CHEMISTRY

S4 Final Term Exam

HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION

CHEMISTRY
(SECONDARY FOUR FINAL TERM
EXAMINATION PAPER)

Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes

This paper must be answered in English

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. There are TWO sections, A and B, in this Paper.

2. Section A consists of multiple-choice questions in this question paper, while Section B contains
conventional questions printed separately in Question-Answer Book B.

3. Answers to Section A should be marked on the Multiple-choice Answer Sheet while answers to Section
B should be written in the spaces provided in Question-Answer Book B. The Answer Sheet for Section
A and the Question-Answer Book for Section B will be collected separately at the end of the
examination.

4. A Periodic Table is printed on the back of Question-Answer Book B. Atomic numbers and relative
atomic masses of elements can be obtained from the Periodic Table.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SECTION A (MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS)

1. Read carefully the instructions on the Answer Sheet. Write your name, class and class number in the
space provided.

2. When told to open this book, you should check that all the questions are there. Look for the words
‘END OF SECTION A’ after the last question.

3. All questions carry equal marks.

4. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. You are advised to use an HB pencil to mark all the answers on the
Answer Sheet, so that wrong marks can be completely erased with a clean rubber. You must mark the
answers clearly; otherwise you will lose marks if the answers cannot be captured.

5. You should mark only ONE answer for each question. If you mark more than one answer, you will
receive NO MARKS for that question.

6. No marks will be deducted for wrong answers.

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There are 24 questions in this section. Choose the best answer for each question.

Candidates may refer to the Periodic Table printed on the back of Question-Answer Book B.

1. Which of the following statements concerning slaked lime is correct?

A. It has the same chemical composition as chalk.
B. It reacts with water to give a lot of heat.
C. It can reduce soil acidity.
D. It gives a golden yellow flame in the flame test.

2. The diagram below shows the set-up for separating pure water from sea water.

sea water
S
Q

heat
pure water

Which of the following statements concerning the set-up is correct?

A. Q is sodium chloride.
B. The pure water collected is a white liquid.
C. The reading of P is constant once pure water is collected.
D. Running water should be passed into the condenser from R to S.

3. Which of the following chemical species has the same number of protons, neutrons and
electrons?
40
A. Ar
40
B. Ca2+
39
C. K+
20
D. Ne

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4. A student performed a silver nitrate test and a flame test on a table salt solution. Which of the
following combinations of the results of the tests is correct?
Result of the silver nitrate test Result of the flame test
A. A white precipitate formed. A lilac flame was seen.
B. A white precipitate formed. A golden yellow flame was seen.
C. A yellow precipitate formed. A lilac flame was seen.
D. A yellow precipitate formed. A golden yellow flame was seen.

5. Which of the following solids does not dissolve in water but dissolve completely in excess
dilute sulphuric acid?
A. Sodium hydroxide
B. Silver chloride
C. Magnesium carbonate
D. Copper(II) sulphate

6. A piece of red hot magnesium ribbon reacts with steam to produce solid P and gas Q. Which of
the following combinations is correct?
P Q
A. Magnesium oxide Hydrogen
B. Magnesium oxide Oxygen
C. Magnesium hydroxide Hydrogen
D. Magnesium hydroxide Oxygen

7. Which of the following statements concerning argon is INCORRECT?

A. It can be obtained by fractional distillation of liquid air.
B. Argon molecules are held together by van der Waals’ forces.
C. It can conduct electricity in the liquid state.
D. It is used to fill electric light bulbs.

8. Which of the following statements concerning a sample of 15.0 M nitric acid is INCORRECT?
A. It has a pH of 1.2.
B. The concentration of nitrate ions in the sample is 15.0 M.
C. It should be stored in brown bottles.
D. It can be used as a drying agent to dry hydrogen gas.

