Groups in the Periodic Table | Edexcel GCSE Chemistry, Higher tier (1CH0)
Groups in the Periodic Table
- 106 questions
- 8 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Groups in the Periodic Table is examined in Paper 2, Chemistry 2.
It covers the groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metals, reactions of the alkali metals with water, the pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happens, physical properties of the halogens, the test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metals, hydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivity, displacement reactions of the halogens and group 0: the noble gases.
Sample questions from Groups in the Periodic Table
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metals
Why do elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar chemical properties?
Show the answer
They have the same number of electrons in the outer shell, and the outer electrons decide how an element reacts. -
Reactions of the alkali metals with water
Name the two products formed when an alkali metal reacts with water.
Show the answer
A metal hydroxide, which dissolves to give an alkaline solution, and hydrogen gas. -
The pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happens
Rubidium lies below potassium in group 1. Predict how it behaves when dropped into water.
Show the answer
Rubidium reacts even more violently than potassium, because reactivity increases further down the group. -
Physical properties of the halogens
What colour is the vapour seen above iodine when it is gently warmed?
Show the answer
The vapour is purple. -
The test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metals
Why is blue litmus paper turning red not enough on its own to identify chlorine?
Show the answer
Any acidic gas turns damp blue litmus red, so only the bleaching to white confirms chlorine. -
Hydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivity
Which ion released into the water makes a dissolved hydrogen halide acidic?
Show the answer
Hydrogen ions, H⁺, are released and make the solution acidic. -
Displacement reactions of the halogens
Write the balanced equation for bromine reacting with potassium iodide solution.
Show the answer
Br₂ + 2KI → 2KBr + I₂. -
Group 0: the noble gases
Why is helium used to fill balloons and airships?
Show the answer
Helium has a very low density so it provides lift, and it is non-flammable so it cannot catch fire.
The 8 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metals | Where the alkali metals, halogens and noble gases sit and their outer electrons, why a group shares properties, why group 1 are called alkali metals, and their softness and low melting points. | 12 |
| Reactions of the alkali metals with water | What is seen when lithium, sodium and potassium meet water, the hydroxide and hydrogen formed, the balanced equations, the universal indicator colour, and the squeaky pop test. | 9 |
| The pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happens | The order of lithium, sodium and potassium, predictions for rubidium and caesium, and why reactivity rises down group 1 through atom size, shielding and the loss of the outer electron. | 12 |
| Physical properties of the halogens | The colours and states of chlorine, bromine and iodine, iodine's purple vapour, the trends in melting point, boiling point, colour and density down group 7, and predicting the properties of fluorine and astatine. | 13 |
| The test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metals | The damp litmus test for chlorine and why bleaching confirms it, metal halides as ionic compounds, iron and sodium reacting with chlorine and their equations, and predicting the products of other halogens with metals. | 13 |
| Hydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivity | Hydrogen chloride, bromide and iodide and their acidic solutions, why halogen reactivity decreases down group 7 in terms of atom size and shielding, how this contrasts with group 1, and predicting the reactivity of fluorine. | 12 |
| Displacement reactions of the halogens | The rule for halogen displacement, the order chlorine, bromine, iodine, the colours seen with potassium bromide and iodide, the balanced and ionic equations, and which species is oxidised or reduced. | 15 |
| Group 0: the noble gases | Why the noble gases are inert, their electron arrangements, the uses of helium, argon and neon that follow from inertness and low density, and the trends in boiling point and density down group 0. | 20 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel GCSE Chemistry, Higher tier Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 1,857 questions with their answers.