plumiShapes of simple molecules and ions: AQA A‑Level Chemistry questions
AQA A-Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 3.1.3.5 Shapes of simple molecules and ions, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q05.3
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Open the full PDFQ01.5
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All 74 questions on Shapes of simple molecules and ions, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q05.3 (2 marks): Draw the shape of a BrF3 molecule. Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. Explain why the BrF3 molecule has the shape you have drawn. [2
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q27 (1 mark): Which species has a tetrahedral shape? [1 mark] A SF4 B FeCl4– C XeF4 D ICl4–
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q31 (1 mark): The oxides P4O10 and SO2 both react with water to form acid molecules. Which row gives the correct shape around the central atom for each acid molecule that is
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q01.5 (1 mark): The carbocation (CH3)3C+ is formed as an intermediate in the reaction of 2-bromo-2-methylpropane with KCN Suggest the value of the bond angle around the central
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q03 (6 marks): Molecules of CCl4 and CHCl3 have similar tetrahedral shapes. The boiling point of CCl4 is 77 °C The boiling point of CHCl3 is 61 °C Explain why CCl4 has a highe
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): Sulfur dioxide can be found in the flue gases from the combustion of some fuels. Which statement about sulfur dioxide is correct? [1 mark] A Sulfur dioxide mole
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q05.5 (1 mark): Draw the shape of the Cl3 – ion. Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q05.6 (2 marks): Chlorine forms an ion with the Group 3 element thallium (Tl). State and explain the bond angle in TlCl2 + [2 marks] Bond angle Explanation
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q11 (1 mark): Which substance does not have any bond angles of 120°? [1 mark] A benzene B boron trifluoride C cyclohexane D graphite
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q05 (6 marks): SF6 and SF3+ have different shapes and different bond angles. Deduce the shape of SF6 and the shape of SF3+ State the bond angle in SF6 and the bond angle in SF
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q01.2 (2 marks): The electron pair repulsion theory can be used to predict the shape of a PF3 molecule. Draw the shape of a PF3 molecule. Include any lone pairs of electrons tha
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q05 (6 marks): This question is about the shapes of molecules. Discuss the difference between the shapes of CF4 and XeF4 In your answer you should: • name the shape of each mo
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q06.6 (3 marks): The ClF2+ ion contains two different Group 7 elements. Use your understanding of the electron pair repulsion theory to draw the shape of this ion. Include any l
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03 (3 marks): This question is about shapes of molecules. Complete Table 2 by drawing the shapes of both the AsF5 and KrF2 molecules, showing all lone pairs of electrons that
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q16 (1 mark): Which reaction does not result in a change in the shape around a carbon atom? [1 mark] A chloromethane with aqueous sodium hydroxide B ethene with bromine C pro
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q02.5 (4 marks): HOCH2CH2NH2 can be represented as XNH2 [HOCH2CH2NH3]+ can be represented as [XNH3]+ Draw the shape of XNH2 and of [XNH3]+ State whether the H–N–H bond angle in
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q13 (1 mark): Which species has a lone pair of electrons on the central atom? [1 mark] A CO2 B SO2 C PCl6‒ D SO42–
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q15 (1 mark): In which molecule are all the atoms in the same plane? [1 mark] A CH3CHO B CH3NH2 C C6H5Cl D C6H5CH3
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Which species has a square planar shape? [1 mark] A NH4+ B SF4 C XeF4 D PCl4+
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q03.3 (2 marks): Molecules of propan-2-ol and propanone each contain three carbon atoms. Complete Table 1 to suggest the shape and a bond angle around the central C atom in a mo
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q07 (6 marks): The melting point of XeF4 is higher than the melting point of PF3 Explain why the melting points of these two compounds are different. In your answer you should
- November 2020, Paper 3, Q08 (1 mark): Which has a bond angle of 109.5°? [1 mark] A C (diamond) B C (graphite) C NH2– D NH3
