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Date May 2019 Marks available 1 Reference code 19M.3.sl.TZ1.2
Level SL Paper 3 Time zone TZ1
Command term Predict Question number 2 Adapted from N/A

Question

Powdered zinc was reacted with 25.00 cm3 of 1.000 mol dm−3 copper(II) sulfate solution in an insulated beaker. Temperature was plotted against time.

Estimate the time at which the powdered zinc was placed in the beaker.

[1]
a(i).

State what point Y on the graph represents.

[1]
a(ii).

The maximum temperature used to calculate the enthalpy of reaction was chosen at a point on the extrapolated (dotted) line.

State the maximum temperature which should be used and outline one assumption made in choosing this temperature on the extrapolated line.

 

Maximum temperature:

Assumption:

[2]
b(i).

To determine the enthalpy of reaction the experiment was carried out five times. The same volume and concentration of copper(II) sulfate was used but the mass of zinc was different each time. Suggest, with a reason, if zinc or copper(II) sulfate should be in excess for each trial.

[1]
b(ii).

The formula q = mcΔT was used to calculate the energy released. The values used in the calculation were m = 25.00 g, c = 4.18 J g−1 K−1.

State an assumption made when using these values for m and c.

[2]
b(iii).

Predict, giving a reason, how the final enthalpy of reaction calculated from this experiment would compare with the theoretical value.

[1]
b(iv).

Markscheme

100 «s»  [✔]

 

Note: Accept 90 to 100 s.

a(i).

highest recorded temperature
OR
when rate of heat production equals rate of heat loss  [✔]

 

Note: Accept “maximum temperature”.

Accept “completion/end point of reaction”.

a(ii).

Maximum temperature:
73 «°C»  [✔]

Assumption:
«temperature reached if» reaction instantaneous
OR
«temperature reached if reaction occurred» without heat loss  [✔]

 

Note: Accept “rate of heat loss is constant” OR “rate of temperature decrease is constant”.

b(i).

Any one of:
copper(II) sulfate AND mass/amount of zinc is independent variable/being changed.
OR
copper(II) sulfate AND with zinc in excess there is no independent variable «as amount of copper(II) sulfate is fixed»   [✔]

copper(II) sulfate AND having excess zinc will not yield different results in each trial  [✔]

zinc AND results can be used to see if amount of zinc affects temperature rise «so this can be allowed for» [✔]

zinc AND reduces variables/keeps the amount reacting constant  [✔]

b(ii).

 

Note: Accept “copper(II) sulfate/zinc sulfate” for “solution”.

b(iii).

lower/less exothermic/less negative AND heat loss/some heat not accounted for
OR
lower/less exothermic/less negative AND mass of reaction mixture greater than 25.00 g
OR
greater/more exothermic /more negative AND specific heat of solution less than water  [✔]

 

Note: Accept “temperature is lower” instead of “heat loss”.

Accept “similar to theoretical value AND heat losses have been compensated for”.

Accept “greater/more exothermic/more negative AND linear extrapolation overestimates heat loss”.

b(iv).

Examiners report

Almost all candidates identified 100 s as the time at which the reaction was initiated.

a(i).

Many students gained this mark through stating this was the highest temperature recorded, though even more took advantage of the acceptance of the completion of the reaction, expressed in many different ways. Very few answered that it was when heat loss equalled heat production.

a(ii).

Even though almost all students recognised 100 seconds as the start time of the reaction less than 50% chose the extrapolated temperature at this time. Predictably the most common answer was the maximum of the graph, followed closely by the intercept with the y-axis. With regard to reasons, again relatively few gained the mark, though most who did wrote “no loss of heat”, even though it was rare to find this preceded by “the temperature that would have been attained if …”.

b(i).

The correct answer depended on whether students considered the object of the additional trials was to investigate the effect of a new independent variable (excess copper(II) sulphate) or to obtain additional values of the same enthalpy change so they could be averaged (excess zinc). Answers that gave adequate reasons were rare.

b(ii).

Again relatively few gained these marks for stating that it was assumed the density and specific heat of the solution were the same as water.

b(iii).

Only about a third of the students correctly deduced that loss of heat to the environment means that the experimental value is lower than the theoretical one, though other answers, such as “higher because linear extrapolation over-compensates for the heat losses” were also accepted.

b(iv).

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 5: Energetics/thermochemistry » 5.1 Measuring energy changes
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