HKDSE CVQ / Patterns in the Chemical World / P.

HKDSE 2012
2012 16 Consider the following oxides :

Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P4O10 SO2 Cl2O

(a) Which of the oxides listed above can conduct electricity in molten state? 1M
Na2O, MgO, Al2O3 1

(Order is not important. 0 mark if more/less than these 3 oxides are listed. )

(b) Explain why SiO2 has the highest melting point among the covalent oxides listed above. 2M

SiO2 has a giant covalent structure, and the Si and O atoms are linked by strong covalent 1
bonds.
(Not accept strong covalent structure / giant covalent bonds)

Other covalent oxides are discrete molecules attracted by weak van der Waals’ forces / 1
weak intermolecular forces / weak dipolar interactions.

(NOT accept VDW forces)

(c) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between Al2O3(s) and NaOH(aq) . 1M
Al2O3 + 2 OH− + 3 H2O →2 Al(OH)4− 1

→
or
Al2O3 + 2 NaOH + 3 H2O 2 NaAl(OH)4 (1)

HKDSE 2013
2013 13* Lithium, beryllium, carbon (graphite) and nitrogen are elements of the second period of the 5M
Periodic Table. Arrange them in increasing order of melting point, and explain the order in (4+1)
terms of structure and bonding.

Nitrogen < Lithium < Beryllium < Carbon (graphite) 1

N2 has the lowest melting point as it has a simple molecular structure. weak van der Waals' 1
forces / intermolecular forces need to be overcome.

Both Li and Be have (metallic structure), metallic bond in Li is weaker than that in Be 1
∴ Li < Be in melting points.

C has the highest melting point as it has a giant covalent structure, (large amount of energy is 1
needed to) break (millions of) strong covalent bonds between atoms in melting.

Effective communication
1
( chemical knowledge = 0 ,1 or 2,
2, communication mark =0

chemical knowledge = 3 or 4, communication mark =0 or 1

incomplete answer / difficult to understand, communication mark = 0)

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 HKDSE CVQ / Patterns in the Chemical World / P.2

2014 11 Vanadium is a transition metal, its chemical symbol is V. The formulae and the colours of three
aqueous vanadium-containing ions are shown below: :

Formula VO2+(aq) V3+(aq) V2+(aq)

Colour Blue Green Violet
(a) Based on the given information, suggest TWO properties of vanadium to characterise it as a 1M
transition metal.

Vanadium exhibits variable oxidation numbers and its ions in aqueous solutions carry colours. 1

(b) Vanadium also forms the ion VO2+(aq). In the presence of acid, 1.0 mol of VO2+(aq) ions and 1.0 3M
mol of SO2(g) react completely to form SO42−(aq) ions and one of the above aqueous
vanadium−containing ions.

(i) By considering the amount of electrons transferred, deduce the final colour of the solution
obtained.

1 (mol of) VO2+(aq) ions gains 2 (mol of) electrons from 1 (mol of) SO2(g) to become 1 (mol 1
of) V3+(aq).

V3+(aq) is green in colour. 1

(ii) Write a chemical equation for the reaction in (i).

SO2(g) + VO2+(aq) → SO 4 (aq) + V3+(aq)

2− 1

(State symbols are not required)

4 marks

2015 10 For each of the oxides below, draw its electron diagram (showing electrons in the outermost shells
(a) only), and state its behaviour in water.

(i) Na2O 2M

It gives an alkaline. / a basic solution / NaOH / sodium hydroxide.

1
(ii) Cl2O 2M

It gives an acidic solution / HOCl / hypochlorous acid

1
(NOT accept: bleaching solution)
(b) Using iron as an example, illustrate TWO characteristics of transition metals. 2M

Any TWO of the following (1 mark for each): (answers should have examples) ANY
• Fe can have variable oxidation numbers –
Fe2+, Fe3+ / +2, +3 2
• Fe can act as a catalyst– e.g., Fe in Haber Process
• Fe forms coloured compounds –
Fe2+(aq) is green / Fe3+(aq) is yellow
• Fe can form complexes – e.g., the Fe complex in rust indicator / K3[Fe(CN)6]
• Fe has magnetic properties - e.g., iron metal can be attracted by magnets
6 marks

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 HKDSE CVQ / Patterns in the Chemical World / P.3

2016 14* Arrange sodium, aluminium, silicon and sulphur in decreasing order of electrical conductivity at 5M
room conditions, and explain your answer in terms of bonding and structure. (4+1)

Electrical conductivity:
aluminium > sodium > silicon = sulphur (or: silicon > sulphur) 1

Any 3 of the following items, each 1 mark 3

• Both aluminium and sodium have giant metallic structures with delocalised / mobile
electrons so that electrical conductivity of them is high / their electrical conductivity is higher
than that of silicon and sulphur.

