A levels

CHEMISTRY
PAPER 3
NOTES

FROM TOP IN
MALAYSIA SCORER

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© JC LEE
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Question 1: Indicator Acid End point Alka !
Thymolphtale in
Given colourless pale sine blue
Quantitative Analysis ~ Methylovarge red
orange yellow
Given thymol blue Red-orange pule yellow blue
~ Dromophenolblue yellow green blue
Observations
-always draw table, pay attention as to what to record in question

Taking average for titration

- must average two (or more) titres that are all within 0.20 cm 3.
-For mean, give to same dp as measured value (e.g. 26.57)
-record value slightly less than titrated as mostly will overshoot a little bit
Indicator Acid End Point Alkali
Phenolphtalein-5 drops Colourless Pale pink Pink
Thymolphtalein-5 drops colourless Pale blue blue
&
Methyl orange-5drops red orange yellow
Thymol blue-10 drops Orange Red-Pink Pale yellow Blue
Bromophenol blue-5 Yellow green blue
drops
Universal Indicator Yellow→Red Green Blue→ purple

Heating and Weighing

-for table→never used weigh of…, use mass of…
• Mass of crucible+lid+FA 4 (g) (before heating)
• Mass of crucible+lid+residue after 1st heating (g) (after heating)
• And other mass required as specified in the instructions
-stop after difference<0.05g
-if add water to solid, if highly exothermic, then write ‘water vapour given off

Volume of Gas released

-will always lose too much gas before fitting in bung, write larger volume of gas

Reading
-always take precision of half a smallest scale (follow that in procedure)
-seconds always round to whole
-some value such as coefficient of water of crystallisation must be an integer

Calculation
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-take 3 sf***, do not round off working to 3 sf
-if calculation requires another calculated value, take the no. with 3 sf written previously, not the
no. on calculator
-rate also give to 3sf with one dp

Uncertainty
-take to half a smallest scale
-multiply by no. of times read from scale
-e.g. measuring mass using beaker must x2 (once when measuring mass of beaker, then when
adding the substance)

Graph
-points can be plotted anywhere
-readings from graph precise up to half a small square, but follow dp of calculated value)

Reasoning
-always be specific (e.g. if doubled, don’t say increase)

Qualitative Analysis
Determine types of solids
-if shiny, then is metal
-if black, most likely oxides
-if coloured, then check notes to determine anions
-if solid given, must dissolved in water to test for cations or anions (e.g. make a solution)

Gas released on heating (heat for min 5 minutes)

-CO2, NO2, O2 and NH3 are gas to be focused on
-on adding NaOH, if no change, then have to heat to test for presence of NH3
-special condition, group 1 metal nitrate decompose to nitrite, give O2 only, no NO2
-some transition metal sulphate salt may decompose to give SO2 or SO3 on heating (test using
blue litmus paper)
-when added alkali to heat (test for NH3), sometimes will give HCl or H2SO4, is acidic, released
after NH3

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 (from NH4Cl/(NH4)2SO4)
-heating KMnO4 will give off oxygen gas

Gas released on adding acids

-metal-H2
-carbonates-CO2 (gives white ppt when passed through limewater, x write cloudy)
-NO2--NO2(brown gas, use thumb or stopper to close off test tube as colour very pale)
- Sulfite salts with acid(very rarely)- SO2 (test with KMnO4)
- (not so important observation) temperature rises/drops

Normally seen observations on heating

-solid melts
-condensation at mouth of test tube, steam liberated
-effervescence (if white fumes (HCl/H2SO4), write white smoke, not white gas)
-colour of gas/test for gas
-(colour) solid/solution forms
(if separated column, heat gently is observation on solid and condensation, heat strongly is for gas
released)

Test for gases

-always write effervescence before test for gas
-be specific, e.g. Gas/NH3 released turns red litmus paper blue

If coloured salt dissolve in NaOH or NH3

-e.g. dissolve in excess and give blue colour solution.

