WASSCE Chemistry · Paper 1 style

Industrial chemistry

One sample question with the full working. 4 more in the app, with instant feedback and repair sessions for the traps below.

The catalyst used in the Contact process is

Anickel
Bfinely divided iron
Cvanadium(V) oxide
Dplatinum–rhodium gauze

Show the answer and working

Answer: C

V₂O₅ catalyses 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃.

Trap A Picks a related substance or process with a different role: Learn reagents and processes as one-line 'name → job' cards and contrast neighbours in a table (process | product | catalyst | conditions). Match the job in the stem, not just the topic.

Trap B Mixes up a pair of similar chemical terms: Keep a list of confusable pairs with one defining feature each and a hook. Underline the key word in the stem and check it against the definition, not the sound of the name.

Trap D Industrial process confusions: Haber: N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃, iron catalyst, ~450 °C, ~200 atm. Contact: 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃, V₂O₅ catalyst, ~450 °C; SO₃ absorbed in conc. H₂SO₄ to form oleum.

Traps in Industrial chemistry

Picks a related substance or process with a different role
Learn reagents and processes as one-line 'name → job' cards and contrast neighbours in a table (process | product | catalyst | conditions). Match the job in the stem, not just the topic.
Mixes up a pair of similar chemical terms
Keep a list of confusable pairs with one defining feature each and a hook. Underline the key word in the stem and check it against the definition, not the sound of the name.
Industrial process confusions
Haber: N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃, iron catalyst, ~450 °C, ~200 atm. Contact: 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃, V₂O₅ catalyst, ~450 °C; SO₃ absorbed in conc. H₂SO₄ to form oleum.
Oxidation/reduction definition errors
OIL RIG: Oxidation Is Loss of electrons, Reduction Is Gain. The oxidising agent is itself reduced. Oxidation number increases on oxidation.
Reverses a trend, direction or effect
State the rule with its direction before looking at the options (down group 1 reactivity INCREASES; exothermic forward reaction: heating shifts LEFT). An option that is the mirror image of the rule is the trap.

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