Chemistry 9701 · AS & A Level
States of matter
100 practice questions on States of matter, with worked solutions and instant marking.
Which row in the table is the right one? (as the number of carbon atoms increases $\rightarrow$)
Feb/March 2016
What volume of steam is formed when $1.00\ \text{g}$ of ice is heated to $323^\circ\text{C}$ at a pressure of $101\ \text{kPa}$?
Feb/March 2016
A sample of gas is compressed while its temperature is kept constant, from $1500\,\text{kPa}$ to $6000\,\text{kPa}$. Its volume decreases from $76.0\,\text{cm}^3$ to $20.5\,\text{cm}^3$. Which statements could explain this result?
Feb/March 2017
The boiling points for methane, ethane, propane and butane are listed below. $ \begin{aligned} \text{CH}_4 &: 112\,\text{K}\\ \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_3 &: 185\,\text{K}\\ \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_3 &: 231\,\text{K}\\ \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_3 &: 273\,\text{K} \end{aligned} $ Which statement accounts for the rise in boiling point from methane to butane?
Feb/March 2017
Which gas sample has the smallest number of molecules?
Feb/March 2017
The mass spectrum for silicon is shown. Calculate the $A_r$ of silicon. Give your answer to two decimal places.
Feb/March 2017
Advantame is a sweetener that is about 25 00 times sweeter than sucrose.
Feb/March 2017
The volatility of the Group 17 elements, chlorine, bromine and iodine, gets lower as you move down the group. What causes this?
Feb/March 2018
A container is partly filled with hot water, then sealed and left to cool. Which of the following statements are correct?
Feb/March 2018
The gas laws may be represented by the ideal gas equation, $pV = nRT$. A vessel with a volume of $7.00 \times 10^{-3}\,\text{m}^3$ contains $0.960\,\text{g}$ of oxygen gas at a temperature of $30^{\circ}\text{C}$. Assume the gas behaves as an ideal gas. What is the pressure in the vessel?
Feb/March 2018
Two molecules of compound F combine under suitable conditions to produce compound G. The data provided for F and G include mass spectral evidence, $^{1}\text{H}$ NMR evidence, and the products obtained when G is heated with dilute sulfuric acid.
Feb/March 2018
A gas sample has a volume of $240\,\text{cm}^3$ at $37\,^\circ\text{C}$ and $100\,\text{kPa}$. How many moles of gas are in the sample?
Feb/March 2019
Methyl 2-cyanoprop-2-enoate, $W$, is the principal ingredient in Super Glue, a fast-setting adhesive. When the adhesive hardens, monomer $W$ undergoes polymerisation.
Feb/March 2019
Ethanedioyl dichloride, $\text{ClCOCOCl}$, is a valuable reagent in organic synthesis. It can be prepared from compound A in one step.
Feb/March 2019
Which properties are increased by the strong hydrogen bonding present in liquid water?
Feb/March 2020
A sealed container contains $1.8\ \text{g}$ of water. When it is heated to $227^\circ\text{C}$, the water changes into steam at a pressure of $200\ \text{kPa}$. What is the container’s approximate volume?
Feb/March 2020
Many gases do not follow the general gas equation at high pressures. What is the reason for this?
Feb/March 2021
Iodates are compounds containing the IO$_3^-$ anion.
Feb/March 2021
The boiling points for several hydrogen halides are listed. $\mathrm{H\text{-}Cl}$: $188\,\text{K}$, $\mathrm{H\text{-}Br}$: $206\,\text{K}$, $\mathrm{H\text{-}I}$: $238\,\text{K}$. Explain the reason for the trend in boiling point from $\mathrm{HCl}$ to $\mathrm{HI}$?
Feb/March 2022
Fig. 4.1 shows compounds F and J.
Feb/March 2022
In which conditions will nitrogen act most nearly as an ideal gas?
Feb/March 2023
Under room temperature and pressure, $\text{H}_2\text{O}$ is a liquid whereas $\text{H}_2\text{S}$ is a gas. What causes this difference in state?
Feb/March 2024
State the relative basicities of ammonia, $\text{NH}_3$, propanamide, $\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CONH}_2$, and propylamine, $\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{NH}_2$. Explain your answer.
Feb/March 2025
When gases are moved by road or by rail, they are grouped as: flammable, non-flammable, poisonous. Which gas that is commonly transported is non-flammable?
May/June 2010
Which gas comes nearest to ideal behaviour at room temperature and pressure?
