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IGCSE Chemistry (9–1) 0971 · Experimental techniques and chemical analysis · 12.3

Chromatography: past paper questions

12 real questionsasked in 3 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Name, Label

Real questions on chromatography

The newest 12 of 12 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

  1. 0971/32 · October/November 2025 · Q3d(i)[1]

    Name the separation method shown in Fig. 3.1.

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  2. 0971/32 · October/November 2025 · Q3d(ii)[1]

    Label the solvent front in Fig. 3.1.

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  3. 0971/32 · May/June 2024 · Q4b(i)[2]

    Complete Fig. 4.1, to show: ● here the mixture of coloured compounds is placed on the chromatography paper at w the start of the chromatography ● the level of the solvent at the start of the chromatography.

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  4. 0971/41 · May/June 2024 · Q1g[1]

    separate a mixture of soluble coloured substances. [Total: 7]

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  5. 0971/62 · October/November 2022 · Q1d[1]

    State when the paper should be removed from the solvent in A.

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  6. 0971/41 · May/June 2021 · Q1f[1]

    to separate a mixture of amino acids. [Total: 6]

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  7. 0971/42 · May/June 2021 · Q6b(iii)[1]

    Name the technique used to identify the individual sugar units made by the hydrolysis of a complex carbohydrate.

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  8. 0971/31 · May/June 2020 · Q7b[2]

    Myrcene is found in some plants. The coloured compounds in plant leaves can be separated by chromatography. Complete the diagram by putting the correct labels in the boxes. lid beaker

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  9. 0971/32 · May/June 2020 · Q7d[2]

    The mixture of coloured compounds in plant leaves can be separated by chromatography. The apparatus is shown. lid chromatography paper On the diagram: ● ● raw an ‘X’ to show where the mixture of coloured compounds is placed at the start of the d experiment ● ● draw a line to show the level of the solvent at the start o...

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  10. 0971/42 · May/June 2020 · Q1a(v)[1]

    is used to separate a mixture of amino acids.

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  11. 0971/61 · May/June 2020 · Q1b(iii)[1]

    From the chromatogram it is not possible to tell if the red ink contains different dyes. Suggest how the experiment could be changed to find out if the red ink contains different dyes. [Total: 5]

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  12. 0971/42 · October/November 2019 · Q2g(iv)[1]

    Name a suitable technique for separating and identifying the individual sugars formed when complex carbohydrates are broken down. [Total: 18]

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What examiners said

A significant number of candidates described the colour spreading or the solvent reaching the baseline.

— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 0971/62 Q1(d) (Cambridge)

This was answered quite well. Distillation and fractional distillation were occasionally seen.

— Examiner report, May/June 2021, 0971/41 Q1(f) (Cambridge)

The use of chromatography in identifying individual sugars was not well known.

— Examiner report, May/June 2021, 0971/42 Q6(b)(iii) (Cambridge)

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Chromatography — IGCSE Chemistry (9–1) 0971 past paper questions | AssessPro