WAEC SSCE - Chemistry - 2017

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The release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere causes a harmful effect by depleting the ozone layer. The ozone layer is a natural layer of gas in the Earth's stratosphere that protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. CFCs break down ozone molecules, causing the ozone layer to become thinner, which allows more UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface. This can lead to an increase in skin cancer, cataracts, and other harmful effects on plants and animals. Therefore, the real harmful effect of the release of CFCs is that it eventually causes excessive ultraviolet light from the sun to reach the Earth's surface.

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The separation of Nitrogen from Oxygen using fractional distillation of air is possible because of the difference in their boiling points. Nitrogen has a boiling point of -196°C while oxygen has a boiling point of -183°C. This means that at a certain temperature, oxygen will boil and turn into a gas before nitrogen. By carefully controlling the temperature, we can separate the two gases as they boil at different times. This is known as fractional distillation, which is a process that separates a mixture into its different components based on their boiling points. Therefore, the key factor in separating nitrogen from oxygen is their difference in boiling points, not their density, reactivity, or position in the periodic table.

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Members of the same homologous series are characterized by having similar physical properties and a gradual change in chemical properties throughout the series. The successive members also undergo changes in their molecular formula by adding a repeating unit of \(CH_{2}\). This means that although the members may have different molecular formulas, they have a similar structural basis and exhibit similar chemical behaviors.

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Dilution factor

 = molarconc.ofdilutedmolarconc.ofundiluted $\frac{𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐.𝑜𝑓𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑}{𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐.𝑜𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑}$

= 0.0010.1=0.01

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The property that increases down a group in the periodic table is the ionic radius. The ionic radius is the size of an atom, measured from the center of the nucleus to the outermost shell of electrons. As you move down a group in the periodic table, the number of electron shells increases, making the atom larger and the ionic radius larger. This is due to the fact that the outermost electrons are farther away from the nucleus and are not held as tightly as the inner electrons. This results in a larger overall size of the atom.

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The oxidation number of an element in a chemical compound is a number that represents the charge that an atom of that element would have if the molecule was completely ionic. In a compound, the sum of all the oxidation numbers must equal the net charge on the molecule. In the case of \(XO_{4}^{3+}\), the oxidation number of X can be determined by using this rule. The net charge on the molecule is +3, which means that the sum of all the oxidation numbers of the atoms in the molecule must equal +3. Since the oxidation number of oxygen is always -2, the oxidation number of X can be calculated as follows: \[X + 4(-2) = +3\] Solving for X, we get: \[X = +5\] Therefore, the oxidation number of X in \(XO_{4}^{3+}\) is +5.

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The glassware that is NOT used to measure the volume of liquids is a test tube. Test tubes are typically used for mixing and holding small amounts of liquids, but they do not have precise measurement markings like the other glasswares listed. Graduated beakers, pipettes, and burettes have measurement markings and are specifically designed for accurately measuring the volume of liquids.

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The empirical formula of a compound gives the simplest whole number ratio of the elements in the compound. To find the empirical formula of a hydrocarbon, we need to know the percentage of hydrogen in it. In this case, the hydrocarbon contains 14.3% hydrogen. To convert this to a whole number ratio, we divide 14.3 by the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.0), which gives us 14.3. This means that for every 12 atoms of carbon, there are 14.3 atoms of hydrogen. To simplify this to a whole number ratio, we divide both 14.3 and 12 by the greatest common divisor, which is 2. This gives us a ratio of 7:6 for hydrogen to carbon atoms. The empirical formula for the hydrocarbon is therefore \(CH_{2}\), which represents the simplest whole number ratio of hydrogen to carbon atoms in the compound.

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When magnesium reacts with oxygen, it produces magnesium oxide. During this reaction, energy is released in the form of heat. This means that the reaction is exothermic, and the correct answer is "heat is evolved and the reaction is exothermic."

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The property of a chemical reaction that is affected by the presence of a catalyst is the activation energy. Activation energy is the energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. Catalysts are substances that can speed up a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to happen. This means that the same chemical reaction that would otherwise require a lot of energy to start, can happen more easily and with less energy input in the presence of a catalyst. Imagine trying to push a heavy object up a hill - it takes a lot of effort and energy to get it started. But if there's a ramp, it becomes much easier to push the object up the hill, and less energy is required. In the same way, a catalyst acts like a ramp for a chemical reaction, making it easier for the reaction to occur with less energy input.

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The correct statement about endothermic reactions is that "heat energy is absorbed." Endothermic reactions are those in which energy is absorbed from the surroundings, usually in the form of heat. This causes the temperature of the surroundings to decrease. Activation energy refers to the energy required to start a chemical reaction, and it can be high or low for both endothermic and exothermic reactions. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, but it is not always required for an endothermic reaction. Endothermic reactions can occur reversibly or irreversibly, depending on the specific reaction and conditions. The reversibility of a reaction refers to whether it can proceed in both forward and backward directions.

