HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.

1. 1990/I/4b
A colourless crystalline solid X was heated in a boiling tube as shown in the diagram below :

When X was heated, a brown gaseous mixture was produced. On passing the mixture into water, only a
colourless gas was collected. This colourless gas was able to relight a glowing splint. The resulting solution
in the beaker was found to be acidic.
The solid residue in the boiling tube was light yellow when hot and white when cold. It dissolved in both
excess sodium hydroxide solution and excess ammonia solution.
(i) What gases were present in the brown gaseous mixture? Explain your answers.
(ii) Write an equation to explain the formation of the acidic solution in the beaker.
(iii) Name the solid residue. Write the equations for its reaction with excess sodium hydroxide solution
and excess ammonia solution.
(iv) What is X ?
(v) Suggest a potential hazard associated with the experiment, and give an appropriate safety precaution
that should be taken. (11 marks)

2. 1992/I/2a,b
Consider the following hazard warning labels ;

Choose TWO labels which should be displayed on a bottle of concentrated nitric acid. Explain your choice.
(3 marks)
(b) What would be observed when concentrated nitric acid is added dropwise to
(i) a saturated solution of iron(II) sulphate ?
(ii) zinc granules ?
Explain the observations and write appropriate equations. (6 marks)

3. 1993/I/4b
To determine the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate in egg shells, a student added 100 cm3 of 2M
hydrochloric acid to 0.3g of egg shells in a container. After 30 minutes, all the egg shells dissolved and
67cm3 of carbon dioxide were collected at room temperature and pressure.

28
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.2

(i) Write an equation for the reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid.
(ii) Calculate the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate in the egg shells.
(Relative atomic masses : H=1.0; C=12.0; O=16.0; Ca=40.0;
Molar volume of gas at room temperature and pressure = 24.0 dm3)

(iii) The rate of reaction between the egg shells and 2M hydrochloric acid was slow. Suggest TWO
methods to increase the rate of this reaction without using other chemicals. Explain your answer in
each case. (8 marks)

4. 1995/I/2c
In each of the following groups of substances, there is ONE substance which is different from the others in
terms of the properties. In each group, identify the substance which is different from the others and explain
your choice.
milk of magnesium, soap, vinegar, window cleaner (2 marks)

5. 1995/I/7a
The label on a bottle of 'effervescent Calcium’ tablets is shown below.
Effervescent Calcium
Each bottle contains 10 tablets.
Each tablet contains:
Calcium carbonate 625 mg
Vitamin C 1000 mg
Citric acid 1350 mg
Dosage : 1 tablet daily
Administration : Dissolve one tablet in a glass of water.
Warning: (1) Keep out of reach of children.
(2) Keep ..................................
(i) Effervescence occurs when a tablet of 'effervescent Calcium’ is added to water. Based on the
information given on the label, explain why effervescence occurs. Write the ionic equation for the
reaction that occurs.
(ii) Suppose that a student puts a tablet of 'effervescent Calcium’ into an excess amount of water and
collects and the gas liberated.
(1) Assuming that the tablet completely dissolves, calculate the theoretical volume of gas liberated.
(2) It is found that the volume of gas collected in the experiment is less than the theoretical volume
calculated in (1). Give ONE reason to explain the difference, assuming that there is no
leakage of gas in the experiment.

29
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.3

(iii) On the label, some words are missing in the second warning statement. Complete the second
warning statement, beginning with the word 'keep’. Explain your answer.
(Relative atomic masses : C=12.0, O=16.0, Ca=40.0;
Molar volume of gas at room temperature and pressure = 24.0 dm3) (9 marks)

6. 1996/I/6b
A, B, C and D are four unlabelled bottles, each containing one of the following reagents:
2M ammonia solution, 2M ethanoic acid
2M hydrochloric acid, 2M nitric acid
The following scheme is used to identify the four reagents:

