AQA GCSE Chemistry, Foundation tier sample questions and answers (8462)
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50 sample questions and answers
Taken from every topic of AQA GCSE Chemistry, Foundation tier, specification 8462. The full guide has 1,386.
Paper 1
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
202 questions in the guide, across 15 subtopics. More from this topic
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Atoms, elements and compounds
What is the chemical symbol for an atom of oxygen?
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The symbol for oxygen is O. -
Word equations, symbols and balanced equations
Write the word equation for zinc reacting with hydrochloric acid.
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Zinc + hydrochloric acid → zinc chloride + hydrogen. -
From the plum pudding model to the nuclear model
Which experiment provided the evidence that led to the nuclear model?
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The alpha particle scattering experiment. -
Bohr, Chadwick and the modern model of the atom
State two differences between the plum pudding model and the nuclear model.
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In the nuclear model the positive charge and nearly all the mass sit in a tiny central nucleus, and most of the atom is empty space, whereas in the plum pudding model the positive charge fills the atom with electrons embedded in it. -
Size and mass of atoms
What is the relative mass of a proton?
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It is 1.
Paper 1
Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter
197 questions in the guide, across 14 subtopics. More from this topic
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Chemical bonds, including metallic bonding
Magnesium oxide is made from magnesium and oxygen. Name its type of bonding and give a reason.
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Ionic bonding, because it is a compound of a metal with a non-metal. -
Ionic bonding
How does the group number of a Group 2 metal relate to the charge on its ion?
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It has two outer electrons to lose, so it forms a 2+ ion. -
Covalent bonding and how it is represented
What does a ball and stick model of a molecule show that a dot and cross diagram does not?
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The shape of the molecule and how its bonds are arranged in space. -
The three states of matter and changes of state
Describe, in terms of particles, what happens when a gas condenses.
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The particles lose energy and slow down, so the forces between them pull them close together as a liquid. -
Properties of ionic compounds
Are the boiling points of ionic compounds high or low, and why?
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High, because many strong bonds between the ions have to be broken.
Paper 2
Chemical Analysis
100 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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Pure substances
What is the difference between the way a pure compound changes state and the way a mixture does?
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A pure compound melts and boils at specific fixed temperatures, while a mixture melts and boils over a range of temperatures. -
Formulations
Name three household products that are formulations.
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Paints, medicines and cleaning agents are all formulations. -
Chromatography
A spot moves 3.6 cm from the origin while the solvent moves 8.0 cm. Calculate its Rf value.
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Rf is 3.6 ÷ 8.0, which is 0.45. -
Tests for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and chlorine
A glowing splint bursts back into flame when it is pushed into a test tube of gas. Which gas is present?
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It is oxygen. -
Flame tests
What flame colour do sodium compounds produce?
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Sodium compounds produce a yellow flame.
Paper 1
Chemical Changes
146 questions in the guide, across 9 subtopics. More from this topic
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The reactivity series
State the rule that decides whether one metal will take another metal's place in a compound.
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A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound. -
Metal oxides, extraction, and redox in terms of electrons
Why is gold found in the Earth as the metal itself?
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Gold is so unreactive that it does not combine with other elements to form compounds. -
Acids reacting with metals, neutralisation and salts
Write the balanced equation for magnesium reacting with dilute hydrochloric acid.
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Mg + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂. -
Soluble salts
How is a solid salt obtained from a solution of that salt?
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The solution is crystallised. -
The pH scale and neutralisation
What is the full range of the pH scale?
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It runs from 0 to 14.
Paper 2
Chemistry of the Atmosphere
115 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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The Earth's early atmosphere
Which gas is thought to have made up most of the Earth's early atmosphere?
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Carbon dioxide. -
The Earth's early atmosphere
Name two gases thought to have been present in small proportions in the early atmosphere.
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Methane and ammonia. -
How oxygen increased and carbon dioxide decreased
What happened to oxygen in the atmosphere soon after algae began to photosynthesise?
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Oxygen began to appear in the atmosphere and its percentage started to rise. -
How oxygen increased and carbon dioxide decreased
Describe the main changes in the composition of the atmosphere over the Earth's history.
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Carbon dioxide fell from being the main gas to a very small proportion, oxygen rose to about a fifth, and nitrogen built up to about four-fifths. -
The gases in today's atmosphere, and which are greenhouse gases
Name three kinds of gas that are present in the atmosphere only in small proportions.
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Carbon dioxide, water vapour and the noble gases.
Paper 1
Energy Changes
76 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Exothermic and endothermic reactions
A student mixes two solutions in a beaker and the beaker becomes warm. What type of energy change has taken place?
