Questions and Answers

Kenya certificate of Secondary Education

2021 Chemistry paper 1

1.a. Draw a labelled diagram showing the atomic structure of

24 12 mg. (2 marks)

b. The atomic number of phosphorus is 15. Draw a dot (•) and

cross (x) diagram for the compound formed when phosphorus
reacts with chlorine, atomic number 17. (1 mark)

2.a. State the condition under which a Bunsen burner

produces a luminous flame. (1 mark)
 When airhole/collar is closed or fully closed

b. Write an equation for the reaction that takes place in a luminous flame assuming the
laboratory gas is butane. (1 mark)

b. CH4(g) + 4O2(g) → C(s) + 3CO(g) + CO(g) +5H2O(I)

OR

CH4(g) + 4O2(g) → C(s) + CO(g) + CO(g) +5H2O(I)

c. One of the regions in the non-luminous flame is the unburnt gas region. Describe how the
presence of this region can be shown using a wooden splint. (1 mark)
3. a. The elements sodium, magnesium and aluminium belong to group I, II and III respectively.

Select the element with the highest electrical conductivity and give a reason. (1 mark)

When airhole/collar is closed or fully closed

b. Complete Table 1 to show the products of electrolysis for concentrated sodium chloride and
molten sodium chloride.

CH4(g) + 4O2(g) → C(s) + 3CO(g) + CO(g) +5H2O(I)

OR

CH4(g) + 4O2(g) → C(s) + CO(g) + CO(g) +5H2O(I)

4. A small piece of sodium metal was placed in a beaker containing pure water revision.

a. State two observations made during the reaction. (1 mark)

 The piece of metal darts/floats

 Melts into silvery ball
 Production of effervescence/hissing sound
 The beaker becomes warm

b. State and explain another observation made when a drop of phenolphthalein is added to the
mixture in the beaker. (1 mark)

 Solution turns pink because sodium hydroxide/alkaline solution is formed

c. Explain why it is not advisable to carry out this experiment using potassium metal. (1 mark)

 Potassium reacts explosively with water/ more vigorously/ more violent

5. Describe how a pure sample of copper(II) nitrate crystals can be prepared using recycled
copper wire. (3 marks)

 Heat the copper wire in air to form copper

 Add excess copper(II) oxide to dilute nitric acid
 Filter to remove unreacted copper(II) oxide
 Heat the resulting solution to saturation
 Allow it to cool to form crystals
 Dry/filter the crystals

6. The following apparatus and chemicals are used to investigate the percentage of air used when
iron rusts: iron filings, 100 ml measuring cylinder, trough and water.

a. Draw a setup of the experiment. (2 marks)

b. Write an expression to show how the percentage of air used is calculated at the end of the
experiment (1 mark)

Initial height of air column - Final height of air column/Initial height of air column

OR

Initial height of water - Final height of water/Initial height of water

7. Figure I shows a graph of atomic radius of some group I and group II elements.

a. Explain why the atomic radius of sodium is higher than that of:

i. lithium (1 mark)
Na = 2.8.1

Li = 2.1

Sodium has 3 energy levels while lithium has two

or

Li = 2

Na = 2.8.1

ii. magnesium (1 mark)

Mg = 2.8.2

Na = 2.8.1

The effective nuclear charge is higher in magnesium than sodium. Mg has a higher number of
protons

b. Predict the atomic radius of calcium. (1 mark)

 208± 2 Ithout showing on the graph Extrapolate to 20 on x-axis and mark to value

8. Compound D with formula, C3H4 was reacted with excess hydrogen chloride gas.

a. Give the name of compound D. (1 mark)

 Propyne
 prop 1 -yne
 prop -1,2-iodene

b. Draw two possible structures of the products formed. (2 marks)

9. Study the setup in Figure 2 and answer the questions that follow.

a. State the precaution that should be taken in carrying out the experiment. Give a reason. (1
mark)

 The experiment should be carried out in a fume chamber out in open since carbon(II) oxide is
poisonous

b. State the observations made in the boiling tube. (2 marks)

 A white percipitate is formed which dissolves to form a colourless solution 10. Consider the
following reaction:

N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇌ 2NH3(g)

The enthalpy change is 92.4 kJ per mole of nitrogen.

a. Give the enthalpy change per mole of ammonia. (1 mark)

