Complete For the

Chemistry
updated
syllabus

for Cambridge IGCSE

Third edition

Revision Guide

RoseMarie Gallagher
Paul Ingram

Oxford excellence for Cambridge IGCSE

 6 The mole

The big picture

Extended

The Mr of hydrogen, H2, is 2. The Mr of oxygen, O2, is 32.

The mole concept tells us that if we could weigh out exactly 2g of oxygen and
32g of hydrogen, they would both contain the same number of molecules.
This idea helps us to carry out a wide range of calculations, in chemistry.

6.1 Moles and masses

The mole concept
The mass of an atom of carbon-12 is taken as 12. So the Ar of carbon is 12.
A magnesium atom has twice this mass. So the Ar of magnesium is 24.
It follows that 24 grams of magnesium contains the same number of atoms as
12 grams of carbon does.
12g of carbon powder
24g of magnesium is called a mole of magnesium atoms. contain 1 mole of carbon
atoms (6.02 1023 atoms).
A mole of a substance is the amount that contains as many elementary units as
the number of atoms in 12g of carbon-12.
In fact we know how many atoms this is. It is a huge number: 6.02 1023.
So 24g of magnesium contains 6.02 1023 magnesium atoms.
6.02 1023 is called the Avogadro constant after the scientist who deduced it.

We can apply the same logic to any element, and any compound. Look at these examples:

Substance Ar or Mr So 1 mole of it is and contains

helium, He 4 4 grams 6.02 1023 helium atoms

oxygen, O2 32 32 grams 6.02 1023 oxygen molecules

So a mole of a substance is its Ar or M given in grams.

Use the calculation triangle!
Cover an item in the triangle
Sample calculations below to see how to calculate
it. For example: no of moles =
mass of a given number of moles (g) = mass of 1 mole number of moles mass mass of 1mole

1 What is the mass of 6 moles of helium atoms? 4 6 = 24g

2 What is the mass of 0.5 moles of oxygen molecules? 32 0.5 = 16g
mass
mass (g)
number of moles in a given mass = _______________

(g)
mass of 1 mole
mass of 3 no. of
1 How many moles of helium atoms are in 12g of helium? 12 4 = 3 moles
1 mole moles
2 How many moles of oxygen molecules are in 80g of oxygen? 80 32 = 2.5 moles

Quick check for 6.1 (Answers on page 165) Ar values

1 How many molecules are there in 1 mole of molecules? H=1
2 Find the mass of: Na = 23
a 1 mole of chlorine, Cl2 b 0.6 moles of sodium chloride, NaCl Mg = 24
3 Find how many moles of molecules there are in: a 8g of hydrogen, H2 S = 32
b 2.55g of hydrogen sulfide, H2S c 3.8g of magnesium chloride, MgCl2
Cl = 35.5

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 IGCSE Revision guide: Chemistry

6.2 Finding empirical and molecular formulae

The empirical formula shows the simplest ratio in which the atoms in a compound
Extended

are combined. For example, the empirical formula of hydrogen peroxide is HO. O H
The molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms that combine to form a H O
molecule. The molecular formula of hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. a molecule of hydrogen peroxide

Finding the empirical formula

First, do an experiment to find out what masses of the elements combine to form the
compound. Then the empirical formula can be worked out. The steps are:

Find the masses of Convert the Work out the simplest That is the
the elements that masses to moles ratio in which the empirical formula.
combine, in grams. of atoms. atoms combine.

Example In an experiment, 80g of carbon combine with 20g of hydrogen to form a

compound. What is its empirical formula?

Elements that combine carbon hydrogen

Masses that combine 80g 20g
Relative atomic masses (Ar) 12 1
Moles of atoms that combine 80
___
12
= 6.67
20
___
1
= 20
Ratio in which atoms combine 6.67 : 20, or 1:3 in its simplest form

So the empirical formula of the compound is CH3.

Finding the molecular formula from the empirical formula

The actual formula mass of a compound, Mr, can be found using a machine called a mass
spectrometer. From the formula mass and empirical formula, you can work out the
molecular formula. The steps are:

Calculate the mass of 1 mole Divide Mr by the empirical mass, Multiply the number of each
of the compound, using the to find how many times bigger Mr atom in the empirical formula
empirical formula. is. Your answer is a number. Lets by n. This gives the molecular
This is the empirical mass. call it n. formula.

Example The formula mass of a compound was found to be 30. Its empirical formula
was found to be CH3. What is the molecular formula for the compound?

