Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Electron Transfer Reactions (HL IB Chemistry)

Exam Questions

7 hours93 questions
11 mark

Which row correctly describes oxidation and reduction in terms of the transfer of electrons and changes in oxidation state? 

 

Transfer of electrons

Change in oxidation state

 

oxidation

reduction

oxidation

reduction

A

B

C

D

gain

loss

loss

gain

loss

gain

gain

loss

increase

increase

decrease

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

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    21 mark

    The heptahydrate mineral of magnesium sulfate is used in Epsom Salts for preparing therapeutic baths. Magnesium sulfate is also used in some medical applications.

    What is the oxidation state of MgSO4?

    • -2

    • +2

    • +7

    • 0

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    31 mark

    Which row describes the most common oxidation numbers of fluorine, oxygen and hydrogen in compounds? 

     

    F

    O

    H

    A

    B

    C

    D

    +7

    +1

    -7

    -1

    -1

    +2

    -1

    -2

    -1

    +1

    -1

    +1

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      41 mark

      Solutions containing chlorate(I) ions decompose on heating as shown:                    

                  3ClO-  →  ClO3- + 2Cl- 

      Which row is correct for the oxidation state of the chlorine in each ion? 

       

      ClO-

      ClO3-

      Cl-

      A

      B

      C

      D

      +1

      +1

      -1

      -1

      +5

      +3

      +5

      +3

      -1

      +1

      -1

      +1

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        51 mark

        A student added a solution of iodine to a solution of sodium bromide. Which statement correctly describes what happens?

        • No reaction occurs

        • The bromide ions are oxidised

        • The iodine atoms are oxidised

        • Both the bromide and iodide ions undergo changes in their oxidation state

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        61 mark

        In which of the following reactions is the change in oxidation number the smallest for nitrogen?

        • N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3

        • 3Mg + N2 → Mg3N2

        • 4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O

        • 2NO + O2 → 2NO2

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        71 mark

        In the compound [ICl2]+[SbCl6], the oxidation number of chlorine is −1.

        What are the oxidation numbers of I and Sb in the compound?

         

        I

        Sb

        A

        B

        C

        D

        +1

        +1

        +3

        +3

        +5

        +7

        +5

        +7

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          81 mark

          Titanium dioxide is obtained from the ore ilmenite, Fe(II)TiO3

                                         FeTiO3 → TiO2 

          What is the change in the oxidation number of titanium in the reaction?

          • +4 to +5

          • +3 to +4

          • No change in oxidation number occurs

          • +6 to +4

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          91 mark

          Below are four statements about voltaic and electrolytic cells. Identify the statement that is correct for voltaic cells but not for electrolytic cells

          • An electrolyte is needed in the cell

          • Ions are moving in the electrolyte

          • Oxidation occurs at the anode

          • Electrons flow from the negative to the positive electrode 

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          101 mark

          What substance will be obtained at the positive electrode (anode) when molten KBr is electrolysed?

          • K(l)

          • Br(l)

          • Br2(l)

          • K(s)

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          111 mark

          The compound ‘leaf alcohol’ is partly responsible for the smell of new-mown grass.

          CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH2OH

          leaf alcohol

          What product will be formed when ‘leaf alcohol’ is oxidised using an excess of hot, acidified K2Cr2O7(aq)?

          • CH3CH2CH(OH)CH(OH)CH2CO2H

          • CH3CH2COCOCH2CO2H

          • CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CO2H

          • CH3CH2CO2H and HO2CCH2CO2H

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          121 mark

          Which of the alcohols shown below will decolourise acidified potassium manganate(VII)?

          I.    

          CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

          II.  

            CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3

          III.  

          (CH3)3CCH2OH

          • I and II only  

          • I and III only  

          • II and III only 

          • I, II and III

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          131 mark

          What can be produced when an aqueous solution of butan-2-ol is oxidised under suitable conditions?

          1. butanone
          2. butanoic acid
          3. butanal
          • I, II and III

          • I and II only 

          • II and III only 

          • I only

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          14
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          1 mark

          Consider these standard electrode potentials.

          Fe2+ (aq) + 2e- rightwards harpoon over leftwards harpoonFe (s) EΘ = -0.45 V

          Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- rightwards harpoon over leftwards harpoonCu (s) EΘ = +0.15 V

          Which is the correct working to determine EΘcell?

          • 0.60

          • -0.30

          • -0.60

          • -0.0675

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          15
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          1 mark

          Which of the following is not a condition for the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)?

