AQA GCSE COMBINED SCIENCE TRILOGY
8464 C 1H HIGHER TIER CHEMISTRY PAPER 1H
EXAM SCRIPT 2026 TESTED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED
◉ What happens in gaseous reactions when the pressure of a system
in equilibrium is decreased? Answer: The equilibrium position shifts
towards the side with the larger number of molecules as shown by
the symbol equation for the reaction
◉ Where is crude oil found? Answer: In rocks
◉ What is crude oil formed from? Answer: The remains of an
ancient biomass consisting mainly of plankton that was buried in
mud
◉ What chemically is crude oil? Answer: A mixture of a large
number of compounds; mainly hydrocarbons
◉ What is a hydrocarbon? Answer: A molecule made up of carbon
and hydrogen only
,◉ What type of hydrocarbons are most of those found in crude oil?
Answer: Alkanes
◉ What is the general formula of alkanes? Answer: CnH2n + 2
◉ What are the first four members of the homologous series of
alkanes called? Answer: Methane, ethane, propane and butane
◉ What is a homologous series? Answer: A family of organic
compounds that have the same functional group, similar chemical
properties and the same general formula
◉ How can you separate crude oil into fractions? Answer: By
fractional distillation
◉ What does each fraction of crude oil contain? Answer: Molecules
with a similar number of carbon atoms
◉ What can we use each fraction of crude oil for? Answer: As fuels
or feedstocks for the petrochemical industry
◉ Name five fuels produced from crude oil Answer: Petrol, diesel,
kerosene, heavy fuel oil and liquified petroleum gases
,◉ Name four useful materials produced by the petrochemical
industry from crude oil fractions Answer: Solvents, lubricants,
polymers and detergents
◉ Why are there such a vast range of natural and synthetic carbon
compounds? Answer: Because of carbon atoms' ability to form
families of compounds
◉ Describe the four steps involved in fractional distillation Answer:
Crude oil is heated to evaporate it and turn it into a vapour, the
vapour rises through the column and cools, the vapours condense
when they are cool enough, and liquids are removed from the
column at different heights
◉ What three properties of hydrocarbon change as the size of the
molecule increase? Answer: Boiling point, viscosity and flammability
◉ How does the boiling point of a hydrocarbon change as its size
increases? Answer: It increases
◉ How does the viscosity of a hydrocarbon change as its size
increases? Answer: It increases
◉ How does the flammability of a hydrocarbon change as its size
increases? Answer: It decreases
, ◉ Why are hydrocarbons good fuels? Answer: Because during their
combustion they release energy
◉ What happens to the carbon and hydrogen in a hydrocarbon
during combustion? Answer: They are oxidised
◉ What are the products of complete combustion of a hydrocarbon?
Answer: Carbon dioxide and water
◉ What is the name of the process where hydrocarbons are broken
down to produce smaller more useful molecules? Answer: Cracking
◉ Name the two types of cracking Answer: Catalytic cracking and
steam cracking
◉ What are the conditions for catalytic cracking? Answer: 550°C
using a zeolite catalyst containing aluminium oxide and silicon oxide
◉ What are the conditions for steam cracking? Answer: 550°C and
steam
◉ What is always produced when an alkane undergoes cracking?
Answer: Smaller alkane molecule(s) and an alkene
8464 C 1H HIGHER TIER CHEMISTRY PAPER 1H
EXAM SCRIPT 2026 TESTED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED
◉ What happens in gaseous reactions when the pressure of a system
in equilibrium is decreased? Answer: The equilibrium position shifts
towards the side with the larger number of molecules as shown by
the symbol equation for the reaction
◉ Where is crude oil found? Answer: In rocks
◉ What is crude oil formed from? Answer: The remains of an
ancient biomass consisting mainly of plankton that was buried in
mud
◉ What chemically is crude oil? Answer: A mixture of a large
number of compounds; mainly hydrocarbons
◉ What is a hydrocarbon? Answer: A molecule made up of carbon
and hydrogen only
,◉ What type of hydrocarbons are most of those found in crude oil?
Answer: Alkanes
◉ What is the general formula of alkanes? Answer: CnH2n + 2
◉ What are the first four members of the homologous series of
alkanes called? Answer: Methane, ethane, propane and butane
◉ What is a homologous series? Answer: A family of organic
compounds that have the same functional group, similar chemical
properties and the same general formula
◉ How can you separate crude oil into fractions? Answer: By
fractional distillation
◉ What does each fraction of crude oil contain? Answer: Molecules
with a similar number of carbon atoms
◉ What can we use each fraction of crude oil for? Answer: As fuels
or feedstocks for the petrochemical industry
◉ Name five fuels produced from crude oil Answer: Petrol, diesel,
kerosene, heavy fuel oil and liquified petroleum gases
,◉ Name four useful materials produced by the petrochemical
industry from crude oil fractions Answer: Solvents, lubricants,
polymers and detergents
◉ Why are there such a vast range of natural and synthetic carbon
compounds? Answer: Because of carbon atoms' ability to form
families of compounds
◉ Describe the four steps involved in fractional distillation Answer:
Crude oil is heated to evaporate it and turn it into a vapour, the
vapour rises through the column and cools, the vapours condense
when they are cool enough, and liquids are removed from the
column at different heights
◉ What three properties of hydrocarbon change as the size of the
molecule increase? Answer: Boiling point, viscosity and flammability
◉ How does the boiling point of a hydrocarbon change as its size
increases? Answer: It increases
◉ How does the viscosity of a hydrocarbon change as its size
increases? Answer: It increases
◉ How does the flammability of a hydrocarbon change as its size
increases? Answer: It decreases
, ◉ Why are hydrocarbons good fuels? Answer: Because during their
combustion they release energy
◉ What happens to the carbon and hydrogen in a hydrocarbon
during combustion? Answer: They are oxidised
◉ What are the products of complete combustion of a hydrocarbon?
Answer: Carbon dioxide and water
◉ What is the name of the process where hydrocarbons are broken
down to produce smaller more useful molecules? Answer: Cracking
◉ Name the two types of cracking Answer: Catalytic cracking and
steam cracking
◉ What are the conditions for catalytic cracking? Answer: 550°C
using a zeolite catalyst containing aluminium oxide and silicon oxide
◉ What are the conditions for steam cracking? Answer: 550°C and
steam
◉ What is always produced when an alkane undergoes cracking?
Answer: Smaller alkane molecule(s) and an alkene