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9. Which of the following ionic equations represents the reaction between dilute nitric acid and
calcium carbonate?
A. CO32(aq) + 2H+(aq)  CO2(g) + H2O(l)
B. CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq)  Ca2+(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
C. Ca2+(aq) + 2NO3(aq)  Ca(NO3)2(aq)
D. CaCO3(s) + 2HNO3(aq)  Ca2+(aq) + 2NO3(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

10. The simplified diagram below shows the fractional distillation of crude oil in a fractionating
tower:

fraction A

fraction B

fraction C

fraction D

fraction E
hot crude oil

fraction F

Which of the following statements concerning the fractions is correct?

A. Fraction A has the highest boiling point range.
B. Fraction B is more viscous than fraction C.
C. Fraction D is more volatile than fraction E.
D. Fraction F burns with the least sooty flame.

11. What is the systematic name of the following compound?

A. 2,4-dimethylhexan-2-ol
B. 3,5-dimethylhexan-5-ol
C. 2,4-dimethyl-4-ethylbutan-2-ol
D. 2-methyl-4-ethylpentan-2-ol

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12. Which of the following substances contains the greatest number of hydrogen atoms?
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, O = 16.0; Avogadro constant = 6.02 × 1023 mol1)
A. 4.5 g of water
B. 6.02 × 1022 hydrogen molecules
C. 0.1 mol of butane
D. 0.5 mol of ammonia

13. Element X is a non-metal. It exists as diatomic molecules under room conditions. The electron
diagram of a molecule of X is shown below (only electrons in the outermost shells are shown).

Which of the following statements is correct?

A. There are five electrons in an atom of X.
B. X belongs to Group III of the Periodic Table.
C. X2 molecules are held together by strong covalent bonds.
D. Liquid X2 does not conduct electricity under room conditions.

14. A sample of aqueous ammonia requires 24.30 cm3 of 0.080 M sulphuric acid for complete
neutralization. The resultant solution is then diluted to 250.0 cm3 with distilled water. What is
the concentration of ammonium ion in the diluted solution?
A. 0.0078 M
B. 0.0156 M
C. 0.0311 M
D. 0.0622 M

15. A student is asked to prepare 250.0 cm3 of standard sodium carbonate solution from a sample
of anhydrous sodium carbonate. Which of the following apparatus is NOT required?
A. 25.0 cm3 pipette
B. 250.0 cm3 volumetric flask
C. Electronic balance
D. Glass rod

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16. A student uses an iron rod to stir a beaker of silver nitrate solution. Which of the following
observations can be made?
A. The solution turns blue.
B. A white precipitate forms.
C. Colourless bubbles evolve readily.
D. Some silvery deposits form on the iron rod.

17. The photo below shows some mobile metal fences.

Which of the following methods are commonly used to protect the fences from rusting?
(1) Coating with paint
(2) Galvanizing
(3) Cathodic protection
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

18. Which of the following statements concerning ammonium chloride are correct?
(1) It is made of non-metals only.
(2) It has a simple molecular structure.
(3) Heating ammonium chloride with calcium hydroxide produces ammonia.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

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19. Which of the following statements concerning the reaction between hexane and bromine
(dissolved in an organic solvent) under diffuse sunlight is/are correct?
(1) A substitution reaction takes place.
(2) An addition reaction takes place.
(3) 3-bromohexane is one of the products of the reaction.
A. (1) only
B. (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only

20. Which of the following processes would form a blue solution?

(1) Put a copper wire into silver nitrate solution.
(2) Add litmus solution to potassium hydroxide solution.
(3) Add a spatula measure of copper(II) oxide to hot sodium hydroxide solution.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

21. Which of the following pairs of aqueous solutions will give a white precipitate when they are
mixed?
(1) Magnesium chloride + dilute sulphuric acid
(2) Lead(II) nitrate + barium chloride
(3) Sodium carbonate + calcium nitrate
A. (1) only
B. (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only

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22. In a cracking reaction, one molecule of C12H26 gives one molecule of octane and two
molecules of N. Which of the following statements concerning N are correct?
(1) The empirical formula of N is CH2.
(2) It can undergo substitution reaction with chlorine (dissolved in an organic solvent).
(3) It can undergo addition polymerization.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

23. A straight-chain hydrocarbon has a molecular mass of 56. Which of the following information
can be deduced?
(1) Whether the hydrocarbon is an alkene
(2) Molecular formula of the hydrocarbon
(3) Structural formula of the hydrocarbon
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

24. Consider the following statements and choose the best answer:

1st statement 2nd statement

The empirical formula of a compound The molecular formula is the empirical

can be calculated from its composition formula multiplied by an integer.
by mass.

