IB DP Chemistry Topic 8.5 Acid deposition HL Paper 3

Marks available2
Reference code09N.3.hl.TZ0.E3

Question

The concentration of some pollutants in a city was measured over a 24 hour period. The results are shown below.

N09/4/CHEMI/HP3/ENG/TZ0/E3

Outline the cause of the increase in NO levels between 5 and 8 am.

Markscheme

NO produced from cars engines increases during morning rush hour;

NO produced by high temperature combination of nitrogen and oxygen (in engine);

Examiners report

In (a), most candidates scored M1, but reference to high temperature was often omitted.

Marks available4
Reference code11N.3.hl.TZ0.E1

Question

Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are two air pollutants.

Both of these air pollutants also contribute to acid deposition. Outline mechanisms for the formation of \({\text{HN}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}\) and \({\text{S}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}\).

Markscheme

For [1 max]

specific effect on certain diseases e.g. relieves nausea in cancer patients to gain mass/weight / relieves glaucoma/Parkinson’s disease symptoms / increases appetite in AIDs patients;

personal freedom argument / frees police to deal with other/more serious crimes / more taxes / OWTTE;

No mark for comment such as: cannabis is no more harmful than other legal drugs so why should cannabis be different.

Against [1 max]

increased risk of lung cancer / respiratory ailments / may suppress body’s immune system;

may lead to use of harder drugs;

Examiners report

The argument for and against the legalization of cannabis often produced general answers that were rather journalistic in nature with little specific detail provided to score the marks. Usually the last marking point for argument against was scored.

Marks available1
Reference code14M.3.hl.TZ2.18

Question

Acid deposition is a consequence of industrial processes.

State what is meant by the term acid deposition.

[1]
a.

Describe, using equations, the mechanism of acid deposition caused by the oxides of nitrogen, including their initial formation.

[3]
b.

All shellfish have a calcium carbonate shell. Discuss, including a balanced equation, the long-term effect of acid deposition on these organisms.

Balanced equation:

[2]
c.

Markscheme

process by which acidic (substances) leave atmosphere/return to Earth / OWTTE;

Do not allow acid rain.

a.

Formation:

\({{\text{N}}_2}{\text{(g)}} + {{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{2NO(g)}}/{\text{2NO(g)}} + {{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{2N}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}}\);

Acid deposition: Award [2 max] for any two of the following.

\({{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(g)}} + {{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{2HO}} \bullet {\text{(g)}} + {{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(aq)}}/{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(g)}} + {\text{O}} \bullet {\text{(g)}} \to {\text{2HO}} \bullet {\text{(g)}}\);

\({\text{HO}} \bullet {\text{(g)}} + {\text{N}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{HN}}{{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(aq)}}\);

\({\text{HO}} \bullet {\text{(g)}} + {\text{NO(g)}} \to {\text{HN}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(aq)}}\);

\({\text{2N}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(l)}} \to {\text{HN}}{{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(aq)}} + {\text{HN}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(aq)}}/{\text{2}}{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(l)}} + {\text{4N}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} + {{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{4HN}}{{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(aq)}}\);

Allow radicals represented without dot (if consistent throughout), but penalize inconsistency once only in 17 (b)(ii) and 18 (b).

Ignore state symbols.

Award [2 max] if no free radical used in describing mechanism.

b.

shells become thinner as some of the calcium carbonate shell reacts / OWTTE;

Accept “dissolving of marine carbonate shells”.

\({\text{CaC}}{{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(s)}} + {\text{2HN}}{{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(aq)}} \to {\text{Ca (N}}{{\text{O}}_3}{{\text{)}}_2}{\text{(aq)}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(l)}} + {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}}/\)

\({\text{CO}}_3^{2 – }{\text{(s)}} + {\text{2}}{{\text{H}}^ + }{\text{(aq)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(l)}}/\)

\({\text{CaC}}{{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(s)}} + {\text{2}}{{\text{H}}^ + }{\text{(aq)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{a}}^{2 + }}{\text{(aq)}} + {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(l)}}/\)

\({\text{CaC}}{{\text{O}}_3}{\text{(s)}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{S}}{{\text{O}}_4}{\text{(aq)}} \to {\text{CaS}}{{\text{O}}_4}{\text{(aq)}} + {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}{\text{(g)}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O(l)}}\);

Ignore state symbols.

Allow equations with H2SO3 and HNO2.

Do not accept H2CO3 instead of H2O and CO2.

c.

Examiners report

Candidates confused acid rain with acid deposition in Q18 and the mechanism of acid deposition was patchy. The effect on the carbonate shell of shellfish was understood and most candidates illustrated the reaction with sulfuric acid.

a.

Candidates confused acid rain with acid deposition in Q18 and the mechanism of acid deposition was patchy. The effect on the carbonate shell of shellfish was understood and most candidates illustrated the reaction with sulfuric acid.

b.

Candidates confused acid rain with acid deposition in Q18 and the mechanism of acid deposition was patchy. The effect on the carbonate shell of shellfish was understood and most candidates illustrated the reaction with sulfuric acid.

c.
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