PMT

Cambridge International AS & A Level

CHEMISTRY 9701/31
Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1 October/November 2020
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2020 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 12 printed pages.

© UCLES 2020 [Turn over

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the
scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

© UCLES 2020 Page 2 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

Science-Specific Marking Principles

1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.

2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for any
correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the question should be ignored.

3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other syllabus
terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).

4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme where
necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.

5 ‘List rule’ guidance

For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):

• The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
• Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
• Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
• Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response.
• Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.

© UCLES 2020 Page 3 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
6 Calculation specific guidance

Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.

For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded by
the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.

For answers given in standard form (e.g. a × 10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient (a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.

Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.

7 Guidance for chemical equations

Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

Rounding errors (RE) and transcription errors (TE) are penalised only once in the paper.

© UCLES 2020 Page 4 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

1(a) I Four (or more) experiments completed 1

AND
Table on page 4 with correct headings showing
• volume of FA 1
• volume of water
• time
• rate

Allow vol.
Ignore V or FA 1 alone.
Ignore extra columns of data.
Ignore data for this mark.

II Correct units for all data (in heading or for each entry) 1
• volume: in cm3 or / cm3 or (cm3) or cm3
• time: / s or (s) or s by each time
Allow in seconds
• rate: / s–1 or (s–1) or s–1
Ignore factor of 1000

III All times recorded to nearest second (minimum of 3 times) 1

AND
volumes of FA 1 and water recorded to the nearest 0.05 cm3

IV Three additional experiments with volume FA 1 not less than 6.00 cm3, not more than 20.00 cm3 and no volume 1
less than 2.00 cm3 close to another volume.

Reject if further additional experiments carried out.

Reject if all 3 additional experiments are between 20 and 10 cm3.

V Volumes of water chosen so that FA1 + water = 20.00 cm3 for additional experiments carried out. 1

Reject if FA 1 = 0
Reject if no times recorded.

© UCLES 2020 Page 5 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

1(a) VI Correctly calculates rate for all experiments and answer shown to 2–4 sf. 1
Use of significant figures or decimal places does not have to be consistent.

Allow for a minimum of 3 experiments attempted.

Round times to the nearest second before awarding Q marks. 1

Convert times recorded as decimals to seconds, e.g.1.42 (1:42) = 102 s
VII Award if all candidate’s times increase with decrease in volume of FA 1.

Reject if fewer than 4 experiments carried out.

time for FA 1 = 10
Calculate candidate’s ratio to 2 dp
time FA 1 = 20
and record the value under the results table.

VIII Award if ratio is between 3.20 and 4.80 1

IX Award if ratio is between 3.50 and 4.50 1

X Award if ratio is between 3.80 and 4.20 1

1(b) I Linear scales that cover more than half the space in both directions including (0,0) 1
AND
axes correctly orientated and clearly labelled
If scale is non-linear then II is not available.

II Points plotted correctly. 1

Points must be within half a small square of the correct position.
If the point should be on a line it must be on the line and if it should not be on the line it must not be so.
‘Blobs’ should be less than half a small square across and be correctly centred.

Reject if the scale is non-linear.

© UCLES 2020 Page 6 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

1(b) III Line of best fit drawn which ignores anomalous results identified by the candidate. 1
The line may be a smooth curve or straight
AND
use a minimum of 3 points.

Ignore points which are circled or labelled as anomalous.

Reject if a point has been shown at the origin and the line of best fit does not pass within 5 small squares of (0,0).

1(c) Correct lines drawn within 1 small square 1

Allow if horizontal line drawn and some mark shown at 5.

Rate must be read to within correct half a small square, compared with examiner-read value. 1
AND
Correctly calculates 1000 / rate
AND
answer correct to 2–4 sf or a whole number of seconds (unless penalised in 1(a)VI).

Reject if the portion of the scale used for the reading is non-linear.

1(d)(i) Correctly calculates 1

Expt 1:
20 cm3 in total volume 60 cm3 ⇒ 1.67 × 10‒2 mol dm‒3
Expt 2:
10 cm3 in total volume 60 cm3 ⇒ 0.83 × 10‒2 mol dm‒3

20 1.67 1
= so directly proportional
10 0.83

Allow directly proportional as total volume unchanged but volume of FA 1 / KI doubled / halved.

If neither mark is awarded, then allow a total of one mark in (d)(i) for a correct calculation of moles of KI in Experiments
1 and 2 (1 × 10–3 and 5 × 10–4 mol respectively).