• The number of delocalised / mobile electrons of aluminium is more than that of sodium so
that electrical conductivity of aluminium is higher than that of sodium.

• Silicon has giant covalent structure and its electrons are not mobile and cannot conduct
electricity / its electrical conductivity is lower than that of aluminxium and sodium. OR
Silicon has giant covalent structure and its electrons are not mobile. But silicon is a
semi-metal and can conduct electricity in some conditions.

• Sulphur has simple molecular structure and its electrons are not mobile and cannot conduct
electricity / its electrical conductivity is lower than that of aluminium and sodium.

Effective communication

( chemical knowledge = 0 to 2, communication mark = 0 1

chemical knowledge
knowledge = 3 or 4, communication mark = 0 or 1

incomplete answer / difficult to understand, communication mark = 0)

5 marks

2017 *14 At 60°C, MnO4−(aq) reacts with C2O42−(aq) in an acidic medium to give Mn2+(aq), CO2(g) and 6M
(Essay) H2O(l). (5 + 1)
The graph below shows the variation of the colour intensity of the reaction mixture with time.

Based on the information above, write the chemical equation for the reaction and illustrate
THREE characteristics of transition metals exhibited by manganese.

• 2MnO4−(aq) + 5C2O42−(aq) + 16H+(aq) 2Mn2+(aq) + 10CO2(g) + 8H2O(l) 1

(State symbols not required) (Ignore incorrect state symbols)

• Manganese exhibits variable oxidation numbers. The oxidation number of manganese 1

changes from +7 in MnO4−to +2 in Mn2+ in the reaction.

• Manganese forms coloured ions in aqueous solution. MnO4−(aq) ions exhibit purple / 1
Mn2+(aq) ions exhibit pale pink. [ not accept colourless ]

• From the graph, it shows that the reaction rate increases when Mn2+ ions form / when the
reaction proceeds. 1

(Mention about Mn2+ is required.

Not accept mentioning about other incorrect species such as MnO4−.)
1
•Manganese has catalytic properties. Mn2+ ions act as a catalyst for the reaction.

• Communication Mark
1
(Chemical knowledge = 0 or 2  no communication mark = 0
Chemical knowledge = 3 or 5 communication mark = 0 or 1
incomplete answer / difficult to understand, communication mark = 0
6 marks

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 HKDSE CVQ / Patterns in the Chemical World / P.4

2018 *14 Using Na2O, Al2O3 and SO2 as examples, illustrate the acid-base behaviour of the oxides of the 6M
(Essay) third period elements with the aid of relevant reactions. (5 + 1)

• Na2O(s) dissolves in water to give NaOH(aq) / 1

Na2O(s) reacts with HCl(aq) to give NaCl(aq) and H2O (or similar reactions) /
Na2O(s) + H2O(l)  2NaOH(aq) /
Na2O(s) + 2HCl(l)  2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

• Al2O3(s) reacts with HCl(aq) to give AlCl3 (aq) and H2O (or similar reactions) / 1
Al2O3(s) + 6HCl(aq)  2AlCl3(aq) + 3H2O(l)

• Al2O3(s) reacts with NaOH(aq) to give NaAl(OH)4(aq) (or similar reactions) / 1

Al2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 3H2O(l)  2NaAl(OH)4(aq) /
Al2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq)  2Na[AlO2](aq) + H2O(l)

(At the reactant side, accept NaOH(aq) / NaOH solution without explicitly mentioning water)

• SO2(g) dissolves in water to give H2SO3(aq) /

SO2(g) reacts with NaOH(aq) to give Na2SO3 (aq) and H2O (or similar reactions) / 1
SO2(g) + H2O(l)  H2SO3(aq) /
SO2(g) + 2NaOH(aq)  Na2SO3(aq) + H2O(l)

• Able to mention Na2O is a basic (alkaline) oxide, Al2O3 is an amphoteric oxide, and SO2 is
an acidic oxide. 1

Communication mark
( Chemical knowledge = 0 to 3, communication mark = 0,
Chemical knowledge = 4 to 5, communication mark = 0 or 1) 1
Incomplete answer or difficult to understand, communication mark = 0)

6 marks

2019 14 The following graph shows an incomplete sketch of the variation in melting points of the
elements in the third period of the Periodic Table.

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 HKDSE CVQ / Patterns in the Chemical World / P.5

(a) Complete the sketch on the graph above. 1M

(b) Explain why the melting point of Mg is higher than that of Na. 1M

The metallic bond in Mg is stronger than that in Na as 1

Mg has more delocalised electrons /
more outermost shell electrons than Na.
OR
The metallic bond in Mg is stronger than that in Na as (1)
Mg has two outermost shell delocalised electrons while Na only has one.

