21(a) This question is about reactions and uses of the weak acids methanoic acid, HCOOH, and ethanoic

acid,
CH3COOH.

The K a values of HCOOH and CH3COOH are shown in Table 18.1.

Weak acid K a / mol dm–3

HCOOH 1.82 × 10–4
CH3COOH 1.78 × 10–5
Table 18.1

A student adds methanoic acid to ethanoic acid.

An equilibrium is set up containing two acid-base pairs.

Complete the equilibrium and label the conjugate acid-base pairs as A1, B1 and A2, B2.

[2]

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 (b) Use Table 18.1 to answer the following questions.

(i) The student measures the pH of CH3COOH(aq) as 2.72.

Show that the concentration of the CH3COOH(aq) is 0.204 mol dm–3.

[2]

(ii) The student plans to make a buffer solution of pH 4.00 from a mixture of CH3COOH(aq) and sodium
ethanoate, CH3COONa(aq).

The student mixes 400 cm3 of 0.204 mol dm–3 CH3COOH(aq) with 600 cm3 of CH3COONa(aq).

Calculate the concentration of CH3COONa(aq) needed to prepare this buffer solution of pH 4.00.

concentration = .......................................... mol dm–3 [4]

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 22 20 cm3 of 0.10 mol dm–3 hydrochloric acid is added to 10 cm3 of 0.10 mol dm–3 sodium hydroxide.

What is the pH of the resulting mixture?

A 1.00
B 1.18
C 1.30
D 1.48

Your answer [1]

23 Phosphoric acid is a tribasic acid.

What is the mass of Ca(OH)2 that completely neutralises 100 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm–3 phosphoric acid?

A 0.49 g
B 0.74 g
C 1.11 g
D 2.22 g

Your answer [1]

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 24 This question is about two different types of acid found in organic compounds, carboxylic acids and sulfonic
acids, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

Carboxylic acid Sulfonic acid

Fig. 6.1
Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, and methanesulfonic acid, CH3SO2OH, are both monobasic acids.
The pK a values are shown in the table.

Acid pK a
Ethanoic acid CH3COOH 4.76
Methanesulfonic acid CH3SO2OH –1.90

A student suggests that 1.0 mol dm–3 CH3SO2OH should have a lower pH value than 1.0 mol dm–3 CH3COOH.

Write an equation, showing conjugate acid–base pairs, for the equilibrium of CH3SO2OH with water and explain,
with reasons, whether the student is correct.

Label the conjugate acid–base pairs: A1, B1 and A2, B2.

[4]

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 25(a) This question is about weak acids.

The Ka values of three weak acids are shown in Table 20.1.

Weak acid Ka / mol dm–3

iodic(V) acid, HIO3(aq) 1.78 × 10–1
propanoic acid, C2 H5COOH(aq) 1.35 × 10–5
hydrocyanic acid, HCN(aq) 6.17 × 10–10

Table 20.1

Calculate the pH of 0.0800 mol dm–3 C2H5COOH(aq).

Give your answer to 2 decimal places.

pH = ......................................................... [2]
(b) A student adds a total of 45.0 cm of 0.100 mol dm NaOH(aq) to 25.0 cm3 of 0.0800 mol dm–3 C2H5COOH(aq)
3 –3

and monitors the pH throughout.

(i) Show by calculation that 20.0 cm3 of NaOH(aq) is required to reach the end point.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the pH of the final solution.

Give your answer to 2 decimal places.

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 pH = ......................................................... [4]

(iii) On the axes below, sketch a pH curve for the pH changes during the addition of 45.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm–3
NaOH(aq) to 25.0 cm3 of 0.0800 mol dm–3 C2H5COOH(aq).

[3]

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 (iv) The student considers using the four indicators in Table 20.2 for the titration.

Indicator pH range
Cresol red 0.2 – 1.8
Bromophenol blue 3.0 – 4.6
Cresol purple 7.6 – 9.2
Indigo carmine 11.6 – 14.0
Table 20.2

Explain which indicator would be most suitable for the titration.

[1]

(v) The student repeats the experiment starting with 25.0 cm3 of 0.0800 mol dm–3 HCN(aq) and adding a total of
45.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm–3 NaOH(aq).

