AQA GCSE COMBINED SCIENCE: TRILOGY
8464/C/1H HIGHER TIER CHEMISTRY
PAPER 1H PAPER & MARK SCHEME
PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What is the relative formula mass?.
Answer: The relative atomic masses of all the atoms in the molecular
formula added together
◍ What is the role of the panel of subject teachers in mark schemes?.
Answer: To consider the mark scheme alongside relevant questions.
◍ What type of bonds does sodium chloride have?.
Answer: Ionic bonds.
◍ Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell.
Answer: Combines hydrogen & oxygen to produce nice, clean water and
release energy
◍ What should be done for each mass of magnesium carbonate in the
experiment?.
Answer: Repeat the experiment (discard anomalous results) and calculate
the mean.
◍ How is gender identity treated in exam responses?.
Answer: No student should be disadvantaged based on gender identity.
◍ What gas escapes from the test tube during the reaction?.
Answer: Carbon dioxide.
,◍ Explain why simple molecular compounds typically have low melting and
boiling points.
Answer: The intermolecular forces between the atoms are very weak,
therefore it takes only a small amount of energy to break them apart.
◍ What is the purpose of the mark scheme as a working document?.
Answer: To be developed and expanded based on student reactions.
◍ What color is the solution in the experiment?.
Answer: Red.
◍ What happens if a student uses a chemical symbol instead of a name?.
Answer: Full credit can be given if the symbol is correct.
◍ What happens to the mass of copper produced after 1930?.
Answer: It increased rapidly.
◍ What is a positive ion?.
Answer: Cation
◍ What trends occur as you go down Group 7?.
Answer: 1) They become less reactive - it's harder to gain an extra electron
because the outer shell's further from the nucleus2) They have higher
melting and boiling points3) They have higher relative atomic masses
◍ What happens to the concentration when it decreases by a factor of 100?.
Answer: The concentration decreases.
◍ How do you fix the problem of a low atom economy reaction?.
Answer: Find a use for the waste products - come up with a reaction that
gives useful 'by-products' rather than useless ones
◍ What approach should be used when assigning a level?.
Answer: Use a best fit approach for defining the level based on overall
quality.
◍ What is the formula for calculating the mass of copper?.
Answer: (% copper = 100 - 13.5) × 5.25.
,◍ How do you determine a level for a student's answer?.
Answer: Start at the lowest level and move up, matching the answer to level
descriptors.
◍ Describe how covalent bonds form.
Answer: When two non-metals bond together, they share electrons to make
covalent bonds. The positively charged nuclei of the bonded atoms are
attracted to the shared pair of electrons by electrostatic forces - this makes
covalent bonds very strong.
◍ What happens to calcium and chlorine atoms during their reaction?.
Answer: Each calcium atom loses two electrons and each chlorine atom
gains one electron.
◍ What happens in an electrochemical cell?.
Answer: The chemical reactions between the electrodes & the electrolyte set
up a charge difference between the electrodesIf the electrodes are connected
by a wire, the charge is able to flow & electricity is producedA voltmeter
can be connected to the circuit to measure the voltage of the cell
◍ What should be included in the extra information of the mark scheme?.
Answer: Details to help ensure straightforward and consistent marking.
◍ What is produced at the anode during electrolysis?.
Answer: Oxygen.
◍ What process is used for the reduction of metals?.
Answer: Reduction by carbon.
◍ What does 'allow' mean in the mark scheme?.
Answer: Indicates creditworthy alternative answers.
◍ What is the chemical symbol for gold?.
Answer: Au.
◍ What's the difference between the melting points of Group 1 and transition
metals?.
Answer: Transition metals have higher melting points than Group 1 metals
, ◍ How many moles of H2 are needed for the reaction?.
Answer: 2.205 moles.
◍ Cathode - If the element is less reactive than hydrogen....
Answer: ...The element will be released from the cathode
◍ What is the importance of variability in responses?.
Answer: It helps decide the mark within the assigned level.
◍ Why does the boiling point of noble gases increase as you move down the
group?.
Answer: There's an increase in the number of electrons in each atom leading
to greater intermolecular forces between them which to be overcome
◍ What are coarse particles?.
Answer: Particles that have a diameter between 2,500 nm and 10,000 nm -
also known as dust
◍ What is the guideline for awarding marks for calculations without working
shown?.
Answer: Full marks for a correct numerical answer.
◍ What do acids form in water?.
Answer: Positive hydrogen ions
◍ What are mixtures?.
Answer: Substances containing two or more different elements that are not
chemically bonded together
◍ Reactivity series.
Answer: PotassiumSodiumLithiumCalciumMagnesiumAluminiumCARBONZincIro
◍ What is the marking procedure for calculations?.
Answer: Marks awarded for each correct stage of the calculation.
◍ Oxidation =.
Answer: Gain of oxygenLoss of electrons
◍ What is the significance of using brackets in answers?.
