2.1.4 Acids PhysicsAndMathsTutor.

com

Mark scheme
Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

FULL ANNOTATIONS MUST BE

USED
ALLOW ECF throughout
---------------------------------------------------
--

ALLOW ECF from incorrect

Calculation 2 marks n(Cu(NO3)2•3H2O) 4.83 g subsumes
1st mark

OR 2(.00) × 10-2 (mol) OR 0.02(00)

✓ ALLOW small amount/some
Mass Cu(NO3)2·3H2O = 2.00 × 10-2 × DO NOT ALLOW 100 cm3 or more of
241.5 = 4.83 (g) ✓ water
2 or more DP to match balances
IGNORE solvent

Method 3 marks
ALLOW graduated flask

Dissolve solid in (distilled) water ASSUME that wash/rinse is to a

(less than 100 cm3) (in beaker) ✓ volumetric flask
1 5

Transfer (solution) to volumetric ALLOW swirl/shake

flask
------------------------------------------------
AND ALLOW preparation of solutions >
Wash/rinse (from beaker to flask) ✓ 100 cm3 4 marks e.g. for 250 cm3

Make up to mark/up to 100 cm3 with

(distilled water) Then method adapted for 250 cm3
volumetric flask
AND e.g. Make up to 250 cm3 with water
Invert flask (several times to ensure
mixing) ✓ Examiner’s Comments

This question differentiated between

candidates extremely well. See
Exemplar 1 below.

Exemplar 1
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Exemplar 1 has been included to

demonstrate a superb response. The
comments that follow highlight some
of the issues encountered in the
responses. Unfortunately, nearly a
quarter of candidates could not be
given any marks at all for their
responses. To improve, it is worth
studying Exemplar 1.

The candidate has communicated the

key steps required to prepare the
standard solution:

• Calculation of the mass of

hydrated copper(II) nitrate
required.
• Dissolving the hydrated
copper(II) nitrate in water in a
suitable container (a beaker).
• Transferring the solid to a 100
cm3 volumetric flask, washing
the beaker with water and
transferring the washings also
to the volumetric flask.
• Making the solution up to the
100 cm3 mark in the volumetric
flask and inverting the flask to
mix the contents thoroughly.

Issues with responses which arose by

not reading the question closely
enough:

• Omitting to calculate the mass

of hydrated copper(II) nitrate
required.
• Calculating the mass of
anhydrous copper(II) nitrate
instead of the hydrated salt.
• Dissolving in 100 cm3 of water
and then adding more water
for rinsing.
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

• Not rinsing out the original

container at all.
• Making the solution up in the
volumetric flask.
• Using of a 250 cm3 volumetric
flask for preparing 100 cm3 of
solution.
• Omitting the inversion stage.
• Answering a different question,
e.g. how to carry out a titration,
how to determine an enthalpy
change, how to work out the
number of waters of
crystallisation by heating in a
crucible.

Total 5

ALLOW multiples in both equations

IGNORE state symbols

ALLOW Na2CO3 + 2H2SO4 →

2NaHSO4 + CO2 + H2O
ALLOW ionic equation CO32− + 2H+ →
CO2 + H2O
ALLOW H2CO3 instead of CO2 + H2O

Reaction with H2SO4 ALLOW −COO− (Na+) for product

structure mark
Na2CO3 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + CO2 + ALLOW ionic equation
H2O ✓

ALLOW
Reaction with excess G
2 i 3

ALLOW H2CO3 instead of CO2 + H2O

ALLOW correct Kekulé representation

of benzene
Correct organic product structure ✓
Examiner’s Comments
Correct balanced equation ✓
Another fairly challenging question,
however most secured at least one
mark for giving an equation for the
reaction of sulfuric acid with sodium
carbonate. Less confident candidates
struggled to gain any marks as they
were unable to give correct formula for
sodium sulfate, giving NaSO4 for
example.
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Although many attempted the

equation showing the reaction of
compound G with sodium carbonate,
only some correctly identified that only
the carboxyl group would react, not
the phenol. A small minority of
students were able to balance the
second equation gaining all 3 marks.
IGNORE comment about whether it
improves or not

DO NOT ALLOW (NaOH) reacts with

alcohol

Examiner’s Comments

The best responses correctly identified

that using sodium hydroxide was not
an improvement and explained this
either bystating that it would react with
the phenol group or hydrolyse the
(NaOH) reacts with phenol / -OH (in
ester group in compound H. However,
compound G / H)
most candidates appeared not to
ii 1
consider a reaction with H in their
OR (NaOH) would hydrolyse the ester /
answer. Many focused on the
compound H
neutralisation of sulfuric acid in a
similar way to sodium carbonate and
gave responses such as:

• stronger base
• no effervescence so harder to
see when completely reacted
• no CO2 produced so
easier/safer/higher atom
economy/less waste
• requires double the moles
compared to Na2SO4 to react