Predict one similarity and one difference between the pH curve with C2H5COOH(aq) and the pH curve with
HCN(aq). Use the information in Table 20.1, and your answer to (b)(iii).

Similarity

Difference

[2]

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 (c) The student calculates the pH of 0.0800 mol dm–3 HIO3(aq). The student assumes that the equilibrium
concentration of HIO3(aq) is the same as the initial concentration of HIO3(aq).

The student measures the pH, and finds that the measured pH value is different from the calculated pH value.

Explain why the measured pH is different from the calculated pH.

[1]

26 Healthy human blood needs to be maintained at a pH of 7.40 for the body to function normally.

*Carbonic acid, H2CO3, is a weak acid which, together with hydrogencarbonate ions, HCO3–, acts as a buffer to
maintain the pH of blood.

The pKa value for the dissociation of carbonic acid is 6.38.

Explain, in terms of equilibrium, how the carbonic acid–hydrogencarbonate mixture acts as a buffer in the control
of blood pH, and calculate the [HCO3–] : [H2CO3] ratio in healthy blood.

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 [6]

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 27 The equation shows the dissociation of the acid H3AsO4 in water.

H3AsO4 + H2O ⇌ H2AsO4– + H3O+

Which pair is a conjugate acid–base pair?

A H3AsO4 and H2O

B H2AsO4– and H3O+

C H3AsO4 and H3O+

D H3O+ and H2O

Your answer [1]

28 A reaction is first order with respect to H+. At a pH of 1, the initial rate is 2.4 × 10–3 mol dm–3 s–1.

What is the initial rate at a pH of 3?

initial rate =...................................................... mol dm–3 s–1 [1]

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 29(a) Benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, is added to some foods as a preservative.

A student prepares benzoic acid as outlined below.

Step 1 The student mixes 4.00 cm3 of phenylmethanol, C6H5CH2OH, (density = 1.04 g cm–3) with sodium
carbonate and aqueous potassium manganate(VII), as an oxidising agent. The mixture is heated
under reflux.
Step 2 The resulting mixture is cooled and then acidified with concentrated HCl . Impure crystals of benzoic
acid appear.
Step 3 The student recrystallises the impure crystals to obtain 1.59 g of pure benzoic acid.

In Step 1, sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, makes the reaction mixture alkaline.

Write an ionic equation to show how carbonate ions form an alkaline solution in water.

[1]

(b) In Step 2, explain why the mixture must be acidified so that crystals of benzoic acid appear.

[1]

(c) Write the overall equation for the preparation of benzoic acid from phenylmethanol.

Use [O] for the oxidising agent.

[1]

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 (d) Calculate the percentage yield of benzoic acid.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

percentage yield = ...................................................... % [3]

(e) In Step 3, describe how the student can recrystallise the impure crystals to obtain pure benzoic acid.

[2]

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 30 This question is about organic reactions.

Compound A is formed when ethanal is mixed with OH−(aq) ions, which act as a catalyst.

The balanced equation is shown in reaction 6.1 below.

(i) Give the systematic name for compound A.

[1]

(ii) What type of reaction has taken place?

[1]

(iii) Reaction 6.1 takes place in two steps. OH− ions act as a catalyst.

In step 1, ethanal reacts with OH− ions to set up an acid–base equilibrium.

In step 2, compound A is formed.

• Complete the equilibrium for step 1 and label the conjugate acid–base pairs as:
A1, B1 and A2, B2.

CH3CHO + OH− ⇌ +

• Suggest the equation for step 2.

[3]

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 (iv) A similar reaction takes place when propanone, (CH3)2CO, is mixed with OH−(aq) ions.

Draw the structure of the organic product of this reaction.

[1]

31(a) This question is about acids and bases found in the home.

Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, is the acid present in vinegar.

A student carries out an experiment to determine the pKa value of CH3COOH.

• The concentration of CH3COOH in the vinegar is 0.870 mol dm−3.

• The pH of the vinegar is 2.41.

(i) Write the expression for the acid dissociation constant, Ka, of CH3COOH.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the pKa value of CH3COOH.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

pKa = ......................................................... [3]

(iii) Determine the percentage dissociation of ethanoic acid in the vinegar.

