plumiPurity, formulations and chromatography: AQA GCSE Chemistry questions
Every AQA GCSE Chemistry exam question on 4.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q03.3
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Q05.1
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Q05.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.2: Why should a pencil be used to draw the start line on the chromatography paper? [1 mark] The Rf value of a dye was 0.80](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun25-05-2-qp.webp)
Q05.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.3: Calculate the distance moved by the solvent. Use the equation: Rf = distance moved by spot distance moved by solvent [3 marks] Distance moved by solvent = cm](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun25-05-3-qp.webp)
Q05.4
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.4: How is the distance moved by the spot of the dye measured? [1 mark] Tick () one box. From the start line to the bottom of the spot From the start line to the c](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun25-05-4-qp.webp)
Q05.5
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.5: Which two changes could produce a different Rf value for this dye? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Use a different beaker. Use a different length of time. Use a d](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun25-05-5-qp.webp)
![June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.6: A different dye is a pure substance. How many spots will this dye produce during chromatography? [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun25-05-6-qp.webp)
Q10.3
The whole paper ↗
Q04.1
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Q04.2
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Q04.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 04.3: Compare the purity of the orange dyes A and B. Give reasons for your answer. Use Figure 4 and Figure 5. [2 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622h-jun24-04-3-qp.webp)
Q04.5
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 04.5: Why is the Rf value of a dye not affected by how far the solvent front is allowed to travel? [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622h-jun24-04-5-qp.webp)
Q03.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.1: The student’s method contains a mistake in Step 1. What is the mistake in Step 1? Give one reason for your answer. [2 marks] Mistake Reason](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun24-03-1-qp.webp)
![June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.2: How many different dyes are in substance Y? Use Figure 4. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun24-03-2-qp.webp)
Q03.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.3: Which of the four dyes, A, B, C and D, could be in substance Y? Give one reason for your answer. Use Figure 4. [2 marks] Dye Reason](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun24-03-3-qp.webp)
Q03.4
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.4: Suggest why dye D remained on the start line at the end of the investigation. Use Figure 4. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun24-03-4-qp.webp)
Q03.5
The whole paper ↗
Q03.6
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.6: Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] solute solution solvent The water in step 3 is used as a .](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622f-jun24-03-6-qp.webp)
Q06.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 06.1: The student made two mistakes when setting up the apparatus. Give two mistakes the student made. [2 marks] 1 2 Another student set up the apparatus correctly. T](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/84622h-jun23-06-1-qp.webp)
All 68 questions on Purity, formulations and chromatography, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (1 mark): Doors made from wood need painting to prevent rotting. Paints are formulations made by mixing a solid pigment and a liquid. Which statement describes the compos
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.1 (3 marks): Complete Figure 4 to show how the equipment can be used to separate the dyes in an ink. You should draw and label: • a piece of chromatography paper in the beak
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.2 (1 mark): Why should a pencil be used to draw the start line on the chromatography paper? [1 mark] The Rf value of a dye was 0.80
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.3 (3 marks): Calculate the distance moved by the solvent. Use the equation: Rf = distance moved by spot distance moved by solvent [3 marks] Distance moved by solvent = cm
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.4 (1 mark): How is the distance moved by the spot of the dye measured? [1 mark] Tick () one box. From the start line to the bottom of the spot From the start line to the c
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.5 (2 marks): Which two changes could produce a different Rf value for this dye? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Use a different beaker. Use a different length of time. Use a d
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.6 (1 mark): A different dye is a pure substance. How many spots will this dye produce during chromatography? [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.3 (1 mark): Doors made from wood need painting to prevent rotting. Paints are formulations made by mixing a solid pigment and a liquid. Which statement describes the compos
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (2 marks): Explain why the yellow dye and red dye travel different distances in Experiment 1. Refer to forces of attraction between the dyes and the chromatography paper i
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (3 marks): The student used the same type of chromatography paper in Experiment 1 and in Experiment 2. Explain why the yellow dye is in different positions in Experiment 1
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (2 marks): Compare the purity of the orange dyes A and B. Give reasons for your answer. Use Figure 4 and Figure 5. [2 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.4 (3 marks): The student calculated that the Rf value of the orange dye in the experiment shown in Figure 5 was 0.48 Calculate the distance moved by the solvent front when t
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.5 (1 mark): Why is the Rf value of a dye not affected by how far the solvent front is allowed to travel? [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.1 (2 marks): The student’s method contains a mistake in Step 1. What is the mistake in Step 1? Give one reason for your answer. [2 marks] Mistake Reason
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.2 (1 mark): How many different dyes are in substance Y? Use Figure 4. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.3 (2 marks): Which of the four dyes, A, B, C and D, could be in substance Y? Give one reason for your answer. Use Figure 4. [2 marks] Dye Reason
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.4 (1 mark): Suggest why dye D remained on the start line at the end of the investigation. Use Figure 4. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.5 (2 marks): The student determined that: • the distance moved by the water was 6.0 cm • the distance moved by dye A was 2.4 cm. Calculate the Rf value of dye A. Use the equ
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.6 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] solute solution solvent The water in step 3 is used as a .
