Experimental design: past paper questions

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• Question 38May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which piece of apparatus is used to add one reagent to another reagent during a titration?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows a measuring cylinder?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which piece of apparatus is used to measure exactly $27.3{\text{ cm}}^3$ of a liquid?

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• Question 37May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The formula of magnesium oxide can be investigated by using the fact that when magnesium is heated, it reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide. Which apparatus is used for this investigation?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Sulfur dioxide is a gas that is prepared by heating sodium sulfite with hydrochloric acid. It is an acidic gas. Sulfur dioxide is more dense than air.

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• Question 16Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two methods used by students to measure the rate of a reaction are the 'disappearing cross' method and the 'loss of mass' method. ● For the 'disappearing cross' method, the student measures the time taken for the reaction mixture to go cloudy.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 41Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the effect of concentration on the rate of reaction between calcium carbonate and dilute hydrochloric acid.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which piece of apparatus is used to measure the volume of acid required to neutralise $25.0{\text{ cm}}^3$ of alkali in a titration?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Essay6 marks

  Argentan is an alloy containing only zinc, nickel and copper. Zinc and nickel both react with dilute hydrochloric acid. Copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the rate of reaction between calcium carbonate and dilute hydrochloric acid. Fig. 1.1 shows part of the apparatus the student uses. The student determines the rate of reaction by measuring the volume of carbon dioxide produced in a fixed time.

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 41Essay6 marks

  When salt is added to ice, the temperature of the mixture decreases. A student suggests that the greater the mass of salt that is mixed with ice the more the temperature of the mixture decreases. Plan an investigation to find out if the student is correct.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Essay6 marksHas a diagram

  Alcohols are used as fuels to heat water. Plan an experiment to determine which alcohol, methanol or ethanol, releases more thermal energy per gram of alcohol burned.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Essay6 marks

  Muntz metal is an alloy that contains zinc and copper. Zinc reacts with dilute sulfuric acid. Copper does not react with dilute sulfuric acid.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  Hydrochloric acid, $\mathrm{H}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}$, is neutralised when it is added to aqueous potassium hydroxide, $\mathrm{K}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$. $$\mathrm{K}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}+\mathrm{H}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}\to \mathrm{K}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$$ The reaction is exothermic. $\mathbf{P}$ is aqueous potassium hydroxide.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the rate of a reaction. Fig. 1.1 shows the apparatus the student uses. State the name of the piece of apparatus labelled A in Fig. 1.1.

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• Question 38May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows four pieces of apparatus that are used to measure the volume of liquid. Which piece of apparatus is always filled to the same level?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Essay6 marks

  Ammonium sulfate is a salt used in fertilisers. Ammonium sulfate is prepared by neutralising dilute sulfuric acid with aqueous ammonia. Plan an experiment to prepare pure dry crystals of ammonium sulfate.

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 42Essay6 marks

  Aqueous ammonia is an alkaline solution that is used to clean surfaces. The higher the concentration of aqueous ammonia, the better it is at cleaning surfaces. A student investigates three different samples of aqueous ammonia.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Essay6 marks

  The reaction between a metal and dilute sulfuric acid is exothermic. Plan an experiment to determine which metal, magnesium or zinc, releases more thermal energy per gram of metal when reacting with excess dilute sulfuric acid.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  Sulfuric acid, ${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4$, is neutralised when it is added to aqueous sodium hydroxide, $\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$. $${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4+2\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}\to \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{a}}_2\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$$ The reaction is exothermic. $\mathbf{P}$ is $1.25\mathrm{m}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{d}{\mathrm{m}}^3$ aqueous sodium hydroxide.

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• Question 17May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows apparatus used to investigate two different reactions that produce gases. The reactants for each experiment are mixed and the mass of flask plus contents for each experiment is recorded every 30 seconds.

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• Question 2May/June 2024, paper 41Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the reaction of four metals, $\mathbf{\text{A}}$, $\mathbf{\text{B}}$, $\mathbf{\text{C}}$ and $\mathbf{\text{D}}$, with aqueous copper(II) sulfate. The four metals are all grey solids.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Essay6 marks

  Copper(II) sulfate is a salt used to kill pests on plant leaves. Copper(II) sulfate is prepared by neutralising dilute sulfuric acid with solid copper(II) oxide. Plan an experiment to prepare pure dry crystals of copper(II) sulfate.

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 41Structured6 marks

  A student determines the solubility of solid ammonium chloride in water at $60{}^{\circ }\text{C}$.

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• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 41Essay6 marks

  Barium carbonate decomposes when heated. The word equation for the reaction is shown. $$\text{barium carbonate}\to \text{barium oxide}+\text{carbon dioxide}$$ Plan an experiment to determine the percentage loss in mass when barium carbonate is heated.

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 41Essay6 marks

  Baking powder is used to make cakes rise. When water is added to baking powder, carbon dioxide gas is released. The longer the baking powder is stored, the less carbon dioxide it releases when water is added.

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 41Essay6 marks

  $\text{Q}$ is a mixture of solid magnesium oxide and solid barium sulfate. Magnesium oxide is insoluble in water. It reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to make a solution of magnesium chloride.

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• Question 1May/June 2024, paper 42Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A student finds the amount of iron(II) ions in a solution by titration.

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• Question 1May/June 2023, paper 42Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the rusting of iron. Fig. 1.1 shows the apparatus the student uses. Name apparatus X.

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 42Structured6 marks

  A student investigates how the solubility of solid potassium nitrate varies with temperature.

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