Past HSC Questions Task 1 (20152007)

2015 HSC
MC Question 15
Part of a water catchment is shown in the diagram.

A sample of river water taken from point X is analysed.

Which row of the table shows the most likely results?

Use this information to answer Questions 18 (and 19).

A sample of pond water from a contaminated site was analysed to determine the
concentration of lead ions using the following procedure.

A measuring cylinder was used to collect a 50 mL sample from the pond.

The sample was placed in a clean dry beaker.

25.0 mL of 0.200 mol L1 sodium chloride solution was added to the sample.

The precipitate of lead(II) chloride that formed was filtered, dried and weighed. It had a
mass of 0.13 g.

Question 18
How could the reliability of the analysis of the pond water be improved?
(A)

Analyse more samples from the same pond

(B)

Use 50 mL of distilled water as a control sample

(C)

Analyse samples from different ponds on the site

(D)

Remove other contaminants from the sample before the analysis

Question 28 (3 marks)
The equipment shown is set up. After some time, a ring of white powder is seen to form on the
inside of the glass tube.

(a)Why would this NOT be an acidbase reaction according to Arrhenius? (1 mark)

(b)Explain why this would be considered a BrnstedLowry acidbase reaction. Include an
equation in your answer. (2 marks)

2014 HSC
MC Question 3
Which row of the table correctly matches the scientist(s) with their theory of acids?

Question 24 (5 marks)
A solution contains carbonate, chloride and sulfate ions.
Describe a sequence of tests that could be used to confirm the presence of each of these ions.
Include ONE relevant chemical equation.

2013 HSC
MC Question 2
What is the purpose of the flame in atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)?
(A) To ionise the sample
(B) To produce a spectrum
(C) To atomise the substance
(D) To provide the absorption wavelength
Question 21 (6 marks)
An ester and an acid are both listed as additives on a food label.
(a)Why is acid used as a food preservative? (2 marks)

2012 HSC
MC Question 1
Which of the following is a measure of the clarity of water?
(A) Hardness
(B) Turbidity
(C) Total dissolved solids

(D) Biochemical oxygen demand

Question 25 (3 marks)
Describe the process of monitoring waterways for eutrophication.

2011 HSC
Question 28 (4 marks)
A student investigating the water quality of stormwater in a drain near the school collected
samples for testing in the school laboratory. The student conducted the following tests to
measure the quality of the stormwater.
Hardness Total dissolved solids
Phosphate level Turbidity
Biochemical oxygen demand Nitrate level
For TWO of these tests, outline the chemical or physical principle involved and the procedure
followed in a school laboratory.
Question 29 (4 marks)
(a)Justify the continued use of the Arrhenius definition of acids and bases, despite 3 the
development of the more sophisticated BrnstedLowry definition. (3 marks)
(b)(b) Why does the neutralisation of any strong acid in an aqueous solution by any 1
strong base always result in a heat of reaction of approximately 57 kJ

mol

(1 mark)

Question 31 (4 marks)
A council monitors the water quality of a local river daily. The records for six days are 4 shown
in the table. During this period contamination from unknown sources was detected.

Propose possible sources of the contamination, justifying your answer with reference to the
data provided.

2010 HSC
MC Question 8
In a research report a student wrote, Acids are compounds that contain hydrogen and can
dissolve in water to release hydrogen ions into solution.
Who originally stated this theory of acids?
(A)

Arrhenius

(B)

BrnstedLowry

(C)

Davy

(D)

Lavoisier

Question 31 (6 marks)
(ii) It is suspected that the water in the dam has a high concentration of chloride ions.
Describe a chemical test that could be carried out on the water sample to determine the
presence of chloride ions. Include an equation in your answer. (2 marks)
(b) Name an ion other than chloride that commonly pollutes waterways, and identify its
source and the effect of its presence on water quality. (2 marks)

2009 HSC
MC Question 2
Unpolluted rain water in New South Wales is slightly acidic.
Which substance is the major contributor to this acidity?
(A)

Ozone

(B)

Sulfur dioxide

(C)

Carbon dioxide

(D)

Nitrogen dioxide

MC Question 3
Which of the following groups contains ONLY acidic substances?
(A)

Antacid tablets, baking soda, laundry detergents

(B)

Blood, oven cleaner, seawater

(C)

Milk, tea, drain cleaner

(D)

Vinegar, wine, aspirin

Question 24 (5 marks)
Describe the principle of atomic absorption spectroscopy and its application in environmental
monitoring. Include a diagram in your answer.
Question 25 (7 marks)
(c) Why is phosphate concentration a water quality issue? (2 marks)

2008 HSC
MC Question 8
According to the Arrhenius theory of acids and bases, an acid is a substance that
(A)

tastes sour.

(B)

is capable of donating a hydrogen ion.

(C)

can accept a pair of electrons to form a co-ordinate covalent bond.

(D)

increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution.

MC Question 12
Samples of water were collected from a river at four different sites: forest, mine, town and
estuary.

Question 17 (5 marks)
Using TWO examples, analyse how the features of catchment areas will determine the water
treatment necessary to make the water safe to drink

2007 HSC
MC Question 11
What is the consequence of having large concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in
waterways?
(A)

Turbidity

(B)

Hardness

(C)

Eutrophication

(D)

Heavy metal contamination

MC Question 14
Which statement about Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) is correct?
(A)

AAS is an effective qualitative technique but it cannot be used for quantitative

analysis.
(B)

AAS measures the wavelengths of light emitted when electrons fall back to their
ground state.

(C)

In AAS, white light is shone through a vaporised sample in order to observe which
wavelengths are absorbed.

(D)

The wavelength of light used in AAS matches one of the spectral lines produced when
the sample is analysed by a flame test.

Question 18 (3 marks)
Describe the role of a chemist employed in an industry or enterprise, and a chemical principle
used by the chemist. (Choose an occupation other than teaching.)
Question 27 (8 marks)
(c) Why is it important to determine the chloride ion concentration in water? (2 marks)