States of matter: 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 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which process describes the movement of a substance very slowly from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration?

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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 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 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 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two gas jars are arranged as shown. The glass plate is removed and the jars allowed to stand for 3 hours. Which statement explains the change in the gas jars after 3 hours?

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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 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 1Oct/Nov 2023, 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 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which arrow represents evaporation?

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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 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  In which states of matter does diffusion occur readily?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four experiments, each containing a different acidic gas, are set up as shown. The dividing glass plates are removed at the same time. In which set of apparatus does the litmus turn red first?

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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 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 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement describes a liquid at room temperature?

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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 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Ammonia gas is reacted with hydrogen chloride gas using the apparatus shown. Solid ammonium chloride is produced. Which statement explains why the solid ammonium chloride is formed nearer to the hydrogen chloride?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statements about the rate of diffusion of the gases ammonia, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and oxygen are correct?

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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 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 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 31Structured9 marksHas a diagram

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

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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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