Name ………………………………… ADM Number……………………

Signature ……………………………….. Date …………………/…….………/…………

ST, MARY’S GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL – THIGIO
FORM 2 CHEMISTRY
AUGUST HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT 2025
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES.
1. Answer all the questions in the spaces provided after each.
2. All working must be clearly shown where necessary.
3. All answers should be written in English.
1. (a) Define the term ionization energy. (1 mark)
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(b) The table below shows the 1st ionization energy for elements F, G and H.
Element 1st ionization energy
F 494
G 519
H 418
(i) Which element has the smallest radius? Explain. (1 mark)
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(ii) Which element is the most reactive? Explain. (1 mark)
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2. (a) Give the meaning of the term isotopes. (1 mark)
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(b) Calculate the percentage abundance of lithium - 7 and lithium - 6 given that the relative atomic mass
of lithium is 6.94. (2 marks)
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3. (a) The atomic number of element Q is 16. Write the electron arrangement of the ion Q2-. (1mark)
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(b) Write the formula for the compound formed when sodium reacts with element Q. (1mark)
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(c) To which group and period of the periodic table does element Q belong? (2 marks).
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Group ………………………………………………
Period ………………………………………………
4. The table below shows the behavior of some metals W, X, Y and Z. Study it and answer the following
questions.
Metal Appearance on Reaction with water Reaction with
exposure to air hydrochloric acid
W Slowly tarnishes Slow Vigorous
X No change Does not react Does not react
Y Slowly turns white Vigorous Violent
Z No change No reaction Reacts moderately

(a) Arrange the metals in order of their reactivity starting with the least reactive. (1 mark)
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(b) Name a metal that is likely to be X. (1 mark)
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(c) Metal Z is in group II of the periodic table. Write an equation for the reaction of metal Z with dilute
hydrochloric acid. (1 mark)
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5. (a) Give the meaning of the term indicator. (1 mark)
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(b) Classify the following substance as acidic, basic or neutral. Wood ash, lemon juice and common
salt. (3 marks)
Acid Base Neutral

6. Solid of iron (III) chloride was heated in a test tube.

(a) Give the name of the process that takes place. (1 mark)
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(b) Name two other substances that undergo the process named in (a) above. (1 mark)
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(c) Write an equation to represent the process. (1 mark)
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7. A student accidentally mixed two solids of sodium chloride and copper (II) oxide.
(a) What is the colour of: (1 mark)
(i) Sodium chloride? …………………………………………………
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 (ii) Copper (II) oxide? ………………………………………………
(b) Describe a procedure that can be used to obtain the two solids separately. (2 marks)
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8. The table below represents part of the periodic table. The letters are not actual symbols of the elements.
Study it and answer the questions that follow.

(a) State the most unreactive element. (1 mark)

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(b) Compare the atomic radius of element N and P. Explain. (1 mark)
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(c) Write the formula of the nitride of M. (1 mark)
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9. Given that the atomic number of Y is 13 and that of Z is 9:
(a) Write the electronic arrangement of Y and Z; (1 mark)
Y …………………………………………………..
Z …………………………………………………..
(b) Draw the dot (.) and cross(x) diagram for the compound formed by Y and Z (2 marks)
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9. An ion is a particle formed when an atom either gains or loses electrons. Draw the structure of the most
stable ions of the following elements.
(a) Sodium (1 mark)
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 (b) Oxygen (1 mark)
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10. In an experiment, a burning magnesium ribbon was lowered into a gas jar full of oxygen gas.
(a) State the observation made. (1 mark)
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(b) Write the equation for the reaction that takes place. (1 mark)
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(c) Give one use of the product formed from the reaction. (1 mark)
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11. The set-up below was used in an experiment to determine the conditions necessary for rusting.

(a) In which set-up will the iron nails rust? Explain. (2 marks)
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(b) A large piece of magnesium buried in the ground and connected to an underground iron pipe
prevents the corrosion of the iron pipes. Explain. (1 mark)
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12. Describe an experiment that can be used to investigate that there is an increase in mass when
magnesium is burnt in air. (3 marks)
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13. A piece of sodium metal was placed in a beaker half-full of water.
(a) State two observations that were made. (2 marks)
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(b) Explain the observations you have mentioned in (a) above. (2 marks)
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(c) Write an equation for the reaction that takes place. (1 mark)
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(d) A few drops of phenolphthalein indicator were added to the resulting solution. State and explain the
observations that were made. (2 marks)
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(e) What observations would be made if a piece of calcium metal was used in the experiment instead of
sodium metal? (2 marks)
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14. Study the information in the table below and answer the following questions.
Substance Solubility in water Solubility in ethanol Effect on heating
Sodium chloride Soluble Insoluble No effect
Candle wax Insoluble Soluble Melts into a liquid
Sand Insoluble Insoluble No effect
Solid aluminium chloride Soluble Insoluble Sublimes

