1
AQA A-LEVEL CHEMISTRY PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027
| CHEMISTRY | 75 VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED
RATIONALES | PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - Questions 1-25
Q1: Atomic Structure
56
The student is reviewing atomic structure. An atom of 26 Fe contains:
A. 26 protons, 30 neutrons, 26 electrons
B. 26 protons, 26 neutrons, 30 electrons
C. 30 protons, 26 neutrons, 30 electrons
D. 56 protons, 26 neutrons, 56 electrons
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atomic number (26) = protons = electrons. Mass number (56) = protons + neutrons, so
neutrons = 56 − 26 = 30. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Mass Spectrometry
The student is reviewing mass spectrometry. In a mass spectrometer, ions are separated based on:
A. Mass-to-charge ratio (m/z)
B. Charge only
C. Size only
D. Colour
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ions are accelerated, deflected by a magnetic field, and separated according to their
mass-to-charge ratio. [100% CORRECT]
Q3: Electron Configuration
The student is reviewing electron configuration. The electron configuration of a chromium atom
( 24 Cr) is:
A. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑4 4𝑠 2
B. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑5 4𝑠1
C. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑6 4𝑠 0
D. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑3 4𝑠 2 4𝑝1
Correct Answer: B
,2
Rationale: Chromium has a stable 3𝑑5 4𝑠1 configuration due to the extra stability of a half-filled d
subshell. [100% CORRECT]
Q4: Ionisation Energy
The student is reviewing ionisation energy. The first ionisation energy of an element is:
A. Energy to remove one electron from one mole of gaseous atoms
B. Energy to remove one electron from one mole of solid atoms
C. Energy to add one electron to one mole of gaseous atoms
D. Energy to break one mole of covalent bonds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: First ionisation energy is the energy required to remove one electron from each atom in
one mole of gaseous atoms to form one mole of gaseous 1+ ions. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Ionisation Energy Trend
The student is reviewing periodic trends. Why does first ionisation energy decrease down Group 2?
A. Atomic radius increases and shielding increases
B. Nuclear charge increases
C. Electrons added to same shell
D. Mass increases
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Down the group, atomic radius increases and shielding increases, so the outer electron is
less strongly attracted to the nucleus. [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Ionic Bonding
The student is reviewing bonding. An ionic bond is:
A. Electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
B. Sharing of electron pairs
C. Attraction between molecules
D. Metallic attraction
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ionic bonding involves electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions in a
lattice. [100% CORRECT]
Q7: Covalent Bonding
The student is reviewing covalent bonds. A coordinate bond is:
, 3
A. A shared pair of electrons where both electrons come from one atom
B. A shared pair of electrons where each atom contributes one electron
C. An ionic bond
D. A metallic bond
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a coordinate (dative) bond, both electrons in the shared pair are donated by one atom,
e.g., NH₄⁺ formation. [100% CORRECT]
Q8: Metallic Bonding
The student is reviewing metallic bonding. Metallic bonding is:
A. Electrostatic attraction between metal ions and delocalised electrons
B. Sharing of electrons between metal atoms
C. Transfer of electrons between metal atoms
D. Hydrogen bonding between metal atoms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Metallic bonding consists of a lattice of positive metal ions surrounded by a sea of
delocalised electrons. [100% CORRECT]
Q9: Electronegativity
The student is reviewing electronegativity. Electronegativity is:
A. The ability of an atom to attract the electron pair in a covalent bond
B. The energy required to remove an electron
C. The energy released when an electron is added
D. The size of an atom
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Electronegativity is the power of an atom to attract the electron pair in a covalent bond.
