Q1
ORIGINAL
A company replaces crude-oil-based packaging with timber packaging from a replanted forest. Explain why this change does not automatically make the packaging sustainable.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
All AQA GCSE Chemistry topic questions
AQA GCSE Chemistry · Topic 4.10
Using resources questions
Practice questions covering using resources 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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6 questions on Using resources, each with its mark scheme and worked method. Reveal the answer when you have had a go.
- Q2ORIGINALA water company passes river water through filter beds and then declares it potable. Evaluate this treatment and state one suitable additional process.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
- Q3ORIGINALA student sends sewage sludge for aerobic treatment and liquid effluent for anaerobic digestion. Correct both parts of this plan.
[2 marks]
Total for this question: 2
- Q4ORIGINALCompare phytomining with bioleaching by naming the organism used and the copper-containing product obtained from each. Explain why neither method produces pure copper directly.
[5 marks]
Total for this question: 5
- Q5ORIGINALAn industry-funded life cycle assessment compares two bottles but omits transport and disposal and reports only total energy use. Give two reasons why its conclusion may be unreliable.
[2 marks]
Total for this question: 2
- Q6ORIGINALA glass bottle can either be washed and refilled or crushed, melted and made into a new bottle. Identify which option is reuse and which is recycling, and explain why reuse will usually require less processing.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
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Printable question pack — 4.10 Using resourcesAll 113 questions across 11 specification points — 107 more than the 6 above — with the full mark scheme. Guest accessible · browser print.Real past-paper questions
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AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2F · Q3 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[03.4] Around half of students correctly identified both materials. Many students completely reversed the responses. If 1 mark was awarded it was most likely for correctly identifying the reinforcement.
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Cement contains calcium oxide. Calcium oxide reacts with water to produce calcium hydroxide. The equation for the reaction is: calcium oxide + water ⇌ calcium hydroxide. The forward reaction is exothermic. Pre-stressed concrete contains concrete and steel wires.
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.
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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.
AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2F · Q7 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[07.5] Half of students gained this mark, usually for the idea that iron rusts.
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18 carat gold is an alloy containing 75% gold by mass; 24 carat gold is pure gold.
AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2F · Q8 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[08.1] Just over half of students gave the correct answer here. Many who did not gain the mark did not give the required comparative answer.
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A student measured 10.0 cm<sup>3</sup> sea-water samples A-D with a burette, evaporated the water in a pre-weighed basin, and measured dissolved-solid masses 0.35, 0.37, 0.33 and 0.34 g.
AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2F · Q10 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[10.1] Over half of students achieved a Level 1 response for comparing the values given in the table. To achieve a higher level, links were required, why comparisons made a difference, and a judgement was required for Level 3. Too many students quoted values from the table with no ‘added value’ and no credit was given for this.
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Doors can be aluminium or wood. Aluminium comes from metal ore, costs 87 relative units/kg, has relative strength 1.3, needs no corrosion protection and is remelted. Wood comes from trees, costs 1, has strength 1.0, needs paint against rotting and can be shredded for fuel.
AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2H · Q1 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[01.3] The idea of heating to constant mass was known by a quarter of students, who gained two marks. Nearly 3 in 5 students gained no marks, often suggesting heating for longer, looking at the basin to see if there was any water left, heating above 100°C or patting dry.
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A student measured 10.0 cm<sup>3</sup> sea-water samples A-D with a burette, evaporated the water in a pre-weighed basin, and measured dissolved-solid masses 0.35, 0.37, 0.33 and 0.34 g.
AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2H · Q3 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[03.2] Fewer than 1 in 5 students achieved both marks on this item. There was much confusion, with many referring to aluminium oxide as a form of sacrificial protection rather than a physical unreactive barrier. Many also referred to corrosion of aluminium as rusting. Some referred to protecting aluminium from contact with unspecified particles. Some referred to galvanizing, which is incorrect on two levels; it is a coating with zinc not aluminium oxide, and it is a method of sacrificial protection rather than just a barrier.
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Doors can be aluminium or wood. Aluminium comes from metal ore, costs 87 relative units/kg, has relative strength 1.3, needs no corrosion protection and is remelted. Wood comes from trees, costs 1, has strength 1.0, needs paint against rotting and can be shredded for fuel.
AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2H · Q7 · 6 marks
6 marks
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[07.3] Just over two thirds of students correctly identified water as the small molecule produced during this condensation polymerisation reaction.
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This question is about condensation, amino-acid and thermosetting polymers.
AQA 8462 · June 2025 · Paper 2H · Q9 · 14 marks
14 marks
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[09.6] Around two-thirds of students gained at least one mark for this high demand interpretation question. The most common answer was for linking carbon dioxide to climate change. Many students did not gain this mark as there was a need to mention that the production of hydrogen causes this, if further detail was given. Mant talked about hydrogen producing carbon dioxide, which is incorrect and did not gain credit. The next most common response was for the idea that nitrogen was abundant in the atmosphere.
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Ammonia is made from nitrogen and hydrogen. Hydrogen is produced by CH<sub>4</sub>(g) + H<sub>2</sub>O(g) ⇌ CO(g) + 3H<sub>2</sub>(g); the forward reaction is endothermic. The Haber process uses nitrogen from air.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2F · Q6 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[06.7] ‘Sustainable’ is a poorly understood term with only one third of students correctly answering this question. Incorrect responses included reference to different stages in a life cycle assessment including comparisons in terms of the environmental consequences of different disposal methods for each material. Some students struggled to express that paper was made from a renewable resource, suggesting that paper is renewable or that paper can be regrown.
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This question is about addition reactions and polymers. Poly(chloroethene) has density 1.5 g/cm<sup>3</sup> and completely melts at 260 °C; poly(ethene) has density 0.9 g/cm<sup>3</sup> and completely melts at 120 °C.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2F · Q7 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[07.5] This question proved to be easier than that for the concrete bridge with over 50% of students gaining one mark and over 35% gaining both marks. Responses which did not gain credit again included those that failed to make a valid comparison or those that simply quoted data from the table.
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Pre-stressed concrete contains high-carbon steel bars. Limestone, mainly calcium carbonate, is used to produce concrete. Plain concrete costs £75/m<sup>3</sup>, density 2300 kg/m<sup>3</sup>, strength 600 units; pre-stressed concrete costs £225/m<sup>3</sup>, density 2500 kg/m<sup>3</sup>, strength 3000 units.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2F · Q8 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[08.5] More than one in two students correctly calculated the mean concentration of sodium chloride and gained two marks. Fewer than one in five students correctly calculated the percentage. The remaining students either failed to progress in the calculation or attempted to calculate a percentage, frequently missing multiplying by one hundred, or getting the expression upside down. Many students incorrectly identified one of the concentrations as being anomalous despite this not being asked for in the q uestion. The only possible anomaly would be 36.4g/dm3 and omitting only this value allowed students access to one of the two marks for the calculation of the mean concentration.
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A student identified sodium and chloride ions in an aqueous salt solution, then evaporated 25.0 cm<sup>3</sup> samples to constant mass in pre-weighed dishes. Four calculated NaCl concentrations were 35.2, 34.6, 36.4 and 33.8 g/dm<sup>3</sup>.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2F · Q9 · 6 marks
6 marks
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[09.4] Over 25% of students either correctly labelled the products and reactants or correctly drew an arrow, labelled the activation energy, and gained one mark. A further 10% of students gained two marks by doing both correctly. There were many variations of drawing and labelling the arrow for the activation energy. Some students mistakenly labelled the peak as being the activation energy or despite the dotted line drew the arrow too short or at an angle. Many students incorrectly identified the reactants and products from the equation or used nitrogen, hydrogen, and ammonia from the previous question. Other students were unsure where the reactants and products would be located on a reaction profile diagram.
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Figure 10 shows the Haber process: nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas enter a reactor containing a metal catalyst at 450 °C and 200 atmospheres; the reactor gases pass to a condenser; liquid ammonia leaves the condenser; Pipe P returns the remaining condenser gas to the reactor. Nitric acid is produced from ammonia and oxygen, with platinum as catalyst: ammonia + oxygen -> water + nitric acid.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2F · Q10 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[10.2] Over 65% of students were able to correctly identify the sentence that described the reversible reaction in the question.
