PMT

Cambridge IGCSE™
*7401624526*

CHEMISTRY 0620/63
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical October/November 2023

1 hour

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 40.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● Notes for use in qualitative analysis are provided in the question paper.

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB23 11_0620_63/5RP
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1 Hydrated aluminium chloride is a white solid. When heated very strongly, hydrated aluminium
chloride produces steam, hydrogen chloride gas and aluminium oxide. Hydrogen chloride gas is
toxic and aluminium oxide is a white solid.

A teacher heats a sample of hydrated aluminium chloride using the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.1.

hydrated
A aluminium chloride

heat

Fig. 1.1

(a) Name the item of apparatus labelled A in Fig. 1.1.

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

(b) Explain why this experiment should be carried out in a fume cupboard.

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

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

(c) The hydrated aluminium chloride has to be heated very strongly.

Describe how a Bunsen burner is adjusted to make the flame as hot as possible.

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

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

(d) During the experiment, the mass of apparatus A and its contents decreases.

(i) Explain why the mass decreases.

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

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

(ii) Describe what the teacher can do to be sure all the hydrated aluminium chloride reacts.

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

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

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

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(e) In a second experiment, the teacher uses the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.2 to collect the water
made.

hydrated
aluminium chloride

waste gases
heat

ice

Fig. 1.2

(i) Explain the purpose of the ice.

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

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

(ii) The water collected is not pure.

Describe a test the teacher can do to show that the water collected is not pure.
State the result of the test if the water is not pure.

test ......................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 9]

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2 A student investigates the reaction between dilute hydrochloric acid and aqueous sodium hydroxide.

The student does two experiments.

Experiment 1

● Fill a burette with aqueous sodium hydroxide and run some of the aqueous sodium hydroxide
out of the burette so that the level is on the burette scale.
● Record the initial burette reading.
● Use a measuring cylinder to pour 25 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid into a conical flask.
● Stand the conical flask on a white tile.
● Add five drops of methyl orange indicator to the conical flask.
● Slowly add aqueous sodium hydroxide from the burette to the conical flask, while swirling the
flask, until the solution just changes colour.
● Record the final burette reading.

Experiment 2

● Empty the conical flask and rinse it with distilled water.

● Refill the burette with aqueous sodium hydroxide.
● Record the initial burette reading.
● Use the measuring cylinder to pour 25 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid into the conical flask.
● Add 0.50 g of calcium carbonate powder to the conical flask and swirl the flask.
● Stand the conical flask on the white tile.
● Add five drops of methyl orange indicator to the conical flask.
● Slowly add aqueous sodium hydroxide from the burette to the conical flask, while swirling the
flask, until the solution just changes colour.
● Record the final burette reading.

(a) Use the burette diagrams in Fig. 2.1 and Fig. 2.2 to record the readings for Experiment 1 and
Experiment 2 in Table 2.1 and complete Table 2.1.

Experiment 1

0
18
1
19
2
20

initial reading final reading

Fig. 2.1

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Experiment 2

1 7

2 8

3 9

initial reading final reading

Fig. 2.2

Table 2.1

Experiment 1 Experiment 2

final burette reading / cm3

initial burette reading / cm3

volume of aqueous
sodium hydroxide added / cm3

[4]

(b) State the colour change observed in the conical flask at the end-point in both experiments.

from ................................................................. to ............................................................... [1]

(c) When 0.50 g of calcium carbonate is added to the conical flask in Experiment 2, a gas is
produced.

Suggest the identity of the gas.

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

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(d) In Experiment 2, the conical flask is rinsed with water but the burette is not rinsed with water.

(i) State why there is no need to rinse the burette with water.

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

(ii) Explain why the conical flask is rinsed with water.

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

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

(iii) The conical flask is not dried after being rinsed with water.

State how drying the conical flask affects the volume of aqueous sodium hydroxide needed
to reach the end-point. Explain your answer.

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

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

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

(e) (i) Compare the volumes of aqueous sodium hydroxide needed to reach the end-point in
Experiment 1 and Experiment 2.

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

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

(ii) Explain why different volumes of aqueous sodium hydroxide are needed in Experiment 1
and Experiment 2.

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

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

(iii) Calculate the volume of aqueous sodium hydroxide needed to reach the end-point if
Experiment 2 is repeated using 0.25 g of calcium carbonate instead of 0.50 g.

volume of aqueous sodium hydroxide = .............................. [2]

(f) Describe how the reliability of the results obtained can be confirmed.

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

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

[Total: 16]

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3 A student tests two substances: solid I and solution J.

Tests on solid I

Solid I is chromium(III) sulfate.

