Group 2, the alkaline earth metals: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions

Every AQA A-Level Chemistry exam question on 3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions2,301

PaperExamSort

Calculations Only these Leave out

2,301 questions

Q01.1
June 2025 · Paper 1
2 marks3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q01.2
June 2025 · Paper 1
2 marks3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q01.3
June 2025 · Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q01.4
June 2025 · Paper 1
2 marks3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q01.6
June 2025 · Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q14
June 2025 · Paper 3
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q20
June 2025 · Paper 3
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q01.3
June 2025 · AS Paper 1
2 marks3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q01.4
June 2025 · AS Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q04.2
June 2025 · AS Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q04.3
June 2025 · AS Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q04.5
June 2025 · AS Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q02.1
June 2024 · Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q02.2
June 2024 · Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q02.3
June 2024 · Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q09.1
June 2024 · Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q09.2
June 2024 · Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q09.3
June 2024 · Paper 1
3 marks3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q02.2
June 2024 · AS Paper 1
2 marks3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗
Q14
June 2024 · AS Paper 1
1 mark3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals
The whole paper ↗

All 52 questions on Group 2, the alkaline earth metals, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.1 (2 marks): Magnesium is reacted with titanium(IV) chloride to extract titanium metal. Give the equation for this reaction. State the role of magnesium in this reaction. [2
June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.2 (2 marks): Complete Table 1 by giving the formula of a suitable calcium compound for each use. [2 marks] Table 1 Use Formula of calcium compound Decrease acidity of soil R
June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.3 (1 mark): Magnesium hydroxide is used to relieve the symptoms of indigestion by neutralising stomach acid. Suggest why magnesium hydroxide is safer than sodium hydroxide
June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.4 (2 marks): Identify the Group 2 cation in solution X. Give an ionic equation for the reaction that occurs in Test 1. [2 marks] Group 2 cation Ionic equation
June 2025, Paper 1, Q01.6 (1 mark): Give one property of barium sulfate that makes it useful in hospitals. [1 mark]
June 2025, Paper 3, Q14 (1 mark): A piece of strontium is added to an excess of water. Which observation is correct and complete? [1 mark] A Colourless solution B Colourless solution and efferve
June 2025, Paper 3, Q20 (1 mark): Which property of the Group 2 elements increases with increasing atomic number? [1 mark] A Atomic radius B Electronegativity C First ionisation energy D Melting
June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (2 marks): Give the equation for the reaction between TiCl4 and magnesium. State the role of magnesium in this reaction. [2 marks] Equation Role of magnesium
June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (1 mark): Titanium is an expensive metal because its extraction process uses magnesium. Suggest why magnesium is expensive. [1 mark]
June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q04.2 (1 mark): The atomic radius increases down Group 2 from Mg to Ba Give a reason for this trend. [1 mark]
June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q04.3 (1 mark): Give an equation, including state symbols, for the reaction between barium and water. [1 mark]
June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q04.5 (1 mark): Identify the Group 2 metal with the lowest second ionisation energy. [1 mark]
June 2024, Paper 1, Q02.1 (1 mark): Suggest why the solution is kept until no more solid needs to be added. [1 mark]
June 2024, Paper 1, Q02.2 (1 mark): Suggest why it is important to remove the undissolved strontium hydroxide before the titration. [1 mark]
June 2024, Paper 1, Q02.3 (1 mark): After the filtration, the solution is stored in a stoppered flask. Suggest a reason for stoppering the flask. [1 mark]
June 2024, Paper 1, Q09.1 (1 mark): State why the atomic radius of calcium is greater than the atomic radius of magnesium. [1 mark]
June 2024, Paper 1, Q09.2 (1 mark): Magnesium reacts with steam. Give an equation, including state symbols, for this reaction. [1 mark]
June 2024, Paper 1, Q09.3 (3 marks): Similar-sized pieces of barium and magnesium are added to separate 100 cm3 samples of dilute sulfuric acid. In each case the sulfuric acid is in excess. The bar
June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q02.2 (2 marks): Magnesium reacts slowly with cold water but rapidly with steam. Compare these reactions, in terms of the products formed. You should identify one similarity in,
June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Which statement is correct? [1 mark] A Calcium oxide is used to remove sulfur dioxide from flue gases. B Calcium has a larger atomic radius than barium. C Magne
June 2023, Paper 3, Q21 (1 mark): Barium metal is added to a large excess of water. Which observation is correct and complete? [1 mark] A a colourless solution B a colourless solution with effer
June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q02.2 (2 marks): State the trend in the atomic radius of the elements down Group 2 from Mg to Ba Give a reason for this trend. [2 marks] Trend Reason
June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q02.3 (3 marks): Give an equation, including state symbols, for the reaction of magnesium with steam. State two observations for this reaction. [3 marks] Equation Observation 1
