plumiPhysical properties of Period 3 elements: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions
AQA A-Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 3.2.1.2 Physical properties of Period 3 elements, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 48 questions on Physical properties of Period 3 elements, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q15 (1 mark): Which statement about trends from left to right across Period 3 is correct? [1 mark] A Atomic radius increases from Na to Si and then decreases B Atomic radius
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q16 (1 mark): Which statement about ionisation energies in Period 3 is not correct? [1 mark] A The first ionisation energy of Mg is greater than that of Na B The first ionisa
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q19 (1 mark): Consider the Period 3 elements from sodium to chlorine. Which statement is correct? [1 mark] A Sodium has the smallest atomic radius. B Aluminium has the highes
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): Which row correctly shows general trends in properties across Period 3? [1 mark] Atomic radius First ionisation energy A decreases increases B decreases decreas
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q19 (1 mark): Which statement is not correct about the Period 3 elements sodium to chlorine? [1 mark] A Sodium has the largest atomic radius. B Sodium has the lowest melting
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.6 (1 mark): Identify the element in Period 3, from sodium to chlorine, that has the largest atomic radius. [1 mark]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Which element in Period 3 has the highest melting point? [1 mark] A Aluminium B Silicon C Sodium D Sulfur
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.3 (2 marks): Explain why the atomic radius decreases across Period 3, from sodium to chlorine. [2 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q03.4 (1 mark): Identify the element in Period 3, from sodium to chlorine, that has the highest electronegativity. [1 mark]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (3 marks): There is a general trend for an increase in ionisation energy across Period 3. Give one example of an element that deviates from this trend. Explain why this de
- 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 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Identify the element in Period 4 with the highest electronegativity value. [1 mark]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q03.3 (3 marks): Identify the element in Period 4 with the largest atomic radius. Explain your answer. [3 marks] Element Explanation
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q17 (1 mark): Which of these Period 3 elements has the highest melting point? [1 mark] A Aluminium B Phosphorus C Sodium D Sulfur
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): The diagram shows how a property of Period 3 elements varies across the period. What is the property? [1 mark] A Atomic radius B Electronegativity C First ionis
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Which element has the highest first ionisation energy? [1 mark] A Aluminium B Phosphorus C Silicon D Sulfur
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q06 (1 mark): Which is the correct order of melting points of these Period 3 elements? [1 mark] A phosphorus > sulfur > chlorine > argon B argon > chlorine > phosphorus > sul
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (3 marks): State which of the elements magnesium and aluminium has the lower first ionisation energy. Explain your answer. [3 marks
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q21 (1 mark): 2 1 Which of these has the highest first ionisation energy? [1 mark] A Na B Al C Si D Cl
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q02.3 (4 marks): The first ionisation energies of some Period 3 elements are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Complete Figure 1 by plotting the approximate first ionisation energy va
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.1 (2 marks): Explain why the atomic radii of the elements decrease across Period 3 from sodium t chlorine. [2 mark 0 2 . 1
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.2 (2 marks): Explain why the melting point of sulfur (S8) is greater than that of phosphorus (P4). [2 mark 0 2 . 2
- June 2016, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(a) (4 marks): State and explain the general trend in first ionisation energy across Period 3. [4 marks]
- June 2016, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(b) (3 marks): Give one example of an element which deviates from the general trend in first ionisation energy across Period 3. Explain why this deviation occurs. [3 marks]
- 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, 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), Q1(b) (3 marks): State the element in Period 3 that has the highest first ionisation energy. Explain your answer. [3 marks] Element Explanation
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q6(a) (3 marks): Identify the Period 2 element, from carbon to fluorine, that has the largest atomic radius. Explain your answer. Element Explanation
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(g) (3 marks): Predict whether an atom of 88Sr will have an atomic radius that is larger than, smaller than or the same as the atomic radius of 87Rb. Explain your answer. Atom
- January 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q2(a) (1 mark): Identify, from the Period 2 elements lithium to nitrogen, the element that has the largest atomic radius. (1 mark)
- 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
- June 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(b) (3 marks): State and explain the general trend in first ionisation energies for the Period 3 elements aluminium to argon. Trend Explanation
- 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.
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(d) (3 marks): Explain why the melting point of aluminium is higher than the melting point of sodium.
- June 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q2(a) (1 mark): Draw a cross on the diagram to show the first ionisation energy of aluminium. (1 mark)
- January 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(c) (3 marks): State and explain the general trend in the first ionisation energies of the Period 3 elements sodium to chlorine. Trend Explanation
- June 2009, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(c) (3 marks): 1 (c) State and explain the trend in atomic radius of the Period 3 elements from sodium to chlorine. Trend Explanation (3 marks)
- June 2009, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(d) (3 marks): 1 (d) Explain why sodium has a lower melting point than magnesium. (3 marks)
- January 2009, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): 4 (a) (ii) State and explain the general trend in first ionisation energies for the elements Na to P Trend Explanation (3 marks)
- January 2009, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(a)(iii) (3 marks): 4 (a) (iii) State which one of the elements from Na to P deviates from this general trend and explain why this occurs. Element Explanation (3 marks)
- January 2009, CHEM1 (old spec), Q4(b) (3 marks): 4 (b) State which one of the elements from Na to P has the highest melting point and explain your answer. Element Explanation (3 marks)
- January 2009, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q5(b) (6 marks): 5 (b) There are trends in the melting point and in the electrical conductivity of the metals in Period 3. Using Na and Al as your examples, state these trends a
- June 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q3(b) (2 marks): 3 (b) Explain why there is a general increase in the first ionisation energies of the Period 3 elements Na to Ar (2 marks)
- June 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q4(a) (4 marks): 4 (a) State which has the larger atomic radius, a sodium atom or a chlorine atom. Explain your answer. Atom with larger atomic radius Explanation (4 marks)
- June 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q4(b) (5 marks): 4 (b) (i) Give the electron arrangement of the sodium atom. 4 (b) (ii) State which has the larger radius, a sodium atom or a sodium ion (Na+). Explain your answ
- 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)
- January 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q6(b) (5 marks): (b) Select any two of the Period 3 elements phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine. State and explain which of your selected elements has the higher melting point. (5
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