Cambridge International AS & A Level

CHEMISTRY 9701/41
Paper 4 A Level Structured Questions May/June 2020
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 100

Published

Students did not sit exam papers in the June 2020 series due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

This mark scheme is published to support teachers and students and should be read together with the
question paper. It shows the requirements of the exam. The answer column of the mark scheme shows the
proposed basis on which Examiners would award marks for this exam. Where appropriate, this column also
provides the most likely acceptable alternative responses expected from students. Examiners usually review
the mark scheme after they have seen student responses and update the mark scheme if appropriate. In the
June series, Examiners were unable to consider the acceptability of alternative responses, as there were no
student responses to consider.

Mark schemes should usually be read together with the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers. However,
because students did not sit exam papers, there is no Principal Examiner Report for Teachers for the June
2020 series.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the June 2020 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™ and Cambridge International A & AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 15 printed pages.

© UCLES 2020 [Turn over

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the
scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

© UCLES 2020 Page 2 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

© UCLES 2020 Page 3 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Science-Specific Marking Principles

1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.

2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the question should be ignored.

3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).

4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.

5 ‘List rule’ guidance (see examples below)

For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):

• The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided
• Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n
• Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n
• Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response
• Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.

© UCLES 2020 Page 4 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED

6 Calculation specific guidance

Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.

For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded
by the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.

For answers given in standard form, (e.g. a × 10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient (a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.

Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.

7 Guidance for chemical equations

Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

© UCLES 2020 Page 5 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

1(a)(i) (a molecule or ion) formed by a (central) metal atom / ion surrounded by / bonded to (one or more) ligands 1

1(a)(ii) M1: blue ppt/solid 6

M2: [Co(H2O)6]2+ + 2OH-  Co(OH)2 + 6H2O

OR [Co(H2O)6]2+ + 2OH-  [Co(H2O)4(OH)2] + 2H2O

M3: precipitation/ acid-base

M4: blue solution

M5: [Co(H2O)6]2+ + 6NH3  [Co(NH3)6]2+ + 6H2O

M6: ligand exchange/displacement/substitution/replacement

1(b) • solution turns blue → pink 2

• a white ppt. of AgCl forms
• equilibrium shifts to the left /  [Cl-] decreases

Two correct responses = 1 mark Three correct responses = 2 marks

1(c) NH3 NH3 2

Cl NH3 H3N Cl
Co Co
Cl NH3 Cl NH3
Cl Cl

geometric ALLOW cis-trans

Two correct responses = 1 mark Three correct responses = 2 marks

1(d)(i) each nitrogen / the four nitrogen’s has a lone pair of electrons (to the metal ion) 1
Two correct responses = 1 mark

© UCLES 2020 Page 6 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

1(d)(ii) [Co(H2O)6]2+ + C6H18N4  [Co(C6H18N4)]2+ + 6H2O 1

OR
[Co(H2O)6]2+ + C6H18N4  [Co(C6H18N4)(H2O)2]2+ + 4H2O

Question Answer Marks

2(a)(i) M1 solubility increases down the group 4

M2 ΔHlatt and ΔHhyd both become less exothermic / less negative

M3 ΔHlatt changes more (than ΔHhyd as OH– being smaller than M2+)

M4 ΔHsol becomes more exothermic / more negative

2(a)(ii) M1 Mg(OH)2 AND Mg2+ has a smaller ionic radii/ Mg2+ has a higher charge density 2

M2 OH- ion is polarised/distorted more

Question Answer Marks

3(a)(i) 6CO2 + 24H+ + 24e-  C6H12O6 + 6H2O 2

ALLOW 6CO2 + 12H+ + 12e-  C6H12O6 + 3O2 for both marks

ALLOW one mark for an unbalanced equation showing the correct species of either equation

© UCLES 2020 Page 7 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

3(a)(ii) salt bridge (indicated) voltmeter / V labelled 4

O2 good delivery system H2 good delivery system

Pt electrode H+ / HCl / H2SO4 solution labelled (at least once)

