M2 Viable reason why the number of moles of chlorine is too small. e.g. not all the mass of iron chloride formed was collected in the conical flask OR Iron chloride dust particles escaped with excess chlorine gas
- [1] M1 Coordinates read and recorded correctly
- [1] M2 Gradient calculated
- [1] Calculate the moles of each element and find the mole ratio
- [1] 2 x 0.005/4.03 x 100 = 0.248%
- [1] Lower percentage error AND Larger mass used
- [1] (55.8/126.8) x 100 = 44.0 OR empirical formula calculation 44/55.8 : 56/35.5 → 0.7885 : 1.5775 → 1 : 2 → FeCl₂
- [1] In method (f) conversion of Fe to Fe²⁺ takes place as Eºcell is + 0.44V AND Conversion of to Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ is not feasible as Eºcell is – 0.77V
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