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Purity, formulations and chromatography: AQA GCSE Combined Science questions

Every AQA GCSE Combined Science exam question on 5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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3,069 questions

  1. Q04.1

    June 2025 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 04.1: Methanol is used in screenwash. Screenwash is used to keep car windscreens clean. Screenwash is a formulation. Define the term ‘formulation’. [1 mark]

  2. Q03.1

    June 2025 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.1: Screenwash is made by mixing the components in carefully measured quantities so that the product has the required properties. What name is given to this type of

  3. Q04.1

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 04.1: Explain why the red colour did not move from the start line. [2 marks]

  4. Q04.2

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    4 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 04.2: The blue colour moved 6.4 cm up the chromatogram. The Rf value of the blue colour is 0.87 Calculate the distance moved by the solvent. Give your answer to 2 sig

  5. Q04.3

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 04.3: Suggest one reason why only three colours were visible on the chromatogram. [1 mark]

  6. Q04.4

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 04.4: Suggest how the student could use chromatography to show there were four colours in the printer ink. [1 mark]

  7. Q02.1

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.1: A student measured the melting points of four substances. Table 1 shows the results. Table 1 Substance Melting point in °C A 52 to 54 B 61 C –2 to 0 D 80 to 82

  8. Q03.1

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.1: What is the name given to a mixture that has been designed as a useful product? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Formula Formulation Fraction A student used chromatog

  9. Q03.2

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.2: The student used a ruler for the start line. What would the student have used to draw the start line? Give one reason for your answer. [2 marks] Reason

  10. Q03.3

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    4 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.3: Determine the Rf value of the red colour. Use the equation: Rf = distance moved by colour distance moved by solvent [4 marks] Distance moved by red colour Dista

  11. Q03.4

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 03.4: Table 2 shows the Rf values of four blue colours. Table 2 Blue colour Rf Cerulean 0.40 Cobalt 0.15 Prussian 0.88 Ultramarine 0.68 The student determined that th

  12. Q01.3

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 01.3: The gases released when a fuel is burned in car engines may include: • oxides of nitrogen • carbon monoxide • water vapour. Which chemical element do all these

  13. Q02.1

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 02.1: What is the other phase in chromatography? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Moving phase Recycled phase Stationary phase Viscous phase

  14. Q02.2

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 02.2: Why do the substances in the mixture separate in the mobile phase? [1 mark]

  15. Q02.3

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 02.3: How many spots will be produced on the chromatogram of a pure compound? [1 mark] Number of spots =

  16. Q02.4

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 02.4: In a chromatography experiment, a blue colour moved 4.77 cm. The solvent moved 5.30 cm. Calculate the Rf value for the blue colour. [2 marks] Rf value =

  17. Q02.5

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    6 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 02.5: Black ink is a mixture of several colours. Plan an experiment using paper chromatography to: • separate the colours in black ink • identify the colours from the

  18. Q03.1

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks5.7.1 Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 03.1: Give two reasons why crude oil is not a formulation. [2 marks] 1 2

  19. Q04.3

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography5.9.2 Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 04.3: The student concludes that distilled water is pure. Describe a test to confirm that distilled water is pure. [2 marks] Test Result Tap water is potable.