A. Both statements are true and the 2nd statement is a correct explanation of the 1st
statement.
B. Both statements are true but the 2nd statement is NOT a correct explanation of the
1st statement.
C. The 1st statement is false but the 2nd statement is true.
D. Both statements are false.

END OF SECTION A

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B Name
HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION Class

CHEMISTRY Class no.

(SECONDARY FOUR FINAL TERM
EXAMINATION PAPER)

SECTION B : Question-Answer Book B

This paper must be answered in English

Question
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SECTION B Marks
No.

1
(1) Write your name, class and class number in the space
provided on this page. 2

3
(2) Refer to the general instructions on the cover of the 4
Question Paper for Section A.
5

(3) Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the 6

spaces provided in this Question-Answer Book. Do not
7
write in the margins. Answers written in the margins
will not be marked. 8

Total
(4) An asterisk (*) has been put next to the questions
where one mark will be awarded for effective
communication.

(5) Supplementary answer sheets will be provided on

request. Write your name, class, class number and
question number on the answer sheets and fasten
them with a string INSIDE this Question-Answer Book.

(6) No extra time will be given to you for filling in your

name, class and class number in the Question-Answer
Book after the ‘Time is up’ announcement.

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Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

1. Bauxite is an ore of aluminium that contains mainly aluminium oxide. Aluminium can be
extracted from bauxite by process A. Since aluminium oxide has a very high melting point,
cryolite (Na3AlF6) is added to lower the melting point of the ore before process A proceeds.
(a) Name process A.

(1 mark)

(b) Draw the electron diagram for aluminium oxide, showing ELECTRONS IN THE
OUTERMOST SHELLS only.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(1 mark)

(c) In terms of bonding and structure, explain why aluminium oxide has a very high melting
point.

(2 marks)

(d) Cryolite can be produced by the following reaction:

____NaAl(OH)4 + ____HF + Na2CO3  ____Na3AlF6 + ____H2O + ____CO2
(i) Balance the above chemical equation.

(ii) To produce 100 kg of cryolite, what is the minimum mass of NaAl(OH)4 required to
react with excess HF and Na2CO3?
(Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, O = 16.0, F = 19.0, Na = 23.0, Al = 27.0)

(3 marks)

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2. A student performed some experiments to study the properties of calcium carbonate.

(a) Calcium carbonate decomposes to calcium oxide and carbon dioxide when it is heated
strongly. Write a chemical equation for the decomposition.

(1 mark)
(b) The student added a piece of calcium carbonate to dilute sulphuric acid. The reaction
proceeded quickly and colourless gas bubbles evolved. But the reaction stopped soon.
(i) With the aid of ionic equations, explain why
(1) colourless gas bubbles evolved, but

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(2) the reaction stopped soon.

(ii) Suggest an acid that can react completely with calcium carbonate.

(5 marks)
(c) Knowing that calcium carbonate is an ionic compound, the student made the following
prediction:
‘Put a piece of calcium carbonate into water. The resultant solution can conduct
electricity.’
Explain whether the prediction is correct.

(1 mark)

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3. A natural sample of boron (B) consists of two isotopes. The relative abundance of each isotope
is shown in the table below:

10 11
Isotope B B
Relative abundance (%) 19.9 80.1

(a) State one similarity between a 10B atom and a 11B atom.

(1 mark)
(b) The relative atomic mass of boron can be calculated from the above data.
(i) What is the meaning of the term ‘relative atomic mass’?

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(ii) Calculate the relative atomic mass of boron in the sample.

(3 marks)

(c) Boron reacts with bromine to give boron tribromide.

(i) Write a chemical equation for the reaction involved.