May/June 2010
Which gas most nearly exhibits ideal behaviour at room temperature and pressure?
May/June 2010
When gaseous chemicals are moved by road or by rail, they are put into the following categories. flammable non-flammable poisonous Which gas that is commonly transported is non-flammable?
May/June 2010
At room temperature and pressure, which gas is nearest to ideal behaviour?
May/June 2010
When gaseous chemicals are moved by road or by rail, they are grouped as shown below. flammable non-flammable poisonous Which gas that is commonly transported is non-flammable?
May/June 2010
Phosphorus and sulfur are two non-metallic elements found on the right-hand side of the Periodic Table. For each element, describe the observations you would see when it burns in air, and write a balanced equation for the reaction. phosphorus: observation; equation. sulfur: observation; equation.
May/June 2010
There has never been a wider range of drugs available for treating disease or life‑threatening conditions, and we are now far better at delivering drugs to the points in the body where they are needed.
May/June 2010
Describe three typical chemical properties of transition elements that are not shown by Group II elements.
May/June 2010
Describe how the oxides of tin and lead in the $+4$ oxidation states differ in their behaviour on heating.
May/June 2010
The molecule that carries the genetic information of an individual organism is called deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA.
May/June 2010
Fluorine is much more electronegative than both silicon and sulfur, yet $\text{SF}_4$ has an overall dipole whereas $\text{SiF}_4$ does not. Suggest a reason for this difference.
May/June 2010
In recent years, the design and development of batteries has become a major research field.
May/June 2010
Although fluorine is far more electronegative than silicon and sulfur, $\text{SF}_4$ has an overall dipole but $\text{SiF}_4$ does not. Suggest a reason for this difference.
May/June 2010
Complete the electronic structures for the $\text{Cr}^{3+}$ and $\text{Mn}^{2+}$ ions. $\text{Cr}^{3+}$: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 \, \ldots$ ; $\text{Mn}^{2+}$: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 \, \ldots$
May/June 2010
Electrophoresis can be used to separate a mixture of amino acids. The diagram shows a typical practical arrangement.
May/June 2010
For which change would van der Waals’ forces be the only intermolecular forces that must be overcome?
May/June 2011
If a sample of gas is compressed at constant temperature from $1500\ \text{kPa}$ to $6000\ \text{kPa}$, its volume changes from $76.0\ \text{cm}^3$ to $20.5\ \text{cm}^3$. Which of the following statements could explain this behaviour?
May/June 2011
Which equations are valid for an ideal gas? [$p$ = pressure, $V$ = volume, $M$ = molar mass, $\rho$ = density, $c$ = concentration, $R$ = gas constant, $T$ = temperature]
May/June 2011
In which change would it be necessary to overcome only van der Waals’ forces?
May/June 2011
State and explain how the oxidation numbers change in the chlorides of the elements Na, Mg, Al and Si.
May/June 2011
On the grids below, plot points to show how the named property of the Group IV elements varies. For each element, your points should indicate whether the melting point / electrical conductivity is ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’. The point for silicon has already been marked in each case.
May/June 2011
Describe and explain how the acidities of ethanol and phenol compare with that of water.
May/June 2011
Enzymes are protein molecules that catalyse specific reactions in living organisms very efficiently.
May/June 2011
On the grids below, plot the points to show how the named property changes for the Group IV elements. For each element, your points should show whether the melting point / electrical conductivity is 'high', 'medium' or 'low'. Silicon has already been plotted on each grid.
May/June 2011
DNA fingerprinting has been among the most significant advances in biochemical analysis in recent years. It has led to major progress in forensic science, medicine and archaeology.
May/June 2011
Nanotechnology is a rapidly advancing branch of science that relies on the capacity to control materials with extremely tiny dimensions.
May/June 2011
The gas laws may be expressed by the ideal gas equation $pV = nRT$, with each symbol carrying its usual meaning. Which statements are correct?
May/June 2012
The Data Booklet may be used for this question. The ideal gas equation summarises the gas laws. $\,pV = nRT$ A vessel contains $0.56\ \text{g}$ of ethene gas at a pressure of $102\ \text{kPa}$ and a temperature of $30\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. What is the volume of the vessel?
May/June 2012
In which conditions is a gas most likely to act ideally?
May/June 2012
The Data Booklet is needed for this question. The gas laws may be represented by the ideal gas equation, $pV = nRT$. A mass of $0.96\,\text{g}$ of oxygen gas is held in a glass vessel with volume $7000\,\text{cm}^3$ at a temperature of $30^\circ\text{C}$. Determine the pressure inside the vessel.
