2 (a) Fig. 2.1 shows part of Group I of the Periodic Table. lithium 7 3 Li sodium 23 11 Na potassium 39 19 K Fig. 2.1 (i) State the trend in the reactivity of the elements going down Group I. … [1] (ii) Explain why lithium does not react with helium, a Group VIII element. … … [1] (iii) Lithium is a solid and helium is a gas. Describe two differences between the structures of a solid and a gas. 1 … … 2 … … [2] (b) A piece of sodium is added to water, as shown in Fig. 2.2. sodium water Fig. 2.2 The sodium reacts with water. The reaction is exothermic. (i) State one other observation that is seen when sodium reacts with water. … [1] (ii) Complete the word equation for the reaction of sodium with water. sodium + water + [2] (c) X is a compound that reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form sodium chloride and water. Suggest the identity of X. … [1] (d) Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is broken down by electrolysis. (i) State the type of chemical bond in sodium chloride. … [1] (ii) Identify the product that forms at the anode (positive electrode). … [1] [Total: 10]

2(a)(i) increasing / more reactive / faster reaction ; 1 2(a)(ii) helium / He is, unreactive / inert ; 1 2(a)(iii) any two from: (solid/lithium) particles close(r) (together) ORA ; (solid/lithium) particles regular arrangement ORA ; (solid/lithium) particles vibrate / not free-moving ORA ; 2 2(b)(i) fizzes / bubbles OR gets smaller / disappears OR moves around ; 1 2(b)(ii) sodium + water → sodium hydroxide + hydrogen in either order sodium hydroxide ; hydrogen ; 2 2(c) sodium hydroxide / NaOH OR sodium carbonate / Na2CO3 ; 1 2(d)(i) ionic ; 1 2(d)(ii) chlorine / Cl2 ; 1 (a)(i) You must state that the reactivity of Group I elements increases as you go down the group. (a)(ii) You need to explain that helium is unreactive or inert. (a)(iii) You must describe two differences between the structure of a solid and a gas, such as particle spacing (closer in solid), arrangement (regular in solid), or movement (vibrating in solid, free-moving in gas). (b)(i) You need to describe an observable change when sodium reacts with water, such as fizzing, bubbling, getting smaller, disappearing, or moving around. (b)(ii) You must correctly identify both products of the reaction: sodium hydroxide and hydrogen. (c) You need to name a suitable substance that turns universal indicator purple, such as sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. (d)(i) You must state that the bonding in sodium chloride is 'ionic'. (d)(ii) You need to identify 'chlorine' as the other product formed when sodium reacts with a Group VII element.

5 (a) The boxes on the left of Fig. 5.1 show some separation and collection methods. The boxes on the right of Fig. 5.1 show some substances and the mixtures they come from. Complete Fig. 5.1 to show the method used to separate and collect each substance from its mixture. Draw one line from each box on the left to one box on the right. Distillation of water from salty water has been done as an example for you. method substance and its mixture chromatography dyes ink crystallisation insoluble copper oxide aqueous copper sulfate distillation naphtha petroleum filtration salt salty water fractional distillation water salty water Fig. 5.1 [2] (b) Evaporation is also used to separate some mixtures. During evaporation, a liquid becomes a gas. (i) Explain why evaporation is a physical change and not a chemical change. … … [1] (ii) Describe how the structure of a gas is different to the structure of a liquid in terms of particle arrangement and particle motion. particle arrangement … … particle motion … … [2] (c) Copper sulfate and water are made when copper oxide reacts with an acid. State the name of this acid. … [1] (d) State one use for naphtha. … [1] [Total: 7]

5(a) two correct ; all correct ; 2 5(b)(i) only a state change / no new substance made ; 1 5(b)(ii) particles in a gas are: ORA far apart / (more) spread out ; move more freely ; 2 5(c) sulfuric (acid) ; 1 5(d) (as a) feedstock / for making chemicals ; 1

