AQA GCSE Chemistry · Topic 4.1

Atomic structure and the periodic table questions

Practice questions covering atomic structure and the periodic table from this specification. Every question below is the real AQA question as it is printed on the paper, with its mark scheme.

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Questions to attempt

6 questions on Atomic structure and the periodic table, each with its mark scheme and worked method. Reveal the answer when you have had a go.

4.1.1.1 · Atoms, elements and compounds
Q1
ORIGINAL
Magnesium burns in oxygen to form magnesium oxide. Write the word equation, then complete and balance the symbol equation Mg + O₂ → MgO.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
4.1.1.2 · Mixtures
Q2
ORIGINAL
A student needs dry copper sulfate crystals from a copper sulfate solution. Describe a suitable sequence after the solution has been placed in an evaporating basin.
[4 marks]
Total for this question: 4
4.1.1.3 · The development of the model of the atom (common content with physics)
Q3
ORIGINAL
In an alpha-scattering trial, nearly every alpha particle crossed a thin metal sheet without changing direction, but a tiny proportion returned towards the source. Explain the conclusions about atomic structure.
[4 marks]
Total for this question: 4
4.1.1.4 · Relative electrical charges of subatomic particles
Q4
ORIGINAL
A particle contains 13 protons, 14 neutrons and 10 electrons. Determine its overall charge and explain whether it is an atom or an ion.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
4.1.1.5 · Size and mass of atoms
Q5
ORIGINAL
An oxygen-18 atom has atomic number 8. Calculate its numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons, and state where almost all its mass is located.
[4 marks]
Total for this question: 4
4.1.1.6 · Relative atomic mass
Q6
ORIGINAL
Element Z has isotopes Z-24, Z-25 and Z-26. Their abundances are 79%, 10% and 11% respectively. Determine the relative atomic mass of Z.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3

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Printable question pack — 4.1 Atomic structure and the periodic tableAll 153 questions across 15 specification points — 147 more than the 6 above — with the full mark scheme. Guest accessible · browser print.

4.1 Atomic structure and the periodic table revision notes

Real past-paper questions

93 questions shown as printed, 28 reference-only · newest series first

Question and mark-scheme extracts © AQA. Reproduced for educational use; the original paper is linked on every question. Contact hello@oscarsongtutoring.co.uk for removal.

AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1F · Q1 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[01.1] Nearly all students chose the correct name.
Text version
This question is about elements and compounds.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1F · Q5 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[05.6] Three quarters of students gave the correct value, with 2.7 cm3 being the more popular distractor.
Text version
This question is about electrolysis. Aluminium is extracted by electrolysis of a molten mixture of aluminium oxide and cryolite; the products are molten aluminium and oxygen gas. A student also investigated electrolysis of magnesium sulfate solution at currents of 0.05 A and 0.10 A.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1F · Q7 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[07.3] Four fifths of students scored both marks. A few inverted the expression provided.
Text version
This question is about mixtures. A mixture contains salt, which is soluble in water, and sand, which is insoluble in water.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1F · Q8 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[08.4] This was answered less successfully. Many stated that Mendeleev left spaces for other elements to be discovered which, while true, does not answer the question. Others answered in terms of atomic number, which was not known in Mendeleev’s time. Even those who tried to answer in terms of placing elements in the ‘correct’ group rarely mentioned properties.
Text version
This question is about elements in the periodic table. Gallium is a Group 3 metal; argon is in Group 0. Element X has isotopes of mass 113 (4%) and 115 (96%).
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1F · Q10 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[10.3] Whilst a third of students scored one mark, only about one in ten scored all three. Many could not recall the expression for percentage atom economy and therefore did not attempt to find the total Mr of the reactants. A significant minority added the two relative atomic masses provided to give 124 and then divided by 128. © 2025 AQA
Text version
This question is about metals and metal oxides. Tin is extracted by SnO2 + C -> Sn + CO2. Cadmium is extracted by CdO + C -> Cd + CO. Tungsten oxide reacts by WO3 + 3H2 -> W + 3H2O.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1H · Q1 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[01.1] Only a quarter of students scored the mark, despite the clear statement in the specification. Many referred to the right of the table, but fewer referred to the top. Those who referred to specific groups were often correct but some omitted Group 0. Some referred to a ‘staircase’ but did not specify what it means; it should be noted that the periodic table provided does not show a staircase.
Text version
This question is about elements in the periodic table. Gallium is a Group 3 metal; argon is in Group 0. Element X has isotopes of mass 113 (4%) and 115 (96%).
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1H · Q3 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[03.3] More than two thirds of students achieved full marks. Some did not calculate a total Mr but used the Mr of CdO instead; these answers were not creditworthy. Others added up all the Mr of reactants and products instead of just the reactants; these gained partial credit.
Text version
This question is about metals and metal oxides. Tin is extracted by SnO2 + C -> Sn + CO2. Cadmium is extracted by CdO + C -> Cd + CO. Tungsten oxide reacts by WO3 + 3H2 -> W + 3H2O.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1H · Q5 · 12 marks
12 marks
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[05.1] Over half of students scored both marks by giving the description in the specification. For the first marking point, the idea of both the shape and the charge were needed. Common errors were to refer to a positive ‘cloud’ or a ball of positive ‘energy’. Other errors were to refer to protons, which had not been discovered, or to imply that there was an overall positive charge on the atom as a whole; atoms were known to be neutral in terms of charge. For the second marking point the electrons needed to be referred to as such, not just negative charge. Common errors were to imply that electrons were on the surface rather than embedded, or that they were moving.
Text version
This question is about small particles. A cubic nanoparticle has side length 1.2 nm. A scratch-resistant lens coating can use nanoparticles instead of fine particles.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1H · Q6 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[06.2] Only a half of students knew that cryolite was the correct substance. The most common incorrect answer was water.
Text version
Aluminium is extracted by electrolysis of molten aluminium oxide mixed with another substance. Oxygen forms at the positive electrode.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 1H · Q9 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[09.2] Nearly a half of students gained full marks in this calculation and over three quarters could make some progress. This was a multi-step calculation, which is classed as an extended response question. As such, the working has to make sense chemically. Those students who managed to put the data together in such a way as to obtain an answer of 78.9%, but whose working made no sense chemically, were often limited to the mark for the correct number of significant figures. There were many excellent fully correct answers, and many students were able to make some progress by calculating the number of moles of iodine and / or zinc iodide. While most adopted the expected approach, calculating the expected mass of zinc iodide and finding the actual mass as a percentage of that value, two other valid approaches also gained credit. One of these was to find the moles of zinc iodide produced as a percentage of the expected moles. The other, far less commonly seen, was to find the mass of iodine actually reacted and take that as a percentage of the mass provided. Of those who adopted the approach of calculating the expected mass of zinc iodide, many surprisingly calculated the mass of zinc and added that to the mass of iodine, rather than simply multiplying the number of moles by the Mr of ZnI2, which was provided. Students had little difficulty in rounding correctly to 3 significant figures.
Text version
Zinc reacts with iodine to produce zinc iodide in ethanol. Ethanol is flammable and boils at 78 °C. Zinc is insoluble in ethanol; iodine and zinc iodide are soluble.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2F · Q4 · 12 marks
12 marks
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[04.3] Around half of students knew that iron was used as a catalyst in the Haber process.
Text version
Ammonia is produced reversibly from nitrogen and hydrogen in the Haber process. World ammonia production (arbitrary units) was 120 in 1990, 130 in 2000, 155 in 2010 and 165 in 2020.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2F · Q9 · 6 marks
6 marks
$AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2F · Q9 · 6 marks — This question is about hydrocarbon fuels. Crude oil is heated and its vapours enter a fractionating column, where fractions condense at different heights. Boiling ranges: petrol 40-110 °C, kerosene 18…$
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[09.6] A quarter of students named butane correctly. Propane was the most common incorrect answer.
Text version
This question is about hydrocarbon fuels. Crude oil is heated and its vapours enter a fractionating column, where fractions condense at different heights. Boiling ranges: petrol 40-110 °C, kerosene 180-260 °C, diesel 260-320 °C, heavy fuel oil 320-400 °C, petroleum gases below 30 °C.
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2H · Q2 · 6 marks
6 marks
$AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2H · Q2 · 6 marks — This question is about hydrocarbon fuels. Crude oil is heated and vapours enter a fractionating column where fractions condense at different heights. Boiling ranges: petrol 40-110 °C, kerosene 180-260…$
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[02.1] Over 90% of students correctly identified fractional distillation.
Text version
This question is about hydrocarbon fuels. Crude oil is heated and vapours enter a fractionating column where fractions condense at different heights. Boiling ranges: petrol 40-110 °C, kerosene 180-260 °C, diesel 260-320 °C, heavy fuel oil 320-400 °C, petroleum gases below 30 °C.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1F · Q1 · 2 marks
2 marks
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[01.3] More than four fifths of students identified the position of metals in the periodic table. Sections B, C and D was the most popular distractor.
Text version
