CIE AS Chemistry

Topic Questions

ASChemistryCIETopic Questions2. Inorganic Chemistry2.2 Group 2

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2020

Last exams 2024

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2.2 Group 2

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11 mark

Samples of barium and calcium are added separately to beakers of cold water which contain a few drops of litmus solution.

Which observations will be made with only the calcium and not with the barium?

1

A gas is evolved

2

A white suspension appears in the water 

3

The solution turns blue

  • 1 only

  • 2 only

  • 1 and 2

  • 1, 2 and 3

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21 mark

The sketch graph shows the variation of one physical or chemical property with another for the Group II elements.

Use of the periodic table is relevant to this question.

2-2-cie-ial-chemistry-diagram-q2easy

What are the correct labels for the axes?

 

X-axis

Y-axis

A

B

C

D

First ionisation energy

First ionisation energy

Atomic number

Atomic number

Atomic number

Atomic radius 

Melting point 

Mass number

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31 mark

X is a Group II metal. It forms a hydroxide which is more soluble than calcium hydroxide. It forms a sulfate which is more soluble than barium sulfate.

What could be the identity of X?

1

Strontium

2

Beryllium

3

Magnesium

  • 1 only

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1, 2 and 3

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41 mark

The group I metals have lower melting points than the Group II metals.

Which factors result in Group II metals having higher melting points?

1

Group II metals have higher first ionisation energy than the corresponding group I metal.

2

There are smaller interatomic distances in the metallic lattices of the Group II metals.

3

More electrons are available from each Group II metal atom for bonding the atom into the metallic lattice.

  • 1 only

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1, 2 and 3

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51 mark

Pieces of pure solid magnesium and calcium are burned separately with oxygen. 

Pieces of pure solid magnesium and calcium are then reacted separately with cold water.

Which row correctly describes the observations from these reactions?

 

Magnesium with oxygen

Calcium with oxygen

Magnesium with cold water

Calcium with cold water

A

B

C

D

white flame 

red flame 

red flame

white flame 

red flame 

white flame 

white flame 

red flame

rapid bubbling

rapid bubbling

slow bubbling

slow bubbling

slow bubbling

slow bubbling

rapid bubbling

rapid bubbling

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61 mark

What happens when a piece of strontium is placed in cold water?

  • A vigorous effervescence occurs.

  • Bubbles of gas form slowly on the strontium.

  • The strontium floats on the surface of the water and reacts quickly.

  • The strontium glows, and a white solid is produced.

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71 mark

When barium is burnt in oxygen, what colour is the flame?

  • Green

  • White

  • Red

  • Yellow

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81 mark

Which statements about calcium oxide are correct?

1

It is produced when calcium nitrate is heated.

2

It can be reduced by heating with magnesium.

3

It reacts with cold water.

  • 1 only

  • 1 and 2

  • 1 and 3

  • 2 and 3

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91 mark

The oxides BaO, CaO, MgO and SrO all produce alkaline solutions when added to water.

Which oxide produces a saturated solution with the highest pH?

  • BaO (aq)

  • CaO (aq)

  • MgO (aq)

  • SrO (aq)

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101 mark

Rat poison needs to be insoluble in rainwater but soluble at the low pH of stomach contents.

What is a suitable barium compound to use for rat poison?

  • Barium carbonate

  • Barium chloride

  • Barium hydroxide

  • Barium sulfate

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11 mark

Solids Q, R, S and T are compounds of two different Group II metals. A few of the uses of these are detailed below. 

Compound Q is used as a refractory lining material in kilns. 

Compound R is used as a building material. It can also be heated in a kiln to form compound S. When S is hydrated; it forms compound T, which is used agriculturally to treat soils. 

Which statements about these compounds are correct?

1

More acid is neutralised by 1.0 g of R than by 1.0 g of Q

2

The Mr of R is greater than the Mr of S by 44.0

3

The metallic element in S reacts with cold water more rapidly than the metallic element in Q

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1 only

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21 mark

An anhydrous nitrate of a Group II metal was thermally decomposed. 6.00 g was used, and 3.06 g of gas was produced. 

Use of the periodic table is relevant to this question.

What is the nitrate compound?

  • Beryllium nitrate

  • Strontium nitrate

  • Magnesium nitrate

  • Calcium nitrate

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31 mark

A mixture of 2 Group II elements, Y, were thermally decomposed.

This reaction produced a white solid and only two gaseous products. One of the gaseous products relights a glowing splint. 

What could be the components of mixture Y?

  • MgCl2 and CaCO3

  • MgCO3 and Ca(NO3)2

  • MgO and CaSO4

  • Mg(NO3)2 and Ca(NO3)2

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41 mark

Use of the periodic table is relevant to this question.

Thermal decomposition of anhydrous magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO3)2, gives a white solid and a mixture of two gases R and S.

S is oxygen.


What is the ratio fraction numerator m a s s space o f space bold italic R space r e l e a s e d over denominator m a s s space o f bold space bold italic S space r e l e a s e d end fraction ?

  • begin mathsize 16px style fraction numerator 1 over denominator 0.267 end fraction end style

  • fraction numerator 1 over denominator 0.174 end fraction

  • fraction numerator 1 over denominator 0.348 end fraction

  • fraction numerator size 16px 1 over denominator size 16px 3 size 16px. size 16px 43 end fraction

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51 mark

When equal volumes of saturated solutions of barium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide are mixed, a white precipitate, Y, forms. The mixture is filtered, and carbon dioxide is bubbled through the filtrate, producing a second white precipitate, Z. 

What are Y and Z?

