Skip to main content
A-LevelChemistryChemical periodicityFeb/Mar 2022Paper 1 Q171 Mark

A student investigated the chloride of a Period 3 element. This is what the student wrote down as a record. "The compound was a white crystalline solid. It dissolved easily in water to give a solution of pH 12. When placed in a test-tube and heated in a roaring Bunsen flame, the compound melted after several minutes heating." What can be deduced from this record?

AAt least one of the recorded observations is incorrect.
BThe compound was magnesium chloride, MgCl₂.
CThe compound was phosphorus pentachloride, PCl₅.
DThe compound was sodium chloride, NaCl.

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is A. This question tests the candidate's understanding of chemical periodicity within the Chemistrysyllabus. The examiner's mark scheme requires...

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🔒

Unlock the Examiner's Answer

Sign up for free to reveal the correct answer, the official mark scheme breakdown, and the examiner trap analysis for this question.

Sign Up Free to Unlock →

Join thousands of Cambridge students already using Oracle Prep

About This A-Level Chemistry Question

This multiple-choice question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Chemistry (9701) Feb/Mar 2022 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2. It tests the topic of Chemical periodicity and is worth 1 mark.

Oracle Prep provides AI-powered practice for all Cambridge O-Level and A-Level subjects. Our platform includes topic predictions with 87.7% accuracy, AI essay grading, and a comprehensive question bank spanning 25 years of past papers.

© 2026 Oracle Prep — The AI-Powered Cambridge Exam Engine