HKDSE NEW CHEMISTRY — A Modern View Question Bank

Part I Planet Earth Structured questions

Chapter 4 Rocks and minerals

Sections 4.1−4.2
ChemSQ04001
Metals can be extracted by various methods.

(a) Name the physical method that can be used to extract gold. (1 mark)

(b) Mercury can be extracted from mercury(II) oxide by heating it strongly.

(i) Write a word equation for the reaction involved. (1 mark)

(ii) A gas evolves in the reaction. Name the gas and suggest a test for the gas.
(2 marks)

(iii) Explain whether the above process is a physical change or chemical change.
(1 mark)

Answers:
(a) Panning 1
(b) (i) mercury(II) oxide  mercury + oxygen 1
(ii) Oxygen. 1
The gas relights a glowing splint. 1
(iii) It is a chemical change as new substances (mercury and oxygen) are
produced. 1
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Sections 4.3−4.4
ChemSQ04002
As rainwater is slightly acidic, it attacks rocks which contain calcium carbonate.

(a) With the aid of an equation, explain why rainwater is slightly acidic. (2 marks)

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(b) With the aid of an equation, briefly describe how rainwater attacks rocks.
(3 marks)

(c) In some polluted areas, rocks are attacked at a higher rate. Suggest one gas that
causes an increase in the rate of attack. (1 mark)

Answers:
(a) Carbon dioxide in air dissolves slightly in rainwater to form carbonic acid. 1
carbon dioxide + water carbonic acid / CO2(g) + H2O(l)
H2CO3(aq) 1
(b) Carbonic acid reacts with calcium carbonate in rocks. 1
calcium carbonate + carbonic acid  calcium hydrogencarbonate /
CaCO3(s) + H2CO3(aq)  Ca(HCO3)2(aq) 1
Calcium hydrogencarbonate is soluble in water and thus rocks are slowly
worn away. 1
(c) Sulphur dioxide / nitrogen dioxide (accept other reasonable answers) 1
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ChemSQ04003
Lime kiln industry was one of the oldest industries in Hong Kong. Oyster shells and
coral skeletons were heated strongly in the lime kilns to produce lime, which is a
useful material in agriculture.

(a) What is the major chemical constituent in oyster shells? (1 mark)

(b) Write an equation for the reaction occurred in a lime kiln. (1 mark)

(c) What would be observed when oyster shells and coral skeletons were heated in a

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lime kiln? (1 mark)

(d) Suggest one use of lime in agriculture. (1 mark)

(e) Suggest one environmental problem associated with the lime kiln industry.
Explain briefly. (2 marks)

Answers:
(a) Calcium carbonate / CaCO3 1
(b) CaCO3(s)  CaO(s) + CO2(g) /
calcium carbonate  calcium oxide + carbon dioxide 1
(c) A brick-red flame could be seen. / The oyster shells and coral skeletons
were broken into smaller pieces. 1
(d) To neutralize acidic soil 1
(e) The lime kiln industry produces a large amount of carbon dioxide. 1
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which enhances global warming. 1
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6

ChemSQ04004
*You are provided with common laboratory apparatus. Briefly describe how
limewater can be prepared from limestone. Write the chemical equations for the
reactions involved.
(6 marks)

Answers:

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Chemical knowledge 5
• Heat limestone strongly in air to give quicklime (calcium oxide).
• CaCO3(s)  CaO(s) + CO2(g)
• Add water to the residue to give slaked lime (calcium hydroxide).
• CaO(s) + H2O(l)  Ca(OH)2(aq)
• Filter the resultant mixture. The colourless filtrate is limewater (saturated
calcium hydroxide solution).
Communication mark 1
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ChemSQ04005
*Calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate are white solids.
Outline how you would carry out chemical tests to distinguish them. Write the
chemical equations for the reactions involved.
(5 marks)

Answers:
Chemical knowledge (Students should be able to distinguish two of the three
solids and so the remaining one can be identified without performing chemical
tests.)
Any TWO of the following points:
• Add dilute hydrochloric acid to the solids separately. Only calcium
carbonate gives colourless gas bubbles (which turn limewater milky). 1
CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq)  CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) 1
• Add water to the solids separately. Only calcium oxide produces a lot of
heat. 1
CaO(s) + H2O(l)  Ca(OH)2(aq) 1
• Add water to the solids and then add acidified silver nitrate solution to

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the aqueous solutions separately. Only calcium chloride solution

produces a white precipitate. (1)
CaCl2(aq) + 2AgNO3(aq)  Ca(NO3)2(aq) + 2AgCl(s) (1)
Communication mark 1
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5

Section 4.5
ChemSQ04006
Quicklime can be used to prepare limewater.

