Cambridge Past Paper Questions
Browse 23,045questions from 25 years of O-Level & A-Level exams. Click any question to practice.
Complete the table using ticks (√) to indicate whether the sign of each type of energy change, under standard conditions, is always positive, alway...
(a) The diagram shows the apparatus used to measure the standard electrode potential, E°, of Fe³⁺(aq)/Fe²⁺(aq). [Figure showing apparatus for stand...
(a) Chlorine dioxide undergoes the following reaction in aqueous solution. 2ClO₂ + 2OH⁻ → ClO₂⁻ + ClO₃⁻ + H₂O The initial rate of the reaction was ...
(a) Compound H can be synthesised from benzene as shown. [Figure: Reaction scheme starting from benzene, going through step 1, then intermediate G,...
(a) (i) Draw the shape of one of the d orbitals.
The compound Advantame is a sweetener that tastes approximately 25000 times sweeter than sucrose. [Figure: Structure of Advantame (C23H29NO4)]
The root of the ginger plant contains compounds with medicinal and flavouring properties. Three of the more important compounds are gingerol, shoga...
This question is about compound T, CₓH_yO₂. (a) Part of the mass spectrum of T is shown. The peak heights of the M and M+1 peaks are 33.9 and 3.4 r...
The enthalpy change of reaction, ∆H, for the decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3(s), cannot be measured directly. 2NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3...
Transition metal complex ions are coloured. The formula of a complex ion can be determined using colorimetry. In colorimetry, light of a certain wa...
What are the shapes of the molecules of water and boron trifluoride?
The electronic configuration of the two outermost shells of an atom is 3s²3p³3d⁵4s². What is this atom?
Drinking water may contain dissolved calcium hydrogencarbonate, Ca(HCO₃)₂. How many electrons are present in a hydrogencarbonate anion?
Which molecule contains a nitrogen atom with sp hybridised orbitals?
Which mass of solid residue is obtained from the thermal decomposition of 4.10 g of anhydrous calcium nitrate?
Sodium hydroxide neutralises acid. H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O In a 11000 dm³ sample of an aqueous solution, the concentration of acid, [H⁺], is 1.26 x 10⁻³ mol...
The gas laws can be summarised in the ideal gas equation. pV = nRT 0.960 g of oxygen gas is contained in a vessel of volume 7.00 × 10⁻³ m³ at a tem...
Which equation represents the standard enthalpy change of formation of water?
Hess' Law and bond energy data can be used to calculate the enthalpy change of a reaction. Bromoethane, CH₃CH₂Br, can be made by reacting ethene wi...
Which reaction is not a redox reaction?
The reaction between sulfur dioxide and oxygen is reversible. 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃ ΔH° = –196 kJ mol⁻¹ Which conditions of pressure and temperature fav...
Which statement about the effect of a catalyst on a reversible reaction is correct?
Which oxide is insoluble in aqueous sodium hydroxide?
X, Y and Z are three elements in the third period. • X reacts with chlorine to give a liquid product. • Y reacts with chlorine to give a solid prod...
A solution contains both Mg²⁺(aq) and Sr²⁺(aq) at the same concentration. The solution is divided into two equal portions. Aqueous sodium hydroxide...
The volatility of the Group 17 elements, chlorine, bromine and iodine, decreases down the group. What is responsible for this?
Bromine is extracted from sea-water. In the final stages of the process two redox reactions take place. Br₂(aq) + SO₂(g) + 2H₂O(l) → 2HBr(aq) + H₂S...
When burned, sulfur forms a gaseous product X which can be oxidised to produce a gas Y. Gas Y reacts with water to produce a product Z. Which row c...
One molecule of ammonia reacts with one molecule of ethyl methanoate, HCO₂C₂H₅, to produce one molecule of methanamide, HCONH₂, and only one other ...
Which types of stereoisomerism are shown by 2,4-dimethylhex-2-ene?
An organic ion containing a carbon atom with a negative charge is called a carbanion. An organic ion containing a carbon atom with a positive charg...
Compound X can be converted into compound Y in a single step. [Figure 22.1] What could be the identity of X?
Which compound reacts with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine reagent but does not react with Tollens' reagent?
Structural isomerism and stereoisomerism should be considered when answering this question. The molecular formula of compound X is C₅H₁₂O. Compound...
Which volume of hydrogen, measured under room conditions, is produced when 0.160 g of methanol reacts with an excess of sodium?
Compound X produces a carboxylic acid when heated under reflux with acidified potassium dichromate(VI). Compound X does not react with sodium metal...
A reaction occurs when a sample of 1-chloropropane is heated under reflux with sodium hydroxide dissolved in ethanol. Which row is correct?
Ethanedioic acid has the formula HO₂CCO₂H. What is the formula of aluminium ethanedioate?
Alcohols, aldehydes and nitriles can each be converted into carboxylic acids. Which descriptions of their conversions into carboxylic acids are cor...
How many structural isomers with the molecular formula C₄H₁₀O give infra-red absorptions both at approximately 1200 cm⁻¹ and at approximately 3400 ...
Compound Q contains 40% carbon by mass. What could Q be? 1 glucose, C₆H₁₂O₆ 2 starch, (C₆H₁₀O₅)n 3 sucrose, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
A container is partially filled with hot water, sealed and left to cool. Which statements are correct? 1 As the temperature decreases, water molecu...
Ammonia and chlorine react together in the gas phase. 8NH₃ + 3Cl₂ → N₂ + 6NH₄Cl Which statements are correct? 1 Ammonia behaves as a reducing agent...
In which reactions does NH₃ behave as a Brønsted-Lowry acid? 1 2NH₃ → NH₂⁻ + NH₄⁺ 2 HSO₄⁻ + NH₃ → SO₄²⁻ + NH₄⁺ 3 Ag⁺ + 2NH₃ → [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺
Chlorine reacts with hot aqueous sodium hydroxide. Which oxidation states does chlorine show in the products of this reaction? 1 –1 2 +3 3 +1
In which different forms does nitrogen exist in compounds? 1 bonded by a triple covalent bond 2 as part of a cation 3 in an oxidation state of +5
Poly(ethene) and PVC are examples of addition polymers. Which statements are correct? 1 On combustion, PVC can produce carbon monoxide, carbon diox...
Organic compound X gives a precipitate when warmed with aqueous silver nitrate. This precipitate dissolves when concentrated aqueous ammonia is add...
Propanal reacts with hydrogen cyanide to form 2-hydroxybutanenitrile. A suitable catalyst for this reaction is sodium cyanide. NaCN CH₃CH₂CHO + HCN...
The structure of lactic acid is shown. H₃C─CH(OH)─CO₂H [Figure of lactic acid structure]. Which esters might form when lactic acid is heated? 1 CH₃...