          • 1.00 mol dm-3 HCl 

          • Hydrogen gas with a pressure of 100 Pa

          • Temperature of 298 K 

          • Platinum electrodes 

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          16
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          1 mark

          Which combination would electroplate an object with silver?

          bf04f6dc-ae51-4609-b897-777b9a2ab6f6

            X Y Z
          A. Object to be plated Silver Silver chloride
          B. Silver Object to be plated Hydrochloric acid 
          C. Object to be plated Silver Water
          D. Silver Object to be plated Silver nitrate

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            17
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            1 mark

            What are the products for the electrolysis of concentrated sodium chloride solution using inert electrodes?

              Anode Cathode
            A. O2 (g) H2 (g)
            B. H2 (g) O2 (g)
            C. Cl(g) H2 (g)
            D. H2 (g) Cl(g)

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              18
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              1 mark

              A voltaic cell is made by connecting two half-cells represented by the half-equations below.

              Al3+ (aq) + 3e- rightwards harpoon over leftwards harpoonAl (s) EΘ = -1.66 V

              Sn2+ (aq) + 2e- rightwards harpoon over leftwards harpoonSn (s) EΘ = +0.14 V

              Which statement is correct about this voltaic cell?

              • The cell representation is Al (s) l Al3+ (aq) II Sn2+ (aq) I Sn (s)

              • The Al3+ (aq) / Al (s) electrode is the cathode 

              • The cell representation is Al3+ (aq) l Al (s) II Sn (s) I Sn2+ (s)

              • The Sn2+ (aq) / Sn (s) electrode is the anode 

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              191 mark

              What is the product of the reaction between propanone and sodium borohydride, NaBH4?

              • propan-1-ol

              • propan-2-ol

              • propanoic acid

              • pentanal

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              20
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              1 mark

              Propanone is made by a two stage process. 

              The second stage involves oxidation. 

              Propene    →     X   →   Propanone

              What is the functional group of compound X?

              • COOH

              • OH

              • COO

              • C=O

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              21
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              1 mark

              4-methylpentanal can be formed by the oxidation of 4-methylpentan-1-ol.

              Which reagent is used as an oxidising agent for this conversion?

              • NaBH4

              • NaOH

              • K2Cr2O7

              • LiAlH4

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              11 mark

              Oxidation numbers can be used to balance equations. Chlorine and hot aqueous sodium hydroxide react to produce chloride ions, chlorate ions and water. 

              What are the values of the coefficients p, r and s in the equation?                                     

                                   pCl2(g) + qOH-(aq)  →  rCl-(aq) + sClO3-(aq) + tH2O(l) 

               

              p

              r

              s

              A

              B

              C

              D

              3

              3

              2

              2

              5

              6

              5

              4

              1

              2

              1

              2

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                21 mark

                The chemistry of the Group VII elements often involves redox processes.

                Which of the following statements is correct?

                • Bromine can oxidise chloride ions

                • Iodide ions are the weakest reducing agent of the first four Group VII ions

                • In reactions with water, chlorine is oxidised and reduced

                • Fluorine is a weaker oxidising agent than chlorine

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                31 mark

                Four reactions are shown below. In which reaction is the species shown in bold acting as an oxidising agent?

                • Cr2O72- + 8H+ + 3SO32- → 2Cr3+ + 4H2O + 3SO42-

                • Mg + Fe2+ → Mg2+ + Fe

                • Cl2 + 2Br- → 2Cl- + Br2

                • Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2

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                41 mark

                In which compound are there two different elements with the same oxidation number?

                • Mg(OH)2

                • Na2SO4

                • HClO

                • NH4Cl

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                51 mark

                When sulfuric acid and sodium iodide react, one of the reactions that takes place is shown by the equation below: 

                            8NaI  +  9H2SO4  →  8NaHSO4  +  4I2  +  H2S  +  4H2

                Which species has been oxidised in this reaction?

                • I

                • SO42−

                • Na+

                • H+

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                61 mark

                The following reaction can be used to determine the mass of titanium dioxide in an ore. 

                            3TiO2  +  4BrF3  →  3TiF4  +  2Br2  +  3O2 

                Which element increases in oxidation number in this reaction?

                • fluorine

                • bromine

                • titanium

                • oxygen

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                71 mark

                In which reaction does hydrogen behave as an oxidizing agent?

