This question is about sulfuric acid and salts that are made from sulfuric acid.

(a) Zinc reacts with dilute sulfuric acid. Aqueous zinc sulfate is one of the products.

 Powdered zinc is added to dilute sulfuric acid. The mixture is stirred. More zinc is added, with
stirring, until the zinc is in excess.

Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)

The mixture is then filtered.

(i) Name the limiting reactant.

........................................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) State two observations that indicate the zinc is in excess.

1 ...........................................................................................................................................

2 ...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iii) N
 ame the filtrate.

........................................................................................................................................ [1]

(iv) Name two compounds which both react with dilute sulfuric acid to produce aqueous
zinc sulfate.

1 ...........................................................................................................................................

2 ...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Zinc sulfate crystals are produced by heating aqueous zinc sulfate until a saturated solution is
formed. When the saturated solution cools down, crystals of zinc sulfate start to form.

(i) State what is meant by the term saturated solution.

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(ii) Explain why crystals form when the saturated solution cools down.

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 (c) Nickel(II) sulfate crystals contain water of crystallisation.

 When nickel(II) sulfate crystals, NiSO4•xH2O, are heated, they give off water.

NiSO4•xH2O(s) → NiSO4(s) + xH2O(g)

 A student carries out an experiment to determine the value of x in NiSO4•xH2O.

step 1 Nickel(II) sulfate crystals are weighed.

step 2 Nickel(II) sulfate crystals are heated.

step 3 The remaining solid is allowed to cool and is then weighed.

step 4 The remaining solid is heated again, allowed to cool and is then weighed.

step 5 Step 4 is repeated until there is no change in mass.

(i) State the term used to describe crystals that contain water of crystallisation.

........................................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) State why step 4 is repeated until there is no change in mass.

........................................................................................................................................ [1]

(iii) In an experiment, 0.454 g of nickel(II) sulfate crystals, NiSO4•xH2O, is used. The mass of
anhydrous nickel(II) sulfate, NiSO4, remaining is 0.310 g.

[Mr: NiSO4, 155; H2O, 18]

Determine the value of x in NiSO4•xH2O.

Use the following steps.

● Calculate the number of moles of NiSO4 remaining.

 moles of NiSO4 = ..............................

 mass of H2O = .............................. g

● Calculate the number of moles of H2O given off.

 moles of H2O = ..............................

x = ..............................
[4]

 [Total: 15]
 4

2 Copper(II) sulfate crystals, CuSO4.5H2O, are hydrated.

Copper(II) sulfate crystals are made by reacting copper(II) carbonate with dilute sulfuric acid.

The equation for the overall process is shown.

CuCO3 + H2SO4 + 4H2O CuSO4.5H2O + CO2

step 1 Powdered solid copper(II) carbonate is added to 50.0 cm3 of 0.05 mol / dm3 sulfuric acid
until the copper(II) carbonate is in excess.

step 2 The excess of copper(II) carbonate is separated from the aqueous copper(II) sulfate.

step 3 The aqueous copper(II) sulfate is heated until the solution is saturated.

step 4 The solution is allowed to cool and crystallise.

step 5 The crystals are removed and dried.

(a) Calculate the maximum mass of the copper(II) sulfate crystals, CuSO4.5H2O, that can form
using the following steps.

● Calculate the number of moles of H2SO4 in 50.0 cm3 of 0.05 mol / dm3 H2SO4.

.............................. mol

● Determine the number of moles of CuSO4.5H2O that can form.

.............................. mol

● The Mr of CuSO4.5H2O is 250.

Calculate the maximum mass of CuSO4.5H2O that can form.

.............................. g
[3]
 5

(b) Steps 1–5 were done correctly but the mass of crystals obtained was less than the maximum
mass.

Explain why.

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) State two observations that would indicate that the copper(II) carbonate is in excess in step 1.

1 .................................................................................................................................................

2 .................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(d) When the reaction in step 1 is done using lumps of copper(II) carbonate instead of powder,
the rate of reaction decreases. All other conditions are kept the same.

Give a reason for this. Explain your answer in terms of particles.

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(e) Name a different substance, other than copper(II) carbonate, that could be added to dilute
sulfuric acid to produce copper(II) sulfate in step 1.

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(f) Name the process used to separate the aqueous copper(II) sulfate from the excess of
copper(II) carbonate in step 2.

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(g) The solution of aqueous copper(II) sulfate was heated until it was saturated in step 3.

(i) Suggest what is meant by the term saturated solution.

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

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

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) What evidence would show that the solution was saturated in step 3?

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Why should the aqueous copper(II) sulfate not be heated to dryness in step 3?

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 14]
 6

3 This question is about salts.

(a) Salts that are insoluble in water are made by precipitation.

● Lead(II) iodide, PbI2, is insoluble in water.

You are provided with solid lead(II) nitrate, Pb(NO3)2, and solid sodium iodide, NaI.

Describe how you would make a pure sample of lead(II) iodide by precipitation.

Your answer should include:

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