CAMBRIDGE CHECKPOINT
CHEMISTRY
SPECIMEN QUESTIONS
1
This list shows properties that different materials can have.
A
magnetic
E
good conductor of heat
B
can be compressed
F
poor conductor of heat
C
very high melting point
G
good conductor of electricity
D
very low melting point
H
non conductor of electricity
Write down the letter of the property that answers each of these questions.
(a)
Which two properties from the list make aluminium suitable for cooking pans?
1.
2.
(b)
[2]
Which property from the list explains why a lot of oxygen gas can be pumped into a very
small container?
[1]
(c)
Which property from the list explains why plastic makes a good material for the handle
of a kettle?
[1]
(d)
Which property from the list explains why rubber is used to cover electrical wiring?
[1]
2
(a) Draw the particle arrangement in a solid.
[1]
(b) Angelique puts five drops of a liquid perfume on the back of her hand.
A few seconds later Angelique can smell the perfume.
This is because the perfume diffuses into her nose.
(i) Complete the sentence about diffusion.
In diffusion the perfume moves from an area of ««««««««««.
concentration to an area of «««««««««« concentration.
[1]
(ii) Explain, using the particle theory of matter, how diffusion takes place.
[1]
(b) Complete the word equation for photosynthesis.
carbon dioxide
glucose
+
+
[2]
3
4
Complete the table by deciding if the information indicates that the element is a metal or
a non-metal.
element
magnetic
state at room
temperature
Does it
conduct
electricity?
A
no
liquid
yes
B
yes
solid
yes
C
no
liquid
no
D
no
gas
no
E
no
solid
yes
Plants and green algae need mineral salts to grow.
One mineral salt is magnesium sulfate.
metal
or
non-metal
[2]
Ahmed and Safia investigate the growth of algae.
They put different concentrations of magnesium sulfate solution into five flasks, A, B, C, D and E.
They then add the algae.
measure 10 cm3
of algae using
a syringe
leave for 5 days
A
B
C
E
D
add 10 cm3 of algae to each flask
(a) Why did Ahmed and Safia put 10 cm3 of algae into each flask?
[1]
(b) Why did they leave the flasks for 5 days?
[1]
(c) Here are their results.
flask
concentration of
magnesium sulfate
(1 = dilute,
5 = most concentrated)
A
1
4
B
2
5
C
3
8
D
4
10
E
5
1
colour of algae
(1 = light green,
10 = dark green)
Complete the sentence to describe the pattern of their results.
As the concentration of magnesium sulfate increases from 1 to 5, the colour of the algae
[2]
(d) When the colour of the algae is dark green it has grown the most.
Complete the sentence.
Choose a word from the list.
carbon dioxide
fastest
the same
slowest
sugar
When the concentration of magnesium sulfate is 4 the algae grow
5
water
.
[1]
Look at the table.
It shows the melting points and boiling points of some elements.
element
gold
iron
mercury
oxygen
sodium
melting point
in °C
1064
1538
–39
–219
98
boiling point
in °C
2856
2861
357
–183
883
Use the table to answer these questions.
(a) Write down the name of the element that melts at 1538 °C.
[1]
(b) Which element is a liquid at room temperature (20 °C)?
[1]
(c) Which element is a non-metal?
[1]
6
Hydrogen peroxide is used to make oxygen in the laboratory.
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down to form water and oxygen.
(a) This reaction is much faster when a chemical called manganese(IV) oxide is added to the
hydrogen peroxide.
The manganese(IV) oxide is unchanged at the end of the reaction.
What type of chemical is manganese(IV) oxide?
Tick (9) the correct answer.
acid
alkali
catalyst
metal
[1]
(b) Blessy investigates the effect of temperature on the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide.
(i)
Write down the variable she should change.
[1]
(ii)
Write down one variable she should control (keep the same).
[1]
7
Some metal railings have started to rust.
(a) Which metal were the railings made of?
Circle the correct answer.
aluminium
copper
iron
[1]
lead
(b) Which two substances must be present for the railings to rust?
Circle the two correct answers.
carbon dioxide
hydrogen
nitrogen
oxygen
water
[2]
(c) How can you prevent railings from rusting?
[1]
8
Rocks in the Earth’s crust are classified by the way that they are formed.
Complete the sentences about rock formation.
Choose words from the list.
Each word can be used once, more than once or not at all.
igneous
metamorphic
sedimentary
(a)
rocks are formed when molten lava from a volcano cools down.
(b)
rocks are made from grains of rock that are cemented
(stuck) together.
[1]
rocks are made when heat and pressure change other
(c)
types of rock.
[1]
rocks are found in layers and often contain fossils.
(d)
9
[1]
Safia investigates the reaction between magnesium ribbon and dilute sulfuric acid.
In each experiment Safia uses 25 cm3 of sulfuric acid.
She records the temperature of the acid and then adds some magnesium ribbon.
thermometer
25 cm3 of sulfuric acid
magnesium ribbon
When the magnesium has finished reacting she records the temperature of the acid again.
Safia does this experiment six times.
Each time she uses a different length of magnesium ribbon.
Look at Safia’s results.
[1]
um, started = 20°C goes to 22°C
1 cm of magnesi
um, started = 21°C goes to 25°C
2 cm of magnesi
um, started = 21°C goes to 27°C
3 cm of magnesi
um, started = 21°C goes to 26°C
4 cm of magnesi
um, started = 21°C goes to 31°C
5 cm of magnesi
um, started = 22°C goes to 34°C
6 cm of magnesi
Safia then calculates the temperature change for each reaction.
(a) Put her results, including the temperature changes, into a table.
[3]
(b) One set of readings is an anomalous result.
Which set?
[1]
(c) The reaction between magnesium and sulfuric acid releases energy.
What is the name given to a reaction that releases energy?
[1]