Empirical mass for the formula CH3 = 15

M 30
___________
r
= ___ = 2
15
empirical mass

So multiply each atom in the empirical formula CH3 by 2.
The molecular formula is C2H6. (Note: you do not put the 2 in front of the formula.)

Quick check for 6.2 (Answers on page 165)

Ar values
1 1.2g of carbon combined with 0.1g of hydrogen, to form a compound.
H=1
a Find the empirical formula for the compound.
C = 12
b Its Mr value was found to be 78. Find its molecular formula.
N = 14
2 In one oxide of nitrogen, the ratio of oxygen atoms to nitrogen atoms is 2:1.
O = 16
Its Mr is 46. Give the empirical and molecular formulae for this compound.

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 The mole 6

6.3 Finding masses from chemical equations

Moles and equations
Extended

The mole concept lets us work out masses that react. For example:

Ratio of particles in the 2H2(g) + O2(g) 2H2O(l)

equation 2molecules 1molecule 2molecules

Scaling up to moles gives 2moles 1mole 2moles

the mole ratio of molecules of molecules of molecules
or 1mole 0.5mole 1mole and so on
of molecules of molecules of molecules

Or change moles to masses, 4g 32g 36g

using Ar and Mr or 2g 16g 18g and so on

Calculations from equations

The equation tells you the If you know the actual mass of Then use the mole ratio to
mole ratio of the substances one substance, you can change find the masses of the other
in the reaction. this to moles. substances.

Example 1 In the complete combustion of methane (CH4), what mass of oxygen

combines with 64g of methane, and how much carbon dioxide is produced?

Equation CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2H2O (l)

Mole ratio 1 2 1 2
Ar values
Moles of known substance Mr of CH4 = 16 so 64g of CH4 = (64 16) moles = 4 moles H=1
C = 12
Using the mole ratio 4 moles of CH4 so 8 moles of O2 and 4 moles of CO2
O = 16
Change moles to masses Mr of O2 = 32; (8 32) = 256g Mr of CO2 = 44; (4 44) = 176g

So 256g of oxygen combines with 64g of methane and produces

176g of carbon dioxide

Example 2 Aluminium burns in oxygen. What mass of oxygen combines with 100g of
aluminium, and how much aluminium oxide is produced?

Equation 4Al (s) + 3O2 (g) 2Al2O3 (s)

Mole ratio 4 3 2
but aluminium is the known substance, so make it 1 in the ratios:
1 3 4 = 0.75 2 4 = 0.5
Ar values
Moles of known substance 100 27 = 3.704 moles of Al
O = 16
Using the mole ratio 3.704 of Also (3.704 0.75) = 2.778 of O2 Al = 27
and (3.704 0.5) = 1.852 of Al2O3

Change moles to masses O2: (2.778 32) = 88.9g Al2O3: (1.852 102) = 188.9g

So 88.9g of oxygen combines with 100g of aluminium and produces

188.9g of aluminium oxide

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Quick check for 6.3 (Answers on page 165)

1 How much oxygen is required for the complete combustion of 128g of methane? Ar values
2 What mass of hydrogen will combine with 56g of nitrogen in this reaction? H=1
N2 (g ) + 3H2 (g) 2NH3 (g) C = 12
3 What mass of ammonia could be produced from 56g of nitrogen? N = 14
4 Magnesium carbonate breaks down on heating, like this: O = 16
MgCO3 (s) MgO (s) + CO2 (g) Mg = 24
When 10g of magnesium carbonate is heated, what mass of each product forms?

6.4 Calculations about solutions

Use the calculation triangle!
3
Concentration: the amount of a solute (in grams or moles) in 1 dm of solution.
Extended

Units used: g/dm3 or mol/dm3

Remember: 1 dm3 = 1 litre = 1000 cm3 amount
(mol)
A solution containing 1 mole of a solute in 1 dm3 of solution is
often called a molar solution or a 1 M solution. conc.  vol.
A 2 M solution contains 2 moles in 1 dm3 of solution, and so on. (mol/dm3 ) (dm3 )

To find Examples

concentration
amount of solute (mol)
________________________
in mol/dm3 concentration in mol/dm3 =

volume of solution (dm3)