Total 4

strong acid fully dissociates

ALLOW weak acid
dissociates/ionises less
strong
fully dissociates/ionises strong acid releases all H+
acid:
3 a 1 ALLOW ions weak acid partially
AND releases H+ ions
weak
partially dissociates/ionises ✓ strrong acid dissociates
acid: IGNORE more strrong acid
dissociates quicker
DO NOT ALLOW
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

strong acid fully dissociates

weak acid does not fully
dissociate

Response does not state that weak

acid dissociates

breaks down for

IGNORE
dissociate/ionise
DO NOT comparison of
ALLOW concentrations

Examiner’s Comments

Most candidates described a strong

and a weak acid in terms of
dissociation or ionisation, with few just
describing one of the two types of
acid.
DO NOT ALLOW 24.4

Examiner’s Comments

Most candidates were able to work out

Titre/cm
3
24.40 24.15 24.25 ✓ these simple subtractions. Candidates
were told that the titration readings
b i 1
were read to the nearest 0.05 cm3,
requiring volumes to be recorded to
Correct subtractions to obtain titres to 2
two decimal places, which may
DP
include a ‘0’. The right-hand initial
reading is therefore 24.10cm3 and not
24.1 cm3, which continues to be the
commonest error seen.

ALLOW
DP already assessed in b(i)
24.2

DO NOT ALLOW mean of all three

titres,

ii 1
i.e. using concordant (consistent) titres
ALLOW ECF from incorrect
concordant titres from 22b(i)

Examiner’s Comments

Candidates are expected to use only

concordant titres when working out the
mean titre and the left-hand titre of
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

24.40cm3 should be rejected. Most

candidates did this to produce 24.20
cm3 as their mean titre. Use of 24.2
was allowed because rounding of a ‘0’
as the second decimal place had
already been penalised in Question 21
(b) (i). Predictably, the most common
error was to use all three titres to
produce the incorrect mean of
20.27cm3.

FIRST CHECK ANSWER ON ANSWER ALLOW 3SF or more throughout

LINE IGNORE trailing zeroes,
IF answer = 89.4 (%) award 5 marks e.g. ALLOW 24.2 for 24.20

CHECK mean titre from 22b(ii) first. ALLOW ECF from incorrect mean titre
THEN apply ECF throughout using THIS in b(ii)
mean titre
ALLOW ECF from 2 × incorrect
First 3 mark must come from the n(Na2CO3)
titration
ALLOW ECF from incorrect
n(Na2CO3) n(CH3COOH),
OR
= 4.84 × from n(Na2CO3) if n(CH3COOH) stage
10−3 (mol) omitted
✓

ALLOW 5.81 (3 SF)

n(CH3COOH) in 25.0 cm3
IF mass is rounded to 5.81, Answer is
iii = 9.68 × 5 still 89.4%
= 2 × 4.84 × 10−3 10−3 (mol) Calculator = 89.38461538
✓
8.94% is 4 marks (omission of × 10
n(CH3COOH) in 250 cm3 stage)

= 9.68 × IF incorrect mean titre of 24.26/24.27

= 10 × 9.68 × 10−3 10−2 (mol) cm3 used: (mean of all 3 titres in b(ii)),
✓ % composition = 89.6% to 3 SF for
ALL 5 marks by ECF
mass of CH3COOH in 250 cm3
---------------------------------------------------
= 5.808 (g) -------------------------
= 60 × 9.68 × 10−2 NOTE: Some candidates are
✓
calculating n(CH3COOH) based on the
6.50 g sample being pure
% composition to 3 SF DO NOT ALLOW 0.108(3……

= 89.4
3 SF
(%) ✓
COMMON ERRORS
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Calculator: 89.35384615 Using 25.0 cm3 (pipette volume)

instead of 24.20 cm3
Up to 4 marks are possible
COMMON ERRORS

Omitting ÷ 1000 for n(Na2CO3) n(Na2CO3)

Up to 3 marks are possible = 5.00 ×
10−3 ×
(mol)
n(Na2CO3) n(CH3COOH) in 25.0
= 4.84 cm3
= 0.200 × 24.20 ×
(mol) =1×
= 2 × 5.00 × 10−3 10−2 ✓
(mol)

n(CH3COOH) in 25.0
cm3
= 9.68 n(CH3COOH) in 250
= 2 × 4.84 ✓ cm3
(mol)
=1×
= 10 × 1 × 10−2 10−1 ✓
(mol)
n(CH3COOH) in 250
cm3
= 96.8
= 10 × 9.68 ✓ mass of CH3COOH in
(mol)
250 cm3
= 6.00
= 60 × 1 × 10−2 ✓
(g)
mass of CH3COOH in
250 cm3
= 5808
= 60 × 96.8 ✓ % composition to 3
(g)
SF
✓
Calculator:
% composition to 3 SF 92.30769231
= 89400
×
(%)
Impossible Examiner’s Comments
value
Many candidates followed a well
drilled method to analyse their titration
results:

• Moles of Na2CO3 in the mean

titre
• Moles of CH3COOH in 25 cm3
• Scaling ×10 for moles of
CH3COOH in 250 cm3
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Candidates then needed to process

their titration results further to
determine the percentage
composition:

• Mass of CH3COOH in 250 cm3

• Percentage composition of
CH3COOH to 3 significant
figures.

Most candidates were able to make

some progress through the analysis.
Common errors included:

• Not ×2 to obtain the moles of

CH3COOH
• Omission of the scaling stage.

