HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY

HONG KONG CERTIFICATE EDUCATION EXAMINATION 1996

CHEMISTRY PAPER II
10.45am-11.45am(1 hour)
1. Read carefully the instructions on the Answer Sheet and insert the information
required (including the Subject Code ) in the spaces provided
2. When told to open this book ,check that all the questions are there ,Look for the
words 'END OF PAPER ' after the last question
3. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS ALL the answers should be marked on the answer
sheet
4. Note that you may only mark ONE answer to each question .Two or more answers
will score NO MARKS
5. All questions carry equal marks . NO marks will be deducted for wrong answers
There are questions in this paper

1.Magnesium and calcium have similar chemical properties because.,

A. their atoms have the same atomic structure.
B. their atoms have the same number of electron shells.
C. their atoms have the same number of electron in their outermost shells.
D. their atoms have the same electronic arrangement.
2. Which of the following can represent the electronic structure of potassium
sulphide?

3. The mass number of atom X is 27. X forms a cation with a charge of +3. If the
number of neutrons in the cation is 14, what is the number of electrons in the cation?
A. 10.
B. 13.
C. 14.
D. 17
4. Consider the following chemical equation :
2HNO3(aq) + CaCO3(x) → Ca(NO3)2(y) + H2O(z) + CO2(g)
Which of the following combinations is correct?
x y z
A. aq aq l
B. aq aq aq
C. s aq l
D. s s aq
5. Which of the following materials are suitable for making the bass and handle of a
frying pan?
Base Handle
A. Aluminium Polyvinyl
chloride
B. Copper Urea-methanal
C. Titanium Polyvinyl
chloride
D. zinc Urea-methanal

6. Which of the following substances is used by farmers to increase the Ph of soil?

A. ammonium nitrate.
B. calcium hydroxide.
C. citric acid.
D. potassium hydroxide.

7.

Which of the following metals would produce the smallest voltage in the above set-
up?
A. iron
B. aluminium.
C. copper.
D. magnesium.
8. Zinc blocks are often attached to the steel legs of off-shore oil platforms because
A. zinc can protect steel from corrosion.
B. zinc is more resistant to corrosion than steel.
C. zinc is harder than steel.
D. zinc does not react with crude oil.
9. Which of the following experiments can be used to show that concentrated
sulphuric acid is a dehydrating agent?
A. adding it to copper (II) oxide powder.
B. adding it to copper (II) sulphate crystals.
C. adding it to calcium carbonate power.
D. adding it to sodium chloride crystals.

10 A student added 16 cm3 of 2 M sodium hydroxide solution, in 2 cm3 portions, to 10

cm3 of 2 M nitric acid. He measured the temperature of the mixture immediately after
each addition of the sodium hydroxide solution.
Which of the following graphs represents the relationship between the temperature of
the mixture and the volume of sodium hydroxide solution added ?

11. In an experiment, 1.6 g of sulphur are burnt completely in air to form sulphur
dioxide. What volume of sulphur dioxide, measured at room temperature and
pressure, is formed?
(Relative atomic mass : S =32.0;
Molar volume of gas at room temperature and pressure=24.0 dm3)
A. 0.6 dm3
B. 1.2 dm3
C. 2.4 dm3
D. 12.0 dm3
12. Consider the following experiment :

After the experiment , the residue in the combustion tube is dissolved in water and an
alkaline solution is obtained. X may be
A. carbon.
B. magnesium.
C. silver.
D. sulphur.

13. Which of the following substances is NOT derived from petroleum?

A. bleach .
B. ethanol.
C. polystyrene.
D. soapless detergent.
14. One mole of each of the following compounds is burnt completely in oxygen.
Which compound requires the greatest volume of oxygen, measured at the same
temperature and pressure, for complete combustion?
A. carbon monoxide.
B. ethane.
C. ethene.
D. ethanol.
15 . Which of the following substances, when mixed , will undergo a reaction?
A. vinegar and anti-acid.
B. bleach and anti-acid.
C. vinegar and table salt.
D. bleach and table salt.

16. Which of the following methods can be used to separate the colorings in brown
chocolate beans?
A. filtration.
B. crystallization.
C. paper chromatography.
D. fractional distillation.
17. A gardener bought a bag potassium nitrate and a bag of ammonium sulphate, to be
used as fertilizers. He forgot to label the bags. Which of the following tests would
would enable him to distinguish between the two chemicals?
A. heating each chemical with dilute sulphuric acid.
B. heating each chemical with sodium chloridesolution.
C. heating each chemical with potassium hydroxide solution.
D. heating each chemical with acidified potassium dichromate solution.
18.

When a little detergent is added to a drop of water on a piece of woolen cloth as

shown above, the drop spreads. Which of the following statement correctly explains
this observation?
A. The detergent dissolves readily in water.
B. The detergent has a polar end which is hydrophilic.
C. The detergent can form an emulsion with water.
D. The detergent can reduce the surface tension of water.