1 What is the concentration of a solution containing 2 moles of a compound in 0.5 dm3?
2 0.5 = 4 mol/dm3
2 What is the concentration of a solution containing 0.1 moles of a compound in 40 cm3?
0.1 0.04 = 2.5 mol/dm3

concentration concentration in g/dm3 = concentration in mol/dm3 Mr

in g/dm3 1 What is the concentration in g/dm3 of a 4mol/dm3 solution of sodium hydroxide? (Mr = 40)
4mol/dm3 40 = 160 g/dm3
2 What is the concentration in g/dm3 of a 2.5mol/dm3 solution of sulfuric acid? (Mr = 98)
2.5mol/dm3 98 = 245 g/dm3

volume of
amount of solute (mol)
solution volume of solution (dm3) = ________________________


concentration (mol/dm3)
1 What volume of a 2 mol/dm3 solution contains 0.6 moles?
0.6 2 = 0.3 dm3 or 300 cm3
2 What volume of a 0.5 mol/dm3 solution contains 2 moles?
2 0.5 = 4 dm3 or 4000 cm3

moles of solute amount of solute (mol) = concentration (mol/dm3) volume of solution (dm3)
1 How many moles of solute are there in 2 dm3 of a 2 mol/dm3 solution?
2 2 = 4 moles
2 How many moles of solute are there in 50 cm3 of a 0.25 mol/dm3 solution?
0.25 0.05 = 0.0125 moles

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 The mole 6

Calculating the volume of a solution in a reaction

Extended

You use the same logic as in section 6.3.

Example 1What volume of 0.5 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid reacts with 0.12g of
magnesium?

Equation Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) Ar value

Mole ratio 1 2 Mg = 24

Moles of known substance Mg: 0.12 24 = 0.005 moles

Using the mole ratio 0.005 moles of Mg so (0.005 2) = 0.01 moles of HCl

Volume volume = mol concentration (see the calculation triangle) so

volume of HCl solution = (0.01 0.5) = 0.02 dm3 or 20 cm3

So 20 cm3 of 0.5 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid reacts with

0.12g of magnesium

Example 2What volume of 2.0 mol/dm3 sodium hydroxide neutralises 25 cm3 of

0.5 mol/dm3 sulfuric acid?

Equation 2NaOH (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l)

Mole ratio 1 2

Moles of known substance H2SO4: 0.5 0.025 = 0.0125 moles

Using the mole ratio 0.0125 moles of H2SO4 so (2 0.0125) = 0.0025 moles of NaOH

Volume volume = mol concentration (see the calculation triangle) so

volume of NaOH solution = (0.0025 2) = 0.00125 dm3 or 12.5 cm3

So 12.5 cm3 of 2 mol/dm3 sodium hydroxide neutralises 25 cm3 of

0.5 mol/dm3 of sulfuric acid.

Quick check for 6.4 (Answers on page 165)

1 What is the concentration of a solution containing:
a 0.25 moles in 2 dm3 of solution? b 0.6 moles in 100 cm3 of solution?
2 What volume of a 0.5 mol/dm3 solution contains:
a 2 moles? b 0.01 moles?
3 Find the number of moles of solute in:
a 3 dm3 of a 0.05 mol/dm3 solution b 40 cm3 of a 2.5 mol/dm3 solution
4 How many grams of potassium hydroxide (Mr = 56) are there in:
a 2 dm3 of a molar solution?b 20cm3 of a 0.5 mol/dm3 solution?
5 What volume of 2 mol/dm3 nitric acid will react with 10g of calcium
carbonate (Mr = 100)? The equation for the reaction is:
CaCO3 (s) + 2HNO3 (aq) Ca (NO3)2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
6 What volume of 0.5 mol/dm3 sulfuric acid will neutralise 15 cm3 of sodium
hydroxide solution, of concentration 1 mol/dm3?

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6.5 Calculating volumes of gases Remember

1 dm3 = 1000 cm3 so
Key idea: 1 mole of a gas has a volume of 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (rtp).
Extended

24 dm3 = 24 000 cm3

So 24 dm3 is called the molar gas volume.

To find Examples

volume volume of gas at rtp (dm3) = no. of moles 24 dm3

1 What volume does 3 moles of a gas occupy, at rtp?
3 24 = 72 dm3 or 72000 cm3
2 What volume does 14g of nitrogen (N2) occupy, at rtp? (Ar: N =14)
Number of moles of nitrogen gas = 14 28 = 0.5
Use the calculation triangle!
Volume = 0.5 24 = 12 dm3 or 12000 cm3

moles volume of gas (dm3)

no. of moles =
24 dm3 volume
1 How many moles are there in 48 dm3 of a gas, at rtp? at rtp (dm3 )
48 24 = 2 moles
2 How many moles are there in 120 cm3 of a gas, at rtp? no. of moles 24 dm3
120 24000 = 0.005 moles

Calculating the volume of a gas in a reaction

Example 1What volume of hydrogen forms, at rtp, when 0.12g of magnesium reacts
with hydrochloric acid?