(a) What is the chemical name of quicklime? (1 mark)

(b) Suggest how limewater can be prepared from quicklime. Write an equation for
the reaction involved. (2 marks)

(c) Limewater is used to test for carbon dioxide. It turns milky when carbon dioxide
is passed into it.
(i) Explain why the limewater turns milky when carbon dioxide is passed into
it. (1 mark)

(ii) State and explain what would happen when excess carbon dioxide is passed
into the milky solution. (2 marks)

Answers:
(a) Calcium oxide 1
(b) Add water to quicklime and then filter the resultant mixture. 1
calcium oxide + water  calcium hydroxide /
CaO(s) + H2O(l)  Ca(OH)2(aq) 1
(c) (i) Carbon dioxide reacts with calcium hydroxide solution to give

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calcium carbonate, which is a white precipitate. 1

(ii) The milky solution becomes colourless. 1
The insoluble calcium carbonate reacts with the excess carbon
dioxide and water to form soluble calcium hydrogencarbonate. 1
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ChemSQ04007
When a piece of paper is burnt in air, black smoke is produced and a black residue is
left.

(a) State and explain whether the burning of paper is a physical change or a
chemical change. (1 mark)

(b) A student stated that the smoke produced did not contain carbon dioxide as
carbon dioxide is colourless.
(i) Comment on the statement. (1 mark)

(ii) Suggest a test for carbon dioxide. (2 marks)

(c) State and explain whether paper would burn in the absence of oxygen. (1 mark)

Answers:
(a) It is a chemical change because new substances (black smoke and black
residue) are produced. 1
(b) (i) The statement is incorrect as the burning of carbon-containing
substances (such as paper) produces carbon dioxide. 1
(ii) Test the gas with limewater. 1
Carbon dioxide turns limewater milky. 1
(c) Paper would not burn as oxygen is required for burning. 1
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ChemSQ04008
The following flow chart shows the reaction of some calcium-containing compounds.

add water and

heat strongly then filter
A calcium oxide B

(a) Suggest what A and B are. (2 marks)

(b) State TWO observable changes when water is added to calcium oxide. (2 marks)

(c) With the aid of an equation, suggest how B can be converted into A. (2 marks)

Answers:
(a) A is calcium carbonate. 1
B is calcium hydroxide solution / limewater. 1
(b) A white suspension forms. 1
The resultant mixture becomes hot. 1
(c) B can be converted into A by passing carbon dioxide into B. 1
calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide  calcium carbonate + water /
Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(g)  CaCO3(s) + H2O(l) 1
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6

ChemSQ04009
A student uses the set-up shown in the diagram below to study the thermal
decomposition of oyster shells. The oyster shells are ground into powder and then
heated strongly with a non-luminous Bunsen flame.

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oyster shell powder

delivery tube

Bunsen
burner
solution W

(a) Name the apparatus used to grind the oyster shells into powder in the school
laboratory. (1 mark)

(b) Solution W is used to test for the presence of carbon dioxide.

(i) Suggest what solution W is. (1 mark)

(ii) With the aid of an equation, explain why solution W can be used to test for
the presence of carbon dioxide. (2 marks)

(c) Explain why the delivery tube should be taken out from solution W before
turning off the Bunsen burner. (1 mark)

(d) Name a rock that has the same major chemical constituent as oyster shells.
(1 mark)

Answers:
(a) Mortar and pestle 1
(b) (i) Limewater / calcium hydroxide solution 1
(ii) Carbon dioxide reacts with calcium hydroxide solution to give a
white precipitate of calcium carbonate. 1

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calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide  calcium carbonate + water /

Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(g)  CaCO3(s) + H2O(l) 1
(c) To prevent the sucking back of solution W into the hot boiling tube.
Otherwise, the boiling tube may crack. 1
(d) Limestone / chalk / marble 1
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Sections 4.6−4.7
ChemSQ04010
Marble contains calcium carbonate. The set-up shown in the diagram below is used to
investigate the reaction between dilute hydrochloric acid and marble.

marble dilute
limewater
hydrochloric acid
(a) State TWO expected observations when marble reacts with dilute hydrochloric
acid. (2 marks)

(b) Give the chemical name of limewater. (1 mark)

