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THE AMKA CHEMISTRY EXAMINATION

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

233/1 - CHEMISTRY - Paper 1

(Theory)
JUNE 2023 - 2 hours

Name …………………………………………….……… Index Number……………………

School ………………….…...………………………….. Admission No……………………

Date…………………………………

Instructions to Candidates

(a) Write your name and Index number in the spaces provided.
(b) Write the Name of the School and the Admission number and Date in the spaces provided.
(c) Answer all the questions in the spaces provided
(d) ALL working MUST be clearly shown where necessary
(e) Mathematical tables and electronic calculators may be used.
(f) Candidates must answer the questions in English.

FOR EXAMINER’S USE ONLY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 TOTAL
SCORE

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1. Fill in the table below by giving the difference between a thermometer and a
burette. (2marks)

Difference in terms of: Accuracy level. Direction of calibration

Burette

Thermometer

2. Study the energy level diagram below and answer the question that
follows:
NaOH (aq) + H2O (l)
Energy

∆H

Na+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

Reaction Path

(i) At the beginning of this reaction, the heat change was found to be
positive. Give one reason for this observation. (1mark)
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(ii) Explain why the final temperature of the resultant solution was found to
be higher than the initial temperature. (1mark)
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(iii) Suggest the pH value of the resultant solution. (1mark)

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3. (a) Determine the oxidation state of sulphur in each of the following

Compounds. Hence, write the electron arrangement of Sulphur in each case.

SO2 (2 marks)

Oxidation state……………………… Electron Arrangement………………….

(b) Study the Zinc – Hydrogen electrochemical cell below and answer the
questions that follow.

(i) Label the Anode in the cell. (½marks)

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(ii) Give the temperature of the electrolytes used. (1mark)

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(i) Use an arrow on the diagram to show the direction of flow of the
current. (½marks)

4. Ammonium chloride sublime on heating. Give reason for this observation.

(2marks)
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5. The label on a bottle of water had the information after the analysis of the water.
A student added a little dilute hydrochloric acid to the water and observed some
little bubbles of a colorless gas.

Ions present Concentration (g/litre)

Ca2+ 0.10
Mg2+ 0.20
Na+ 0.01
K+ 2- 0.01
SO4 -
0.14
HCO3 0.26

(a) Identify the ion in the table which caused the reaction above to occur.

(1mark)
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(b) After the reaction observed above, the water was boiled before adding soap
solution. Explain the observation which was made. (2marks)
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6. Equal amounts of a clean magnesium and copper metals were burnt
separately in equal volume of air and both metals reacted completely with
the air;
(a) State and explain where there was greater change in volume of air. (2marks)
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(b) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between dilute sulphuric (vi) acid
and product of burnt copper (1mark)
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7. The diagram below shows an underground iron pipe connected to a block of

magnesium.

Explain the protective role played by the block of magnesium. (2marks)

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8. An organic compound had 37.21% Carbon, 7.75% Hydrogen and the rest
percentage was occupied by Chlorine.
(a) Determine the molecular formula of the compound given that the relative
molecular mass of the compound was 65. ( C=12.0, H=1.0, Cl=35.5 )
(3marks)
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(b) Draw the structural formula of the compound. (1mark)

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9. The diagram below is a schematic process of extracting Sulphur from its

underground deposit using three concentric pipes.

(a) Explain how a water temperature of 170oc would be attained for the process.

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(b) Give two reasons for using the hot compressed air. (2 marks)

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10. In the space provided below, draw a labelled diagram of the set up that can be
used to obtain crystals of sodium chloride from its solution. (3 marks)

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11. A certain match stick head contains potassium chlorate and sulphur. On
striking, the two substances react to produce sulphur (iv) oxide and Potasium
chloride. Explain the environmental effect of using such a match stick in large
scale. (2marks)

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12. The diagram below shows the arrangement of the apparatus used by a student
to study the reaction rate.

Describe how the weighing balance would be used to determine the reaction
rate. (3marks)

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13. The following two tests were carried out on chlorine water contained in two
separate test tubes.
(a) A piece of blue flower was dropped into the test tube 1. Explain why the flower
was bleached. (1mark)
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(b) The second test tube was corked and exposed to sunlight. After a few days, it
was found to contain some gas. Name the gas. (1mark)
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14. When a candle was completely burnt in air, carbon (iv) oxide and water were the
only products formed. Give reason for this observation. (1mark)

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15. The flow chart below shows the steps that air must pass through in order to
obtain some of its pure components

(a) Identify the substance that is removed at the filtration stage. (1mark)
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(b) Explain why fractional distillation would be necessary. (2marks)
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16. Explain effect of adding a catalyst to a system which is at a dynamic equilibrium.
(1mark)

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17. The table below shows the ammeter readings obtained when two different
electrolytes of the same concentration were tested.
Electrolyte Ammeter reading (Amps)
Hydrochloric acid 4.0
Ethanoic acid 1.2
Explain the difference observed in the ammeter readings
(2marks)
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18. (a) Study the radioactive decay series below and answer the questions that
follow.

