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Topic 1 Practice Paper: States of matter — question paper

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QQ/IGCSE-CHEM/T1

IGCSE · Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (Extended (Core + Supplement))

Topic 1 Practice Paper

States of matter

Duration: 40 minutes
Total: 30 marks
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Class:
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Date:

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

  • Answer all questions.
  • Section A contains ten multiple-choice questions. Choose one answer, A, B, C or D, for each.
  • Section B contains structured questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
  • The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
  • The total mark for this paper is 30.

Original practice material written against the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry syllabus. It is not an official Cambridge examination paper. Topic 1: States of matter.

For Examiner’s Use
Section A/ 10
Section B/ 20
Total/ 30

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

  1. 1

    Which row correctly describes the particles in a liquid?

    1. AClose together, random arrangement
    2. BClose together, regular arrangement
    3. CFar apart, random arrangement
    4. DFar apart, regular arrangement
    ( )
  2. 2

    Which change of state absorbs energy from the surroundings?

    1. ACondensing
    2. BFreezing
    3. CDeposition
    4. DBoiling
    ( )
  3. 3

    The particles in a solid are best described as

    1. Amoving freely in all directions
    2. Bvibrating about fixed positions
    3. Csliding past one another
    4. Dspread very far apart
    ( )
  4. 4

    A pure substance melts at a sharp temperature. An impure sample of the same substance will

    1. Amelt at a higher sharp temperature
    2. Bmelt over a range of temperatures
    3. Cnot melt
    4. Dmelt and then freeze
    ( )
  5. 5

    Which process takes place at the surface of a liquid below its boiling point?

    1. AEvaporation
    2. BCondensation
    3. CFreezing
    4. DMelting
    ( )
  6. 6

    A gas is warmed at constant pressure. What happens to the average speed of its particles?

    1. AIt decreases
    2. BIt stays the same
    3. CIt increases
    4. DIt becomes zero
    ( )
  7. 7

    Which gas diffuses the fastest at the same temperature? (Mᵣ values: hydrogen 2, oxygen 32, carbon dioxide 44, chlorine 71)

    1. AOxygen
    2. BHydrogen
    3. CCarbon dioxide
    4. DChlorine
    ( )
  8. 8

    A fixed mass of gas at 150 kPa has a volume of 400 cm³. At constant temperature the pressure falls to 100 kPa. What is the new volume?

    1. A600 cm³
    2. B400 cm³
    3. C267 cm³
    4. D750 cm³
    ( )
  9. 9

    On a cooling curve for a pure substance, a flat section is shown. What is happening?

    1. AThe substance is cooling without changing state
    2. BThe substance is being heated
    3. CThe particles have stopped moving
    4. DA change of state is occurring at constant temperature
    ( )
  10. 10

    Why does a gas fill the whole of its container?

    1. AIts particles are strongly attracted to each other
    2. BIts particles are packed closely in a regular pattern
    3. CIts particles are far apart and move randomly and quickly
    4. DIts particles are heavier than liquid particles
    ( )

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

  1. 11

    The table gives some information about the three states of matter, but some entries are missing.

    Properties of the three states

    StateParticle arrangementEase of compression
    SolidRegular, vibrating about fixed positionsVery hard to compress
    LiquidAHard to compress
    GasRandom, far apartB
    1. (a)

      Write the missing entry for A.

      [1]
    2. (b)

      Write the missing entry for B.

      [1]
    3. (c)

      Explain, in terms of particles, why a solid has a fixed shape.

      [2]
  2. 12

    A student heats a pure solid and records the temperature every minute. The solid melts at 80 °C and boils at 220 °C.

    1. (a)

      Describe the temperature–time graph from the moment the solid is warm until all of it has just boiled.

      [3]
    2. (b)

      Explain why the temperature does not rise during melting.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      The student now cools the gas slowly. Name the change of state at 220 °C and at 80 °C as it cools.

      [1]
  3. 13

    In an experiment, a drop of purple dye is placed carefully at the bottom of a beaker of still water. After several hours the purple colour has spread evenly through the water.

    1. (a)

      Give the name of the process that causes the purple colour to spread.

      [1]
    2. (b)

      Explain, in terms of particles, how the dye spreads through the water.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      State one change the student could make to increase the rate at which the dye spreads, and explain your answer.

      [2]
  4. 14

    A fixed mass of gas is trapped in a container. Its volume is 250 cm³ at a pressure of 120 kPa. The volume is changed at constant temperature.

    1. (a)

      The volume is reduced to 100 cm³. Calculate the new pressure using p₁V₁ = p₂V₂.

      [2]
    2. (b)

      Explain, in terms of particles and collisions, why reducing the volume increases the pressure.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      State the condition that must be kept constant for p₁V₁ = p₂V₂ to apply.

      [1]

— End of paper —