(i) What is the reagent in bottle A? Explain why this reagent turns red litmus paper blue.
(ii) What is the reagent in bottle B? Write a chemical equation for the reaction between this reagent and
copper turnings, and a chemical equation for the formation of the brown fumes.
(iii) (1) Suggest a test to distinguish between the reagents in bottles C and D.
(Smelling the reagents is NOT an acceptable answer.)
(2) State the observable change in this test and explain your answer. (8 marks)

30
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.4

7. 1997/I/3
(a) Suggest ONE method to determine the pH of an aqueous solution.
(b) Arrange the following substances in the order of increasing pH and explain your answer.
1M ethanoic acid, 1M hydrochloric acid, 1M sulphuric acid
(c) Three solution samples, A, B and C, are being tested for the purpose of perming hair. The table
below lists the pH of these samples:
Sample pH
A 6.5
B 8.5
C 10.0
Which sample is most suitable for perming hair? Explain your answer. (6 marks)

8. 1997/I/7a
Malachite is a mineral containing copper(II) carbonate and copper(II) hydroxide. It is insoluble in water
but reacts with dilute sulphuric acid. The procedure for preparing copper(II) sulphate crystals from
malachite is as follows:
Step 1 Pour 50 cm3 of 2M sulphuric acid in a beaker and then warm the acid
Step 2 Add small portions of powdered malachite to the warm acid while
constantly stirring, until effervescence stops and some powdered
malachite remains in the beaker.
Step 3 Remove the remaining powdered malachite from the solution.
Step 4 Evaporate the solution slowly to obtain copper(II) sulphate crystals.
(i) Write a chemical equation for the reaction which causes the effervescence.
(ii) Why is it necessary to add powdered malachite until some of it remains in the beaker?
(iii) Draw a labelled diagram to show how the remaining powdered malachite can be removed from the
solution.
(iv) Calculate the theoretical mass of copper(II) sulphate crystals, CuSO4.5H2O, that can be obtained.
(Relative atomic masses : H = 1.0, C = 12.0, O = 16.0, S = 32.1, Cu = 63.5) (8 marks)

9. 1999/I/2a
For the following experiment, state ONE observable change and write a chemical equation for the reaction
involved.
Dilute nitric acid is added to magnesium carbonate powder in a beaker. (2 marks)

31
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.5

10. 2000/I/7ai,ii
The sour taste of citric fruits is mainly due to citric acid which is a weak acid with the following structure:

(i) What is the meaning of the term 'weak acid'?

(ii) Given that citric acid is a tribasic acid, write a chemical equation for the complete neutralization of
citric acid by sodium hydroxide solution. (2 marks)

11. 2000/I/8cii
State whether each of the following statements is true or false. Explain you answer in each case.
When concentrated sulphuric acid is diluted, water should be added slowly to the acid. (2 marks)

12. 2001/I/2a,b
For each of the following experiments, state an expected observation and write a chemical equation for the
reaction involved.
(a) Adding dilute hydrochloric acid to zinc granules.
(b) Adding sodium hydroxide solution to iron(II) sulphate solution. (4 marks)

13. 2001/I/8biv
Suggest ONE use of ammonium nitrate in daily life. (1 mark)

14. 2002/I/1cii
Both ammonium dihydrogenphosphate and ammonium sulphate are nitrogenous fertilizers.
(c) (ii) The use of ammonium sulphate as a fertilizer adds acidity to the soil. If the soil is too acidic,
it is not suitable for plant growth. Suggest ONE substance that is commonly used by farmers
to reduce soil acidity. Explain your answer. (2 marks)

15. 2004/I/2
For each of the following pairs of substances, suggest a chemical test to distinguish one substance from the
other and state the expected observations.
(a) table salt and white sugar
(b) ammonium chloride and potassium chloride
(c) dilute sulphuric acid and dilute nitric acid (6 marks)

