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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science

Topic questions Chemical analysis Chromatography

Chromatography

6 questions · 56 marks · about 1 hour

Chromatography questions

TopicChromatography

Edexcel 1SC0 Chromatography 6 questions

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 June 2025 Foundation tier, Question 2 9 marks

(a)

Figure 3 shows the changes of state between ice, water and steam.

Figure for question 2
(a)(i)

What is the name of the change of state labelled P in Figure 3?

Question 2, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Which of the following shows the arrangement of particles in ice?

Figure for question 2
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)(ii)
(b)

Figure 4 shows the apparatus that can be used to separate a mixture of ethanol and water by fractional distillation.

Figure for question 2
(b)(i)

Name the piece of apparatus labelled R in Figure 4.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Explain the purpose of the piece of apparatus labelled Q in Figure 4.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)(ii)
(c)

A student investigates the food dyes used to make the colours W, X, Y and Z in four different sweets.

Figure 5 shows the chromatogram produced.

Figure for question 2

The solvent front shows how far the solvent moves during the investigation.

(c)(i)

Using the information in Figure 5, state which colour is made of only two food dyes.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

The Rf value of a spot on the chromatogram can be calculated using the equation R = distance moved by the food dye f distance moved by solvent front

Using the information in Figure 5, calculate the Rf value of the food dye labelled S.

Give your answer to 2 decimal places.

Rf value of food dye S =........

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(ii)

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 June 2023 Foundation tier, Question 1 8 marks

In an experiment, paper chromatography was used to separate the coloured dyes in four different inks, W, X, Y and Z.

(a)

Figure 1 shows the chromatogram at the end of the experiment.

Figure for question 1
(a)(i)

The chromatogram shows that only one of the inks contains a single dye.

Which ink contains a single dye?

Question 1, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Which ink contains the greatest number of dyes?

Question 1, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(a)(ii)
(a)(iii)

The Rf value of a dye can be calculated using the equation

Question 1, shown as an image

At the end of the chromatography one dye had moved 3.60 cm and the solvent front had moved 9.20 cm.

Calculate the Rf value for this dye.

Give your answer to 2 decimal places.

Rf =........

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(a)(iii)
(b)

The substance used as the solvent in the chromatography was heated for 8 minutes.

Figure 2 shows how the temperature of the substance changed with time.

Figure for question 1

From A to B the substance was a liquid.

From C to D the substance was a gas.

(b)(i)

Give the name of the change when a liquid becomes a gas.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Use Figure 2 to give the temperature of the substance at 4 minutes.

........ maths symbolC

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

Use Figure 2 to give the time when the substance has completely changed into a gas.

........ minutes

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(iii)
(b)(iv)

The temperature of the substance at A was 25maths symbolC.

Calculate the temperature rise of the substance from A to D.

........ maths symbolC

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(iv)

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 June 2023 Higher tier, Question 6 12 marks

(a)

Figure 5 shows the structure of a molecule of compound S.

Figure for question 6
(a)(i)

Use Figure 5 to deduce the empirical formula of compound S.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

The melting points of three samples of S are shown in Figure 6.

Figure for question 6

State whether each of these samples, A, B and C, is pure or impure and justify your answers using the information in Figure 6.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(ii)
(b)

A scientist uses chromatography in an investigation of compound S.

In the conditions used, compound S has an Rf value of 0.22.

Calculate the distance the spot of compound S moves if the solvent front has moved by 2.4 cm.

distance =........ cm

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)
(c)

*(c) A solution of sodium chloride in water needs to be separated to obtain a sample of pure, dry sodium chloride and a sample of pure water.

Figure 7 shows the boiling points of sodium chloride and water.

Figure for question 6

Explain this difference in boiling points in terms of the structure and bonding of sodium chloride and water and how this difference is used to choose a method to separate sodium chloride solution into pure, dry sodium chloride and pure water.

[6]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(c)

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 November 2020 Higher tier, Question 3 9 marks

(a)

A sample of rock salt contains a mixture of sodium chloride and some insoluble substances.

The rock salt is added to water and the mixture stirred.

The mixture is then filtered to obtain a filtrate of sodium chloride solution.

(a)(i)

Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used to filter the mixture and collect the sodium chloride solution.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Describe how a sample of pure, dry sodium chloride crystals can be obtained from the filtrate.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(ii)
(b)

Inks contain coloured dyes. Samples of four inks, W, X, Y and Z, were separated using paper chromatography. Figure 3 shows the chromatogram obtained.

Figure for question 3
(b)(i)

In the experiment, the solvent front moved 6.5 cm. Calculate the Rf value of the dye that is present in both inks X and Z.

Rf =........

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

State what could be changed in the experiment to make the Rf value more accurate.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

In this experiment, ink sample Y did not move from the start line. Explain a change to the experiment that would be needed to separate the dyes in ink sample Y.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)(iii)

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 June 2019 Foundation tier, Question 2 9 marks

Mixtures of substances can be separated using different techniques.

(a)

Which of the following is a mixture of substances?

Question 2, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)
(b)

Figure 3 shows the apparatus that a student set up to obtain pure water from ink.

There are three mistakes in the way the apparatus has been set up.

Figure for question 2
(b)(i)

One mistake is that the bulb of the thermometer is too low.

The bulb of the thermometer should be level with the side arm.

Give a reason why the bulb of the thermometer should be level with the side arm.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

State one other mistake in Figure 3.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)(ii)
(c)

Paper chromatography is used to separate the substances in five different food colourings, P, Q, R, S and T.

Figure 4 shows the chromatogram at the end of the experiment.

Figure for question 2
(c)(i)

The steps needed to carry out the chromatography experiment are listed below. They are not in the correct order.

1 leave the solvent to rise up the paper 2 put solvent in the beaker 3 draw a start line on the piece of paper 4 place the paper in the beaker 5 remove the paper when the solvent is near the top 6 put small spots of the food colourings on the start line

List the steps in the correct order.

The first two steps have been done for you.

Figure for question 2
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

Explain, using Figure 4, which food colouring contains the greatest number of coloured substances.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(ii)
(c)(iii)

During chromatography of the food colourings, the solvent front moved 8.00 cm and the food colouring R moved 2.30 cm.

Calculate the Rf value for food colouring R. Give your answer to two significant figures.

Rf value =........

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(iii)

Paper 3: Chemistry 1 June 2018 Foundation tier, Question 4 9 marks

An ink is a mixture of coloured substances dissolved in water.

(a)

Which method is used to separate the coloured substances in the ink?

Question 4, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(a)
(b)

The apparatus shown in Figure 6 can be used to separate water from ink.

Figure for question 4
(b)(i)

Cold water flows through the condenser.

On Figure 6 use arrows to show where the water should flow in and where it should flow out.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Explain why a condenser is used.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

The flask was heated with a Bunsen burner.

Give the name of an alternative piece of apparatus that could be used to heat the flask.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(iii)
(c)

The particles in the ink in the flask can be shown as in Figure 7.

Figure for question 4

In the boxes below, draw the arrangement of particles that would be expected at A and B shown in Figure 6.

Figure for question 4
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(c)
(d)

Changes of state between the three states of matter are shown in Figure 8.

Figure for question 4

The changes shown are physical changes.

Explain why these changes are called physical changes rather than chemical changes.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(d)

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