Cambridge International AS & A Level

* 8 6 5 9 0 9 5 6 5 7 *

CHEMISTRY 9701/23
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions May/June 2024

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.
● Important values, constants and standards are printed in the question paper.

This document has 16 pages.

DC (CJ/SW) 324894/3
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1 (a) (i) Explain the lack of reactivity of nitrogen gas, N2(g).

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Covalent bonds can be σ bonds or π bonds.

Complete Table 1.1 to show the number of σ and π bonds in a molecule of N2 and to
describe how the orbitals overlap to form σ and π bonds.

Table 1.1

σ bond π bond

number of bonds in N2

how the orbitals overlap

[4]

(b) (i) A sample of Al reacts with an excess of Cl 2.

State the oxidation number of Al in the product of the reaction.

oxidation number of Al ................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) State what determines the maximum oxidation number of the Period 3 elements in their
oxides.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(c) Separate samples of aluminium oxide, Al 2O3, and phosphorus(V) oxide, P4O10, react with an
excess of NaOH(aq) at room temperature.

(i) Give the state of Al 2O3 and P4O10 at room temperature.

Al 2O3 .................................................................................................................................

P4O10 .................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) Write an equation for the reaction of each oxide with an excess of NaOH(aq) at room
temperature.

Al 2O3 + ............................................................................................................................

P4O10 + ...........................................................................................................................
[2]

(d) The oxide of silicon reacts with calcium oxide in an addition reaction to produce calcium
silicate, CaSiO3. The oxidation number of calcium in CaSiO3 is +II.

(i) Deduce the oxidation number of silicon in calcium silicate.

oxidation number of silicon .......................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Calcium oxide can be made from calcium carbonate in a single-step reaction.

Identify the type of reaction that occurs.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 13]

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2 N2(g) reacts with H2(g) in the Haber process, as shown in reaction 1.

reaction 1 N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) ΔH = –x kJ mol–1

Table 2.1 shows the different conditions used to produce three equilibrium mixtures, A, B and C.

Table 2.1

A B C
initial molar ratio of N2 : H2 added 1:3 1:3 1:3
temperature / °C 500 500 1000
pressure / atm 1000 1000 1000
iron present in mixture no yes no
percentage yield of NH3(g) at equilibrium 58 x y

(a) Describe and explain the change, if any, to the percentage yield of NH3(g) produced in B
compared to A.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) (i) Describe and explain the change, if any, to the percentage yield of NH3(g) produced in C
compared to A.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe and explain the change to the rate of the forward reaction that occurs to
establish the equilibrium in C compared to A.

You do not need to refer to the Boltzmann distribution in your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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(c) (i) Write an expression for the equilibrium constant, Kp, for reaction 1. State the units.

Kp =

units ..............................
[2]

(ii) Equilibrium mixture D is made when 1.0 mol of N2(g) and 3.0 mol of H2(g) are added to
a sealed container at 750 °C and 1000 atm and left to reach equilibrium. This mixture
contains 1.16 mol of NH3(g).

Calculate the mole fraction of NH3(g) in D.

mole fraction of NH3(g) = .............................. [2]

(iii) The mole fraction of N2(g) is 0.625 in a new equilibrium mixture, E.

Calculate the partial pressure of N2(g) in E when the total pressure is 1000 atm.

partial pressure of N2(g) = .............................. atm [1]

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(d) When oxides of nitrogen escape into the atmosphere they may be involved in:

• formation of acid rain from sulfur dioxide

• formation of photochemical smog.

(i) Identify the role of NO and NO2 in the formation of H2SO4 from SO2 in the atmosphere to
produce acid rain.

Use relevant equations to support your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii) Outline how NO and NO2 may contribute to the formation of photochemical smog.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 14]

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3 (a) Write an equation to show the reaction for the standard enthalpy change of formation of H2O.
Include state symbols.

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Water is one of the products in the reaction of B2O3 and NH3, as shown in reaction 2.

reaction 2 B2O3 + 2NH3 2BN + 3H2O

Table 3.1 shows information about the standard enthalpy change of formation, ΔH of , of some
substances.

Table 3.1

substance ΔH of / kJ mol–1
B2O3 –1264
NH3 – 46
BN –134
H2O –286

Calculate the enthalpy change, ∆H, for reaction 2 using the data from Table 3.1.

∆H = .............................. kJ mol–1 [2]

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(c) Boron carbide is a hard crystalline solid that has a melting point greater than 2000 °C.

(i) Suggest the structure and bonding in boron carbide.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) 100 g of pure boron carbide contains 78.26 g of boron.

Calculate the empirical formula of boron carbide.

Show your working.

empirical formula of boron carbide .............................. [2]

[Total: 7]

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4 (a) NH3(g) reacts with HCl (g) to produce NH4Cl (s), as shown.

NH3(g) + HCl (g) NH4Cl (s)

Draw a diagram to show the ionic, covalent and coordinate bonding present in a formula unit
of NH4Cl .

[2]

(b) An exothermic reaction occurs when NH4+(aq) is added to OH–(aq).

(i) Identify the type of reaction.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Construct an ionic equation for the reaction of NH4+ and OH–.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Substitution reactions of NH3 and OH– with halogenoalkanes both involve a lone pair of
electrons.

(i) Name the role of NH3 and OH– in these reactions.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Suggest which species, NH3 or OH–, is more reactive during these reactions. Explain
your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(d) When 2-bromo-2-methylpropane reacts with OH–, two mechanisms, SN1 and SN2, both
occur. The SN2 mechanism has a slower rate.

