CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Nitrogen and sulfur

Nitrogen and sulfur: explain question

Explain4 marksStandard

Nitrogen gas is very unreactive under normal conditions, yet lightning can cause it to react with oxygen to form nitrogen monoxide.

Explain why nitrogen gas is unreactive, and explain how lightning provides the conditions for this reaction to occur.

How this question is marked

4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.

Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.

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