19. Under certain conditions, 60 cm3 of a gaseous compound, NxOy, decompose

completely to give 60 cm3 of nitrogen gas and 30 cm3of oxygen gas. (All gas volumes
are measured at the same temperature and pressure.)
Which of the following combinations is correct?
X y
A. 1 1
B. 1 2
C. 2 1
D. 2 3
20. Which of the following methods can be used to minimize the air pollutant
mentioned?
A. increase the air supply to remove nitrogen dioxide produced by burning heavy oil.
B. using catalytic converters to remove lead compounds produced by burning leaded
petrol.
C. using scrubbers remove carbon monoxide produced by the incomplete combustion
of diesel.
D. using electrostatic precipitators to remove particulates produced by burning coal.
21. Which of the following statements concerning chloride is INCORRECT?
A. It can kill germs.
B. It can turn bromine water colorless.
C. It can oxide iodide ions to iodide molecules.
D. It can be produced by the reaction between dilute sulphuric acid and sodium
hypochlorite solution.

22. Which of the following statements concerning chloride the manufacture of

ethanol by fermentation is INCORRECT? A. Wheat can be used as a raw material.
B. Yeast is required in the fermentation process.
C. Carbon dioxide is liberation in the fermentation process.
D. The ethanol produced can be completely extracted by simple distillation.
Directions : Q.23 and Q.24 refer to the following experiment.
A reaction mixture containing acidified potassium dichromate solution and ethanol is
heated using the set-up shown below.
23. In this experiment, the reaction mixture is undergoing.
A. reflex.
B. distillation.
C. emulsification.
D. fractional distillation.
24. Which of the following statements concerning this experiment is correct?
A. The acidified potassium dichromate solution acts as a catalyst.
B. The reaction mixture gradually becomes brown.
C. Ethanol is reduced during the experiment.
D. Ethanol acid is formed during the experiment.

25.

Which step in the above flow chart involves the largest change in oxidation number
of nitrogen?
A. step 1.
B. step 2.
C. step 3.
D. step 4.
26. Which of the following pair is WRONGLY matched ?
Food Preservation
A. Sausage Monosodium
glutamate
B. Meat Sodium nitrite
C. Fruit juice Benzoic acid
D. Pickled vinegar
papaya
27.

Which of the following statements concerning the above set-up is correct?

A. electrons flow from the lead electrode to the magnesium electrode through the
external circuit.
B. electrons flow through the salt bridge.
C. The mass of the lead electrode remains unchanged.
D. Oxidation occurs at the magnesium electrode.
Directions : Q.28 and Q.29 refer to the following experiment used to study the causes
of hardness of water.
A student added some soap solution to four test tubes containing the same volume of
different aqueous solutions of the same molarity. The shook the tubes and measured
the minimum volume of soap solution needed to form a permanent lather. The results
are tabulated below:
Aqueous solution Minimum
volume of soap
solution needed
to form a
permanent
lather/cm3
Sodium chloride 0.6
Calcium chloride 9.3
Potassium 0.9
chloride
Magnesium 8.5
chloride

28. Which of the following apparatus would be most suitable for measuring the
volume of soap solution?
A. 50 cm3 burette.
B. 50 cm3 measuring cylinder.
C. 25 cm3 pipette.
D. 10 cm3 beaker.
29. Which of the following substances is/are responsible for the hardness of water?
(1) sodium chloride.
(2) calcium chloride.
(3) potassium chloride.
(4) magnesium chloride.
A. (1) only.
B. (2) only.
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (4) only
Directions : Q.30 and Q.31 refer to the following experiment.

30. Which of the following combinations is correct?

Gas X Gas Y
A. CHLORIDE Hydrogen
B. CHLORIDE Oxygen
C. Hydrogen CHLORIDE
D. Oxygen Hydrogen

31. Which of the following statements concerning the above experiment is/are
correct?
(1) Platinum electrodes should be used.
(2) The concentration of Na+ (aq) ions around the cathode increase .
(3) The solution changes from colorless to pink.
A. (1) only.
B. (2) only.
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
32. Which of the following statements concerning one mole of nitrogen gas is/are
correct?
(1) It has a mass of 14.0 g.
(2) It occupies the same volume as 4.0 g of helium gas at room temperature and
pressure.
(3) It contains 6.02 × 1023 atoms of nitrogen.
(Relative atomic masses : He=4.0, N = 14.0
Avogadro constant=6.02 × 1023 mol-1)
A. (1) only.
B. (2) only.
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
33. A mixture contains only copper (II) oxide and anhydrous copper (II) sulphate.
Which of the following methods can be used to separate copper (II) oxide from the
mixture?
(1) Add water to the mixture and then filter.
(2) Add dilute nitric acid to the mixture and then filter.
(3) Add concentrated hydrochloric acid to the mixture and then filter.
A. (1) only.
B. (2) only.
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only