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An exothermic change, because energy has been transferred from the reaction to the surroundings. -
Exothermic and endothermic reactions
Give two everyday products that make use of exothermic reactions.
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Self-heating cans and hand warmers. -
Everyday uses, and investigating temperature change
Why does a thermometer standing in a reaction mixture tell you about the energy change of the reaction?
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It records the temperature of the surroundings of the reacting particles, which rises when energy is given out and falls when energy is taken in. -
Everyday uses, and investigating temperature change
Name four kinds of reaction between solutions that are suitable for investigating temperature change.
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An acid with a metal, an acid with a carbonate, a neutralisation, and the displacement of one metal by another from its salt solution. -
Reaction profiles
What three things can a reaction profile show about a reaction?
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The relative energies of the reactants and products, the activation energy, and the overall energy change.
Paper 2
Organic Chemistry
190 questions in the guide, across 11 subtopics. More from this topic
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Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes
Which type of compound makes up most of crude oil?
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Hydrocarbons. -
Fractional distillation and petrochemicals
What is meant by feedstock in the petrochemical industry?
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Feedstock is the raw material fed into the industry and used to make other chemicals. -
Properties of hydrocarbons
How does viscosity change as hydrocarbon molecules get larger?
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Viscosity increases, so the liquid flows less easily. -
Cracking, and testing alkenes with bromine water
State one thing that catalytic cracking and steam cracking have in common.
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Both require the hydrocarbon to be vaporised and heated to a high temperature so that its molecules break apart. -
Why cracking is useful, and equations for it
Explain why alkenes are so valuable as starting materials for other chemicals.
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Their carbon–carbon double bond makes them reactive, so other atoms can be added across it to build new compounds.
Paper 1
Quantitative Chemistry
79 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Conservation of mass and balanced chemical equations
Explain why chemical reactions can be represented by balanced symbol equations.
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Because no atoms are lost or made, the number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of the equation. -
Conservation of mass and balanced chemical equations
What is the difference between a number written in normal script in front of a formula and a number written in subscript inside a formula?
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A number in front multiplies the whole formula that follows it, while a subscript multiplies only the atom or bracketed group it comes after. -
Relative formula mass and concentration of solutions
For 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O, show that the totals of relative formula mass are the same on both sides, given H = 1 and O = 16.
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The reactants total 2 × 2 + 32 = 36 and the products total 2 × 18 = 36, so both sides come to 36. -
Relative formula mass and concentration of solutions
How is the concentration of a solution in g/dm³ calculated from the mass of solute and the volume of solution?
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Divide the mass of solute in grams by the volume of the solution in cubic decimetres. -
Mass changes when a gas is involved, and measurement uncertainty
What is always true about the result of any measurement that is made?
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There is always some uncertainty in the value obtained.
Paper 2
The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
96 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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Measuring the mean rate of a reaction
A reaction uses up 2.4 g of magnesium in 60 s. Calculate the mean rate of reaction.
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2.4 g ÷ 60 s = 0.04 g/s. -
Measuring the mean rate of a reaction
A gas is produced at a mean rate of 1.5 cm³/s for 40 s. Calculate the volume of gas collected.
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1.5 cm³/s × 40 s = 60 cm³. -
Rate from graphs, and the gradient of a tangent
Two reactions are followed on the same axes of gas volume against time. State how you can tell from the curves which reaction is faster at the start.
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The reaction whose curve is steeper at the start is the faster one. -
Rate from graphs, and the gradient of a tangent
What does a straight-line graph that passes through the origin show about the two variables?
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The intercept c is zero, so y is directly proportional to x. -
Factors which affect the rates of chemical reactions
State the effect on the rate of reaction of using a powdered solid in place of a single lump of the same mass.
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The rate of reaction increases.
Paper 2
Using Resources
185 questions in the guide, across 12 subtopics. More from this topic
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Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development
Suggest why an industrial process that uses less energy and makes less waste is described as more sustainable.
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It uses up fewer limited resources and causes less environmental damage, so more is left for future generations. -
Producing potable water in the UK
What is removed from water as it passes through filter beds?
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Insoluble solids such as grit, sand and other suspended particles. -
Waste water treatment
Explain why sewage is treated in several separate stages rather than one.
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Each stage removes a different kind of material, working from large solids through to dissolved organic matter and microbes. -
Life cycle assessment
What is a selective or abbreviated life cycle assessment?
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One that considers only some of the stages or some of the impacts of a product rather than all of them. -
Corrosion and its prevention
How does painting an iron gate prevent it from rusting?
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The paint forms a barrier that stops air and water reaching the iron underneath.
AQA GCSE Chemistry, Foundation tier Active Recall Guide
The other 1,336 questions, with the answers printed after each section.