Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means: AQA GCSE Chemistry questions

Every AQA GCSE Chemistry exam question on 4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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Q06.1
June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher
1 mark4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q06.2
June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q06.3
June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher
1 mark4.2.1 Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic 4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q06.4
June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher
1 mark4.2.1 Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic 4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q06.5
June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher
2 marks4.8.2 Identification of common gases 4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.1
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.2
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.3
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
1 mark4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.4
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
1 mark4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.5
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
1 mark4.2.2 How bonding and structure are related to the properties of substances 4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.6
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.7
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
1 mark4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q05.7
June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation
1 mark4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.1
June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q01.2
June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q04.6
June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q07.1
June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q07.3
June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q08.1
June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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Q08.2
June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation
2 marks4.8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means
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All 60 questions on Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means, as a list

June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.1 (1 mark): Name one other metal ion which produces a white precipitate with a few drops of sodium hydroxide solution. [1 mark]
June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.2 (2 marks): Describe how the student could confirm the presence of aluminium ions in solution A. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test Result
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 Higher, Q06.5 (2 marks): Describe a test on the bubbles of gas that confirms that solution C contained carbonate ions. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test Result
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (2 marks): Describe how to do a flame test using a metal wire and a Bunsen burner. [2 marks]
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.2 (2 marks): Draw one line from each metal ion to the flame colour produced by the metal ion. [2 marks] Metal ion Flame colour Lithium Potassium Crimson Green Lilac Orange-r
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.3 (1 mark): Which gas is produced when carbonates are reacted with dilute acids? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Carbon dioxide Hydrogen Oxygen
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.4 (1 mark): Which solution is used to test for sulfate ions? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Barium chloride solution Magnesium chloride solution Sodium chloride solution Precip
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.5 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] A precipitate is a . gas liquid solid
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.6 (2 marks): Some metal ions in solution can be identified by adding sodium hydroxide solution. Draw one line from each metal ion to the colour of the precipitate produced b
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.7 (1 mark): Dilute nitric acid and silver nitrate solution were added to a solution containing iodide ions. Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark]
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.7 (1 mark): Which is an advantage of using gas chromatography instead of paper chromatography? Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] Gas chromatography is . less sensiti
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.1 (2 marks): Describe a test to identify sodium ions. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test for sodium ions Result
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (2 marks): Describe a test to identify chloride ions. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test for chloride ions Result
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.6 (2 marks): Another type of chromatography is called gas chromatography. Gas chromatography is an instrumental method of chemical analysis. Scientists tested the orange dye
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.1 (2 marks): Sulfuric acid contains sulfate ions. Describe the test for the presence of sulfate ions in sulfuric acid. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test Result
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.3 (2 marks): How could a sample of limestone be tested to show the presence of carbonate ions? Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box. [2 marks] barium chloride
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.1 (2 marks): Describe a test to identify sodium ions. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test for sodium ions Result
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.2 (2 marks): Describe a test to identify chloride ions. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test for chloride ions Result
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (6 marks): Plan a method the scientist could use to show that the sample of medicine contains potassium ions and bromide ions. The scientist has: • a Bunsen burner • a met
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (1 mark): Which instrumental method could be used to show the presence of potassium ions in the medicine? [1 mark]
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (1 mark): Give one advantage of using this instrumental method instead of a chemical test. [1 mark]
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q05.3 (2 marks): Describe a test to show the presence of copper(II) ions in a solution of copper(II) sulfate. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test Result