                • 2Na  +  H2  →  2NaH

                • N2  +  3H2  →  2NH3 

                • H2  +  Cl2  →  2HCl

                • C2H4  +  H2  →  C2H6

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                81 mark

                When solid potassium halides are added to concentrated sulfuric acid, the following reactions take place: 

                reaction 1

                2KBr  +  2H2SO4  →  K2SO4  +  SO2  +  Br2  +  2H2O

                reaction 2

                8KI  +  5H2SO4  →  4K2SO4  +  H2S  +  4I 2  +  4H2O

                reaction 3

                2KCl  +  H2SO4  →  K2SO4  +  2HCl

                In each reaction, what is the largest change in the oxidation number of sulfur? 

                 

                Reaction 1

                Reaction 2

                Reaction 3

                A

                B

                C

                D

                1

                2

                2

                4

                4

                4

                8

                8

                1

                0

                0

                1

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                  91 mark

                  What is formed at the electrodes during the electrolysis of molten potassium iodide? 

                   

                  Positive electrode

                  Negative electrode

                  A

                  K+

                  I-

                  B

                  K

                  I2

                  C

                  I-

                  K+

                  D

                  I2

                  K

                   

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                    101 mark

                    Below is a diagram of a voltaic cell. When the cell is running, what is happening in the salt bridge?

                    9-1-mcq-q10-ib-chemistry

                    • K+ ions flow to the zinc half-cell and NO3 ions flow to the copper half-cell

                    • K+ ions flow to the copper half-cell and NO3 ions flow to the zinc half-cell

                    • K+ and NO3 ions flow to the copper half-cell

                    • K+ and NO3 ions flow to the zinc half-cell

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                    111 mark

                    2.30 g of ethanol were mixed with aqueous acidified potassium dichromate(VI) and the desired organic product was collected by immediate distillation under gentle warming. The yield of the product was 50.0%. ( RAMs C= 12, H=1, O=16)

                    What mass of product was collected?

                    • 1.10 g

                    • 1.15 g

                    • 2.20 g

                    • 2.30 g

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                    121 mark

                    Which alcohol gives only one possible oxidation product when warmed with dilute acidified potassium dichromate(VI)?

                    • butan-1-ol

                    • butan-2-ol

                    • 2-methylpropan-1-ol

                    • 2-methylpropan-2-ol

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                    131 mark

                    Hydroxyethanal has the structural formula HOCH2CHO.

                    In an experiment hydroxyethanal is heated under reflux with an excess of acidified potassium dichromate(VI) until no further oxidation takes place.

                    What is the skeletal formula of the organic product formed in the experiment?10-2-m-q9-ib-chemistry-mcqs

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                      141 mark

                      Use the following electrode potentials to answer the question.

                      Sn2+ (aq) + 2e- ⇌ Sn (s)      Eθ = -0.14 V

                      Fe3+ (aq) + e- ⇌  Fe2+ (aq)  Eθ = +0.77 V

                      What will be the EMF, in V, when the following voltaic cell is connected?

                      Sn (s) + 2Fe3+ (aq) → 2Fe2+ (aq) + Sn2+ (aq)

                      • -0.91

                      • +0.63

                      • +1.68

                      • +0.91

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                      151 mark

                      Which of the following reactions could take place at the positive electrode (cathode) in a voltaic cell? 

                      1.   Cu2+ (aq) to Cu (s)
                      2.   Br2 (g) to Br- (aq)
                      3.   Co3+ (aq) to Co2+(aq)
                      • I and II only

                      • I and III only

                      • II and III only

                      • I, II and III

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                      161 mark

                      What is true when aqueous copper(II) sulfate is electrolysed using platinum electrodes?

                      • H2 and O2 are produced in a 2:1 mole ratio

                      • Cu and O2 are produced in a 2:1 mole ratio

                      • H2 and O2 are produced in a 1:1 mole ratio

                      • Cu and O2 are produced in a 1:1 mole ratio

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                      171 mark

                      Use the following electrode potentials to answer the question. 

                      Zn2+ (aq) + 2e- ⇌ Zn (s)      Eθ = -0.76 V

                      Cl2 (aq) + 2e- ⇌  2Cl- (aq)   Eθ = +1.36 V

                      Mg2+ (aq) + 2e- ⇌ Mg (s)     Eθ = -2.37 V 

                      Predict what happens when some powdered zinc is added to aqueous magnesium chloride?

                      • There is no reaction observed

                      • Bubbles of chlorine gas will be seen

                      • Magnesium metal will be produced

                      • Zinc chloride will be produced

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                      181 mark

                      Which of the following electrolytic cells would give the greatest mass of metal at the cathode?

                       

                      Current

                      Time

                      Solution

                      A.

                      1.5

                      250

                      1.0 mol dm-3 AgNO3 (aq)

                      B.

