Cambridge International AS & A Level Cambridge International AS & A Level
CHEMISTRY 9701/12 CHEMISTRY 9701/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026 Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026
1 hour 15 minutes MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
*
Soft clean eraser
Published
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)
INSTRUCTIONS
• There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
*
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
• For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct examination.
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
• Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
• Write in soft pencil. Teachers.
• Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you. Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
• Do not use correction fluid or tape. Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the February/March 2026 series for most
• Do not write on any bar codes. Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
• You may use a calculator. components.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 40.
• Each correct answer will score one mark.
• Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
• The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.
• Important values, constants and standards are printed in the question paper.
This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
03_9701_12_2026_1.18 This document consists of 3 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 2 9701/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
PUBLISHED
1 Which statement about p orbitals is correct?
Question Answer Marks
A All p orbitals are shaped. 1 A 1
B All p orbitals have a lower energy than an s orbital of the same principal quantum number. 2 B 1
C Each of the first four quantum shells contain p orbitals.
3 D 1
D Each p orbital can contain a maximum of six electrons.
4 D 1
–1
5 C 1
2 The first four ionisation energies for phosphorus, in kJ mol , are shown.
6 D 1
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 7 C 1
8 B 1
Which row gives the 5th to 14th ionisation energies for phosphorus? 9 A 1
10 A 1
5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th
11 C 1
A 0
12 D 1
B 70
13 A 1
C 70
D 1 270 14 B 1
15 D 1
3 Sodium carbonate neutralises phosphoric acid to produce sodium phosphate, carbon dioxide 16 A 1
and water only.
17 B 1
–3 3
Which volume of 0.50 mol dm sodium carbonate is needed to exactly neutralise 40.0 cm of
–3 18 C 1
0.25 mol dm phosphoric acid?
3 3 3 3 19 A 1
A 10.0 cm B 13.3 cm C 20.0 cm D 30.0 cm
20 D 1
4 Which equation describes the complete combustion of an alkene, CnH2n? 21 B 1
A CnH2n + 2nO2 → nCO2 + nH2O 22 B 1
B CnH2n + 2nO2 → nCO2 + 2nH2O 23 A 1
C CnH2n + 1.5nO2 → nCO2 + 2nH2O 24 B 1
D CnH2n + 1.5nO2 → nCO2 + nH2O 25 C 1
26 B 1
27 C 1
28 B 1
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 03_9701_12_2026_1.18
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 3
, 3 9701/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
PUBLISHED
5 Organic nitrates in photochemical smog can cause breathing difficulties.
Question Answer Marks
The diagram shows an example of an organic nitrate molecule. 29 A 1
H 30 A 1
1 3
H C C O O NO2 31 B 1
2
H O 32 D 1
33 C 1
What is the correct order of the bond angles shown in ascending order (smallest first)?
34 C 1
A 1→2→3 B 2→1→3 C 3→1→2 D 3→2→1
35 C 1
6 Which dot-and-cross diagram is correct for Al 2Cl 6? 36 B 1
A B 37 D 1
3+ –
38 D 1
Cl Cl key
39 A 1
2 Al 6 Cl electrons from Al
electrons from Cl 40 C 1
Cl Al Al Cl
Cl Cl
C D
Cl Cl
Cl Al Cl Cl Al Cl
Cl Al Cl Cl Al Cl
Cl Cl
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 03_9701_12_2026_1.18 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 3
CHEMISTRY 9701/12 CHEMISTRY 9701/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026 Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026
1 hour 15 minutes MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
*
Soft clean eraser
Published
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)
INSTRUCTIONS
• There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
*
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
• For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct examination.
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
• Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
• Write in soft pencil. Teachers.
• Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you. Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
• Do not use correction fluid or tape. Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the February/March 2026 series for most
• Do not write on any bar codes. Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
• You may use a calculator. components.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 40.
• Each correct answer will score one mark.
• Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
• The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.
• Important values, constants and standards are printed in the question paper.
This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
03_9701_12_2026_1.18 This document consists of 3 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 2 9701/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
PUBLISHED
1 Which statement about p orbitals is correct?
Question Answer Marks
A All p orbitals are shaped. 1 A 1
B All p orbitals have a lower energy than an s orbital of the same principal quantum number. 2 B 1
C Each of the first four quantum shells contain p orbitals.
3 D 1
D Each p orbital can contain a maximum of six electrons.
4 D 1
–1
5 C 1
2 The first four ionisation energies for phosphorus, in kJ mol , are shown.
6 D 1
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 7 C 1
8 B 1
Which row gives the 5th to 14th ionisation energies for phosphorus? 9 A 1
10 A 1
5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th
11 C 1
A 0
12 D 1
B 70
13 A 1
C 70
D 1 270 14 B 1
15 D 1
3 Sodium carbonate neutralises phosphoric acid to produce sodium phosphate, carbon dioxide 16 A 1
and water only.
17 B 1
–3 3
Which volume of 0.50 mol dm sodium carbonate is needed to exactly neutralise 40.0 cm of
–3 18 C 1
0.25 mol dm phosphoric acid?
3 3 3 3 19 A 1
A 10.0 cm B 13.3 cm C 20.0 cm D 30.0 cm
20 D 1
4 Which equation describes the complete combustion of an alkene, CnH2n? 21 B 1
A CnH2n + 2nO2 → nCO2 + nH2O 22 B 1
B CnH2n + 2nO2 → nCO2 + 2nH2O 23 A 1
C CnH2n + 1.5nO2 → nCO2 + 2nH2O 24 B 1
D CnH2n + 1.5nO2 → nCO2 + nH2O 25 C 1
26 B 1
27 C 1
28 B 1
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 03_9701_12_2026_1.18
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 3
, 3 9701/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
PUBLISHED
5 Organic nitrates in photochemical smog can cause breathing difficulties.
Question Answer Marks
The diagram shows an example of an organic nitrate molecule. 29 A 1
H 30 A 1
1 3
H C C O O NO2 31 B 1
2
H O 32 D 1
33 C 1
What is the correct order of the bond angles shown in ascending order (smallest first)?
34 C 1
A 1→2→3 B 2→1→3 C 3→1→2 D 3→2→1
35 C 1
6 Which dot-and-cross diagram is correct for Al 2Cl 6? 36 B 1
A B 37 D 1
3+ –
38 D 1
Cl Cl key
39 A 1
2 Al 6 Cl electrons from Al
electrons from Cl 40 C 1
Cl Al Al Cl
Cl Cl
C D
Cl Cl
Cl Al Cl Cl Al Cl
Cl Al Cl Cl Al Cl
Cl Cl
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 03_9701_12_2026_1.18 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 3