  20. Q05.3

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.8.1 Purity, formulations and chromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.3: The gases released when a fuel is burned in car engines may include: • oxides of nitrogen • carbon monoxide • water vapour. Which chemical element do all these
All 49 questions on Purity, formulations and chromatography, as a list
  1. June 2025, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (1 mark): Methanol is used in screenwash. Screenwash is used to keep car windscreens clean. Screenwash is a formulation. Define the term ‘formulation’. [1 mark]
  2. June 2025, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.1 (1 mark): Screenwash is made by mixing the components in carefully measured quantities so that the product has the required properties. What name is given to this type of
  3. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (2 marks): Explain why the red colour did not move from the start line. [2 marks]
  4. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (4 marks): The blue colour moved 6.4 cm up the chromatogram. The Rf value of the blue colour is 0.87 Calculate the distance moved by the solvent. Give your answer to 2 sig
  5. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (1 mark): Suggest one reason why only three colours were visible on the chromatogram. [1 mark]
  6. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q04.4 (1 mark): Suggest how the student could use chromatography to show there were four colours in the printer ink. [1 mark]
  7. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.1 (2 marks): A student measured the melting points of four substances. Table 1 shows the results. Table 1 Substance Melting point in °C A 52 to 54 B 61 C –2 to 0 D 80 to 82
  8. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.1 (1 mark): What is the name given to a mixture that has been designed as a useful product? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Formula Formulation Fraction A student used chromatog
  9. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.2 (2 marks): The student used a ruler for the start line. What would the student have used to draw the start line? Give one reason for your answer. [2 marks] Reason
  10. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.3 (4 marks): Determine the Rf value of the red colour. Use the equation: Rf = distance moved by colour distance moved by solvent [4 marks] Distance moved by red colour Dista
  11. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.4 (2 marks): Table 2 shows the Rf values of four blue colours. Table 2 Blue colour Rf Cerulean 0.40 Cobalt 0.15 Prussian 0.88 Ultramarine 0.68 The student determined that th
  12. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q01.3 (1 mark): The gases released when a fuel is burned in car engines may include: • oxides of nitrogen • carbon monoxide • water vapour. Which chemical element do all these
  13. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q02.1 (1 mark): What is the other phase in chromatography? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Moving phase Recycled phase Stationary phase Viscous phase
  14. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q02.2 (1 mark): Why do the substances in the mixture separate in the mobile phase? [1 mark]
  15. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q02.3 (1 mark): How many spots will be produced on the chromatogram of a pure compound? [1 mark] Number of spots =
  16. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q02.4 (2 marks): In a chromatography experiment, a blue colour moved 4.77 cm. The solvent moved 5.30 cm. Calculate the Rf value for the blue colour. [2 marks] Rf value =
  17. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q02.5 (6 marks): Black ink is a mixture of several colours. Plan an experiment using paper chromatography to: • separate the colours in black ink • identify the colours from the
  18. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (2 marks): Give two reasons why crude oil is not a formulation. [2 marks] 1 2
  19. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (2 marks): The student concludes that distilled water is pure. Describe a test to confirm that distilled water is pure. [2 marks] Test Result Tap water is potable.
  20. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.3 (1 mark): The gases released when a fuel is burned in car engines may include: • oxides of nitrogen • carbon monoxide • water vapour. Which chemical element do all these
  21. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.1 (1 mark): What is the other phase in chromatography? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Moving phase Recycled phase Stationary phase Viscous phase
  22. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.2 (1 mark): Why do the substances in the mixture separate in the mobile phase? [1 mark]
  23. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.3 (1 mark): How many spots will be produced on the chromatogram of a pure compound? [1 mark] Number of spots =
  24. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.4 (2 marks): In a chromatography experiment, a blue colour moved 4.77 cm. The solvent moved 5.30 cm. Calculate the Rf value for the blue colour. [2 marks] Rf value =
  25. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.5 (6 marks): Black ink is a mixture of several colours. Plan an experiment using paper chromatography to: • separate the colours in black ink • identify the colours from the
  26. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q01.1 (4 marks): Figure 1 shows the apparatus used. Figure 1 Give two errors made by the student. Describe the problem each error would cause. [4 marks] Error 1 Problem 1 Error
  27. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (2 marks): Give two conclusions the student can make from Figure 2 about the four colours in the brown ink. [2 marks] 1 2
  28. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q01.3 (1 mark): Why was the green colour still on the start line at the end of the experiment? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The experiment was left for too long. The green colour
  29. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q01.4 (3 marks): A student calculated the Rf value of a colour to be 0.24 The colour moved 1.8 cm from the start line. Calculate the distance the solvent moved. Use the equation
  30. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.8 (1 mark): Ammonia is in a mixture that is used as a household cleaner. What is a mixture that has been designed as a useful product called? [1 mark]
  31. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.1 (4 marks): Figure 10 shows the apparatus used. Figure 10 Give two errors made by the student. Describe the problem each error would cause. [4 marks] Error 1 Problem 1 Erro
  32. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.2 (2 marks): Give two conclusions the student can make from Figure 11 about the four colours in the brown ink. [2 marks] 1 2
  33. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.3 (1 mark): Why was the green colour still on the start line at the end of the experiment? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The experiment was left for too long. The green colour
  34. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.4 (3 marks): A student calculated the Rf value of a colour to be 0.24 The colour moved 1.8 cm from the start line. Calculate the distance the solvent moved. Use the equation
  35. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (1 mark): In chemistry, what is meant by a ‘pure substance’? [1 mark]
  36. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (3 marks): The boiling point of a 250 g sample of water was 100.60 °C. The boiling point of pure water in a data book is 100.00 °C. Each 1% of impurity increases the boili
  37. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.6 (1 mark): The catalyst in catalytic converters contains platinum. Platinum is an unreactive metal obtained from the Earth’s crust. Complete the sentence. Choose the answe
  38. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.1 (1 mark): Which substance is a mixture? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Air Gold Methane Nitrogen
  39. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.2 (1 mark): Food colourings are often mixtures of dyes. What name is given to mixtures that are designed as useful products? [1 mark] A student investigated a purple food c
  40. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.3 (2 marks): Figure 8 shows the apparatus used. Figure 8 Chromatography involves a stationary phase and a mobile phase. Draw one line from each phase to what is used for tha
  41. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.4 (3 marks): What three conclusions can you make about the dyes in food colouring Y? [3 marks] 1 2 3
  42. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.5 (2 marks): In a different experiment a student recorded these results: Distance moved by dye G = 60 mm Distance moved by solvent = 80 mm Calculate the Rf value of dye G. R
  43. June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q01.2 (2 marks): Describe a test for pure water. Give the result of the test if the water is pure. [2 marks] Test Result
  44. June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (1 mark): Food colouring is a formulation. What is a formulation? [1 mark]
  45. June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (2 marks): Explain how paper chromatography separates the dyes in a food colouring. Do not give details of how to do the experiment. [2 marks]
  46. June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (2 marks): Explain how the student could tell from the chromatogram that the food colouring contained more than one dye. [2 marks]
  47. June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.4 (3 marks): Explain how the student could use chromatography to identify unknown dyes in the food colouring. [3 marks]
  48. June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (1 mark): Potable water is not pure water. Describe the difference between potable water and pure water. [1 mark]
  49. June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (1 mark): What is a formulation? [1 mark]

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