Halogens: Edexcel GCSE Combined Science questions

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

All 70 questions on Halogens, as a list

June 2025, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the substance that causes the orange colour. (1)
June 2025, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d)(ii) (3 marks): Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2025, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a) (1 mark): Give the symbol of the element astatine. Use the periodic table to help you. (1)
June 2025, Chemistry 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, Chemistry 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, Chemistry 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, Chemistry 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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b) (1 mark): Iron wool is heated with bromine vapour as shown in Figure 8. iron wool a few drops of bromine Figure 8 At the end of the reaction, a solid forms at the top of
June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c) (3 marks): Aluminium reacts with bromine. Write the balanced equation for the reaction between aluminium and bromine. (3)
June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the displacement reactions of halogens are redox reactions. (2)
June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(a) (2 marks): Give the colour and physical state of bromine at room temperature. (2) colour physical state
June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Write the word equation for this reaction. (2) + →
June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c) (1 mark): Bromine and the other halogens react with hot iron wool. Figure 7 shows the relative speed of some of these reactions. halogen relative speed of reaction fluori
June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain one precaution that should be taken when preparing the sample of chlorine gas. (2) precaution reason
June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b) (1 mark): State the purpose of the delivery tube. (1)
June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c) (2 marks): Suggest why damp blue litmus is placed at the top of the gas jar. (2)
June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Write the word equation for this reaction. (2) →
June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Balance the equation for the reaction between hydrogen and chlorine to form hydrogen chloride. (1) H2 + Cl2 → HCl
June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): State how hydrogen chloride can be converted into hydrochloric acid. (1)
June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q2(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a) (1 mark): Name the halogen that is in period 4 of the periodic table. (1)
June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b) (3 marks): Explain why chlorine is more reactive than iodine. (3)
June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c) (1 mark): A piece of burning sodium is placed into a gas jar containing chlorine gas, as shown in Figure 5. gas jar chlorine gas sodium deflagrating spoon Figure 5 At the
June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(d)(i) (2 marks): Write the balanced equation for the reaction between sodium and bromine. (2)
June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q4(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the halogen in Figure 6 that is the most reactive with iron. (1)
June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q5(a) (1 mark): Which row in the table correctly shows the colours and physical states of the elements at room temperature? (1) iodine: purple gas bromine: yellow liquid A chlo
November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q5(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 7. reaction word equation W lithium + ch
November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State the name given to the group 7 elements. (1)
November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which element is liquid at room temperature and pressure? (1) A fluorine B chlorine C bromine D iodine
November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(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 4 shows the electr
November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q1(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): The mixture turns brown. Give the name of the substance causing the brown colour. (1)
November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain which substance has been reduced in this reaction. (2)
November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a) (1 mark): Chlorine is toxic. State one safety precaution that should be taken when using chlorine in the laboratory. (1)
November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Write the word equation for this reaction. (1) →
November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(f)(i) (1 mark): Give, using Figure 9, the boiling point of bromine. (1) boiling point of bromine = °C
November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(f)(ii) (1 mark): State which two elements from Figure 9 are solids at room temperature. (1)
June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q2(c) (3 marks): Chlorine reacts with hydrogen to form hydrogen chloride. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a) (2 marks): Describe the test to show that a gas is chlorine. (2)
June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(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 5 shows the
June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q6(e) (2 marks): Fluorine reacts vigorously with iron to produce iron(III) fluoride, FeF3. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (2)
June 2019, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): The name given to group 7 in the periodic table is . (1)
June 2019, Chemistry 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, Chemistry 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, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c) (3 marks): Chlorine reacts with hydrogen to form hydrogen chloride. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2018, Chemistry 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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q5(a) (2 marks): Describe what is seen when chlorine water is added to potassium bromide solution and the mixture shaken. (2)
June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q5(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, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Write the half equation for the formation of bromine from bromide ions. (2)
June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q5(c) (3 marks): Aluminium reacts with chlorine to form aluminium chloride. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. (3)
June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b) (2 marks): Describe what you would see if damp, blue litmus paper is placed into chlorine gas. (2)
June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why chlorine is a gas, rather than a liquid, at room temperature. (2)
June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(e)(i) (1 mark): Figure 7 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 me
June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(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)

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