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This question is about water. Figure 12 shows this flow: river -> ground water -> Process A (to produce potable water) -> potable water -> use in the home -> sewage -> Process B (to treat sewage). Inside Process B the sewage first meets a labelled metal grid, then separates into labelled effluent and sludge; the effluent returns to the river.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2H · Q1 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[01.5] This calculation was generally answered well by most students. Around two-thirds gained all four marks by completing the calculation using one of the approaches given on the mark scheme and usually showing full details of their working. Those who did not complete the calculation usually gained two marks for correctly determining the mean concentration of sodium chloride.
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A student identified sodium and chloride ions in an aqueous salt solution, then evaporated 25.0 cm<sup>3</sup> samples to constant mass in pre-weighed dishes. Four calculated NaCl concentrations were 35.2, 34.6, 36.4 and 33.8 g/dm<sup>3</sup>.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2H · Q2 · 6 marks
6 marks
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[02.2] This question was answered well by the majority of students, with roughly two-thirds of students gaining the mark.
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Figure 1 shows the Haber process: nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas enter a reactor containing a metal catalyst at 450 °C and 200 atmospheres; the reactor gases pass to a condenser; liquid ammonia leaves the condenser; Pipe P returns the remaining condenser gas to the reactor. Nitric acid is produced from ammonia and oxygen, with platinum as catalyst: ammonia + oxygen -> water + nitric acid.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2H · Q3 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[03.3] This standard demand item was generally answered quite well. A majority of students had a good overall understanding of the sequence of steps involved in potable water production and wastewater treatment and so scored highly on this item. Weaker responses tended to focus on wastewater treatment, for which the diagram in the stem provided more scaffolding. Most students recognised that ground water needed to be filtered initially. A few responses referred to screening before the use of filter beds, although only referring to screening in potable water production was considered insufficient. Sometimes the descriptions of things removed by filter beds did not make it clear that they were solid. The process of sterilisation was generally well described, although removal of microbes rather than their destruction was not creditworthy. Removal of solids using a metal grid was included by most students. Fewer students referred to this step as screening and again things removed by screening were not always clearly identified as solid. Organic matter in sewage is not removed by screening as this is treated subsequently. The final steps were less well addressed overall. Most students referred to sludge and effluent (again these featured in the diagram), but many failed to recognise that these were separated by sedimentation. Some responses confused the separation of sludge and effluent with their biological treatment afterwards. Some students recognised that sludge is treated anaerobically and effluent aerobically but did not refer to digestion or biological treatment or an equivalent description of microbial action. References to flocculation, desalination, fluoridation or pH adjustment were considered irrelevant and ignored in the marking of this item. Around a third of students gained a Level 3 mark, with roughly another third achieving Level 2.
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This question is about water. Figure 3 shows this flow: river -> ground water -> Process A (to produce potable water) -> potable water -> use in the home -> sewage -> Process B (to treat sewage). Inside Process B the sewage first meets a labelled metal grid, then separates into labelled effluent and sludge; the effluent returns to the river.
AQA 8462 · June 2024 · Paper 2H · Q6 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[06.3] Greasing, oiling and the use of a sacrificial metal, eg galvanising, were commonly seen. Around three-quarters of students gained this mark.
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Bicycle-frame data: aluminium alloy comes from ore, costs £250, strength 290 units, mass 1.6 kg, lifespan 6-10 years, and is recycled; bamboo comes from a plant, costs £1500, strength 193, mass 2.4 kg, lifespan 10-15 years, and is burned for heat.
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.
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Compound A contains both alkene and ester functional groups and has formula C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>6</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. It is flammable and forms polymer B by joining many molecules.
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.
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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 cm<sup>3</sup> beaker. Poly(propene) beakers begin melting at 160 °C, burn, are tough and cost £2.00. Propene has molecular formula C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub>.
AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 2F · Q7 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[07.6] Around one third of students gained this mark. Weaker responses did not include the consequences of the presence of tin in the alloy if used for medical purposes.