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q06 (5 marks): This question is about shapes of molecules and ions. Draw the shape of NCl3 and of NCl4+ Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. Name the
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q01.3 (4 marks): Draw a diagram to show the shape of a molecule of H2O Include any lone pairs of electrons. State the H−O−H bond angle. Explain this shape and bond angle. [4 mar
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (4 marks): Fluoroantimonic acid contains two ions, SbF6 – and H2F+ Draw the shape of the SbF6 – ion and the shape of the H2F+ ion. Include any lone pairs that influence th
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): Which species is not pyramidal in shape? [1 mark] A PF3 B H3O+ C CH3 – D BF3
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q05.2 (1 mark): The bond angle around the oxygen atom in methanol is slightly smaller than the regular tetrahedral angle of 109.5° Explain why this bond angle is smaller than 1
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q08.4 (4 marks): Sodium reacts with ammonia to form the compound NaNH2 that contains the NH2 – ion. Draw the shape of the NH2 – ion. Include any lone pairs of electrons that inf
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q30 (1 mark): Which species has a shape that is influenced by the presence of one or more lone pairs of electrons around the central atom? [1 mark] A AlCl3 B ClF3 C IF6 + D P
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q09.1 (3 marks): Draw the shape of a molecule of krypton difluoride (KrF2). Include in your answer any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. Name the shape produced
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q09.2 (2 marks): There are two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom in a molecule of oxygen difluoride (OF2). Explain how the lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom in
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q05.3 (4 marks): Complete Table 4 by naming the shape of each molecule. Place a tick () in the final column if the molecule has a permanent dipole. [4 mark Table 4 Molecule Nam
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): 1 8 Which species has one or more bond angle(s) of 90°? [1 mark] A CH4 B NH4 + C ClF4 − D AlCl4 −
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): Which is the most likely bond angle around the oxygen atom in ethanol? [1 mark] A 104.5º B 109.5º C 120º D 180º
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q07.1 (3 marks): Draw diagrams to illustrate the shapes of NH3 molecules and of AlCl3 molecules. Include in your diagrams any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. I
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q07.3 (2 marks): Explain how the value of the Cl-Al-Cl bond angle in AlCl3 changes, if at all, on formation of the compound H3NAlCl3 [2 marks]
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Which molecule has the largest dipole? [1 mark A ClF3 B BF3 C SF6 D CF4
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q01.1 (6 marks): 3
- June 2016, CHEM1 (old spec), Q2(d)(i) (6 marks): Draw the shape of an SF6 and of an SF4 molecule. Include any lone pairs that influence the shape. State the bond angle(s) in SF6 and in SF4 Name the shape of SF
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(d)(i) (2 marks): Use your understanding of electron pair repulsion to draw the shape of ClF3 and the shape of CCl2 Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape.
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(d)(ii) (1 mark): Name the shape of CCl2 [1 mark]
- June 2015, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(a) (1 mark): Suggest a value for the H–O–O bond angle. [1 mark]
- June 2014, CHEM1 (old spec), Q7(a) (4 marks): Draw the shape of the TlBr32– ion and the shape of the TlCl43– ion. Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shapes. Name the shape made by the at
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(d) (1 mark): Deduce the name or formula of a compound that has the same number of atoms, the same number of electrons and the same shape as the AlCl4−ion. (1 mark)
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(e) (2 marks): Draw and name the shape of the TlBr52−ion. Shape of the TlBr52−ion. Name of shape (2 marks)
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(f)(i) (1 mark): Draw the shape of the TlCl2+ ion. (1 mark)
- June 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(f)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why the TlCl2+ ion has the shape that you have drawn in part (f) (i). (1 mark)
- January 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q6(a) (4 marks): Use your understanding of the electron pair repulsion theory to draw the shape of the AsCl3 molecule and the shape of the Cl3+ ion. Include any lone pairs of el