Some candidates ignored the titration

results entirely, instead calculating the
number of moles of CH3COOH in 6.5
g of the descaler as 0.1083 mol by
assuming that all of the descaler was
CH3COOH. This approach was flawed
and could not be given any marks.

A final comment must be made about

the presentation of many of the
responses. Numbers had often been
sprayed across the page and it could
be difficult to see how these related to
a cohesive solution. It was often
impossible to give marks for such
responses.

The question discriminated extremely

well with some candidates given all 5
marks. Less successful responses
demonstrated problems with
approaching this type of question and
some were given no marks at all.

Exemplar 1
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Exemplar 1 shows a well-presented

response, with the only error being not
scaling the moles of CH3COOH from
25 to 250 cm3. The result is a
percentage composition of 8.94 %
instead of 89.4%. The clear
presentation allowed the examiner to
follow how the incorrect response had
been obtained. Error carried forward
allowed marks can be given for a
correct method, giving a total of 4 out
of 5 marks.

Total 8

ALLOW multiples
IGNORE state symbols, even if
incorrect

ALLOW Ba + H2O → BaO + H2

(reaction with steam)

ALLOW other correct equations e.g.

with less reactive metal oxide

Examiner’s Comments
2 Ba + O2 → 2 BaO ✓
Some candidates coped well with this
question which was based on the AS
BaO + H2O → Ba(OH)2 ✓
4 3 part of the specification and gained all
three marks. Common errors were for
Neutralisation unbalanced equations in reaction 1 or
OR acid-base ✓ adding H2 to the product of reaction 2.
Reaction 3 was often, incorrectly,
considered as: redox, halogenation,
nucleophilic substitution or a
precipitation reaction

Assessment for learning

2.1.4 Acids [Link]

OCR support

We have produced a topic exploration

pack to assist with learning about the
reaction of group 2 elements and their
compounds: Teach Cambridge
([Link])

Total 3

Throughout,

• IGNORE names of shapes

(even if wrong)
• IGNORE ‘electrons repel’
• DO NOT ALLOW ‘atoms repel’

-------------------------------------------------
ALLOW 104–105º

lp for lone pair (of electrons)

bp for bonding pair (of
ALLOW
electrons)
‘bond’ for ‘bonded pair’
H–O–N

IGNORE electron density

104.5° ✓
4
2 bonded pairs/regions AND 2 lone ALLOW 115–125º
(AO 1.2)
5 a pairs (around O) (AO 2.1)
AND lone pairs repel more ✓ (AO 1.2)
3 bonded areas /
Independent of bond angle (AO 2.1)
environments
ALLOW 3 regions / areas of electron
density
O–N–O 3 bonded groups

120° ✓
2 bonded pairs and 1 double
ALLOW
3 bonded regions/pairs (around N) ✓ bond
Independent of bond angle 2 bonded pairs and 1 bonded
OR
region

Examiner’s Comments

This question required candidates to

apply their knowledge and
understanding of bond angles and
electron pair repulsion in a novel
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

context. The best candidates rose to

this challenge, securing all four marks
for correct bond angles and
explanations in terms of the numbers
of bonded and lone pairs.

The 104.5° and 120° were commonly

seen and high scoring candidates
provided excellent reasoning. The
best explanation for 120° was in terms
of three bonding regions and no lone
pairs.

Lower scoring responses often

reasoned that bond angles are
determined by lone pairs repelling the
atoms, with the role of bonding pairs
often being ignored.
ALLOW multiples

IGNORE state symbols (even if

wrong)

ALLOW ionic equation

Al2O3 + 6H+ → 2Al3+ + 3H2O

Mark using same criteria

Al2O3 + 6HNO3 → 2Al(NO3)3 + 3H2O Examiner’s Comments

Any THREE species correct ✓ 2 Candidates were required to write a

balanced equation for an acid–base
b i Correct balanced equation ✓ (AO 2.5)
(AO 2.6) reaction. As with Question 4 (b) (ii),
candidates needed to write formulae
DO NOT ALLOW more than 4 species in
from what should have been common
equation
ions, but the formulae for aluminium
oxide and aluminium nitrate were
often incorrect.

In the equation, the reactants and

products were sometimes unbalanced,
or incorrectly balanced. A common
error was H2 instead of H2O as the
second product.

The question was an excellent

discriminator.
NOT REQUIRED
2
ii (AO 2.1)
• Charge (‘–‘)
(AO 2.5)
• Brackets
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

• Circles
• N and O symbols

IGNORE inner shells

ALLOW rotated diagram

In N=O bond, ALLOW sequence × × •

•

ALLOW non-bonding electrons

unpaired
8 Electrons around N as
above ALLOW dot and cross labels
1st mark: 1 single covalent bond, swapped:
1 dative covalent bond i.e. • for O electrons and × for N
1 double bond electrons
2nd mark: 8 electrons around each O
AND 6 O electrons around each O Examiner’s Comments
Only award 2nd mark if 1st mark awarded
NO ECFOR Candidates were expected to use the
displayed formula of nitric acid to
identify that the central N atom had
one double bond, one covalent bond
and one dative covalent bond. This
information then gave the strategy for
the dot and cross diagram.

