plumiWhat happens to products at the end of their useful life?: OCR GCSE Chemistry B questions
Every OCR GCSE Chemistry B exam question on C4.5 What happens to products at the end of their useful life?, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q8(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q8(b)
The whole paper ↗Q8(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q8(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q8(d)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q2(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q9(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q9(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q9(b)
The whole paper ↗Q9(c)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q3(c)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q7(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q7(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(d)
The whole paper ↗
All 62 questions on What happens to products at the end of their useful life?, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a) (3 marks): Life cycle assessments are used to consider the overall impact of plastic bottles. Complete the sentences to describe the basic principles of a life cycle asses
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(b) (2 marks): Explain the difference between the terms reuse and recycle. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c)(i) (2 marks): State one advantage and one disadvantage of the disposal of PET bottles by incineration. Use the table to help you answer. Advantage Disadvantage [2]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the data in the table supports this statement: ‘Recycling of PET bottles has a less negative impact on the environment than incineration and landfil
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(d) (3 marks): PET and other plastics take a very long time to break down in the environment. The graph shows the time taken for three types of plastics to break down in the e
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a) (3 marks): When iron corrodes it reacts with oxygen to make iron(III) oxide. Complete Table 3.1 by filling in the missing formulae and state symbols. Table 3.1 Formula Sta
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): This reaction can be called rusting. What is another name for this reaction? [1]
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why zinc can be used as sacrificial protection for iron. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q4(a) (3 marks): When iron corrodes it reacts with oxygen to make iron(III) oxide. Complete the balanced symbol equation for the reaction. Include state symbols. iron(III) oxide
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a) (2 marks): Some methods to prevent corrosion work by forming a protective barrier. Some work by sacrificial protection. Draw lines to connect each coating with how the coa
- June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the process shown in the diagram uses large amounts of energy. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the use of energy is an important factor to consider when carrying out a life cycle assessment. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q9(b) (2 marks): The scientist concludes that recycling PET bottles reduces harm to the environment despite its use of energy. Suggest two reasons why recycling PET bottles redu
- June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q9(c) (2 marks): The fabric at the end of the process is used for different products. Two of the products made from the fabric are padded jackets and insulation for houses. Sugg
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a) (2 marks): Complete the sentence to explain why recycling iron is better than making more iron from iron ore. Use words from the list. air bacteria energy mining transport
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c) (2 marks): A problem with products made from iron is that they rust. Which two statements about rusting are correct? Tick (3) two boxes. Rusting can be prevented by using
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): State the product formed by oxidation. Explain your answer. [2]
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why neither piece will rust. [2]
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Charlie scratches the two pieces deeply and puts them back in the water. Explain why one of the pieces rusts but the other does not. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(d) (2 marks): The main disadvantage of using steel is that it rusts. Complete the sentences about rusting. Use words from the list. barrier carbon dioxide nitrogen reduction
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(e) (2 marks): Used steel is collected and recycled. Which statements about recycling are advantages and which are disadvantages? Tick (✓) one box in each row. Advantage Disad
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the half equation to show what happens to iron in this reaction. Fe3+ + e– ………….. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain, in terms of electrons, why Fe3+ is reduced in the half equation in (a)(i). [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(c) (2 marks): Iron can be made into steel. The main disadvantage of steel is that it rusts. Explain one method of preventing steel from rusting. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q7(d) (2 marks): Used steel is collected and recycled. Recycling used steel has advantages and disadvantages. Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of recycling used steel.