                      1.0

                      750

                      1.0 mol dm-3 CuSO4 (aq)

                      C.

                      2.0

                      250

                      1.0 mol dm-3 AgNO3 (aq)

                      D.

                      1.0

                      500

                      1.0 mol dm-3 CuSO4 (aq)

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                        191 mark

                        What is formed when butanone is heated under reflux with a solution of NaBH4?

                        • CH3CH2CHCH2

                        • CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

                        • CH3CHOHCH2CH3

                        • CH3CH2CH2CHO

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                        11 mark

                        When heated ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3, can decompose explosively.

                                 NH4NO3 → N2O + 2H2

                        The nitrogen atoms in NH4NO3 have different oxidation numbers. 

                        What are the oxidation numbers for each of the N atoms when this reaction proceeds?

                        • +4, –4

                        • –2, –4

                        • +4, –6

                        • +2, +6

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                        21 mark

                        In winemaking, to prevent the oxidation of ethanol by air, sulfur dioxide (SO2) is added. In order to calculate the amount of SO2, a sample is titrated with iodine (I2). The reaction is a one to one ratio for SO2 and I2 to produce H2SO4 as well as another product. 

                        What is the change in the oxidation number of sulfur in this reaction?

                        • +2 to +6

                        • +4 to +6

                        • +2 to +4

                        • +4 to +5

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                        31 mark

                        20 cm3 of a 0.60 mol dm–3 solution of thallium nitrate (TlNO3) requires 40 cm3 of
                        0.20 mol dm–3 acidified ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) to produce Tl3+(aq) ions. 

                        Vanadium is the only element reduced in this reaction. What is the oxidation number of the reduced vanadium?

                        • +1

                        • +2

                        • +3

                        • +4

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                        41 mark

                        If a solution contains both bromine and chlorine, BrO3 ions are produced. 

                        The reactions leading to the production of BrO3 ions are shown below: 

                           Reaction 1:     Br2  +  H2O  →  HBr  +  HBrO 

                           Reaction 2:     3HBrO  +  Cl2  →  2Cl   +  BrO3  +  Br2  +  3H+ 

                        Which statements are correct?

                        1. Chlorine is reduced in reaction 2
                        2. Bromine is reduced in both reaction 1 and reaction 2
                        3. Bromine is oxidised in both reaction 1 and reaction 2
                        • I and II only 

                        • I and III only

                        • II and III only

                        • I, II and III

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                        51 mark

                        If a dilute acid is added to an aqueous solution containing nitrite ions, NO2, two different nitrogen compounds are released as gases. 

                        2H+(aq)  +  2NO2(aq)  →  H2O(l)  +  NO(g)  +  NO2(g) 

                        Which statements correctly describe the process? 

                        1. The H+(aq) ion is oxidised by NO2(aq).
                        2. Some nitrogen atoms are oxidised, and some nitrogen atoms are reduced.
                        3. The H+(aq) ion acts as a catalyst.



                        • I and II only 

                        • II only

                        • II and III only

                        • I, II and III

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                        61 mark

                        A voltaic cell consisting of zinc and silver is set up. The following overall reaction takes place:

                                                    Zn(s)   +  2Ag+(aq)  →  Zn2+(aq)  +  2Ag(s)                    

                        What are the correct half-equations at each electrode? 

                         

                        Anode

                        (negative electrode)

                        Cathode

                        ( positive electrode)

                        A

                        Ag(s) → Ag+ (aq)  + e-

                        Zn2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn(s)

                        B

                        Ag+(aq)  + e-→ Ag(s)

                        Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e-

                        C

                        Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e-

                        Ag+(aq)  + e-→ Ag(s)

                        D

                        Zn2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn(s)

                        Ag(s) → Ag+(aq)  + e-

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                          71 mark

                          Which statement about the movements of electrons in voltaic cells is correct?

                          • Electrons flow through the external wire from the cathode (positive electrode) to the anode (negative electrode) 

                          • Electrons flow through the external wire from the anode (negative electrode) to the cathode (positive electrode) 

                          • Electrons flow through the salt bridge from the oxidizing agent to the reducing agent 

                          • Electrons flow through the salt bridge from the reducing agent to the oxidizing agent 

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                          81 mark

                          When molten magnesium chloride is electrolysed using graphite electrodes what are the products? 

