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Date May 2009 Marks available 4 Reference code 09M.2.hl.TZ2.2
Level HL Paper 2 Time zone TZ2
Command term Determine and State Question number 2 Adapted from N/A

Question

Some of the most important processes in chemistry involve acid-base reactions.

Calculate the Ka value of benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, using Table 15 in the Data Booklet.

[1]
a.i.

Based on its Ka value, state and explain whether benzoic acid is a strong or weak acid.

[2]
a.ii.

Determine the hydrogen ion concentration and the pH of a 0.010 moldm3 benzoic acid solution. State one assumption made in your calculation.

[4]
a.iii.

Markscheme

Ka=6.310×105/6.31×105;

Accept 6.3 × 10–5.

a.i.

weak (acid);

Ka1/small Ka;

a.ii.

[H3O+]/[H+]=Ka×0.010;

[H3O+]/[H+]=7.9×104 (moldm3);

pH=3.10/3.1/3.12;

Award [3] for correct final answer of pH.

assume x0.010 (moldm3) / ionization of water is insignificant / [C6H5COOH]initial=[C6H5COOH]eq / temperature 25 °C /298 K;

a.iii.

Examiners report

Part (a) (i) proved to be a well known topic where only weaker candidates couldn’t finish the calculation.

a.i.

For (ii) although a significant number of candidates knew that benzoic acid was a weak acid, only the better candidates explained this based on the fact that Ka is 1.

a.ii.

Part (iii) was very well answered, but even the better candidates often forgot to state one assumption made in the calculation.

a.iii.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 10: Organic chemistry » 10.1 Fundamentals of organic chemistry
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