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An atomic orbital is a region around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are most likely to be found. It is not a physical path that electrons travel around the nucleus, but rather a three-dimensional space that describes the probability of finding an electron at a given location within an atom. Atomic orbitals are characterized by their energy level, shape, and orientation in space. The number and arrangement of electrons in atomic orbitals determine the chemical and physical properties of an element.

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The bond angle in tetrahedral molecules like tetrachloromethane is 109.5°. This is because the molecule has a tetrahedral geometry, which means it has four atoms bonded to a central atom, with the angle between any two adjacent bonds being 109.5°. This angle is also known as the tetrahedral angle and is determined by the repulsion between the bonding pairs of electrons around the central atom. The four bonding pairs of electrons in tetrachloromethane repel each other equally, causing them to arrange themselves in a tetrahedral shape with the bond angle of 109.5°.

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The name of the compound \(C_{4}H_{9}COOC_{3}H_{7}\) is "pentyl propanoate".
In naming organic compounds, the longest carbon chain is used as the base name, followed by the name of the functional group. In this case, the longest carbon chain has 5 carbons, so the base name is "pentyl". The functional group is a carboxyl group (-COO-), so the ending is "oate". The base name and the ending are combined to get "pentyl propanoate".

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One mole of a substance contains a specific number of particles, which is called Avogadro's number, represented by \(6.02\times 10^{23}\) particles per mole. Therefore, to find the number of particles present in 2.5 moles of a substance, we can simply multiply Avogadro's number by 2.5: Number of particles = 2.5 moles x Avogadro's number Number of particles = 2.5 x \(6.02\times 10^{23}\) Number of particles = \(1.505\times 10^{24}\) So the answer is option (C) \(1.5\times 10^{24}\), which represents the number of atoms present in 2.5 moles of the triatomic gas.

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The species that determines the chemical properties of an atom is the electron. This is because electrons are responsible for the bonding of atoms with each other, which determines the chemical properties of a substance. Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus of an atom. The number of electrons in the outermost shell (valence shell) of an atom determines how it will interact with other atoms, forming chemical bonds. The chemical reactivity and behavior of an atom depend on its valence electrons, which determine the atom's ability to form chemical bonds with other atoms. Therefore, electrons play a crucial role in determining the chemical properties of an atom.

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The gas that is not acidic is CO, or carbon monoxide. Acidity is determined by a substance's ability to donate hydrogen ions (protons), and thus, increase the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. In general, gases that contain oxygen atoms, such as SO3 and NO2, are more likely to be acidic because oxygen has a greater tendency to form bonds with hydrogen atoms. CO, on the other hand, does not contain oxygen and is not acidic.

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The white anhydrous substance X changes color to blue when water is added. This is an indication of a chemical reaction taking place, and the resulting blue color is likely due to the formation of a complex compound. Out of the given options, CuSO4 is a blue compound, also known as copper(II) sulfate, and is commonly used as a colorant and in various industrial applications. When it is dissolved in water, it forms a blue solution due to the hydration of copper ions. Therefore, it is most likely that the anhydrous substance X is CuSO4 because the addition of water resulted in a blue color, which is consistent with the characteristic blue color of CuSO4.

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In a saturated solution, the undissolved solute particles and the dissolved solute particles are in a dynamic equilibrium. This means that at a given temperature, the rate at which solute particles dissolve into the solvent is equal to the rate at which solute particles come out of solution and reform the solid. Therefore, the undissolved solute particles are in equilibrium with the saturated solution, which is the solution that contains the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve at a given temperature. This equilibrium occurs because the solute particles have reached their maximum solubility limit and are unable to dissolve any further. In summary, the undissolved solute particles are in equilibrium with the saturated solution, not with the solvent or the insoluble solute particles.

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The oxidation number is a number that represents the number of electrons an atom has gained or lost in a molecule. In the given reaction, the oxidation number of nitrogen changes from +2 to +4. At the beginning of the reaction, nitrogen in NO has an oxidation number of +2, while in NO2 it has an oxidation number of +4. This means that nitrogen has gained two electrons and undergone oxidation. To understand why this is happening, we need to look at the reaction. The reactants are NO and O2, and the product is NO2. The oxygen atoms in the reactants have an oxidation number of 0, while in the product they have an oxidation number of -2. This means that each oxygen atom has gained two electrons and undergone reduction. Since nitrogen has not gained or lost any electrons in the reaction, it is not undergoing reduction or oxidation, but it is participating in the reaction by forming bonds with the oxygen atoms. The change in oxidation number of nitrogen from +2 to +4 is a result of sharing two electrons with each oxygen atom in the product. Therefore, the correct answer is "+2 to +4".