Equation Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Mole ratio 1 1

Moles of known substance Ar of Mg = 24 so (0.12 24) = 0.005 moles of Mg

Using the mole ratio 0.005 moles of Mg so 0.005 moles of H2

Volume at rtp volume = no. of mol 24 dm3

so volume of H2 = (0.005 24) = 0.12dm3 or 120cm3

So 120cm3 of hydrogen is released.

Example 2What volumes of nitrogen and hydrogen give 50 cm3 of ammonia gas, at rtp?
1 mole of every gas has the same volume at rtp (24 dm3).
So in reactions that involve only gases, we can say: volume ratio = mole ratio.

Equation N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) 2NH3 (g)

Volume ratio = mole ratio 1 3 2

Using the volume ratio 25 cm3 of N2 75 cm3 of H2 50 cm3 of NH3

So 25 cm3 of nitrogen and 75 cm3 of hydrogen give 50 cm3 of ammonia.

Quick check for 6.5 (Answers on page 165)

1 Calculate the volume at rtp of:
a 6g of oxygen, O2 b 6.4g of sulfur dioxide, SO2 (Ar: O =16, S = 32)
2 What volume of carbon dioxide at rtp is released when 5.3g of sodium
carbonate (Mr = 106) reacts with hydrochloric acid? The equation is:
Na2CO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) 2NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
3 Hydrogen and chlorine react like this: H2 (g) + Cl2 (g) 2HCl (g)
What volumes of hydrogen and chlorine give 250 dm3 of hydrogen chloride?

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 The mole 6

6.6 Calculating % yield and % purity

% yield
Extended

The yield is the amount of product obtained from a chemical reaction.

We can calculate the amount of product from the equation (the calculated mass).
But the actual mass we get is less for example because some reactant remains
unreacted, or some product is lost in the separation process.

actual mass 100%

The % yield = _______________


calculated mass

Example In an experiment, 100g of aluminium is burnt in oxygen, giving aluminium

oxide. 150g of aluminium oxide is obtained. What is the % yield for the experiment?

Equation 4Al (s) + 3O2 (g) 2Al2O3 (s)

Mole ratio 4 3 2

Calculated mass The calculated mass of aluminium oxide, from 100g of Al, is 188.9g.
(See Example 2 on page 41 for the working for this.)

Actual mass 150g of aluminium oxide

% yield (150 188.9) 100 = 79.4 %

So the % yield for the experiment was 79.4 %.

% purity
When we carry out a reaction, we obtain a certain mass of product.
But it is impure. There may still be some reactant mixed with it, for example.

mass of pure product

_______________________
The % purity of the product from the reaction =
100 %
mass of impure product

Example Aluminium was burned in oxygen, to give aluminium oxide. The equation is:
4Al (s) + 3O2 (g) 2Al2O3 (s)
150g of product was obtained. But it was found to contain 5g of impurities. What is the
% purity of the aluminium oxide obtained?

Mass of impure product obtained 150g

Mass of pure product 150g 5g = 145g

% purity (145 150) 100 = 96.7%

So the aluminium oxide obtained was 96.7% pure.

Quick check for 6.6 (Answers on page 165)

1 What would be the ideal yield, in an experiment?
2 According to the equation, a reaction should give you 60g of product. But you
obtain only 45g. What is the % yield?
3 You obtain 7.5g of compound X, in an experiment. After purifying, its mass is 6g.
What was the % purity of X, in your experiment?
4 Some sea water is evaporated. The salt obtained is 91% sodium chloride.
How much sodium chloride would you obtain from 20 tonnes of this salt?
5 Electrolysis of 102kg of aluminium oxide gave 45kg of aluminium. What was
the % yield? (Ar: Al = 27, O = 16)

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Questions on Section 6
Answers for these questions are on page 165.