Although virtually all candidates

attempted the dot and cross diagram,
only about a quarter of candidates
could be credited with a meaningful
response. The key was to use
nitrogen’s 5 outer shell electrons and
to combine these with 3 oxygen
electrons or 2 oxygen electrons and
the extra electron. Then the remaining
oxygen electrons could be added,
taking care that there were 6 around
out O atom. Finally the extra electron
would need to be placed in an octet
gap.

Many candidates showed just 4

nitrogen electrons and this approach
resulted in no marks. Other common
errors included 3 double bonds
around the N atom, and a lone pair on
the N atom.

This dot and cross diagram

discriminated between higher scoring
candidates extremely well.
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Total 8

FULL ANNOTATIONS MUST BE

USED
--------------------------------------------------
Common error:
Incorrect mean from all 3 titres = 22.6
cm3
CHECK BELOW TITRATION TABLE

Use ECF throughout

Intermediate values for working to at
least 3 SF.
FIRST CHECK THE ANSWER ON
ANSWER LINE
If Mass = 318 (mg) award 6 marks
--------------------------------------------------

Mean titre 1 mark

ALLOW scaling for 1 aspirin tablet

= 22.35(0) (cm3) ✓
early in calc, e.g. for final 2 marks:
n(aspirin) in 1 tablet = = 1.77.....
Analysis of results 5 marks
× 10–3 (mol) ✓
Mass in 1 tablet = 1.77..... ✓ 10–3 ×
n(HCl) = 0.200 × = 4.47 × 10–3
6 180 = 0.318 g = 318 mg ✓
6 (mol) ✓ (AO 2.8 COMMON ERRORS:
×6) No scaling × 10
n(NaOH) remaining in 25.0 cm3 =
n(HCl) 0.05 – 4.47 × 10–3 → 4.553 × 10–2
n(NaOH) remaining in 250 cm3
✓
= 4.47 × 10–3 × 10 = 4.47 × 10–2 OR
4.553 × 10–2 × 180 → 8.1954 g in
0.0447 (mol) ✓
3 tablets ✓
→ 2731.8/2732/2730 mg in 1
n(NaOH) that reacted with aspirin
= 0.0500 – 4.47 × 10–2 = 5.30 × tablet ✓ 5 marks
10–3 (mol) ✓
--------------------------------------------------
mass in 3 tablets = 5.30 × 10–3 × 180 No scaling × 10 before subtraction but
= 0.954 g ✓ scaling after 4 marks

Mass in 1 tablet = 318 mg ✓ 0.05 – 4.47 × 10–3 → 4.553 × 10–2

✓
4.553 × 10–2 × 10 × 180 → 81954
g in 3 tablets ✘
→ 27318 / 27320 / 27300 mg in 1
tablet ✓

--------------------------------------------------

No subtraction from 0.05 5 marks

2.1.4 Acids [Link]

→ 4.47 × 10–2 × 180 → 8.046 →

2682/2680 mg in 1 tablet

--------------------------------------------------

Omitting initial titration

2 marks
calculation

0.05 × 180 → 9 g in 3 tablets ✓ →

3000 mg in 1 tablet ✓

--------------------------------------------------

Mean of 22.60 (use of all 3

5 marks
titres)

Mean = 67.8/3 = 22.60 ✘→ 4.52 ×

10–3 ✓×10 → 4.52 × 10–2 ✓
0.05 – 4.52 × 10–2 → 4.80 × 10–3
✓
4.80 × 10–3 × 180 → 0.864 g in 3
tablets ✓
→ 288 mg in 1 tablet ✓

Examiner’s Comments

Compared with the application based

Question 4, candidates answered this
stock titration calculation well. Almost
all candidates determined that the
mean titre was 22.35 cm3 and went on
to calculate the number of moles of
HCl as 4.47 × 10–3 mol. Most scaled
this value by 10 to determine the
moles in 250 cm3.

Most candidates then used the initial

moles of HCl to determine the moles
of aspirin in the 3 tablets as 5.30 × 10–
3 moles. A significant number omitted

this stage but they were able to be

credited for the next stage of
calculation using a correct method.
Consequently over half the candidates
were awarded 5 or 6 marks for this
stock calculation.

Total 6

IGNORE state symbols

SrCO3 + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2 1
7 a i
✓ (AO 2.6)
DO NOT ALLOW H2CO3 for H2O +
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

CO2 (question states that a gas was

produced)

ALLOW multiples

Examiner’s Comments

This was often answered correctly but

some candidates gave the incorrect
formulae for Sr(NO3)2 and either no
other product or H2 gas.
ALLOW ORA

ALLOW
n(SrCO3) = (1.00 ÷ 147.6) = 6.78 ×
10–3 (mol)
AND n(CaCO3) = (1.00 ÷ 100.1) =
9.99 × 10–3 (mol)

For the 2nd mark, we are assessing

the idea of the greater moles of
carbonate produces more gas.

