plumiGroup 2: OCR A‑Level Chemistry A questions
Every OCR A-Level Chemistry A exam question on 3.1.2 Group 2, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
![June 2024 Paper 1, question 4: Which compounds of magnesium can be used as ‘antacids’? A Chlorides B Hydroxides C Nitrates D Sulfates Your answer [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h43201-jun24-04-qp.webp?v=3)
Q21(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q2(a)(iv)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 2(a)(iv): Magnesium reacts with oxygen in the air. Write the equation for this reaction. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-jun24-02-aiv-qp.webp?v=3)
Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 2(a)(i): Construct the equation for the reaction and predict one observation that the student would make. Equation Observation [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-jun23-02-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 2(a)(ii): Suggest one difference that the student would observe in the reaction of barium with water compared to the reaction of calcium with water. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-jun23-02-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q21(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 1, question 21(a)(i): Suggest two observations from the student’s experiment that would show that calcium is more reactive than magnesium. 1 2 [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h43201-jun22-21-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 2(a)(i): Write an equation for the reaction of strontium with water. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-jun22-02-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 2(a)(ii): Using oxidation numbers, explain why the reaction of strontium with water is a redox reaction. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-jun22-02-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q2(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 2(a)(iii): Explain why calcium reacts more slowly with water than strontium does. [3]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-jun22-02-aiii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 2(b)(i): Predict the approximate pH of the colourless solution. pH = [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-jun22-02-bi-qp.webp?v=3)
Q6(c)(ii)
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Q6(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 6(c)(iii): Describe and explain the difference in reactivity of barium and strontium with water. [4]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-nov21-06-ciii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q23(c)
The whole paper ↗
Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 3(b)(ii): The reaction of barium with bromine is more vigorous than the reaction of calcium with bromine. Explain why. [3]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03202-nov20-03-bii-qp.webp?v=3)
All 28 questions on Group 2, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Barium is in Group 2 of the periodic table. Which statement(s) about barium is / are correct? 1 Its outer shell electrons are in an s-orbital. 2 It reacts more
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (6 marks): This question is about reactions of some Group 2 elements and their compounds. (ii)* Magnesium and calcium differ in their reactivity. Give a balanced equation
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q4 (1 mark): Which compounds of magnesium can be used as ‘antacids’? A Chlorides B Hydroxides C Nitrates D Sulfates Your answer [1]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q21(a) (3 marks): The flowchart shows some reactions of barium and its compounds. Barium Reaction 1 Barium oxide Reaction 2 Barium hydroxide Reaction 3 Barium chloride • Write ba
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Group 2 compounds can be used in agriculture to neutralise acid soils and in medicine to treat indigestion. Which Group 2 compound is not suitable for either us
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(iv) (1 mark): Magnesium reacts with oxygen in the air. Write the equation for this reaction. [1]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Construct the equation for the reaction and predict one observation that the student would make. Equation Observation [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one difference that the student would observe in the reaction of barium with water compared to the reaction of calcium with water. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q21(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest two observations from the student’s experiment that would show that calcium is more reactive than magnesium. 1 2 [1]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Write an equation for the reaction of strontium with water. [1]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Using oxidation numbers, explain why the reaction of strontium with water is a redox reaction. [2]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain why calcium reacts more slowly with water than strontium does. [3]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Predict the approximate pH of the colourless solution. pH = [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): The student observes that the rate of reaction for barium is different from the rate of reaction with strontium. On Fig. 6.1 sketch the graph the student would
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q6(c)(iii) (4 marks): Describe and explain the difference in reactivity of barium and strontium with water. [4]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Which statement(s) for Group 2 elements is/are correct? 1 The 2nd ionisation energy of magnesium is greater than the 2nd ionisation energy of calcium. A stronti
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q4 (1 mark): Some Group 2 compounds can be used to neutralise acid soils and to treat acid indigestion. Which Group 2 compound would not be suitable for either use? A BaSO4
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q23(c) (4 marks): A student plans to prepare a solution of Ba(OH)2 from barium by two different reaction routes. Outline 2 reaction routes for preparing a solution of Ba(OH)2 fro
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): The reaction of barium with bromine is more vigorous than the reaction of calcium with bromine. Explain why. [3]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): Which statement is not correct for Group 2 hydroxides? A Mg(OH)2 can be used to treat indigestion. B Ca(OH)2 is used in agriculture to neutralise alkaline soils
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(c)(i) (1 mark): Write the equation for the reaction of calcium oxide with water. State symbols are not required. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest the approximate pH of the two solutions formed in the test tubes. pH with calcium oxide pH with strontium oxide [1]
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Write the equation for the reaction of strontium with water. [1]
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe two observations which would be different if the student had used calcium in place of strontium. 1 2 [2]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q17(b) (3 marks): The reactivity of the Group 2 elements Mg–Ba increases down the group. Explain why. [3]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q1(c)(ii) (4 marks): Solid barium nitride is reacted with water, forming an alkaline solution A and an alkaline gas B. Identify A and B. Write an equation, including state symbols,
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain what happens when magnesium is oxidised in terms of electron transfer. [1]
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus that can be used to carry out this experiment. [2]
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