May/June 2012
The gas laws may be expressed by the ideal gas equation. $pV = nRT$ in which each symbol has its normal meaning. Which statements are correct?
May/June 2012
The ideal gas equation is used to summarise the gas laws. $pV = nRT$ A vessel contains $0.56\,\text{g}$ of ethene gas at a pressure of $102\,\text{kPa}$ and a temperature of $30^{\circ}\text{C}$. Calculate the volume of the vessel.
May/June 2012
Under what conditions is a gas most likely to show ideal behaviour?
May/June 2012
Indigo is the blue dye used in jeans. It was first obtained from plants of the indigoftera type, but nowadays it is made almost completely by synthetic methods. Indigo does not dissolve in water, although this drawback can be overcome by converting it into the colourless, water-soluble leuco-indigo.
May/June 2012
Describe and explain the trend in the volatilities of the Group IV chlorides $\text{CCl}_4$, $\text{GeCl}_4$ and $\text{PbCl}_4$.
May/June 2012
Lawsone is the dye obtained from the henna plant, Lawsoneia inermis. Its natural colour is yellow, but lawsone reacts with proteins in hair and skin to form the familiar brown henna colour. Lawsone can be reduced quite readily to 1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene, compound A.
May/June 2012
Describe and explain the pattern shown by the volatilities of the halogens $\text{Cl}_2$, $\text{Br}_2$ and $\text{I}_2$.
May/June 2012
The table gives the structures of four amino acids present in proteins in the human body. Complete the table by showing the type of tertiary interaction each side-chain is most likely to form when the amino acid is part of a protein chain.
May/June 2012
NMR and X-ray crystallography are two major analytical techniques used to investigate molecular structure and function.
May/June 2012
Describe and explain the trend in the volatilities of the Group IV chlorides $\text{CCl}_4$, $\text{GeCl}_4$ and $\text{PbCl}_4$.
May/June 2012
Methoxybenzene undergoes reaction with $\text{Br}_2\text{(aq)}$ in the same way as phenol does.
May/June 2012
The general gas equation may be applied to determine the $M_r$ of a gas. For a gas sample with mass $m\ \text{g}$, which expression gives the value of $M_r$?
May/June 2013
Which substance would show the least ideal-gas behaviour at room temperature?
May/June 2013
Halogens are present as diatomic molecules, $\text{X}_2$. The boiling points of the Group VII elements rise down the group from chlorine to iodine. Which statement best explains why the boiling point increases as Group VII is descended?
May/June 2013
The diagram illustrates the Maxwell-Boltzmann energy distribution curves for molecules in a gas sample at two temperatures. On the axes, which letter indicates the most probable energy for the molecules at the lower temperature?
May/June 2013
Ethanol has a boiling point of $78^\circ\text{C}$. When the pressure is $101\ \text{kPa}$ and the temperature is $79^\circ\text{C}$, ethanol vapour does not obey the gas equation $pV = nRT$ exactly. What is the reason for this?
May/June 2013
When iodine is heated, a vapour forms. Which row in the table correctly states the species present in the vapour and its colour?
May/June 2013
Which one is least similar to an ideal gas at room temperature and pressure?
May/June 2013
Which compound is the only substance that is a gas at room temperature and pressure?
May/June 2013
Within living organisms, two key polymerisations take place: protein synthesis and DNA formation.
May/June 2013
Describe the reagents and conditions needed to produce a nitro compound from methylbenzene.
May/June 2013
In living organisms, two important polymerisations occur: protein synthesis and DNA formation.
May/June 2013
In what sequence do the four chlorides listed have melting points from lowest to highest? $\text{CCl}_4$, $\text{HCl}$, $\text{MgCl}_2$, $\text{PCl}_5$
May/June 2014
Use of the Data Booklet is relevant for this question. Iodine is a black, lustrous, non-metallic solid and a member of Group VII. When heated, it sublimes readily to form a purple vapour. A sample of iodine vapour with a mass of $6.35\,\text{g}$ occupies a volume of $1.247\,\text{dm}^3$ when the temperature is kept constant and the pressure is $1.00 \times 10^5\,\text{Pa}$. Assuming iodine vapour behaves as an ideal gas, what is the temperature of the iodine vapour?