June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q02.4 (2 marks): The sulfates of the elements in Group 2 from Mg to Ba have different solubilities. State the formula of the least soluble of these sulfates. Give a use for this
June 2022, Paper 1, Q05.1 (1 mark): Which is not a correct statement about magnesium hydroxide? [1 mark] Tick () one box. It is used to neutralise stomach acid It forms a solution with pH = 14 at
June 2022, Paper 1, Q06.7 (1 mark): Magnesium is used in the extraction of titanium from titanium(IV) chloride. Give an equation for this reaction. [1 mark]
June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (2 marks): Explain why the first ionisation energy of the Group 2 elements decreases down the group. [2 marks]
June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q22 (1 mark): Which statement is correct? [1 mark] A Magnesium reacts with steam to give magnesium oxide as one of the products. B Magnesium acts as an oxidising agent in the
November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q02.1 (2 marks): State one observation when magnesium reacts with steam. Give an equation, including state symbols, for this reaction. [2 marks] Observation Equation
November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q02.4 (1 mark): Give one medical use for magnesium hydroxide. [1 mark]
November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q04.1 (2 marks): Suggest the identity of the positive ion in solution A. Give the simplest ionic equation for the formation of the white precipitate in Test 1 for solution A. [2
November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q22 (1 mark): What is a use for barium sulfate? [1 mark] A In agriculture to act as a fertiliser B In agriculture to neutralise acidic soil C In medicine to produce an X-ray
November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q05.2 (2 marks): Give an equation to show how magnesium is used as the reducing agent in the extraction of titanium. Explain, in terms of oxidation states, why magnesium is the
November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q05.3 (2 marks): State what is observed when dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide is added to separate solutions of magnesium chloride and barium chloride. [2 marks] Observation with
June 2019, Paper 3, Q15 (1 mark): What is the correct observation when barium metal is added to an excess of water? [1 mark] A Forms a colourless solution only B Forms a colourless solution and
June 2019, Paper 3, Q16 (1 mark): An aqueous solution of a salt gives a white precipitate when mixed with aqueous silver nitrate and when mixed with dilute sulfuric acid. Which could be the form
June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q07.1 (2 marks): Magnesium is used in one of the stages in the extraction of titanium. Give an equation for the reaction between titanium(IV) chloride and magnesium. State the r
June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q08.1 (3 marks): NaCl(aq) and BaCl2(aq) [3 marks] Reagent Observation with NaCl Observation with BaCl2
June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): Which property would you expect the element radium, Ra, to possess? [1 mark] A It forms a soluble sulfate. B It does not react with water. C It is a good conduc
June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): Which statement is not correct? [1 mark] A Strontium has a lower first ionisation energy than calcium. B Strontium has a larger ionic radius than calcium. C Str
June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Which property of the Group 2 elements, Ca to Ba, increases with increasing atomic number? [1 mark] A Atomic Radius B Electronegativity C First ionisation energ
June 2018, Paper 1, Q04.4 (1 mark): Give the formula of the hydroxide of the element in Group 2, from Mg to Ba, that is least soluble in water. [1 mark]
June 2018, Paper 3, Q19 (1 mark): Which products are formed when magnesium reacts with steam? [1 mark] A Magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen B Magnesium hydroxide and oxygen C Magnesium oxide and h
June 2018, Paper 3, Q31 (1 mark): Some 1.0 mol dm–3 solutions were mixed using equal volumes of each solution. Which pair of solutions would give the greatest mass of solid? [1 mark] A Ba(OH)2 a
June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Which substance is used to reduce titanium(IV) chloride in the extraction of titanium metal? [1 mark] A Magnesium B Manganese C Vanadium D Zinc
June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): Which statement about barium sulfate is correct? [1 mark] A It is soluble in water at a temperature of 100 °C. B It is used in medicine because it does not diss
June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): Which compound is used to treat the symptoms of indigestion? [1 mark] A MgO B Mg(OH)2 C CaO D Ca(OH)2
June 2017, Paper 1, Q08.1 (3 marks): Describe how a student could distinguish between aqueous solutions of potassium nitrate, KNO3, and potassium sulfate, K2SO4, using one simple test-tube reaction
June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q07.1 (2 marks): Suggest the identity of the group 2 metal ion present in solution Y. Write an ionic equation, including state symbols, for the reaction that takes place when su
June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q07.2 (2 marks): Suggest the identity of the negative ion present in solution Y. Write an ionic equation, including state symbols, for the reaction that takes place when magnesi
June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q15: Which of these decreases down Group 2? [1 mar A First ionisation energy B Atomic radius C Number of protons D Reactivity with water Refer to the unbalanced equa
Specimen, Paper 3, Q18: 9

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © AQA, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Every AQA A-Level Chemistry paper.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.