1 atm 1 mol dm–3 quoted

Every two correct responses = 1 mark

3(a)(iii) Eocell = (+) 1.23 V AND positive electrode = O2 half-cell identified 1

Question Answer Marks

4(a) M1 phenylmethanamine / U > phenylamine / T > benzamide / S [1] 3

any two from:

• alkyl group is electron donating so lone pair more able to accept a proton
• lone pair on N overlaps with delocalised system so less able to accept a proton
• presence of electron-withdrawing oxygen / carbonyl group means lone pair is not available to accept a proton OR
amides are neutral

4(b)(i) reaction 1 LiAlH4 2

reaction 2 heat NH3 under pressure/ heat NH3 in a sealed tube

4(b)(ii) reaction 1 reduction 2

reaction 2 nucleophilic substitution

© UCLES 2020 Page 8 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

5(a)(i) The substitution product is stabilised by delocalisation of (6)π-electrons 1

OR
The addition product is not stabilised by delocalisation of (6)π-electrons [1]

5(a)(ii) Br 3

+ Br + H+
Br+
H
[1]
intermediate [1] curly arrow + H+ lost [1]
• first curly arrow
• intermediate
• 2nd curly arrow, product and H+ formed / lost

5(a)(iii) AlBr4- + H+  AlBr3 + HBr 1

5(b) lone pair of oxygen is delocalised into the ring 2

any one from:

• phenol has a higher electron density in the ring
• phenol can polarise/induce a dipole in Br2

5(c)(i) CH3CH2CH+CH3 (CH3)2CHCH2+ (CH3)3C+ Each correct structure = 1 mark 3

© UCLES 2020 Page 9 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

5(c)(ii) 4

number of peaks in carbon-13 NMR = 8

number of peaks in carbon-13 NMR = 6

number of peaks in carbon-13 NMR = 7

number of peaks in carbon-13 NMR = 8

Two correct organic products = 1 mark

three correct organic products = 2 marks

all products linked correctly to NMR = 2 marks

Question Answer Marks

6(a) M1 2-chloropropanoic acid > 3-chloropropanoic acid > propanoic acid [1] 3

M2 CH3CHClCO2H / ClCH2CH2CO2H (are more acidic) as they contain an electronegative Cl atom so weaken O-H bond / 
stabilise carboxylate anion [1]

M3 CH3CHClCO2H (is more acidic than ClCH2CH2CO2H) as the Cl atom is closer to CO2H so weaken O-H bond more / 
stabilise carboxylate anion more [1]

© UCLES 2020 Page 10 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

6(b)(i) Keq = 4.07x10-3/1.78x10-4 = 22.9 1

6(b)(ii) 3rd box ticked [to the right] AND as the Keq is greater than one ecf on Keq 1

6(b)(iii) pKa 1.23 HO2CCO2H + H2O ⇌ HO2CCO2- + H3O+ 2

OR HO2CCO2H ⇌ HO2CCO2- + H+

pKa 4.19 HO2CCO2- + H2O ⇌ -O CCO -

2 2 + H3O+
OR HO2CCO2- ⇌ -O CCO -
2 2 + H+

6(b)(iv) pKa = – logKa 1

6(c) 5
reagents and conditions observed change

M1 Tollen’s reagent, warm silver mirror

test 1 OR
Fehling’s solution, warm (brick)-red ppt.

M2 aqueous alkaline iodine yellow ppt.

test 2 OR
2,4-DNPH orange ppt.

test 3 M3 acidified MnO4- , warm decolourises (and bubbles)

Two correct observations = 1 mark

Three correct observations = 2 marks

© UCLES 2020 Page 11 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

6(d) 2
environment of hybridisation of
chemical shift (δ)
the carbon atom the carbon atom

27 CH3 circled sp3

163 COOH circled sp2

192 C=O(COOH) circled sp2

Award one mark for each correct column

6(e) 3
chemical group responsible splitting number of 1H atoms
shift (δ) for the peak pattern responsible for the peak

1.3 alkane / CH / CH3 triplet 3

CH3CO or
2.2 singlet 3
alkyl / CH next to C=O

CH2O or
quartet / 
4.0 alkyl / CH next to 2
quadruplet
electronegative atom / C=O

Award one mark for every three correct responses.