Using NaOH and Al foil

-if NO2-/NO3- not present, Al will react with NaOH to give H2 gas.
-e.g. effervescence, H2 gives a pop sound with lighted splinter

To distinguish between SO32- & SO42- / NO2- & NO3-/Fe2+ & Fe3+
-except from way stated in notes, SO32- /NO2-can be oxidised to SO42- / NO3- (decolourise KMnO4)
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Tests for ions not in analysis notes
-Na2S2O3 give yellow ppt with acid (Na2S2O3 + 2HCl → SO2 + S + H2O + 2NaCl)
-Na2S2O3 is a reducing agent (reduce I2 to I-)
-NH4+ is a mild acid
-Cu2+ is oxidising agent (will oxidise I- to give brown solution)
-H2O2 is oxidising agent, will give off oxygen (must test)
-Mn2+ can be oxidise to give Mn4+
-Ag+ forms brown ppt with OH- (insoluble in excess)
-sometimes if ions not in quantitative analysis notes/not tested, when asked, can write unknown
-*test for concentration of acids: use metal/carbonates to determine diff in rate of effervescence

Writing observations
-be as specific as possible (e.g. colourless solution turns purple and then turns to yellow solution
on standing)
-specify is ppt or solution(aq)
-if find hard to determine is white ppt or not, use HCl and AgNO3 to make AgCl and compare
colour
-reason for not able to judge colour accurately: solution is coloured
-Br(aq) and I(aq) are brown
-common colours include white, off-white, pale yellow, brown, black…..
-may include a series of colour, if so record all colours down

Planning experiment to determine ions

-state what reagent used (e.g. NaOH (aq)) and how to test
-if solid, then write dissolve in water
-then draw table to state observations
-e.g. test for presence of acid-add Mg ribbon, collect gas (using stopper or thumb) and test for H2

Organic compounds
-heating must use water bath
-When using KMnO4, is very strong oxidising agent. Don’t put too long in water bath (more than 5
min) as will also oxidise impurity (give false positive). Observation will be seen very fast, so if
decolourises after long time then considered not oxidised.
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-In comparison, most likely will only oxidise one substance. (so if one already oxidise, then no
need to heat in water bath)
-also don’t add too much KMnO4 as may be too much to be completely reduced and can’t see
correct observation
-When using Tollen’s reagent, leave for ~15 mins. And best to add equal volume of solution to
Tollen’s reagent (instead of a few drops as written in instruction), may also give black ppt(still write
silver mirror) if concentration not high enough.
-Methanoic acid reacts as acid and also as aldehyde as has two sides

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Question 2:
Suggestion/ Question Elaboration/Reason
Volume of gas released
*gas escapes before stopper inserted Use larger lumps of solid / use more (excess)
of a lower concentration of acid / use divided
flask/floating in weighing boat
*Saturate water with CO2 before experiment Because some CO2 dissolve in water
Use magnesium ribbon rather than powdered reaction now slower so less gas lost (while
magnesium bung is being fitted)
Why volume of gas calculated inaccurate? molar volume of gas not 24 dm3 under
conditions used
Use twice the mass of magnesium powder (if Incorrect, Mg/solution is in excess
Mg already in excess) more accurate?
Measure (solution in excess) using more
accurate apparatus?
What happens if add more solid? (solution in HCl may not be in excess, too much gas for
excess) measuring cylinder
ROR if add more MnO2(catalyst)? -greater volume at specified time as larger
surface area
-Same final volume as MnO2 is a catalyst
Why less gas collected in 2nd minute than 1st -reaction (starts fast and then) slows
minute? -Greater concentration so greater frequency of
collision at start

