545/1

CHEMISTRY
Paper 1
2024

UGANDA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS BOARD

Uganda Certificate of Education

CHEMISTRY

Paper 1

New Lower Secondary Curriculum

SCORING GUIDE

© 2024 Uganda National Examinations Board Turn Over

 545/1 - CHEMISTRYDRAFT GUIDE / BASIS

Section A

Item 1.
Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment
A. CATEGORY / Onyera used a soapy detergent (or soap) 02
TYPE instead of a soapless detergent.

B. - The dirt is held on the cloth by a layer

FUNCTIONS OF
PRODUCTS of oil.
(How It Works) - Detergents (soaps) facilitate the
emulsification and removal of grease / .
Alternatively
- Detergents facilitate breakdown of fats
into small parts.
- A soap molecule contains two parts;
namely; the water-soluble /polar
carboxylate head / hydrophilic end or
lipophobic head and non-polar tail/fat-
soluble part / hydrophobic 02
part/lipophilic part.
-During washing, soap acts by lowering
the surface tension between water and
oil/grease/other water insoluble
materials and also emulsifies them.
The hydro-carbon tail becomes
attached to dirt /oil /fat while the polar
head dissolves in water. With constant
agitation, the dirt is pulled off the
cloth and gets dispersed in water as
tiny droplets which are then poured
away. The cloth is then rinsed several
times and dried.
C. (a) Soap contains chemicals that can
DANGERS OR
SIDE EFFECT OF cause:
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PRODUCTS.  Skin burns / blisters / irritation and
hence pain or cancer.

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  Eye redness and pain; hence loss of
vision.
- Mitigation can be done by
thoroughly washing the affected areas
(or irrigation of the affected areas) like
skin or eyes.
(b) Soapless detergents contain
phosphates which cause algae
bloom/alagalbloom and hence water
pollution.
N.B. Algae/algal bloom already
means accumulation.

D. EVALUATION (a) Similarities:

OF PRODUCTS  Both soapy detergents and soapless
AND PROCESSS. detergents are salts of Organic acids
of long carbon chain.
 Both soapy detergents and soapless
detergents are effective cleansing
agents in soft water / rain water.
(b) (i) Differences; Soapy detergents:
 Forms scum with hard water.
 Gentle on skin during cleansing..
 Sodium salts of carboxylic acid of
long chains and cannot be used in 02
strongly acidic solutions.
 Biodegradable

(b) (ii) Soapless detergents:

 does not form scum with any form of
water.
 not gentle on skin during washing.
 Sodium salts of long chain benzene
sulphonic acids and can be used in
strongly acidic solutions.
 Non-biodegradable

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Item 2.
Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment
A. CATEGORY OF A material is a substance or a mixture of
ELEMENT substances that constitute an object. It
COMPOUND. can be Natural or Artificial.
(Substance and
Natural material is God made / exists in
material with a 03
nature and its formation is not influenced
reason.) by man e.g. rocks, sand, wood, water, soil
etc.
Artificial material is man-made /
synthetic manufactured by man e.g. iron
bars, plastics, paint, composites.
B. PROPERTIES OR
Materials to be used for constructing a
PREDICTIONS OF
good strong house have different qualities
PROPERTIES OF
MATERIAL. based on their nature. A house is made
up of the following:
(a) Iron;
- Very strong (can support heavy load.)
- has high tensile strength (resists
breakage).
- its ductile and malleable (easy to
mould.)
- has high melting point (resists fires.)
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- Galvanised iron resists rusting.
- steel has improved properties,
making it suitable for many users.
(b) Aluminium;
- low density(used on top of
buildings).
- strong, not easy to break / durable.
- has high melting points (resists fires).
- has bright appearance (used for
doors, roofing, window frames.)
- high electrical/ heat conductivity
(making utensils.)