6(f) CH AND CH3 circled 2

these protons do not exchange with D2O
OR OH and NH protons exchange with D2O

6(g)(i) Kw = [D+][DO-] 1

6(g)(ii) M1 [D+] = √1.35 x 10-15 = 3.67 x10-8 2

M2 pH = -log [D+] = 7.4(3) min 2sf

© UCLES 2020 Page 12 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

7(a)(i) M1 Ksp = [Ag+]2[CO32-] 2

M2 units = mol3 dm-9

7(a)(ii) 1
x = 3√6.3 x 10-12/4 = 1.16 x 10-4 (mol dm-3)
[Ag+] = 1.16 x 10-4 x 2 = 2.33 x 10-4 (mol dm-3) min 2sf

7(a)(iii) 6.3 x 10-12 = [0.05]2[CO32-] 1

[CO32-] = 2.52 x 10-9 (mol dm-3) min 2sf

7(a)(iv) M1 E=Eo + 0.059log[Ag+] 2

M2 E=0.80 + 0.059log(1.2 x 10-4) = 0.57 V ecf from (a)(ii) min 2sf

7(b)(i) ΔSo = 72.7 + 56.5 -96.2 = +33.0 J K-1 mol-1 1

7(b)(ii) M1 ΔG = ΔHo - TΔSo 3

M2 ΔG = (65.5)- (298x0.033) = +55.7 kJ mol-1 min 3sf

M3 ΔG = positive so not feasible/spontaneous

Question Answer Marks

8(a) M1 a solution that resists changes in pH 2

M2 when small amounts of acid and alkali are added to it

8(b)(i) Ka = [NH3][H+] 1
[NH4+]

8(b)(ii) M1 NH4+ + OH-  NH3 + H2O 2

M2 NH3 + H3O+  NH4+ + H2O

© UCLES 2020 Page 13 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

8(b)(iii) M1 moles NH3(initial) = 0.25 x 0.80 = 0.200 AND 3

moles HCl = 0.20 x 0.20 = 0.040 (= moles NH4+eqm)

M2 moles NH3(eqm) = 0.20 – 0.04 = 0.160

[H+] = (5.6 x10-10 x 0.04)/(0.16) = 1.4 x 10-10 (mol dm-3) ecf on M1

M3 pH = -log(1.4 x 10-10) = 9.85 ecf on M2 min 2sf

Question Answer Marks

9(a) M1 data seen H2O2/H2O +1.77V and MnO2/Mn2+ +1.23 V and O2/H2O2 +0.68 V 3
OR Ecell= 0.55 V (first step) and 0.54 V (second step)

M2 MnO2 + H2O2 + 2H+  Mn2+ + O2 + 2H2O

M3 Mn2+ + H2O2  MnO2 + 2H+

9(b) rate = 2.0 x 10-6 x 0.75 = 1.5 x 10-6 1

9(c)(i) slowest step in overall reaction 1

9(c)(ii) H2O2 + 2H+ + 2I-  I2 + 2H2O 1

OR H2O2 + 2HI  I2 + 2H2O

9(c)(iii) H2O2 = 1 AND I- = 1 AND H+ = 0 1

Question Answer Marks

10(a) +4 and any of +1, +2, +3 1

10(b) close similarity of energy of the 4s and 3d sub-shells 1

© UCLES 2020 Page 14 of 15

9701/41 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme MAY/JUNE 2020
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks

10(c) diagrams 3

M1 (can be in words or diagram) substrate shape is complementary to active site

M2 (can be in words or diagram) the substrate bind / bonds / fits into the active site

M3 (can be in words or diagram) products are released

M4 (words) lower EA / bonds weakened (in substrate) Any three points

© UCLES 2020 Page 15 of 15