Year 11 GCSE Chemistry, AQA Unit 3 Possible 6 mark

question booklet

Sedgehill School – Science Department (CHEMISTRY)

Name:
__________________________________________________

Teacher:
__________________________________________________

Use the following possible 6 mark questions as a revision

tool. If you don’t understand something, please see Mr
Merton or Miss Adade with any questions.
Good luck and remember the examination date is the 20th
May 2013

1 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.1 – The Periodic Table
Describe how the work of John Newlands and Dmitri Mendeleev led to the
arrangement of the modern Periodic Table (6 MARKS)
Points to include

Newlands, and then Mendeleev, attempted to classify the elements by arranging them in order of
their atomic weights. The list can be arranged in a table so that elements with similar properties are
in columns, known as groups. The table is called a periodic table because similar properties occur at
regular intervals.

The early periodic tables were incomplete and some elements were placed in inappropriate groups if
the strict order of atomic weights was followed. Mendeleev overcame some of the problems by
leaving gaps for elements that he thought had not been discovered.

When electrons, protons and neutrons were discovered early in the 20th century, the periodic table
was arranged in order of atomic (proton) numbers. When this was done, all elements were placed in
appropriate groups.

The modern periodic table can be seen as an arrangement of the elements in terms of their
electronic structures. Elements in the same group have the same number of electrons in their
highest occupied energy level (outer shell).

2 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.1 – The Periodic Table
Describe the trends in group 1 and compare to those of the transition metals
(6 MARKS)
Points to include

The elements in Group 1 of the periodic table (known as the alkali metals):

■ are metals with low density (the first three elements in the group are less dense than water)

■ react with non-metals to form ionic compounds in which the metal ion carries a charge of +1.

The compounds are white solids that dissolve in water to form colourless solutions

■ react with water, releasing hydrogen

■ form hydroxides that dissolve in water to give alkaline solutions.

In Group 1, the further down the group an element is:

■ the more reactive the element

■ the lower its melting point and boiling point.

Compared with the elements in Group 1, transition elements:

■ have higher melting points (except for mercury) and higher densities

■ are stronger and harder

■ are much less reactive and so do not react as vigorously with water or oxygen.

Compared with the elements in Group 1, transition elements:

■ have higher melting points (except for mercury) and higher densities

■ are stronger and harder

■ are much less reactive and so do not react as vigorously with water or oxygen.

Many transition elements have ions with different charges, form coloured compounds and are useful
as catalysts.
3 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013
Unit C3.2 – Water
Describe the stages in the treatment of commercial water supplies (6 MARKS)
Points to include

From the reservoir the water is passed through a special filter made of sand. This removes any
remaining particles of grit, sand and mud so the water is clear.

As the water passes from the water treatment plant it enters a metal screen mesh to remove twigs
and leaves.

It then enters a settlement tank where sand and soil settle out.

Aluminium sulphate and lime are added to cause the dirt to clump as a sludge which is then
removed and sent to landfill.

Water now treated with chlorine to remove harmful bacteria.

pH of the water is checked to see it is neutral. Then stored in big tanks ready for use.

4 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.2 – Water
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using commercial water
softeners on a mains water supply (6 MARKS)
Points to include

The advantages of hard water and therefore disadvantages of the water softener:

1) It is thought to reduce the number of heart illnesses.

2) It provides useful calcium ions for the healthy growth of bones and teeth.

3) The formation of lime scale in pipes causes the inside of the pipe to be covered with insoluble
carbonates.

This layer of carbonate prevents the water in the pipe from coming into contact with the metal of
the pipe and so prevents pipe corrosion and prevents poisonous metal salts becoming dissolved in
the water.

The disadvantages of hard water and therefore the advantages of the water softener:

1) Lime scale furring of kettles and pipes. The fur is the insoluble carbonate formed during heating
water with temporary hardness.

Lime scale in pipes can be prevented using a water softener or a scale inhibitor.

2) Soap is wasted because more soap is required for washing. Soap in hard water forms a "scum"
from reacting with the calcium or magnesium compounds in the water.

5 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.2 – Water
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of adding chlorine and fluorine to
water supplies (6 MARKS)
Points to include

Advantages of chlorine:

Water that has been contaminated with certain types of microorganisms can be very unsafe. It can
cause diseases such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery.

Treating water with chlorine kills microorganisms that may exist in domestic water supplies.
Chlorination of water began in the early part of the twentieth century, having a dramatic effect of
reducing many waterborne diseases and so increasing public health.

Disadvantages of chlorine:

There may be disadvantages of consuming water that has been treated with chlorine. When water is
treated with chlorine some disinfection byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs) can form. They
form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter such as leaves.

There is a notion that THMs can cause cancer, although no firm evidence has been found to support
this theory.

Advantages of fluorine:

Reduce likelihood of cavities in teeth.

Low risk to health except fluorosis.

Need fluoridation to protect those with poor dental hygiene.

Bacteria from teeth decay can cause some forms of heart disease, fluoridation protects against that.

Only added in tiny amounts.

Disadvantages of fluorine:

Excess fluoride can cause weakening of bones.

Benefit is not significant.

Ethically wrong to add fluorine so people have no choice.

Excess fluoride linked to learning disorders and Alzheimer’s.

Can’t control people’s fluoride intakes.

6 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013
Unit C3.3 – Calculating and explaining energy change
Evaluate the use of hydrogen to power cars (6 MARKS)
Points to include

Hydrogen can be burned as a fuel in combustion engines.

hydrogen + oxygen water

1. It can be a renewable source of electricity if the hydrogen comes from a renewable resource.

2. It does not produce pollution or contribute to global warming because the only product is water.

What are the Disadvantages of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell?

