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Date May 2022 Marks available 1 Reference code 22M.2.sl.TZ1.2
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone TZ1
Command term State Question number 2 Adapted from N/A

Question

Ammonia, NH3, is industrially important for the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives and plastics.

Ammonia is produced by the Haber–Bosch process which involves the equilibrium:

N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g)  2 NH3 (g)

The effect of temperature on the position of equilibrium depends on the enthalpy change of the reaction.

Ammonia is soluble in water and forms an alkaline solution:

NH3 (g) + H2O (l) NH4+ (aq) + HO– (aq)

Draw arrows in the boxes to represent the electron configuration of a nitrogen atom.

[1]
a.

Draw the Lewis (electron dot) structure of the ammonia molecule.

[1]
b.

Deduce the expression for the equilibrium constant, Kc, for this equation.

[1]
c(i).

Explain why an increase in pressure shifts the position of equilibrium towards the products and how this affects the value of the equilibrium constant, Kc.

[2]
c(ii).

State how the use of a catalyst affects the position of the equilibrium.

[1]
c(iii).

Determine the enthalpy change, ΔH, for the Haber–Bosch process, in kJ. Use Section 11 of the data booklet.

[3]
d(i).

Calculate the enthalpy change, ΔH, for the Haber–Bosch process, in kJ, using the following data.

H fNH3=-46.2kJmol-1.

[1]
d(ii).

Suggest why the values obtained in (d)(i) and (d)(ii) differ.

[1]
d(iii).

State the relationship between NH4+ and NH3 in terms of the Brønsted–Lowry theory.

[1]
e(i).

Determine the concentration, in mol dm–3, of the solution formed when 900.0 dm3 of NH3 (g) at 300.0 K and 100.0 kPa, is dissolved in water to form 2.00 dm3 of solution. Use sections 1 and 2 of the data booklet.

[2]
e(ii).

Calculate the concentration of hydroxide ions in an ammonia solution with pH = 9.3. Use sections 1 and 2 of the data booklet.

[1]
e(iii).

Markscheme

 

Accept all 2p electrons pointing downwards.

Accept half arrows instead of full arrows.

a.

 

Accept lines or dots or crosses for electrons, or a mixture of these

 

b.

Kc=NH32N2H23 ✔

c(i).

shifts to the side with fewer moles «of gas»
OR
shifts to right as there is a reduction in volume✔

«value of » Kc unchanged ✔

 

Accept “Kc only affected by changes in temperature”.

c(ii).

same/unaffected/unchanged ✔

c(iii).

bonds broken: N≡N + 3(H–H) / «1 mol×»945 «kJ mol–1» + 3«mol»×436 «kJ mol–1» / 945 «kJ» + 1308 «kJ» / 2253 «kJ» ✔

bonds formed: 6(N–H) / 6«mol»×391 «kJ mol–1» / 2346 «kJ» ✔

ΔH = «2253 kJ – 2346 kJ = » –93 «kJ» ✔

 

Award [2 max] for (+)93 «kJ»

d(i).

–92.4 «kJ» ✔

d(ii).

«N-H» bond enthalpy is an average «and may not be the precise value in NH3» ✔


Accept it relies on average values not specific to NH3

d(iii).

conjugate «acid and base» ✔

e(i).

amount of ammonia =P.VR.T=100.0kPa×900.0dm38.31JK-1mol-1×300.0K = 36.1 «mol» ✔

concentration =nV=36.12.00=18.1 «moldm-3» ✔

 

Award [2] for correct final answer.

e(ii).

[OH=KWH+=10-1410-9.3=10-4.7=2.0 × 10-5 moldm-3 ✔

e(iii).

Examiners report

Most students realised that the three p-orbitals were all singly filled.

a.

Even more candidates could draw the correct Lewis structure of ammonia, with omission of the lone pair being the most common error.

b.

Most students could deduce the equilibrium constant expression from the equilibrium equation.

c(i).

Many students realised that increasing pressure shifts an equilibrium to the side with the most moles of gas (though the "of gas" was frequently omitted!) but probably less than half realised that, even though the equilibrium position changes, the value of the equilibrium constant remains constant.

c(ii).
[N/A]
c(iii).

It was pleasing to see that about a third of students gaining full marks and an equal number only lost a single mark because they failed to locate the correct bond enthalpy for molecular nitrogen.

d(i).

Very few students could determine the enthalpy change from enthalpy of formation data, with many being baffled by the absence of values for the elemental reactants and more than half who overcame this obstacle failed to note that 2 moles of ammonia are produced.

d(ii).
[N/A]
d(iii).

About half the candidates recognised the species as a conjugate acid-base pair, though some lost the mark by confusing the acid and base, even though this information was not asked for.

e(i).

About 40% of candidates gained full marks for the calculation and a significant number of others gained the second mark to calculate the concentration as an ECF.

e(ii).

This question was very poorly answered with many candidates calculating the [H+] instead of [OH-].

e(iii).

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 8: Acids and bases » 8.1 Theories of acids and bases
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