The student dissolves solid I in water to form solution I. The student divides solution I into three
portions.

Complete the expected observations.

(a) To the first portion of solution I, the student adds aqueous sodium hydroxide dropwise until it
is in excess.

observations adding dropwise ...................................................................................................

observations in excess ..............................................................................................................

[2]

(b) To the second portion of solution I, the student adds about 1 cm3 of dilute nitric acid followed
by a few drops of aqueous silver nitrate.

observations ..............................................................................................................................

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

(c) To the third portion of solution I, the student adds about 1 cm3 of dilute nitric acid followed by
a few drops of aqueous barium nitrate.

observations ..............................................................................................................................

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

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Tests on solution J

Table 3.1 shows the tests and the student’s observations for solution J. The student divides
solution J into five portions.

Table 3.1

tests observations
test 1

Use a glass rod to transfer one drop of the first the universal indicator paper turns red
portion of solution J onto a piece of universal
indicator paper.
test 2

To the second portion of solution J, add a piece the piece of magnesium ribbon disappears
of magnesium ribbon. and effervescence is seen

Test any gas produced. the gas produces a pop when

tested with a lighted splint
test 3

To the third portion of solution J, add about white precipitate

1 cm3 of dilute nitric acid followed by a few
drops of aqueous silver nitrate.
test 4

To the fourth portion of solution J, add about no change

1 cm3 of dilute nitric acid followed by a few
drops of aqueous barium nitrate.
test 5

Do a flame test on the fifth portion of solution J. lilac coloured flame

(d) Suggest the pH of solution J.

pH = .............................. [1]

(e) Identify the gas given off in test 2.

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

(f) Identify the three ions in solution J.

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

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

.............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 9]

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4 You are asked to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of decomposition of aqueous
hydrogen peroxide.

Aqueous hydrogen peroxide decomposes to make oxygen gas.

hydrogen peroxide → water + oxygen

The reaction is very slow unless a catalyst is added to the hydrogen peroxide.
Manganese(IV) oxide is a catalyst for this reaction.

Plan an investigation to find how the temperature of the aqueous hydrogen peroxide affects the
rate of the catalysed reaction. Your answer should include an explanation of how your results will
tell you how the rate of reaction has changed.

You are provided with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, manganese(IV) oxide and common laboratory
apparatus.

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..................................................................................................................................................... [6]

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10

BLANK PAGE

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11

Notes for use in qualitative analysis

Tests for anions

anion test test result

carbonate, CO32– add dilute acid, then test for carbon effervescence, carbon dioxide
dioxide gas produced
chloride, Cl – acidify with dilute nitric acid, then white ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate
bromide, Br – acidify with dilute nitric acid, then cream ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate
iodide, I– acidify with dilute nitric acid, then yellow ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate
nitrate, NO3– add aqueous sodium hydroxide, ammonia produced
[in solution] then aluminium foil; warm carefully
sulfate, SO42– acidify with dilute nitric acid, then white ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous barium nitrate
sulfite, SO32– add a small volume of acidified the acidified aqueous potassium
aqueous potassium manganate(VII) manganate(VII) changes colour
from purple to colourless

Tests for aqueous cations

cation effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide effect of aqueous ammonia

aluminium, Al 3+ white ppt., soluble in excess, giving white ppt., insoluble in excess
a colourless solution
ammonium, NH4+ ammonia produced on warming –
calcium, Ca2+ white ppt., insoluble in excess no ppt. or very slight white ppt.
chromium(III), Cr3+ green ppt., soluble in excess green ppt., insoluble in excess
copper(II), Cu2+ light blue ppt., insoluble in excess light blue ppt., soluble in excess,
giving a dark blue solution
iron(II), Fe2+ green ppt., insoluble in excess, green ppt., insoluble in excess,
ppt. turns brown near surface on ppt. turns brown near surface on
standing standing
iron(III), Fe3+ red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess
zinc, Zn2+ white ppt., soluble in excess, giving white ppt., soluble in excess, giving
a colourless solution a colourless solution

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12

Tests for gases

gas test and test result

ammonia, NH3 turns damp red litmus paper blue
carbon dioxide, CO2 turns limewater milky
chlorine, Cl 2 bleaches damp litmus paper
hydrogen, H2 ‘pops’ with a lighted splint
oxygen, O2 relights a glowing splint
sulfur dioxide, SO2 turns acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII) from purple to colourless

Flame tests for metal ions

metal ion flame colour

lithium, Li+ red
sodium, Na+ yellow
potassium, K+ lilac
calcium, Ca2+ orange-red
barium, Ba2+ light green
copper(II), Cu2+ blue-green

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