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ACI ADDITIONAL PRACTICE QUESTIONS 1 SOLUTIONS

1. A
2. D
3. C

4. 2 Explains that certain industrial processes/infrastructure can

release ions which contaminate drinking water and lists TWO
related examples:

• Corrosion of ageing lead pipes have been causing water

contamination issues (lead ions) in the US city of Flint
since 2014.
• Industrial effluent from the excavation of copper mines
can contaminate waterways (copper ions) which are
later used as drinking water.

Must reference at least TWO ions due to the plural in the

question.

1 Explains that both copper and lead have the potential to cause
anaemia, amongst various other health and environmental
effects. For example:

• Lead can cause chronic kidney disease (health) and by

disrupting phytoplankton, disturb aquatic ecosystems
(environment).
• Copper can cause gastrointestinal upset (health) and
contaminate soil so as to adversely impact the health of
land-grazing animals (environment).

1 In addition to this, the ability of ions to bioaccumulate and

biomagnify, places higher order consumers such as humans at
greater risk of health conditions which result from heavy metal
poisoning.

1 For this reason, the concentration levels of ions such as copper

and lead must be closely monitored in the environment and in
particular, drinking water.

HSC CHEMISTRY | APPLYING CHEMICAL IDEAS | SOLUTIONS - WEEK 2

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5. 1 Describes that a ligand is a Lewis base, which is an electron

pair donor. The metal cation is the Lewis acid, which accepts
electron pairs.

1 Explains, that in this case, one lone pair on the oxygen atom is
donated to the central Cu2+ ion to form a metal-ligand bond.

1 Explains that this bond can also be thought of as a coordinate

covalent bond, where both sharing electrons come from the
same species (in this case, the O on the H2O).

6.a. 1 Explains that hard water contains magnesium and/or calcium

ions, which reduce cleaning ability of anionic detergents as
they form soluble complexes or insoluble compounds.

1 Identifies that phosphate ions can precipitate with calcium and

magnesium ions in order to preserve cleaning ability.

1 Writes TWO balanced chemical ionic equations (question has

plural):

3Ca2+(aq) + 2PO43-(aq) → Ca3(PO4)2(s)

3Mg2+(aq) + 2PO43-(aq) → Mg3(PO4)2(s)

6.b. 1 Identifies that when there is too high a concentration of

phosphate ions in the water (due to run-off and drainage of
anionic detergents into the environment), eutrophication may
occur.

Note: The Australian and New Zealand guidelines for

freshwater state that phosphorus concentrations should be
maintained below 0.05 ppm.

1 Describes eutrophication as the enrichment of waterways with

excess nutrients such that the likelihood of algal bloom is
elevated, which eventually renders the ecosystem as lifeless.

1 Describes that algal bloom will form a layer on top of the river,
which hampers photosynthesis of river plants, and consumes
dissolved oxygen in the water.

HSC CHEMISTRY | APPLYING CHEMICAL IDEAS | SOLUTIONS - WEEK 2

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7.a. 1 Identifies that metal-ligand bonds are formed when an electron

pair on the ligand is donated to the metal centre.

1 Explains that the negative charge of the cyanido ligand is due

to the unbonded lone pair on the carbon atom, which always
forms 4 bonds in a neutral compound. Hence, the cyanido
ligands are attached via the lone pair on the C atom.

7.b. 1 Overall charge = 2 + (-1)*4 = -2

HSC CHEMISTRY | APPLYING CHEMICAL IDEAS | SOLUTIONS - WEEK 2