CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter P1
Self-assessment questions
1 a temperature ii Choose two points on the line at
b volume of gas given off in 30s least half as far apart as its total
length. Then construct a right-
c concentration of the acid and surface angled triangle and calculate the
area / mass of magnesium change in rate divided by the
d 10–50 oC (or alternatively the change in concentration (change
difference of 40 oC) in y divided by change in x).
e 10 oC iii The rate would be halved.
f bar chart c As the concentration is doubled,
the number of reactant particles is
2 a 12.65 cm3
doubled in a given volume of solution.
b a suspension Therefore there will be twice as many
c The solutions are both transparent but collisions with energy greater than the
the sulfuric acid is colourless, whereas activation energy in a given time and
the copper(II) sulfate solution is pale blue. the rate of reaction will double.
d calcium carbonate
e i thermometer or temperature sensor
Exam-style questions
ii gas syringe or measuring cylinder 1 a i type of metal carbonate [1]
/ burette full of water inverted in a ii time (for limewater to turn cloudy) [1]
trough of water iii mass of carbonate [1]
3 a −1600 J (the answer is a negative b i to improve accuracy by reducing
number, as the reaction is exothermic) effect of random errors / improve
b The answer is given to 2 significant the reliability of data [1]
figures as the temperature is given to ii
2 significant figures, which is the least Metal Time for limewater to
accurate data. carbonate turn milky / s
4 a Divide 20 cm3 by the time taken (in 1st 2nd 3rd Mean
seconds) to collect that volume of gas. test test test
b i
Rate / cm3 s–1

Any straight
line passing
through the
origin (0, 0)

Concentration / mol dm–3

1 Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry © Cambridge University Press 2020

 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK

[1] for main headings in table 3 a magnesium ion / Mg2+ [1]

[1] for unit of time b Add an equal volume of dilute sodium
[1] for showing repeat tests and hydroxide solution, followed an excess
mean [3] of sodium hydroxide [1]

c i plus or minus 0.05 (allow 0.1) cm3 [1] A white precipitate forms which
remains insoluble in the excess
percentage error is (0.05/10) × sodium hydroxide [1]
100% = 5% (allow 10%) [1]
c magnesium nitrate / Mg(NO3)2 [1]
ii The time it takes for the limewater
to turn cloudy [1] [Total: 4]

as stopping the timer at exactly the

same point by eye in each test is
very difficult to judge accurately /
due to human error making
accurate judgement of cloudiness [1]
d bar chart [1]
[Total: 12]
2 a heading 1/time (1/t)/s 
–1
[1]
values to enter 0.0033, 0.0050, 0.011,
0.017, 0.023, 0.027, 0.036 [2]
[1 mark for values; 1 mark for 2
significant figures]
b volumetric / graduated / 25 cm3 pipette [1]
c Although the stopwatch can give
more precise measurements, in this
investigation the human error involved
in reacting to the change in colour will
mean that accuracy to one-hundredth
of a second is not achievable. [2]
(40 × 0.1)
d  [1]
1000
= 0.004 moles [1]
e The thiosulfate reacts with the iodine
as it is formed until the thiosulfate is
all used up. [1]
Then the iodine, which continues to be
formed, turns the starch blue/black [1]
indicating that the reaction has
reached the same point in each test (as
the number of moles of thiosulfate is
constant in each test). [1]
[Total: 11]

1 Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry © Cambridge University Press 2020