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the total energy required per bag. Use data from the table. Total energy required per bag = kJ [2]
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the percentage of the energy in the table required to make the raw materials for 1000 bags. Give your answer to 2 significant figures. Percentage = %
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(d) (1 mark): Some plastic materials are described as ‘biodegradable’. What does ‘biodegradable’ mean? [1]
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q8(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the percentage of the energy in the table required to transport the bags. Give your answer to 1 decimal place. Percentage = % [3]
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): Sarah estimates the cost of recycling waste bags into new bags. Table 8.2 shows her estimates: Energy per 1000 bags (kJ) Processing 220 000 Transport 11 000 Tab
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q8(d) (1 mark): Poly(ethene) is described as ‘non-biodegradable’. Define ‘non-biodegradable’. [1]
- November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Life cycle assessments are done to evaluate the sustainability of making new products. Suggest two factors that are important to consider in evaluating the sust
- November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q6(a)(iv) (3 marks): A redox reaction happens when oxidation and reduction happen in the same equation. Explain why the reaction in Stage 2 is a redox reaction. [3]
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): The iron nail in Tube B rusts much more slowly than the iron nail in Tube A. Explain why. [2]
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Mia compares Tube A with Tube C. Complete the sentence using one of the phrases below. faster than more slowly than at the same rate as The iron nail in Tube C
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Explain your answer to (a)(ii). [1]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(a) (2 marks): Amaya and Li discuss the PET symbol. Amaya The symbol makes it easier to reuse and recycle the bottles. Li I think it should give the full name on the bottle in
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c)(i) (1 mark): Which stage of the flowchart produces pure PET? Stage [1]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c)(ii) (1 mark): Waste PET bottles that are used to treat water are removed from the process before the end. After which stage should bottles that are used to treat water be rem
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(d) (2 marks): Using waste PET bottles to treat water or to make padding for jackets are two examples of ways to reduce mixed plastic waste. Explain the difference between reu
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(e) (2 marks): Waste PET bottles used to treat water and to make padding for jackets have different Life Cycle Assessments. Give two reasons why their Life Cycle Assessments a
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q6(a) (2 marks): Jane and Ben discuss the investigation: The iron nails in X and Y will not rust because no oxygen is present. The iron nail will rust in X, but the iron nail in
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): What is being oxidised in this reaction? Put a ring around the correct formula. Fe Fe3+ 3e– [1]
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give one reason for your answer to (b)(i). [1]
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q1(a) (2 marks): Amaya and Li discuss the PET symbol. Amaya The symbol makes it easier to reuse and recycle the bottles. Li I think it should give the full name on the bottle in
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Which stage of the flowchart produces pure PET? Stage [1]
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): Waste PET bottles that are used to treat water are removed from the process before the end. After which stage should bottles that are used to treat water be rem
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q1(d) (2 marks): Using waste PET bottles to treat water or to make padding for jackets are two examples of ways to reduce mixed plastic waste. Explain the difference between reu
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q1(e) (2 marks): Waste PET bottles used to treat water and to make padding for jackets have different Life Cycle Assessments. Give two reasons why their Life Cycle Assessments a
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Which stage uses the most energy? [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): In total, the 2011 light-bulb uses more energy than the 2015 light-bulb. Calculate the difference in the total energy used. Difference in total energy = MJ [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b) (1 mark): The last stage in the life-cycle assessment is missing. Name the last stage. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c) (2 marks): The percentage decrease in energy use at ‘manufacture’ stage from 2011 to 2015 is given by: 343 – 132 × 100 = 62% 343 Calculate the percentage decrease in energ
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q4(a) (2 marks): In total, 2015 LED lights use less energy than 2011 LED lights. Calculate the percentage decrease in energy use at ‘manufacture’ stage from 2011 to 2015. Give y
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q4(b) (2 marks): The data in the table does not cover the whole life-cycle assessment. Describe in detail the final stage of the life-cycle assessment. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q11(a)(ii) (1 mark): Metal A reacts with water to form A2+ ions. Write the half equation for this reaction. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q11(a)(iii) (1 mark): Explain whether metal A is being reduced or oxidised. [1]
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(a) (6 marks): Soft drinks are sold in containers made from PET (a polymer), aluminium and glass. PET bottle Aluminium can Glass bottle All three containers are non-biodegrada
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(b) (2 marks): Table 9.1 does not include all of the factors needed to do a full life cycle assessment for the drinks containers. Which two factors will have the biggest effec
- June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q10(a) (6 marks): Soft drinks are sold in containers made from PET (a plastic), aluminium and glass. PET bottle Aluminium can Glass bottle All three containers are non-biodegrada
- June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q10(b) (1 mark): The way that plastic bottles are collected for recycling has changed over time. In the past, people had to sort their waste plastic bottles and take them to bin
- June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q10(c) (1 mark): Company 1 and Company 2 both manufacture drinks containers from polymers. Some people want to ban the use of all non-biodegradable packaging, including polymers
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? Every OCR GCSE Chemistry B paper.
Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.