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Name: ________________________________

SC2 | States of Matter and Mixtures

Higher Tier Triple

Marks Available: 28 marks

Total Marks: ____/28 - _____% - Grade _____

- You may use a calculator.

- You may need a ruler and a pencil.
- You have 45 minutes to complete this practise paper.
- Topics in the practise paper: Methods of Separating & Purifying
Substances, States of Matter.

Questions
Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 9-1 | SC2 Mixed AGW
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Q1.

Mixtures of coloured substances can be separated by paper chromatography.

( a ) Paper chromatography was used to separate a mixture of blue and red inks. A spot of the
mixture was placed on chromatography paper as shown in Figure 1.

( i ) Give a reason why the start line is drawn in pencil, rather than ink.
(1)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

( ii ) The chromatography paper, with the spot of mixture on it, was placed in a beaker with
the bottom of the paper in water. On Figure 2, complete the diagram showing the position of
the chromatography paper with the spot of mixture at the start of the experiment.
(2)

( iii ) The chromatography was carried out and the result is shown in Figure 3.

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The blue spot had moved 14.5cm and the solvent front had moved 15.3cm. Calculate the Rf
value of the substance in the blue spot giving your answer to 2 significant figures. Use the
equation below.
(2)
Rf value = distance travelled by a dye ÷ distance travelled by solvent front

( b ) P, Q, R and S are mixtures of food colourings. They are investigated using paper
chromatography. Figure 4 shows the chromatogram at the end of the experiment.

( i ) Which mixture contains an insoluble food colouring? Circle the letter of the correct
answer.
(1)
A mixture P
B mixture Q
C mixture R
D mixture S

( ii ) Give a change that could be made to the experiment to obtain an Rf value for the
insoluble colouring.
(1)

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 9-1 | SC2 Mixed AGW

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…………………………………………………………………………………………………

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( iii ) Explain, by referring to Figure 4, which mixture is separated into the greatest number of
soluble food colourings by this chromatography experiment.
(2)

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(Total for Question 1 = 8 marks)

(____/8 marks)

Q2.

( a ) Complete the sentence by circling the letter of the correct answer. A mixture of two
immiscible liquids can be separated by using…
(1)
A fractional distillation
B a separating funnel
C evaporation
D filtration

( b ) Oxygen is a simple, molecular covalent substance.

( i ) The electronic configuration of oxygen is 2.6. Draw a dot and cross diagram for the
molecule of O2, show the outer electrons only.
(3)

( ii ) The boiling point of oxygen is -183*C. Explain, in terms of the forces between the
molecules, why oxygen has a very low boiling point.
(2)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 9-1 | SC2 Mixed AGW

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( c ) Describe how oxygen and nitrogen are obtained from liquid air by fractional distillation.
(3)

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(Total for Question 2 = 9 marks)

(____/9 marks)

Q3.

The method used to prepare a slat depends on its solubility in water.

( a ) Complete Figure 9 by placing one tick in each row to show whether the salt is soluble or
insoluble.
(2)

( b ) Lead nitrate solution mixed with sodium sulfate solution forms lead sulfate as a
precipitate.

The balanced symbol equation is shown below.

Pb(NO3)2 + Na2SO4 → PbSO4 + 2NaNO3

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 9-1 | SC2 Mixed AGW

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The theoretical yield of lead sulfate for this reaction was 2.85g. The actual yield of lead
sulfate obtained was 2.53g. Calculate the percentage yield of lead sulfate in this experiment.
Give your answer to two significant figures.
(3)

percentage yield = ………………………………%

( c ) The method used to make the lead sulfate is:

● pour 100cm3 lead nitrate solution into a beaker

● add drops of sodium sulfate solution until a precipitate is seen
● allow the precipitate to settle to the bottom of the beaker
● pour off the liquid
● use a spatula to transfer the solid lead sulfate onto a filter paper

Explain two ways of improving this experimental method to increase the amount and
quality of lead sulfate obtained from the same volume of lead nitrate solution.
(4)

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( d ) Ammonium nitrate is produced from ammonia and nitric acid on a large scale in
industry. Ammonium nitrate can also be made in the laboratory by titrating ammonia solution
with dilute nitric acid.

The balanced symbol equation is shown below.

NH3 + HNO3 → NH4NO3

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Ammonium nitrate crystals can then be obtained by evaporating off some of the
water from the solution. Give two reasons why this laboratory method is not suitable
for usage on a large scale in industry.
(2)

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(Total for Question 3 = 11 marks)

(____/11 marks)

END OF QUESTIONS FOR SC1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

GRADE BOUNDARIES (2023 SERIES) FOUND ON MARK SCHEME

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Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 9-1 | SC2 Mixed AGW