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Pure substances and separating mixtures: Edexcel GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Chemistry exam question on Pure substances and separating mixtures (specification points 2.5–2.8), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,880 questions

  1. Q5(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(b)(iii): The mixture of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen can be separated. Which process could be used to separate a mixture of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen? (1) A

  2. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(b)(i): Name the piece of apparatus labelled R in Figure 5. (1)

  3. Q3(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(b)(ii): Explain the purpose of the piece of apparatus labelled Q in Figure 5. (2)

  4. Q9(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 9(a)(iii): State and explain how the white precipitate can be separated from the reaction mixture. (3)

  5. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(ii): The melting points of three samples of S are shown in Figure 12. sample melting point in °C A 160–164 B 166 C 163–165 Figure 12 State whether each of these samp

  6. Q9(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    6 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(c): A solution of sodium chloride in water needs to be separated to obtain a sample of pure, dry sodium chloride and a sample of pure water. Figure 13 shows the boi

  7. Q5(d)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 5(d): After a few days, a dilute solution of ethanol is formed. Which piece of apparatus should be used to produce a concentrated solution of ethanol from the dilute

  8. Q1(d)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Foundation, question 1(d): Toothpastes contain abrasives and other substances to make them effective. Figure 2 is a pie chart of the percentage composition by volume of one toothpaste. ot

  9. Q7(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(c): Titanium is extracted from its ore in several stages. In the first stage, titanium chloride is formed as a gas. The gas is cooled to form liquid titanium chlori

  10. Q7(e)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(e): After this reaction, there is a mixture of the solids magnesium, titanium and magnesium chloride. Titanium does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid. Suggest

  11. Q2(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(b)(i): Explain why this drinking water should not be described as pure water. (2)

  12. Q5(a)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(i): Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used to filter the mixture and collect the sodium chloride solution. (2)

  13. Q5(a)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(ii): Describe how a sample of pure, dry sodium chloride crystals can be obtained from the filtrate. (3)

  14. Q1(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(a): When solid sodium chloride is mixed with water, sodium chloride solution forms. What name is given to the process of mixing a solid with water to form a solutio

  15. Q10(a)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(a)(ii): The apparatus in Figure 11 is used to increase the concentration of the dilute solution of ethanol. water out dilute ethanol solution water in heat Figure 11 Th

  16. Q5(c)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(c): In a different method of obtaining nickel, the process produces a mixture of the liquids nickel tetracarbonyl and iron pentacarbonyl. The boiling point of nicke

  17. Q4(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(a): Which of the following is a mixture of substances? (1) • A air • B carbon dioxide • C gold X D titanium

  18. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(b)(i): One mistake is that the bulb of the thermometer is too low. The bulb of the thermometer should be level with the side arm. Give a reason why the bulb of the the

  19. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(b)(ii): State one other mistake in Figure 5. (1)

  20. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksPure substances and separating mixtures
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(b)(i): Explain how the water in sea water separates to produce the pure water in this apparatus. (2)
All 26 questions on Pure substances and separating mixtures, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(iii) (1 mark): The mixture of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen can be separated. Which process could be used to separate a mixture of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen? (1) A
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the piece of apparatus labelled R in Figure 5. (1)
  3. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the purpose of the piece of apparatus labelled Q in Figure 5. (2)
  4. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a)(iii) (3 marks): State and explain how the white precipitate can be separated from the reaction mixture. (3)
  5. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (3 marks): The melting points of three samples of S are shown in Figure 12. sample melting point in °C A 160–164 B 166 C 163–165 Figure 12 State whether each of these samp
  6. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(c) (6 marks): A solution of sodium chloride in water needs to be separated to obtain a sample of pure, dry sodium chloride and a sample of pure water. Figure 13 shows the boi
  7. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(d) (1 mark): After a few days, a dilute solution of ethanol is formed. Which piece of apparatus should be used to produce a concentrated solution of ethanol from the dilute
  8. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(d) (2 marks): Toothpastes contain abrasives and other substances to make them effective. Figure 2 is a pie chart of the percentage composition by volume of one toothpaste. ot
  9. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c) (1 mark): Titanium is extracted from its ore in several stages. In the first stage, titanium chloride is formed as a gas. The gas is cooled to form liquid titanium chlori
  10. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(e) (2 marks): After this reaction, there is a mixture of the solids magnesium, titanium and magnesium chloride. Titanium does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid. Suggest
  11. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why this drinking water should not be described as pure water. (2)
  12. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used to filter the mixture and collect the sodium chloride solution. (2)
  13. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(ii) (3 marks): Describe how a sample of pure, dry sodium chloride crystals can be obtained from the filtrate. (3)
  14. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a) (1 mark): When solid sodium chloride is mixed with water, sodium chloride solution forms. What name is given to the process of mixing a solid with water to form a solutio
  15. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): The apparatus in Figure 11 is used to increase the concentration of the dilute solution of ethanol. water out dilute ethanol solution water in heat Figure 11 Th
  16. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c) (3 marks): In a different method of obtaining nickel, the process produces a mixture of the liquids nickel tetracarbonyl and iron pentacarbonyl. The boiling point of nicke
  17. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which of the following is a mixture of substances? (1) • A air • B carbon dioxide • C gold X D titanium
  18. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): One mistake is that the bulb of the thermometer is too low. The bulb of the thermometer should be level with the side arm. Give a reason why the bulb of the the
  19. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): State one other mistake in Figure 5. (1)
  20. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the water in sea water separates to produce the pure water in this apparatus. (2)
  21. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the apparatus could be improved to increase the amount of pure water collected from the same volume of sea water. (2)
  22. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Cold water flows through the condenser. On Figure 9 use arrows to show where the water should flow in and where it should flow out. (1)
  23. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why a condenser is used. (2)
  24. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(iii) (1 mark): The flask was heated with a Bunsen burner. Give the name of an alternative piece of apparatus that could be used to heat the flask. (1)
  25. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a mixture? (1) A chlorine B sodium C sodium chloride D sodium chloride solution
  26. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(b) (3 marks): Figure 9 shows some mixtures to be separated and possible methods of separation. Place a tick () in one box in each row of the table to show the best method to

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