(c) What will be observed in the test tube containing limewater at the beginning of
the experiment? Write an equation for the reaction involved. (2 marks)

(d) The above experiment shows the presence of carbonate in marble. Suggest a test
to show the presence of calcium in marble. (2 marks)

Answers:
(a) Any TWO of the following:

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- Marble dissolves in the acid. 1

- Colourless gas bubbles evolve. 1
- The reaction mixture becomes warm. (1)
(b) Calcium hydroxide 1
(c) The solution turns milky. 1
calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide  calcium carbonate + water /
Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(g)  CaCO3(s) + H2O(l) 1
(d) Perform a flame test. 1
A brick-red flame is observed. 1
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7

ChemSQ04011
Both sodium chloride and calcium carbonate are important natural materials.

(a) Suggest a natural source of sodium chloride and calcium carbonate respectively.
(2 marks)

(b) Sodium chloride and calcium carbonate show different observations when they
are heated under different conditions. State what will be observed when they
(i) undergo the flame test, and (2 marks)

(ii) are heated strongly with a Bunsen flame. (2 marks)

(c) Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water. However, after passing gas X into the
suspension of calcium carbonate and water, calcium carbonate becomes soluble
in the resultant solution. Suggest what X is. (1 mark)

Answers:
(a) Natural source of sodium chloride: sea water / rock salt 1
Natural source of calcium carbonate: limestone / chalk / marble 1

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(b) (i) Sodium chloride gives a golden yellow flame 1

while calcium carbonate gives a brick-red flame. 1
(ii) Sodium chloride does not decompose / show any observable change. 1
However, calcium carbonate breaks into smaller pieces. 1
(c) Carbon dioxide / hydrogen chloride / sulphur dioxide / nitrogen
monoxide / nitrogen dioxide (accept any other acidic gases) 1
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ChemSQ04012
Two tests are carried out on compounds X and Y. The following table summarizes the
results.

Observation for Observation for

Test
compound X compound Y
A golden yellow flame A brick-red flame is
1. Flame test
is observed. observed.
2. Adding acidified silver
Colourless gas bubbles A white precipitate
nitrate solution to its
evolve. forms.
aqueous solution

(a) Briefly describe how to perform a flame test in the school laboratory. (2 marks)

(b) With reference to the observations of the flame tests, suggest the metal elements
present in X and Y respectively. (2 marks)

(c) What is the colourless gas evolved when acidified silver nitrate solution is added
to the aqueous solution of X? Suggest a test to identify the gas. (2 marks)

(d) Suggest what X and Y may be. (2 marks)

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Answers:
(a) Moisten a clean platinum or nichrome wire with concentrated
hydrochloric acid and then dip the wire into the sample. 1
After that, heat the end of the wire in a non-luminous Bunsen flame.
Observe any flame colour produced. 1
(b) X contains sodium. 1
Y contains calcium. 1
(c) Carbon dioxide. 1
It turns limewater milky. 1
(d) X may be sodium carbonate. 1
Y may be calcium chloride. 1
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ChemSQ04013
A student heats some copper(II) carbonate powder in a boiling tube. The diagram
below shows a set-up for the experiment.

copper(II) carbonate

heat

(a) Name the type of reaction occurred in the boiling tube. (1 mark)

(b) Add suitable drawing (with labels) to the above diagram to show that carbon
dioxide is produced in the reaction. State the expected observation in the test.
(3 marks)

(c) During the experiment, the colour of the powder changes from bluish green to
black.
(i) Suggest what the black powder is. (1 mark)

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(ii) The black powder is then subjected to a flame test. State the expected
observation in the test. (1 mark)

Answers:
(a) (Thermal) decomposition 1
(b)

delivery tube

copper(II) carbonate limewater

heat

Correct drawing for the test of carbon dioxide 1

Correct labels 1
The limewater turns milky. 1
(c) (i) Copper(II) oxide 1
(ii) A bluish green flame is observed. 1
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6

ChemSQ04014
*Outline the steps of experiments to show that coral contains calcium carbonate.
(6 marks)

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Part I Planet Earth Structured questions

Answers:
Chemical knowledge 5
• Moisten a clean platinum or nichrome wire with concentrated
hydrochloric acid. Dip the wire into a crushed sample of coral.
• Heat the end of the wire in a non-luminous Bunsen flame.
• If a brick-red flame is observed, coral contains calcium.
• Add dilute hydrochloric acid to coral and then pass any gas evolved into
limewater.
• If the limewater turns milky, coral contains carbonate.
Communication mark 1
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6

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