plumiShapes of molecules and ions: OCR A‑Level Chemistry A questions
OCR A-Level Chemistry A past-paper questions on 2.2.2.3 Shapes of molecules and ions, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q16(d)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ5(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ5(b)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ18(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ18(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ4(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ24(c)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ1(f)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ6(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ21(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ21(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ4(c)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ1(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDF
All 35 questions on Shapes of molecules and ions, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q16(d) (6 marks): This question is about trends in the periodic table. (d)* The hydrides of silicon, phosphorus and sulfur have simple molecular structures, but their molecules h
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): Which compound has molecules with a trigonal planar shape? A BeCl 2 B BCl 3 C NCl 3 D PCl 3 Your answer [1]
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Name the shape of the chloromethane molecule and predict the value of the H–C–Cl bond angle. Name of shape Bond angle [2]
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(b) (3 marks): Chloroethene, H2C=CHCl , is a covalent molecule with a double bond. The bond angles in H2C=CHCl are different from those in CH3Cl . Predict the H–C–Cl bond angl
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q18(b)(i) (1 mark): Explain why the bond angles in SO3 are 120°. [1]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q18(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why both SO2 and SO3 have polar bonds, but only SO2 has polar molecules. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): In a H3PO3 molecule, the O atoms are covalently bonded to the P atom. The H atoms are bonded to the O atoms. Draw the structure of a H3PO3 molecule, showing all
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): Which reaction produces a product with linear molecules? A 2B + 3F2 B C + O2 C 2H2 + O2 D N2 + 3H2 Your answer [1]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q24(c) (5 marks): Propene, C3H6, has different bond angles and shapes around the carbon atoms. The displayed formula of a propene molecule is shown below. H H 1 H C C C H H 2 H P
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): Which ion(s) contain(s) bond angles of approximately 120º? CH3COO– 1 C6H5O– 2 (CH3)3C+ 3 A 1, 2 and 3 B Only 1 and 2 C Only 2 and 3 D Only 1 Your answer [1]
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q1(f) (1 mark): The p-block element in Period 3 that forms a compound with fluorine with octahedral molecules. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q6(a) (4 marks): Nitric acid has 2 single covalent bonds, 1 double covalent bond and 1 dative covalent bond as shown below. H O N O O Nitric acid Predict the H–O–N and O–N–O bon
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q21(b)(i) (2 marks): Predict the different shapes of, and bond angles in, NF3 and BF3 molecules. Bond angle Name of shape NF3 BF3 [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q21(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why NF3 and BF3 molecules have different shapes and bond angles. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q1(d)(i) (3 marks): Glycine reacts with NaOH to form the salt H2NCH2COONa. Glycine reacts with HCl to form the salt HOOCCH2NH3Cl. The salts have different H–N–H bond angles. State
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q4(c) (4 marks): CO2 and H2O molecules have different shapes. State the bond angles in CO2 and H2O molecules and explain, in terms of electron pair repulsion, why the bond angle
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Which statement(s) about a molecule of Cl–N=O is/are correct? 1: It is a polar molecule. 2: It contains 6 lone pairs of electrons. 3: It has a bond angle of 180
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q8 (1 mark): Which compound contains a bond angle of approximately 120º? A CH3CH2CN B CH3CH(OH)CH3 C CH3COOCH2CH2CH3 D CH3CH2CH2NH2 Your answer [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): Which compound contains the smallest bond angle? A bromoethane B ethanol C ethane D ethene Your answer [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(d)(i) (2 marks): State the shape of, and F—S—F bond angle in, an SF6 molecule. Shape Bond angle [2]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(d)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why SF6 is unreactive. [1]
- November 2020, Paper 3, Q6(a) (2 marks): Complete Table 6.1 to predict bond angles a and b and name the shapes which makes these bond angles in the functional groups of carboxylic acids and sulfonic ac
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(a) (3 marks): The ‘dot-and-cross’ diagram for nitrosyl chloride is shown below. N O Cl Predict the O=N–Cl bond angle and explain why NOCl has this bond angle. Bond angle Expl
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Predict the O–S–S bond angle and name of the shape of the thiosulfate ion. Bond angle Name of shape [1]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Which molecule contains the largest bond angle? A C2H4 B H2O C NH3 D CH4 Your answer [1]
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q5 (1 mark): Which molecule is not planar? A C2H4 B C2H6 C H2CO D HCN Your answer [1]
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): The element which forms a compound with fluorine that has octahedral molecules. [1]
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q21(b)(ii) (3 marks): Name the shape of a phosgene molecule and explain why it has this shape. Name of shape Explanation [3]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q16(b) (2 marks): Nitrogen forms NH4 + and NH2 –. Predict the name of the shape of, and H–N–H bond angle in, NH4 Ion Name of shape H–N–H bond angle + NH4 – NH2 [2]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q6 (1 mark): Four atoms, 1–4, are labelled in the structure below. 4 NH2 CH OH 1 3 2 H3C C O Which atom has a trigonal planar arrangement of bonds around it? A Atom 1 B Atom
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q1(a) (3 marks): The H–O–H bond angle in ice is about 109° but about 105° in gaseous H2O. Explain why there is this difference. [3]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): State the shape and bond angle around a carbon atom in the alkyl group of propanoic acid. Explain the shape. Shape Bond angle Explanation [2]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest a value for the C–O–H bond angle in propanoic acid. [1]
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): A ‘dot-and-cross’ diagram for nitrogen trichloride, NCl3, is shown below. 7 X X X Cl Cl N X X Cl Which row shows the correct shape and bond angle in a molecule
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q6(b) (4 marks): The shape around the oxygen atom in butan-2-ol is non-linear. Predict the C–O–H bond angle and explain this shape. bond angle explanation [4]
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © OCR, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? OCR A-Level Chemistry A past papers, or our free OCR-style practice pack.
The Plumi iPad app also offers exam-style questions with AI feedback on your handwritten working.