This question is about elements, compounds and mixtures.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1F · Q2 · 6 marks
6 marks
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[02.7] Students found this standard demand question difficult. Just over a third of students identified the formula of barium chloride, but the distractor Ba2Cl was even more popular.
Text version
A titration measures the volumes of an acid and an alkali that neutralise each other. Acid is added from a burette to alkali in a conical flask until the solution is neutralised.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1F · Q4 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[04.1] Fewer than one in eight students knew that a nanoparticle is only a few hundred atoms, despite this being clearly stated in the specification. The correct answer was a less popular option than all three distractors. The most popular answer was a few million atoms.
Text version
This question is about nanoparticles. Nanoparticles can be used in sun creams and wound dressings. Carbon nanoparticles are strong; silicon dioxide nanoparticles are hard; silver nanoparticles kill bacteria; titanium dioxide nanoparticles block light. A cubic nanoparticle has side length 4 nm.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1F · Q6 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[06.1] Fewer than a half of students identified the reason why molten substances can be electrolysed. The incorrect distractor that electrons can move through the substance was almost as popular.
Text version
This question is about electrolysis and extracting metals. The reactivity sequence supplied is potassium, lithium, carbon, zinc, tin, gold, in decreasing reactivity.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1F · Q8 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[08.2] About a half of students gave a correct observation that would show that the reaction was no longer proceeding. Many did not realise that they were looking for signs of the reaction having stopped, and gave observations they would make while it was still ongoing.
Text version
A student produced a salt by reacting excess copper carbonate with 50 cm3 of sulfuric acid, filtering, warming the filtrate until crystals started to appear, then cooling to crystallise.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1F · Q9 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[09.2] More than a third of students could give two correct observations, and more than four fifths could give one, with bubbling, floating and a flame being the most popular. ‘Gas produced’ did not gain credit as it is not an observation but a deduction from the observation of bubbling. ‘Fizzing’ is taken to mean effervescence, so fizzing and bubbling are the same thing rather than two different observations. Credit was not given for any observation requiring extra equipment such as a thermometer or an indicator.
Text version
This question is about the periodic table. Sodium and potassium are in Group 1. Group 7 elements are halogens.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1F · Q10 · 2 marks
2 marks
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[10.2] More than two fifths of students reached Level 2 in this question. The most common correct comparisons were that the modern model has a nucleus whereas model A does not, and the relative positions of the electrons in each model. Sometimes the electrons in model A were only described as negative charges. A common misconception was that model A contained protons.
Text version
This question is about models of the atom. Chadwick's experiments showed the existence of neutrons and led to an understanding of isotopes.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1H · Q1 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[01.5] The great majority of students were able to substitute the values and rearrange the expression to give the correct answer. Some students used their calculator incorrectly, using both the % button and also dividing by 100, giving an answer that was a factor of 100 too low. They seemed unfamiliar with the idea that the symbol ‘%’ means divided by 100. A minority of students tried to incorporate the 50 cm3 into their calculation.
Text version
A student produced a salt by reacting excess copper carbonate with 50 cm3 of sulfuric acid, filtering, warming the filtrate until crystals started to appear, then cooling to crystallise.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1H · Q2 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[02.6] Three quarters of students identified the correct pair of solutions, with the spread of incorrect responses being approximately equal.
Text version
This question is about the periodic table. Sodium and potassium are in Group 1. Group 7 elements are halogens.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1H · Q3 · 2 marks
2 marks
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[03.3] Many students knew that isotopes had different numbers of neutrons but did not say that isotopes were atoms with the same number of protons or of the same element. Thus, only a third of students scored both marks, although five sixths scored one. Some referred to ‘elements’ with the same number of protons, which did not gain the first marking point. Some students appear to believe that an isotope is a single atom where the number of neutrons is different to the number of protons, for example ‘an atom with more neutrons than protons.’ Some students’ answers made it clear that they think there is only one ‘true’ atom of an element, with isotopes being improper deviants.
Text version
This question is about models of the atom. Chadwick's experiments showed the existence of neutrons and led to an understanding of isotopes.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1H · Q4 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[04.2] This question discriminated well, with a quarter of students scoring 3 or 4 marks and the great majority scoring at least one mark. The question asked students to explain the results, but many simply described them. It was not sufficient just to describe the temperature increasing with the addition of more zinc; reference to the reaction being exothermic was also needed. The fact that the maximum temperature change occurred when 0.80 g of zinc was added was the mark scored most often, but many students were also able to explain this turning point in terms of no further reaction being possible because the zinc was now in excess. There were some excellent answers in terms of the zinc being the limiting reactant up to 0.8 g, after which the copper sulfate became the limiting reactant.
Text version
A student investigated the energy change when different masses of zinc powder reacted with 25 cm3 of copper sulfate solution in a polystyrene cup. A second student repeated the method four times using 0.50 g of zinc.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1H · Q5 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[05.3] Fewer than half of the students knew that hydrogen was the product. Calcium was the most popular incorrect response, with chlorine and hydrogen ions also being named as the product.
Text version
This question is about ionic compounds and electrolysis. Calcium chloride is ionic. Aqueous calcium chloride and green copper chromate solution can be electrolysed.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 1H · Q9 · 12 marks
12 marks
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[09.1] Over a half of students knew that a weak acid is one which is partially ionised, although many forgot to state that this was in aqueous solution. Some students incorrectly stated that an acid is ionising (ionises other species) rather than ionised (is itself ionised). Some incorrectly stated that it was H+ ions which are ionised or dissociated, rather than the acid molecules. The H+ ions are the result of the ionisation or dissociation.
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This question is about acids and their reactions.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2H · Q7 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[07.2] This multiple-choice question was well answered with two-thirds of students gaining the mark.
Text version
Sulfur dioxide and oxygen reach dynamic equilibrium: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g). The supplied yield graph shows that sulfur trioxide yield becomes smaller as temperature rises. Industry uses 450 °C, atmospheric pressure, 86% yield and a metal-oxide catalyst.
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AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2H · Q8 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[08.1] Around 60% of students correctly identified the C=C bond. For students who were not awarded the mark common mistakes were incorporating the 3 Hs and 1 O atom attached to the C=C group in their circle or also circling the C=O group. Others circled only the double bond and not the carbon atoms on either side.