 - 92.4/2 ⇒ =46.2 KJmol-1 b. State and explain how each of the following affects the yield of
ammonia:

i. Increase in temperature. (1 mark)

 i. It lowers the yield of ammonia since the forward reaction is exothermic or backward
reaction is endothermic

ii. Finely divided iron. (1 mark)

ii. No effect

 A catalyst has no effect on the position of the equilibrium

11. Study the flow chart in Figure 3 and answer the questions that follow.

a. Identify solid E. (1 mark)

 Potassium magnate VII or maganese(iv) oxide lead(vi) oxide

b. Name the type of reaction that takes place in chamber 1. (1 mark)

 Red ox/oxidation

c. Write an equation for the reaction that takes place in chamber 2. (1 mark)

 CI2(g) + 2NaOH → NaCl(aq) + NaOCl(aq) + H2O

12. Compounds H and J have the following structures.

a. Give the names of:

i. Compound H. (1 mark)

 3-methylpentanol/ 3-methylpentanol

ii. Compound J. (1 mark)

 Butanoic acid

b. State the conditions necessary for H and J to react. (1 mark)

 Concentrated sulphuric VI acid/ sulphuric acid

 Warm/heat/ temperature between 3-6oC 13. Rhombic sulphur is one of the allotropes of
sulphur

a. Draw the structure of rhombic sulphur. (1 mark)

b. Describe the observations made when rhombic sulphur is heated from room temperature until
it boils. (1 mark)
 Yellow solid forms amber liquid
 As the temperature increases the liquid becomes darker and vicious
 Then it turns dark red/brown and less vicious

14. The molar enthalpy of solution for potassium sulphate (K,SO) is +23.8 kJ.

a. On the axes provided, draw a labelled energy level diagram for the dissolution process of
potassium sulphate in water. (2 marks)

b. Calculate the enthalpy change when 5:12 gof potassium sulphate is completely dissolved in
water (K = 39:0;5=32,0; 0 - 16.0)(1 mark)

RFM of K2SO2 = 174

moles of K2SO2 =5.22/174 = 0.03

ΔH = 0.03 x 23.8 = 0.714KJ

15.a. State Gay-Lussac's law. (1 mark)

 When gases react, they do so in volumes that bear simple ratios to one another and to the
products if gaseous at constant temperature and pressure

b. 180 cm3 of nitrogen(II) oxide gas was reacted with 400 cm3 of oxygen gas.

i. Write an equation for the reaction. (1 mark)

 2NO(g) + O2(g) → 2NO2(g)

ii. Calculate the total volume of the gases at the end of the reaction. (3 marks)

 2NO + O2 → 2NO2

using ratio
Volume of oxygen =180 x 1/2 = 90cm3

Volume of oxygen unreacted = 400 - 90

= 310

Volume of NO2 = 18cm3

Total volume = 310 + 180

= 490cm3

16. Describe how the setup in Figure 4 can be used to distinguish between 50.0 cm of 0.2M
hydrochloric acid and 50.0 cm of 0.2 M ethanoic acid using pieces of 6 m length of magnesium
ribbon and a stop watch. (3 marks)

 Any contact between

 Mg and hydrochloric acid
 Mg and ethanoic acid
 Using a stopwatch to show the difference
 Conclusion - HCl takes a shorter time
 Put a 6cm Mg ribbon in conical flask and add 50cm3
 HCl. Using a stopwatch, record the
 volume of gases collected at a time inferral e.g. 15cm3
 Repeat the experiment using 50cm3 of ethanoic acid
 More/higher volume of gas will be collected when HCl is used than ethanoic acid at same
inferral of time OR
 The reaction will take a shorter time to completion when HCl is used than when ethanoic acid
used 17. Describe how dilute nitrie(V) acid and blue litmus papers can be used to distinguish
between solid samples of sodium carbonate and sodium sulphite. (3 marks)
 Place blue items at the mouth of test tubes
 Both turn red
 Thereafter one of them is bleached
 The sample that produces bleaching on the litmus is sodium sulphite 18.a. Describe how
propanone can be used to extract a pure sample of sunflower oil. (2 marks)
 Crush the sunflower seeds using motar and pestle
 Add propane and stir
 Decant
 Leave the extract on sunlight for propane to evaporate leaving oil behind

b. State why sodium hydroxide solution is not suitable for the extraction of sunflower oil. (1
mark)

