Halogens: Edexcel GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Chemistry exam question on Halogens (specification points 6.6–6.13), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 73 questions on Halogens, as a list

June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(d)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the substance that causes the orange colour. (1)
June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(d)(ii) (3 marks): Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): What is the colour of chlorine gas at room temperature? (1) A yellow-green B red-brown C purple D black
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Damp blue litmus paper can be used to test for chlorine gas. Use words from the box to complete the sentences. (2) blue orange red white yellow When damp blue l
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): Describe the trend in the boiling points of the first three halogens in Figure 1. (2)
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): Using the information in Figure 1, predict the boiling point of iodine. Write your prediction on the answer line below. (1) boiling point of iodine = °C
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a) (1 mark): Which row shows the colour and physical state of iodine at room temperature? (1) colour physical state A dark grey solid B red brown liquid C green solid D purp
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b) (1 mark): Iron wool is heated with bromine vapour as shown in Figure 12. iron wool a few drops of bromine Figure 12 At the end of the reaction, a solid forms at the top o
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(c) (3 marks): Aluminium reacts with bromine. Write the balanced equation for the reaction between aluminium and bromine. (3)
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(d)(i) (6 marks): The order of reactivity of the halogens can be found by displacement reactions. A student was provided with • solutions of bromine, chlorine and iodine • soluti
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(d)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the displacement reactions of halogens are redox reactions. (2)
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a) (2 marks): Give the colour and physical state of bromine at room temperature. (2) colour physical state
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Write the word equation for this reaction. (2) + →
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c) (1 mark): Bromine and the other halogens react with hot iron wool. Figure 11 shows the relative speed of some of these reactions. halogen relative speed of reaction fluor
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): and (a)(ii). (i) What are the hazards associated with potassium manganate(VII)? (1) A flammable, harmful and corrosive B flammable, toxic and hazardous to the e
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain one precaution that should be taken when preparing the sample of chlorine gas. (2) precaution reason
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b) (1 mark): State the purpose of the delivery tube. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c) (2 marks): Suggest why damp blue litmus is placed at the top of the gas jar. (2)
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d) (3 marks): In the reaction, potassium manganate(VII), KMnO4 , reacts with hydrochloric acid to form manganese chloride, MnCl2 , potassium chloride, chlorine and water. Wri
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a) (1 mark): What name is given to group 7 of the periodic table? (1) A alkali metals B halogens C noble gases D transition metals
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Write the word equation for this reaction. (2) →
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): Balance the equation for the reaction between hydrogen and chlorine to form hydrogen chloride. (1) H2 + Cl2 → HCl
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c)(ii) (1 mark): State how hydrogen chloride can be converted into hydrochloric acid. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b) (1 mark): Some damp litmus paper is placed in a gas. The litmus paper is bleached. Which gas bleaches damp litmus paper? (1) A carbon dioxide B chlorine C hydrogen D oxyg
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a) (1 mark): Name the halogen that is in period 4 of the periodic table. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b) (3 marks): Explain why chlorine is more reactive than iodine. (3)
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c) (1 mark): A piece of burning sodium is placed into a gas jar containing chlorine gas, as shown in Figure 9. gas jar chlorine gas sodium deflagrating spoon Figure 9 At the
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d)(i) (2 marks): Write the balanced equation for the reaction between sodium and bromine. (2)
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d)(ii) (1 mark): In another experiment, a student adds colourless sodium bromide solution to chlorine water. State what you would see in this reaction. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d)(iii) (2 marks): The ionic equation for the reaction between sodium bromide and chlorine is: 2Br– + Cl2 → 2Cl– + Br2 Explain which species has been oxidised in this reaction. (2
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which halogen is a green gas at room temperature and pressure? (1) A bromine B chlorine C fluorine D iodine
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): When iron wool is heated with chlorine, iron chloride is formed. Write the word equation for this reaction. (2)
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the halogen in Figure 9 that is the most reactive with iron. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(b) (1 mark): Some damp litmus paper is placed in a gas. The litmus paper is bleached. Which gas bleaches damp litmus paper? (1) A carbon dioxide B chlorine C hydrogen D oxyg
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(a) (1 mark): Which row in the table correctly shows the colours and physical states of the elements at room temperature? (1) A iodine: purple gas bromine: yellow liquid B ch
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
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): State the name given to the group 7 elements. (1)
