plumiChemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic: AQA GCSE Chemistry questions
Every AQA GCSE Chemistry exam question on 4.2.1 Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q02.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 02.1: Determine the empirical formula of calcium sulfide. [1 mark] Empirical formula](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621h-jun25-02-1-qp.webp)
Q02.2
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Q02.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 02.3: Describe the structure and bonding of graphite. [4 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621h-jun25-02-3-qp.webp)
Q06.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 06.1: Aluminium oxide is an ionic compound. Explain why aluminium oxide has a very high melting point. [4 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621h-jun25-06-1-qp.webp)
Q07.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 07.2: Complete the dot and cross diagram for hydrazine in Figure 7. Show the outer shell electrons only. [2 marks] Figure 7](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621h-jun25-07-2-qp.webp)
Q07.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 07.3: Give one advantage of the ball and stick model in Figure 6 compared to the dot and cross diagram. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621h-jun25-07-3-qp.webp)
Q05.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 05.2: What is the formula of oxygen gas? [1 mark] Tick () one box. O O2 O2 2 O](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621f-jun25-05-2-qp.webp)
Q09.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 09.1: Determine the empirical formula of calcium sulfide. [1 mark] Empirical formula](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621f-jun25-09-1-qp.webp)
Q09.2
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Q09.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 09.3: Describe the structure and bonding of graphite. [4 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621f-jun25-09-3-qp.webp)
Q02.5
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 02.5: Write the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon represented by the model in Figure 2. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622h-jun25-02-5-qp.webp)
Q06.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 06.3: The student did a flame test on solution B. An orange-red flame was produced. Write the symbol for the metal ion in solution B. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622h-jun25-06-3-qp.webp)
Q06.4
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Q09.5
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 09.5: Write the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon represented by the model in Figure 8. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun25-09-5-qp.webp)
Q05.1
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Q07.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 07.1: Iron is a metal. Describe how iron conducts thermal energy. [2 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621h-jun24-07-1-qp.webp)
Q08.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 08.1: Explain why propane has a low boiling point. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621h-jun24-08-1-qp.webp)
Q09.5
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Q01.5
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Q05.4
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 05.4: Figure 10 shows the structure of a carbon compound. Figure 10 Complete the formula of the carbon compound. [1 mark] C__ F__](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84621f-jun24-05-4-qp.webp)
All 73 questions on Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q02.1 (1 mark): Determine the empirical formula of calcium sulfide. [1 mark] Empirical formula
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q02.2 (4 marks): Calcium is in Group 2 of the periodic table. Sulfur is in Group 6 of the periodic table. Describe what happens when a calcium atom reacts with a sulfur atom. An
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q02.3 (4 marks): Describe the structure and bonding of graphite. [4 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q06.1 (4 marks): Aluminium oxide is an ionic compound. Explain why aluminium oxide has a very high melting point. [4 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.2 (2 marks): Complete the dot and cross diagram for hydrazine in Figure 7. Show the outer shell electrons only. [2 marks] Figure 7
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.3 (1 mark): Give one advantage of the ball and stick model in Figure 6 compared to the dot and cross diagram. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q05.2 (1 mark): What is the formula of oxygen gas? [1 mark] Tick () one box. O O2 O2 2 O
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.1 (1 mark): Determine the empirical formula of calcium sulfide. [1 mark] Empirical formula
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.2 (4 marks): Calcium is in Group 2 of the periodic table. Sulfur is in Group 6 of the periodic table. Describe what happens when a calcium atom reacts with a sulfur atom. An
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.3 (4 marks): Describe the structure and bonding of graphite. [4 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q02.5 (1 mark): Write the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon represented by the model in Figure 2. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.3 (1 mark): The student did a flame test on solution B. An orange-red flame was produced. Write the symbol for the metal ion in solution B. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.4 (1 mark): The student added dilute nitric acid followed by silver nitrate solution to solution B. A white precipitate was produced. Write the symbol for the non-metal ion
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q09.5 (1 mark): Write the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon represented by the model in Figure 8. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q05.1 (4 marks): Calcium and chlorine react to produce calcium chloride. Describe what happens to calcium atoms and chlorine atoms when the ionic compound calcium chloride is fo
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.1 (2 marks): Iron is a metal. Describe how iron conducts thermal energy. [2 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.1 (3 marks): Explain why propane has a low boiling point. [3 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q09.5 (3 marks): A calcium atom is larger than a magnesium atom. Explain why calcium reacts more vigorously than magnesium with hydrochloric acid of the same concentration. [3 m