May/June 2014
A $10.0\,\text{cm}^3$ bubble of an ideal gas is produced on the sea bed, where the pressure is $2020\,\text{kPa}$. Immediately below the sea surface, the pressure is $101\,\text{kPa}$ and the temperature is the same as at the sea bed. What volume does the bubble have when it reaches just below the sea surface?
May/June 2014
Noradrenaline is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter, and it is released when the body is under stress to make the heart beat faster and raise blood pressure.
May/June 2014
The two compounds $V$ and $W$ are isomers with molecular formula $\text{C}_4\text{H}_8\text{O}$, and they display the following properties and reactions: each compound reacts with sodium metal, and each decolourises bromine water. Compound $V$ gives a yellow precipitate with alkaline aqueous iodine, but compound $W$ does not. On treatment with cold $\text{KMnO}_4\text{(aq)}$, both $V$ and $W$ form the same neutral compound $X$, $\text{C}_4\text{H}_{10}\text{O}_3$. Both $V$ and $W$ occur as pairs of stereoisomers.
May/June 2014
Most everyday drugs are swallowed, although some medicines, for example protein-based ones, are given by injection so that they are not decomposed in the digestive system.
May/June 2014
Lead(II) chloride, $\text{PbCl}_2$, is used to make some coloured glass. $\text{PbCl}_2$ dissolves only slightly in water. The $[\text{Pb}^{2+}]$ in a saturated solution of $\text{PbCl}_2$ can be estimated by measuring the cell potential, $E_{\text{cell}}$, of the cell shown below.
May/June 2014
Ethene and benzene each react with bromine.
May/June 2014
State how the melting point and density of iron compare with those of calcium.
May/June 2014
Piperine is the compound that gives black pepper its hot flavour. It is an amide and can be split into piperic acid and piperidine.
May/June 2014
The compounds $V$ and $W$ are isomers with molecular formula $\text{C}_4\text{H}_8\text{O}$, and they show the properties and reactions below.
May/June 2014
Proteins and deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, are two key polymers found in living organisms.
May/June 2014
Which quantity provides the clearest measure of the relative strength of the hydrogen bonds between the molecules in liquid hydrogen halides?
May/June 2015
This question requires use of the Data Booklet. The ideal gas equation below summarises the gas laws. $pV = nRT$ A mass of $0.96\,\text{g}$ of oxygen gas is enclosed in a glass vessel with a volume of $7.0 \times 10^{-3}\,\text{m}^3$ at a temperature of $30^\circ\text{C}$. Treat the gas as ideal. What pressure is in the vessel?
May/June 2015
The Boltzmann distribution shown below represents how molecular energies are spread among the molecules in a gas sample at a particular temperature. Which statement correctly describes how this distribution changes when the temperature is raised?
May/June 2015
Which solid is made up of a simple molecular lattice?
May/June 2015
The ideal gas equation $pV = nRT$ provides a summary of the gas laws. A methane sample has its volume measured at $60^{\circ}\text{C}$ and $103\text{ kPa}$. The recorded volume is $5.37 \times 10^{-3}\text{ m}^3$. If the gas is assumed to act as an ideal gas, what mass does the methane sample have, correct to two significant figures?
May/June 2015
This question requires use of the Data Booklet. The ideal gas equation below provides a summary of the gas laws. $pV = nRT$ If an evacuated tube with a volume of $400\,\text{cm}^3$ is filled with gas at $300\,\text{K}$ and $101\,\text{kPa}$, its mass rises by $0.65\,\text{g}$. Assume that the gas acts as an ideal gas. What might the gas be?
May/June 2015
Which diagram gives the correct graph of $pV$ versus $n$ for an ideal gas at constant temperature?
May/June 2015
Which statement may be accounted for by intermolecular hydrogen bonding?
May/June 2015
Atoms and ions of elements consist of the three subatomic particles, protons, electrons and neutrons, present in different numbers.
May/June 2015
The stated percentage abundances for a sample of lead are $^{204}\text{Pb}$ (1.9%), $^{206}\text{Pb}$ (24.8%), $^{207}\text{Pb}$ (21.4%) and $^{208}\text{Pb}$ (51.9%).
May/June 2015
This question examines how DNA and RNA are structured and what they do in protein synthesis.
May/June 2015
Silver sulfate, $\text{Ag}_2\text{SO}_4$, is only slightly soluble in water. At $298\,\text{K}$, the concentration of a saturated solution is $2.5 \times 10^{-2}\,\text{mol dm}^{-3}$.
May/June 2015