Edexcel IAL Chemistry 3.P4 Evaluating results and conclusions

Quantify the difference first, then trace the direction of each impurity, loss or procedural effect and state whether it can account for the observed result.

Exam points

Explain whether an impurity or gas loss could produce the direction of an observed error.
Use trends and experimental evidence to judge whether a stated conclusion is supported.

[Maximum number: 1]

Precipitation reactions can be used to determine the formulae of compounds.
A bottle has a torn label which shows that it contains a nitrate with the formula X(NO_3)_2.

Figure for Question 3.P4—Evaluating results and conclusions question 1 — Edexcel A-Level Chemistry AS

Procedure
- a technician dissolved a sample of 12.41 g of the nitrate in deionised water to make 100 cm^3 of solution
- the technician pipetted 5.0 cm^3 of 1.50 mol dm^-3 potassium iodide into each of a series of test tubes
- each test tube then had a volume of the nitrate solution added to it as shown in the table
- a cloudy yellow solution formed, and the precipitate was allowed to settle
- the height of the precipitate was then measured.

The equation for the reaction is

\mathrm{X}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{2}(\mathrm{aq})+2 \mathrm{KI}(\mathrm{aq}) \rightarrow \mathrm{XI}_{2}(\mathrm{~s})+2 \mathrm{KNO}_{3}(\mathrm{aq})

The results of the experiment are shown.

Table for Question 3.P4—Evaluating results and conclusions question 1 — Edexcel A-Level Chemistry AS

Suggest why some of the precipitate heights may be above the maximum height expected. Assume there were no measurement errors.

All question bank results loaded

3.P4—Evaluating results and conclusions question 1