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 Give your answer to three significant figures.

percentage dissociation = ..................................................... % [1]

(b) Many solid drain cleaners are based on sodium hydroxide, NaOH.

• A student dissolves 1.26 g of a drain cleaner in water and makes up the solution to 100.0 cm3.
• The student measures the pH of this solution as 13.48.

Determine the percentage, by mass, of NaOH in the drain cleaner.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

percentage = ..................................................... % [4]

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 32 A buffer solution is prepared by mixing 200 cm3 of 2.00 mol dm−3 propanoic acid, CH3CH2COOH, with 600 cm3 of
1.00 mol dm−3 sodium propanoate, CH3CH2COONa.

Ka for CH3CH2COOH = 1.32 × 10−5 mol dm−3

What is the pH of the buffer solution?

A 4.58

B 4.70

C 5.06

D 5.18

Your answer [1]

33(a) This question is about the properties and reactions of ethanoic acid, CH3COOH.
Ethanoic acid is a weak acid with an acid dissociation constant, Ka, of 1.75 × 10−5mol dm−3at 25 °C.

A student uses a pH meter to measure the pH of a solution of CH3COOH at 25 °C.

The measured pH is 2.440.

Calculate the concentration of ethanoic acid in the solution.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

concentration = mol dm−3 [3]

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 (b) Ethanoic acid is a weak acid with an acid dissociation constant, Ka, of 1.75 × 10−5mol dm−3at 25 °C.

Ethanoic acid is added to another weak acid, fluoroethanoic acid, FCH2COOH (Ka = 2.19 × 10−3 mol dm−3).
An equilibrium is set up containing two acid-base pairs.

Complete the equilibrium and label the conjugate acid-base pairs as A1, B1 and A2, B2.

CH3COOH + FCH2COOH ⇋ +

[2]
(c) The student plans to prepare a buffer solution that has a pH of 4.50. The buffer solution will contain ethanoic
acid, CH3COOH, and sodium ethanoate, CH3COONa.

The student plans to add 9.08 g CH3COONa to 250 cm3 of 0.800 mol dm−3 CH3COOH. The student assumes
that the volume of the solution does not change.

(i) Show by calculation whether, or not, the student’s experimental method would produce the required pH.

Show all your working.

[5]

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 (ii) When the student prepares the buffer solution, the volume of solution increases slightly.

Suggest whether the pH of the buffer solution would be the same, greater than, or less than your calculated
value in (c)(i).

Explain your reasoning.

[2]

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 34 This question is about organic molecules that have a strong smell.

Thiols are foul-smelling, organic sulfur compounds with the functional group –SH.

Butane-1-thiol, shown below, contributes to the strong smell of skunks.

(i) Thiols are weak acids.

Write the expression for the acid dissociation constant, Ka, for butane-1- thiol.

[1]

(ii) Thiols react with carboxylic acids to form thioesters.

Write an equation for the reaction of butane-1-thiol with ethanoic acid.

Use structures for all organic compounds with the functional groups clearly displayed.

[2]

(iii) When beer is exposed to light, 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol is formed, which gives an unpleasant smell and
flavour to the beer.

Draw the skeletal formula for 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol.

[1]

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 (iv) Propane-1,3- dithiol reacts with carbonyl compounds in a condensation reaction to form a cyclic organic
sulfur product.

Write an equation for the reaction of propane-1,3-dithiol with propanone.

Use structures for organic compounds.

[2]

35 HA and HB are two strong monobasic acids.

25.0 cm3 of 6.0 mol dm−3 HA is mixed with 45.0 cm3 of 3.0 mol dm−3 HB.

What is the H+(aq) concentration, in mol dm−3, in the resulting solution?

A 1.9
B 2.1
C 4.1
D 4.5

Your answer [1]

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 36 When concentrated sulfuric acid is added to water, dissociation takes place in two stages.

Stage 1: H2SO4 → H+ + HSO4−

Stage 2: HSO4− ⇌ H+ + SO42-

(i) 0.100 mol dm−3 sulfuric acid has a pH of 0.96.

Explain this observation. Your answer should include a calculation.

[3]

(ii) A student adds an excess of aqueous sodium carbonate to dilute sulfuric acid.

Predict what the student would observe.

Explain what happens to the equilibrium in Stage 2 as the aqueous sodium carbonate is added.

