plumiBonding and physical properties: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions
AQA A-Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 3.1.3.4 Bonding and physical properties, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q07.5
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All 77 questions on Bonding and physical properties, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q07.5 (2 marks): Explain why vanadium(III) sulfate has a high melting point. [2 marks]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): Which diagram best shows the arrangement and the relative sizes of the ions in solid sodium chloride? [1 mark] A B C D
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q09.5 (3 marks): Sodium reacts with aluminium and hydrogen to form solid NaAlH4 Give an equation for this reaction. Suggest why NaAlH4 has a high melting point. [3 marks] Equati
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q03.5 (2 marks): Draw a 3D diagram to show how the particles are arranged in a barium oxide lattice. You should draw eight particles. [2 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q09 (1 mark): Which substance has significant electron delocalisation? [1 mark] A graphite B iodine C sodium chloride D tetrachloromethane
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q05.7 (6 marks): Table 4 shows the melting points of three substances. Table 4 Substance Melting point / K sodium chloride 1074 chlorine 172 hydrogen chloride 158 Explain why th
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q08 (1 mark): Which substance has no delocalised electrons? [1 mark] A graphite B methylbenzene C poly(propene) D sodium
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q23 (1 mark): Which is not responsible for conducting electricity? [1 mark] A The sodium ions in molten sodium chloride B The electrons between layers of carbon atoms in grap
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.3 (4 marks): Explain, in terms of crystal structure and bonding, why silicon(IV) oxide has a higher melting point than phosphorus(V) oxide. [4 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q12 (1 mark): Which statement about inorganic ionic compounds is always correct? [1 mark] A They dissolve in water to give neutral solutions. B They release energy when they
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q14 (1 mark): In which substance do covalent bonds break when it melts? [1 mark] A hexane B ice C iodine D silicon dioxide
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q22 (1 mark): Which substance contains delocalised electrons? [1 mark] A cyclohexane B graphite C iodine D sodium chloride
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q02.3 (3 marks): Explain, in terms of structure and bonding, why magnesium chloride has a high melting point. [3 marks]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q05.1 (2 marks): Explain why the melting point of magnesium is higher than the melting point of sodium. [2 marks]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Which of these elements has the highest melting point? [1 mark] A Argon B Chlorine C Silicon D Sulfur
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q31 (1 mark): Which is not responsible for conduction of electricity? [1 mark] A The sodium ions in molten sodium chloride B The electrons between layers of carbon atoms in g
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (2 marks): Explain, in terms of structure and bonding, why the melting point of sodium fluoride is high. [2 marks]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): Which substance has delocalised electrons? [1 mark] A graphite B iodine C sodium chloride D tetrachloromethane
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q08.1 (6 marks): Use your knowledge of structure and bonding to explain why sodium bromide has a melting point that is higher than that of sodium, and higher than that of sodium
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q02.3 (2 marks): The melting points of the highest oxides of the elements sodium to sulfur are shown in Table 2. Table 2 Highest oxide of sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phos
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q02.4 (3 marks): Explain why the melting point of the oxide of silicon is much higher than that of the highest oxide of phosphorus. [3 marks]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q06.3 (2 marks): State the type of crystal structure shown in silicon dioxide and in sulfur trioxide [2 marks Silicon dioxide Sulfur trioxide
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q06.4 (4 marks): Explain why silicon dioxide has a higher melting point than sulfur trioxide. [4 marks
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q09 (1 mark): 0 9 Which is the correct crystal structure for the substance named? [1 mark] Substance Structure A Iodine Simple molecular B Diamond Ionic C Sodium chloride Gia
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q04.1 (5 marks): In terms of structure and bonding explain why the boiling point of bromine is different from that of magnesium. Suggest why magnesium is a liquid over a much gr
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): 1 8 Which substance exists as a macromolecule? [1 mark] A Cu B SiO2 C P4O10 D MgO
- June 2016, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(d) (4 marks): Identify the Period 3 element that has the highest melting point. Explain your answer by reference to structure and bonding. [4 marks]
- June 2015, CHEM5 (old spec), Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of structure and bonding, why sodium oxide has a high melting point. [2 marks]
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(a) (3 marks): State the element in Period 3 that has the highest melting point. Explain your answer. [3 marks] Element Explanation
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(a) (1 mark): Give the name of the type of crystal structure shown by silicon dioxide. [1 mark]
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(b) (1 mark): Suggest why silicon dioxide does not conduct electricity when molten. [1 mark]
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(d) (3 marks): Sodium azide has a high melting point. Predict the type of bonding in a crystal of sodium azide. Suggest why its melting point is high. [3 marks] Type of bondin
- June 2014, CHEM5 (old spec), Q3(c) (4 marks): State the structure of, and bonding in, silicon dioxide. Other than a high melting point, give two physical properties of silicon dioxide that are characteristi
- June 2014, CHEM5 (old spec), Q3(d) (4 marks): Give the formula of the species in a sample of solid phosphorus(V) oxide. State the structure of, and describe fully the bonding in, this oxide. [4 marks] Formu
- June 2014, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of its structure and bonding, why nickel has a high melting point. [2 marks]
- June 2014, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Draw a labelled diagram to show the arrangement of particles in a crystal of nickel. In your answer, include at least six particles of each type. [2 marks]
- June 2014, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(a)(iv) (1 mark): Explain why nickel is ductile (can be stretched into wires). [1 mark]
- June 2014, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(d)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the melting point of dodecane is higher than the melting point of the straight-chain alkane produced by cracking dodecane. [2 marks]
- June 2014, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(b) (3 marks): Thallium(I) bromide (TlBr) is a crystalline solid with a melting point of 480 ºC. Suggest the type of bonding present in thallium(I) bromide and state why the m
- June 2013, CHEM5 (old spec), Q4(a) (3 marks): State the type of bonding in magnesium oxide. Outline a simple experiment to demonstrate that magnesium oxide has this type of bonding. Type of bonding Experime
- June 2013, CHEM5 (old spec), Q4(b) (3 marks): By reference to the structure of, and the bonding in, silicon dioxide, suggest why it is insoluble in water.
