Topic 1 - Experimental Techniques

Basic Questions
Basic Question 1
Topic 1

Know the apparatus needed for a given experiment

G,T

a) A student was asked to measure the time taken for 3.00 g of calcium carbonate to react completely with
excess of dilute sulphuric acid.
What pieces of apparatus did the student use?
[-A-]
Pipette, balance and thermometer.
[-B-]
Pipette, clock and balance.
[-C-]
Clock, pipette and thermometer.
[-D-]
Clock, thermometer and balance.
[-E-]
Clock, balance, thermometer and pipette.
Topic 1

Know the apparatus needed for a given experiment

T, G

b) A student carried out an experiment to find out how fast 4 cm pieces of magnesium ribbon dissolve in
25 cm3 samples of hydrochloric acid at different temperatures.
Which piece of apparatus did the student not use?
[-A-]
Measuring cylinder
[-B-]
Thermometer
[-C-]
Balance
[-D-]
Clock
[-E-]
Balance and thermometer
Basic Question 2
Topic 1

Know method of obtaining crystals from a salt solution

The method that can be used to obtain crystals of aqueous copper (II) sulphate is:
[-A-]
electrolysis
[-B-]
fractional distillation
[-C-]
neutralization
[-D-]
chromatography
[-E-]
crystallization

Basic Question 3
Topic 1

Know the importance of a thermometer in fractional

distillation

Fractional distillation and chromatography are techniques used for separation of compounds. Which
method requires the use of thermometer to check that complete separation is done?
[-A-]
Chromatographic separation of two colored liquids.
[-B-]
Chromatographic separation of two colorless solids.
[-C-]
Fractional distillation of two colored solids.
[-D-]
Fractional distillation of two colorless liquids.
[-E-]
Fractional distillation of two colorless solids.
Basic Question 4
Topic 1

Know the steps needed for separation of salt from a given

mixture

What is the correct order of steps required to separate salt from a mixture of sand?
[-A-]
shake with water filter evaporate
[-B-]
shake with water evaporate filter
[-C-]
shake with water decant boil
[-D-]
filter evaporate shake with water
[-E-]
filter shake with water evaporate
Basic Question 5
Topic 1

Know the separation technique used to test the presence of

coloring agents

A certain fruit drink, that is orange in color, contains a dissolved mixture of yellow and red coloring
agents. One of these coloring agents is suspected of being illegal.
What is the technique used to show the presence of the illegal coloring agent?
[-A-]
fractional distillation
[-B-]
crystallization
[-C-]
evaporation
[-D-]
chromatography
[-E-]
filtration

Basic Question 6
Topic 1

Know how to read a thermometer

G,T

The boiling point of liquid A is less than that of water. To test a student, a teacher covers the numbers on
the thermometer. The student then places the thermometer in boiling liquid X.
What is the temperature reading on the thermometer?

[-A-]
[-B-]
[-C-]
[-D-]
[-E-]

105.5C
65.5C
83.5C
104.5C
54.5C

Basic Question 7
Topic 1

Application on diffusion

The diagram shows the diffusion of hydrogen chloride and ammonia in a glass tube.
The gases are given off by the solutions at each end of the tube.
When hydrogen chloride and ammonia mix they produce a white solid, ammonium chloride. Which
line shows where the white solid is formed?
A

Cotton wool soaked

Cotton wool soaked

in concentrated hydrochloric

in concentrated ammonia

solution

solution

Basic Question 8
Topic 1

Know that Paper chromatography depends upon difference in

solubility in solvent and difference in absorbance on paper.

An experiment was done in the laboratory to separate a mixture of three dyes. On the chromatography
paper, a line was drawn and a spot of the mixture of dyes was placed on it. The paper was then dipped in
a suitable solvent for several minutes.

Which of the following statements is true about the above experiment?

[-A-]
The line is drawn in ink not in pencil.
[-B-]
The line is placed below the level of the solvent.
[-C-]
The dyes have different solubilities in the solvent.
[-D-]
The dyes have the same solubilities in the solvent.
[-E-]
The dyes have different boiling points.
Basic Question 9
Topic 1
Name the separation technique given the diagram of the
apparatus

The diagrams below are for three methods of separation.

1
2

What is the correct name of each method of separation?

