IB Chemistry HL 1.4 Chemical Bonding Question Bank
Practise IB Chemistry HL 1.4 with shared SL questions plus HL extensions in bonding models, polarity and material properties.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Course
- Chemistry HL
- Level
- HL
Practise IB Chemistry HL 1.4 with shared SL questions plus HL extensions in bonding models, polarity and material properties.
The increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is thought to result from the increased combustion of fossil fuels such as petroleum.
Determine the specific energy and energy density of petrol (gasoline), using data from sections 1 and 13 of the data booklet. Assume petrol is pure octane, C8H18. Octane: molar mass =114.26 g mol−1, density =0.703 g cm−3.
Specific energy in kJg−1 :
Energy density in kJcm−3 :
specific energy « = mass consumed energy released =114.26 g mol−15470 kJ mol−1 » =47.9 «kJ g-1»
energy density « = volume consumed energy released = specific energy × density =47.9 kJ g−1×0.703 g cm−3 » =33.7 « kJcm−3 »
Marking guidance:
Do not accept "-47.9 " kJg−1 ".
Do not accept "-33.7 «kJ cm³»" unless "-47.9 «kJ g-1»" already penalized.
Outline why the energy available from an engine will be less than these theoretical values.
energy is lost «to the surroundings» as heat/sound/friction
OR
energy is lost to the surroundings «as heat/sound/friction»
OR
incomplete combustion
Marking guidance:
Do not accept simply "energy is lost".
Organic compounds have many industrial applications.
Ethene reacts with steam to produce ethanol.
Calculate the enthalpy, in kJ , of the reaction using section 12 of the data booklet.
ALTERNATIVE 1:
Bonds broken:
1C=C+4C−H+2O−H/614+4(414)+2(463)/3196 «kJ»
Bonds formed:
1 C-C+1 C-O+5 C-H+1 O-H /
346+358+5(414)+463 /
3237 «kJ»
ΔH= «3196-3237 = » −41 «kJ» »
ALTERNATIVE 2:
Bonds broken:
1C=C+1O−H/614+463/
1077 «kJ»
Bonds formed:
1C−C+1C−O+1C−H/346+358+414/1118⟨ kJ⟩2ΔH=⟨1077−1118=⟩−41⟨ kJ∥2
Award [3] for correct final answer.
Award [2 max] for +41 «kJ».
Calculate the enthalpy of the reaction, in kJ . Use section 13 of the data booklet and ΔHf⊖ of CH3CH2OH(g)=−235 kJ mol−1.
《 ΔH⊖=Σ(ΔHf⊖ products )−Σ(ΔHf⊖ reactants )=−235−(+52+(−242))=−45 «kJ»
Award [2] for correct final answer.
Award [1 max] for +45 «kJ»
Outline why the enthalpies calculated in (i) and (ii) are different.
bond enthalpies are average values
OR
bond enthalpies vary «slightly» among compounds
Urea, (H2 N)2CO, is excreted by mammals and can be used as a fertilizer.
The combustion of urea produces water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Formulate a balanced equation for the reaction.
2(H2 N)2CO( s)+3O2( g)→4H2O(l)+2CO2( g)+2 N2( g)
correct coefficients on LHS
correct coefficients on RHS
Accept (H2 N)2CO( s)+23O2( g)→
Marking guidance:
Accept any correct ratio.
Two groups of students (Group A and Group B) carried out a project* on the chemistry of some group 7 elements (the halogens) and their compounds.
In the first part of the project, the two groups had a sample of iodine monochloride (a corrosive brown liquid) prepared for them by their teacher using the following reaction.
The following data were recorded.

Using a digital thermometer, the students discovered that the reaction was exothermic. State the sign of the enthalpy change of the reaction, ΔH.
negative/-/minus/ <0;