Observation _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Explanation _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[2]

37(a) This question is about vitamin C, C6H8O6.

Vitamin C is a weak monobasic acid with a Ka value of 6.76 × 10−5 mol dm−3.

(i) Write the expression for Ka for vitamin C.

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 [1]

(ii) Calculate pKa for vitamin C, to two decimal places.

[1]

(iii) A bottle of vitamin C supplements contains tablets, each containing 500 mg of vitamin C.

A student dissolves three vitamin C tablets in water and makes up the solution to a volume of 250.0 cm3.

Calculate the pH of the solution.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [4]

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 (b) Low acidity vitamin C tablets are less acidic than tablets containing just vitamin C.

A student dissolves a low acidity vitamin C tablet in water.

The tablet contains a mixture of 300 mg of vitamin C, C6H8O6, and the sodium salt of vitamin C, C6H7O6Na.
The pH of the solution is 4.02.

(i) Calculate the ratio C6H7O6− : C6H8O6 in the solution.

Show your working.

[3]

(ii) Calculate the mass of C6H7O6Na, in mg, in the low acidity vitamin C tablet.

mass = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mg [1]

(c) The sodium salt of vitamin C can be made by reacting vitamin C with aqueous sodium hydroxide.

An aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide had a pH of 12.72 at 298 K.

Calculate the concentration, in mol dm−3, of the NaOH solution.

concentration = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mol dm−3 [2]

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 38 A 0.040 mol dm–3 solution of a weak monobasic acid is 1.0% dissociated.

What is the value of Ka for the acid?

A 2.0 × 10–7 mol dm–3

B 4.0 × 10–6 mol dm–3
C 4.0 × 10–4 mol dm–3
D 4.0 × 10–2 mol dm–3

Your answer

[1]

39(a) A chemist carries out some experiments using nitrous acid, HNO2(aq).

HNO2 is a weak acid with a Ka value of 4.69 × 10−4 mol dm−3 at the temperature of the chemist's experiments.

Write the expression for Ka for HNO2(aq).

[1]
(b) Calculate the pH of 0.120 mol dm−3 HNO2(aq).

Give your answer to two decimal places.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [2]

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 (c) The chemist prepares 1dm3 of a buffer solution by mixing 200 cm3 of 0.200 mol dm−3 HNO2 with 800 cm3 of
0.0625 mol dm−3 sodium nitrite, NaNO2.

(i) Calculate the pH of the buffer solution.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [4]

(ii) Explain how this buffer solution controls pH when:

a small amount of HCl(aq) is added

a small amount of NaOH(aq) is added.

In your answer, include the equation for the equilibrium in the buffer solution and explain how this
equilibrium system controls the pH.

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 [4]

(d) The dissociation of water is shown below.

H2O(l) ⇌ H+(aq) + OH−(aq)

At 60 °C, the ionic product of water, Kw, is 9.311 × 10−14 mol2 dm−6.

At 25 °C, the ionic product of water, Kw, is 1.000 × 10−14 mol2 dm−6.

(i) Explain whether the dissociation of water is an exothermic or endothermic process.

[1]

(ii) Predict, using a calculation, whether a pH of 7 at 60 °C is neutral, acidic or alkaline.

[2]

(iii) pKw, pKa and pH are logarithmic scales.

Calculate pKw at 60 °C.

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 Give your answer to two decimal places.

pKw = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [1]

(iv) 20.0 cm3 of 0.0270 mol dm−3 NaOH is diluted with water and the solution made up to 100 cm3 at 60 °C.

Calculate the pH of the diluted solution of NaOH at 60 °C.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [3]

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 40 Three redox systems, C, D and E are shown in Table 6.1.

C Ag(NH3)2 +(aq) + e− ⇌ Ag(s) + 2NH3(aq)

D Ag+(aq) + e− ⇌ Ag(s)
E Ag(CN)2−(aq) + e− ⇌ Ag(s) + 2CN−(aq)

Table 6.1

The two cells below were set up in an experiment to compare the standard electrode potentials of redox
systems C, D and E. The signs on each electrode are shown.

The CN− ion is the conjugate base of a very toxic weak acid.

In aqueous solutions of CN− ions, an acid−base equilibrium is set up.

