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Chromatography: Edexcel GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Chemistry exam question on Chromatography (specification points 2.9–2.11), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,880 questions

  1. Q3(c)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(c)(i): Using the information in Figure 6, state which colour is made of only two food dyes. (1)

  2. Q3(c)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(c)(ii): The Rf value of a spot on the chromatogram can be calculated using the equation distance moved by the food dye f = R distance moved by solvent front Using the i

  3. Q9(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(b): A scientist uses chromatography in an investigation of compound S. In the conditions used, compound S has an Rf value of 0.22. Calculate the distance the spot o

  4. Q1(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(a)(i): The chromatogram shows that only one of the inks contains a single dye. Which ink contains a single dye? (1) A W B X C Y D Z

  5. Q1(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(a)(ii): Which ink contains the greatest number of dyes? (1) A W B X C Y D Z

  6. Q1(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(a)(iii): The Rf value of a dye can be calculated using the equation distance moved by the dye Rf = distance moved by solvent front At the end of the chromatography one d

  7. Q5(b)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(b)(i): In the experiment, the solvent front moved 6.5 cm. Calculate the Rf value of the dye that is present in both inks X and Z. (1) Rf =

  8. Q5(b)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(b)(ii): State what could be changed in the experiment to make the Rf value more accurate. (1)

  9. Q5(b)(iii)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(b)(iii): In this experiment, ink sample Y did not move from the start line. Explain a change to the experiment that would be needed to separate the dyes in ink sample Y.

  10. Q4(c)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(c)(i): The steps needed to carry out the chromatography experiment are listed below. They are not in the correct order. 1 leave the solvent to rise up the paper put so

  11. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(c)(ii): Explain, using Figure 6, which food colouring contains the greatest number of coloured substances. (2)

  12. Q4(c)(iii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(c)(iii): During chromatography of the food colourings, the solvent front moved 8.00 cm and the food colouring R moved 2.30 cm. Calculate the R, value for food colouring

  13. Q6(a)

    June 2018 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(a): Which method is used to separate the coloured substances in the ink? (1) A chromatography B crystallisation C filtration D fractional distillation

  14. Q1(a)(i)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(i): Give a reason why the start line is drawn in pencil rather than in ink. (1)

  15. Q1(a)(ii)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(ii): The chromatography paper, with the spot of mixture on it, was placed in a beaker with the bottom of the paper in water. On Figure 2, complete the diagram showin

  16. Q1(a)(iii)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Higher, question 1(a)(iii): The chromatography was carried out and the result is shown in Figure 3. solvent front blue spot X cm red spot Figure 3 The blue spot had moved 14.5 cm and the s

  17. Q1(b)(i)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Higher, question 1(b)(i): Which mixture contains an insoluble food colouring? (1) A mixture P B mixture Q C mixture R D mixture S

  18. Q1(b)(ii)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Higher, question 1(b)(ii): Give a change that could be made to the experiment to obtain an Rf value for the insoluble colouring. (1)

  19. Q1(b)(iii)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Higher, question 1(b)(iii): Explain, by referring to Figure 4, which mixture is separated into the greatest number of soluble food colourings by this chromatography experiment. (2)

  20. Q7(c)(i)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markChromatography
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(c)(i): Give a reason why the start line is drawn in pencil rather than in ink. (1)
All 25 questions on Chromatography, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): Using the information in Figure 6, state which colour is made of only two food dyes. (1)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): The Rf value of a spot on the chromatogram can be calculated using the equation distance moved by the food dye f = R distance moved by solvent front Using the i
  3. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(b) (2 marks): A scientist uses chromatography in an investigation of compound S. In the conditions used, compound S has an Rf value of 0.22. Calculate the distance the spot o
  4. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): The chromatogram shows that only one of the inks contains a single dye. Which ink contains a single dye? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
  5. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which ink contains the greatest number of dyes? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
  6. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(iii) (2 marks): The Rf value of a dye can be calculated using the equation distance moved by the dye Rf = distance moved by solvent front At the end of the chromatography one d
  7. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): In the experiment, the solvent front moved 6.5 cm. Calculate the Rf value of the dye that is present in both inks X and Z. (1) Rf =
  8. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): State what could be changed in the experiment to make the Rf value more accurate. (1)
  9. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(iii) (2 marks): In this experiment, ink sample Y did not move from the start line. Explain a change to the experiment that would be needed to separate the dyes in ink sample Y.
  10. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): The steps needed to carry out the chromatography experiment are listed below. They are not in the correct order. 1 leave the solvent to rise up the paper put so
  11. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain, using Figure 6, which food colouring contains the greatest number of coloured substances. (2)
  12. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(iii) (2 marks): During chromatography of the food colourings, the solvent front moved 8.00 cm and the food colouring R moved 2.30 cm. Calculate the R, value for food colouring
  13. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which method is used to separate the coloured substances in the ink? (1) A chromatography B crystallisation C filtration D fractional distillation
  14. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why the start line is drawn in pencil rather than in ink. (1)
  15. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): The chromatography paper, with the spot of mixture on it, was placed in a beaker with the bottom of the paper in water. On Figure 2, complete the diagram showin
  16. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(iii) (2 marks): The chromatography was carried out and the result is shown in Figure 3. solvent front blue spot X cm red spot Figure 3 The blue spot had moved 14.5 cm and the s
  17. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which mixture contains an insoluble food colouring? (1) A mixture P B mixture Q C mixture R D mixture S
  18. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give a change that could be made to the experiment to obtain an Rf value for the insoluble colouring. (1)
  19. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain, by referring to Figure 4, which mixture is separated into the greatest number of soluble food colourings by this chromatography experiment. (2)
  20. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why the start line is drawn in pencil rather than in ink. (1)
  21. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): The chromatography paper, with the spot of mixture on it, was placed in a beaker with the bottom of the paper in solvent. On Figure 11, complete the diagram sho
  22. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(iii) (2 marks): The chromatography was carried out and the result is shown in Figure 12. solvent front blue spot X cm red spot Figure 12 The blue spot had moved 14.5 cm and the
  23. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(d)(i) (1 mark): Which mixture contains an insoluble food colouring? (1) A mixture P B mixture Q C mixture R D mixture S
  24. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(d)(ii) (1 mark): Give a change that could be made to the experiment to obtain an Rf value for the insoluble colouring. (1)
  25. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(d)(iii) (2 marks): Explain, by referring to Figure 13, which mixture is separated into the greatest number of soluble food colourings by this chromatography experiment. (2)

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