S1.1 Introduction to the particulate nature of matter questions for IB Chemistry
90 questions on Introduction to the particulate nature of matter, written by Augment in the style of IB exam papers. Six of them are below in full, to answer on paper.
- IB Chemistry
- Part of S1 Models of the particulate nature of matter
- SL and HL
Questions by paper and level
SL and HL questions are for students at either level. HL only questions cover what only HL students study.
| Paper | SL and HL | HL only | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1A | 40 | 1 | 41 |
| Paper 1B | 16 | 2 | 18 |
| Paper 2 | 28 | 3 | 31 |
| Every paper | 84 | 6 | 90 |
Counted on
Questions to try
Written by Augment in the style of IB exams, not past papers. Answer them on paper, then check each one against its markscheme with a free account.
Which substance is a compound?
A student determined the melting point of tin from a cooling curve.
25 g of tin pellets were melted in a boiling tube heated by a Bunsen burner.
The heat was removed and a thermocouple connected to a data logger was placed in the molten tin.
The temperature was recorded every 30 s as the tin cooled and solidified.
Time / s | Temperature / °C ± 0.1 °C |
|---|---|
0 | 268.4 |
30 | 255.1 |
60 | 243.0 |
90 | 233.6 |
120 | 229.8 |
150 | 230.9 |
180 | 231.0 |
210 | 230.9 |
240 | 230.8 |
270 | 230.6 |
300 | 230.2 |
330 | 224.7 |
360 | 214.9 |
390 | 206.3 |
- (a)
State the melting point of tin obtained from these data.
1 mark
- (b)
Explain why the temperature stays almost constant between 150 s and 300 s.
2 marks
- (c)
The literature value of the melting point of tin is 231.9 °C. Calculate the percentage error in the student's value.
1 mark
- (d)
Suggest why the temperature at 120 s is lower than the temperatures recorded between 150 s and 270 s.
1 mark
- (e)
The thermocouple was later found to read 1.0 °C too low at every temperature. State the type of error this causes and deduce the corrected melting point.
2 marks
- (f)
Suggest why this method could not be used to determine the melting point of iron in a school laboratory.
1 mark
Iodine can be separated from a mixture of iodine crystals and sand by gently heating the mixture in an evaporating basin covered with an inverted glass funnel. A purple vapour forms, and dark grey crystals collect on the cool inner surface of the funnel. The sand remains in the basin.
- (a)
State, giving a reason, whether the mixture of iodine and sand is homogeneous or heterogeneous.
1 mark
- (b)
State the term for the change of state when the iodine crystals form a vapour.
1 mark
- (c)
State the term for the change of state when the crystals form on the funnel.
1 mark
- (d)
Explain, in terms of the particles present, why gentle heating separates the iodine from the sand.
2 marks
- (e)
Outline why this is a physical, not a chemical, method of separation.
1 mark
Which is a homogeneous mixture?
A student determined the freezing point of stearic acid (octadecanoic acid). A boiling tube containing molten stearic acid was taken out of a hot water bath and clamped in air. A temperature probe in the stearic acid recorded the temperature every 30 s.
Time / s ± 1 s | Temperature / °C ± 0.1 °C |
|---|---|
0 | 85.0 |
30 | 80.2 |
60 | 76.1 |
90 | 72.6 |
120 | 69.8 |
150 | 67.9 |
180 | 68.9 |
210 | 69.0 |
240 | 69.0 |
270 | 68.9 |
300 | 68.9 |
330 | 68.8 |
360 | 68.6 |
390 | 67.2 |
420 | 64.0 |
450 | 60.9 |
480 | 58.3 |
- (a)
Determine the freezing point of the stearic acid from the data.
1 mark
- (b)
State the physical state(s) of the stearic acid at 60 s, at 240 s and at 450 s.
1 mark
- (c)
Explain why the temperature stays almost constant between 180 s and 330 s, even though the tube is losing heat to the surroundings.
2 marks
- (d)
The reading at 150 s is lower than the readings that follow it. Suggest an explanation.
2 marks
- (e)
State the freezing point determined in (a) in kelvin.
1 mark
- (f)
The literature value of the freezing point of stearic acid is 69.3 °C. Calculate the percentage error in the student's value.
1 mark
- (g)
Suggest a reason, other than random error, why the student's value is lower than the literature value.
1 mark
- (h)
Suggest one modification that would give a more clearly defined horizontal section on a graph of these data.
1 mark
A sample of ice at −20 °C is heated at a constant rate at 101 kPa until it has all been converted into steam at 120 °C.
- (a)
Sketch a graph of temperature against time for this process. Label the state or states present in each section.
3 marks
- (b)
Explain why the temperature stays constant while the ice melts, even though heat is still being supplied.
2 marks
- (c)
State the final temperature, 120 °C, in kelvin.
1 mark
- (d)
Describe the changes in the arrangement and movement of the water molecules when liquid water becomes steam.
2 marks
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The notes on S1.1 Introduction to the particulate nature of matter
More questions in Models of the particulate nature of matter
- S1.1Introduction to the particulate nature of matterThis page
- S1.2The nuclear atom
- S1.3Electron configurations
- S1.4Counting particles by mass: the mole
- S1.5Ideal gases
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