O Level Combined Science 5129 · Topic 19

The Periodic Table: past paper questions

72 real questionsasked in 8 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: State, Explain, Complete, Describe, Deduce

Real questions on the periodic table

The newest 20 of 41 written questions, plus 31 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[1]
Table 2.1 lists the melting points of some Group I elements going down the group. Table 2.1 element melting point / °C lithium 181 sodium 98 potassium rubidium 39 caesium 28 Suggest a value for the melting point of potassium. melting point of potassium = °C
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q11a(i)[2]
Deduce the group number and period number of the element shown in Fig. 11.1. group number
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q16b(i)[1]
State the name of the element that makes up 78% of clean, dry air.
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[1]
Table 2.1 lists the densities of some Group VII elements going down the group. Table 2.1 density g / cm 3 element fluorine chlorine 0.003 bromine 3.103 iodine 4.933 Suggest a value for the density of fluorine. density of fluorine = g / cm 3
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5129/21 · October/November 2024 · Q10c[1]
Sodium is an alkali metal. State one alkali metal that is more reactive than sodium.
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5129/21 · May/June 2024 · Q9[4]
Complete the sentences about the Periodic Table. are arranged in the Periodic Table. Alkali metals are on the of the Periodic Table. A group is a in the Periodic Table. Atomic numbers in the Periodic Table show the number of in the nucleus of each atom.
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5129/21 · October/November 2023 · Q6b(i)[1]
Suggest the name of a halogen that is chemical X.
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5129/21 · October/November 2023 · Q15a[1]
Explain why the elements B and C are in the same group of the Periodic Table.
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5129/21 · October/November 2023 · Q15b[1]
State the letter of an element that forms an ion with a charge of –1.
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5129/21 · October/November 2023 · Q15c[1]
Explain why elements A and D are in different periods of the Periodic Table.
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5129/21 · October/November 2023 · Q15d[1]
State the letter of an element that is a noble gas.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q15a[1]
State the letters of two elements that are in the same group of the Periodic Table. and
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q15b[1]
State the letter of an element that is a metal.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q15c[1]
Explain why elements C and D are in the same period of the Periodic Table.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q15d[1]
Explain how the electronic configuration of element A shows that it is a noble gas.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q16a[1]
State the name of one type of ionising radiation.
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5129/22 · October/November 2023 · Q16b[2]
Explain why some food is exposed to ionising radiation.
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5129/21 · October/November 2022 · Q8c[1]
The inert substance that is used to fill balloons is
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5129/21 · October/November 2022 · Q8e[1]
The substance that makes up 78% of the atmosphere is
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5129/21 · October/November 2022 · Q14a(i)[2]
Deduce the group number and period number for this element. group number period number Fig. 14.1
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What examiners said

Many candidates seemed unfamiliar with the term halogen as they often named elements from different parts of the Periodic Table. Candidates should understand how these common displacement reactions show the changing reactivity down Group VII. A more reactive halogen than bromine should be named here.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q6(b)(i) (Cambridge)

Most candidates knew how the electronic configuration can be used to determine the group number of an element.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q15(a) (Cambridge)

Most candidates also knew that element D forms a negative ion.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q15(b) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

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In the syllabus

19.1 Arrangement of elements

Describe the Periodic Table as an arrangement of elements in periods and groups and in order of increasing proton number / atomic number
Describe the change from metallic to non-metallic character across a period
Describe the relationship between group number and the charge on ions formed from elements in that group
Explain similarities in the chemical properties of elements in the same group of the Periodic Table in terms of their electronic configuration
Explain how the position of an element in the Periodic Table can be used to predict its properties

19.2 Group I properties

Describe the Group I alkali metals, lithium, sodium and potassium, as relatively soft metals with general trends down the group, limited to: (a) decreasing melting point (b) increasing reactivity with water
Describe Group I metals as flammable
Describe and use flame tests to identify Group I cations, limited to: (a) lithium, Li+, red (b) sodium, Na+, yellow (c) potassium, K+, lilac
Predict the properties of other elements in Group I, given information about the elements

19.3 Group VII properties

Describe the Group VII halogens, chlorine, bromine and iodine, as diatomic non-metals with general trends down the group, limited to: (a) increasing density (b) decreasing reactivity
State the appearance of the halogens at r.t.p. as: (a) chlorine, a pale yellow-green gas (b) bromine, a red-brown liquid (c) iodine, a grey-black solid
Describe chlorine, Cl 2, and bromine, Br2, as toxic
Describe how to use damp litmus paper to identify chlorine gas, Cl 2
Describe and explain the displacement reactions of halogens with other halide ions and use these reactions to place the halogens in order of reactivity
State the appearance of the halogens in aqueous solution as: (a) chlorine, colourless (b) bromine, orange (c) iodine, brown

19.3 Group VII properties continued

19.4 Identification of ions

Do tests and use information provided on the reactions of aqueous anions to identify: (a) carbonate, CO32– , by reaction with dilute acid and then testing for carbon dioxide gas (b) chloride, Cl –, bromide, Br –, and iodide, I –, by acidifying with dilute nitric acid then adding aqueous silver nitrate (c) sulfate, SO42– , by reaction with aqueous barium nitrate and dilute nitric acid
Do tests and use information provided on the reactions of aqueous cations with aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia to identify: (a) aluminium, Al 3+ (b) ammonium, NH4+ (c) calcium, Ca2+ (d) chromium(III), Cr3+ (e) copper(II), Cu2+ (f) iron(II), Fe2+ (g) iron(III), Fe3+ (h) zinc, Zn2+

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