Types of Substance (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science)

Exam Questions

2 hours20 questions
11 mark

Why can graphite conduct electricity? 

  A Graphite has delocalised electrons 
  B Graphite has layers of atoms that can slide over each other
  C Graphite has a giant structure
  D Graphite has strong covalent bonds

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2a1 mark

In the 19th century, Mendeleev arranged the elements known at the time to form his periodic table.
Mendeleev’s periodic table is different from the modern periodic table.

State one difference between Mendeleev’s periodic table and the modern periodic table.

2b2 marks

Aluminium oxide reacts with hydrochloric acid to form a salt and water.

i)
State the name of the salt formed.
(1)
ii)
In this reaction aluminium oxide is a base.
State the type of reaction that takes place when an acid reacts with a base.
(1)
2c2 marks

Gallium, Ga, is in the same group of the modern periodic table as aluminium.

The formula of aluminium oxide is Al2O3.

i)
Predict the formula of gallium oxide.

(1)

ii)
Gallium oxide has a very high melting point.
Gallium oxide does not conduct electricity when solid but does conduct electricity when molten.

What type of substance is gallium oxide?

(1)

  A giant covalent
  B ionic 
  C metallic 
  D simple molecular
2d3 marks

Figure 5 shows the changes of state for gallium and the arrangement of particles in liquid gallium.

fig-5-q2d-1cho-1f-paper-1-nov-2020

Figure 5

i)
Complete the boxes for solid gallium and gaseous gallium by drawing the arrangement of the particles in each of these physical states.
(2)
ii)
Give the name of the change of state labelled Y in Figure 5.
(1)
2e2 marks

Gallium metal is a conductor of electricity.

Explain how metals conduct electricity.

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31 mark

Which statement about diamond is correct? 

  A It is a hard substance with a low melting point 
  B Each carbon atom is bonded to three others with strong covalent bonds 
  C It has a giant structure and conducts electricity
  D It has a high melting point with each carbon bonded to four others

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4a
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2 marks

An ion of element X can be represented as

straight X presuperscript 1252–


This ion of element X has 54 electrons.

Calculate the number of protons and the number of neutrons in this ion.


number of protons ...............................................................

number of neutrons ...............................................................

4b3 marks

Higher Only

A sample of silicon contains isotopes.

i)
State, in terms of subatomic particles, how atoms of these isotopes are the same.

(1)

ii)

This sample of silicon contains three isotopes.
92% of the atoms are silicon-28
5% of the atoms are silicon-29
3% of the atoms are silicon-30

Calculate the relative atomic mass of silicon in this sample.

(2)

relative atomic mass = ...............................................................

4c6 marks

Figure 6 shows some properties of three substances, A, B and C.



ability to conduct electricity
substance melting point in °C solid molten
A 1180 poor good
B 1538 good good
C 115 poor poor

Figure 6

Deduce, using the information in Figure 6, the structure and bonding of substances A, B and C, explaining their properties in terms of their structure and bonding.

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51 mark

Fullerenes are molecules made of carbon.

Fullerenes are increasingly used as catalysts due to their large surface area.

Give one other use of fullerenes.  

  A Alloys
  B Lubricants
  C Polymers
  D Fuel Cells

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1a
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3 marks

Calcium has an atomic number of 20.
A calcium atom has a mass number of 40.

i)
Which row of the table shows the number of protons and number of neutrons in this atom of calcium?
(1)
      number of protons number of neutrons
  A 20 20
  B 40  20
  C 20  60
  D

60 

20

ii)
Figure 8 shows the arrangement of electrons in an atom of calcium.
fig-8-q6aii-1cho-1h-paper-1-nov-2020
Figure 8

Explain, using the information in Figure 8, in which period of the periodic table calcium can be found.

(2)

1b2 marks

Calcium and potassium react with water in similar ways.

i)
One similarity in the reactions is that hydrogen gas is produced.
State one other similarity in the products of the reactions of calcium and potassium with water.
(1)
ii)
Potassium is higher in the reactivity series than calcium and reacts more vigorously with water than calcium reacts with water.
State why potassium is higher in the reactivity series and reacts more vigorously with water than calcium.
(1)
1c6 marks

Calcium chloride can be prepared by the reaction of calcium with chlorine gas.
Figure 9 shows some properties of calcium, chlorine and calcium chloride.

substance relative melting
point
ability to conduct electricity
when solid when molten
calcium high good good
chlorine low poor poor
calcium chloride high poor  good

Figure 9

Explain, in terms of bonding and structure, why the properties of the product, calcium chloride, are different from the properties of the reactants, calcium and chlorine.

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2a2 marks

A student carried out the electrolysis of copper chloride solution using graphite electrodes.

Figure 1 shows the apparatus they used.

edx-1-5h-paper-1-q2a-electrolysis

Figure 1

Explain why copper chloride solution, rather than solid copper chloride was used.

2b2 marks

Cu2+ and H+ ions are attracted to the cathode.

State the ions attracted to the anode.

2c1 mark

Graphite electrodes are chosen because they are inert and can conduct electricity.

Explain why it is important inert electrodes are used.

2d2 marks

Explain, in terms of its structure, how graphite can conduct electricity

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3a1 mark

Cobalt is a transition metal.

Cobalt has the atomic number 27.
State one thing this tells you about cobalt atoms.

3b3 marks

 Describe the structure of cobalt.

3c2 marks

Cobalt’s melting point is 1495°C.

Explain why cobalt has a high melting point, using its structure.

3d3 marks

Alloys can be made by mixing other metals, such as chromium, with cobalt.

Figure 1 shows the difference in structure between pure cobalt and an alloy.

edx-1-5h-paper-1-q3d-alloy

Figure 1

Use Figure 1 to explain why a cobalt and chromium alloy is less malleable than pure cobalt.

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4a2 marks

This question is about three substances: calcium, calcium chloride and calcium carbonate.

Calcium chloride and calcium carbonate contain ions: Ca2+, Cl- and CO32-;

i)
Give the formula of calcium chloride

[1]

ii)
Give the formula of calcium carbonate.

[1]

4b4 marks

At room temperature, calcium can conduct electricity but calcium chloride cannot.

Use their structure to explain why.

4c3 marks

Explain what you could do to prove that dissolving calcium chloride in water will allow it to conduct electricity.

4d2 marks

Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water.

Describe what you would have to do to make calcium carbonate conduct electricity.

Explain why this would work.

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5a1 mark

Figure 1 shows some different ways used to represent the structure of an ammonia molecule.edx-1-5-hard-paper-1-ammonia-models

    Dot and cross diagram               ball and stick diagram               space filling diagram

Figure 1

Draw the displayed formula of ammonia.

5b1 mark

Give one advantage of the dot and cross diagram.

5c2 marks

Discuss the limitations of the dot and cross and space filling diagrams.

5d3 marks

Ammonia has a low boiling point (-33°C).

Explain why, using its structure.

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