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q01.5 (2 marks): Potassium and chlorine react to produce potassium chloride. An atom of potassium loses an electron to form a potassium ion. An atom of chlorine gains an electro
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q05.4 (1 mark): Figure 10 shows the structure of a carbon compound. Figure 10 Complete the formula of the carbon compound. [1 mark] C__ F__
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q04.4 (2 marks): Draw a dot and cross diagram for a molecule of hydrogen chloride (HCl). Show the outer shell electrons only. [2 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q05.7 (1 mark): Which element has atoms that have the same electronic structure as the chloride ion? Use the periodic table. [1 mark]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q06.2 (3 marks): Describe how metals conduct electricity. [3 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.1 (2 marks): Argon has the atomic number 18 Explain why argon does not form compounds. Answer in terms of electrons. [2 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.2 (1 mark): Phosphorus (P) is the element below nitrogen in the periodic table. Predict the formula of the compound formed between phosphorus and hydrogen. [1 mark] Formula
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q07.1 (2 marks): Figure 8 represents part of the structure of solid sodium chloride. Figure 8 Complete Figure 8. [2 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.5 (3 marks): Aluminium is a metal. Describe how metals conduct electricity. Answer in terms of electrons. [3 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.6 (1 mark): Name the type of bonding in compounds formed between metals and non-metals. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.7 (4 marks): Magnesium oxide is a compound formed from the metal magnesium and the non-metal oxygen. Describe what happens when a magnesium atom reacts with an oxygen atom.
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.5 (1 mark): Complete Figure 9 to show the outer shell electrons in a molecule of Si2H6 [1 mark] Figure 9
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.2 (1 mark): Which diagram represents poly(ethene)? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A B C D
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.5 (1 mark): Figure 11 shows a model of a molecule. Figure 11 Complete the molecular formula of the molecule. [1 mark] Molecular formula = C__ H__
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.5 (3 marks): Aluminium is a metal. Describe how metals conduct electricity. Answer in terms of electrons. [3 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.6 (1 mark): Name the type of bonding in compounds formed between metals and non-metals. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.7 (4 marks): Magnesium oxide is a compound formed from the metal magnesium and the non-metal oxygen. Describe what happens when a magnesium atom reacts with an oxygen atom.
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.3 (1 mark): Complete Figure 2 to show a propanone molecule. Use a line to represent each single bond. Use Figure 1. [1 mark] Figure 2
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.4 (1 mark): Determine the molecular formula of propanone. Use Figure 1. [1 mark] Molecular formula =
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q02.4 (1 mark): What is the most likely formula of a gallium ion? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Ga+ Ga– Ga3+ Ga3–
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q04.4 (4 marks): Draw a dot and cross diagram to show what happens when atoms of sodium and oxygen react to produce sodium oxide. [4 marks] Diagram
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q04.6 (3 marks): Explain why sodium oxide has a high melting point. [3 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q01.6 (1 mark): Figure 1 represents part of the structure of an oxide of a metal. Figure 1 Determine the empirical formula of this oxide. [1 mark] Empirical formula = XO___
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.3 (1 mark): What is the type of bonding in sodium? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Covalent Ionic Metallic Table 3 shows observations made when lithium, potassium and rubidium r
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.8 (3 marks): Sodium fluoride is an ionic compound. Figure 5 shows dot and cross diagrams for a sodium atom and a fluorine atom. Complete Figure 5 to show what happens when a
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q08.3 (1 mark): Complete Figure 14 to show a propanone molecule. Use a line to represent each single bond. Use Figure 13. [1 mark] Figure 14
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q08.4 (1 mark): Determine the molecular formula of propanone. Use Figure 13. [1 mark] Molecular formula =
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.4 (1 mark): What is the most likely formula of a gallium ion? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Ga+ Ga– Ga3+ Ga3–
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.1 (2 marks): Which two substances have intermolecular forces between particles? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Diamond Magnesium Poly(ethene) Sodium chloride Water
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.2 (6 marks): Table 1 shows the structures of three compounds. Table 1 Compound Structure Carbon dioxide Magnesium oxide Silicon dioxide Diagrams not to scale Compare the str
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q05.1 (2 marks): Aluminium is a metal. Draw one line from each property of aluminium to the correct reason for that property. [2 marks] Property Reason Conducts electricity High
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.1 (1 mark): Complete the molecular formula of citric acid. Use Figure 7. [1 mark] C6H __ O __
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.2 (1 mark): What type of bonding is shown in Figure 7? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Covalent Ionic Metallic
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.3 (2 marks): Figure 8 shows two representations of one molecule of citric acid, A and B. Figure 8 A B Give two advantages of representation A compared with representation B.