 

Y

Z

A

B

C

D

Ba(OH)2

Ba(OH)2

Ca(OH)2

Ca(OH)2

Ca(OH)2

CaCO3

BaCO3

Ba(OH)2

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61 mark

A colourless solution was formed when metal Y was reacted with water. This solution then gave a white precipitate when mixed with aqueous sulfuric acid.

What is metal Y?

  • Potassium

  • Magnesium

  • Barium

  • Sodium

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71 mark

A student performs several experiments on element Y, an alkaline earth metal to determine its identity and the following observations are made:

1

When added to water, Y-hydroxide dissolves in water.
2

When added to water, Y-sulfate produces a white precipitate.
3

In order to thermally decompose Y-nitrate, more heat is required than to thermally decompose strontium nitrate.
4

When burned in oxygen Y will readily become YO.

What is the identity of element Y?

  • Beryllium

  • Barium

  • Calcium

  • Magnesium

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81 mark

Group II metal carbonates can be used as fire retardants as they thermally decompose producing CO2. The CO2 removes the oxygen from the fire. Three minerals each having a mixture of two Group II metal carbonates could be used as fire retardants.

               Barytocite     BaCa(CO3)2 

               Dolomite        CaMg(CO3)2

               Huntite                 Mg3Ca(CO3)4

What is the order of effectiveness as a fire retardant, from best to worst?

 

Best                negative negative negative negative negative rightwards arrow                Worst

A

B

C

D

Dolomite

Dolomite

Huntite 

Huntite

Barytocite

Huntite 

Dolomite

Barytocite

Huntite

Barytocite

Barytocite

Dolomite

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91 mark

Thermal decomposition of the nitrates of beryllium, calcium, magnesium, and strontium produce the same products. When 4.00 g of one of these anhydrous nitrates is decomposed, 2.64 g of gas is produced. 

Use of the periodic table is relevant to this question.

What is the nitrate?

  • Beryllium nitrate

  • Magnesium nitrate

  • Calcium nitrate

  • Strontium nitrate

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101 mark

In which row of the table are all statements comparing magnesium and barium correct?

 

First ionisation energy of magnesium

First ionisation energy of barium

Reaction of magnesium with oxygen

Reaction of barium with oxygen

A

B

C

D

lower

lower

higher 

higher

higher

higher

lower

lower

faster

slower

faster 

slower

slower

faster

slower

faster

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11 mark

When a firework is lit a fuel, and an oxidising agent reacts.

In such a firework, magnesium is the fuel, and barium nitrate is the oxidising agent. 

Which solid products are produced when the firework is lit?

1

BaO

2

MgO

3

Mg(NO3)2

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1 only

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21 mark

Group II nitrates undergo thermal decomposition according to the following equation.

X(NO3)2 rightwards arrow XO + 2NO2 + 1 half O2

Which Group II nitrate requires the highest temperature to bring about its thermal decomposition?

  • Barium nitrate

  • Calcium nitrate

  • Magnesium nitrate

  • Strontium nitrate

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31 mark

The diagram shows some applications of compounds of Group II elements.

2-2-cie-ial-chemistry-diagram-q3medium

Which numbered links are correct?

 

Magnesium oxide

Calcium carbonate

A

B

C

D

4 and 5 only

4 and 6 only

5 only

6 only

1, 2 and 3

1, 2 and 3

1 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

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41 mark

Which mass of solid residue will be obtained from the thermal decomposition of 5.10 g of anhydrous calcium nitrate?

Use of the periodic table is relevant to this question.

  • 0.70 g

  • 0.87 g

  • 1.40 g

  • 1.74 g

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51 mark

Thermal decomposition of magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO3)2, produces a white solid and a mixture of gases. One of the gases released is oxygen. 

32.3 g of anhydrous magnesium nitrate is heated until no further reaction takes place. 

Use of the periodic table is relevant to this question.

What is the mass of oxygen produced?

  • 8.32 g

  • 3.52 g

  • 12.48 g

  • 19.2 g

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61 mark

In agriculture, lime can be added to damp soil to change the pH. This can be followed by the addition of a nitrogenous fertiliser ammonium sulfate. This will result in a chemical reaction in the soil. 

Which substances were formed in this reaction?

1

Sulfuric acid

2

Calcium sulfate

3

Ammonia

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 2

  • 2 and 3

  • 1 only

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71 mark

As you go down Group II, what are the trends in the properties in the table below?

 

Decomposition temperature of the carbonate

First ionisation energy

A

B

C

D

Decreases

Decreases

Increases

Increases

Decreases

Increases

Increases

Decreases

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81 mark

When quicklime, water and sand are mixed, it makes lime mortar. Lime mortar hardens over time. Aqueous hydrochloric acid reacts with fresh and old lime mortar, but only the old lime mortar effervesces during the reaction. 

Which equation describes the change from fresh to old lime mortar?

  • CaO + CO2 rightwards arrow CaCO3

  • Ca(OH)2 + CO2 rightwards arrow CaCO3 + H2O

  • Ca(OH)2 rightwards arrow CaO + H2O

  • CaO + H2O rightwards arrow Ca(OH)2

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91 mark

A compound was thermally decomposed to a constant mass; this gave off a colourless gas that reacted with limewater. The limewater went cloudy. The solid that was left was allowed to cool, and aqueous hydrochloric acid added, a vigorous effervescence was seen.

Use of the periodic table is relevant to this question.

What was the mineral compound?

  • Barytocalcite, BaCO3.CaCO3

  • Artinite, MgCO3.Mg(OH)2.3H2O

  • Aragonite, CaCO3

  • Dolomite, CaCO3.MgCO3

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101 mark

Thermal decomposition of compound S releases carbon dioxide gas and forms a white solid, T. S and T are not soluble in water. Compound T is used as a refractory kiln lining.

What is compound S?

  • CaCO3

  • MgCO3

  • CaO

  • MgO

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