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Date May 2019 Marks available 2 Reference code 19M.2.sl.TZ1.6
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone TZ1
Command term Calculate Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

This question is about iron.

State the nuclear symbol notation, Z A X , for iron-54.

[1]
a.

Mass spectrometry analysis of a sample of iron gave the following results:

Calculate the relative atomic mass, Ar, of this sample of iron to two decimal places.

[2]
b.

An iron nail and a copper nail are inserted into a lemon.

Explain why a potential is detected when the nails are connected through a voltmeter.

[2]
c.

Markscheme

26 54 Fe   []

a.

«Ar =» 54 × 0.0584 + 56 × 0.9168 + 57 × 0.0217 + 58 × 0.0031
OR
«Ar =» 55.9111  [✔]

«Ar =» 55.91 [✔]

Notes:

Award [2] for correct final answer.
Do not accept data booklet value (55.85).

b.

lemon juice is the electrolyte
OR
lemon juice allows flow of ions
OR
each nail/metal forms a half-cell with the lemon juice  [✔]

Note: Accept “lemon juice acts as a salt bridge”.

Any one of:
iron is higher than copper in the activity series
OR
each half-cell/metal has a different redox/electrode potential  [✔]

Note: Accept “iron is more reactive than copper”.

iron is oxidized
OR
Fe → Fe2+ + 2e
OR
Fe → Fe3+ + 3e
OR
iron is anode/negative electrode of cell  [✔]

copper is cathode/positive electrode of cell
OR
reduction occurs at the cathode
OR
2H+ + 2e → H2  [✔]

electrons flow from iron to copper  [✔]

 

Notes:
Accept “lemon juice acts as a salt bridge”.
Accept “iron is more reactive than copper”.

c.

Examiners report

The nuclear symbol notation was generally correct. However, some students swapped atomic and mass numbers and hence lost the mark.

a.

Calculation of RAM was generally correctly calculated, but some candidates did not give their answer to two decimal places while they should use the provided periodic table.

b.

Very few students gained the 2 marks available for explaining the potential generated in the lemon as they didn’t realise it was the lemon that acted as the electrolyte and allowed ions to flow. Some were able to gain a mark for explaining that electrons moved from iron to copper as iron is more reactive.

c.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 2: Atomic structure » 2.1 The nuclear atom
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