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.1 (6 marks): Plan a method the scientist could use to show that the sample of medicine contains potassium ions and bromide ions. The scientist has: • a Bunsen burner • a met
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.2 (1 mark): Which instrumental method could be used to show the presence of potassium ions in the medicine? [1 mark]
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.3 (1 mark): Give one advantage of using this instrumental method instead of a chemical test. [1 mark]
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.5 (2 marks): A solution can be added to copper sulfate solution to show the presence of copper(II) ions. Name the solution added. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Name
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.6 (2 marks): Describe one test to show the presence of sulfate ions in copper sulfate solution. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test Result
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.6 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] crimson lilac yellow
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.7 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] brown green white
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.5 (2 marks): A solution can be added to copper sulfate solution to show the presence of copper(II) ions. Name the solution added. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Name
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.6 (2 marks): Describe one test to show the presence of sulfate ions in copper sulfate solution. Give the result of the test. [2 marks] Test Result
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.1 (2 marks): Give a test to identify the Group 1 metal ion in potash alum. You should include the result of the test. [2 marks] Test Result
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.2 (1 mark): Name one instrumental method that could identify the Group 1 metal ion and show the concentration of the ion in a solution of potash alum. [1 mark]
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.3 (1 mark): Give the result of this test. [1 mark]
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.4 (2 marks): This test gives the same result for several metal ions. What additional step is needed so that the other metal ion in potash alum can be identified? Give the re
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.5 (3 marks): Describe a test to identify the presence of sulfate ions in a solution of potash alum. Give the result of the test. [3 marks] Test Result
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.1 (2 marks): Which two methods can be used to identify the presence of potassium ions in potash alum solution? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Flame emission spectroscopy Flam
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.2 (1 mark): Sodium hydroxide solution is used to test for some metal ions. Sodium hydroxide solution is added to a solution of potash alum until a precipitate forms. Comple
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.3 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] barium chloride solution limewater red litmus paper silver nitrate solution Sulfate ions can be
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.1 (1 mark): What flame colour is produced by copper sulfate solution? [1 mark]
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (2 marks): Calcium compounds produce an orange-red flame colour. The student left out an important step before reusing the metal wire. The student’s method did not produce
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.3 (2 marks): The student added sodium hydroxide solution to: • copper sulfate solution • calcium iodide solution. Give the results of the tests. [2 marks] Copper sulfate sol
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.4 (1 mark): To test for sulfate ions the student added dilute hydrochloric acid to copper sulfate solution. Name the solution that would show the presence of sulfate ions w
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.5 (2 marks): To test for iodide ions the student added dilute nitric acid to calcium iodide solution. Name the solution that would show the presence of iodide ions when adde
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.1 (1 mark): What flame colour is produced by copper sulfate solution? [1 mark]
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.2 (2 marks): Calcium compounds produce an orange-red flame colour. The student left out an important step before reusing the metal wire. The student’s method did not produce
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.3 (2 marks): The student added sodium hydroxide solution to: • copper sulfate solution • calcium iodide solution. Give the results of the tests. [2 marks] Copper sulfate sol
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.4 (1 mark): To test for sulfate ions the student added dilute hydrochloric acid to copper sulfate solution. Name the solution that would show the presence of sulfate ions w
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q08.5 (2 marks): To test for iodide ions the student added dilute nitric acid to calcium iodide solution. Name the solution that would show the presence of iodide ions when adde
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.1 (1 mark): What colour flame would sodium ions produce? [1 mark]
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (1 mark): Name a metal ion that would produce a green flame. [1 mark]
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.3 (1 mark): Some fireworks contain a mixture of metal ions. Why is it difficult to identify the metal ions from the colour of the flame? [1 mark]
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.4 (2 marks): Flame emission spectroscopy is used to identify metal ions in a firework. Figure 1 shows: • the flame emission spectra of five individual metal ions • a flame e
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.5 (1 mark): Silver nitrate solution and dilute nitric acid are added to the solution. A cream precipitate forms. Which ion is shown to be present by the cream precipitate?
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q01.6 (3 marks): Describe a test to show the presence of sulfate ions in the solution. Give the result of the test if there are sulfate ions in the solution. [3 marks] Test Resu
Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.5 (2 marks): Flame emission spectroscopy can be used to analyse metal ions in solution. Figure 7 gives the flame emission spectra of five metal ions, and of a mixture of two
Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.6 (2 marks): Explain why a flame test could not be used to identify the two metal ions in the mixture. [2 marks]
Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.4 (1 mark): A student tested a metal chloride solution with sodium hydroxide solution. A brown precipitate formed. What was the metal ion in the metal chloride solution? [1

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