GEST 1016

Final Exam
Date: 21 May 2020
Time allowed: 180 minutes
Total: 100 marks

Name: Student ID:

Useful information

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Part A
Fill in the blanks (32 marks, and 4 marks for each correct answer)

(1) Please write down the time sequence of the below four issues in the early age
of human society.
1. Making Iron
2. Friction fire
3. Making Bronze
4. Making Ceramic and Porcelain

Answer: ______(write number)

(2) Please write down the correct sequence of the scientists (or philosopher) who
made major contribution in the development of chemistry.
1-JJ Thomson
2-Robert Boyle
3-Democritus
4-John Dalton
5-Antione Lavoisier
6-Ernest Rutherford

Answer: ______(write number)

(3) A certain galvanic cell has for its spontaneous cell reaction:
PbO2+Pb+2H2SO4 = 2PbSO4+2H2O
Please write down the half-reaction occurring at the positive electrode 正極?

Answer: ______

(4) What’s the role of a soft drink when it was added into concrete?

Answer: ______

(5) Air-entraining agent is good for concrete because it can improve the ______
and ______ of the concrete.

Answer: ______ and ______

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(6) Which one below has the strongest potential impact on human health?

A. Coarse particles (PM10)

B. Fine particles (PM2.5)
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Nanoparticles

Answer: ______

(7) What’s the main composition (which occupied the highest content) of Portland
cement?

Answer: ______

(8) Is the polymer a copolymer or homopolymer?

Answer: ______

Part B
Short answer questions (20 marks, 5 marks for each correct answer)

(1) What is the difference between addition and condensation polymerization?

Answer: ______

(2) During the polymerization of acrylamide, if we increase the amount of

ammonium persulfate, what will happen?

Answer: ______

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(3) What will happen if we add calcium salt into concrete?

Answer: ______

(4) Could the methane clathrate (the combustible ice) be attributed to renewable
energy source? Why?

Answer: ______

Part C Problems

Problem 1 (12 marks, and 4 marks for each question)

Nylon is synthesized by condensation polymerization of hexamethylenediamine

and adipic acid. In this reaction, equivalent amounts of hexamethylenediamine
and adipic acid are combined.

Hexamethylenediamine: H2N-(CH2)6-NH2 Mole mass: 116 g/mol

Adipic acid: HOOC-(CH2)4-COOH Mole mass: 146 g/mol
(a) Please write down the chemical structure of Nylon. The polymerization degree
is n.
(b) Please point out if the product Nylon is a copolymer or a homopolymer?
(c) If n=2000, what is the atomic economy of this reaction?

Answer:

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Problem 2 (12 marks, and 4 marks for each question)

To improve the concrete workability, after adding a small amount of water

reducer, the fluidity (workability) of the concrete increased dramatically.

(a) What is the mechanism for the effect of water reducer?

(b) In the experiment, the cement is 40 g, water is 12 g. If the water reducer can
reduce water by 20% with the same workability, what is the w/c ratio (water to
cement ratio) using the water reducer?
(c) How to understand that water reducer is necessary in producing high strength
concrete?

Answer:
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Problem 3 (12 marks, and 4 marks for each question)

In China, more than 30% energy consumption is from construction field.

(a) Why there is such high energy consumption in construction field?

(b) Besides energy consumption, is there any other environmental impact for the
manufacture of cement?
(c) What can we do for the sustainable development of construction field? Please
give examples.

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Problem 4 (12 marks, and 4 marks for each question)

A green vehicle is a road motor vehicle that produces less harmful impacts to the
environment than comparable conventional internal combustion engine vehicles
running on gasoline or diesel.

(a) Why we need green vehicles?

(b) Both electric vehicles (use battery) and fuel cell vehicles are green vehicles.
What is the difference between battery and fuel cell?
(c) What is the most useful thing that you learnt from this course (GEST1016)?

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