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This question is about alloys. Steels are alloys of iron. Titanium-alloy C contains 3.0% aluminium and 2.5% vanadium; it has medium strength and is used for tennis rackets and heart pacemakers. Alloy A contains 6.0% aluminium and 4.0% vanadium, is high strength and used for aircraft parts and hip-joint replacements. Alloy B contains 5.0% aluminium and 2.5% tin, is high strength and used for aircraft parts.
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.
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Copper is extracted from metal ores. Chalcopyrite is a metal ore containing a compound with the formula CuFeS<sub>2</sub>.
AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 2H · Q8 · 4 marks
4 marks
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[08.7] The most common correct answers seen were starch, cellulose or glycogen. Polysaccharide was less commonly seen. Incorrect responses included alcohol, amino acids, proteins and a whole range of polymer names including polyester. Fewer than one- third of students gained this mark.
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This question is about polymers.
AQA 8462 · June 2023 · Paper 2H · Q10 · 10 marks
10 marks
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[10.3] This was quite well answered, with most choosing a suitable potassium salt. Over half of students gained this mark.
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This question is about fertilisers. Compounds of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are used as fertilisers to improve agricultural productivity. Table 4 shows information about three compounds: Compound A — potassium chloride, KCl, K: 52% by mass, cost £0.24/kg. Compound B — ammonium nitrate, NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>, N: 35% by mass, cost £0.23/kg. Compound C — diammonium hydrogen phosphate, (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub>, N: 21% and P: 23% by mass, cost £0.35/kg.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2F · Q1 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[01.6] Nearly 50% of the students gained a mark for knowing the flame colour of sodium is yellow.
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This question is about water. A student measured pure water. Another student evaporated four 50 cm<sup>3</sup> sea-water samples and obtained solid masses 1.73, 1.70, 1.75 and 1.78 g. A different 50 cm<sup>3</sup> sample contained 1.50 g dissolved solids.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2F · Q5 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[05.5] Around one-third of students obtained all three marks. Over 50% of students plotted the points correctly but did not obtain the line of best fit mark. Common mistakes when drawing the line of best fit were to draw a straight line, a series of dot-to-dot straight lines, a very thick line or multiple lines.
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Ammonia is made in the Haber process from nitrogen and hydrogen. At pressures 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 atm, ammonia yields are 20, 33, 44, 52, 59 and 64%.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2F · Q7 · 7 marks
7 marks
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[07.2] Around 25% of the students gained both marks, but a significant number inverted the equation when carrying out the calculation. .
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Ammonium nitrate is a nitrogen fertiliser sold in 600 kg bags. A farmer spreads 40 bags over 800000 m<sup>2</sup>. Another fertiliser is K<sub>2</sub>NH<sub>4</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2F · Q8 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[08.6] The use of barium chloride or barium nitrate as the reagent for the test was generally followed by the correct result. The test was often incorrect, with the result, therefore, not able to be awarded a mark. The most common incorrect reponses were the use of a flame test or an incorrect reagent(s). Again, around 1% of students scored both the marks.
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Copper electrical wire is insulated with poly(butene). Scrap copper can be recycled. Copper sulfate solution contains Cu<sup>2+</sup> and sulfate ions.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2F · Q10 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[10.2] This straightforward calculation presented no difficulties for the majority of students. Well over 70% of the students gained all three marks. Use of statistics Statistics used in this report may be taken from incomplete processing data. However, this data still gives a true account of how students have performed for each question.
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Equal-volume milk bottles: glass uses limestone/sand/sodium carbonate, 6750 kJ raw processing, 750 kJ manufacture, mass 200 g, used 25 times, recyclable. Polymer uses crude oil, 1710 kJ raw processing, 90 kJ manufacture, mass 20 g, used once, recyclable. A cardboard carton uses 40 cm<sup>3</sup> at density 0.40 g/cm<sup>3</sup>.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2H · Q1 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[01.3] This was generally well answered as the copper melting and being reformed/moulded into new pipes were commonly seen. Responses referring to ‘heating the wire’ were insufficient to gain credit. Around 70% of the students scored both marks.
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Copper electrical wire is insulated with poly(butene). Scrap copper can be recycled. Copper sulfate solution contains Cu<sup>2+</sup> and sulfate ions.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2H · Q3 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[03.2] Well over 90% of the students gained all three marks on this calculation.