© UCLES 2020 Page 7 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

1(d)(ii) Graph: comment must refer to the shape of the line drawn. 1
Curve: as concentration / volume (of iodide ions) increases rate increases more / not directly proportional as line is a
curve / not a straight line

Straight line: rate is proportional to concentration (of iodide ions) / proportional as line has a positive gradient
Reject directly proportional unless the straight line passes within 5 small squares of (0,0).
OR
Table: compares ratio of concentrations / volumes of FA 1 with ratio of rates

Reason: (plotted points give) line of increasing gradient 1

(This mark is not available if a straight line was drawn.)
OR
t2 greater than 2t1 (or similar correct comparison)
e.g. ‘not directly proportional as rate increases more than concentration / volume’

1(e)(i) S2O32‒(aq) + 2H+(aq) → S(s) + SO2(aq / g) + H2O(l) 1

1(e)(ii) worse – less thio / FA 3 left in the reaction mixture to react with iodine formed / so time decreased for each run (owtte) 1
e.g. ‘some FA 2 reacts with FA 3 before starting the experiment.’

Allow:
same – the concentration of thio / FA 3 is very small so slow reaction with Fe3+ / acid / FA 2 so negligible effect / similar
decrease in concentration of thio / FA 3 for each run so effects cancel

better – quicker to transfer all the other reactants into the 1st beaker / takes more time to pour from measuring cylinder

1(f)(i) Volumes of FA 1, FA 3 and FA 4 are unchanged. 1

FA 2 + water = 20 cm3 1

Reject if these volumes are unchanged from Experiment 2 values.

© UCLES 2020 Page 8 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

1(f)(ii) Correctly calculates 1

10
t = 178 ×
vol FA 2

Reject if volumes FA 2 + water ≠ 20 cm3

Question Answer Marks

FA 5 is MnCl 2•4H2O(s); FA 6 is MnO2(s); FA 7 is KI(aq)

2(a)(i) Any three observations on heating FA 5: 3

• initially pink crystals
• (on gentle heating) solid turns white / paler (pink)
• condensation / water droplets / water vapour / misty fumes 1
• (gas) turns (damp blue) litmus red
• melts / liquid formed / dissolves
• (solid / liquid) turns brown / ochre / yellow-brown 2
• residue is dark brown / black solid 3
1 Allow steam
2 Reject red-brown
3 Reject ppt

Ignore bubbles of gas

Ignore incorrect positive gas tests

2(a)(ii) FA 6 + H2O2: Effervescence / bubbling / fizzing 1

(Gas / O2) relights glowing splint 1

© UCLES 2020 Page 9 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

2(a)(iii) Observations using FA 5(aq): 1

+ NaOH: off-white / beige / buff / pale / light brown ppt
AND one of:
insoluble in excess or darkens on standing / turns brown / darker brown

+ H2O2: (fizz, etc.) Ignore this box unless there is a ppt 1

+ NaOH: dark brown / black ppt

Reject if ppt is formed with H2O2 or if ppt dissolves in excess NaOH

Allow additional mark for gas relights glowing splint if not awarded in (a)(ii).

2(b)(i) Selects for halide: 1

(aqueous) AgNO3 / silver nitrate and (followed by) NH3 / (aqueous) ammonia
Ignore preliminary use of nitric acid.

Selects for anion containing sulfur: 1

(aqueous) BaCl 2 / Ba(NO3)2 or names and HCl / HNO3 or names
Reject if use of sulfuric acid is shown.

If neither mark is awarded, allow 1 mark for:

AgNO3 / silver nitrate – halide
AND BaCl 2 / Ba(NO3)2 (or name) – S-anion
Reject if use of sulfuric acid with Ba2+ salt is shown.

© UCLES 2020 Page 10 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

2(b)(ii) Expected observations: 3

FA 5 FA 7

+ Ag+ white ppt * (pale) yellow ppt *

+ NH3 (ppt) colour (ppt) insoluble *

darkens / off-
white / buff / beige /
pale brown *

+ Ba2+ no change / no no change / no ppt / no

ppt / no reaction / not reaction / not needed *
needed *

+ H+ ignore ignore
Two * = 1 mark (round down).
Allow 1 mark for the following observations with NH3(aq) if AgNO3(aq) was not selected:
FA 5: off-white / beige / buff / pale / light brown ppt
AND
FA 7: no reaction

2(b)(iii) One box = one * Two * = 1 mark (round down). 2

FA 5 FA 7

cation Mn2+ unknown

anion Cl ‒ I–
Ignore K+ for FA 7.
Allow names (manganese(II), unknown, chloride, iodide) for 1 mark.

© UCLES 2020 Page 11 of 12

 PMT
9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Mark

2(b)(iv) FA 5 + Cl 2: no reaction / no (visible) change 1

Allow turns black / dark brown if Mn2+ identified.

FA 7 + Cl 2: solution turns yellow / brown or black / dark grey ppt 1

Allow ecf for bromide for either (not both) FA 5 or FA 7:
solution turns yellow / red-brown / brown.
Allow solution turns orange for either Br – or I−.
Allow no reaction / no (visible) change if SO32− / SO42− identified.

© UCLES 2020 Page 12 of 12