Subsumes first mark

ALLOW
n(SrCO3) = (1.00 ÷ 147.6) = 6.78 ×
Mr of SrCO3 is different to Mr CaCO3 /
10–3 (mol)
moles SrCO3 are different to moles
AND
CaCO3 ✓
2 n(CaCO3) = (1.00 ÷ 100.1) = 9.99 ×
(AO 3.1 × 10 –3 (mol)

ii 1) AND
(AO 3.2 × Calculated values (CO2) 163 cm3 AND
1) 240 cm3
Mr of SrCO3 > Mr CaCO3 / moles SrCO3 <
moles CaCO3
Examiner’s Comments
AND
More moles/volume gas (from CaCO3 )✓ Only a few candidates used the mass
value given in the question to link the
number of moles of the group 2 metal
carbonate and the number of moles,
and hence volume, of gas produced.

Misconception

Many candidates answered this

question in terms of the relative
reactivity, or solubility of Ca and Sr
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

and then continuing by explaining their

respective ionisation energies.
ALLOW multiples
ALLOW Mg+2
IGNORE state symbols

Examiner’s Comments
1
b i Mg + 2H+ → Mg2+ + H2 ✓ Ionic equations still present
(AO 2.6)
candidates with a challenge. A few
candidates scored the mark but many
candidates gave a full equation or one
that contained a mismatch of
spectator ions as well as the correct
ions.
IGNORE HCl is a stronger acid than
ethanoic acid.

ALLOW ORA

HCl is a strong acid/completely

dissociates
AND
CH3COOH is a weak acid/partially
dissociates ✓
DO NOT ALLOW dibasic/tribasic

Examiner’s Comments
Greater H+ concentration in HCl
3
AND This question proved challenging for
(AO 1.1 ×
More frequent collisions / faster rate of the candidates to identify the three
ii 1)
reaction ✓ ideas: Those of comparing acids,
(AO 3.1 ×
comparing moles and comparing
2)
rates. Very few candidates were able
More CH3COOH dissociates until same to score the 3 marks. Most candidates
number of moles of H+ released recognised the different strength of the
OR two acids, but some only used
same total moles H+ produced (by the comparative language. Some linked
end) the moles of acid used to the volume
OR of gas produced but many simply
(Both acids are monobasic) and have the restated the same volume and
same number of moles of acid ✓ concentration which is given within the
question. Only a few candidates linked
the higher initial [H+] in HCl to the
increased rate through more frequent
collisions. A common issue was
describing the rate of dissociation
rather than the [H+] present in
determining the rate of the reactions
or mentioning that it dissociates more
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

but not linking this to the H+

concentration.

Total 7

Examiner’s Comments
1
8 C This question was answered correctly
(AO 2.2)
for the most part with the answer
being C.

Total 1

DO NOT ALLOW easily dissociates

ALLOW ALL H+ ions are released

(Strong acid) completely/fully 1 Examiner’s Comments

9 a
dissociates/ionises ✓ (AO1.1)
Most candidates knew that a strong
acid completely dissociates. Only the
lower-attaining candidates responded
in terms of a low pH.
ALLOW multiples
IGNORE state symbols
IGNORE charges, even if wrong

Examiner’s Comments

This question required candidates to

recognise the reaction as being ‘acid–
1
b i CuO + 2HCl → CuCl2 + H2O ✓ base’ and to interpret a formula from a
(AO2.6)
name containing a Roman numeral.
Candidates identifying the formula of
copper(II) oxide as CuO were normally
able to complete the equation. A
reasonably large number identified the
copper compounds as CuO2 and
CuCl. Overall, most candidates
produced a correct equation.
ALLOW multiples
IGNORE state symbols
IGNORE charges, even if wrong

(NH4)2CO3 + 2HNO3 → 2NH4NO3 + CO2 + ALLOW H2CO3 for CO2 + H2O

H2O Counts as 2 formulae for marking
2
criteria
ii (AO2.6
Any 4 formulae correct ✓ ×2)
Examiner’s Comments
All 5 formulae correct and balanced ✓
This item was much more demanding
than the equation in 22(b)(i) and was
often answered incorrectly. Most were
unable to work out the formula of the
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

two ammonium compounds, with NH3

often shown instead of NH4. A mark
was available for 4 of the 5 formulae
being correct but comparatively few
were able to construct the correct
balanced equation. Candidates are
expected to know the formula and
charge of ammonium and carbonate
ions and the common acids (sulfuric,
hydrochloric and nitric) and these are
clearly listed in the specification.
ALLOW graduated flask

Examiner’s Comments

Most candidates recognised that a

1
c i Volumetric flask ✓ volumetric flask is used to accurately
(AO1.2)
prepare volumes of solutions. A
common error was a conical flask,
perhaps by not reading the information
clearly and giving the name of the
flask used in the titration itself.

