Specimen paper 1 (set 8)30 minutes · 20 marks

chermistry.com
Practice paper written from an analysis of every
O-Level Science (Chemistry) paper, 2010–2026

SCIENCE (CHEMISTRY)

Specimen 2026

Paper 1  Multiple Choice  (Chemistry section)

FORECAST PAPER · SET 8 Medium

For practice before the 2026 examination

30 minutes

Additional Materials:    Paper for your answers, numbered 1 to 20

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write in soft pencil.

Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.

There are twenty questions on this paper. Answer all questions. For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D.

Choose the one you consider correct and record your choice on a separate sheet of paper, numbered 1 to 20.

Each correct answer will score one mark. A mark will not be deducted for a wrong answer.

Any rough working should be done in this booklet.

A copy of the Data Sheet is printed on page 9.
A copy of the Periodic Table is printed on page 10.

The use of an approved scientific calculator is expected, where appropriate.

This document consists of 10 printed pages.
NOT AN OFFICIAL EXAMINATION PAPER
Written for classroom practice from the topic frequencies in the chermistry theory-paper analysis. It follows the layout, wording and mark scheme conventions of the O-Level Science (Chemistry) papers but is not set, endorsed or marked by any examination board.
1Easy

An art student separates the coloured substances in four paints, J, K, L and M, by paper chromatography.

The chromatogram is shown.

solvent frontstart lineJKLM

Which paint contains only one coloured substance?

AJ
BK
CL
DM
2Easy

Neon gas is used in glowing signs in art galleries.

Neon gas contains two types of atom with the nuclide notations shown.

2010Ne and 2210Ne

How do atoms of these two types compare?

AThey have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
BThey have different numbers of protons but the same number of neutrons.
CThey have the same number of protons and neutrons but different numbers of electrons.
DThey have different numbers of protons and different numbers of electrons.
3Hard

Pigments used by artists contain copper(II) ions and zinc ions.

The nuclide notations of the two ions are shown.

6429Cu2+ and 6530Zn2+

Which row describes the Cu2+ ion compared with the Zn2+ ion?

number of protonsnumber of neutronsnumber of electrons
Afewerfewerfewer
Bfewersamesame
Cfewersamefewer
Dsamefewerfewer
4Medium

A student uses the apparatus shown to test whether sodium chloride, which is used to make salt-dough ornaments, conducts electricity.

celllampcarbonelectrodesionic compoundheat

The student tests solid sodium chloride, molten sodium chloride (heated in the crucible) and a solution of sodium chloride in water.

In which of these does the lamp light?

AMolten sodium chloride only.
BMolten sodium chloride and the solution in water only.
CThe solution in water only.
DSolid sodium chloride, molten sodium chloride and the solution in water.
5Medium

Propanone, which is used in nail varnish remover, is a covalent compound with a simple molecular structure.

Liquid propanone does not conduct electricity.

Which statement explains this?

AThe atoms in a molecule of propanone are joined by strong covalent bonds.
BThe forces between the molecules of propanone are weak.
CThe molecules of propanone are packed closely together in the liquid.
DThere are no ions or free electrons in propanone to carry the current.
6Hard

A craft dye workshop adds aqueous sodium hydroxide to a waste solution that contains iron ions.

A green precipitate forms.

Which equation, with state symbols, is the ionic equation for the formation of the precipitate?

AFe3+(aq) + 3OH−(aq) → Fe(OH)3(s)
BFe2+(aq) + 2OH−(aq) → Fe(OH)2(s)
CFe2+(aq) + 2OH−(aq) → Fe(OH)2(aq)
DFe2+(aq) + OH−(aq) → Fe(OH)2(s)
7Medium

Early photographers lit their studios with the bright flash made when magnesium burns in air.

2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s)

0.60 g of magnesium burns completely.

What is the volume of oxygen used, measured at room temperature and pressure?

[Ar: Mg, 24]
A150 cm3
B300 cm3
C600 cm3
D1200 cm3
8Medium

A hair conditioner has a pH of 4 and a liquid hand soap has a pH of 10.

Which statement is correct?