- January 2013, CHEM1 (old spec), Q6(b) (2 marks): Explain why the AsCl4+ ion has a bond angle of 109.5º
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(a) (1 mark): Draw the shape of the PH3 molecule. Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(c) (1 mark): Predict the bond angle in the PH4+ ion. (1 mark)
- June 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q5(b) (3 marks): Boron trichloride can also be prepared from its elements. Write an equation for this reaction. Explain why boron trichloride has a trigonal planar shape with eq
- January 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw the shape of BrF3 and predict its bond angle. Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. Shape of BrF3 Bond angle (2 marks)
- January 2012, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Draw the shape of BrF4 – and predict its bond angle. Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. Shape of BrF4 – Bond angle (2 marks)
- June 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(b)(i) (4 marks): Draw the shape of the NHF2 molecule and the shape of the BF3 molecule. Include any lone pairs of electrons that influence the shape. In each case name the shape
- June 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest a value for the F—N—F bond angle in NHF2 (1 mark)
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): Draw and name the shape of the H3O+ ion. Include any lone pairs of electrons. Shape of the H3O+ ion Name of shape (2 marks)
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest a value for the bond angle in the H3O+ ion. (1 mark)
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(c)(iii) (1 mark): Identify one molecule with the same number of atoms, the same number of electrons and the same shape as the H3O+ ion. (1 mark)
- January 2011, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(d) (1 mark): Water can also form the hydroxide ion. State the number of lone pairs of electrons in the hydroxide ion. (1 mark)
- June 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(b) (2 marks): Draw the shape of a dichlorodifluoromethane molecule (CCI2F2) and the shape of a chlorine trifluoride molecule (CIF3). Include any lone pairs of electrons that
- June 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(d)(ii) (1 mark): State the bond angle in the BF4 – ion. (1 mark)
- January 2010, CHEM1 (old spec), Q6 (5 marks): A molecule of ClF3 reacts with a molecule of AsF5 as shown in the following equation. ClF3 + AsF5 →ClF2 + + AsF6 – Use your understanding of electron pair repul
- June 2009, CHEM1 (old spec), Q1(e) (2 marks): 1 (e) Sodium reacts with ammonia to form the compound NaNH2 which contains the NH2 – ion. Draw the shape of the NH2 – ion, including any lone pairs of electrons
- January 2009, CHEM1 (old spec), Q2(e) (2 marks): 2 (e) Arsenic is in the same group as nitrogen. It forms the compound AsH3 Draw the shape of an AsH3 molecule, including any lone pairs of electrons. Name the s
- January 2009, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q4(b) (2 marks): 4 (b) Draw the shape, including any lone pairs of electrons, of a CH2 molecule and the shape of a CH3 + ion. CH2 CH3 + (2 marks)
- January 2009, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q4(c) (2 marks): 4 (c) Name the shape of the CH2 molecule and the shape of the CH3 + ion. Shape of CH2 Shape of CH3 + (2 marks)
- January 2009, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q4(d) (1 mark): 4 (d) State the bond angle in the CH3 + ion. (1 mark) SECTION B Answer Question 5 in the space provided on pages 13–16.
- June 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q3(d) (4 marks): 3 (d) (i) Draw the shape of a BF3 molecule and the shape of a H2S molecule. In each case show any lone pairs of electrons. BF3 H2S 3 (d) (ii) Explain why a BF3
- June 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q3(e) (1 mark): 3 (e) Hydrogen sulphide, H2S, reacts with boron trifluoride, BF3, to form compound A. Predict the value of the H-S-H bond angle in compound A. (1 mark) S B F F
- June 2008, CHM5 (2008 spec), Q7(a) (8 marks): 7 (a) Draw the shape of each of the following and, in each case, name the shape. 7 (a) (i) HCHO ( ) ( ) 7 (a) (ii) [CoCl4]2– ( ) ( ) [ 4] 7 (a) (iii) [IF4]– 7 (
- June 2008, CHM6W (2008 spec), Q27 (1 mark): 27 Species with at least one bond angle of 90° include 1 XeF4 2 PF5 3 [Co(NH3)6]3+ 4 Si(CH3)4
- January 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q5(a) (4 marks): 5 (a) Explain why the shape of the NH+4 ion is regular tetrahedral. Explain why the bond angle in the NH3 molecule is less than that in the NH+4 ion. (4 marks)
- January 2008, CHM1 (2008 spec), Q5(b) (2 marks): (b) Draw the shape, including any lone pairs of electrons, of the NH–2 ion. Name the shape produced by the arrangement of atoms in the NH–2 ion. (2 marks)
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