Suggested Solutions

Section A : Multiple Choice Questions (9 marks)

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9
C D B A A D B C B

Section B : Structured Questions (25 marks)

1 Table 1.1 shows the physical properties of substances A to E.

Table 2.1

substance appearance electrical conductivity melting point

A shiny good high
B dull poor low
C transparent poor high
only conducts when it is
D dull high
a liquid but not solid
E shiny good low

(a) (i) Suggest a substance from Table 1.1 that should be used to make wires.

Substance A
[1]

(ii) Explain your answer to (a)(i).

State property: Good electrical conductivity

Elaborate: Hence, electricity can be transmitted / pass through / flow through.

State property: High melting point

Elaborate: Hence, it does not melt easily when large amounts of heat is
generated.

[2]
(b) Two students made the following comments:

Student 1: Substance C is glass.

Student 2: Substance C is plastic.

Cannot repeat what is in the table already
Suggest one other physical property that might help the students identify substance
C.
Describe how this property differs for glass and plastic.

State property: Flexibility

Elaborate: Plastic is able to withstand breaking / return to its original shape / size upon
being bent but not glass.

OR

State property: Brittleness / strength

Elaborate: Glass shatters / breaks into pieces / is fragile when a force is applied but not
plastic.

[2]

[Total: 5]
2 (a) State the SI unit used to measure how hot or cold an object is.

SI unit = kelvin [1]

(b) Fig. 2.1 shows a length of an object measured using a metre rule by a student.

Fig. 2.1

He repeated the measurement of the length five times. Table. 2.1 shows the recorded
measurements by the student.

Table 2.1

Readings Measurement / cm
1st reading 2.2
2nd reading 2.20
3rd reading 2.1
4th reading 1.8
5th reading 2.1

(i) Explain why the 2nd reading recorded by the student is incorrect.

The metre rule has a precision of 0.1 cm or 1 decimal place in cm.

2nd reading cannot be measured to 0.01 cm or 2 decimal places in cm [1]

(ii) Suggest the type of error committed by the student for the 4th reading.

Parallax error [1]

(iii) Taking into consideration your answer in (b)(ii), calculate the average length of the
object.
 Note: Eliminate 4th reading as it is an obvious mistake and cannot be taken into the
calculation for an average.

Average length = 2.2 + 2.2 + 2.1 +2.1] / 4

= 2.15 = 2.2 cm must follow same d.p./precision as metre rule

I
average length = 2.2 cm [2]

(iv) Explain why the student repeated the measurement of length five times.

Take average readings

So as to reduce random errors to improve on accuracy of result. [2]

[Total: 7 marks]

3 A student added solution X into a conical flask that is placed on top of a black cross as shown in
Fig. 3.1.

The student then added solution Y into the conical flask, which causes a chemical change. It
was found that the cross could not be seen after some time.

view from the top

before adding after adding

solution X in solution Y solution Y
conical flask
Fig. 3.1
 (a) A solution is homogeneous, whereas a suspension is heterogeneous.

Describe the difference between the terms homogeneous and heterogeneous.

commonly missed out!

Homogeneous implies that the physical and chemical properties are same throughout
the mixture,

whereas heterogeneous implies that the physical and chemical properties are not the
same throughout the mixture. [1]

[1]

(b) The student wrote this observation in her book.

“After the addition of solution Y, a suspension is formed”

Must quote information / evidence

Using information from Fig. 3.1, explain why the student’s observation is correct.

Quoting information: It is a suspension as the cross cannot be seen after some time,
Explain: suggesting that light cannot pass through the mixture / it became opaque.
[0.5]
[1]

4 The list below shows the chemical formula of some gases found in polluted air.

A O2

B CO2

C CO

D NO2

E N2

F SO2

(a) Polluted air contains both elements and compounds.

Define the term element.

 An element is a substance which cannot be broken down into simpler substances by
chemical methods [1] all or nothing

Accept: “chemically broken down”

Accept: “electricity” instead of “chemical methods” (but get students to indicate on
their notes that “chemical methods” is the only version that will be accepted in
future)

[1]

(b) Use the letters A, B, C, D, E and F to answer the following questions. You may use a
letter once, more than once or not at all.

(i) Which gas is produced from the incomplete combustion of fuels?

C [1] [1]

(ii) Which two gases result in the formation of acid rain?

D [1/2] , F [1/2] [1]

(iii) Which gas binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells and causes breathing difficulties?

C [1] [1]

Accept formula instead of letters for (b)(i) to (iii)

[Total: 4 marks]
5 (a) Fig. 5.1 shows a measuring cylinder containing water to a certain height.

cm3

Measuring cylinder

Fig. 5.1

(i) Determine the volume of water in the measuring cylinder as shown in Fig. 5.1.

volume of water = 43.0 cm3 [1]

(ii) Determine the volume of water in m3.

1 cm = 0.01 m
(1 cm)3 = (0.01 m)3
1 cm3 = 0.000001 m3

So, 43.0 cm3 = 43.0 x 0.000001 m3

= 0.0000430 m3 or 4.30 x 10-5 m3

0.0000430 or 4.30
volume of water = [3]
x 10-5 m3

(b) Describe how you would determine the density of a piece of small stone.

Method 1
• Drop the small stone into a measuring cylinder filled with water and take note of the
initial volume reject beaker

• Place the small stone into the measuring cylinder of water and take note of the final
volume. The difference in the final and initial volumes is the volume of the small stone.
• Measure the mass, M of the small stone using the electronic balance / beam balance

• Determine density using the formula = mass/ volume or M / V

Method 2

• Fill a displacement can with water until it reaches the opening

• Place the small stone into the displacement can, and collect the water that overflows
using a measuring cylinder. The volume of water measured will be the volume of the
stone. reject beaker

Third and fourth marking points same as method 1

[3]

[Total: 7 marks]