Solids, liquids and gases: past paper questions

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  At temperature T1, particles of substance X are close together and slide over each other. At temperature T2, substance X is made up of particles that are close together and vibrate in fixed positions.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Water exists as solid ice, liquid water and steam. In which states can water easily be compressed to half its original volume?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows the melting and boiling points of four elements. Which element is a gas at room temperature and pressure?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The three rectangles show the arrangements of the particles in each of the three states of matter.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Nitrogen is heated in a balloon which expands slightly. Which statements about the molecules of nitrogen are correct?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The melting point of sulfur is 113 °C. Which row describes the arrangement and movement of sulfur particles at 25 °C?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Four statements about the arrangement or movement of particles are given. 1 Particles are packed in a regular arrangement. 2 Particles are randomly arranged.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The melting points and boiling points of four elements are shown.

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about solids, liquids or gases is correct?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Substances exist as solids, liquids or gases. In which states of matter are the particles a similar distance apart?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows some information about the three states of matter.

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  When water evaporates from a brass surface, the temperature of the brass surface decreases. Which row describes this evaporation process?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which arrow represents evaporation?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  In which states of matter does diffusion occur readily?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Part of a cooling curve for water is shown. What is occurring between points X and Y?

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A gas is placed in a sealed container. The gas has a pressure of one atmosphere and a temperature of $50{}^{\circ }\text{C}$. It is then heated to $100{}^{\circ }\text{C}$.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which conditions cause gas particles to move the fastest and the furthest apart?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A sample of a gas occupies $340{\text{ cm}}^3$ at room temperature and pressure. The temperature and pressure are both increased, but the volume occupied by the gas remains $340{\text{ cm}}^3$.

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  The arrangements of particles in solids, liquids and gases are different. Which statement about the molecules in ice, water or steam is correct?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What happens to the volume of a fixed mass of gas when the temperature is increased or the pressure is decreased?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement describes a liquid at room temperature?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Bromine is a liquid at room temperature. State two general properties of a liquid.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A sealed glass container contains $200{\text{ cm}}^3$ of oxygen at $100{}^{\circ }\text{C}$. The container is cooled to $25{}^{\circ }\text{C}$. Which row shows how the average kinetic energy of the oxygen molecules and the pressure inside the container change?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the heating curve for a substance. Between which two points do the particles of the substance change from being in fixed positions to being mobile?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 32Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Tin is a solid at room temperature. State two general properties of a solid.

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Gaseous ammonia reacts with an excess of gaseous hydrogen chloride in a sealed flask. $${\text{NH}}_3\text{(g)}+\text{HCl(g)}\to {\text{NH}}_4\text{Cl(s)}$$ The reaction is exothermic. Which statements about the reaction are correct?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What happens to the volume of a fixed mass of gas when pressure and temperature are separately increased?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes the arrangement and motion of the particles in a liquid?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 33Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Nitrogen is a gas at room temperature. State two general properties of a gas.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  X and Y are changes of state of water.

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