DO NOT ALLOW 1 DP, e.g. 20.6

Final
instead of 20.60
20.25 40.85 25.85
reading/cm3
Examiner’s Comments
1
ii Initial
0.00 20.25 5.50 (AO1.2)
reading/cm3 Most candidates were able to work out
these simple subtractions. Candidates
Titre/cm3 20.25 20.60 20.35
were told that the titration readings
All 3 titres correct to 2 DP ✓ were read to the nearest 0.05 cm3,
requiring titres to be shown to two
decimal places, which includes a ‘0’.
The middle titre is therefore 20.60 cm3
and not 20.6 cm3, which continues to
be the commonest error seen.
ALLOW 20.3
Missing ‘0’ already penalised in c(ii)

DO NOT ALLOW mean of all three

titres,
1
iii
i.e. using concordant (consistent) titres (AO2.8)

Examiner’s Comments

Candidates are expected to use only

2.1.4 Acids [Link]

concordant titres when working out the

mean titre and the middle titre of 20.60
cm3 should be rejected. Most
candidates did this to produce 20.30
cm3 as their mean titre. Predictably,
the commonest error was to use all
three titres to produce the incorrect
mean of 20.40 cm3.
ALLOW ECF throughout and from
incorrect concordant titres from 22c(iii)

Calculator value = 3.3495 × 10–3

Calculator value = 6.699 × 10–3

Calculator value = 6.699 × 10–2

By ECF, ALLOW Group 1 metal

nearest to calculated value of Ar

COMMON ERRORS

Use of 20.4 from mean of all 3 titres

ALL 4 MARKS

n(H2SO4) = 0.165 × = 3.5 × 10–3 (mol)

n(H2SO4) = 0.165 × = 3.366 × 10–3
✓
(mol) ✓ from (c)(iii)
n(MOH) in 25.0 cm3 = 2 × 3.35 × 10–3 4 n(MOH) in 25.0 cm3 = 2 × 3.366 × 10–
= 6.70 × 10–3 (mol) (AO3.1 3

✓
iv ×3) = 6.732 × 10–3 (mol) ✓
n(MOH) in 250.0 cm = 10 × 6.70 × 10–3
3 (AO3.2
n(MOH) in 250.0 cm3 = 10 × 6.732 ×
= 6.70 × 10–2 (mol) ×1)
10–3
✓
= 6.732 × 10–2 (mol) ✓
Ar of M = × 10–2 = 39.1 AND M =
potassium/K ✓ Ar of M = = 38.9…. OR 39
AND M = K ✓
IF ×10 is absent, Ar = 389 AND M =
Cs OR Fr

Use of 25.0 (wrong volume) for

n(H2SO4)

n(H2SO4) = 0.165 × = 4.125 × 10–3

(mol) ✘
n(MOH) in 25.0 cm3 = 2 × 4.125 × 10–
3

= 8.25 × 10–3 (mol) ✓

n(MOH) in 250.0 cm3 = 10 × 8.25 ×
10–3
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

= 8.25 × 10–2 (mol) ✓

Ar of M = = 31.75.....AND M =
K✓
IF ×10 is absent, Ar = 317.5 AND M =
Cs OR Fr

Examiner’s Comments

Many candidates followed a well

drilled method to identify the unknown
metal M as potassium:

• Moles of H2SO4 in the mean

titre
• Moles of KOH in 25 cm3
• Scaling ×10 for moles of KOH
in 250 cm3
• Molar mass of the metal as
39.11 and identified as K.

A number of candidates omitted the

scaling stage to obtain a molar mass
of 391.1. By ECF, the ‘correct’ identity
would be caesium or francium. Some
candidates then ‘fiddled’ their
response, dividing by 10 to ‘identify’
the metal as K. This incorrect
approach was not credited.

Exemplar 2

A common error, illustrated in

Exemplar 2, was for candidates to
calculate 39.11 but to think that this
was the mass of MOH and not M.
They then subtracted 17 (for OH) from
39.11 to obtain a response of 22.11
and identified M as sodium instead of
potassium.

This error probably stems from

candidates either not reading the
question closely enough or confusion
about the mole concept.

Total 11
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Examiner’s Comments

Candidates were less successful with

this question than Questions 1 and 2,
and it appeared as if many candidates
10 D 1(AO1.1) did not recognise that ammonia was
an alkali. Most candidates rejected A
but a significant number selected C,
suggesting that they did not recognise
HNO3 as an acid or confused HNO3
with NH3.

Total 1

2 DP essential
i.e. last 0 for 22.70

DO NOT ALLOW use of trial titre.

Examiner’s Comments
Titres
Almost all candidates calculated the
titres correctly, but a significant
number were penalised for recording
22.75 22.45 22.70 22.55 22.70 as 22.7. A significant number
also used this result and the trial titre
11 i ✓ 2
to derive their mean value. There were
(AO1.2×2)
also very small numbers of candidates
who used all 4, or all of titres 1, 2 and
Mean titre 3, to calculate their mean.