 It will react with oil to form soap

19. 31.5 cm3 of concentrated nitric(V) acid was diluted to 500 cm3. 10.0 cm3 of the dilute acid
required 25.0 cm3 of 0.4M sodium hydroxide for neutralisation.

a. Calculate concentration of the:

i. dilute acid. (1 mark)

Moles of NaOH = 0.4 x 25 = 0.01/1000

Moles of HNO3 = 0.01

Molarity of HNO3 = 0.01 x 1000/10

ii. concentrated acid. (1 mark)

C1V1 = C2V2 1 x 500/31.5 = 15.9M

20. Figure 5 shows part of a radioactive decay series.

a. Write a nuclear equation for the formation of nuclide K from nuclide X. (1 mark)

Q = It

= 20 x 5 x 60 = 360000

moles = 360000 = 1.244moles

3 x 96500

mass = 1.244 x 27

= 33.588g

b. The half-life of nuclide X is 47 minutes. Determine the percentage of nuclide X that remains
after 188 minutes. (2 marks)

21. Aluminium is extracted from aluminium oxide by electrolysis.

a. Other than the cost of electricity, give another reason why this method is expensive. (1 mark)

 The graphite anode has to be replaced periodically

b. Calculate the mass of aluminium obtained when a current of 20A is used for 5 hours. (1
Faraday - 96500 C; Al - 27.0)(2 marks)

22. Explain each of the following observations:

a. Articles made of copper turn green when left exposed in air over a long period of time. (1
mark)

 Due to formation of copper(II) carbonate. Since copper reacts with carbon(IV) oxide/CO2 b.
Addition of aqueous ammonia to a solution containing copper(II)ions produces a deep blue
solution (1 mark)
 Due to formation of complex ion of tetramine copper(II) ions OR due to formation of
tetramine copper (II) ions

23.a. State what is meant by relative atomic mass of an element. (1 mark)

 Is the mass of one atom of an element compound to the mass of carbon - 12

b.

Let RAM 7 x be C X
n

RAM 12 N 96.4 = 4
n
0.3

% mass 3.6 96.4 n = 96.4

12 n         1.2
Let RAM 7 x be C X
n

96.4
n

Ratio 1 4 = 80.3

First row is a table header How to use it? b. A compound of carbon and element X with formula,
CX, contains 3.6% carbon by mass.

Calculate the relative atomic mass of X. (2 marks)

24. Carbon(II) oxide can be prepared by dehydration of ethanedioic acid

a. Complete the following equation to show the reaction that takes place. (1 mark) H20204

H2C2O4 → CO(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(I)

b. Name another reagent that can be used to prepare carbon(II) oxide by dehydration (1
mark)

 Methanoic
 Sodium methanate

25. Figure 6 shows an incomplete diagram of a setup for laboratory preparation of nitrogen gas.

a. Complete the setup in Figure 6 to show how nitrogen gas can be collected. (2 marks)

b. The nitrogen prepared using this setup is purer than that obtained from air. Give a
reason(1 mark)

 It has impurities such as noble gases

26. Hydrazine, is used as a fuel in rockets. Using the bond energies in Table 2, calculate the
enthalpy change for combustion of hydrazine.

N₂H4 (1) + O₂(g) → N₂(g) + 2H₂O(g)

Table 2

Bon Bond
d Energy
kJ/mol

N-H 388

N-N 163

O=O 496

N≡N 944

O-H 463

N2H4 + O2 → N2 + H2O

Bonds broken

4 x 388 = 1552

1 x 163 = 163

1 x 496 = 496

= 2211

Bonds formed

1 x 944 = 944

2 x 463 = 1852

= -2796

Enthalpy of combination = -2796 + 2211

= 585KJmol-

27.a. Table 3 gives the standard reduction potentials of some group VII elements. Table 3

State and explain the reactions that take place when aqueous bromine is added to a sample
of sea water containing both chloride and iodide ions. (2 marks)

 a. Br2(aq) + 2I-aq) → 2Br-(aq) + I2(aq)

Br2(aq) + 2CI- → No reaction

 Bromine will oxidize iodide ions to iodine since it has more positive Eθ
 Bromine will not displace chlorine since Eθ for Cl- is more positive
Reduction Eo/V
equations

CI2 + 2e→2CI- +1.36

Br₂ +2e→2Br- +1.07

I2 + 2e→21- +0.54

b. Give a reason why potassium iodide is added to table salt

 Potassium iodide is a source of iodine is needed to regulate functioning of thyroid gland