Experimental design: past paper questions
Real questions on experimental design
The newest 20 of 311 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q8c(i)[3]
Explain how petroleum is separated by fractional distillation.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q8c(ii)[1]
State one use for the refinery gas fraction. Methane and ethane are both in the refinery gas fraction.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q8c(iii)[1]
Decane is in the naphtha fraction. State one use for the naphtha fraction.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q9a[1]
State the meaning of the term anhydrous.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q9b[1]
State the colour of the solution formed. (b) Anhydrous copper( II ) sulfate is added to water.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q9c[2]
Aqueous ammonia is added dropwise until in excess to a small volume of aqueous copper( II ) sulfate. Describe the observations during this addition.
See it on the paper → - 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q9d[1]
Describe the observations when aqueous barium nitrate is added to aqueous copper( II ) sulfate.
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[1]
State the name of the piece of apparatus labelled A in Fig. 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[1]
The student makes a mistake when assembling the apparatus. Describe this mistake.
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q1c(i)[1]
State the name of this separation process. (i)
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q1c(ii)[1]
State the property of these substances that allows them to be separated.
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q1d[2]
State the name of the piece of apparatus the student uses to safely heat the petroleum in Fig. 1.1. Explain why this piece of apparatus is suitable. piece of apparatus explanation
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[4]
Complete Table 2.1. You should: • • record the student’s results for 5.0 cm 3 and 30.0 cm 3 using Fig. 2.1 subtract the initial temperature of X from each temperature recorded to determine the temperature change. All temperatures and temperature changes should be recorded to + / – 0.5 °C. 30 20 20 30 30 seconds after a...
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[5]
Plot a graph of the temperature change (y-axis) against the volume of Y (x-axis) on Fig. 2.2. Draw a line of best fit through the points where the temperature change is increasing. Draw a line of best fit through the points where the temperature change is decreasing. Extend both lines so that they cross. 0 5 10 15 20 2...
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q2c[1]
Find the point on the graph where the two lines cross. Determine the volume of Y at this point. volume cm 3
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q2f[1]
Suggest why Y is added to X using a burette and not a measuring cylinder. (f)
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q2g[1]
Suggest why the temperatures are recorded after 30 seconds and not immediately after mixing. Question 3 starts on page 10.
See it on the paper → - 5070/41 · October/November 2025 · Q4[6]
Alcohols are used as fuels to heat water. Plan an experiment to determine which alcohol, methanol or ethanol, releases more thermal energy per gram of alcohol burned. Your plan should describe the use of an alcohol burner, as shown in Fig. 4.1, to heat water. You should use water, methanol, ethanol and common laborator...
See it on the paper → - 5070/42 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[1]
State the name of the piece of apparatus labelled A in Fig. 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 5070/42 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[1]
The mixture in the flask slowly turns cloudy. The student records the time taken for the solution to become so cloudy that the cross is no longer visible through the mixture. State the name of a piece of apparatus needed which is not shown in Fig. 1.1. • • (b) The student adds a fixed volume and concentration of dilute...
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Better performing candidates knew the name of the technique. Neutralisation, filtration, precipitation and crystallisation were popular responses. A significant number omitted the question.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5070/21 Q6(c)(ii) (Cambridge)
The colour was not well known. Colourless, pink and yellow were popular responses.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5070/21 Q7(b) (Cambridge)
Candidates found it difficult to draw clear diagrams. When diagrams are drawn, they should always be labelled. Many candidates were able to show the delivery tube leaving the conical flask above the level of the liquid but best practice would show the tube with a clear gap between the liquid and the tube, not just a couple of millimetres. Candidates who were able to draw a collection vessel for th...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5070/41 Q1(b) (Cambridge)
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