GCSE Chemistry  ›  C3.1 Calculations involving masses

Calculations involving masses

Free AQA GCSE Chemistry practice questions on Calculations involving masses. Sample questions below with detailed mark schemes — sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.

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Show — 5 marks

A chemistry student is preparing a solution for an experiment. They need to dissolve sodium chloride (NaCl) in water to create a standard solution. The student has a bottle containing 250 cm³ of distilled water and needs to dissolve 58.5 g of sodium chloride to make a solution with a concentration of 4.0 mol/dm³.

  1. Calculate the number of moles of sodium chloride (NaCl) in 58.5 g. (The relative atomic masses are: Na = 23, Cl = 35.5) [2 marks]
  2. The student dissolves all 58.5 g of sodium chloride in the 250 cm³ of water. Show that the concentration of the resulting solution is 4.0 mol/dm³. [2 marks]
  3. If the student had only used 150 cm³ of water instead, calculate the concentration of sodium chloride in this new solution. Give your answer to 2 significant figures. [1 mark]
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Describe — 5 marks

A pharmaceutical company is developing a new antibiotic medication. They need to prepare a solution by dissolving 2.5 g of the active ingredient in 500 cm³ of distilled water. The company must ensure the concentration is correct for clinical trials. The molar mass of the active ingredient is 250 g/mol.

  1. Describe how you would calculate the number of moles of the active ingredient in the 2.5 g sample. [2 marks]
  2. Describe the steps you would follow to determine the concentration of the solution in mol/dm³ using the mass and volume data provided. [2 marks]
  3. Describe why it is important to use precise measurements of both mass and volume when preparing this pharmaceutical solution, making reference to concentration calculations. [1 mark]
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Calculate — 2 marks

A student is investigating the mass of water that can be held in different containers. They have a large cylindrical tank and want to determine how much water it can hold. The tank has a mass of 2.5 kg when empty. When filled completely with water, the total mass is 42.5 kg. (The density of water is 1000 kg/m³)

  1. Calculate the mass of water that the tank can hold. [1 mark]
  2. Calculate the volume of water in the tank in cubic metres (m³). Show your working. [1 mark]
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Calculate — 2 marks

Calcium oxide (quicklime) is produced industrially by heating calcium carbonate in a kiln. This process is essential for manufacturing cement. The equation for the reaction is: CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂. The relative atomic masses (Aᵣ) are: Ca = 40, O = 16, C = 12.

  1. (01.1) Calculate the relative formula mass (Mᵣ) of calcium carbonate, CaCO₃. [1 mark]
  2. (01.2) A factory heats 200 kg of calcium carbonate. Calculate the maximum mass of calcium oxide that can be produced. Give your answer in kilograms. [1 mark]
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  • (01.1) 40 + 12 + (16 × 3) = 100 (no penalty for missing or incorrect working)
  • (01.2) Mᵣ of CaO = 56
  • (01.2) 200 × (56/100) = 112 kg

Describe — 2 marks

A student is carrying out a laboratory experiment to make magnesium oxide by heating magnesium ribbon in a crucible. The student wants to calculate how much magnesium oxide should be produced.

  1. (01.1) Describe how to calculate the relative formula mass of magnesium oxide, MgO. (Relative atomic masses: Mg = 24, O = 16) [1 mark]
  2. (01.2) The student starts with 2.4 g of magnesium. Describe how to calculate the maximum mass of magnesium oxide that can be made. [1 mark]
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  • (01.1) Add the relative atomic masses (24 + 16 = 40) OR Add the mass numbers of magnesium and oxygen
  • (01.2) Use the ratio of masses (Mg:MgO = 24:40) to scale from 2.4 g magnesium OR Divide mass of magnesium by 24 then multiply by 40 OR Use Mr from 01.1 to calculate mass of product
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