NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________

AIM-LIGHT HIGH SCHOOL

2025 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION MOCK EXAMINATIONS

CHEMISTRY
PAPER I
(100 marks)
Theory
Monday, 07 April Subject Number: M038/I
Time Allowed: 2 hours
13:00 – 15:00 hrs
Instructions:
1. This paper contains 12 printed Question Tick if Do not write in
pages. Please check number answered these columns
1
2. Write your name at the top of
2
each page. 3
3. Answer all 13 questions in this 4
paper. 5
4. Use of scientific calculators is 6
7
allowed.
8
5. In the table provided on this 9
page, tick against the question 10
number you have answered. 11
6. Hand in your paper to the 12
13
invigilator when the time is
Total
called stop writing.

©AIM-LIGHT HIGH SCHOOL Examiner: J. GALISON Turn over

NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
Section A (70 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section.
1. a. Give one example of waste products from chemical reaction.
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(1 marks)

b. State two ways of disposing chemical wastes in the laboratory.

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(2 marks)

c. Name a gas which support burning.

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(1 mark)

2. a. Explain why it is difficult to remove noble gases from air.

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(1 mark)
b. Explain why Nitrogen is largely considered as an inert element.
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(3 marks)

3. a. Define ‘allotropy’.
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(1 mark)

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NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
b. Figure 1 shows allotropes of carbon.

Figure 1

i. Identify the allotropes P and Q.

P: ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
Q: ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

ii. Explain why allotrope Q can be used as a lubricant.

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(2 marks)

c. Explain why alloys are harder than pure metals.

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(2 marks)
d. Give one important use of each of the following alloys.
i. Copper alloys.
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(1 mark)
ii. Duralumin.
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(1 mark)

Page 3 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
4. Figure 2 shows different structures of organic compounds.

Figure 2

a. Which compounds are hydrocarbons?

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(2 marks)
b. Explain why compounds M has a higher boiling point than L?
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(3 marks)
c. Describe how compound N can be distinguished from compound L.
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(4 marks)

5. a. Mention the type of oxide that is formed when metal react with oxygen.
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(1 mark)

Page 4 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
b. Calculate the empirical formula of a compound that has the following composition:
Na = 37.1%, C = 9.7%, O = 38.7%, H2O = 14.5%. (RAM: Na = 23, C = 12, O = 16,
H =1).

(4 marks)
c. How can purity of substance be determined using standardized chromatography?
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(3 marks)

6. a. Define the term "standard solution".

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(1 mark)

b. In a titration, 10 cm3 of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) was required to neutralize 10 cm3 of a

0.05M Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution mixed with phenolphthalein solution.

i. What is the function of phenolphthalein solution in the reaction?

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(1 mark)

ii. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction.

(2 marks)
iii. Calculate the molarity of the sulphuric acid (H2SO4) solution.

Page 5 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I

(2 marks)
7. a. A student gently heated 250g of hydrated copper sulphate crystals until she got a
constant mass of 160g of the copper sulphate.

i. Calculate the number of moles of water found in the hydrated copper sulphate
crystals (RAM: H = 1, O = 16).

(3 marks)
ii. Write the chemical formula of the hydrated copper sulphate.

(1 mark)
b. Give any two sources of alkanoates.
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(2 marks)

8. a. Figure 2 shows a set-up of an electrochemical cell comprising zinc and lead

electrodes and their standard electrode potentials.

Figure 2

Page 6 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
i. Give the cell notation of this cell.

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(2 marks)
ii. Calculate the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the cell.

(3 marks)
b. Define ‘electrolysis’.
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(1 mark)
c. A concentrated solution of sodium chloride was electrolysed using the apparatus below:

What observation would be made at both electrodes?

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(2 marks)

Page 7 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
9. a. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of polymer chains after heating
plastic A and B.

i. Identify the difference in arrangement of polymer chains between the plastic A and B.
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(2 marks)

ii. Explain the effect of the difference in 9b(i) on the plastics when heated.
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(3 marks)
b. (i). State one use of polyethene.

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(1 mark)
(ii). What is the difference between addition polymerisation and condensation
polymerisation.

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(2 marks)
c. (i). Explain how greenhouse gases affect Global temperature.

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Page 8 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
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(3 marks)
(ii). Mention any two ways of protecting the ozone layer.

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(2 marks)

d. (i). Differentiate between hard water and soft water.

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(1 marks)

(ii). Mention two importance of hard water to everyday life.

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(2 marks)

Section B (30 marks)

Answer all the questions in this section.
10.Explain how the presence of sulphate ion (SO2−
3 ) can be tested using barium nitrate or
barium chloride solution.

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Page 9 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
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(5 marks)

11. Describe an experiment that can be carried out to show that the dissolving of ammonium
chloride in water is an endothermic reaction.

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(5 marks)

Page 10 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I
12. Explain how 500ml of 0.25M Sodium hydroxide solution can be prepared using Sodium
hydroxide pellets. The explanation must include all mathematical calculations.
[RAM: Na = 23, H = 1 and O = 16].

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(10 marks)
Page 11 of 12
NAME OF CANDIDATE ______________________________________________________
MO38/I

13. With the aid of a well labelled diagram, describe an experiment that could be done to
electroplate copper spoon with silver metal.

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(10 marks)
END OF QUESTION PAPER
NB: This paper contains 12 printed pages.

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