Group 2: past paper questions

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 41Structured14 marks

  Write the equation to represent the lattice energy, $\mathrm{\Delta }{H}_{\text{latt}}$, of calcium sulfide, $\text{CaS}$.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured15 marks

  Solutions of Group 2 hydrogencarbonates, ${\text{M(HCO}}_3{)}_2$, decompose on heating to give the corresponding metal carbonate, carbon dioxide and water.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured16 marks

  Disodium phosphate, $({\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}}^{+}{)}_2({\mathrm{H}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{O}}_4^{2-})$, reacts with an acid to form monosodium phosphate, ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}}^{+}({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{P}\mathrm{O}}_4^{-})$. Identify the ions that are a conjugate acid–base pair in this reaction, using the formulae of the species involved.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured7 marks

  Cobalt(II) nitrate, $\mathrm{C}\mathrm{o}(\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3{)}_2$, is a reddish-brown crystalline solid. It dissolves in water to form a solution containing $[\mathrm{C}\mathrm{o}({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}{)}_6{]}^{2+}$ complex ions.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Group 2 carbonates decompose on heating to form the corresponding metal oxide and carbon dioxide. The mechanism for this decomposition involves the carbonate ion breaking down to form carbon dioxide and oxide ions.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured7 marks

  Magnesium nitrate, $\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}(\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3{)}_2$, and strontium nitrate, $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{r}(\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3{)}_2$, both decompose when heated to form the metal oxide and a mixture of gases. Write an equation for the thermal decomposition of $\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}(\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3{)}_2$.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured19 marks

  The pH of a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide is 12.35 at $298\text{ K}$. Show that the concentration of hydroxide ions in a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide is $0.0224\text{ mol}{\text{dm}}^{-3}$ at $298\text{ K}$.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured6 marks

  Some of the ionic compounds of Group 2 elements undergo thermal decomposition. Thermal decomposition of solid anhydrous magnesium ethanedioate, $\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_4$, occurs above ${650}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$.

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 41Structured7 marks

  Both calcium carbonate, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_3$, and barium carbonate, ${\mathrm{B}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_3$, decompose when heated to form the metal oxide and a gas. Write an equation for the thermal decomposition of ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_3$.

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• Question 1May/June 2024, paper 41Structured12 marks

  Describe the trend in the solubility of the hydroxides of magnesium, calcium and strontium.

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• Question 1May/June 2023, paper 41Structured19 marksHas a diagram

  Group 2 nitrates decompose when heated. Describe how the thermal stability of Group 2 nitrates changes with increasing proton number.

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 42Structured8 marks

  Calcium nitrate, $\mathrm{C}\mathrm{a}(\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3{)}_2$, decomposes on heating. Write an equation for the decomposition of calcium nitrate.

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• Question 3May/June 2024, paper 41Structured13 marksHas a diagram

  When a sample of hydrated lithium ethanedioate, $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{i}}_2{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_4\cdot {\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$, is gently heated, two gaseous products are formed and a white solid residue remains. The residue is added to $\mathrm{H}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3(\mathrm{a}\mathrm{q})$. A gas is produced that turns limewater milky.

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• Question 1May/June 2023, paper 42Structured13 marksHas a diagram

  Group 2 carbonates decompose when heated to form the metal oxide and carbon dioxide. Suggest a mechanism for the decomposition of the carbonate ion by adding two curly arrows in Fig. 1.1.

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• Question 1May/June 2024, paper 42Structured13 marksHas a diagram

  Describe the trend in the solubility of the sulfates of magnesium, calcium and strontium.

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• Question 2May/June 2024, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Lithium nitrate, ${\text{LiNO}}_3$, decomposes on heating in a similar way to Group 2 nitrates to give the metal oxide, a brown gas and oxygen.

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