32
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.6

16. 2005/I/3
A student proposed the following methods to accomplish three tasks, (a), (b) and (c). The proposed methods
were all considered inappropriate.
(a) Task : To neutralize acidic soil in a flower bed.
Proposed method : Add solid sodium hydroxide to soil.
(i) State ONE reason why the method is inappropriate.
(ii) Suggest an appropriate method to accomplish the task. (2 marks)
(b) Task: To prepare hydrogen gas from an acid.
Proposed method: Add copper to dilute hydrochloric acid.
(i) State ONE reason why the method is inappropriate.
(ii) Suggest an appropriate method to accomplish the task. (2 marks)
(c) Task: To dilute concentrated sulphuric acid with water.
Proposed method: Add water to concentrated sulphuric acid and stir the mixture.
(i) State ONE reason why the method is inappropriate.
(ii) Suggest an appropriate method to accomplish the task. (2 marks)

33
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.7

17. 2005/I/10
The information below was found on the label of a brand of effervescent vitamin C tablets:
Each tablet contains 1000 mg of vitamin C.
Other ingredients: sodium hydrogencarbonate, citric acid, sugar and colourant.
(a) With the help of a chemical equation, explain why effervescent occurs when a tablet of the effervescent
vitamin C is added to water. (2 marks)
(b) An experiment was carried out to study the action of water on a tablet of the effervescent vitamin C
using the set-up as shown below. The graph shows the results obtained in the experiment.

(i) Find, from the graph, the mass of gas liberated from the reaction of the tablet with water. (You may
assume that the gas liberated is NOT soluble in water.)
(ii) At the end of the experiment, the sodium hydrogencarbonate in the tablet had been completely used
up. Calculate the mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate present in the tablet.
(iii) Suggest ONE advantage of using a data-logger in this experiment.

34
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.8

(iv) The experiment was repeated using warm water instead of cold water. Sketch, on the same graph, the
results that would be obtained in the repeated experiment. (6 marks)

18. 2006/I/7
The following two methods can be used to convert copper metal into copper(II) nitrate solution:

Method 1 : Cu(s) → CuO(s) →

3(aq) dilute HNO
Cu(NO3 ) 2 (aq)

Method 2 : Cu(s) →

dilute HNO
3(aq)
Cu(NO3 ) 2 (aq)

(a) Refer to Method 1.

(i) Suggest how copper metal can be converted into copper(II) oxide. State the expected
observation in the reaction that you have suggested.
(ii) Name the type of reaction that occurs between copper(II) oxide and dilute nitric acid. (3 marks)
(b) In Method 2, the reaction of copper metal with dilute nitric acid gives copper(II) nitrate, nitrogen
monoxide and water. Write the chemical equation for this reaction. (2 marks)
(c) Which of these methods would you recommend for the conversion of copper metal into copper(II)
nitrate solution ? Justify your answer with TWO reasons. (2 marks)

19. 2007/I/5
A solid sample contains zinc and copper only. The composition of the solid sample was analyzed
experimentally as outlined below.
2.00 g of the solid sample was added to excess dilute hydrochloric acid in a beaker. Upon completion of
reaction, the mixture inside the beaker was filtered. The residue obtained was first washed with distilled
water, and then dried. The mass of the dried residue was 1.75 g.
(a) Write a chemical equation for the reaction involved. (1 mark)
(b) How can one know that the reaction has been completed? (1 mark)
(c) Explain why it is necessary to wash the residue obtained. (1 mark)
(d) Explain why it is NOT appropriate to dry the residue with a Bunsen flame after washing. (1 mark)
(e) Assuming negligible experimental errors, calculate the percentage of zinc by mass in the solid sample.
(2 marks)

35
 HKCEE CHEMISTRY | 4.1 Acid and alkali | P.9

20. 2008/I/4
A test tube with magnesium ribbons is immersed in a beaker of freshly opened carbonated water. Dilute
hydrochloric acid is then added to magnesium ribbons as shown in the following diagram.

(a) State the expected observation inside the test tube, and give a relevant chemical equation. (2 marks)
(b) When dilute hydrochloric acid is added to the magnesium ribbons, more gas bubbles are seen in the
carbonated water outside the test tube. Explain. (2 marks)

36