Essential Chemistry SPM Question Bank

Chapter 14: Chemicals for Consumers

Paper 1
1)
Which of the following is true about detergents?
A They do not form scum in hard water
B The hydrophilic region dissolves in grease
C They cannot be used in soft water
D They are produced from the hydrolysis process of an ester
2)

Which of the following medicine can relieve muscle pains?

A Antidepressant
B Penicillin
C Stimulant
D Paracetamol

3)

Which of the following food additives is matched correctly to its function?

Food additives
Function
A Ascorbic acid
Colours the food
B Monosodium glutamate
Makes the food tastier
C Sodium benzoate
Thickens the liquid
D Stabiliser
Slows down the growth of bacteria

4)

Detergent is a salt produced from the reaction between

A alkali and fat
B acid and petroleum
C acid and fat
D alkali and sulphonic acid

5)

Detergent is a salt produced from the reaction between

Which of the following represents regions X and Y?

X
Y
A Hydrophobic
Hydrophilic
B Covalent
Hydrophobic
C Hydrophilic
Hydrophobic
D Molecule
Covalent
6)

Aspirin and codeine are medicine that can be grouped as

A hormones
B antibiotics
C psychiatric medicine
D analgesics

7)

Ginger can be used to

A warm up the body
B treat skin diseases
C cure diarrhoea
D treat high blood pressure

8)

Which of the following medicine is suitable for treating a patient with difficulties in
sleeping and who is always feeling anxious?
A Streptomycin
B Barbiturate
C Aspirin
D Codeine

9)

Sodium chloride needs to be added during the process of making soap in order to
A avoid the formation of scum
B absorb the excess oil
C lower the boiling point of soap
D reduce the solubility of soap in water

10)

Which of the following is the function of soap?

A To reduce the evaporation of water in air
B To combine with calcium ion in water
C To reduce the surface tension of water
D To change hard water into soft water

Paper 2
Structured question
The equation below shows the reaction that occurs during the preparation of soap in the
laboratory.
Vegetable oil + concentrated
sodium hydroxide

Sodium salt fatty

acid
+ glycerol
(soap)

(a) Name the above reaction.

(b) State one substance that needs to be added into the mixture in order to separate the soap.
(c) If sodium palmitate is the type of soap produced,
(i) what type of vegetable oil is used?
(ii) what type of fatty acid can be found in the vegetable oil?
(d) If a potassium salt fatty acid is the type of soap that needs to be prepared, what type of
alkali should be used?

(e) Complete the anion part of the soap particle that is produced.

(f) The structural formula of soap can be represented by the figure below.

(i) Circle the part of the soap molecule that dissolves in grease.
(ii) Name the part of the soap particle that dissolves in grease.

Essay question
(a) The figure below shows a detergent molecule.

(i) State the characteristics of region K and region L.

(ii) Explain briefly how region L acts on the grease dirt.

[4 marks]
[2 marks]

(b)
The effectiveness of the cleansing action of soap and detergent
in hard water is different.
Explain the statement above. Compare the effectiveness of the cleansing action of the soap and
detergent in hard water.
[8 marks]

(c)

The figure above shows the structural formula of a detergent.

O
R O S O-Na+
O
(i) Name the detergent.
[1 mark]
(ii) Explain briefly how the detergent is prepared.
[2 marks]
(iii) Write the structural formula of alkyl sulphonic acid.
[1 mark]
(iv) Write the chemical equation in the form of structural formulae to represent the
formation of the detergent.
2 marks]

Paper 3
Detergent removes oily dirt from cloth in sea water (hard water)
at a faster rate than soap.
Based on the above situation, plan a laboratory experiment to compare the effectiveness of
the cleansing action of detergent and soap in hard water.
Your plan should include the following aspects:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)

Aim of the experiment

All the variables
Statement of the hypothesis
List of substances and apparatus
Procedure
Tabulation of data

[State the aim of the experiment]

[State all the variables]
[State the hypothesis]
[List the substances and apparatus]
[Choose the procedure]
[Tabulate the data]

Answers
Paper 1
1
A
2
D
3
B
4
D
5
C
6
D
7
A
8
B
9
D
10
C
Paper 2
Structured question
1) (a)
Saponification / alkaline hydrolysis
(b)
Sodium chloride
(c)
(i) Glyceryl tripalmitate
(ii) Palmitic acid
(d)
Potassium hydroxide
(e)
C OO
(f)

(i)

(ii) Hydrophobic / hydrocarbon tail

Essay question
(a)
(i) K: - consists of the ionic region
- dissolves in water
L: - consists of the hydrocarbon chain
- dissolves in grease
(ii)
- The tail region (hydrocarbon) emulsifies the grease
- The oil is broken up into small droplets
(b)

- Hard water contains mineral salts such as calcium and magnesium salt
- Calcium and magnesium ions act on the soap
- Precipitate (scum) that is insoluble in water is formed
- Soap will not produce bubbles
- Detergent does form strong bonds with calcium and magnesium ions
- Scum is not formed
- Detergent forms bubbles in hard water
- Detergent cleans more effectively in hard water as compared with soap

(c)

(i) Sodium alkyl sulphate detergent

(ii) Is prepared through a neutralisation reaction between an alkyl
sulphonic acid and a sodium hydroxide solution.
(iii)
O
R O S OH
O
(iv)
O

R O S OH
O

O
+ NaOH R O S O-Na+

+ H2O

Paper 3
(a) To compare the effectiveness of the cleansing action of detergent and soap in hard water
(b) Variables that
are manipulated: Detergent and soap / Type of cleansing agent
responds
: Effectiveness of the cleansing action of detergent and soap
are controlled : Quantity of detergent or soap / Amount of hard water / Type of
oily cloth
(c) The cleansing action of detergent in hard water is more effective than soap
(d) Substances: Soap, detergent, hard water, greasy stocking
Apparatus: Basins
(e) Procedure:
- Hard water is poured into two separate basins
- Soap and detergent are poured separately into the basins
- A greasy stocking is put into each basin
- The water in the basins are shaken
(f)
Type of cleansing agent
Effectiveness of the cleansing action
Detergent
Soap