34. Which of the following statements concerning nylon and urea-methanal is/are
correct?
(1) They are formed by condensation polymerization.
(2) They have cross-linkages between polymer chains.
(3) They are nitrogen-containing compounds.
A. (1) only.
B. (2) only.
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
35. In which of the following processes will lead be produced?
(1) the electrolysis of molten lead (II) bromide.
(2) heating lead (II) oxide strongly.
(3) adding magnesium to lead (II) nitrate solution.
A. (1) only.
B. (2) only.
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
36. Which of the following metals is/are present in solder ?
(1) copper.
(2) lead.
(3) iron.
A. (1) only.
B. (2) only.
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only

37. In which of the following reactions does sulphur dioxide act as a reducing agent?
(1) the production of sulphuric acid in the contact process.
(2) the bleaching of a red petal.
(3) the decolorization of bromine water.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1),(2) and (3)
38. Which of the following substance are commonly found in the waste water
produced by electroplating factories?
(1) acids.
(2) alkalis.
(3) cyanides.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1),(2) and (3)
39. The atomic number of element X is 16.0 . Which of the following statements
concerning X are correct ?
(1) X can react with calcium to form an ionic compound.
(2) The oxide of X dissolves in water to form an acidic solution.
(3) X can conduct electricity in its molten state.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1),(2) and (3)
40 . Which of the following substances , if taken in excess, would affect the correct
judgement of a car driver?
(1) ethanol.
(2) codeine.
(3) morphine.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1),(2) and (3)
41. Which of the following statements concerning propan-1-ol are correct?
(1) propan-1-ol can be used as a solvent.
(2) propan-1-ol can undergo polymerization.
(3) propan-1-ol can undergo esterification with ethanoic acid in the presence of
concentrated sulphuric acid.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1),(2) and (3)
42. X is an element, It can form a cation X2+ which has an electronic arrangement 2,
8, 8. Which of the following statements concerning X are correct?
(1) X is a strong oxidizing agent.
(2) X is in Period 4 of the Period Table.
(3) X burns in oxygen with a brick red flame.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1),(2) and (3)

43. Which of the following statements concerning the use of sodium sulphite as a
food additive are correct?
(1) It is toxic to bacteria.
(2) It is an antioxidant.
(3) It is a flavour enhancer.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1),(2) and (3)
44. Which of the following elements can react together to form a covalent compound?
(1) argon.
(2) nitrogen.
(3) oxygen.
(4) calcium.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (4) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (3) and (4) only.
Directions: Each question below (Question Nos. 45 to 50) consists of two separate
statements . Decide whether each of the two statements is true or false; if both are
true, then decide whether or not the second statement is a correct explanation of first
statement. The select one option from A to D according to the following table:
A. Both statements are true and the
2 nd statement is a correct
explanation of the 1 st statement.

B. Both statements are true but the 2

nd statement is NOT a correct
explanation of the 1 st statement.
C. The 1 st statement is false but the
2 nd statement is true.
D. Both statements are false.

1 st statement 2 nd
statement
45 The melting Hydrogen
point of chloride is a
hydrogen covalent
chloride is compound
lower than that whereas
of potassium potassium
chloride. chloride is an
ionic
compound

46 Zinc-carbon dry The

cells are electrolyte
rechargeable. used in zinc-
carbon dry
cells is
potassium
 hydroxide.
47 The resistance During
of aluminium to anodisation,
corrosion can aluminium
be enhanced by oxide on the
anodisation. metal surface
is reduced to
aluminium.
48 The cost of Town gas is
town gas goes manufactured
up when the from naphtha.
cost of crude oil
rises.

49 The volume of 10 M
hydrogen hydrochloric
liberated at acid is a
room stronger acid
temperature and than 2 M
pressure by the hydrochloric
reaction acid.
between 10 cm3
of 10 M
hydrochloric
acid and excess
zinc granules is
greater than that
between 50 cm3
of 2 M
hydrochloric
acid and excess
zinc granules.
50 Both dry ice Carbon and
and quartz exist silicon atoms
in the form of have the same
discrete number of
molecules. electrons in
their outmost
shells,

END OF PAPER
KEYS
1. C 11. B 21. B 31. D 41. B
2. B 12. B 22. D 32. B 42. C
3. A 13. A. 23. A. 33. A 43. A
4. C 14. B. 24. D 34. C 44. C
5. B 15. A 25. B 35. C 45. B
6. B 16. C 26. A 36. B 46. D.
7. C 17. C 27. D 37. D 47. C
8. A 18. D 28. A. 38. D 48. A
9. B 19. C 29. D 39. A 49 D
10 C 20. D 30. A 40. D 50. C