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q08.1 (2 marks): Which two substances have intermolecular forces between particles? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Diamond Magnesium Poly(ethene) Sodium chloride Water
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q08.2 (6 marks): Table 5 shows the structures of three compounds. Table 5 Compound Structure Carbon dioxide Magnesium oxide Silicon dioxide Diagrams not to scale Compare the str
- June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q05.1 (2 marks): Complete the dot and cross diagram for the ammonia molecule shown in Figure 6. Show only the electrons in the outer shell of each atom. [2 marks] Figure 6
- June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q05.2 (1 mark): Give one limitation of using a dot and cross diagram to represent an ammonia molecule. [1 mark]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.1 (1 mark): What is the correct formula of hydrogen peroxide? [1 mark] Tick () one box. H2O2 HO2 H2O2 H2O2
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.2 (1 mark): Which type of bonding is shown in Figure 2? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Covalent Ionic Metallic
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.7 (2 marks): Hydrogen and oxygen form water. A hydrogen atom contains one electron. An oxygen atom contains six electrons in the outer shell. Complete Figure 4 to show a dot
- June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q02.1 (1 mark): Iron pyrites is an ionic compound. Figure 1 shows a structure for iron pyrites. Figure 1 Determine the formula of iron pyrites. Use Figure 1. [1 mark]
- June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.3 (3 marks): Chlorine reacts with hydrogen to form hydrogen chloride. Explain why hydrogen chloride is a gas at room temperature. Answer in terms of structure and bonding. [
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.1 (1 mark): Iron pyrites is an ionic compound. Figure 12 shows a structure for iron pyrites. Figure 12 Determine the formula of iron pyrites. Use Figure 12. [1 mark]
- Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q03.1 (5 marks): Potassium forms an ionic compound with sulfur. Describe what happens when two atoms of potassium react with one atom of sulfur. Give your answer in terms of ele
- Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q03.2 (1 mark): The structure of potassium sulfide can be represented using the ball and stick mode in Figure 2. The ball and stick model is not a true representation of the st
- Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q03.3 (2 marks): Sulfur can also form covalent bonds. Complete the dot and cross diagram to show the covalent bonding in a molecule of hydrogen sulfide. Show the outer shell ele
- Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q03.4 (2 marks): Figure 1 0 3 Figure 1 shows the outer electrons in an atom of the Group 1 element potassium and in an atom of the Group 6 element sulfur. 3 . 4 Calculate the re
- Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q09.2 (2 marks): When ethene reacts with bromine, energy is required to break covalent bonds in the molecules. Explain how a covalent bond holds two atoms together. [2 marks] Fi
- Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q01.1 (4 marks): Draw one line from each statement to the diagram which shows the structure. [4 mark 3
- Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.1 (5 marks): Potassium forms an ionic compound with sulfur. Describe what happens when two atoms of potassium react with one atom of sulfu Give your answer in terms of elect
- Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.2 (1 mark): The structure of potassium sulfide can be represented using the ball and stick model in Figure 12. The ball and stick model is not a true representation of the
- Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.3 (2 marks): Sulfur can also form covalent bonds. Complete the dot and cross diagram to show the covalent bonding in a molecule of hydrogen sulfide. Show the outer shell ele
- Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q09.4 (2 marks): Calculate the relative formula mass (Mr) of aluminium sulfate Al2(SO4)3 Relative atomic masses (Ar): oxygen = 16; aluminium = 27; sulfur = 32 [2 marks] Relative
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.3: A molecule of methanol has five single covalent bonds. Draw the missing bonds in Figure 6 to complete the displayed formula for methanol. [1 mar Figure 6 H H C
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