IB Questionbank Chemistry1

1.The initial products of the fractional distillation of oil often undergo cracking. This can be carried out in a number of ways. State the major reason for choosing each of the following techniques.

Catalytic cracking:

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

Thermal cracking:

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

Steam cracking:

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

(Total 3 marks)

2.Steel is a vital structural material in modern society. Some of it is obtained from recycled iron and steel, but much of it is produced from iron ore using a blast furnace.

(a)Outline the process by which iron, produced in a blast furnace, is converted to steel.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(3)

(b)Describe one heat treatment of steel and the way in which it alters the physical properties of steel.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(2)

(c)State one negative impact that the production of iron and steel has on the environment.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(1)

(Total 6 marks)

3.Liquid-crystal displays are used in digital watches, calculators and laptops.

Describe the liquid-crystal state, in terms of molecular arrangement, and explain what happens as temperature increases.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

(Total 3 marks)

4.Use high-density poly(ethene) and low-density poly(ethene) as examples to explain the difference that branching can make to the properties of a polymer.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

(Total 3 marks)

5.During the formation of poly(styrene), a volatile hydrocarbon such as pentane is often added. Describe how this affects the properties of the polymer and give one use for this product.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

(Total 2 marks)

6.The blast furnace is used extensively for the production of iron.

(a)State the formula and name of one main ore used as a source of iron.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(1)

(b)Write an equation that would describe the following processes in the blast furnace.

(i)Reduction of the iron ore to produce the iron:

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(1)

(ii)A reaction used to remove impurities from the iron:

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(1)

(Total 3 marks)

7.(a)Explain why iron is obtained from its ores using chemical reducing agents but aluminium is obtained from its ores using electrolysis.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(2)

(b)Both carbon monoxide and hydrogen can be used to reduce iron ores. State the equations for the reduction of magnetite, Fe3O4, with

(i)carbon monoxide.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(1)

(ii)hydrogen.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(1)

(c)Explain why much of the iron produced in a blast furnace is converted into steel.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(2)

(Total 6 marks)

8.Addition polymers are extensively used in society. The properties of addition polymers may be modified by the introduction of certain substances.

(a)For two different addition polymers, describe and explain one way in which the properties of addition polymers may be modified.

Polymer one:

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

Polymer two:

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(4)

(b)Describe and explain how the extent of branching affects the properties of poly(ethene).

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(3)

(c)Discuss two advantages and two disadvantages of using poly(ethene).

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(2)

(Total 9 marks)

9.Detergents are one example of lyotropic liquid crystals.

State one other example of a lyotropic liquid crystal and describe the difference between lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

(Total 3 marks)

10.Exciting developments have taken place in recent years in the area of nanotechnology.

(a)Define the term nanotechnology, and state why it is of interest to chemists.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(2)

(b)Carbon nanotubes can be used to make designer catalysts.

(i)Describe the structure of carbon nanotubes.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(2)

(ii)State one physical property of carbon nanotubes.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(1)

(c)Suggest two concerns about the use of nanotechnology.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(2)

(Total 7 marks)

11.(a)Name a thermotropic liquid crystal.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(1)

(b)Explain the liquid-crystal behaviour of the thermotropic liquid crystal named in part (a), on the molecular level.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(4)

(Total 5 marks)

12.Nanotechnology could provide new solutions for developing countries where basic services such as good health care, education, safe drinking water and reliable energy are often lacking. Discuss some of the potential risks associated with developing nanotechnology.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

(Total 4 marks)

13.(a)Define the term nanotechnology.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

(3)

(b)Discuss three implications of the use of nanotechnology.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

(3)

(Total 6 marks)