AThe conditioner has more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions.
BThe hand soap contains no hydrogen ions.
CThe hand soap has a lower concentration of hydrogen ions than the conditioner.
DThe conditioner and the hand soap have the same concentration of hydroxide ions.
9Hard

Which row correctly classifies the four oxides?

copper(II) oxidenitrogen dioxide, NO2nitrogen monoxide, NOzinc oxide
Abasicneutralacidicamphoteric
Bbasicacidicacidicamphoteric
Camphotericacidicneutralbasic
Dbasicacidicneutralamphoteric
10Medium

A white powder used to fix dyes in fabric is dissolved in water. The solution contains one cation.

Two tests are carried out on the solution.

•A white precipitate forms when aqueous sodium hydroxide is added. The precipitate dissolves in excess aqueous sodium hydroxide.
•A white precipitate forms when aqueous ammonia is added. The precipitate does not dissolve in excess aqueous ammonia.

Which cation is present?

AAl3+
BCa2+
CNH4+
DZn2+
11Easy

Aqueous potassium iodide is added to a fabric bleach that is an oxidising agent.

Which observation is made?

AThe solution changes from brown to colourless.
BThe solution changes from colourless to brown.
CThe solution changes from colourless to purple.
DThe solution changes from purple to colourless.
12Easy

The table shows the electronic configurations of four elements. The letters are not the chemical symbols.

elementelectronic configuration
W2.8.1
X2.8.2
Y2.8.7
Z2.8.3

Which element is a non-metal?

AW
BX
CY
DZ
13Easy

Which row describes bromine at room temperature?

colourstate
Apurple-blacksolid
Byellow-greengas
Cred-browngas
Dred-brownliquid
14Medium

Which process is endothermic?

ASolid gold melts in a crucible.
BMolten silver sets in a casting mould.
CCharcoal burns in a kiln.
DSteam condenses on a cold mirror.
15Hard

An art student etches a zinc plate with dilute hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen is given off.

The student models this by adding excess dilute hydrochloric acid to a piece of zinc and measuring the total volume of hydrogen collected every 20 s.

The graph shows the results.

02040608010012001020304050607080volume ofhydrogen/ cm3time / s

Which statement is correct?

AThe average rate of reaction between 0 s and 20 s is three times the average rate between 60 s and 80 s.
BThe rate of reaction is greatest between 20 s and 40 s.
CThe reaction stops after 60 s.
DThe average rate of reaction in the first 80 s is 1.0 cm3 / s.
16Hard

Candle wax and petrol are both obtained from crude oil by fractional distillation.

Four statements about crude oil and its fractions are listed.

1The hydrocarbons in the fraction used for candle wax have more carbon atoms per molecule than those in petrol.
2The hydrocarbons in the wax fraction condense at a lower temperature than those in petrol.
3A quantity of a fraction can be burned as a fuel or used as a source of chemicals, but not both, so these uses compete.
4Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that is separated according to their boiling points.

Which statements are correct?

A1, 2 and 3
B1, 2 and 4
C1, 3 and 4
D2, 3 and 4
17Medium

An alkene, X, is the monomer used to make a plastic for craft beads.

The relative molecular mass of X is 70.

What is the molecular formula of X?

[Ar: H, 1; C, 12]
AC5H8
BC5H10
CC5H12
DC6H12
18Medium

A lipstick maker hardens a vegetable oil by reacting it with hydrogen, as in the manufacture of margarine, until all its C=C double bonds have been used up.

A sample of the oil and a sample of the solid fat formed are each shaken with aqueous bromine.

Which statement describes the results?

ABoth the oil and the solid fat decolourise the aqueous bromine.
BNeither the oil nor the solid fat decolourises the aqueous bromine.
COnly the solid fat decolourises the aqueous bromine.
DOnly the oil decolourises the aqueous bromine.
19Medium

Ethanol is used as a solvent in perfumes.

In a laboratory, ethanol is warmed with acidified potassium manganate(VII) and ethanoic acid forms.

Which row describes the change to the ethanol and the colour change of the mixture?

change to the ethanolcolour change of the mixture
Aoxidationpurple to colourless
Boxidationcolourless to purple
Creductionpurple to colourless
Dreductioncolourless to purple
20Medium

A craft workshop makes earrings from recycled plastic bottles.

Three statements about recycling plastics are listed.

1Recycling reduces the amount of plastic waste sent to landfill sites.
2Collecting, sorting and cleaning waste plastic costs money.
3Community groups run plastic collection days in which local people take part.

