States of matter: past paper questions

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A gas occupies a volume of $2.0{\text{ dm}}^3$ at room temperature and pressure. Which changes in the conditions would both decrease the volume occupied by the gas?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The pressure of a sample of air is reduced and its temperature remains constant. Which row describes the changes in the volume of the air and the distance between the particles in the air?

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

  Which row shows both a property of a gas and the correct explanation for this property?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  In which changes do the particles move further apart?

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The melting and boiling points of four substances are shown.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which substance would diffuse most quickly?

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

  When measured under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, which gas diffuses at the same rate as nitrogen?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Data about two compounds is given. Both compounds have a simple molecular structure.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 22Structured11 marks

  Potassium superoxide, ${\mathrm{K}\mathrm{O}}_2$, reacts with carbon dioxide to make potassium carbonate and oxygen.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Separate samples of water and air each have a volume of $30{\text{ cm}}^3$ at room temperature and pressure. The pressure applied to both samples is increased by the same amount at room temperature. Which row describes the volumes at the increased pressure?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Helium gas and argon gas are mixed in a closed container at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.). What happens when the two gases are in the container?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Why does a balloon full of helium gas become smaller as the temperature changes from $30{}^{\circ }\text{C}$ to $10{}^{\circ }\text{C}$?

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  Propanoic acid can be represented by the formula ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$. Propanoic acid reacts with methanol, ${\text{CH}}_3\text{OH}$, to produce an ester. Name the ester formed and draw its displayed formula.

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four gases are listed. 1 $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_4$ 2 $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_3$ 3 $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_2$ 4 ${\mathrm{N}}_2$ What is the order of their rate of diffusion at room temperature and pressure?

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  Esters are represented by the formula ${\mathrm{C}}_n{\mathrm{H}}_{2n}{\mathrm{O}}_2$. State the name given to a formula such as ${\mathrm{C}}_n{\mathrm{H}}_{2n}{\mathrm{O}}_2$.

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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 39May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An impure sample of compound X has a melting point of $120{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$. X is purified and its melting point is measured again. Which row is correct?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 5.1 shows the displayed formula of compound A. Draw a circle around the functional group on Fig. 5.1 that is also present in alkenes.

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  At temperature X, the volume of samples of hexane and pentane are not affected by changing the pressure from 1 atm to 2 atm. At temperature X, the pentane molecules are free to move. At temperature X, the hexane molecules are in fixed positions.

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• Question 1May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which physical changes are both exothermic?

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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 6May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The melting points and boiling points of four compounds, W, X, Y and Z, are given in the table.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 5.1 shows the displayed formula of compound A. On Fig. 5.1, draw a circle around the functional group that reacts with aqueous bromine.

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• Question 6May/June 2025, paper 22Structured16 marks

  Bromine, ${\mathrm{B}\mathrm{r}}_2$, is in Group VII of the Periodic Table. The melting point of bromine is $-7{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$ and the boiling point is $59{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$. Explain why bromine is a solid at $-50{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$.

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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 21Structured9 marks

  Chlorine is a gas at room temperature. Iodine is a solid at room temperature. A sample of chlorine has a volume of $240\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^3$ at room temperature and pressure.

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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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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 22Structured9 marks

  Oxygen is a gas at room temperature. Sulfur is a solid at room temperature. A sample of oxygen has a volume of $540{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^3$ at room temperature and pressure.

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• Question 9May/June 2023, paper 21Structured8 marks

  Oxides of nitrogen such as nitrogen monoxide, NO, are atmospheric pollutants. The exhaust gas from a car engine contains 0.00200% by volume of nitrogen monoxide.

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• Question 2May/June 2023, paper 22Structured8 marks

  Group VII includes the elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Chlorine is a green gas at room temperature and pressure. State the appearance of iodine at room temperature and pressure.

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