Fig. 4.1 shows the reaction pathway diagram for the SN1 mechanism.

Sketch a graph on Fig. 4.1 to show the reaction pathway for the SN2 mechanism.

reactants
energy / kJ mol-1

intermediate
products

progress of reaction

Fig. 4.1
[2]

(e) (i) Complete Fig. 4.2 to show the mechanism for the SN1 reaction that occurs when
CH3CHBrC2H5 reacts with NH3 to produce CH3CH(NH2)C2H5.
Include charges, dipoles, lone pairs of electrons and curly arrows, as appropriate.

H H H H

Br C C2H5 C+ C2H5 H N+ C C 2H5

CH3 CH3 H CH3

H2N C C2H5

CH3

Fig. 4.2
[3]

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(ii) Identify the inorganic product that forms in the reaction in Fig. 4.2.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Give the systematic name for the organic product CH3CH(NH2)C2H5.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(f) (i) Complete Table 4.1 by drawing the structural formula of the intermediate that is formed
when 2-bromo-2-methylpropane reacts in an SN1 reaction.

Table 4.1

2-bromobutane 2-bromo-2-methylpropane

H
structural formula of
intermediate in SN1 C+ C 2H5
reaction
CH3

[1]

(ii) Identify the halogenoalkane in Table 4.1 that has the greater tendency to react using the
SN1 mechanism. Explain your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 16]

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5 (a) M reacts to form R by the addition of one reagent, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

M R
HO

reagent
HO

Fig. 5.1

Identify the reagent and conditions for this reaction.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) R is also made from M by two steps, as shown in Fig. 5.2.

M Q R
Br HO

step 1 step 2
Br HO

Fig. 5.2

(i) Identify the reagents and conditions for steps 1 and 2 in Fig. 5.2.

step 1 ................................................................................................................................

step 2 ................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Name the mechanism for step 1 in Fig. 5.2.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(c) The infrared spectrum of R is shown in Fig. 5.3.

100
80
transmittance 60
/%
40
20
0
4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500
wavenumber / cm–1

Fig. 5.3

Table 5.1

bond functional groups containing the bond characteristic infrared absorption range
(in wavenumbers) / cm–1
C–O hydroxy, ester 1040–1300
C=C aromatic compound, alkene 1500–1680
C=O amide 1640–1690
carbonyl, carboxyl 1670–1740
ester 1710–1750
C≡N nitrile 2200–2250
C–H alkane 2850–2950
N–H amine, amide 3300–3500
O–H carboxyl 2500–3000
hydroxy 3200–3650

Use the absorptions in the region above 1500 cm–1 in Table 5.1 when answering this question.

• Add F to Fig. 5.3 to identify the peak that is present in an infrared spectrum of both Q
and R. Identify the bond that corresponds to the absorption for F.

...........................................................................................................................................

• Add G to Fig. 5.3 to identify the peak that is not present in an infrared spectrum of Q.
Identify the bond that corresponds to the absorption for G.

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

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(d) Y is made from Q in a three-step reaction.

Q W X

OH
Br
O
step 1 step 2 HO
Br
KCN in
O
ethanol /
heat

step 3 reducing
agent Z

OH

HO

Fig. 5.4

(i) Draw the structure of W in the box in Fig. 5.4. [1]

(ii) In step 2, W is heated with HCl (aq) to produce X and an inorganic product.

Identify the formula of the inorganic product.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) In step 3, X reacts with reducing agent Z to produce Y.

Complete the equation for the reaction of X with Z.

Use a molecular formula to represent the organic product.

Use [H] to represent one atom of hydrogen from Z.

…… C8H12O4 + ……[H] ......................................................................................... [1]

(iv) Identify Z.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 10]

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Important values, constants and standards

molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K–1 mol–1

Faraday constant F = 9.65 × 104 C mol–1
Avogadro constant L = 6.022 × 1023 mol–1
electronic charge e = –1.60 × 10–19 C
molar volume of gas Vm = 22.4 dm3 mol–1 at s.t.p. (101 kPa and 273 K)
Vm = 24.0 dm3 mol–1 at room conditions
ionic product of water Kw = 1.00 × 10–14 mol2 dm–6 (at 298 K (25 °C))
specific heat capacity of water c = 4.18 kJ kg–1 K–1 (4.18 J g–1 K–1)

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© UCLES 2024
The Periodic Table of Elements
Group
1 2 13 14 15 16 17 18
1 2

H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1.0 4.0
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10

Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
6.9 9.0 relative atomic mass 10.8 12.0 14.0 16.0 19.0 20.2
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23.0 24.3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 27.0 28.1 31.0 32.1 35.5 39.9
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39.1 40.1 45.0 47.9 50.9 52.0 54.9 55.8 58.9 58.7 63.5 65.4 69.7 72.6 74.9 79.0 79.9 83.8
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
16

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
85.5 87.6 88.9 91.2 92.9 95.9 – 101.1 102.9 106.4 107.9 112.4 114.8 118.7 121.8 127.6 126.9 131.3

9701/23/M/J/24
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
132.9 137.3 178.5 180.9 183.8 186.2 190.2 192.2 195.1 197.0 200.6 204.4 207.2 209.0 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
138.9 140.1 140.9 144.2 – 150.4 152.0 157.3 158.9 162.5 164.9 167.3 168.9 173.1 175.0
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232.0 231.0 238.0 – – – – – – – – – – –

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