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Equal-volume milk bottles: glass uses limestone/sand/sodium carbonate, 6750 kJ raw processing, 750 kJ manufacture, mass 200 g, used 25 times, recyclable. Polymer uses crude oil, 1710 kJ raw processing, 90 kJ manufacture, mass 20 g, used once, recyclable. A cardboard carton uses 40 cm<sup>3</sup> at density 0.40 g/cm<sup>3</sup>.
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/dm<sup>3</sup> each Na<sup>+</sup>/Cl<sup>-</sup> and is treated by reverse osmosis then ozone. Ground water contains 0.001 mol/dm<sup>3</sup> each, is filtered with concentrations unchanged, then exposed to ultraviolet light.
AQA 8462 · June 2022 · Paper 2H · Q7 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[07.5] Most students extrapolated their line correctly and read off the value of the percentage at 500 atmospheres. About two-thirds of the students scored both marks.
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The Haber process is N<sub>2</sub>(g)+3H<sub>2</sub>(g) ⇌ 2NH<sub>3</sub>(g), forward exothermic. It uses 450 °C, 200 atm and an iron catalyst.
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.
AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2F · Q3 · 13 marks
13 marks
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Window frames use poly(chloroethene), density 1.4 g/cm3 and relative strength 72, or HDPE, density 0.92 and strength 25. A 6.00 kg aluminium alloy contains 5.94 kg Al, 0.04 kg Mg and 0.02 kg Si.
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.
AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2F · Q8 · 9 marks
9 marks
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Oil combustion releases products containing carbon and sulfur. Solar energy is considered as an alternative.
AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2H · Q1 · 9 marks
9 marks
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[01.4] Two thirds of students identified one reason, usually the fluctuation in output, but very few students could give two reasons.
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Oil combustion releases carbon- and sulfur-containing products. Solar energy is considered as an alternative.
AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2H · Q4 · 5 marks
5 marks
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[04.4] Approaching half of the students scored one mark but only a tiny number scored both. The fact that the chains are closer together or unbranched was well known but not how that linked to density.
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This question concerns thermosoftening poly(ethene), HDPE, LDPE and polyester formation.
AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2H · Q5 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[05.1] Nearly four-fifths of students identified one salt, while more than a third worked out both.
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This question compares industrial and laboratory production of ammonium sulfate fertiliser.
AQA 8462 · November 2021 · Paper 2H · Q8 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[08.5] Under half of students gave one reason, usually that phytomining is slow. Very few were able to give a second reason.
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Solders: A 183 degC (Sn,Cu,Pb), B 228 (Sn,Cu,Ag), C 217 (Sn,Cu,Ag). Copper may be recycled or extracted from low-grade ores by phytomining.
AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2F · Q1 · 5 marks
5 marks
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Ammonia is made from nitrogen and hydrogen by a reversible catalysed reaction. NPK fertilisers contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fertilisers A-D contain N/P/K percentages A 14/0/39, B 25/16/23, C 21/23/0, D 21/0/0.
AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2F · Q5 · 8 marks
8 marks
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This question is about bronze, brass, gold alloys and steels.
AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2F · Q6 · 10 marks
10 marks
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Paper, ceramic and poly(propene) can make plates. Crude oil provides propene. Polymer A has crosslinks whereas polymer B does not.
AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2F · Q9 · 11 marks
11 marks
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Waste-water data (million kg): 1992 fertiliser 440, landfill 130, burned 90, other 338, total 998; 2010 fertiliser 1118, landfill 9, burned 260, other 26, total 1413.
AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2H · Q2 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[02.2] Many students made the link between sea water and energy and scored this mark. The most common errors were to mention only boiling the water with qualification or filtration.
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Waste-water data (million kg): 1992 fertiliser 440, landfill 130, burned 90, other 338, total 998; 2010 fertiliser 1118, landfill 9, burned 260, other 26, total 1413.