= 22.5(0) (cm3) ✓ OCR support

Links to the legacy coursework tasks

and PAG practice question sets can
be found on OCR Interchange. Exam
hints for students can be found at:
https:/[Link]/Images/592305-
[Link].
FIRST CHECK THE ANSWER ON ALLOW ECF from incorrect titre in 19
ANSWER LINE (a) (i)
If answer = 498 mg award 5 marks
------------------------------------------------------- ALLOW ECF throughout
-------------- TAKE CARE: values shown may be
5
Number of moles of KOH in titre truncated calculator values.
(AO2.8×3)
ii
(AO3.1)
OR 1.35 ×10-3 (mol) ✓ (AO3.2)
Steps can be calculated in any order
which will change the intermediate
Number of moles of acid in 10 cm3 answers. Marks are for the processing
of the data.
OR 6.75 ×10-4 (mol) ✓
ALLOW 3SF up to calculated value
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Number of moles of acid in 250 cm3 throughout BUT ignore trailing zeros
= 6.75 × 10-4 × 25 OR 0.016875 (mol) ✓ on intermediate values

Mass of acid in 4 tablets IGNORE rounding errors past 3SF

= 0.016875 × 118 OR 1.99125 (g) ✓ ---------------------------------------------------
-
Mass in one tablet AND mg conversion Common errors
(i.e. divide by 4 AND x 1000) 5 marks
503 mg (use of 22.725 cm3)
=498 (mg)✓ 4 marks 996mg (no divided by 2)
19.9mg (no volume conversion i.e. x
Answer must be to 3SF 25)

Examiner’s Comments

Candidates made good progress with

this calculation, many gaining 4 or 5
marks, including error carried forward
from incorrect titres. Common errors
included, in various combinations: not
converting the final answer into mg,
not converting volume to dm3, missed
ratio, multiplying the moles in 10cm3
acid by 10 instead of 25 and/or wrong
Mr. Responses to Question 19 (a) (ii)
often featured rows of figures and
random sums without a single word
about what the figures, or sums, were
set to calculate. Candidates should
remember to provide written
indications of what it is they are
working out – presenting the
calculations without any annotations
can make it harder for error carried
forward marks to be given if there is
an error in their calculation.

Exemplar 1

The exemplar here shows a good use

of annotation. There is a clear
indication of the mathematical process
so that the error carried forward is
easily identified and the candidate
gains the method marks
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Total 7

ALLOW ECF throughout

ALLOW calculation process in any
order.
IGNORE rounding errors past 3SF
FIRST CHECK THE ANSWER ON
ANSWER LINE
If answer = 731(g) award 3 marks
--------------------------------------------------------
-------

n(Z) DO NOT ALLOW 100 for Mr of CaCO3

Common errors
OR 1.388246… 2 marks

✓ 146g no x 5 for moles of CaCO3

660g use of 95.0/100
Mass of limestone 3
12 i
(AO2.6×3) 29.3g divide by 5 rather than x5

n(CaCO3) = 1.388246.... × 5 OR
6.94123&

Examiner’s Comments
AND
This proved a difficult question for
mass CaCO3 = 6.94123.... × 100.1 OR most candidates. Most were able to
694.8 g ✓ correctly calculate the moles of
fertiliser by converting kg to g. The
next step was to deduce that 5 moles
mass limestone = = of calcium carbonate would be
731 g (3SF) ✓ required for each mole of Z and
multiply by 5, rather than the common
error of dividing by 5. Few candidates
were able to multiply by 100/95, to
account for the impurities in limestone,
with many multiplying by 95/100.
ALLOW multiples
Mg3Ca(CO3)4 (s) + 8HCl(aq) →
M2 dependent on M1

IGNORE incorrect state symbol for

3MgCl2(aq) + CaCl2(aq)+ 4H2O(l) +
2 Mg3Ca(CO3)4
ii 4CO2(g)
(AO2.6×2)
Examiner’s Comments
Correct formulae ✓
This was another very challenging
Balanced AND state symbols ✓ question using an unfamiliar mineral.
Most candidates identified a formula of
salts containing both magnesium and
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

calcium, or carbonates of the separate

elements. Only the most successful
candidates were able to give the
correct formula. Common errors, for
those who solved the formulae, were
the use of “4”HCl in balancing and the
absence of state symbols.

Total 5

ALLOW H+ OR proton

Examiner’s Comments

13 a i (Acid) releases H+ ions/ H+ donor ✓ 1

Most candidates scored this mark.
(AO1.1)
Some candidates referred to acids
having or containing H+ ions rather
than indicating that H+ ions are
donated or released. A small number
of candidates gave simplistic
responses in terms of pH only.
IGNORE vague responses that do not
imply a number, e.g.
• poor proton donor

IGNORE ‘doesn’t easily dissociate’

IGNORE ‘strong acid completely

dissociates’

Examiner’s Comments

Again, this was well answered by most

(weak acid) partially dissociates/ionises ✓ candidates. A few candidates gave
1
ii responses in terms of pH or indicated
(AO1.1)
that there were more OH- ions
present.