Text version
Compound A contains both alkene and ester functional groups and has formula C4H6O2. It is flammable and forms polymer B by joining many molecules.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1F · Q1 · 5 marks
5 marks
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[01.4] Three quarters of students identified the element correctly as lithium. The most common incorrect response was zinc.
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This question is about atoms. Atoms contain electrons, neutrons and protons. An atom of element Z contains 3 electrons, 4 neutrons and 3 protons.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1F · Q3 · 6 marks
6 marks
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[03.4] Only a half of students recognised diagram B as buckminsterfullerene, with nearly as many selecting C, which was a diagram of a nanotube.
Text version
This question is about carbon. Carbon has isotopes with mass numbers 12, 13 and 14. Twelve grams of carbon contains 6.02x1023 atoms.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1F · Q5 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[05.1] This piece of knowledge from the specification was not at all well known. Fewer than a quarter of students gave the correct answer, with the rest being evenly split between the two distractors.
Text version
This question is about small particles. A spherical coarse particle has diameter 4000 nm; a spherical fine particle has diameter 200 nm. A cubic nanoparticle has volume 27 nm3.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1F · Q6 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[06.2] The great majority scored at least one mark. Students were asked for observations which could be seen, so those which could be heard did not gain credit. Bubbling and fizzing are the same observation; many gave both terms and no other observation so scored only one mark. Some incorrectly said that the water changes colour (possibly because they have seen the reaction carried out in the presence of an indicator).
Text version
This question is about metals. Platinum is used for jewellery; sodium reacts with water. Copper is a transition element and sodium is in Group 1. Aluminium and copper can both make cooking pans.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1F · Q8 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[08.4] This question also discriminated well. Most students could substitute the values correctly into the given expression. However, some did not know how to evaluate that expression and some incorrectly rounded a value of 77.9% to 77% instead of 78%.
Text version
Iron oxide is displaced by carbon. Copper oxide reacts with hydrogen: CuO + H2 -> Cu + H2O. A student also tested metals A-D in each metal-sulfate solution. Results (columns A/B/C/D sulfate) were A: no/no/yes/no; B: yes/no/yes/no; C: no/no/no/no; D: yes/yes/yes/no.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1F · Q9 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[09.2] Fewer than a third of students knew the correct order of discovery of the particles.
Text version
Discoveries led to better atomic models. The plum pudding model followed the idea of indivisible solid spheres. Tennessine has atomic number 117 and is in Group 7. Element R has isotopes mass 6 (7.6%) and mass 7 (92.4%).
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1H · Q1 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[01.5] Two thirds of students gave fully correct answers, and the question discriminated well. The great majority scored at least one mark, for giving an attempt at the calculation to one decimal place. Some divided by the sum of the mass numbers instead of the sum of the percentages (ie 100). There were very few rounding errors. Some students did not realise that their answer must lie somewhere between 6 and 7, the two mass numbers of the isotopes.
Text version
Discoveries in chemistry led to a better understanding of atomic structure.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1H · Q5 · 12 marks
12 marks
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[05.4] About three fifths of students knew that the OH– ion is responsible. When asked for a formula, an equation is not an appropriate response.
Text version
This question is about acids and alkalis.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1H · Q7 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[07.4] Nearly two thirds of students scored at least one mark, but just over half of these also scored the second mark. The easiest change to the apparatus is to change the test tubes to measuring cylinders or inverted burettes. Many students suggested gas syringes; this was allowed, although it would be difficult to set up the apparatus in such a way that this would work. However, a ‘gas cylinder’ is not a measuring device. One popular misconception is that gas would escape from the apparatus so a lid should be used. Most students realised that the reason was so that the gas volume could be measured rather than estimated, or that test tubes have no scale; any equivalent way of expressing this idea was allowed. Some students used imprecise language such as ‘so the gas could be measured’ without referring to volume or a scale.
Text version
This question is about electrolysis. Aluminium is manufactured by electrolysing a molten mixture of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and cryolite (Na3AlF6).
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 1H · Q8 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[08.2] About three fifths of students were able to give a correct formula by analogy with ammonia. PH2 was a common incorrect response.
Text version
This question is about elements in the periodic table.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 2F · Q2 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[02.3] More than half of students successfully identified boron trioxide as a raw material for making borosilicate glass.
Text version
This question is about glass and polymers. Borosilicate-glass beakers begin melting at 850 °C, do not burn, shatter on impact and cost £1.50 per 100 cm3 beaker. Poly(propene) beakers begin melting at 160 °C, burn, are tough and cost £2.00. Propene has molecular formula C3H6.
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AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 2H · Q5 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[05.2] This calculation was well done by many students, with more than three-quarters of students scoring the mark. The commonest error was to incorrectly calculate the relative formula mass of the compound due to missing the fact that the compound contained two atoms of sulfur and not one. More than three-quarters of students scored the mark.
Text version
Copper is extracted from metal ores. Chalcopyrite is a metal ore containing a compound with the formula CuFeS2.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 1F · Q2 · 6 marks
6 marks
$AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 1F · Q2 · 6 marks — This question is about elements, compounds and mixtures. Four liquids A-D have boiling points 97, 138, 78 and 118 °C respectively and are separated by fractional distillation.$
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[02.2] About 60% of students correctly identified diagram A as a mixture of compounds. D, a pure compound, was the most popular incorrect response .
Text version
This question is about elements, compounds and mixtures. Four liquids A-D have boiling points 97, 138, 78 and 118 °C respectively and are separated by fractional distillation.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 1F · Q4 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[04.4] This was well answered with over 70% of students giving the correct answer.
Text version
This question is about the periodic table. An early table left gaps. Group 1 melting points (°C) are lithium 181, sodium 98, potassium X, rubidium 39, caesium 29. Group 7 information at 150 °C: fluorine gas/F/HF; chlorine [state]/Cl/HCl; bromine gas/Br/HBr; iodine liquid/I/HI; astatine solid/At/[hydride].
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 1F · Q7 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[07.2] Most students could calculate the volume correctly. Some attempted to calculate the surface area of the cube from scratch, failing to use the value given in the question. Nearly a half of students did obtain full marks for the question, though many failed to show their working for each step and just gave the two answers.
Text version