(i) Complete the equation for this equilibrium and label the conjugate acid−base pairs.

[1]

(ii) Explain, in terms of equilibrium, why acidic conditions should not be used with cells containing CN−(aq) ions.

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 [1]

41(a) A student is supplied with 0.500 mol dm−3 potassium hydroxide, KOH, and 0.480 mol dm−3 propanoic acid,
C2H5COOH.

The acid dissociation constant, Ka, for C2H5COOH is 1.35 × 10−5 mol dm−3.

C2H5COOH is a weak Brønsted−Lowry acid.

What is meant by a weak acid and Brønsted−Lowry acid?

[1]
(b) Calculate the pH of 0.500 mol dm−3 potassium hydroxide.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [2]

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 (c) The student dilutes 25.0 cm3 0.480 mol dm−3 C2H5COOH by adding water until the total volume is 100.0 cm3.

(i) Write the expression for Ka for C2H5COOH.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the pH of the diluted solution.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [3]

(d) A student prepares a buffer solution containing propanoic acid C2H5COOH and propanoate ions, C2H5COO−.
The concentrations of C2H5COOH and C2H5COO− are both 1.00 mol dm−3.

The following equilibrium is set up.

C2H5COOH(aq) ⇌ C2H5COO−(aq) + H+(aq)

The acid dissociation constant, Ka, for C2H5COOH is 1.35 × 10−5 mol dm−3.

(i) Calculate the pH of this buffer solution.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

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 pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [1]

(ii) A small amount of aqueous ammonia, NH3(aq), is added to the buffer solution.

Explain, in terms of equilibrium, how the buffer solution would respond to the added NH3(aq).

[2]

(iii) The student adds 6.075 g Mg to 1.00 dm3 of this buffer solution.

Calculate the pH of the new buffer solution.

Give your answer to two decimal places

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [4]

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 42(a) Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, is a weak Brønsted—Lowry acid.

An acid—base equilibrium is set up when ethanoic acid is added to water.

Write the equation for the equilibrium that would be set up and label the two conjugate acid—base pairs.

[2]
(b) An aqueous solution of CH3COOH has a pH of 3.060.
This solution contains both hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions.

(i) How can an aqueous solution of an acid contain hydroxide ions?

[1]

(ii) Calculate the concentration of hydroxide ions in this solution of ethanoic acid.

concentration of hydroxide ions = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mol dm−3 [2]

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 (c) A student adds an excess of aqueous ethanoic acid to solid calcium carbonate.
The resulting solution is able to act as a buffer solution.

(i) Write a full equation for the reaction between ethanoic acid and solid calcium carbonate.

[1]

(ii) Explain why this buffer solution has formed.

[1]

(iii) Explain how this buffer solution controls pH when either an acid or an alkali is added.

In your answer you should explain how the equilibrium system allows the buffer solution to control
the pH.

[5]

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 (d) A biochemist plans to make up a buffer solution with a pH of 5.000.
The biochemist adds solid sodium ethanoate, CH3COONa, to 400 cm3 of 0.200 mol dm−3 ethanoic acid.
Ka for ethanoic acid = 1.75 × 10−5 mol dm−3

Calculate the mass of sodium ethanoate that the biochemist needs to dissolve in the ethanoic acid to prepare
this buffer solution.

Assume that the volume of the solution remains constant at 400 cm3 on dissolving the sodium ethanoate.

[5]

43 A student carries out an initial rates investigation on the reaction below.

From the results, the student determines the rate equation for this reaction:

The table below shows some of the student's results.

(i) Complete the table by adding the missing initial rates in the boxes.

[I−(aq)] / mol dm−3 [IO3 −(aq)] / mol [H+(aq)] / mol dm−3 Initial rate / mol
−3
dm dm−3 s−1

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 Experiment 1 0.015 0.010 0.020 0.60
Experiment 2 0.045 0.010 0.020
Experiment 3 0.060 0.040 0.080

[2]

(ii) Calculate the rate constant, k, for this reaction. Include units.

Give your answer to two significant figures.

k = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ units _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [3]

(iii) The student repeats Experiment 1 using 0.020 mol dm−3 methanoic acid, HCOOH(aq) (pKa = 3.75), instead
of 0.020 mol dm−3 HCl(aq) as a source of H+(aq).