AQA 8462 · November 2020 · Paper 2H · Q5 · 8 marks
8 marks
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[05.2] Very few students gave a reasoned judgement and so were unable to access level 2. Some did not even have comparisons, but simply described the characteristics of each material in isolation. Some referred to deforestation, missing the point that more trees can be grown. Many made valid comparisons of the number of plates that could be packaged in a box and of the number of times each plate could be used, but did not go on to look at the consequences, such as the relative energy cost of transporting the plates or the need for replacement of the plates. Few referred to the conservation of raw materials, either in the context of the number of uses or the lack of recyclability. There was confusion between the terms reusable and recyclable. Some were highly focused on energy usage, even though no energy data was provided.
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Food plates of equal diameter are paper (wood, 500 per box, used once, biodegradable/recyclable), polymer (crude oil, 100 per box, used 400 times, recyclable) or ceramic (mined clay, 50 per box, used 1000 times, not recyclable).
AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 2H · Q3 · 11 marks
11 marks
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[03.5] 39% of students seemed aware of the timescale under consideration here, namely the atmosphere of billions of years ago, or that there was a lack of evidence or proof. Many merely asserted that there was no-one there (to make measurements).
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Gas X is obtained from methane and combined with nitrogen to make ammonia at about 450 degC and 200 atm. This question also concerns atmospheric evolution.
AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 2H · Q6 · 3 marks
3 marks
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Examiner report
[06.2] Of those students who lost marks here, there was no clear-cut marking point that caused the problem. Some students did not make it clear that the bond joined on to the C atom of the methyl group, but were given benefit of the doubt provided it didn’t join to the H3. 28% of students gave faultless answers.
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This question concerns condensation polyesters, poly(propene), carpets and firefighter-uniform fibres.
AQA 8462 · June 2018 · Paper 2H · Q10 · 4 marks
4 marks
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Examiner report
[10.1] This was an ‘extended response’, ‘level marked’ question. There were three levels and the command word was ‘evaluate’. The question was marked holistically. Most answers considered all three relevant stages of a Life Cycle Assessment for both types of cup. However, many answers failed to consider the environmental impact of the factors discussed. For example, students might say that paper cups are heavier to transport, but did not go on to say what environmental impact that might have in terms of more pollution from lorries, or a greater energy requirement burning more fossil fuels and adding to climate change. This limited their mark to level 2, as did failure to give a strongly linked judgement. Some students misinterpreted ‘recyclable’ as ‘reusable’: the terms are not synonymous. The question stated that both types of cup are disposable, ie single use. Some answers focussed on the economics or ease of use of the cup, rather than environmental impact. Most students were able to acquire at least one mark with 50% of students achieving four marks. 22% of students made it into level 3.
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Coated-paper and poly(styrene) disposable cups are compared. Paper production uses 550 kJ per 8.3 g. Melamine makes reusable cups.
AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 2F · Q10 · 8 marks
8 marks
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This question compares potable water from lakes, wastewater and seawater.
AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 2F · Q12 · 6 marks
6 marks
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Milk-bottle data, glass/HDPE respectively: raw materials sand, limestone and salt/crude oil; production starts by making sodium carbonate/producing naphtha; maximum temperature 1600/850 degC; uses per bottle 25/1; sizes 0.5 dm3/0.5, 1, 2 and 3 dm3; recycled content 50%/10%.
AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 2H · Q4 · 6 marks
6 marks
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Milk-bottle data, glass/HDPE respectively: raw materials sand, limestone and salt/crude oil; production starts by making sodium carbonate/producing naphtha; maximum temperature 1600/850 degC; uses per bottle 25/1; sizes 0.5 dm3/0.5, 1, 2 and 3 dm3; recycled content 50%/10%.
AQA 8462 · sample1 · Paper 2H · Q8 · 6 marks
6 marks
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Ammonium nitrate fertiliser labels give N-P-K proportions. Worldwide ammonia output and population rise together.
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June 20184 questions
- Paper 2F · Q3Foundation · 6 marks · multi · standardView question paperMark scheme (p.9)
- Paper 2F · Q4Foundation · 7 marks · multi · standardView question paperMark scheme (p.10)
- Paper 2F · Q6Foundation · 4 marks · multi · standardView question paperMark scheme (p.12)
- Paper 2F · Q10Foundation · 11 marks · multi · standardView question paperMark scheme (p.18)
sample16 questions
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