This question is about small particles. A cubic nanoparticle has surface area 24 nm2. An atom has radius 1x10-10 m and a spherical nanoparticle has radius 1x10-8 m.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 1F · Q9 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[09.5] Most students referred to electrons in their answer as required, but fewer than a third described those electrons as delocalised. Some also referred to the electrons carrying charge. However, very few articulated the idea that the electrons themselves move through the metal in a particular direction. Of those who referred to electrons moving, many implied that the movement was random. Some students incorrectly referred to electrons bumping into other atoms or electrons.
Text version
This question is about metals and non-metals. Aluminium is a metal. Magnesium oxide forms when magnesium reacts with oxygen.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 1H · Q1 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[01.4] Nearly all students could draw the electronic structure correctly.
Text version
This question is about metals and non-metals. Aluminium is a metal. Magnesium oxide forms when magnesium reacts with oxygen.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 1H · Q5 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[05.1] Nearly half of students described how a specific observation would differ. Vague comments about a more violent reaction, with no specific visual observation, did not gain credit.
Text version
Rubidium is below potassium in Group 1. Neon isotope data: mass 20 at 90.48%, mass 21 at 0.27%, mass 22 at 9.25%.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2F · Q6 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[06.5] Many deduced that one of the reactants was used up, with over 60% of the students gaining a mark. A sizeable number asserted that no light was reaching the sensor, even though the graph did not reach y = 0.
Text version
A student added 10 cm3 hydrochloric acid to 50 cm3 sodium thiosulfate and recorded the percentage of light reaching a sensor every 20 s as sulfur clouded the mixture. Na2S2O3 + 2HCl -> NaCl + H2O + SO2 + S.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2H · Q4 · 16 marks
16 marks
$AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2H · Q4 · 16 marks — Crude-oil fractions include lubricating oil (300-350 °C), naphtha (90-200 °C) and petroleum gases (<25 °C). Kerosene molecules have 11-15 carbon atoms and heavy-fuel-oil molecules 20-40.$
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[04.1] The vast majority of students wrote detailed answers to this question and the full range of marks was awarded although relatively few answers were awarded full marks. About 1 in 10 students scored all four marks, while a quarter scored three. Students often neglected to state the crude oil must be heated to begin the separation process. Some students failed to score the second marking point in the mark scheme because their description of a temperature gradient was not in the context of gases rising through a fractionating column or fractionating tower. A handful of students illustrated this idea by referring to a labelled diagram. The idea of fractions collecting at different levels in the fractionating column was well understood but many described the collection of fractions without mentioning condensing and so could not access this mark. Some students incorrectly suggested that petroleum gases would condense at the top of the column. The idea that the separation of crude oil is based on differences in boiling points was an accessible mark but many failed to mention boiling points or simply quoted boiling point ranges from the table.
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Crude-oil fractions include lubricating oil (300-350 °C), naphtha (90-200 °C) and petroleum gases (<25 °C). Kerosene molecules have 11-15 carbon atoms and heavy-fuel-oil molecules 20-40.
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AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2H · Q5 · 12 marks
12 marks
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[05.2] Half of the students were able to give the correct pair of concentrations in this multiple choice question.
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Sea water initially contains 0.5 mol/dm3 each Na+/Cl- and is treated by reverse osmosis then ozone. Ground water contains 0.001 mol/dm3 each, is filtered with concentrations unchanged, then exposed to ultraviolet light.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1F · Q1 · 9 marks
9 marks
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This question is about elements, compounds and mixtures. A nanoparticle of metallic element X is a cube with side length 2.8 nm.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1F · Q3 · 9 marks
9 marks
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This question is about Group 1 elements and the formation of sodium fluoride. Sodium has electronic structure 2,8,1 and potassium has 19 electrons.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1F · Q7 · 7 marks
7 marks
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Students electrolysed aqueous salt solutions and molten ionic compounds. Copper sulfate gives copper at the negative electrode; sodium chloride gives hydrogen there. Molten zinc chloride and potassium iodide are also considered.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1F · Q9 · 9 marks
9 marks
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Gallium has isotopes gallium-69 (60% abundance) and gallium-71 (40% abundance). Gallium is in Group 3 and one isotope is 6931Ga.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1F · Q10 · 10 marks
10 marks
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Element R is extracted by 3H2+RO3 -> R+3H2O; the total Mr of reactants is 150. Tin is extracted by SnO2+C -> Sn+CO2. Ar: H=1, C=12, O=16, Sn=119. Three tungsten-extraction methods use carbon (low cost; W, CO2 and tungsten carbide), hydrogen (high cost; W and water vapour), or iron (low cost; W and iron oxide); other solids must be separated.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1H · Q2 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[02.1] The usual definition (atoms with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons), was not well known. Some students contradicted themselves by referring to elements in plural, rather than atoms of the same element. This was largely caused by the incorrect use of the word ‘element’ instead of ‘atom’. Others said that the relative atomic mass (rather than the mass number) is different. One misconception is that an isotope is a single atom whose numbers of protons and electrons are the same, but whose number of neutrons differs from the number of protons. Electrons are not part of the definition of an isotope; their inclusion can lead to this type of confusion and ambiguous answers.
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Gallium has isotopes gallium-69 (60%) and gallium-71 (40%). Gallium is in Group 3 and one isotope is 6931Ga.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1H · Q3 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[03.2] This was well answered. Credit was given to those who applied an incorrect response to question 03.1 correctly. Some students gave an answer which corresponded to their answer to question 03.1 used as atomic number rather than relative atomic mass.
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Element R is extracted by 3H2+RO3 -> R+3H2O; total reactant Mr=150. Tin extraction is SnO2+C -> Sn+CO2. Ar: H=1, C=12, O=16, Sn=119. Tungsten methods use carbon (low cost; W, CO2, tungsten carbide), hydrogen (high cost; W, water vapour), or iron (low cost; W, iron oxide).
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1H · Q4 · 12 marks
12 marks
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[04.4] The electron arrangements of both atoms and ions were required for full marks, as well as the ratio of sodium ions to oxide ions and the correct charges on the ions. Few students scored all the marks as they did not draw the atoms of sodium and oxygen before reaction. Many tried to draw covalent structures. The ratio of 2 atoms of sodium to one of oxygen was well known. Students should be aware that electrons cannot be in two places at the same time and should not be drawn as if they are. Some students drew both ionic and covalent structures, thereby contradicting themselves and losing the marks for a correct ionic structure. A great deal of time and effort would be saved by drawing the outer electrons only, as in the specification.
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This question is about Group 1 and sodium oxide.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1H · Q5 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[05.5] Very few students knew that a water bath or an electric heater should be used, despite this being stated in the specification.
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This question is about making salts, including magnesium sulfate crystals and iron(III) chloride.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1H · Q7 · 16 marks
16 marks