(c) Explain why the melting point of Si is higher than that of P. 2M

• Melting of Si needs high energy to break the strong covalent bonds between Si atoms in 1
the giant covalent structure.

• Melting of P only needs smaller energy to break the weak intermolecular forces. / 1
P has a simple molecular structure, there are weak van der Waals’ forces between
molecules.
Also accept:
• Si has a giant covalent structure while P has a simple molecular structure.
• High energy is needed to break the strong covalent bonds between Si atoms, while (1)
smaller energy is needed to break the weak van der Waals’ forces between phosphorus (1)
molecules.
4 marks
2020 12 An experiment was performed to study the following reaction : 4M

KO2CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO2Na(aq) + 3H2O2(aq)  HCO2K(aq) + HCO2Na(aq) + 2CO2(g) + 4H2O(l)

(colourless)

When 10 cm3 of 0.25 M KO2CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO2Na(aq) and 3 cm3 of 6% H2O2(aq) were mixed

at 60°C, it was found that only a few gas bubbles evolved. Then a small amount of pink CoCl2(aq)
solution was added to the mixture. Gas bubbles formed vigorously, and the mixture turned to green
due to the formation of a cobalt(III) compound. When no more gas evolved, the green mixture turned
back to pink.

There is a view saying that cobalt illustrates THREE characteristics of transition metals
according to the observation of this experiment. Suggest reasons to support this view.
• Cobalt/Co2+ acts as a catalyst as the rate of formation of gas bubbles (CO2) increases / rate of 1
reaction increases when Co2+ ions are added,
• and the pink Co2+ ions regenerate / remain (chemically) unchanged / do not consume at the end 1
of reaction.
• Coloured ion / formation of coloured compound : Co2+(aq) is pink / the cobalt(III) compound 1
Co3+(aq) formed is green.
•Variable oxidation states: cobalt has cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) compounds / can exist as Co2+ 1
and Co3+.
(The answers have to be illustrated with the experimental observations provided in the question.)
4 marks

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 HKDSE CVQ / Patterns in the Chemical World / P.6

2021 12 Silicon dioxide is an acidic oxide. However, the pH of a mixture of silicon dioxide and distilled
(a) water is 7.

(i) Suggest why silicon dioxide is classified as an acidic oxide. 1M

Silicon dioxide can neutralise / react with alkalis / bases to form salt and water only. 1

(ii) Explain why the pH of the mixture is 7. 1M

Silicon dioxide is insoluble in water. / 1

Silicon dioxide does not react with water.

(b) Phosphorus(V) oxide is an acidic oxide. With the aid of a chemical equation, explain why the pH 2M
of a mixture of phosphorus(V) oxide and distilled water is smaller than 7.

Phosphorus(V) oxide reacts with /dissolves in water to form phosphoric acid / that can give H+. 1

P4O10(s) + 6H2O(l)  4H3PO4(aq) / 1

P2O5(s) + 3H2O(l)  2H3PO4(aq)

(c) Refer to the following reaction: 2M

Cu2O(s) + H2SO4(aq)  Cu(s) + CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

State how this reaction can demonstrate that copper exhibits TWO characteristics of transition
metals.

• Copper has variable oxidation states: +1 in Cu2O, +2 in CuSO4 1

• Copper has coloured ions: Cu2+(aq) / CuSO4(aq) is blue. 1

2022 *13 Describe the acid-base properties of the products formed (if any) when the following oxides are 6M
(Essay) added to water separately. Chemical equations are NOT required. (4 + 1)

Na2O MgO Al2O3 Cl2O

Chemical Knowledge :
• Na2O(s) reacts vigorously with water / dissolve in water to form sodium hydroxide / 1
NaOH(aq) which is (strongly) alkaline / basic.

Na2O(s) + H2O(l)  2NaOH(aq) [ which is alkaline ]

• MgO(s) reacts slowly with water / is slightly soluble in water to form magnesium hydroxide / 1
Mg(OH)2(aq) which is (weakly) alkaline / basic.

MgO(s) + H2O(l)  Mg(OH)2(aq) [ which is alkaline ]

• Al2O3(s) does not react with water / is insoluble / no product is formed. 1

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 HKDSE CVQ / Patterns in the Chemical World / P.7

• Cl2O(g) reacts readily with water / dissolve in water to form hypochlorous acid / HOCl(aq) / 1
HClO(aq) which is (weakly) acidic.

Cl2O(s) + H2O(l)  2HOCl(aq)

•
Communication mark
( Chemical knowledge = 0 to 2, communication mark = 0,
Chemical knowledge = 3 to 4, communication mark = 0 or 1)
Incomplete answer or difficult to understand, communication mark = 0) 1

5 marks

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