GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF
SECONDARY EDUCATION (GCSE)
CHEMISTRY – PAPER 1 AND 2 COMBINED EXAMINATION
Evaluating Core Principles of Matter, Bonding, Chemical
Changes, Energy Resources, and Analytical Methods
ACADEMIC YEAR: 2025/2026
SPRING SEMESTER EXAM
Paper Chromatography - Method
1) Draw a pencil line near the bottom of a sheet of filter paper
2) Add a spot of ink to the line & place the sheet in a beaker of solvent e.g. water - the solvent
used depends on what's being tested - some compounds dissolve well in water, but sometimes
other solvents e.g. ethanol are needed
3) Ensure the ink isn't touching the solvent - you don't want it to dissolve
4) Place a lid on top of the container to stop the solvent evaporating
5) The solvent seeps up the paper, carrying the ink with it
6) Each different dye in the ink will move up the paper at a different rate so that the dyes will
separate out - each dye will form a spot in a different place, 1 spot per dye in the ink
7) If any of the dyes in the ink are insoluble in the solvent used, they'll stay on the baseline
1
8) When the solvent has nearly reached the top of the paper, take the paper out of the beaker
Page
& leave it to dry
, Give three properties which are specific to transition metals
1) They can form more than one ion e.g cobalt form Co2+
2) They are often coloured, therefore compounds which contain them are colourful e.g.
potassium chromate is yellow
3) They often make good catalysts e.g. nickel based catalysts are used in the hydrogenation of
alkenes
State three trends as you go down Group 1
1) Increased reactivity - the outer electron is more easily lost as the attraction between the
nucleus and the electron decreases because the electron is further away from the nucleus
2) Lower melting and boiling points
3) Higher relative atomic mass
What are the products of the reaction of a Group 1 metal and water
Hydrogen gas and a metal hydroxide
E.g. sodium + water --> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
What's the difference between the hardness of Group 1 and transition metals?
Transition metals are harder, denser and stronger than Group 1 metals
2
Page
What's the difference between the reactivity of Group 1 and transition metals?
, Group 1 metals are much more reactive than transition metals
What's the difference between the melting points of Group 1 and transition metals?
Transition metals have higher melting points than Group 1 metals
What trends occur as you go down Group 7?
1) They become less reactive - it's harder to gain an extra electron because the outer shell's
further from the nucleus
2) They have higher melting and boiling points
3) They have higher relative atomic masses
What is the charge of the ions that halogens form when they react with metals?
They form negative ions
What is the trend in boiling point as you go down Group 0?
The boiling points increase
What subatomic particles does the nucleus contain?
Protons and neutrons
3
Page
, What is relative atomic mass?
The mass number which refers to the element as a whole
How are positive ions formed?
A metal atom loses electrons
How are negative ions formed?
A non-metal gains electrons
What is air a mixture of?
Gases, mainly nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and argon
What is crude oil a mixture of?
Different length hydrocarbon molecules
How can you separate substances in a mixture?
Chromatography
What is simple distillation used for?
4
Page
Separating out a liquid from a solution
SECONDARY EDUCATION (GCSE)
CHEMISTRY – PAPER 1 AND 2 COMBINED EXAMINATION
Evaluating Core Principles of Matter, Bonding, Chemical
Changes, Energy Resources, and Analytical Methods
ACADEMIC YEAR: 2025/2026
SPRING SEMESTER EXAM
Paper Chromatography - Method
1) Draw a pencil line near the bottom of a sheet of filter paper
2) Add a spot of ink to the line & place the sheet in a beaker of solvent e.g. water - the solvent
used depends on what's being tested - some compounds dissolve well in water, but sometimes
other solvents e.g. ethanol are needed
3) Ensure the ink isn't touching the solvent - you don't want it to dissolve
4) Place a lid on top of the container to stop the solvent evaporating
5) The solvent seeps up the paper, carrying the ink with it
6) Each different dye in the ink will move up the paper at a different rate so that the dyes will
separate out - each dye will form a spot in a different place, 1 spot per dye in the ink
7) If any of the dyes in the ink are insoluble in the solvent used, they'll stay on the baseline
1
8) When the solvent has nearly reached the top of the paper, take the paper out of the beaker
Page
& leave it to dry
, Give three properties which are specific to transition metals
1) They can form more than one ion e.g cobalt form Co2+
2) They are often coloured, therefore compounds which contain them are colourful e.g.
potassium chromate is yellow
3) They often make good catalysts e.g. nickel based catalysts are used in the hydrogenation of
alkenes
State three trends as you go down Group 1
1) Increased reactivity - the outer electron is more easily lost as the attraction between the
nucleus and the electron decreases because the electron is further away from the nucleus
2) Lower melting and boiling points
3) Higher relative atomic mass
What are the products of the reaction of a Group 1 metal and water
Hydrogen gas and a metal hydroxide
E.g. sodium + water --> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
What's the difference between the hardness of Group 1 and transition metals?
Transition metals are harder, denser and stronger than Group 1 metals
2
Page
What's the difference between the reactivity of Group 1 and transition metals?
, Group 1 metals are much more reactive than transition metals
What's the difference between the melting points of Group 1 and transition metals?
Transition metals have higher melting points than Group 1 metals
What trends occur as you go down Group 7?
1) They become less reactive - it's harder to gain an extra electron because the outer shell's
further from the nucleus
2) They have higher melting and boiling points
3) They have higher relative atomic masses
What is the charge of the ions that halogens form when they react with metals?
They form negative ions
What is the trend in boiling point as you go down Group 0?
The boiling points increase
What subatomic particles does the nucleus contain?
Protons and neutrons
3
Page
, What is relative atomic mass?
The mass number which refers to the element as a whole
How are positive ions formed?
A metal atom loses electrons
How are negative ions formed?
A non-metal gains electrons
What is air a mixture of?
Gases, mainly nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and argon
What is crude oil a mixture of?
Different length hydrocarbon molecules
How can you separate substances in a mixture?
Chromatography
What is simple distillation used for?
4
Page
Separating out a liquid from a solution
