States of matter: Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry exam question on States of matter (specification points 1.1–1.7), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 68 questions on States of matter, as a list

June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the change from liquid to solid. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the change from liquid to gas. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the name of the change from solid to gas. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe the arrangement, movement and energy of the particles in a gas. (3)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q3(a) (2 marks): Name the two processes that must occur before the copper(II) hydroxide forms. (2) 1 2
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(a) (3 marks): Substances can change from one state to another. The box gives some words about changes of state. condensing cooling evaporation freezing heating melting sublim
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Complete the diagram by drawing six circles to represent atoms in the gas state. (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which statement is correct about this substance? (1) A the atoms move randomly in the gas state B the atoms move randomly in the solid state C the atoms are in
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(c) (1 mark): Complete the equation, by adding the state symbols, for the conversion of water into ice. (1) H2O( ) → H2O( )
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): Complete the diagram to show the arrangement of another four particles in a gas. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(b) (2 marks): Explain why heating a liquid causes it to evaporate more quickly. (2)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of this change of state. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): Write an equation, including state symbols, to show the change of state of water from a gas to a liquid. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(d) (2 marks): Describe the arrangement and movement of particles in a solid. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the diagram to show the arrangement of six more particles in a gas. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason why a tank can store much more oxygen as a liquid. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify a hazard when storing oxygen as a gas. (1)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the diagram to show how particles are arranged in the liquid state. (1)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the state of matter that contains particles with the least energy. (1)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q1(b) (2 marks): The table shows two changes of state. Complete the table by giving the name of each change of state. (2) Change of state Name solid to liquid solid to gas
January 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c) (2 marks): Explain why hot water evaporates more quickly than cold water. (2)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q2(d)(i) (1 mark): Which equation gives the correct state symbols for a process that occurs in the beaker? (1) A X(s) → X(l) B X(s) → X(g) C X(aq) → X(s) D X(s) → X(aq)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q2(d)(ii) (1 mark): Which other process occurs in the beaker? (1) A boiling B condensing C diffusion D sublimation
January 2023, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which substance is a gas at 600 °C? (1) A B C D
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a) (3 marks): Use words from the box to identify the changes of state X, Y and Z. condensing cooling crystallising diffusing evaporating freezing heating (3) X Y Z
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b) (2 marks): Describe the differences in the movement of particles in solids and gases. (2)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(a) (4 marks): The box shows some changes of state. boiling condensation evaporation freezing melting sublimation The table lists some physical changes. Complete the table usi
June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): State two things the student could do to make the salt dissolve quickly. (2) 1 2
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q2(a) (2 marks): Give the names of the two processes that cause the coloured solution to form. (2) 1 2
January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(a) (3 marks): The box gives words relating to changes of state. condensation cooling evaporation freezing melting sublimation Complete the table by giving the correct word fr
January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): State the name given to the spreading out of gas particles. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): State how the diagram shows that the particles of ammonia gas are travelling at higher speeds than the particles of hydrogen chloride gas. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(b)(iii) (1 mark): Gas particles travel at high speeds. Give a reason why the white ring of ammonium chloride takes several minutes to form. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(b)(iv) (1 mark): Concentrated ammonia solution and concentrated hydrochloric acid are corrosive. Give one safety precaution the teacher should take. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c) (2 marks): A dark purple liquid is diluted by adding water. The diluted liquid becomes a pale purple colour. Explain the process that causes this change. Refer to particle
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b) (2 marks): Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. Describe the difference in the movement of particles in liquid mercury and in a solid metal. (2)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q10(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the change of state taking place at A. (1)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q10(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name the change of state taking place at B. (1)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the diagram shows that hydrogen sulfide gas diffuses more quickly than sulfur dioxide gas. (2)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): Deduce a relationship between the relative formula mass (Mr) of a gas and the speed at which a gas diffuses. Use the Ar values to help you. [Ar values: H = 1 S
June 2021, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the process that occurs which causes the sugar to spread throughout the water. (1)
June 2021, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): State two ways to make the sugar dissolve more quickly. (2) 1 2
January 2021, Paper 1, Q1(a) (3 marks): Use the words solid, liquid or gas to give the initial and final state of matter for each of the changes listed in the table. The first one has been done for yo
January 2021, Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): Particles in a solid are closely packed, arranged in a regular pattern and vibrate about fixed positions. Describe the arrangement and movement of the particles
January 2021, Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which substance is a gas at 100 °C? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
January 2021, Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which substance is a liquid for the largest range of temperature? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
January 2021, Paper 1, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which substance is a liquid at 1000 °C and a gas at 2000 °C? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
January 2021, Paper 1, Q3(a) (2 marks): Name the two processes that occur before the solid lead iodide forms. (2) 1 2
January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the change of state that occurs when a substance melts. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Complete the word equation for the sublimation of iodine. iodine (s) → iodine ( ) (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): The circle in the diagram represents a particle. Complete the diagram to show the arrangement of particles in a gas. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q1(c) (2 marks): The table lists some statements about particles. Place ticks () in boxes to show which two statements are correct for water particles. (2) Statement Tick the p
November 2020, Paper 1, Q2(a) (3 marks): The boxes list changes that may happen in a laboratory and the names of some changes. Draw one straight line from each change to its correct name. (3) Change Na
January 2020, Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the change of state from solid to gas. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the diagram to show how particles are arranged in the liquid state. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the state of matter in which the particles have the most energy. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (3 marks): The state symbols (s), (l), (g) and (aq) are often used in chemistry. The table shows some physical changes. Complete the table by giving the state symbol befor
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c) (2 marks): Explain why hot water evaporates more quickly than cold water. (2)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the mean speed of ammonia molecules compares with the mean speed of hydrogen chloride molecules. (2)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): Gas particles travel very quickly. Give two reasons why it takes several minutes for the ammonium chloride to form. (2) 1 2
June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): After a short time, the crystal becomes smaller and the liquid at the bottom of the beaker becomes purple. Which statement explains this observation? (1) * A th
June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which statement describes the final appearance of the liquid? (1) A all of the liquid is purple B none of the liquid is purple C only the bottom half of the liq
June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which process causes this change in appearance? (1) A condensation • B crystallisation C diffusion D evaporation 4
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(a) (1 mark): Which property of hydrogen makes it a suitable gas to use in an airship? (1) A colourless B insoluble in water C low density D no smell
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): The change from solid to liquid is called (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): The change from liquid to gas is called (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): The change from solid to gas is called (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe the arrangement and the movement of particles in a solid. (3)

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Every Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry paper.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.

2,333 questions