Determine the initial rate in this experiment. Show your working.

initial rate = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mol dm−3 s−1 [3]

44(a) This question is about different weak acids.

A student carries out a titration to determine the concentration of a solution of ethanoic acid.

The method is outlined below.

A 25.0 cm3 sample of CH3COOH(aq) is pipetted into a conical flask.

The CH3COOH(aq) is titrated by adding 0.125 mol dm−3 NaOH from a burette.
The pH of the solution is measured continuously, with stirring, as the NaOH(aq) is added.

The pH titration curve is shown below.

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 (i) How could the student measure the pH continuously as the NaOH(aq) is added?

[1]

(ii) Determine the unknown concentration, in mol dm−3, of the CH3COOH(aq).

Show your working.

concentration of CH3COOH(aq) = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mol dm−3 [2]

(b) The table shows the pH ranges of four indicators.

Indicator congo red methyl red brilliant yellow alizarin yellow R

pH range 3.0−5.0 4.4−6.2 6.6−7.8 10.1−12.0

(i) Choose, with a reason, the indicator from the table that is most suitable for the student’s titration in (a).

[1]

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 (ii) An indicator is a weak acid, HA, which has a different colour from its conjugate base, A−.

For methyl red, the HA form is red and the A− form is yellow.
The structure of methyl red is shown below.

Draw the structure of the conjugate base of methyl red and explain, in terms of equilibrium, the colours of
methyl red at low pH, at high pH, and at the end point of a titration. You can use HA and A− in your
explanation.

explanation:

[4]

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 45(a) A student investigates the reactions of two weak monobasic acids: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, CH3CH(OH)COOH,
and butanoic acid, CH3CH2CH2COOH.

The student wants to prepare a standard solution of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid that has a pH of 2.19.

Plan how the student could prepare 250 cm3 of this standard solution from solid 2-hydroxypropanoic acid.

In your answer you should provide detail of the practical procedure that would be carried out, including
appropriate quantities and necessary calculations.

Ka for 2-hydroxypropanoic acid is 1.38 × 10–4 mol dm−3 at 25 °C.

[8]
(b) 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid is a slightly stronger acid than butanoic acid. The two acids are mixed together and an
acid–base equilibrium is set up.

Suggest the equilibrium equation and identify the conjugate acid–base pairs.

CH3CH(OH)COOH + CH3CH2CH2COOH ⇌ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[2]

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 (c) To prepare a buffer solution, 75.0 cm3 of 0.220 mol dm−3 butanoic acid is reacted with 50.0 cm3 of 0.185 mol
dm−3 sodium hydroxide.

Ka for butanoic acid is 1.5 × 10−5 mol dm−3 at 25 °C.

(i) Calculate the pH of 0.185 mol dm−3 sodium hydroxide at 25 °C.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [2]

(ii) Calculate the pH of the buffer solution at 25 °C.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

Show all your working.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [4]

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 46 Aspirin is a weak acid with a pKa value of 3.40 and a solubility in water of 1.00 × 10−2 g cm−3 at body temperature
(37 °C).

The equation for the dissociation of aspirin in aqueous solution is shown below.

(i) Calculate the pH of a saturated solution of aspirin in water at body temperature.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [4]

(ii) ‘Soluble aspirin’ is usually sold as the sodium or calcium salt of aspirin.

Suggest why salts of aspirin are more soluble than aspirin in water.

[1]

(iii) The stomach contains hydrochloric acid at a pH of about 1–3.

Explain why swallowing soluble aspirin may lead to irritation of the stomach lining.

[2]

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 47(a) Ethers are a homologous series of organic compounds containing the R−O−R functional group.

The structures and names of two ethers are shown in Fig. 4.1.

Draw the skeletal formula of the ether, 2-ethoxy-3-methylbutane.

[1]

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 (b) Ethers can be prepared by nucleophilic substitution of haloalkanes with alkoxide ions, RO−.

(i) Alkoxide ions can be prepared by reacting sodium with an alcohol. A gas is also formed.

Write an equation for the formation of methoxide ions from sodium and an alcohol.