Misconception

Some candidates described a solution

with a low concentration of H+ ions,
demonstrating a confusion between
concepts of weak and dilute in
reference to acids. Visual picture
cards can be very helpful in assessing
understanding of these concepts. This
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

topic is covered at GCSE and

resources can be found here:
http:/[Link]/Images/363946-
[Link]
ANNOTATE ANSWER WITH TICKS
AND CROSSES ETC

ALLOW missing zeroes throughout

except for last marking point

e.g. 0.1 for 0.10

ALLOW ECF from incorrect burette

Titration Titration Titration
readings
1 2 3
Final
27.35 27.65 27.85
reading/cm3
Initial
0.05 0.10 0.45
reading/cm3 IF MEAN IS CALCULATED FROM
Titre/cm3 27.30 27.55 27.40 ECF, IT MUST BE FROM CLOSEST
TITRES
ALLOW any number of decimal
places for mean titre for this mark
Initial and final readings
All titration readings (×6) correct ✓
Note: Question asks for mean titre to
4 nearest 0.05 cm3
Titres
b i (AO 1.2 ×
Correct subtractions to obtain final titre
4)
values ✓
Examiner’s Comments
Mean titre calculated from concordant
results Although most candidates gained
Correct mean titre = 27.35 (cm3) ✓ some marks here, there were a
significant number who did not gain all
4 marks. Some candidates need to
practice reading burettes and
Reading recorded to accuracy of recording their values – this can be
burette checked during practical work. The
All values including mean titre most common errors included not
recorded to two decimal places with the recording values to 2 decimal places
last figure either 0 or 5 ✓ (especially if final number was 0),
readings recorded the wrong way
round in the table, and misreading
0.05 as 0.5. Most candidates were
able to identify concordant results, but
some still calculated the mean from all
values. This led to an average that
needed to be rounded to the nearest
0.05, as asked for in the question,
resulting in them losing both the mean
titre mark and mark for accuracy.
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

Some had errors which lead to values

which weren’t concordant – this
should be a flag to students that they
have made a mistake.
ANNOTATE ANSWER WITH TICKS
AND CROSSES ETC
---------------------------------------------------
-
ALLOW ECF from incorrect titre
calculated in 1(b)(i)
Throughout:
ALLOW 3 SF or more, correctly
rounded
e.g. n(NaOH) = 0.0219 for 0.02188

FIRST CHECK THE ANSWER ON

ANSWER LINE ALLOW ECF from incorrect n(NaOH)
If answer = 7.(00) award 5 marks
-------------------------------------------------------- ALLOW ECF for all subsequent steps
-

n(NaOH)
From n(NaOH) = 0.0219,
n(A) = 0.073(0)
mass citric acid = 14(.016)
mass in 1 lime = 7(.008)
5
n(A) in 25.0 cm3 (AO 2.8
ii
×4)
(AO 2.4)
Examiner’s Comments

Most candidates managed to gain at

n(A) in 250 cm3 least 1 mark for this question. The
= 10 × 0.00729(33) = 0.0729(33) ✓ most common mark lost was for not
mass citric acid in 250 cm3 multiplying by 10, having missed that
= 0.0729 × 192 = 14(.0032) (g) ✓ only 25cm3 of 250 cm3 citric acid
solution was used in the titration.
mass citric acid in one lime Another mark that was often lost was
for not dividing by 2 to find mass in 1
lime rather than the 2 used in
experiment. Some candidates used
25cm3 to calculate their moles of
NaOH rather than the titre value from
(i).

It is vital that candidates are given the

opportunity to practice more complex
multi-step calculations of this type,
with modelling given for lower-
attaining candidates. Identifying which
information goes with each reactant is
vital. All steps in the calculation should
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

be separate and clearly labelled to

help avoid confusion. Encourage
candidates to keep full values in their
calculators to avoid intermediate step
rounding. When writing down
intermediate values, ideally write down
the full calculator value or where this
is not possible the value must be
given to at least 3 significant figures
(correctly rounded). It is helpful to the
examiner to know if calculator values
are used and this could be indicated
by using truncated answers followed
by … , for example 0.00729… for
n(A).

Exemplar 1

The exemplar shows a response

where each step of the calculation is
shown clearly. The candidate has also
used pictures to aid them, recognising
that the NaOH is in the burette and
lime juice in the conical flask. All
values are identified and there is no
intermediate rounding. All 5 marks are
given here.
ALLOW any feasible method that
would give a dilution factor of 4
Action taken to modify method
Use half a lime
OR
Make up lime juice (solution) in 1 dm3
volumetric flask ✓
ALLOW quartered
2
Dilution ratio to justify
c (AO 3.4 ×
4 times less citric acid/lime juice
2)
OR
NaOH is 4 times more dilute (giving same
titre)
Examiner’s Comments
OR
1:4 ratio for NaOH concentration ✓ A very challenging question with very
few candidates scoring both marks.
The response needed a clear
indication of how the method would be
2.1.4 Acids [Link]

altered and a justification for why this

would work. Lots of candidates
recognised the need to dilute the citric
acid to obtain the correct titre but were
not able to give a method of how to do
this or any indication of quantities
needed. Some candidates said to use
a larger volume of NaOH – not
recognising that this would be the titre
value, e.g. “in order to keep the same
titre but lower concentration of NaOH
the student should titre more NaOH”.
Some gave the method of how to
dilute the NaOH or even just said to
add water. A few suggested using a
higher concentration of lime juice.

Candidates need to be given

opportunities to plan practical work to
fully appreciate the impact that any
changes will have (specification 1.1.1).

OCR support

Further information about practical

skills assessed on written exams can
be found in section 3 of the practical
skills handbook -
https:/[Link]/Images/208932-
chemistry-practical-skills-
[Link]. If using our suggested
practicals, then encourage candidates
to answer the extension opportunity
questions to help develop a deeper
understanding in preparation for
written assessments.

Total 13