Preparation of salts: past paper questions

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 21Structured14 marks

  Aluminium sulfate is prepared by reacting excess aluminium with hot dilute sulfuric acid.

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• Question 19Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two compounds are dissolved separately in water. When the two solutions are mixed, there is no observable change. What are the two compounds?

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 22Structured14 marks

  Zinc chloride is prepared by reacting excess zinc with warm dilute hydrochloric acid.

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• Question 20Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which pair of substances are both insoluble in water?

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows four methods used to prepare pure salts. Which row shows a method of making a pure sample of each named salt?

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which definition of a hydrated substance is correct?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured17 marksHas a diagram

  A student adds large pieces of zinc to dilute hydrochloric acid. The zinc is in excess. Complete the equation by adding state symbols for the products.

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• Question 39May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  How can a pure sample of barium sulfate be obtained from barium carbonate?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A student does an experiment to make pure hydrated copper(II) sulfate crystals, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{O}}_4\cdot 5{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$. The student makes aqueous copper(II) sulfate by reacting a dilute acid with excess copper(II) oxide. Name the acid.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured7 marks

  The equation for the Haber process used in the production of ammonia is shown. $${\mathrm{N}}_2+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\rightleftharpoons 2{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{H}}_3$$ The nitrogen for this process comes from the air. State the percentage by volume of nitrogen in clean, dry air.

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 21Structured5 marks

  Choose from the following salts to answer the questions.

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• Question 25May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which pair of reagents is used in a school laboratory to prepare a sample of pure barium sulfate?

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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 1May/June 2025, paper 22Structured5 marks

  Choose from the following salts to answer the questions. aluminium sulfate barium chloride copper(II) nitrate copper(II) sulfate magnesium chloride potassium iodide potassium manganate(VII) silver chloride sodium bromide Each salt can be used once, more than once or not at all.

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• Question 23May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which compound is the least soluble in water?

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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 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 24May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about water of crystallisation is correct?

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• Question 18May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which method of preparation of magnesium sulfate is an example of a redox reaction?

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 42Essay6 marks

  $\mathbf{Q}$ is a mixture of solid copper(II) carbonate and solid lead sulfate. Lead sulfate is insoluble in water and does not react with dilute sulfuric acid. Copper(II) carbonate is insoluble in water.

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• Question 24May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which anions are contained in salts that are always soluble in water?

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• Question 29May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Metal X reacts with cold water to form a gas. Zinc displaces metal Y from solutions of its salts. The carbonate of metal Z is insoluble.

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 21Structured8 marks

  This question is about the preparation of salts. Zinc chloride is a soluble salt. It is prepared by the reaction of an insoluble base with a dilute acid.

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 22Structured9 marks

  This question is about the preparation of salts. Zinc nitrate is a soluble salt. It is prepared by the reaction of an insoluble carbonate with a dilute acid.

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