(ii) State, with explanation, whether the reaction between 10B and bromine is the same as
that between 11B and bromine.

(2 marks)

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4. To obtain sodium chloride crystals from sea water, a student first performed filtration to remove
the mud in sea water. The filtrate obtained was then left aside for a few days.
(a) The diagram below shows an incomplete set-up for filtration:

stand

(i) What is apparatus K?

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(ii) Add suitable drawing and labels to the above diagram for completing the filtration
set-up.

(3 marks)
(b) Briefly describe how sodium chloride crystals form in the filtrate.

(2 marks)
(c) Explain why pure sodium chloride crystals CANNOT be obtained from sea water by
heating sea water to dryness.

(1 mark)

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5. A student performs an experiment to prepare hydrated zinc sulphate, ZnSO4 • nH2O, using zinc
oxide and dilute sulphuric acid.
(a) Write an ionic equation for the reaction between zinc oxide and dilute sulphuric acid.

(1 mark)
(b) Suggest why excess zinc oxide should be used.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(1 mark)
(c) After filtering out the excess zinc oxide and heating the filtrate to saturate, hydrated zinc
sulphate crystals form. The residual mixture is filtered to obtain the crystals.
(i) Briefly describe how to wash the crystals obtained.

(ii) Suggest whether the crystals can be dried by putting them in an oven.

(2 marks)

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5. (d) The student performs another experiment to determine the value of n in the hydrated zinc
sulphate, ZnSO4 • nH2O. The set-up of the experiment is shown below:

clamp

hydrated zinc
sulphate

heat liquid droplet

A sample of the hydrated salt is heated in a weighed boiling tube. Some liquid droplets
form near the mouth of the tube. The tube is then further heated to remove all liquid
droplets. Finally, the tube is cooled and weighed again.
(i) Suggest a method to show that the liquid droplets contain water. State the expected
observation.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(ii) The results are tabulated below:

Mass of boiling tube + Mass of boiling tube +
Mass of boiling tube / g
hydrated salt / g salt after heating / g
84.01 87.73 86.10

Determine the value of n.

(Formula masses: H2O = 18.0, ZnSO4 = 161.5)

(4 marks)

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6. Propane and propene are hydrocarbons with molecules containing three carbon atoms.
(a) Explain whether propane and propene belong to the same homologous series.

(1 mark)
(b) Propene and propane can be used as fuels. They can burn completely in air.
(i) Show, by relevant chemical equations, that the combustion of propene consumes less
oxygen than propane.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(ii) However, propene burns with a more sooty flame. Explain briefly.

(3 marks)
(c) Propane can be converted to 2-chloropropane.
(i) Write the structural formula of 2-chloropropane.

(ii) Suggest the reagent and condition for the conversion.

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6. (c) (iii) Explain why the yield of 2-chloropropane is low in the above conversion.

(4 marks)
(d) Propene undergoes addition polymerization to form polypropene.
(i) Draw the repeating unit of polypropene.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(ii) State one use of polypropene.

(2 marks)

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7. Malic acid (C4H6O5) is a dibasic acid that can be found in apples. The structural formula of
malic acid is shown below:

(a) What is the meaning of the term ‘dibasic acid’?

(1 mark)

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(b) Circle ALL ionizable hydrogen atom(s) in the above structure.

(1 mark)

(c) There is an impure sample of malic acid. 0.23 g of the sample is dissolved in about 25 cm3
of distilled water. The solution is then titrated with 0.160 M sodium hydroxide solution
using phenolphthalein as an indicator. 19.50 cm3 of NaOH(aq) is required to reach the end
point.
(i) State the colour change of the solution at the end point.

(ii) Determine the percentage purity of malic acid in the sample.

(iii) What assumption has been made in your calculation?

(5 marks)

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*8. Outline the steps in preparing dry barium sulphate, an insoluble salt, from hydrated barium
chloride crystals. State the additional chemical reagents required, but need NOT mention the
apparatus involved.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(5 marks)

END OF SECTION B

END OF PAPER

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