DP Chemistry (last assessment 2024)

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Question 22M.2.hl.TZ2.8a(i)

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Date May 2022 Marks available [Maximum mark: 2] Reference code 22M.2.hl.TZ2.8a(i)
Level hl Paper 2 Time zone TZ2
Command term Outline Question number a(i) Adapted from N/A
a(i).
[Maximum mark: 2]
22M.2.hl.TZ2.8a(i)

Carbon forms many compounds.

C60 and diamond are allotropes of carbon.

(a(i))

Outline two differences between the bonding of carbon atoms in C60 and diamond.

[2]

Markscheme

Any two of:

C60 fullerene: bonded to 3 C AND diamond: bonded to 4 C ✔

C60 fullerene: delocalized/resonance AND diamond: not delocalized / no resonance ✔

C60 fullerene: sp2 AND diamond: sp3 ✔

C60 fullerene: bond angles between 109–120° AND diamond: 109° ✔

 

Accept "bonds in fullerene are shorter/stronger/have higher bond order OR bonds in diamond longer/weaker/have lower bond order".

Examiners report

A challenging question, requiring accurate knowledge of the bonding in these allotropes (some referred to graphite, clearly the most familiar allotrope). The most frequent (correct) answer was the difference in number of bonded C atoms and hybridisation in second place. However, only 30% got a mark.

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