Which row shows the type of issue raised by each statement?

statement 1statement 2statement 3
Aeconomicenvironmentalsocial
Beconomicsocialenvironmental
Cenvironmentaleconomicsocial
Dsocialeconomicenvironmental

Data Sheet

Colours of Some Common Metal Hydroxides

aluminium hydroxidewhite
calcium hydroxidewhite
copper(II) hydroxidelight blue
iron(II) hydroxidegreen
iron(III) hydroxidered-brown
zinc hydroxidewhite
The Periodic Table of Elements

Group

1

2

 

13

14

15

16

17

18

 

 

 

Key

 

1

H

hydrogen

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

He

helium

4

3

Li

lithium

7

4

Be

beryllium

9

 

proton (atomic) number

atomic symbol

name

relative atomic mass

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

B

boron

11

6

C

carbon

12

7

N

nitrogen

14

8

O

oxygen

16

9

F

fluorine

19

10

Ne

neon

20

11

Na

sodium

23

12

Mg

magnesium

24

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Al

aluminium

27

14

Si

silicon

28

15

P

phosphorus

31

16

S

sulfur

32

17

Cl

chlorine

35.5

18

Ar

argon

40

19

K

potassium

39

20

Ca

calcium

40

21

Sc

scandium

45

22

Ti

titanium

48

23

V

vanadium

51

24

Cr

chromium

52

25

Mn

manganese

55

26

Fe

iron

56

27

Co

cobalt

59

28

Ni

nickel

59

29

Cu

copper

64

30

Zn

zinc

65

31

Ga

gallium

70

32

Ge

germanium

73

33

As

arsenic

75

34

Se

selenium

79

35

Br

bromine

80

36

Kr

krypton

84

37

Rb

rubidium

85

38

Sr

strontium

88

39

Y

yttrium

89

40

Zr

zirconium

91

41

Nb

niobium

93

42

Mo

molybdenum

96

43

Tc

technetium

–

44

Ru

ruthenium

101

45

Rh

rhodium

103

46

Pd

palladium

106

47

Ag

silver

108

48

Cd

cadmium

112

49

In

indium

115

50

Sn

tin

119

51

Sb

antimony

122

52

Te

tellurium

128

53

I

iodine

127

54

Xe

xenon

131

55

Cs

caesium

133

56

Ba

barium

137

57–71

lanthanoids

 

72

Hf

hafnium

178

73

Ta

tantalum

181

74

W

tungsten

184

75

Re

rhenium

186

76

Os

osmium

190

77

Ir

iridium

192

78

Pt

platinum

195

79

Au

gold

197

80

Hg

mercury

201

81

Tl

thallium

204

82

Pb

lead

207

83

Bi

bismuth

209

84

Po

polonium

–

85

At

astatine

–

86

Rn

radon

–

87

Fr

francium

–

88

Ra

radium

–

89–103

actinoids

 

104

Rf

rutherfordium

–

105

Db

dubnium

–

106

Sg

seaborgium

–

107

Bh

bohrium

–

108

Hs

hassium

–

109

Mt

meitnerium

–

110

Ds

darmstadtium

–

111

Rg

roentgenium

–

112

Cn

copernicium

–

113

Nh

nihonium

–

114

Fl

flerovium

–

115

Mc

moscovium

–

116

Lv

livermorium

–

117

Ts

tennessine

–

118

Og

oganesson

–

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lanthanoids

57

La

lanthanum

139

58

Ce

cerium

140

59

Pr

praseodymium

141

60

Nd

neodymium

144

61

Pm

promethium

–

62

Sm

samarium

150

63

Eu

europium

152

64

Gd

gadolinium

157

65

Tb

terbium

159

66

Dy

dysprosium

163

67

Ho

holmium

165

68

Er

erbium

167

69

Tm

thulium

169

70

Yb

ytterbium

173

71

Lu

lutetium

175

 

actinoids

89

Ac

actinium

–

90

Th

thorium

232

91

Pa

protactinium

231

92

U

uranium

238

93

Np

neptunium

–

94

Pu

plutonium

–

95

Am

americium

–

96

Cm

curium

–

97

Bk

berkelium

–

98

Cf

californium

–

99

Es

einsteinium

–

100

Fm

fermium

–

101

Md

mendelevium

–

102

No

nobelium

–

103

Lr

lawrencium

–

 

The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).

The Avogadro constant, L = 6.02 × 1023 mol-1