Chemistry Exam Controversy: Expert Challenges Official Matura Question Wording

A recent video by chemistry educator Damian Micki has sparked discussion among students and teachers regarding a specific question from the latest Polish Matura chemistry exam. Mr. Micki, known for his detailed chemical analyses, highlighted what he perceives as a significant ambiguity in Task 26, which involved the reaction of copper(II) hydroxide with polyhydroxy compounds and peptides. According to Mr. Micki, the reaction crucial for identifying these compounds requires not only copper(II) hydroxide but also a strongly alkaline environment, typically achieved by adding an excess of a strong base. He demonstrated that without this excess, the reaction would not proceed as implied by the question. His primary concern stems from the wording of the exam question, which stated that the tested solutions were added "in excess" to the freshly precipitated copper(II) hydroxide, rather than specifying an excess of the base that would create the necessary alkaline conditions. Mr. Micki revealed a response from the Central Examination Board (CKE), which he found unsatisfactory. The CKE's reply suggested that his query indicated a "misunderstanding of the task content" and that the mention of "excess reagents" in the task implied the copper(II) hydroxide was already alkalized. Mr. Micki strongly disputes this interpretation, arguing that the phrasing clearly refers to the excess of the analyzed solutions, not the base used to prepare the copper(II) hydroxide. This discrepancy raises questions about the precision of exam questions and the clarity of official guidelines, potentially affecting student scores and understanding of fundamental chemical principles. Mr. Micki has invited further discussion from the chemistry community on this matter.