Titration
Why not accurate? Difficult to determine end point (colour not
obvious)
Using sulfuric acid(diprotic) instead of Higher percentage error as only half the
hydrochloric acid(monoprotic) volume used
If accidentally used (solution in conical flask) Lower conc of solution, less titre needed.
with lower concentration Thus…
Percentage by mass if is hydrated salt but we % mass of acid decreases as there is now
use anhydrous salt to calculate? water as part of the total mass

Comparing titration with thermal decomposition

Titration more accurate -Smaller % error as pipette/burette more
precise than measuring cylinder
-repeated titres are constant
Thermal decomposition more accurate -fewer steps. fewer cumulative error
-colour change in titration indistinct

Enthalpy Change
How to improve accuracy? -*plot a graph to get better value of ∆T
-use increased masses of mass of (solid
added), to get smaller % uncertainty as higher
T reached
*Why measuring temperature over range of -as heat lost is compensated for if there is
time(using graph) more accurate than dropped in temp after some time
measuring highest temperature reached?
Insulate the cup (use a vacuum flask or use less heat energy entering/escaping
lid)

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 Use thermometer with smaller scale/more Smaller % error
precision
Use burette/pipette for volume measurement
(if not in excess) use larger mass
Use solid with larger surface area Same T, as number of moles of solid the same
Use solid with smaller area Same T as might not finish within (time
frame)/as cooling curve already plotted to
eliminate heat loss
Use diprotic acid instead of monoprotic acid (if Same T, as acid in excess
in excess)
More accurate if taller plastic cup used? No, because there is no spitting out of
reagents
Modify without changing apparatus or solution Repeat experiment with volumes of (solution)
near to that needed for Tmax
If larger amount of catalyst added, will enthalpy (substance) is a catalyst, does not alter the
change increase? total amount of heat produced
Used hydrated salt accidentally -fewer moles of salt
-lower temperature rise, delta H less
exothermic
Use the data obtained to calculate the enthalpy -use Q = mc ∆T
change of neutralisation -explain how to get m and T (from graph,
calculation..)
-Q/no. of moles
Reason for difference in temperature rise -(solution) is weak acid
-some energy required to break O-H bond

Thermal Decomposition/losing water of

crystallisation
*Improve accuracy -Reheat, cool and reweigh the boiling tube until
constant mass achieved
-to ensure decomposition complete
Larger mass of solid less % error in weighing as mass increase
Use balance with higher sensitivity less % error in weighing
Why calculation of water of crystallisation not - (too large) Solid decompose partially, use a
accurate? thermostatically controlled oven
- (too small) Not all water of crystallisation has
been removed, heat to constant mass
Why close lid when cooling? So that water vapour (from air) not absorbed
Will closing lid when heating gives more -No, because there is no frothing
accurate results?
Assumption on impurity Impurity does not decompose on heating/does
not react with (substance/acid)
Doing two exp and calculating value separately If experiment do not agree then carry out extra
exp
Value of coefficient of water of crystallisation The changes in masses (of residue and water)
calculated may not change even if not all water will be too small to change the integer value.
lost

ROR
(reason for inaccuracy) Temperature has Use thermostatic water bath to control
changed temperature

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 (reason for inaccuracy for H2O2) H2O2 has Store H2O2 in fridge/use fresh solution
decomposed, cause results to be less
accurate
(for iodine formation) Why add S2O32-? To delay formation of blue-black colour
Using too high concentration S2O32-? All iodine reacts with excess S2O32-, no iodine
left to turn iodine turn blue black
How to investigate the ROR of solution with diff -alter volume of solution and distilled water
concentration? -maintain constant total volume of solution
How does using lower concentration of greater reaction time, a smaller percentage
solutions change % error? error.
% error decreases as reaction time increases
Uncertainty increases as reaction time
increases

Precipitation (for ROR)

Improve accuracy? Use a light meter, stop timer when level of light
passing through drops to a certain level
What will happen if smaller volume of beaker is Depth (of solution) is greater, so time is shorter
used
When concentration of one substance Time taken to… is half as no. of moles of … is
decreases by half half

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