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name one other element that is in group 7. Use the periodic table on the back of this exam paper to help you. (1)
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which element is liquid at room temperature and pressure? (1) A fluorine B chlorine C bromine D iodine
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which element is dark-grey in colour at room temperature and pressure? (1) A fluorine B chlorine C bromine D iodine
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c) (2 marks): Tin also reacts with fluorine. The reaction between fluorine and tin is much more vigorous than the reaction between chlorine and tin. Figure 8 shows the electr
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(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
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): The mixture turns brown. Give the name of the substance causing the brown colour. (1)
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain which substance has been reduced in this reaction. (2)
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a) (1 mark): Chlorine is toxic. State one safety precaution that should be taken when using chlorine in the laboratory. (1)
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Write the word equation for this reaction. (1) →
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Hydrogen chloride dissolves in water to form an acidic solution. State what is seen when blue litmus paper is placed into this solution. (1)
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c) (1 mark): If chlorine solution is added to sodium bromide solution a reaction occurs. chlorine + sodium bromide → sodium chloride + bromine Give a reason why this reactio
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(f)(i) (1 mark): Give, using Figure 14, the boiling point of bromine. (1) boiling point of bromine = °C
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(f)(ii) (1 mark): State which two elements from Figure 14 are solids at room temperature. (1)
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(c) (3 marks): Chlorine reacts with hydrogen to form hydrogen chloride. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a) (2 marks): Describe the test to show that a gas is chlorine. (2)
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b) (1 mark): Bromine reacts with hydrogen to form hydrogen bromide. Hydrogen bromide dissolves in water to form a solution. State the name of the solution formed. (1)
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(c) (2 marks): There is a trend in the colour and the state of the halogens at room temperature. Predict the colour and state of astatine at room temperature. (2) colour state
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(d) (4 marks): Bromine, chlorine and iodine are dissolved in water to make aqueous solutions. Potassium iodide solution is added to each of these solutions. Figure 6 shows the
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(e) (2 marks): Fluorine reacts vigorously with iron to produce iron(III) fluoride, FeF3. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (2)
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): The name given to group 7 in the periodic table is . (1)
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b) (1 mark): Which of the following rows gives the colours of the group 7 elements chlorine and bromine at room temperature? (1) chlorine bromine A red‑brown purple B yellow
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (1 mark): Figure 2 shows the melting and boiling points of bromine and iodine. melting point in °C boiling point in °C element bromine –7 59 iodine 114 184 Figure 2 Using
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c) (3 marks): Chlorine reacts with hydrogen to form hydrogen chloride. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b) (2 marks): Describe what you would see if damp, blue litmus paper is placed into chlorine gas. (2)
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(a) (2 marks): Describe what is seen when chlorine water is added to potassium bromide solution and the mixture shaken. (2)
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): In this reaction, chlorine has been reduced. Explain, using the equation, how you know that chlorine has been reduced. (2)
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Write the half equation for the formation of bromine from bromide ions. (2)
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(c) (3 marks): Aluminium reacts with chlorine to form aluminium chloride. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b) (2 marks): Describe what you would see if damp, blue litmus paper is placed into chlorine gas. (2)
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(e)(i) (1 mark): Figure 13 lists the halogens in the order in which they appear in group 7 of the periodic table. The melting points of four of the halogens are given. halogen m
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(e)(ii) (1 mark): Bromine reacts with heated iron. Give the name of one halogen that would react with iron more vigorously than bromine. (1)
Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(a) (1 mark): The appearances of chlorine, bromine and iodine at room temperature are shown in Figure 10. halogen appearance chlorine green gas bromine red-brown liquid iodin
Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(b) (6 marks): The order of reactivity of chlorine, bromine and iodine can be determined by carrying out displacement reactions. Explain how displacement reactions can be used
Specimen, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): When iron reacts with bromine, bromide ions are formed. Explain the type of reaction bromine atoms undergo when they are converted to bromide ions. (2)
Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b) (1 mark): Figure 4 shows information about some of the elements in group 7 of the periodic table. element melting point / °C boiling point / °C fluorine –220 –188 chlorin
Specimen, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (2 marks): Chlorine reacts with potassium iodide to form iodine and potassium chloride. Complete the word equation for the reaction between bromine and potassium astatide.

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