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[07.2] Many students were unable to write the formula of bromine. Those who could, often scored at least one mark, although the half-equation was not always balanced.
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This question compares electrolysis with chemical cells and investigates copper nitrate electrolysis. At 20 minutes, Figure 5 shows 0.12 g copper at 0.3 A and 0.24 g at 0.6 A.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 1H · Q8 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[08.4] A good number of students were successful with this calculation, although some failed to count all of the bonds correctly. Where students made a slip of this nature, or an arithmetic error, it was sometimes impossible to award marks for following through with the method, since there was often a jumble of numbers scattered over the page with no words to explain what was going on. ‘Bonds broken’ and ‘bonds made’ should be stated in calculations of this type. Many students did not use the value of 1034 kJ/mol provided.
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2H2S(g)+3O2(g) -> 2H2O(g)+2SO2(g). Bond energies: H-S 364, O=O 498, O-H 464 kJ/mol; S=O is X. Energy released forming bonds is 1034 kJ/mol greater than energy needed to break bonds. The displayed equation contains four H-S and three O=O bonds broken, and four O-H and four S=O bonds formed.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2F · Q2 · 13 marks
13 marks
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A student evaporates 50 cm3 filtered seawater. Empty dish mass=30.44 g; dish plus dry salt=30.49 g. Student Y distils without a water-cooled condenser; student Z uses one.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2F · Q7 · 11 marks
11 marks
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Ethene and steam reversibly produce ethanol. Actual yield is 380 kg from a 400 kg theoretical yield. Fermentation uses renewable sugar, low energy, slow rate and gives 15% ethanol; hydration uses crude oil, high energy, fast rate and gives 98% ethanol.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2H · Q9 · 4 marks
4 marks
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[09.2] Many students were able to say that the reaction had stopped but only a much smaller number could explain why.
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A student reacts zinc powder with 0.05 and 0.10 mol/dm3 sulfuric acid. The apparatus drawing shows the delivery tube ending in the acid.
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AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2H · Q10 · 17 marks
17 marks
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[10.4] Fermentation was well known.
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Ethene is made from large crude-oil hydrocarbons. Ethene and steam reversibly form ethanol exothermically. A yeast process and bacterial butanol production from sugar are also considered. Ethanol energy content=1300 kJ/mol; car needs 1.95 kJ/m over 200 km.
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AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 1F · Q10 · 10 marks
10 marks
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Silver iodide forms by AgNO3(aq)+NaI(aq)->AgI(s)+NaNO3(aq). Before mixing, beakers A and B have masses 78.26 g and 78.50 g; after, 108.22 g and 48.54 g. Mr: AgNO3=170, NaI=150, AgI=235, NaNO3=85.
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AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 1H · Q3 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[03.6] Most answered correctly in terms of profitability, or reduction of waste. There was some confusion between atom economy and percentage yield.
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Silver iodide forms by AgNO3(aq)+NaI(aq)->AgI(s)+NaNO3(aq). Before mixing, beakers A and B have masses 78.26 g and 78.50 g; after, 108.22 g and 48.54 g. Mr: AgNO3=170, NaI=150, AgI=235, NaNO3=85.
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AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 1H · Q5 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[05.2] Many students stated that the Bohr model had electrons that orbit the nucleus, but fewer said that the orbits were at specific distances from the nucleus. Again, it was not uncommon to see mention of protons and neutrons despite the timeline provided.
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This question compares the plum pudding and nuclear models and considers development of atomic theory and Mendeleev's periodic table.
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AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 1H · Q8 · 16 marks
16 marks
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[08.4] Many students realised that the fume cupboard would prevent inhalation of the gas, which is toxic. However, some students regard a fume cupboard as insulation to prevent the escape of heat energy, or thought it was to trap and retain the gas.
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Halogen data: fluorine mp -220, bp -188 degC; chlorine -101, -35; bromine -7, 59. Iron reacts with gaseous halogens. A tube has mass 51.56 g, with iron 56.04 g, and after chlorination 64.56 g.
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AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2F · Q7 · 11 marks
11 marks
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Ethanol is made from grape juice by fermentation. Vinegar contains ethanoic acid; 400 cm3 vinegar contains 20 g ethanoic acid.
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AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2H · Q10 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[10.2] The mark for describing the colour change was scored more often than the mark for the shift in the position of equilibrium that caused this colour change. The mark for the application of Le Chatelier's Principle was rarely scored by students.
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Fe3+(aq) yellow + SCN-(aq) colourless <-> FeSCN2+(aq) red. The equilibrium mixture is orange at room temperature.
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AQA 8462 · June 2019 · Paper 1F · Q1 · 3 marks
3 marks
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[01.5] Approximately 70% of students knew the term ‘isotope’ for the type of atom described.
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This question is about atomic structure and bromine-79 and bromine-81 atoms. Bromine has relative atomic mass 80.
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AQA 8462 · June 2019 · Paper 1F · Q2 · 4 marks
4 marks
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[02.6] Approximately 80% of students identified the reaction as exothermic, having been given a description.
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This question is about hydrogen peroxide, its catalysed decomposition and the formation of water.
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AQA 8462 · June 2019 · Paper 1F · Q3 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[03.3] This question tested recognition of a diagram representing a mixture of an element and a compound. Approximately 60% of students identified the correct option.
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This question considers compounds, mixtures and the separation of blue food colouring, copper alloy, copper sulfate solution, ethanol-water, and salt solution.
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AQA 8462 · June 2019 · Paper 1F · Q8 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[08.3] Approximately 70% of students correctly identified relative atomic mass as the modern name for atomic weight.
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This question is about Mendeleev's and the modern periodic tables, Group 7 astatine and Group 1 sodium.
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AQA 8462 · June 2019 · Paper 1H · Q1 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[01.1] Approximately 40% of students scored this mark which required an appropriate reference to the properties of tellurium and/or iodine. Most correct answers referred to iodine having similar properties to other Group 7 elements. References to atomic structure were quite common, for example, iodine has 7 electrons in the outer shell so fits in Group 7. This was not creditworthy since this detail of atomic structure would not have been known by Mendeleev.
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This question is about Mendeleev's and the modern periodic tables, Group 7 astatine and Group 1 sodium.
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AQA 8462 · June 2019 · Paper 1H · Q4 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[04.2] Approximately 70% of students gave the correct definition of mass number. However, there were some incorrect references to mass, for example, ‘mass number is the total mass of the protons and neutrons’.