1. Each fuel cell only makes a small voltage. A large number of fuel cells must be wired together to
produce a large voltage or current. This is expensive.

2. Hydrogen is explosive and difficult to store.

3. If the hydrogen does not come from a renewable resource but is made from methane, then the
electricity produced from the fuel cell is also not renewable.

7 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.4 – Further analysis and quantitative chemistry
Your teacher gives you 3 salts and asks you to carry out tests to show the ions
present in ONE of the salts.

The three salts you are given are:

Copper bromide, iron (II) iodide and iron (III) chloride.

Explain using relevant tests and equations where necessary, how you would
confirm the ions present in ONE of the salts. (6 MARKS)
Points to include

Test for cation:

Add drops of sodium hydroxide solution

Blue precipitate = Cu2+ / green precipitate = Fe2+ / brown precipitate = Fe3+

Test for anion:

Add drops of nitric acid to remove impurities

Add drops of silver nitrate solution

White ppt = Cl- / cream ppt = Br- / yellow ppt = I-

Suitable equations:

Eg for cation: CuBr2 + 2NaOH Cu(OH)2 + 2NaBr

Eg for anion:

CuBr2 + 2AgNO3 2AgBr + CuBr2

Ionic equiations:

Eg for cation:

Cu2+ + 2OH- Cu(OH)2

Eg for anion:

Ag+ + Br- AgBr

8 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.4 – Further analysis and quantitative chemistry

Bernard is given instructions to carry out the titration labelled ‘1st titration’.
His instructions say:
• clean a pipette with water and then rinse it with sodium hydroxide solution
• clean a burette with water and then rinse it with dilute hydrochloric acid
• use the pipette to transfer 25 cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution into a conical flask
• add a few drops of acid-base indicator
• fill the burette with dilute hydrochloric acid and take the reading on the burette
• add hydrochloric acid from the burette to the alkali in the conical flask, swirling the contents
all the time
• add the acid drop-by-drop near the end-point until the colour changes
• take the final burette reading.

Explain why these steps help to ensure that Bernard’s results are accurate (6 marks)

Points to include

an explanation including some of the following:

• apparatus rinsed to ensure that the concentrations are not affected by

• any other substances that might interfere with the results
• using a pipette increases accuracy
• the conical flask is used because it allows swirling without spilling
• an indicator to determine the end point of the titration precisely
• the initial reading enables Bernard to know how much acid was in the burette at the start
• swirling ensures that the reactants mix/react together
• drop-by-drop ensures an accurate value for the volume of acid needed
• the colour change occurs when just enough alkali has been added to react with all the alkali
• taking the final burette reading enables the volume of acid used to be calculated

9 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.5 – Ammonia
Ammonia is made from nitrogen and hydrogen in the Haber process.

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

Flow Chart for the Haber Process

10 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

 (a) Use the information given above and your knowledge of the Haber process
and reversible reactions to help you to answer this question.

State which conditions of temperature and pressure would give the highest
percentage of ammonia at equilibrium. Explain why.
(4)

(b) The Haber process uses a temperature of 450 °C and a pressure of 200
atmospheres.

Explain why these conditions are chosen.

(3)
(Total 7 marks)

(a) 2 marks for comments related to temperature

low / lower / lowest temperature (or 100 °C from graph)

ignore references to catalyst
1

any one from:

• (forward) reaction exothermic

or reverse reaction endothermic

• if the temperature is increased the yield of product will decrease or

11 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013
 reaction right to left
high temperature favours reverse reaction or
reverse argument
the lower the temperature the greater the yield = 2
marks
2 marks for comments related to pressure
1

high / higher / highest pressure (or greater than 200 atm. from graph)
1

any one from:

• four reactant molecules but only two product molecules (owtte)

reverse reaction goes from 2 molecules / moles /
volumes to 4 molecules / moles / volumes

• increase in pressure favours the reaction which produces

the least number of molecules
decrease in pressure favours the back reaction
because it produces the most molecules
1

(b) any three from:

• at low temperatures the reaction is too slow

• 450 °C gives a reasonable yield at a fast rate /

compromise between yield and rate (*)

• 200 atm. gives a reasonable yield at a reasonable cost / safely /

compromise between yield and cost / safety (*)
(*) or 450°C and 200 atm / these are compromise
conditions for 1 mark

• catalyst works better at higher temperature

• (very) high pressures could be dangerous (owtte)

safety factor

• (very) high pressures are expensive (owtte)

• (yield is not too important because) unreacted gases can be recycled

3
[7]

12 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013

Unit C3.5 Organic chemistry

What are the issues involves in the use of alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters? (Could be worded as
just alcohols etc) (6 marks)

Points to include

Alcohol

- alcoholic drinks help people relax

- too much puts people’s health at risk
- can damage liver, require a liver transplant or even kill
- may become addicted, cause behaviour changes
- alcoholics may drink ‘meths’ which causes liver failure, blindness and an early death
- alcoholic drinks are expensive due to taxes on them
- antisocial behaviour caused by excessive drinking

Ethanol and esters as biofuels:

- ethanol can be used to make biofuel

- Biodiesel is made from esters
- Land used for biofuel crops could be used for food crops
- We need fuel and food but feeding is a primary requirement
- New farming land often provided for by chopping down the rainforest in countries like Brazil
- Destroys habitats and biodiversity
- Leading to increased carbon dioxide and global warming

13 AQA GCSE Chemistry C3 Possible 6 mark questions. Mr Merton 2013