- June 2013, CHEM5 (old spec), Q4(c) (3 marks): State how the melting point of phosphorus(V) oxide compares with that of silicon dioxide. Explain your answer in terms of the structure of, and the bonding in,
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(a) (1 mark): Deduce the type of crystal structure shown by graphane. (1 mark)
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(c) (1 mark): Suggest why graphane does not conduct electricity. (1 mark)
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(d) (3 marks): Predict the type of crystal structure in solid zinc fluoride and explain why its melting point is high.
- June 2013, CHEM2 (old spec), Q11(b) (2 marks): Explain why calcium has a higher melting point than strontium.
- January 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(b) (3 marks): State the type of bonding in lithium fluoride. Explain why a lot of energy is needed to melt a sample of solid lithium fluoride. Bonding Explanation
- January 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): Suggest the type of crystal shown by OF2 (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Deduce the type of crystal structure shown by graphene. (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why graphene is an excellent conductor of electricity.
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of its structure and bonding, why graphene has a high melting point.
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State the type of crystal structure shown by titanium. (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of its structure and bonding, why titanium has a high melting point.
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why titanium can be hammered into different shapes. (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(d) (3 marks): Magnesium oxide (MgO) has a melting point of 3125 K. Predict the type of crystal structure in magnesium oxide and suggest why its melting point is high. Type of
- January 2012, CHEM5 (old spec), Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): sodium oxide has a high melting point (2 marks)
- January 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(c) (3 marks): BrF4 – ions are also formed when potassium fluoride dissolves in liquid BrF3 to form KBrF4 Explain, in terms of bonding, why KBrF4 has a high melting point.
- January 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q2(d) (1 mark): Draw a cross on the diagram to show the melting point of nitrogen. (1 mark) Lithium Beryllium Boron Carbon Nitrogen Melting point / K 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2
- January 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q2(e) (3 marks): Explain, in terms of structure and bonding, why the melting point of carbon is high.
- June 2011, CHEM5 (old spec), Q4(c) (2 marks): Outline an experiment that could be used to show that aluminium oxide contains ions. (2 marks)
- June 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the melting point of sodium chloride is high.
- June 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(c) (1 mark): The table below shows the melting points of some sodium halides. Suggest why the melting point of sodium iodide is lower than the melting point of sodium bromid
- June 2011, CHEM2 (old spec), Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State why calcium chloride must be molten for electrolysis to occur. (1 mark)
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(a) (3 marks): State the type of structure shown by a crystal of silicon. Explain why the melting point of silicon is very high.
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(b) (3 marks): State the type of structure shown by crystals of sulfur and phosphorus. Explain why the melting point of sulfur is higher than the melting point of phosphorus.
- June 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(a) (2 marks): State the type of crystal structure for each of iodine and graphite.
- June 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(b) (4 marks): Describe the structure of and bonding in graphite and explain why the melting point of graphite is very high.
- June 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(c) (2 marks): Explain why iodine vaporises when heated gently.
- June 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(d) (1 mark): State why iodine is a very poor conductor of electricity. (1 mark)
- January 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(f) (3 marks): Sodium sulfide (Na2S) has a melting point of 1223K. Predict the type of bonding in sodium sulfide and explain why its melting point is high. Type of bonding Exp
- January 2009, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): 3 (a) (i) State one way in which the movement of particles in a liquid is different from that in a solid. (1 mark)
- January 2009, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): 3 (a) (ii) State one way in which the positioning of particles in a liquid is different from that in a gas. (1 mark)
- January 2009, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q5(a)(i) (3 marks): 5 (a) (i) Describe the structure of, and the bonding in, solid iodine. (3 marks)
- June 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q5 (7 marks): 5 Diamond and graphite are both giant covalent (macromolecular) forms of carbon. State how the structures of diamond and graphite are different. Briefly explain
- June 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q6 (8 marks): 6 On heating, a mixture of sodium and iodine react to form sodium iodide as shown by the equation below. 2Na + I2 →2NaI The melting points of iodine and sodium
- June 2008, CHM6W (2008 spec), Q31 (1 mark): 31 On melting, covalent bonds must break in 1 poly(ethene). 2 bromine. 3 sulphur dioxide. 4 silicon dioxide.
- January 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q6(a) (4 marks): 6 (a) Explain, in terms of its structure and bonding, why the melting point of silicon is very high. (4 marks)
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