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(c) Wood;
- Readily available so easy to get
cheaply.
- Strong, so it can support heavy load.
- Light when dry so good for roofing.
- Easy to smoothen to give nice
appearance.
- can rot or be eaten by termites when
not treated.
(d) Mortar; Composite made of cement,
sand and water,
- Hard so reacts deformation.
-It is adhesive so can join bricks.
-Cushioning to spread the vertical load
(e) Glass;
- Ordinary glass is transparent so good
for windows to see through.
- tinted glass allows light to pass
through it in only one direction so
good for windows (visual security.)
- Double-glazed glass (tampered glass)
is strong, resistant to fire attack and it
is not brittle.
- Glass is reflective, attractive and it
adds value when put in doors and
windows.
(f) Paint; This is a liquid composite
made of pigment, resin, solvent and
additives.
- Weather guard resists bad weather
(water proof). So good for outside
walls.
- Silk vinyl paint does not burn, so
good for interior purposes.
- Paint can be insect repelling, light
sensitive to beautify, protect walls.

(g) Plastics;
- These are man-made polymers which

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 can undergo permanent deformation
without breaking when subjected to
a strong force. E.g. PVC, Polyethene,
Nylon, Polyesters.
- They are flexible so can be bent 03
easily.
- They are water prone so a good for
Plumbing and roofing.
- They are light and strong, so good
for shuttering purposes.
- They have low melting points so can
be attacked by fires easily.

(h) Clay and Ceramics;

- They are brittle so break easily.
- They are water proof so good for
flooring.
- They are good looking, so nice for
Finishing purpose like floors, walls.
- They cannot be attacked by
chemicals.

(i) Bricks and blocks:

- Resistant to fire so good for wall
construction.
- They are strong, so can support heavy
loads.

USES OF The choice of material for

MATERIALS, construction is dependent on the
ELEMENTS OR purpose it is meant to do and its
SUBSTANCES / impact to the environment.
APPLICATION.(Q
(a) Iron;
uantity of Matter
i.e. Moles) - Making shutters for doors, windows.
01
- Making frames for doors windows.
- Reinforcing concrete.
- Irons used to fix / join objects like
timber, iron sheets.
- Used for plumbing.

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(b) Aluminium;
- Making shutters for doors, and
windows.
- Making frames for doors and
windows.
- Reinforcing concrete.
- Making roofing materials (struts and
ties).
- electrical installations, wires.

(c) Wood;
- Used to make shutters for windows,
doors.
- Making frames for doors, windows.
- Making struts and ties during
roofing.
- Making poles, pillars and beams.

(d) Mortar;
- Joining and binding bricks.
- Making concrete for floors.
- Plastering walls.

(e) Glass;
- Making shutters for doors, windows.

(f) Paint;
- Beautifying (better appearance) of
buildings.
- Protecting materials, from rusting.
- Enhancing durability.

The choice of material for construction is

dependent on the purpose it is meant to
do and its impact to the environment.

(f) Plastics; 03
- Making pipes (water pipes) for
plumbing.
- Making door and window stutters.

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 (h) Clay and Ceramics;
- Making bricks.
- Making Tiles (floor tiles).
- Making roofing tiles.

(i) Bricks and blocks;

- Constructing walls.

IMPACT/ Material used in construction of a house

POLLUTION OF have impact to the environment.
ENVIRONMENT
ELEMENTS, (a) Iron;
COMPOUND
- Depletes soil fertility when it
MATERIAL /
accumulates.
SUBTANCE.
- Being a heavy metal can cause
cancer.
(Quantity of - Non biodegradable.
D. Matter 02
i.e. Moles) (b) Aluminium;
- Depletes soil fertility when it
accumulates.
(c) Plastics;
- Non biodegradable spoils the soil.
(d) Mortar;
- Bulky, takes long to decompose and
so spoils the soil.

SECTION B
Item 3
Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment
A. RAW Concentrated sodium chloride solution
02
MATERIAL (brine).OR
(RM) Sodium chloride crystals (Rock salt)

B. PROCESS OF Chlorine from brine. 03

PRODUCTION

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 (Pp) Brine is electrolysed in a cell made up of
mercury cathode and graphite anode.

Brine contains Na+, Cl– l , OH- and H+ .

The ions migrate to oppositely charged
electrodes.