(a) Describe how a mixture of sodium chloride and sand can be separated. (3 marks)
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(b) A student was given a mixture of solid aluminium chloride and wax and asked to separate the
mixture.
(i) Explain why is not advisable to heat the mixture to separate it. (1 mark)
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(ii) Explain how the mixture can be separated. (2 marks)

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(c) State one application of crystallization as methods of separation. (1 mark)
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15. Matter can be classified as pure substances or mixtures.
(a) Give the meaning of the following terms that relate to matter. (2 marks)
(i) Atom
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(ii) Compound
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(b) Write the chemical formulae of the following compounds. (3 marks)
(i) Ammonium sulphate …………………………………………………….
(ii) Ammonia ……………………………………………………….
(iii) Sulphuric (VI) acid …………………………………………….
(c) Give the meaning of the term oxidation number. (1 mark)
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16. Acids and some metals react to give a colourless gas.
(a) Identify solution G and gas X in the following reaction. (2 marks)
Dilute sulphuric (VI) acid + zinc granules → solution G + gas X
Solution G: ………………………………………………………….
Gas X: ………………………………………………………….
(b) Write the chemical equation for the reaction taking place in (a) above. (1 mark)
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17. The table below shows pH values of solutions A, B, C, D and E
Solution pH
A 5.2
B 12.0
C 2.0
D 9.8
E 7.0
(a) Which of the solutions is likely to be: (2 marks)

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 (i) Ammonia solution ……………………………………………………….
(ii) Sodium hydroxide …………………………………………………….
(iii) Hydrochloric acid …………………………………………………….
(iv) Ethanoic acid ……………………………………………………………
18. The grid given below represents part of the periodic table. Study it answer the questions that follows.
The letters do not represent the actual symbols of the elements.

i) What name is given to the group of elements to which “C” and “F” belong? (1 mark)
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ii) Which letter represents the element that is least reactive? Explain. (2 marks)
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iii) What type of bond is formed when B and E reacts? Explain. (2 marks)
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19. A student left some crushed fruit mixture with water for some days. He found the mixture had
fermented. He concluded that the mixture was contaminated with water and ethanol with boiling point
of 100oC and 78oC respectively. The set-up of apparatus below are used to separate the mixture.

Thermometer B
Apparatus W

A
Conical

Mixture flask
Distillate

(i) Name the piece of apparatus labelled W (1mark)

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(ii) What is the purpose of the thermometer in the set-up? (1mark)
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 iii) At which end of the apparatus W should tap water be connected? (1mark)
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(iv) Which liquid was collected as the first distillate? Explain (2 marks)
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(v) What is the name given to the above method of separating mixture? (1mark)
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(vi) State two applications of the above method of separating mixtures (1mark)
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(vii) What properties of the mixture make it possible for the component to be separated
by the above methods? (2 marks)
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20. . a) The set-up below was used by a form three student to prepare a dry sample of gas M. Study
it and use it to answer the questions that follow:-
Dilute. HCl

Zn(s)

• Complete the diagram to show how a dry sample of gas M can be collected (3 marks)

(ii) State the identity of gas M (1mark)

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iii) state two industrial uses of gas M. (2 marks)
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b) What property of concentrated Sulphuric acid is being employed in the above preparation? (1mark) The set-
up below was used to investigate the properties of hydrogen

Lead (II) oxide

Blue flame
Dry hydrogen

Heat

Anhydrous Calcium Chloride

(i) State and explain the observations that was made in the combustion tube as the reaction progressed
to completion (2 marks)
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(ii) Write equations for the reactions;
I) In the combustion tube (1mark)
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II) At the jet of the delivery tube (1mark)
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21. . (I) Naturally occurring boron exists as two isotopes, boron-10 with a relative abundance of 20% and
boron-11 with a relative abundance of 80%.
(a) How many electrons does each atom of boron contain? (1 mark)
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(b) How many neutrons does each atom of the most abundant isotope contain? (1mark)
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(c) Calculate the relative atomic mass of boron. (3marks)
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 (d) Make a diagrammatic representation of an atom of the least abundant isotope of boron
showing the distribution of electrons and composition of the nucleus. (2 marks)
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II. Air was passed through several reagents as shown below:
Concentrated
Excess copper
Air sodium hydroxide
turnings
solution
hydroxide

Excess heated
Escaping magnesium
powder
gases

(a) Write an equation for the reaction which takes place in the chamber containing
Magnesium powder (1mark)
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(b) Name one gas which escapes from the chamber containing magnesium powder.
Give a reason for your answer (1mark)
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(c) State two industrial uses of hydrogen gas (2marks)

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This is the last printed page.

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