1

2
4

[-A-]
[-B-]
[-C-]
[-D-]
[-E-]

distillation
chromatography
filtration
distillation
filtration

filtration
distillation
distillation
chromatography
chromatography

chromatography
filtration
chromatography
filtration
distillation

Basic Question 10
Topic 1

Identify a pure sample from a chromatogram

The diagram below shows results on a paper chromatogram of four substances V, X, Y and Z.

V
X
Which two substances are pure?
[-A-] V and Y
[-B-] X and V
[-C-] X and Z
[-D-] Y and Z
[-E-] V and Z

Basic Question 11
Topic 1

Know separation techniques needed for separation of a given

mixture

G, T

The following techniques are used to separate mixtures as given below.

filtration

fractional distillation

simple distillation

diffusion

crystallization

From the above list, choose the most suitable technique that can be used to separate the following:

1. Water from aqueous copper (II) sulphate.

simple distillation

2. Helium form a mixture of argon and helium

diffusion or fractional distillation

3. Copper (II) sulphate crystals from aqueous

copper (II) sulphate

crystallization

4. Ethanol from aqueous ethanol

fractional distillation

5. Barium sulphate from a mixture of barium

sulphate and water

filtration

6. Liquefied air into its components

fractional distillation

Basic Question 12
Topic 1

Application on Chromatography

1. A sample of protein contains amino acids that can be identified by chromatography.

The diagram below shows the chromatogram obtained when four samples of amino acids were analyzed.
The paper was then sprayed with ninhydrin.

(a) The origin line is drawn in pencil because pencil does not dissolve in solvent or does not interfere
with the results.
(b) The amino acids that are possibly the same are 1 and 3
(c) The sample of amino acid that contains more than one amino acid is sample 4 because there are
two spots present.
(d) It is important to spray the chromatogram with ninhydrin because amino acids are colorless. They
form a purple complex with ninhydrin so it becomes possible to show the position of amino
acids.

Topic 1

Application on Chromatography

2. The colors present in blackcurrant sweets can be separated by chromatography.

The colors in the sweets are said to be water-soluble dyes.
The diagrams below represent how the colors can be extracted from the sweets.

stirrer or glass rod

filter funnel
mortar

(a) Name the pieces of apparatus by filling in the empty boxes.

The diagram below shows how chromatography is done.

(b)
(i)

The solvent used is water

(ii)

On the diagram, using an arrow, label the origin.

Origin correctly labeled on the diagram i.e The dot

(c) Sketch on the box below the chromatogram you would get if three different colours were found in the
sweets.
[1]

Basic Question 13
Topic 1

Application on preparation and collection of gases

Sulphur dioxide is soluble in water and denser than air. A sample of this gas can be prepared by adding
dilute hydrochloric acid to sodium sulphite and warming the mixture. The diagram below represents the
apparatus used.

dilute hydrochloric acid

sodium sulphite

Heat
(a) Complete the boxes above to specify the chemicals used.
(b) Using an arrow, show on the diagram where heat is supplied.
(c) Complete the following table to identify and explain two mistakes in the diagram.
mistake 1
explanation
mistake 2
explanation

gas is passed through water

gas is soluble in water and cannot be passed through water
gas is collected by upward delivery
gas is denser than air and must be collected by downward delivery

Basic Question 14
Topic 1

Application on Fractional distillation

Fractional distillation is used to separate a mixture of water and ethanol. The diagram below is used to
carry out the separation in the laboratory.

a) Name each piece of apparatus.

A Thermometer
B Beaker
C Tripod
b) The function of D is to cool and condense the vapour.
c) How can you check the purity of ethanol collected?
Measure the boiling point; it must be sharp and fixed.

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Basic Question 15
Topic 1

Application on diffusion and kinetic particle model

A teacher placed a small amount of liquid bromine in the bottom of a sealed gas jar of air. After
three minutes red-brown fumes were seen just above the liquid surface. After one hour the redbrown colour had spread completely throughout the gas jar.

air

liquid
bromine
start

after 3 minutes

after 1 hour

Use the kinetic particle model of matter to explain these observations.

Bromine liquid evaporates, the more energetic molecules change into gas. Bromine
molecules diffuse in the air layer above the liquid. Bromine and air particles get mixed up.

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