[100% CORRECT]
Q10: Intermolecular Forces
The student is reviewing intermolecular forces. Hydrogen bonding occurs when hydrogen is bonded
to:
A. Carbon, nitrogen, or oxygen
B. Nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine
C. Chlorine, bromine, or iodine
D. Any non-metal
Correct Answer: B
AQA A-LEVEL CHEMISTRY PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027
| CHEMISTRY | 75 VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED
RATIONALES | PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - Questions 1-25
Q1: Atomic Structure
56
The student is reviewing atomic structure. An atom of 26 Fe contains:
A. 26 protons, 30 neutrons, 26 electrons
B. 26 protons, 26 neutrons, 30 electrons
C. 30 protons, 26 neutrons, 30 electrons
D. 56 protons, 26 neutrons, 56 electrons
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atomic number (26) = protons = electrons. Mass number (56) = protons + neutrons, so
neutrons = 56 − 26 = 30. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Mass Spectrometry
The student is reviewing mass spectrometry. In a mass spectrometer, ions are separated based on:
A. Mass-to-charge ratio (m/z)
B. Charge only
C. Size only
D. Colour
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ions are accelerated, deflected by a magnetic field, and separated according to their
mass-to-charge ratio. [100% CORRECT]
Q3: Electron Configuration
The student is reviewing electron configuration. The electron configuration of a chromium atom
( 24 Cr) is:
A. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑4 4𝑠 2
B. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑5 4𝑠1
C. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑6 4𝑠 0
D. 1𝑠 2 2𝑠 2 2𝑝6 3𝑠 2 3𝑝6 3𝑑3 4𝑠 2 4𝑝1
Correct Answer: B
,2
Rationale: Chromium has a stable 3𝑑5 4𝑠1 configuration due to the extra stability of a half-filled d
subshell. [100% CORRECT]
Q4: Ionisation Energy
The student is reviewing ionisation energy. The first ionisation energy of an element is:
A. Energy to remove one electron from one mole of gaseous atoms
B. Energy to remove one electron from one mole of solid atoms
C. Energy to add one electron to one mole of gaseous atoms
D. Energy to break one mole of covalent bonds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: First ionisation energy is the energy required to remove one electron from each atom in
one mole of gaseous atoms to form one mole of gaseous 1+ ions. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Ionisation Energy Trend
The student is reviewing periodic trends. Why does first ionisation energy decrease down Group 2?
A. Atomic radius increases and shielding increases
B. Nuclear charge increases
C. Electrons added to same shell
D. Mass increases
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Down the group, atomic radius increases and shielding increases, so the outer electron is
less strongly attracted to the nucleus. [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Ionic Bonding
The student is reviewing bonding. An ionic bond is:
A. Electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
B. Sharing of electron pairs
C. Attraction between molecules
D. Metallic attraction
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ionic bonding involves electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions in a
lattice. [100% CORRECT]
Q7: Covalent Bonding
The student is reviewing covalent bonds. A coordinate bond is:
, 3
A. A shared pair of electrons where both electrons come from one atom
B. A shared pair of electrons where each atom contributes one electron
C. An ionic bond
D. A metallic bond
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a coordinate (dative) bond, both electrons in the shared pair are donated by one atom,
e.g., NH₄⁺ formation. [100% CORRECT]
Q8: Metallic Bonding
The student is reviewing metallic bonding. Metallic bonding is:
A. Electrostatic attraction between metal ions and delocalised electrons
B. Sharing of electrons between metal atoms
C. Transfer of electrons between metal atoms
D. Hydrogen bonding between metal atoms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Metallic bonding consists of a lattice of positive metal ions surrounded by a sea of
delocalised electrons. [100% CORRECT]
Q9: Electronegativity
The student is reviewing electronegativity. Electronegativity is:
A. The ability of an atom to attract the electron pair in a covalent bond
B. The energy required to remove an electron
C. The energy released when an electron is added
D. The size of an atom
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Electronegativity is the power of an atom to attract the electron pair in a covalent bond.
[100% CORRECT]
Q10: Intermolecular Forces
The student is reviewing intermolecular forces. Hydrogen bonding occurs when hydrogen is bonded
to:
A. Carbon, nitrogen, or oxygen
B. Nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine
C. Chlorine, bromine, or iodine
D. Any non-metal
Correct Answer: B