Na+ are discharged at the cathode by

electron gain in preference to H+ since
Na+are more concentrated.
Na+(aq)+e –Na(s).
At the anode chloride ions are
discharged, in preferance to hydroxide
ions; being in higher concentration
than hydroxyl ions chlorine gas is
formed.

2 Cl–(aq)–2e – Cl2 (g) or (l)

The chlorine formed is collected and

stored in tightly closed tanks.
The chlorine is dried, liquefied and
stored.

ALTERNATIVE USING ROCK SALT

Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment

Solid sodium chloride (rock salt)

and little calcium chloride are fed
into Down’s cell. The mixture is
electrolysed using titanium or
graphite anode and steel or iron 02
cathode.
The ions migrate to oppositely
charged electrodes. At the cathode
Na+ are discharged by reduction
being the only ions present.
Na+(aq)+e –Na(s).
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 At the anode Cl– are discharged by
electron loss forming chlorine gas.
2Cl–(aq)Cl2(g)+ 2e – .

The chlorine formed is collected

and stored in tightly closed tanks
The Clorine is dried, liquefied and
stored.

C. SIDE EFFECTS (a) Air pollution by waste gases,

OF THE - acidic gases can cause acid
PROCESS OF rain which leads to crumbling of
PRODUCTION buildings, lowering soil pH and
AND corrosion of roofs made of iron.
MITIGATION 03
Mitigation can be done by:
- fitting catalytic converters in
exhaust pipes of machines to
convert oxides of nitrogen into
nitrogen and carbon monoxide to
carbon dioxide.
- neutralise the acidic gases
before releasing waste gases into
the atmosphere.

ALTERNATIVE USING ROCK SALT

Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment

C.SIDE (b) Leakage of Chlorine. 03

EFFECTS OFTHE (c ) Land degradation.
PROCESSOF
PRODUCTIONAND
MITIGATION

- Employment opportunity; improved

D.SOCIAL
income thus better standards of living.
BENEFITS
- Development of infrastructure e.g. 03
electricity lines, roads, hospitals schools
etc.
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Item 4
Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment

RAW Liquid air / Air.

A. 02
MATERIAL

B. Air is passed through air filters to remove

PROCESS
dust and smoke particles. Air is passed
OF
through concentrated sodium hydroxide
PRODUCTION.
solution to absorb/ remove carbon dioxide,
which is acidic.
2NaOH(aq)+CO2(g)Na2CO3 (aq)+H2O(l).

Air is free from Carbon dioxide is now

passed through Silicon(IV) oxide / silica gel
to absorb water vapour. Carbon dioxide and
water vapour are removed from air before it
is liquefied because they solidify and block
the apparatus. 03

The air is now compressed at 200

atmospheres and allowed to cool by making
it escape into a large space through a jet.

The process of cooling is repeated several

times to obtain liquid air at about –200 oC.
The liquid air is fractionally distilled using a
fractionating column / tower.
Nitrogen boils off first because it has a lower
boiling point (–196 oC) leaving behind
oxygen with a higher boiling point (-183 oC).
Both nitrogen and oxygen collected obtained
contain traces of noble gases. Pure oxygen is
then stored under pressure in steel cylinders.
C. SIDE EFFECTS (a) Explosion of oxygen cylinders due to 03
OF THE high pressure. This can cause other
PROCESS OF materials to ignite spontaneously/catch fire.
PRODUCTION The resulting fire can cause damage to
AND equipment and injury to people.
MITIGATION Mitigation can be done by:

