AQA AS CHEMISTRY 7404/1 PAPER 1 INORGANIC AND PHYSICAL
CHEMISTRY – JUNE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTION PAPER)
EXAM INFORMATION
| Component | Details |
|--||
| Exam Board | AQA |
| Qualification | AS Level |
| Subject | Chemistry |
| Paper | Paper 1 – Inorganic and Physical Chemistry |
| Code | 7404/1 |
| Date | June 2022 |
| Time | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Total Marks | 80 |
PAPER STRUCTURE
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks |
|||-|
| Section A | Multiple choice (Q1-10) | 10 marks |
| Section B | Structured questions (Q11-18) | ~70 marks |
SECTION A – MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (Questions 1-10)
Question 1
Which of the following has the smallest atomic radius?
A) Na
B) Mg
C) Al
D) Si
Answer: D) Si
, Rationale: Atomic radius decreases across a period (left to right) due to increasing nuclear
charge attracting electrons more strongly. Silicon (Si) is furthest right among the options, so it
has the smallest atomic radius.
Question 2
Which of the following molecules has a linear shape?
A) CO₂
B) H₂O
C) NH₃
D) CH₄
Answer: A) CO₂
Rationale: CO₂ has two bonding pairs and no lone pairs on the central carbon atom. The
electron pairs repel equally, giving a linear bond angle of 180°. H₂O is bent, NH₃ is trigonal
pyramidal, CH₄ is tetrahedral.
Question 3
Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for a chromium atom?
A) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁴ 4s²
B) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s¹
C) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁶ 4s⁰
D) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s²
Answer: B) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s¹
Rationale: Chromium (Cr, atomic number 24) has an anomalous electron configuration: [Ar] 3d⁵
4s¹. This arrangement (half-filled d‑subshell and half-filled s-subshell) provides extra stability.
Question 4
Which of the following statements about ionisation energy is correct?
A) Ionisation energy decreases across a period
CHEMISTRY – JUNE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTION PAPER)
EXAM INFORMATION
| Component | Details |
|--||
| Exam Board | AQA |
| Qualification | AS Level |
| Subject | Chemistry |
| Paper | Paper 1 – Inorganic and Physical Chemistry |
| Code | 7404/1 |
| Date | June 2022 |
| Time | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Total Marks | 80 |
PAPER STRUCTURE
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks |
|||-|
| Section A | Multiple choice (Q1-10) | 10 marks |
| Section B | Structured questions (Q11-18) | ~70 marks |
SECTION A – MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (Questions 1-10)
Question 1
Which of the following has the smallest atomic radius?
A) Na
B) Mg
C) Al
D) Si
Answer: D) Si
, Rationale: Atomic radius decreases across a period (left to right) due to increasing nuclear
charge attracting electrons more strongly. Silicon (Si) is furthest right among the options, so it
has the smallest atomic radius.
Question 2
Which of the following molecules has a linear shape?
A) CO₂
B) H₂O
C) NH₃
D) CH₄
Answer: A) CO₂
Rationale: CO₂ has two bonding pairs and no lone pairs on the central carbon atom. The
electron pairs repel equally, giving a linear bond angle of 180°. H₂O is bent, NH₃ is trigonal
pyramidal, CH₄ is tetrahedral.
Question 3
Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for a chromium atom?
A) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁴ 4s²
B) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s¹
C) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁶ 4s⁰
D) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s²
Answer: B) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s¹
Rationale: Chromium (Cr, atomic number 24) has an anomalous electron configuration: [Ar] 3d⁵
4s¹. This arrangement (half-filled d‑subshell and half-filled s-subshell) provides extra stability.
Question 4
Which of the following statements about ionisation energy is correct?
A) Ionisation energy decreases across a period
