States of matter: past paper questions
Real questions on states of matter
The newest 20 of 57 written questions, plus 22 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5129/22 · October/November 2025 · Q11a(i)[1]
Complete Fig. 11.1 by drawing the arrangement of nine atoms in solid aluminium in the box provided. One atom has been drawn for you. one aluminium atom
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · October/November 2025 · Q11a(ii)[1]
Describe the motion of aluminium atoms in solid aluminium.
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
State the precision of the ruler in Fig. 3.2.
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · May/June 2025 · Q2b(i)[1]
Steam is produced when a hydrocarbon burns. Name the liquid seen in apparatus C in Fig. 2.1 and describe its appearance. name appearance
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(i)[1]
State the name of the apparatus the student uses to measure the mass of a carrot cylinder.
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(ii)[2]
The student’s results are shown in Table 1.1. The concentration of sodium chloride solution is measured in units of mol / dm 3 . Complete Table 1.1 by using the information in it to calculate: • • the final mass of the carrot cylinder placed in 0.6 mol / dm 3 the percentage change in mass of the carrot cylinder placed...
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(iii)[3]
On the grid provided in Fig. 1.2 on page 5 plot a graph of the concentration of sodium chloride solution on the x-axis against the percentage change in mass on the y-axis. Draw a line of best fit through your points. Label both axes. 15 10 5 0 –5 –10 –15 –20 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 Fig. 1.2
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[1]
Suggest how the student can improve the accuracy of the measurements.
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[3]
B A (a) Name the apparatus labelled A, B and C.
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · May/June 2025 · Q2d(i)[1]
Fig. 2.3 shows apparatus B at the end of the experiment. 0 cm 3 mixture of nitrogen and inert gases 10 B 30 40 C 50 water Fig. 2.3 Determine the volume of nitrogen and inert gases in apparatus B. volume of nitrogen and inert gases = cm 3 20
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · October/November 2024 · Q13b(iii)[1]
Methane has a melting temperature of –182.0 °C and a boiling temperature of –161.5 °C. Name the state of methane at –170.0 °C.
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q12b(ii)[1]
Ethene has a boiling point of –103.7 °C. Name the state of ethene at –90.0 °C.
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · October/November 2024 · Q12b(iii)[1]
Explain why ethene has a low boiling point.
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · May/June 2024 · Q12a(i)[1]
Name the piece of apparatus labelled A in Fig. 12.1.
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7a(i)[1]
the distance between the molecules
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7a(ii)[1]
the movement of the molecules changes from to
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7a(iii)[1]
the forces between the molecules .
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7b[2]
Explain, in terms of molecules, why the increase in temperature from –79 °C to –78.5 °C causes the solid carbon dioxide to become a gas.
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · May/June 2024 · Q10a[2]
Use ideas about convection to explain why all the air in a fridge becomes cold when the freezer compartment is placed at the top.
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · May/June 2024 · Q10b[2]
The fridge uses, on average, 133 kW h of energy per year. The cost of 1 kilowatt-hour (kW h) is 15 cents. Calculate the average cost, in cents, of using the fridge for one day. There are 365 days in a year. cost = cents per day
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates could name the Sun as a renewable source of energy that emits infrared radiation.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q7(b)(i) (Cambridge)
Candidates should learn that alpha radiation can also be detected in a cloud chamber or by a spark counter.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q16(b) (Cambridge)
Many candidates were able to identify the apparatus as a conical flask.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/31 Q3(a)(i) (Cambridge)
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