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Alkali metals: Edexcel GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Chemistry exam question on Alkali metals (specification points 6.1–6.5), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,880 questions

  1. Q5(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 5(a): Which row gives two physical properties of the alkali metals? (1) hardness melting point A hard low B hard high C soft low D soft high

  2. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 5(b)(i): A teacher adds a small piece of potassium to water. Give two observations that would be seen. (2)

  3. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 5(b)(ii): The reaction of lithium with water is much less vigorous than the reaction of potassium with water. Explain why, in terms of their electronic configurations. (3

  4. Q5(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 5(b)(iii): When sodium reacts with water, a solution of sodium hydroxide is formed. When the solution is left in air, the hydroxide ions react with carbon dioxide, 2–, and

  5. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(a)(i): State which group of the periodic table contains the alkali metals. (1)

  6. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(a)(ii): Which of the following is a property of lithium? (1) A hard B high density C high melting point D malleable

  7. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(b)(i): State the colour change shown by the universal indicator. (1) from to

  8. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(b)(ii): Place ticks () in boxes next to two observations that are made when lithium reacts with water. (2) observations () a green precipitate forms effervescence is

  9. Q6(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(b)(iii): When lithium is added to water, lithium hydroxide and a gas are produced. What is the name of the gas produced in this reaction? (1) A carbon dioxide B chlorine

  10. Q7(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 7(b)(i): Give the formulae of both products. (1) and

  11. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 2(b)(i): Give the name of the container shown in Figure 4. (1)

  12. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 2(b)(ii): A teacher says that step 3 and step 4 will not work to show that hydrogen gas and an alkaline solution are produced in the reaction. Explain one change that cou

  13. Q3(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 3(a): Explain, in terms of their electronic configurations, why these metals are placed in group 1 of the periodic table. (2)

  14. Q3(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 3(b): Which row shows two correct properties of group 1 metals? (1) properties of group 1 metals A compounds are white in colour high density B low melting points com

  15. Q3(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 3(c): The word equation for the reaction of potassium with bromine is potassium + bromine → potassium bromide Add the missing state symbol and balance the equation fo

  16. Q9(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(a): Explain, in terms of their electronic configurations, why these metals are placed in group 1 of the periodic table. (2)

  17. Q9(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(b): Which row shows two correct properties of group 1 metals? (1) properties of group 1 metals A compounds are white in colour high density B low melting points com

  18. Q9(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(c): The word equation for the reaction of potassium with bromine is potassium + bromine → potassium bromide Add the missing state symbol and balance the equation fo

  19. Q9(e)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    6 marksAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(e): The reactivity of the group 1 metals increases from lithium to caesium. Often, teachers demonstrate the reactions of lithium, sodium and potassium with water. T