- June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.1 (2 marks): The student made two mistakes when setting up the apparatus. Give two mistakes the student made. [2 marks] 1 2 Another student set up the apparatus correctly. T
- June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.2 (3 marks): Determine value X in Table 3. [3 marks] X = cm
- June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.3 (3 marks): Explain why the Rf values for the red dye are different using the two types of chromatography paper. Use Table 3. [3 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q06.4 (1 mark): What other change to the investigation could result in a different Rf value for the red dye? [1 mark]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.1 (3 marks): Figure 3 shows the apparatus at the start of the investigation. Figure 3 Complete the labels on Figure 3. [3 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.2 (1 mark): Figure 4 shows the results at the end of the investigation. Figure 4 The student made a mistake in the investigation. What mistake did the student make to produ
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.3 (1 mark): How do the results in Figure 5 show that the orange dye is not a pure substance? [1 mark]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.4 (4 marks): Determine the Rf value for the red spot. You should measure: • the distance moved by the red spot • the distance moved by the solvent. Use Figure 5 and the equa
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.5 (1 mark): Which spot had the greatest Rf value? Use Figure 5. [1 mark] Tick () one box. Dark yellow spot Pale yellow spot Red spot
- June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q05.5 (1 mark): After treatment the ground water in Table 5 is sold by a company as pure water. The ground water in Table 5 is not chemically pure because the water contains so
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (2 marks): Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box. [2 marks] 0 4 7 10 25 100 Pure water has a boiling point of °C. Pure water has a pH of .
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.3 (4 marks): Ethanol is used as a solvent in some inks. A student used paper chromatography to show that an ink contained two different dyes. Figure 4 shows the apparatus at
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.5 (3 marks): Calculate the mass of ethanol in 4.4 kg of E5. Give your answer in grams. Use Table 6. [3 marks] Mass = g
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.6 (1 mark): Some fertilisers are mixtures of different compounds in fixed proportions. What name is given to a mixture of different compounds in fixed proportions? [1 mark]
- November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (6 marks): Plan an investigation to determine the Rf value for the dye in this food colouring. Rf = distance moved by substance distance moved by solvent Your plan should
- November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (1 mark): Two students investigated a dye in a food colouring using paper chromatography. Each student did the investigation differently. The Rf values they determined fo
- November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (1 mark): Paper chromatography involves a stationary phase. What is the stationary phase in paper chromatography? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Beaker Dye Paper Solvent
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.5 (1 mark): Water obtained by distillation does not need to be sterilised and is safe to drink. Suggest why. [1 mark]
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.1 (6 marks): Plan an investigation to determine the Rf value for the dye in this food colouring. Rf = distance moved by substance distance moved by solvent Your plan should
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.2 (1 mark): Two students investigated a dye in a food colouring using paper chromatography. Each student did the investigation differently. The Rf values they determined fo
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.3 (1 mark): Paper chromatography involves a stationary phase. What is the stationary phase in paper chromatography? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Beaker Dye Paper Solvent
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (3 marks): The Rf value of the yellow dye = 0.60 The distance moved by the yellow dye = 5.7 cm Calculate the distance moved by the solvent. [3 marks] Distance moved by the
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (1 mark): The green ink contains more than two compounds. Suggest one reason why only two spots are seen on Figure 2. [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (2 marks): On the student’s chromatogram, the yellow and blue spots are very close together. Which two ways could increase the distance between the spots? [2 marks] Tick (