8464/C/1H HIGHER TIER CHEMISTRY
PAPER 1H PAPER & MARK SCHEME
PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What is the relative formula mass?.
Answer: The relative atomic masses of all the atoms in the molecular
formula added together
◍ What is the role of the panel of subject teachers in mark schemes?.
Answer: To consider the mark scheme alongside relevant questions.
◍ What type of bonds does sodium chloride have?.
Answer: Ionic bonds.
◍ Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell.
Answer: Combines hydrogen & oxygen to produce nice, clean water and
release energy
◍ What should be done for each mass of magnesium carbonate in the
experiment?.
Answer: Repeat the experiment (discard anomalous results) and calculate
the mean.
◍ How is gender identity treated in exam responses?.
Answer: No student should be disadvantaged based on gender identity.
◍ What gas escapes from the test tube during the reaction?.
Answer: Carbon dioxide.
,◍ Explain why simple molecular compounds typically have low melting and
boiling points.
Answer: The intermolecular forces between the atoms are very weak,
therefore it takes only a small amount of energy to break them apart.
◍ What is the purpose of the mark scheme as a working document?.
Answer: To be developed and expanded based on student reactions.
◍ What color is the solution in the experiment?.
Answer: Red.
◍ What happens if a student uses a chemical symbol instead of a name?.
Answer: Full credit can be given if the symbol is correct.
◍ What happens to the mass of copper produced after 1930?.
Answer: It increased rapidly.
◍ What is a positive ion?.
Answer: Cation
◍ What trends occur as you go down Group 7?.
Answer: 1) They become less reactive - it's harder to gain an extra electron
because the outer shell's further from the nucleus2) They have higher
melting and boiling points3) They have higher relative atomic masses
◍ What happens to the concentration when it decreases by a factor of 100?.
Answer: The concentration decreases.
◍ How do you fix the problem of a low atom economy reaction?.
Answer: Find a use for the waste products - come up with a reaction that
gives useful 'by-products' rather than useless ones
◍ What approach should be used when assigning a level?.
Answer: Use a best fit approach for defining the level based on overall
quality.
◍ What is the formula for calculating the mass of copper?.
Answer: (% copper = 100 - 13.5) × 5.25.
,◍ How do you determine a level for a student's answer?.
Answer: Start at the lowest level and move up, matching the answer to level
descriptors.
◍ Describe how covalent bonds form.
Answer: When two non-metals bond together, they share electrons to make
covalent bonds. The positively charged nuclei of the bonded atoms are
attracted to the shared pair of electrons by electrostatic forces - this makes
covalent bonds very strong.
◍ What happens to calcium and chlorine atoms during their reaction?.
Answer: Each calcium atom loses two electrons and each chlorine atom
gains one electron.
◍ What happens in an electrochemical cell?.
Answer: The chemical reactions between the electrodes & the electrolyte set
up a charge difference between the electrodesIf the electrodes are connected
by a wire, the charge is able to flow & electricity is producedA voltmeter
can be connected to the circuit to measure the voltage of the cell
◍ What should be included in the extra information of the mark scheme?.
Answer: Details to help ensure straightforward and consistent marking.
◍ What is produced at the anode during electrolysis?.
Answer: Oxygen.
◍ What process is used for the reduction of metals?.
Answer: Reduction by carbon.
◍ What does 'allow' mean in the mark scheme?.
Answer: Indicates creditworthy alternative answers.
◍ What is the chemical symbol for gold?.
Answer: Au.
◍ What's the difference between the melting points of Group 1 and transition
metals?.
Answer: Transition metals have higher melting points than Group 1 metals
, ◍ How many moles of H2 are needed for the reaction?.
Answer: 2.205 moles.
◍ Cathode - If the element is less reactive than hydrogen....
Answer: ...The element will be released from the cathode
◍ What is the importance of variability in responses?.
Answer: It helps decide the mark within the assigned level.
◍ Why does the boiling point of noble gases increase as you move down the
group?.
Answer: There's an increase in the number of electrons in each atom leading
to greater intermolecular forces between them which to be overcome
◍ What are coarse particles?.
Answer: Particles that have a diameter between 2,500 nm and 10,000 nm -
also known as dust
◍ What is the guideline for awarding marks for calculations without working
shown?.
Answer: Full marks for a correct numerical answer.
◍ What do acids form in water?.
Answer: Positive hydrogen ions
◍ What are mixtures?.
Answer: Substances containing two or more different elements that are not
chemically bonded together
◍ Reactivity series.
Answer: PotassiumSodiumLithiumCalciumMagnesiumAluminiumCARBONZincIro
◍ What is the marking procedure for calculations?.
Answer: Marks awarded for each correct stage of the calculation.
◍ Oxidation =.
Answer: Gain of oxygenLoss of electrons
◍ What is the significance of using brackets in answers?.