I. Identify the nuclides which are

(i) Isotopes. (1mark)

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(ii) Isobars. (1mark)

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(b) Give the name of the nuclear reaction represented by the model shown
below. Give reason for your answer. (2marks)

I. Name:
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II. Reason:
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19. 66g of a sample of saturated solution was found to contain 18g of solute at
50oc. What is the solubility of this solute in 100g of water? (2marks)
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20. Tests carried out on an aqueous solution of solid X gave the following results:
(i) It formed a white precipitate with a little aqueous Sodium hydroxide which
dissolved in excess of the alkali.
(ii) If formed a white precipitate with lead (ii) nitrate solution which dissolved on
warming.

(a) What is an alkali? (1mark)

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(b) Identify Solid X. (1mark)

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(c) What observation would be made if solution X is mixed with aqueous

Barium nitrate. (1mark)

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21. Use the information given below to answer the questions that follow.
Bond Bond energy (kJ/mol)
C - Cl 339
C - Br 280
C-I 230

(a) Explain the trend in bond energies. (2marks)

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(b) Give an appropriate value for the energy of C-H bond. (1mark)

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22. Use the part of the periodic table below to answer the questions that follow. The
letters do not represent the actual symbols of the elements.

(a) Mark by shading, the position of the halogens in the table. (1mark)
(b) Name the structure and the bond formed when M and P reacts to form a
compound. (2marks)
Structure ……………………………………………… Bond……………………………

(a) Identify an element in the table which does not form compounds.
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23. The dissociation of Dinitrogen tetraoxide can be represented by the
equilibrium equation below.
N2O4(g) 2NO2(g) ; ∆H = +ve
(Pale yellow) (Dark brown)

(a) What information does the sign of ∆H convey about the equilibrium?
(1mark)

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(b) If the mixture of the two gases is at equilibrium in a closed tube, what
would be observed when the mixture is cooled? (1mark)

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24. (a) The graph shown below represents the variation of the volume of a fixed
mass of gas with temperature.

(i) Using a tick (√), mark the absolute Zero temperature on the graph.
(½marks)
(ii) Identify the gas law represented by the graph. (½marks)
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(b) Given that a fixed mass of a gas has 210dm3 at a temperature of -23oc and
650mmHg, determine the temperature that 405dm3 of the gas would
occupy at 680mmHg. (3marks)

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25. Aluminium chloride solution turns blue litmus paper to red. Explain this
observation. (2marks)

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26. (a) Natural polymers of industrial importance include Cellulose, silk and wool.
Give one sources of cellulose. (1mark)

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(b) Rubber is a polymer of –methylbut-1,3-diene monomers also known as
isoprene. Study the reaction scheme below and answer the questions that
follow.

(i) Give the name of the type of polymerization process which is shown
above. (1mark)

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(ii) Given that the Relative molecular mass of Rubber is at least 2000. Find
the minimum value of n in the equation. (C=12.0, H=1.0) (2marks)

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27. (a) A few drops of freshly prepared iron (II) sulphate solution were added to
sodium nitrate solution in a test tube. Concentrated sulphuric (VI) acid was
then carefully added to the mixture. State the observation that was made.
(1 mark)
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(b) Write an equation for the reaction that occurs when solid sodium nitrate is
strongly heated. (1 mark)
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28. The diagram below represent a set up which was used to prepare and collect a
dry gas in the laboratory.

(a) Write the chemical formula of liquid Q. (1mark)

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(b) Give one use of gas K. Explain how the use is related to the method of
collection. (2marks)

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29. Use the reaction equations given below to answer the questions that follow.
The letters do not represent the actual symbols of the elements.
D(s) + E2+(aq) D2+(aq) + E(s)
D(s) + 2F+(aq) D2+(aq) + 2F(s)
E(s) + 2F+(aq) E2+(aq) + 2F(s)

(a) What name is given to the type of reactions above? (1mark)

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(b) Arrange the elements D, E and F in order of their reactivity starting with
the most reactive. (1mark)
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(c) Identify the strongest reducing agent. (1mark)

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