Rate of reaction: past paper questions

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The rate of reaction between calcium carbonate and dilute hydrochloric acid is measured in three separate experiments. In experiment 1, the calcium carbonate is powdered, and an excess of hydrochloric acid is used.

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• Question 14Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two gases react together to produce a single product. The rate of the reaction is affected by an increase in pressure. The reaction is catalysed by platinum.

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• Question 14May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The reaction pathway diagram for both the catalysed and uncatalysed reactions between ${\text{N}}_2$ and ${\text{H}}_2$ in the Haber process is shown. What is the activation energy for the formation of ${\text{NH}}_3$ in the presence of a catalyst?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which change increases the rate of a chemical reaction?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Calcium carbonate reacts with excess dilute hydrochloric acid to form carbon dioxide. The reaction is investigated in two experiments. The rate of the reactions is compared by measuring the volume of carbon dioxide formed over time in each experiment.

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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 3May/June 2026, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to make water. $$2{\mathrm{H}}_2(\mathrm{g})+{\mathrm{O}}_2(\mathrm{g})\to 2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g})$$ Figure 3.1 shows the reaction pathway diagram for this reaction. The reaction is exothermic.

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• Question 16Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In two separate experiments, 1 and 2, an excess of powdered calcium carbonate reacts in a flask with dilute hydrochloric acid. In experiment 1, the volume of carbon dioxide evolved is measured at regular time intervals.

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• Question 17Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Gas P decomposes to form gas Q. $$x\text{P}\to y\text{Q}$$ Two experiments are done to investigate the rate of reaction. The conditions are the same except that two different temperatures, $T_1$ and $T_2$, are used.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the reaction of small pieces of zinc with dilute hydrochloric acid at 25°C. The dilute hydrochloric acid is in excess. Complete the equation for this reaction by adding state symbols.

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The equation for one of the reactions that happens in a catalytic converter is shown. $$2\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g})\to {\mathrm{O}}_2(\mathrm{g})+{\mathrm{N}}_2(\mathrm{g})$$ This decomposition reaction is exothermic.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  This question is about the covalent compound hydrogen peroxide. Fig. 6.1 shows the displayed formula of hydrogen peroxide. $$\mathrm{H}-\mathrm{O}-\mathrm{O}-\mathrm{H}$$ Fig. 6.1 Draw the dot-and-cross diagram to show the electronic arrangement in a molecule of hydrogen peroxide.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured14 marksHas a diagram

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

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the reaction of large pieces of calcium carbonate with dilute hydrochloric acid at 25 °C. The hydrochloric acid is in excess. Complete the equation for this reaction by adding state symbols.

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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 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 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 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 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 13May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two gases react inside a sealed vessel. Which change in conditions would increase the rate of reaction?

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• Question 17May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Aqueous sodium thiosulfate reacts with hydrochloric acid. The rate of the reaction increases if the concentration of both reactants is increased. Nitrogen gas reacts with hydrogen gas.

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• Question 18May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Excess aluminium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid. $$2\mathrm{A}\mathrm{l}+6\mathrm{H}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}\to 3{\mathrm{H}}_2+2\mathrm{A}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_3$$ The hydrogen given off is collected in a gas syringe. The total volume of hydrogen in the gas syringe is recorded every two minutes.

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• Question 14May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Catalysts change the rate of chemical reactions. Which statements correctly describe the effect of adding a catalyst to a reaction?

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• Question 18May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Magnesium reacts with dilute sulfuric acid. $$\text{Mg}(\text{s})+{\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4(\text{aq})\to {\text{MgSO}}_4(\text{aq})+{\text{H}}_2(\text{g})$$ Two experiments are carried out at $25{}^{\circ }\text{C}$.

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• Question 17May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two reactions each produce a gaseous product. The reactions are performed separately using the same conditions of temperature and pressure. The volume of gas formed in each experiment is measured over time and the results are plotted in the graph shown.

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• Question 15May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The equation for a reaction in the Contact process is shown.

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• Question 19May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row gives the catalyst for each of the two processes?

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• Question 15May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the best way of slowing down the reaction between magnesium and sulfuric acid?

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• Question 5May/June 2025, paper 21Structured12 marks

  Vehicles that use petrol as a fuel produce several air pollutants. Petrol is a mixture of hydrocarbons which includes octane, ${\mathrm{C}}_8{\mathrm{H}}_{18}$. Explain why octane is a hydrocarbon.

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• Question 3May/June 2024, paper 21Structured9 marks

  Aqueous ammonium nitrite decomposes when heated to form nitrogen. $$\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_4\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_2(\mathrm{a}\mathrm{q})\to {\mathrm{N}}_2(\mathrm{g})+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l})$$ A $25.0\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^3$ sample of $0.133\mathrm{m}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{d}{\mathrm{m}}^3\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_4\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_2$ is completely decomposed.

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