The periodic table: Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry exam question on The periodic table (specification points 1.18–1.24), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 68 questions on The periodic table, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(b) (4 marks): Use information from the diagram to complete the table for this element. (4) mass number group number period number electronic configuration
June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(c) (1 mark): Give the name of this element. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): This is the equation for the reaction between silicon dioxide and calcium oxide. SiO2 + CaO → CaSiO3 Give a reason why silicon dioxide reacts with calcium oxide
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): to (iv). You may use each gas once, more than once or not at all. (i) Identify two gases in Group 0 of the Periodic Table. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the number of the group to which element Z belongs. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the number of the period to which element Z belongs. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(d) (1 mark): Deduce the name of element Z. (1)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the element with atomic number 16 (1)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the element with relative atomic mass 9 (1)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the name of the element in Group 3 and Period 2 (1)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): Give the electronic configuration of an atom of silicon. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which period of the Periodic Table contains sulfur? (1) A 2 B 3 C 4 D 6
November 2023, Paper 1, Q2(b)(iii) (1 mark): Give the letter in table 2 that represents an element in Group 5 of the Periodic Table. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the element with atomic number 14. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the element in Group 2 and Period 3. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name an element that is a liquid at room temperature. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): Give the electronic configuration of an atom of phosphorus. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): Explain, in terms of electron configuration, why neon is unreactive. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): How are elements arranged in the Periodic Table? (1) A increasing atomic number B increasing melting point C increasing reactivity D increasing relative atomic
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which statement is correct about the position of phosphorus, P, in the Periodic Table? (1) A Group 2 and Period 5 B Group 3 and Period 5 C Group 5 and Period 2
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain which of the four elements in the diagram is least reactive. (2)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason why neon does not react with the iron wool. (1)
January 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a) (3 marks): The diagram shows the electronic configuration of an atom of an element. A Complete the table by giving the missing information. (3) Name of the part of this at
January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): Give the number of the Group in the Periodic Table that contains the elements that do not readily react. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q5(a) (1 mark): The atomic number of phosphorus is 15 Give the electronic configuration of an atom of phosphorus. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(c) (1 mark): Give the number of the group that contains this element. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(d) (1 mark): Give the number of the period that contains this element. (1)
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the symbol of a metal from the diagram. (1)
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the symbol of an element from the diagram that forms an acidic oxide. (1)
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b) (1 mark): Give a similarity in the electron configurations of Al and In. (1)
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q4(c) (2 marks): Explain which element in the diagram is unreactive. (2)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): State why argon is unreactive. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain which group of the Periodic Table element X belongs to. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): State one chemical property of the product of combustion that can be used to classify magnesium as a metal. (1)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which row gives the correct number of occupied electron shells and the correct number of outer shell electrons in an atom of iodine? Use the Periodic Table on p
November 2021, Paper 1, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why argon is extremely unreactive. (2)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): Identify the element with atomic number 7 (1)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): Identify a solid non‑metallic element in Period 3 (1)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): Name an element in Group 7 that is a liquid at room temperature. (1)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(d) (1 mark): State the relative atomic mass of the element that is in Group 4 and Period 4 (1)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(e) (1 mark): Which row shows the most reactive element in Group 1 and Group 7? (1) Most reactive element Most reactive element in Group 1 in Group 7 A lithium fluorine B fra
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the element with atomic number 14 (1)
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the element with a relative atomic mass of 11 (1)
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name the element in Group 2 and Period 3 (1)
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): State the electronic configuration of an aluminium atom. (1)
June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): State why neon is unreactive. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): Name a metallic element. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q1(e) (1 mark): Name an element that forms a basic oxide. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q1(f) (1 mark): Name two elements that are in the same group of the Periodic Table. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify the element with atomic number 5 (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the symbol of a metallic element in Period 3 (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify the element whose atoms contain 14 protons. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): Identify the element whose atoms have the electronic configuration 2.5 (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which group contains elements that are all unreactive? (1) A Group 2 B Group 5 C Group 6 D Group 0
November 2020, Paper 1, Q5(a) (2 marks): Chlorine, bromine and iodine are elements in the Periodic Table. Explain how the position of these elements in the Periodic Table depends on their electronic co
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the symbol of a metal. (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the symbol of a noble gas. (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the symbol of a liquid at room temperature. (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(iv) (1 mark): Give the symbols of the two elements in Period 3 (1) and
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (1 mark): Deduce the electronic configuration of Na (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): How many electrons are there in the outer shell of an atom of thallium? (1) A 3 B 6 C 13 D 81
January 2020, Paper 1, Q2(a) (5 marks): Complete the table by giving the missing information about this atom. (5) name of the part of this atom labelled Z number of protons in this atom number of the
January 2020, Paper 2, Q1(c)(iii) (1 mark): Identify the non‑metal element that is a solid at room temperature. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): How are the elements arranged in the Periodic Table? (1) A increasing mass number B increasing number of neutrons C increasing number of protons D increasing re
January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Elements in the same group have the same number of (1) A electrons in the outer shell B electron shells C neutrons D protons
June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): Give the letter from the diagram that represents a noble gas. (1)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(b) (1 mark): Elements L and M are in the same group. State why they have similar chemical reactions. (1)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(b) (2 marks): Explain why helium is now used in airships instead of hydrogen. (2)

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