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.4 (1 mark): The manufacturers of the green ink always use the same proportions of yellow dye and blue dye. Suggest one reason why. [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.5 (1 mark): The Rf value of a dye depends on: • the solubility of the dye in the solvent • the attraction of the dye to the paper. Which will definitely produce a smaller R
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.1 (2 marks): The student calculated the Rf value of the blue dye. The student measured: • the distance moved by the blue dye = 2.7 cm • the distance moved by the solvent = 9
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.2 (1 mark): Which measurements on Figure 6 are needed to calculate the Rf value of the yellow dye? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A and B A and C B and D C and D
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.3 (2 marks): Paper chromatography has a stationary phase and a mobile phase. Draw one line from each phase to the identity of that phase in the student’s investigation. [2 m
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.4 (1 mark): Determine the simplest whole number ratio of yellow dye : blue dye in the green ink. [1 mark] Yellow dye : Blue dye = :
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.5 (1 mark): Which word correctly describes the green ink? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Compound Element Formulation Solvent
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.6 (1 mark): The student repeated the investigation using green ink containing 75% yellow dye and 25% blue dye. What would happen to the Rf value of the yellow dye? [1 mark]
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q02.1 (1 mark): What name is given to a useful product such as methylated spirit? [1 mark]
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q02.2 (2 marks): Calculate the percentage by mass of methanol in methylated spirit. Use Table 1. [2 marks] Percentage = %
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (4 marks): The student made two mistakes in setting up the apparatus. Give one problem caused by each mistake. [4 marks] Mistake 1 Problem caused Mistake 2 Problem caused
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (2 marks): Another student set up the apparatus correctly. Figure 5 represents the student’s results. Figure 5 Give two conclusions you can make from Figure 5. [2 marks] 1
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (2 marks): Colour A has an Rf value of 0.65 Colour A moves 3.2 cm Calculate the distance moved by the solvent. [2 marks] Distance moved by solvent = cm
- Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q02.4 (2 marks): How could the water be tested to show it is pure? Give the expected result of the test for pure water. [2 marks]
- Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.1 (2 marks): Write down two mistakes the student made in setting up the experiment and explai what problems one of the mistakes would cause. [2 mark
- Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.2 (3 marks): Calculate the Rf value of dye A Give your answer to two significant figures. [3 marks] Rf value = 0
- Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.3: Dye D has an Rf value of 0.80. Calculate the distance that dye D moved on the chromatography paper. [1 ma Distance moved by dye D =
- Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q07.4: Explain how the different dyes in X are separated by paper chromatography. [4 mar
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (2 marks): Which two substances are mixtures? [2 mark Tick two boxes. Air Carbon dioxide Graphite Sodium Chloride Steel
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.2 (2 marks): Draw one line from each context to the correct meaning. [2 mark 3
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.1 (2 marks): Figure 3 shows the apparatus the student used. Figure 3 Give two mistakes the student made in setting up the experiment. [2 marks] Tick two boxes. The lid was o
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.2: How many dyes were in X? [1 mar Tick one box. 1 3 4 6
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.3: Which dye, A, B or C, is not in X?
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.4 (6 marks): Use Figure 4 to complete Table 1. Calculate the value for Rf for dye A. [5 marks] Table 1 Distance in mm Distance moved by dye A ……………………….. Distance from start
- Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10.4 (2 marks): How could the water be tested to show it is pure? Give the expected result of the test for pure water. [2 mark
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