6 (a) Table 6.1 shows the melting points and boiling points of six substances. Table 6.1 substance melting point / °C boiling point / °C ammonia –78 –33 benzene 6 80 bromine –7 59 lactic acid 17 122 mercury –39 357 sulfur 115 445 (i) Identify two substances that are liquid at 65 °C. … and … [1] (ii) Identify two substances whose molecules are far apart at 60 °C. … and … [1] (b) A student has a liquid-in-glass thermometer without a scale. The student wants to mark a scale on the thermometer. The student puts the thermometer into melting ice, waits for the level of the liquid in the thermometer to stop changing, and marks this liquid level as 0 °C. (i) Suggest what the student does in order to decide where to put a mark for 100 °C. … … [1] (ii) Measuring temperature uses a property of the liquid in the thermometer that changes with temperature. State the property that is used. … [1] (c) Fig. 6.1 shows the student using a mirror to observe a digital thermometer. mirror eye digital thermometer Fig. 6.1 (i) On Fig. 6.1 draw a ray to show how the student is able to use the mirror to read the scale on the thermometer. Include in your drawing: • the normal • the angles of incidence (i) and reflection (r). [3] (ii) Fig. 6.2 shows the image seen by the student in the mirror. Fig. 6.2 Describe the characteristic of an image in a plane mirror, as shown in Fig. 6.2. … [1] [Total: 8]

6(a)(i) any two for one mark: benzene / lactic acid / mercury ; 1 6(a)(ii) ammonia AND bromine ; 1 6(b)(i) hold bulb in boiling water / hold bulb in steam (above boiling water) ; 1 6(b)(ii) (thermal) expansion / increase in volume ; 1 6(c)(i) ray from thermometer to mirror to eye, with at least one arrowhead ; normal drawn at mirror with equal angles (judged by eye) of incidence and reflection ; i and r correctly marked ; 3 6(c)(ii) laterally inverted OWTTE ; 1

2 Carbon and oxygen are two elements in Period 2 of the Periodic Table. 6 carbon C 12 8 oxygen O 16 proton number nucleon (mass) number (a) Complete Table 2.1 to show the numbers of neutrons, protons and electrons in an atom of carbon and in an atom of oxygen. Table 2.1 number of neutrons number of protons number of electrons carbon oxygen [2] (b) Explain why carbon is in Group IV of the Periodic Table and why oxygen is in Group VI. Use ideas about electron arrangement in your answer. … … [1] (c) One carbon atom and two oxygen atoms combine together to make carbon dioxide. Complete the dot-and-cross diagram to show all outer shell electrons in a molecule of carbon dioxide. O C O [2] (d) The boiling point of carbon dioxide is –78.5 °C. Identify the physical state of carbon dioxide at –77 °C. … [1] (e) Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause environmental problems. Explain why. … … … … [2] [Total: 8]

2(a) number of neutrons number of protons number of electrons 6 6 6 8 8 8 ;; one mark neutrons correct second mark protons and electrons correct 2 2(b) carbon has 4 outer shell electrons and oxygen has 6 ; 1 2(c) four bonding electrons shown between carbon and each oxygen ; (dependent on MP1) rest of molecule correct ; 2 2(d) gas ; 1 2(e) one point from: CO2 is a greenhouse gas / causes enhanced greenhouse effect / causes atmosphere to heat up / traps excess heat in atmosphere / causes global warming ; and one point from: climate change ; extreme weather events / named example, e.g. hurricanes ; sea level rise / flooding (of coastal areas) ; polar ice caps melt ; 2

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) States of matter past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — States of matter with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

56 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

States of matter in IGCSE Combined Science 0653 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, States of matter accounted for 69 questions worth 365 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	13	74
2021	13	67
2022	9	50
2023	12	57
2024	9	56
2025	13	61

Most-tested subtopics

C1.1 Solids, liquids and gases334 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 15 qs
Paper 2 · 16 qs
Paper 3 · 14 qs
Paper 4 · 19 qs
Paper 5 · 1 q
Paper 6 · 4 qs

All most-tested Combined Science topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q2 · 10 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q5 · 7 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q6 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 4 · Q2 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q14 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q14
Answer: A
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