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The common feature of reactions at the anode is that oxidation is involved. This means that during the reaction, the anode loses electrons and becomes positively charged. As a result, either a neutral atom or a negatively charged ion is produced. In some cases, the electrode may also dissolve due to the reaction. However, the key feature is always oxidation, which is the process of losing electrons.

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Paraffin oil is not a source of fats and oils. It is a type of hydrocarbon that is used as a fuel or a lubricant and is not a food source. The other options - animals, groundnuts, and palm kernel - are all sources of fats and oils that can be used for cooking or in the production of various food products.

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The use of diamond in abrasives is due to its hardness. Diamond is one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth, and its hardness makes it ideal for use in abrasive applications. When diamond is used as an abrasive, it can cut through and grind down even the toughest materials, including metals and ceramics. Additionally, diamond is incredibly durable, so it can withstand the wear and tear of abrasive applications better than many other materials.

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The melting point of a solid sample is the most reliable way to determine its purity. The melting point of a pure substance is a fixed temperature, which is well defined and does not change with time. If there are impurities present in the sample, the melting point will be lower and will not be a fixed temperature. By measuring the melting point, we can determine the purity of the sample. If the melting point is lower than expected, it indicates the presence of impurities in the sample. This is because impurities lower the energy needed to break the bonds holding the solid together, allowing it to melt at a lower temperature.

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Halogens are a group of elements that include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. When halogens react with metals, they tend to form salts. Salts are a type of compound that is formed when an acid and a base react with each other. In the case of halogens and metals, the halogen acts like an acid and the metal acts like a base. The halogen donates an electron to the metal, which forms a positively charged ion, and the halogen becomes negatively charged. These two oppositely charged ions then combine to form a salt. For example, when chlorine reacts with sodium metal, they form sodium chloride, which is table salt.

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The oxidation number of an element in a compound represents the charge that the element would have if the compound were a completely ionic compound. The oxidation number of nitrogen in Pb(NO3)2 is +5. This can be determined using the concept of oxidation states, which are assigned to elements based on a set of rules. One of the rules is that the sum of the oxidation states of all the elements in a neutral compound must equal zero. In Pb(NO3)2, the oxidation state of lead (Pb) is +2, since it is a metal and typically has a positive charge in ionic compounds. The sum of the oxidation states of nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) must then equal -2 to balance out the charge of lead. Since there are three oxygen atoms, each with an oxidation state of -2, the sum of the oxidation states of oxygen is -6. The oxidation state of nitrogen must then be +5 to balance the equation. So, the oxidation number of nitrogen in Pb(NO3)2 is +5.

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The correct statement is "Ionic compounds in solution would conduct electricity." Explanation: 1. Covalent compounds are formed when two or more non-metal atoms share electrons to form a molecule. They do not readily ionize in solution because they do not contain ions. 2. Covalent compounds consist of molecules made up of atoms bonded together by sharing electrons. These molecules do not contain ions. 3. A hydrogen bond is a type of intermolecular force that occurs between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom (usually oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine) in a different molecule. It is not formed between a metal and a non-metal. 4. Ionic compounds are made up of a metal and a non-metal. When an ionic compound dissolves in water, it dissociates into ions, which can carry an electric charge and conduct electricity. Covalent compounds do not dissociate into ions in solution and do not conduct electricity.

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The condensation of two glucose molecules produces a disaccharide known as maltose, with the chemical formula \( \text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11} \). During this reaction, an -OH group from one glucose combines with an -H from another glucose, releasing a molecule of water (H₂O) and forming a glycosidic bond between the glucose units. This specific reaction distinguishes maltose from other disaccharides like sucrose, which is formed from glucose and fructose. Therefore, the correct answer is maltose.

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Chemical reactions occur when the colliding reactants have energy that is greater than the activation energy. Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. If the colliding reactants do not have enough energy to meet or exceed the activation energy, the reaction will not take place. In other words, the activation energy acts as a barrier that needs to be overcome for the reaction to proceed. Once the reactants have enough energy to surpass this barrier, they can form new products with a lower energy state than the reactants, which releases energy in the form of heat, light, or other forms of energy. Therefore, only when the colliding reactants have energy greater than the activation energy can they overcome this barrier and form new products with a lower energy state, resulting in a chemical reaction.

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Petroleum is a non-renewable source of energy because it cannot be regenerated once it is used up. This means that when we use up all the available petroleum, we cannot create more. Petroleum is formed naturally over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals that were buried underground. Although it may be cheap compared to some other sources of energy, it is not a sustainable option for the future. Unlike renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, and hydro power, which can be replenished naturally, petroleum is finite and will eventually run out if we continue to use it at the current rate. While petroleum can be recycled after use, it is still a finite resource and will eventually be depleted. Therefore, it is important to find alternative sources of energy that are renewable and sustainable.

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