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Date May 2022 Marks available 1 Reference code 22M.1.sl.TZ1.17
Level SL Paper 1 Time zone TZ1
Command term State Question number 17 Adapted from N/A

Question

A student was investigating rates of reaction. In which of the following cases would a colorimeter show a change in absorbance?

A.  KBr (aq) + Cl2 (aq)

B.  Cu (s) + Na2SO4 (aq)

C.  HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq)

D.  (CH3)3COH (aq) + K2Cr2O7 (aq)

Markscheme

A

Examiners report

Question 17 was the question about the colorimeter), which many teachers felt was unfair, and only 22% of students gave the correct answer. The complaints about the question were often based on the lack of familiarity with the colorimeter. However, Chemistry is a practical course and student should be exposed to a piece of equipment such as this. Also, it was felt that there was a lot to process in this question. Although answer C could fairly easily be eliminated as there is no colour change. Students then had to recognize that in D, alcohol oxidation would result in a colour change from orange to green, except that it is a tertiary alcohol. This left A and B. A is of course the right answer as chlorine replaces bromine, but if B actually happened, there would also be a colour change from clear to blue. So, students needed to remember that copper is below sodium on the activity series.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 6: Chemical kinetics » 6.1 Collision theory and rates of reaction
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Core » Topic 6: Chemical kinetics
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