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This question concerns subatomic particles, isotopes and evidence from alpha-particle scattering.
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AQA 8462 · June 2019 · Paper 1H · Q5 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[05.2] Only a small proportion of students were able to give a limitation of a dot and cross diagram. The most common correct response was that the molecule was not shown in 3 dimensions. Common responses seen that were not credited included: • only shows the outer electrons • does not show the structure • does not show the intermolecular forces.
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Ammonia is a small covalent molecule. It reacts by 4NH3+3O2->2N2+6H2O. Bond energies kJ/mol: N-H 391, O=O 498, N≡N 945, O-H 464.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1F · Q1 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[01.7] 74% of students could calculate the volume of the cube correctly. The most popular distractor was 400 nm3, with 400 nm2 being the surface area of one face.
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This question covers mixture separation, alloys and cubic nanoparticles. A mixture diagram contains 2 atoms of metal B among 20 total; a nanoparticle cube has side 20 nm.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1F · Q3 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[03.1] This question was answered very well, with 60% of students achieving four or five marks. 11% of students achieved all five marks, the key difference being that they knew Chadwick proved the existence of the neutron, which is a new area of the specification.
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Element X isotopes have masses 63 (70%) and 65 (30%). An atom radius is 1.2x10^-10 m and its nucleus is 10000 times smaller.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1F · Q9 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[09.3] Whilst 56% of students achieved at least one mark, 34% of these students achieved both. • Many students repeated information in the stem of the question. And some appeared to ignore it as they declared sodium to be a non-metal. • Many gave differences in the structure of the atoms instead of differences in properties of the substances. • Some effectively gave the same difference twice, for example writing that sodium is soft on one line and iron is hard on the other.
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A particle diagram of iron pyrites shows an iron:sulfur atom ratio of 1:2; iron-56 has atomic number 26. Nickel is extracted by carbon; atom-economy reactants have total Mr 87 and useful product Mr 59.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1H · Q2 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[02.1] Because the question asked for the formula rather than the empirical formula, an answer of Fe9S18 was accepted. Even so, 51% of students could not count the atoms and produce a ratio of 1:2. A formula was required, not an equation which some students provided.
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A particle diagram of iron pyrites shows an iron:sulfur atom ratio of 1:2; iron-56 has atomic number 26. Nickel is extracted by carbon; atom-economy reactants have total Mr 87 and useful product Mr 59.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1H · Q3 · 5 marks
5 marks
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[03.2] 62% of students answered this question on a new area of the specification correctly. Many, however, mixed up the answers to questions 03.2 and 03.3. Many thought that charge, energy, or a product run out.
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A simple cell uses copper and zinc in sodium chloride solution. This question compares alkaline batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion vehicle batteries.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1H · Q4 · 5 marks
5 marks
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[04.2] 68% of students could identify the model resulting from the alpha particle scattering experiment. The Bohr model was the most popular distractor.
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This question is about atomic models, mass number, isotopes 69 and 71, and Chadwick.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1H · Q7 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[07.2] Although this historically is a well-known area of the specification, lack of precision in answers cost some students greatly. 16% of students achieved all three marks, with 72% gaining some credit. The electrons are not (all) closer to the nucleus in chlorine – the outer electrons are. The relevant force of attraction is between the outer electrons and the nucleus, and is not intermolecular, magnetic or gravitational. Attracting another electron is not the same as gaining it.
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This question concerns chlorine, iodine, hydrogen chloride and sunlight substitution of methane by bromine. Bond energies give reaction change -51 kJ/mol.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 1H · Q8 · 15 marks
15 marks
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[08.7] This difficult unstructured calculation tested a new area of the specification, and discriminated very well. 74% of students were able to achieve at least one mark, usually for calculating the Mr of TiCl4. 7% of students achieved all four marks, with 12% achieving at least three marks and there were some valiant efforts. Common errors were: • using 92 instead of 23 to calculate the number of moles of Na • omitting the unit conversion from kg to g for the mole calculations • using the 1:4 mole ratio incorrectly or not at all. Also, it is not appropriate to leave answers in the form of a fraction, even if this is the default on their calculator. Answers should always be converted to decimal form.
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Titanium manufacture uses chlorine, titanium chloride, sodium and argon. Stage 2 reacts TiCl4 with 4Na. Ar Ti=48,Cl=35.5,Na=23; actual yield comparison uses theoretical 13.5 kg and 92.3%.
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AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 2H · Q7 · 12 marks
12 marks
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[07.5] This was generally well answered, although ‘2N’ was a common incorrect response. Students need to remember that gases such as nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen normally exist as diatomic molecules. 61% of students achieved both the marks.
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This question is about car-engine pollutants, catalytic converters and nitrogen dioxide decomposition.
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AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 1F · Q1 · 6 marks
6 marks
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Graphite conducts electricity. An alloy contains 2 atoms X among 27 atoms total.
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AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 1F · Q8 · 10 marks
10 marks
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Aluminium-27 has atomic number 13. This question compares transition metals with Group 1 metals.
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AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 1H · Q2 · 10 marks
10 marks
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Aluminium-27 has atomic number 13. This question compares transition metals with Group 1 metals.
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AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 1H · Q9 · 11 marks
11 marks
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Ethene reacts with bromine with overall energy change -95 kJ/mol. Bond energies include C=C 612, C-C 348, C-H 412 and C-Br 276 kJ/mol.
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AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 2F · Q10 · 8 marks
8 marks
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This question compares potable water from lakes, wastewater and seawater.
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AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 2H · Q9 · 6 marks
6 marks
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Marble chips react with hydrochloric acid. As the reaction proceeds, reactant concentration falls and surface area can decrease.
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AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 2H · Q10 · 5 marks
5 marks
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Ethanol is made reversibly from ethene and steam; the forward reaction is exothermic and has fewer gas molecules on the product side.
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June 20252 questions