Extended curriculum
Extended

1 Marble reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid according to the equation:

CaCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) CaCl2 (aq) + CO2 (aq) + H2O (l)
One piece of marble, 0.3g, was added to 5 cm3 of hydrochloric acid, 1.00 mol/dm3.
a Which reagent is in excess? Give a reason for your choice.
mass of one mole of CaCO3 = 100g
b Use your answer to a to calculate the maximum volume of carbon dioxide
produced, measured at rtp.
The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and
pressure (rtp). CIE 0620 November 07 Paper 3 Q7b ii and iii

2 Crystals of sodium sulfate-10-water, Na2SO4.10H2O, are prepared by titration.

burette filled with

sulfuric acid

conical flask

25.0 cm3 of sodium hydroxide (aq)

concentration 2.24 mol / dm3

a 25.0 cm3 of aqueous sodium hydroxide is pipetted into a conical flask.

A few drops of an indicator are added. Using a burette, dilute sulfuric acid is
slowly added until the indicator just changes colour. The volume of acid needed to
neutralise the alkali is noted.
Suggest how you would continue the experiment to obtain pure, dry crystals of
sodium sulfate-10-water.
b Using 25.0 cm3 of aqueous sodium hydroxide, 2.24 mol/dm3, 3.86g of crystals
wereobtained.
2NaOH + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2H2O
Na2SO4 + 10 H2O Na2SO4.10H2O
Calculate:
i The number of moles of NaOH used.
ii The maximum number of moles of Na2SO4.10H2O that could be formed.
iii The maximum yield of sodium sulfate-10-water.
The mass of one mole of Na2SO4.10H2O = 322g.
iv The percentage yield. CIE 0620 June 08 Paper 3 Q7

3 Basic lead(II) carbonate has a formula of the type xPbCO3.yPb(OH)2 where x and y are
whole numbers. Determine x and y from the following information.
PbCO3 PbO + CO2 Pb(OH)2 PbO + H2O
When heated, the basic lead(II) carbonate gave 2.112 g of carbon dioxide and
0.432 g of water. Mass of one mole of
a Calculate the number of moles of CO2 formed CO2 = 44 g
b Calculate the number of moles of H2O formed Mass of one mole of
c The formula of basic lead(II) carbonate is . H2O = 18 g
 CIE 0620 November 13 Paper 3 Q6c

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 The mole 6

4 a Define the following:

Extended

i the mole ii the Avogadro constant

b Which two of the following contain the same number of molecules?
Show how you arrived at your answer.
2.0 g of methane, CH4
8.0 g of oxygen, O2
2.0 g of ozone, O3
8.0 g of sulfur dioxide, SO2
c 4.8 g of calcium is added to 3.6 g of water. The following reaction occurs.
Ca + 2H2O Ca(OH)2 + H2
i Calculate the number of moles of Ca and the number of moles of H2O
ii Which reagent is in excess? Explain your choice.
iii Calculate the mass of the reagent named in ii which remained at the end
of the experiment.
 CIE 0620 June 13 Paper 3 Q8

5 A sample of rust had the following composition:

51.85 g of iron 22.22 g of oxygen 16.67 g of water.
Calculate the following and then write the formula for this sample of rust.
a number of moles of iron atoms, Fe
b number of moles of oxygen atoms, O
c number of moles of water molecules, H2O
d simplest mole ratio Fe : O : H2O
e formula for this sample of rust is
 CIE 0620 June 12 Paper 3 Q8b

6 There are three possible equations for the thermal decomposition of sodium
hydrogencarbonate.
2NaHCO3 (s) Na2O (s) + 2CO2 (g) + H2O (g) equation 1
NaHCO3 (s) NaOH (s) + CO2 (g) equation 2
2NaHCO3 (s) Na2CO3 (s) + CO2 (g) + H2O (g) equation 3
The following experiment was carried out to determine which one of the above is the
correct equation.
A known mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate was heated for ten minutes.
It was then allowed to cool and was weighed.

Results
Mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate = 3.36 g
Mass of the residue = 2.12 g
a Calculate the number of moles of NaHCO3 used.
b i If residue is Na2O, calculate the number of moles of Na2O.
ii If residue is NaOH, calculate the number of moles of NaOH. Mr for
iii if residue is Na2CO3, calculate the number of moles of Na2CO3. NaHCO3 = 84 g
c Use the number of moles calculated in a and b to decide which one of the three Na2O = 62 g
equations is correct. Explain your choice. NaOH = 40 g
Na2CO3 = 106 g
 CIE 0620 Nov 11 Paper 3 Q7c

7 Two gases react as shown.

X2 + Y2 2XY
For this reaction, what is the missing number below?

volume of product
______________________
= at rtp
total volume of reactants

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