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 - Regular maintaince and monitoring of
cylinders.
- keeping cylinders in cool areas / avoid
exposure to heat.
(b) Exposure to liquid oxygen can cause
severe skin and eye irritations and burns.
This may cause loss of vision and cancer.
Mitigation can be done by:
- Posting hazard and warning information
in the working area.
- Communicating all information on the
health and safety hazards of oxygen to
potentially exposed workers; for example;
submerging the affected body parts in warm
water.
(c ) Air pollution by waste gases. Acidic
gases can cause acid rain which leads to
crumbling of buildings,
- acidic gases can cause acid rain which
leads to crumbling of buildings, lowering of
soil pH and corrosion of roofs made of iron.
Mitigation can be done by:
- fitting catalytic converters in exhaust
pipes of machines to convert oxides of
nitrogen into nitrogen and carbon monoxide
to carbon dioxide.
- neutralise the acidic gases before
releasing waste gases into the atmosphere.
D. - Employment opportunity; improved
SOCIAL income thus better standards of living.
BENEFITS - Development of infrastructure e.g.
03
electricity lines, roads, hospitals schools
etc., Improved road network will facilitate
trade hence improved income and better
standards of living.

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Item 5.
Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment
A. IDENTIFY They are classified as:
CATEGORY Renewable and Non-renewable. Renewable
OF NATURAL Natural resources can be replenished e.g. Air, 03
RESOURCE water vapour, dust etc.
REASON AND
EXAMPLE. Non-renewable resources cannot be
replenished (get used up) e.g. fossil fuels,
rocks/ minerals.
B. COMPOSITION
 Air contains Nitrogen, Oxygen Carbon
OF NATURAL
RESOURCES. dioxide, rare gases, water contains; Hydrogen
and oxygen.
 Fossil fuels contain Carbon, Hydrogen,
Oxygen. 02

 Rocks contain Iron, copper, calcium

carbonate, and other minerals like Gold,
Cobalt, etc.

C. IMPACT OF  Air
NATURAL - Some components of Air pollute environment
RESOURCES ON and cause global warming, and carbondioxide
THE because its a green house gas thus traps heat in
ENVIRONMENT the atmosphere.
AND HOW IT
OCCURS / C(s)+O2(g)CO2(g).
CHEMICALS
AND PHYSICAL
- Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas and
REACTIONS AND causes suffocation, carbon monoxide can also
be converted to carbon dioxide e.e.
MITIGATION.
03
2CO(g)+O2(g) 2CO2(g).
Mitigation:
 Increased Afforestation to replace the cut
trees which absorb CO2 from the atmosphere
to reduce global warming.
 Carbon monoxide effects and production can
be reduced by using catalytic converters on
exhaust pipes of cars and other fuel engines to
reduce the poison in the environment.
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Water Impact and how it occurs.
Water contains dissolved gases like O2and
CO2. The CO2 in it forms carbonic acid.
H2O(l)+CO2(g) H2CO3(aq).
The carbonic acid makes water acidic. The acid
rains dissolve or deplete rocks.
H2CO3(aq)+CaCO3(s)Ca(HCO3)2 (aq).
 Water has dissolved oxygen which facilitates
rusting of iron containing materials according
to the following equation:
2Fe(s)+xH2O(l)+ O2(g)Fe2O3xH2O(l)
𝟑
𝟐
 Hot water as an effluent from industries when
introduced into the water bodies, increase the
temperature of the water bodies affecting the
life of aquatic organisms.
 Water pollution caused by farming and
Agriculture. So the use of fertilizers results in
Eutrophication of nearby water bodies and
Algae blooms/algal bloom.
 Re-afforestation to reduce the impact of acid
rains.
 Use of Alloys, painting, galvanising to reduce
the effect of rusting.
 Hot water reservoirs and effluent deposit
points from factories to cool the exhaust water
before introduction into the water bodies.
 Use of organic fertilizers e.g. manure from
both animal and plant waste which are
Biodegradable and reduce on use of synthetic
fertilisers.
 Vehicles and machines burn fossil fuels
leading to reduction of gaseous pollutants into
the atmosphere.
2C(s)+O2(g) 2CO(g).
CH4(g)+ 2O2(g)CO2(g). +2H2O(l)
S(s)+O2(g)SO2(g).

