After heating 3.760 g of a silver oxide 3.275 g of silver remained. Determine the empirical formula of Ag_xO_y.

Suggest why the final mass of solid obtained by heating 3.760 g of Ag_xO_y may be greater than 3.275 g giving one design improvement for your proposed suggestion. Ignore any possible errors in the weighing procedure.

Naturally occurring silver is composed of two stable isotopes, ¹⁰⁷Ag and ¹⁰⁹Ag.

The relative atomic mass of silver is 107.87. Show that isotope ¹⁰⁷Ag is more abundant.

Some oxides of period 3, such as Na₂O and P₄O₁₀, react with water. A spatula measure of each oxide was added to a separate 100 cm³ flask containing distilled water and a few drops of bromothymol blue indicator.

The indicator is listed in section 22 of the data booklet.

Deduce the colour of the resulting solution and the chemical formula of the product formed after reaction with water for each oxide.

Explain the electrical conductivity of molten Na₂O and P₄O₁₀.

Outline the model of electron configuration deduced from the hydrogen line emission spectrum (Bohr’s model).

n(Ag) = «\(\frac{{3.275{\text{ g}}}}{{107.87{\text{ g}}\,{\text{mol}}}} = \)» 0.03036 «mol»

AND

n(O) = «\(\frac{{3.760{\text{ g}} - 3.275{\text{ g}}}}{{16.00{\text{ g}}\,{\text{mo}}{{\text{l}}^{ - 1}}}} = \frac{{0.485}}{{16.00}} = \)» 0.03031 «mol»

«\(\frac{{0.03036}}{{0.03031}} \approx 1\) / ratio of Ag to O approximately 1 : 1, so»

AgO

Accept other valid methods for M1.

Award [1 max] for correct empirical formula if method not shown.

[2 marks]

temperature too low
OR
heating time too short
OR
oxide not decomposed completely

heat sample to constant mass «for three or more trials»

Accept “not heated strongly enough”.

If M1 as per markscheme, M2 can only be awarded for constant mass technique.

Accept "soot deposition" (M1) and any suitable way to reduce it (for M2).

Accept "absorbs moisture from atmosphere" (M1) and "cool in dessicator" (M2).

Award [1 max] for reference to impurity AND design improvement.

[2 marks]

A_r closer to 107/less than 108 «so more ¹⁰⁷Ag»
OR
A_r less than the average of (107 + 109) «so more ¹⁰⁷Ag»

Accept calculations that gives greater than 50% ¹⁰⁷Ag.

[1 mark]

Do not accept name for the products.

Accept “Na⁺ + OH^–” for NaOH.

Ignore coefficients in front of formula.

[3 marks]

«molten» Na₂O has mobile ions/charged particles AND conducts electricity

«molten» P₄O₁₀ does not have mobile ions/charged particles AND does not conduct electricity/is poor conductor of electricity

Do not award marks without concept of mobile charges being present.

Award [1 max] if type of bonding or electrical conductivity correctly identified in each compound.

Do not accept answers based on electrons.

Award [1 max] if reference made to solution.

[2 marks]

electrons in discrete/specific/certain/different shells/energy levels

energy levels converge/get closer together at higher energies
OR
energy levels converge with distance from the nucleus

Accept appropriate diagram for M1, M2 or both.

Do not give marks for answers that refer to the lines in the spectrum.

[2 marks]