Paper 1H · Q4Higher · 9 marks · multi · standardView question in paper (p.12)Mark scheme (p.15)
Paper 2F · Q2Foundation · 9 marks · multi · easyView question in paper (p.5)Mark scheme (p.9)

June 20242 questions

Paper 1F: Q5 (p.23, 9 marks)

Paper 2F: Q1 (p.2, 9 marks)

June 20221 question

Paper 1F: Q1 (p.2, 7 marks)

November 20211 question

Paper 1F: Q5 (p.19, 10 marks)

November 20208 questions

Paper 1F: Q1 (p.2, 11 marks), Q2 (p.7, 8 marks), Q3 (p.10, 8 marks), Q5 (p.16, 11 marks), Q7 (p.25, 6 marks), Q9 (p.32, 11 marks)

Paper 1H: Q2 (p.4, 11 marks), Q6 (p.16, 9 marks)

June 20191 question

Paper 1H: Q7 (p.20, 16 marks)

June 20183 questions

Paper 1F: Q2 (p.6, 9 marks), Q7 (p.28, 7 marks)

Paper 2F: Q1 (8 marks)

sample110 questions

Paper 1F: Q5 (p.20, 9 marks), Q7 (p.28, 4 marks), Q10 (p.37, 6 marks)

Paper 1H: Q1 (p.2, 6 marks), Q4 (p.12, 6 marks)

Paper 2F: Q1 (p.2, 4 marks), Q3 (p.6, 4 marks), Q6 (p.15, 7 marks), Q8 (p.20, 11 marks)

Paper 2H: Q2 (p.5, 8 marks)

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