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O Level Chemistry 5070 · Chemical reactions · 6.1

Physical and chemical changes: past paper questions

70 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Describe, State, Name, Suggest, Explain

Real questions on physical and chemical changes

The newest 20 of 70 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

  1. 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q4c(ii)[1]

    Describe the observations made during the reaction.

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  2. 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6d[2]

    Suggest the observations when ethyne gas is bubbled into aqueous bromine.

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  3. 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q7a(i)[1]

    Name this process.

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  4. 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q7a(ii)[2]

    Describe the conditions used in this process.

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  5. 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q7d(i)[1]

    Explain why this is an example of an addition reaction.

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  6. 5070/21 · October/November 2025 · Q7d(ii)[1]

    Draw the displayed formula of the product of this reaction.

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  7. 5070/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(ii)[1]

    Explain how the student knows when the reaction has finished.

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  8. 5070/21 · October/November 2024 · Q5a[1]

    Complete the equation by adding state symbols for the products. CuCO 3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) CuCl 2 ( ) + H 2 O( ) + CO 2 ( )

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  9. 5070/21 · October/November 2024 · Q5d(i)[2]

    Describe the observations made when: • • a few drops of aqueous ammonia are added to an aqueous solution containing copper( II ) ions excess aqueous ammonia is added to an aqueous solution containing copper( II ) ions.

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  10. 5070/21 · October/November 2024 · Q7a(iii)[2]

    Propanoic acid reacts with magnesium. Name the two products of this reaction.

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  11. 5070/21 · May/June 2024 · Q1a[1]

    is a catalyst in the Haber process

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  12. 5070/21 · May/June 2024 · Q1c[1]

    changes from a blue solid to a white solid when heated

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  13. 5070/22 · May/June 2024 · Q1c[1]

    changes from a white solid to a blue solid when water is added to it

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  14. 5070/22 · May/June 2024 · Q2c(i)[2]

    Explain, using ideas about bond breaking and bond making, why this reaction is exothermic.

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  15. 5070/42 · October/November 2023 · Q2f[2]

    Describe and explain what happens to the gradient of the straight line for the first four points on the graph if a metal cup is used instead of a plastic cup.

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  16. 5070/22 · May/June 2023 · Q1c[1]

    reacts with warm dilute hydrochloric acid to give a blue coloured solution

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  17. 5070/22 · May/June 2023 · Q2b(iii)[1]

    Describe what is observed during the displacement reaction.

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  18. 5070/42 · May/June 2023 · Q2h[2]

    The student rinses the burette with 0.500 mol / dm 3 hydrochloric acid immediately before it is filled. Explain why the student should not rinse the burette with distilled water immediately before it is filled with 0.500 mol / dm 3 hydrochloric acid.

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  19. 5070/42 · May/June 2023 · Q2i[1]

    Suggest why universal indicator is not suitable for use in these titrations.

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  20. 5070/42 · May/June 2023 · Q3b(ii)[1]

    The observations for test 1 are incomplete. State one other observation that the student makes for test 1.

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What examiners said

Most candidates correctly recognised that there would be more energy transferred to the surroundings as metal is a good conductor of heat. The candidates should have then realised that this would make the gradient less steep. Most candidates incorrectly stated that the gradient would be steeper.

— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5070/42 Q2(f) (Cambridge)

Many candidates appreciated CuO reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to give a blue solution. Other common incorrect answers were CaO and ZnO.

— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5070/22 Q1(c) (Cambridge)

Many candidates did not give an observation but gave an answer that explained why a displacement reaction happens. Even those candidates that gave observations often gave incorrect observations such as red, black or purple solutions. Only a small proportion of candidates mentioned the formation of a brown solution. Some candidates thought that iodine was formed as a gas.

— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5070/22 Q2(b)(iii) (Cambridge)

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Physical and chemical changes — O Level Chemistry 5070 past paper questions | AssessPro