Forum login

Not registered? Sign-up here it's free.

External links

• NCEA on TKI
• NZQA website

Chemistry 1.6 Describe selected non-metals and their compounds

Achievement criteria

The level of achievement that you will reach is decided by the way you answer each question. The key words are describe, link, and discuss aspects of atomic structure and bonding.

Achievement

• Describe the properties, preparations, and reactions of selected non-metals (oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and chlorine) and their compounds.
• This means you can describe:
  
  • physical properties – state at room temperature, colour, solubility in water. (You can access information about the examinable non-metals from the Periodic table by selecting a non-metal element.)
  • reaction of non-metal with oxygen – sulphur and nitrogen, chlorine
  • laboratory preparations of:
    
    • ammonia (by heating a mixture of calcium hydroxide and ammonium chloride)
    • hydrogen chloride (from the reaction of sodium chloride and concentrated sulfuric acid)
    • sulfur dioxide (by the reaction of dilute hydrochloric acid with sulfites)
    • oxides of nitrogen (from the reaction of copper with nitric acid)
  • the processes of commercial preparations of:
    
    • ammonia (by the Haber Process)
    • sulfuric acid (by the Contact Process)
    • superphosphate (from rock phosphate) (PDF 132KB)
      
    • sodium hypochlorite (from sodium hydroxide and chlorine)
  • the commercial preparations of:
    
    • chlorine (electrolysis of brine)
    • nitrogen and oxygen (from liquid air)
    • sulfur (from natural gas)
  • the nitrogen cycle – limited to the major nitrogen-containing species (nitrogen gas, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and proteins) and the changes involved
  • allotropes of sulfur and oxygen, relationship of their structure to their physical properties.

Achievement with Merit

• Link the properties, reactions, and uses of selected non-metals and their compounds:
  
  • solubility and the acidic nature of the aqueous solutions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid
  • reaction of SO₂ and sulfite as a reductant and its use as a preservative or bleach
  • the role of ozone in the upper atmosphere and effects of ozone depletion (Check out information about ozone in relation to New Zealand.)
  • uses of chlorine related to the nature of its aqueous solution
  • bleaching and antiseptic properties of sodium hypochlorite
  • use of sulfuric acid in batteries and in the manufacture of fertiliser
  • effect on people and the environment of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, for example, photochemical smog and acid rain.

Achievement with Excellence

• Apply an understanding of the properties, reactions, and uses of selected non-metals and their compounds.

Back to top