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 2SO2(g)+O2(g)2SO3(g)

Mitigation:
 Use of alternative fuel and energy sources
like solar and Hydroelectric Power (HEP)
from the sun and water respectively reduce on
depletion of Fossils and also the decrease in
gaseous pollutants.
Benefits  Air facilitates respiration, During respiration
carbohydrates combine with oxygen in order to
release energy and carbon dioxide used for
proper body functioning.
- Air facilitates photosynthesis. During
photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from air
combines with water in presence of sunlight
trapped by chlorophyll to form glucose,
carbohydrates and oxygen.
Fossil fuels are used as fuels; fossil fuels when
burnt produce heat energy used to run engines
and machines and for cooking.
Water is a habitat for many aquatic organisms;
water bodies like lakes, rivers, swamps, dams,
pools contain necessary conditions for survival 02
of animals like fish, snails, snakes, worms,
bacteria and plants e.g. blue green algae
planktons which are fish foods etc.
Water bodies like; lakes, rivers, pools, as well
as water vapour from plants crucial role in rain
formation.
Water from the water bodies evaporates and
eventually cools and condenses on the clouds,
these results into precipitation.
Water bodies like rivers can be used to
generate electricity, fast moving waters to the
rivers drives turbines at waterfalls which
produce kinetic energy into electrical energy.

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Item 6
Basis of
S/N Assessment Criteria Scoring
Assessment
A. IDENTITY Theme ‘MY ENVIRONMENT MY
CATEGORY RESPONSIBILITY’
OF NATURAL Resources in our environment which we use
RESOURCE
to satisfy our needs; water, air, trees, grass,
REASON AND
EXAMPLE. rocks. 03
They are classified as renewable and non-
renewable.
Renewable resources can be sustained e.g. air,
water, grass.
Non-renewable resources can be exhausted
and not replaceable e.g. fossil fuels, rocks etc.
B. COMPOSITION
Air: is composed of Nitrogen, Oxygen,
OF NATURAL
RESOURCES. Carbon dioxide, rare gases, water vapour and
dust in different proportions.
Water:is a compound made up of hydrogen
and oxygen. It has dissolved minerals, micro-
organisms and living things.
Rocks: are of different types of example 02
igneous, sedimentary metamorphic.
They contain minerals for example limestone,
iron, gold, copper, quartz etc.
Trees and natural vegetation is made up of
important elements like carbon, hydrogen,
magnesium etc. (depending on the soil
composition).
C. IMPACT OF Impact to the Environment:
NATURAL
RESOURCESON - Several activities impact negatively on
THE natural resources for example charcoal
ENVIRONMENT. burning involves cutting down of trees which
HOW ITOCCURS
AND
leads to deforestation and loss of habitat for
wild animals. 03
MITIGATION./
CHEMICALS It leads to increased amount of carbon dioxide
AND PHYSICAL
REACTIONS in the atmosphere which contributes to
climate change and global warming.

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 Mitigation:
Ensure sustainable fuel production using soft
wood which is renewable. (Afforestation)
Use charcoal briquettes made from waste
organic materials.
Stone quarrying:
Involves breaking of rocks into small stones
and gravel for construction purposes. This
disrupts the underground water cycle and
sources hence reduced water quality, air
pollution from dust, destruction of vegetation
cover.
Mitigation:
Strict government policies and laws against
stone quarrying. Filling up holes made during
the process of quarrying, encourage
population to use alternative construction
materials like tiles and clay bricks..
Farming:
Involves the use of fertilisers and manure
which pollutes water bodies and makes the
water unsafe for use.
Mitigation:
Sensitise farmers to use controlled doses of
fertilisers and manure in gardens.
Animal Husbandry:
Causes water pollution through their excreta.
Mitigation:
People should ensure proper disposal of
animal excreta and also convert it into other
useful products for example biogas, organic
fertilisers and briquettes.
D. BENEFIT / Air is used for respiration. During
IMPORTANCE respiration carbohydrate combine with
OF NATURAL
RESOURCE oxygen in air to release energy and carbon
dioxide used for proper body functioning. 03
Air facilitates photosynthesis, During
photosynthesis carbon dioxide from air
combines with water in presence of sunlight

17
trapped by chlorophyll to form glucose and
oxygen.
Fossil fuels are used as fuels: Fossil fuels
when burnt produce heat energy used to run
engines and machines, even for cooking..

END.

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