  20. Q3(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markAlkali metals
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 3(a): When sodium is added to water, hydrogen gas is produced. Which observation shows that a gas has been produced? (1) A a white precipitate forms B effervescence i
All 40 questions on Alkali metals, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(a) (1 mark): Which row gives two physical properties of the alkali metals? (1) hardness melting point A hard low B hard high C soft low D soft high
  2. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): A teacher adds a small piece of potassium to water. Give two observations that would be seen. (2)
  3. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): The reaction of lithium with water is much less vigorous than the reaction of potassium with water. Explain why, in terms of their electronic configurations. (3
  4. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(b)(iii) (2 marks): When sodium reacts with water, a solution of sodium hydroxide is formed. When the solution is left in air, the hydroxide ions react with carbon dioxide, 2–, and
  5. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): State which group of the periodic table contains the alkali metals. (1)
  6. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following is a property of lithium? (1) A hard B high density C high melting point D malleable
  7. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): State the colour change shown by the universal indicator. (1) from to
  8. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Place ticks () in boxes next to two observations that are made when lithium reacts with water. (2) observations () a green precipitate forms effervescence is
  9. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b)(iii) (1 mark): When lithium is added to water, lithium hydroxide and a gas are produced. What is the name of the gas produced in this reaction? (1) A carbon dioxide B chlorine
  10. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the formulae of both products. (1) and
  11. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the container shown in Figure 4. (1)
  12. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): A teacher says that step 3 and step 4 will not work to show that hydrogen gas and an alkaline solution are produced in the reaction. Explain one change that cou
  13. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of their electronic configurations, why these metals are placed in group 1 of the periodic table. (2)
  14. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b) (1 mark): Which row shows two correct properties of group 1 metals? (1) properties of group 1 metals A compounds are white in colour high density B low melting points com
  15. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(c) (2 marks): The word equation for the reaction of potassium with bromine is potassium + bromine → potassium bromide Add the missing state symbol and balance the equation fo
  16. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(a) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of their electronic configurations, why these metals are placed in group 1 of the periodic table. (2)
  17. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(b) (1 mark): Which row shows two correct properties of group 1 metals? (1) properties of group 1 metals A compounds are white in colour high density B low melting points com
  18. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c) (2 marks): The word equation for the reaction of potassium with bromine is potassium + bromine → potassium bromide Add the missing state symbol and balance the equation fo
  19. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(e) (6 marks): The reactivity of the group 1 metals increases from lithium to caesium. Often, teachers demonstrate the reactions of lithium, sodium and potassium with water. T
  20. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a) (1 mark): When sodium is added to water, hydrogen gas is produced. Which observation shows that a gas has been produced? (1) A a white precipitate forms B effervescence i
  21. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the symbol of another element in group 1. (1)
  22. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe the trend in the melting points of the elements in Figure 3. (2)
  23. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Figure 4 shows a diagram of the container the student suggested for step 3. Figure 4 Give the name of the container shown in Figure 4. (1)
  24. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): A teacher says that the method is not safe because the reaction is too vigorous. Explain changes that could be made to step 2 and to step 3 that would make the
  25. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(a) (1 mark): When sodium is added to water, hydrogen gas is produced. Which observation shows that a gas has been produced? (1) A a white precipitate forms B effervescence i
  26. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(a) (1 mark): Which of the following temperatures is most likely to be the melting point of potassium? (1) A –63°C B 6.3°C C 63°C D 630°C
  27. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(d) (6 marks): Group 1 metals react with the elements from group 7 to form salts. Some examples of these reactions are shown in Figure 10. reaction word equation W lithium + c
  28. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(a)(i) (3 marks): Predict what you would see when a small piece of rubidium is placed in a large volume of water. (3)
  29. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Why is rubidium more reactive than potassium? (1) A the metallic bonds in rubidium are weaker than those in potassium B rubidium is a softer metal than potassiu
  30. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(d) (3 marks): Potassium reacts with fluorine to form potassium fluoride. Potassium fluoride is a solid. Complete the balanced equation for this reaction and add the state sym
  31. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(e) (1 mark): What are the elements in group 1 of the periodic table called? . (1) A alkali metals B fullerenes C halogens D noble gases
  32. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe what you would see when a small piece of rubidium is dropped on to water. (2)
  33. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): The electronic configuration of lithium is 2.1 The electronic configuration of potassium is 2.8.8.1 Lithium is less reactive than potassium. Explain, in terms o
  34. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b) (3 marks): Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide solution and hydrogen. Complete the balancing of the equation for this reaction and add the state symbols for
  35. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(c) (1 mark): In an experiment equal-sized pieces of lithium, sodium and potassium are added to separate samples of water. A flame is produced only with potassium because pot
  36. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(d) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of electronic configurations, the increase in reactivity from lithium to sodium to potassium. (2)
  37. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(b) (3 marks): Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide in solution and hydrogen. Complete the balancing of the equation for this reaction and add the state symbols f
  38. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c)(i) (1 mark): A flame is produced only with potassium because potassium (1) A is the softest metal B has the lowest melting point C is the most reactive D is the only flammab
  39. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c)(ii) (6 marks): A teacher demonstrated this experiment. The results are shown in Figure 14. lithium sodium potassium position of metal in water floats floats floats movement of
  40. Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(b) (1 mark): Lithium, sodium and potassium are in group 1 of the periodic table. State, in terms of the electrons in their atoms, what the atoms of lithium, sodium and potas

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