                           

                          Product at cathode

                          (negative electrode)

                          Product at anode

                          ( positive electrode)

                          A

                          magnesium

                          chlorine

                          B

                          chlorine

                          magnesium

                          C

                          magnesium ions

                          chloride ions

                          D

                          chloride ions

                          magnesium ions

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                            91 mark

                            Use the information given about four reactions of metals to determine the order of reactivity from most reactive to least reactive

                               W(s) + X2+(aq) → W2+(aq) + X(s)

                               Y(s) + W2+(aq) → No Reaction

                               X(s) + Y2+(aq) → X2+(aq) + Y(s)

                               Z(s) + Y2+(aq) → No Reaction

                            • W > Y > X > Z

                            • X > W > Z > Y

                            • Z > Y > W > X

                            • W > X > Y > Z

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                            101 mark

                            Which statements about voltaic cells are correct? 

                              1.    A redox reaction takes place which produces electrical energy.
                              2.    At the cathode, an oxidation reaction occurs.
                              3.    Electrons move from the anode to the cathode.
                            • I and II only  

                            • I and III only  

                            • II and III only 

                            • I, II and III

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                            111 mark

                            An organic compound Y with molecular formula C5H12O, is oxidised to compound Z with molecular formula C5H10O2.

                            What could be the structural formula of Y?

                            1. CH3(CH2)4OH
                            2. CH3CH2CH(CH2OH)CH3
                            3. CH3C(CH3)2CH2OH
                            • I and II only

                            • I and III only

                            • II and III only

                            • I, II and III only

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                            121 mark

                            A number of alcohols with the formula C4H10O are separately oxidised. Using 7.41 g of the alcohols a 50% yield of organic product is achieved.

                            What mass of product could be obtained?

                            1. 4.41 g of butanoic acid.
                            2. 4.41 g of 2-methylpropanoic acid.
                            3. 3.61 g of butanone.
                            • I and II only

                            • I and III only

                            • II and III only

                            • I, II and III

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                            13
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                            1 mark

                            Which of the following can be used for a standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)?

                              Electrode Electrolyte solution
                            A. Graphite 1 mol dm-3 H2SO4
                            B. Graphite 1 mol dm-3 HCl
                            C. Platinum 0.5 mol dm-3 H2SO4
                            D. Platinum 0.5 mol dm-3 HCl

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                              14
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                              1 mark

                              What are the ratios of gases produced at the electrodes in the electrolysis of dilute vs concentrated sodium chloride solution?

                                Ratio of gas produced at cathode : anode in the electrolysis of dilute NaCl Ratio of gas produced at cathode : anode in the electrolysis of concentrated NaCl
                              A. 1:1 2:1
                              B. 1:1 1:2
                              C. 1:2 1:1
                              D. 2:1 1:1

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                                15
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                                1 mark

                                Which of the following could be used to electroplate a zinc medal?

                                • 1.0 mol dm-3 AgNO3 solution with a silver anode

                                • 1.0 mol dm-3 AgNO3 with a silver cathode

                                • 1.0 mol dm-3 CuSO4 solution with a copper cathode

                                • 1.0 mol dm-3 solution of SnCl2 and a tin anode

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                                16
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                                1 mark

                                The diagram below shows the set-up of aluminium and silver cells in series:

                                silver-and-aluminium-cells-in-series-ib-hl-mcq-19-1-q4

                                What is the mass lost from the aluminium electrode if the silver electrode gains 0.25 g?

                                • 3.000

                                • 0.330

                                • 0.021

                                • 0.188

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                                17
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                                1 mark

                                The oxidation of iron is a spontaneous process described by the overall equation:

                                Fe (s) + bevelled 1 halfO(g) + H2O (l) → Fe(OH)2 (s)   ΔGθ = -164 kJ mol-1 at 298 K

                                The two half equations for the process are:

                                Fe2+ (s) + 2e- → Fe (s)

                                begin mathsize 10px style bevelled 1 half end styleO(g) + H2O (l) + 2e- → 2OH- (s)

                                What is the value of Eθ in V?

                                • 8.50

                                • 0.850

                                • -3.40

                                • -34.0

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                                18
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                                1 mark

                                Which alcohol could not be produced by the reduction of an aldehyde or a ketone?

                                • 2,2-Dimethylbutan-1-ol

                                • Propan-2-ol

                                • 3-Methylpentan-3-ol

                                • 2-Methylpentan-3-ol

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                                19
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                                1 mark

                                Which molecule(s) can be both reduced by sodium borohydride, NaBH4, and oxidised by warm acidified potassium dichromate (VI)? 

                                1. CH3CHBr(CH3)2CCHO
                                2. CH3CHOHCH2CH3
                                3. (CH3)3CCHO

                                • I and II only 

                                • I and III only 

                                • II and III only 

                                • I, II and III 

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