[1]

(ii) Methoxyethane, shown in Fig. 4.1, can be prepared by reacting bromoethane, CH3CH2Br, with methoxide
ions, CH3O−.

Suggest the mechanism for the nucleophilic substitution of CH3CH2Br with CH3O−.

Show curly arrows, charges, relevant dipoles, and products.

[3]

(iii) In this mechanism, explain how CH3O− ions have acted as a nucleophile.

State the type of bond fission that takes place.

[1]

(c) 2-Ethoxypropane, shown in Fig. 4.1, is analysed by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Complete the table to predict the 1H NMR spectrum of 2-ethoxypropane.

You may not need to use all the rows.

Chemical shift, δ/ppm Relative peak area Splitting pattern

[4]

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 (d) In organic reactions, alkoxide ions can also act as a base.

The diagram below shows an incomplete mechanism for the reaction of a diester with methoxide ions, CH3O−
(Step 1), followed by reaction of the intermediate with bromoethane (Step 2).

(i) For Step 1, add curly arrows to show how CH3O− reacts with the diester to form the intermediate.
In the box, draw the structure of the organic product formed in Step 2.

[3]

(ii) Explain how CH3O− ions have acted as a base in this mechanism.

[1]

48 The complex ion, [Fe(H2O)6]3+, behaves as a weak Brønsted–Lowry acid in aqueous solution. The equation
below represents the dissociation of aqueous [Fe(H2O)6]3+ ions, together with the Ka value.

[Fe(H2O)6]3+(aq) ⇌ [Fe(H2O)5OH]2+(aq) + H+(aq) Ka = 6.00 × 10–3 mol dm–3

(i) Write the expression for the acid dissociation constant, Ka, for [Fe(H2O)6]3+.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the pH of a 0.100 mol dm–3 solution of [Fe(H2O)6]3+ to two decimal places.

pH = _____________________ [2]

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 49 Methanoic acid is added to water. An acid−base equilibrium is set up containing two acid−base pairs.

Suggest a mechanism for the forward reaction in this equilibrium.

Your mechanism should use displayed formulae and curly arrows, and show all species present at equilibrium.

[2]

50 This question is about acids and bases.

Nitric acid, HNO3, and nitrous acid, HNO2, are two Brønsted–Lowry acids containing nitrogen.

A student measures the pH of 0.0450 mol dm–3 solutions of HNO3 and HNO2 (pKa = 3.35) and found that the
acids had different pH values.

(i) Explain why the pH values are different.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the pH value of 0.0450 mol dm–3 HNO3 to two decimal places.

Show your working.

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 pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [1]

(iii) Calculate the pH value of 0.0450 mol dm–3 HNO2 to two decimal places.

Show your working.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [3]

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 51 The dissociation of water is measured by the ionic product of water, Kw. The value of Kw varies with temperature
as shown in the graph below.

Calculate the pH of water at body temperature, 37 °C.

pH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [3]
52 Rubidium hydroxide, RbOH, is a strong alkali. A technician is asked to prepare a 250.0 cm3 solution of RbOH
with a pH of 12.500.

Calculate the mass of RbOH that the technician needs to use.

mass = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ g [4]

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 53 Two elements, A and B, react to form an ionic compound with the formula A2B3. In this compound, A and B both
have the electron configuration 1s22s22p63s23p6.

Deduce possible identities of the ions in A2B3.

A:

B:

[2]
54 Which statement is correct for a neutral solution at any temperature?

A Kw = 1.00 × 10–14 mol2 dm–6

B The solution contains only H2O
C [H+] = [OH–]
D pH = 7

Your answer
[1]

55 A buffer solution is based on methanoic acid, HCOOH (Ka = 1.70 × 10–4 mol dm–3) and methanoate ions,
HCOO–.

In the buffer solution, the HCOOH concentration is half the HCOO– concentration.

What is the pH of the buffer solution?

A 2.47
B 3.07
C 3.47
D 4.07

Your answer
[1]

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 56 A solution of propanoic acid, CH3CH2COOH, has a pH of 2.89 at 25 °C.

What is [H+] in this solution?

A 1.7 × 10–6 mol dm–3

B 4.6 × 10–4 mol dm–3
C 1.3 × 10–3 mol dm–3
D 0.46 mol dm–3

Your answer
[1]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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