GCSE BASICS 1

1 Complete the table to show the formula and structure type (use üs) of the following substances. (10)

Simple Giant
Substance Formula Monatomic Ionic Metallic
molecular covalent

silver(I) nitrate AgNO3 ü

bromine Br2 ü

potassium bromide KBr ü

calcium Ca ü

aluminium sulfate Al2(SO4)3 ü

argon Ar ü

ammonia NH3 ü

ammonium chloride NH4Cl ü

hydrogen sulfide H2S ü

graphene C ü

2 a) Explain what the Avogadro constant is.

ü 6.022 x 1023 of something (1)

b) Calculate the number of molecules of water in 90.0 g of water. (Avogadro constant, L = 6.022 x 1023 mol–1)
𝟗𝟎.𝟎
ü moles H2O = = 5.00
𝟏𝟖.𝟎

ü molecules H2O = 5.00 x 6.022 x 1023 = 3.01 x 1024 (2)

3 Calculate the relative formula mass (Mr) of the following substances.

a) O2 ü Mr = 32.0 (1)

b) K2SO4 ü Mr = 174.3 (1)

c) Mg(NO3)2 ü Mr = 148.3 (1)

d) CuSO4.5H2O ü Mr = 249.6 (1)

4 Calculate the mass of each of the following.

a) 5.00 moles of Fe2O3 ü 5.00 x 159.6 = 798 g (1)

b) 0.250 moles of hydrogen ü H2 0.250 x 2.0 = 798 g (1)

c) 1.50 x 10–4 moles of aluminium iodide ü AlI3 1.50 x 10–4 x 407.7 = 0.0612 g (1)

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5 Calculate the number of moles of each of the following.
𝟐𝟑.𝟔
a) 23.6 g of Cu ü moles Cu = = 0.372 (1)
𝟔𝟑.𝟓

𝟎.𝟎𝟒𝟑𝟖
b) 43.8 mg of fluorine ü moles F2 = = 0.00115 (1)
𝟑𝟖.𝟎

𝟏.𝟐𝟓 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟔
c) 1.25 tonnes of vanadium(V) oxide ü moles V2O5 = = 6880 (1)
𝟏𝟖𝟏.𝟖

6 Convert these quantities into the units shown.

a) 18 mmol to mol ü 18 x 10–3 = 0.018 mol (1)

b) 20 MPa to Pa ü 20 x 106 = 2.0 x 107 Pa (1)

c) 65 mg to g ü 65 x 10–3 = 0.065 g (1)

d) 20°C to K ü 20 + 273 = 293 K (1)

e) 125 pm to m ü 125 x 10–12 = 1.25 x 10–10 m (1)

f) 50 cm3 to dm3 ü 50 x 10–3 = 0.050 dm3 (1)

g) 200 cm3 to m3 ü 200 x 10–6 = 2.00 x 10–4 m3 (1)

7 250 cm3 of aqueous solution contains 2.0 g of dissolved sodium hydroxide. Calculate the concentration of the
solution in mol dm–3

𝟐.𝟎
ü moles NaOH = = 0.0500
𝟒𝟎.𝟎
𝟎.𝟎𝟓𝟎𝟎
ü concentration = 𝟐𝟓𝟎 = 0.200 mol dm–3 (2)
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

8 What mass of oxygen reacts with 2.30 g of sodium? 4Na(s) + O2(g) ® 2Na2O(s)
𝟐.𝟑𝟎
ü moles Na = = 0.100
𝟐𝟑.𝟎
𝟎.𝟏𝟎𝟎
ü moles O2 = = 0.0250
𝟒

ü mass O2 = 0.025 x 32 = 0.800 g (3)

9 Which is the limiting reagent and what mass of aluminium chloride is formed when 1.35 g of aluminium is heated
with 4.26 g of chlorine?

2Al(s) + 3Cl2(g) ® 2AlCl3(s)

𝟏.𝟑𝟓 𝟒.𝟐𝟔
ü moles Al = 𝟐𝟕.𝟎
= 0.0500 moles Cl2 = 𝟕𝟏.𝟎
= 0.0600
ü limiting reagent is Cl2 as 0.0500 mol of Al would need 0.0750 mol of Cl2, but there is only 0.0600 mol
𝟐
ü moles AlCl3 = 0.0600 x = 0.0400
𝟑

ü mass AlCl3 = 0.0400 x 133.5 = 5.34 g (4)

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10 In a titration, it was found that 25.0 cm3 of 0.150 mol dm–3 sulfuric acid reacts with 23.58 cm3 of sodium
hydroxide solution. Calculate the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution in mol dm–3.

H2SO4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) ® Na2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

𝟐𝟓.𝟎
ü moles H2SO4 = x 0.150 = 0.00375
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

ü moles NaOH = 2 x 0.00375 = 0.00750

𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟓𝟎
ü concentration NaOH = 𝟐𝟑.𝟓𝟖 = 0.318 mol dm–3 (3)
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

11 Write a balanced equation for each of these reactions. ü correct formulas & ü balanced (6)

a) calcium + water

üü Ca + 2H2O ® Ca(OH)2 + H2

b) ethanethiol (C2H5SH) + oxygen

üü C2H5SH + 4.5O2 ® 2CO2 + 3H2O + SO2

c) zinc + hydrochloric acid

üü Zn + 2HCl ® ZnCl2 + H2

d) potassium carbonate + nitric acid

üü K2CO3 + 2HNO3 ® 2KNO3 + CO2 + H2O

e) ammonia + sulfuric acid

üü 2NH3 + H2SO4 ® (NH4)2SO4

f) copper(II) oxide + nitric acid

üü CuO + 2HNO3 ® Cu(NO3)2 + H2O

12 Write an ionic equation for each of these reactions. (3)

a) precipitation of iron(III) hydroxide when solutions of sodium hydroxide and iron(III) nitrate are mixed

ü Fe3+ + 3OH– ® Fe(OH)3

b) redox reaction between solution of silver(I) nitrate and magnesium metal

ü 2Ag+ + Mg ® 2Ag + Mg2+

c) acid-base reaction between sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide

ü H+ + OH– ® H2O

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 13 Complete the table about these atoms and ions. ü correct row (4)

atomic mass
atom / ion protons neutrons electrons
number number

0/ 17 37 17 18 17
./Cl

0/ 1
./Cl 17 37 17 18 18

𝟐𝟔 𝟐2
𝟏𝟐𝐌𝐠 17 37 12 14 10

𝟏𝟖 𝟐1 8 18 8 10 10
𝟖𝐎

Area Strength To develop Area Strength To develop Area Strength To develop

Done with care and thoroughness Write formulae (ionic) Find moles from mass (and vice versa)

Good SPG Write formulae (other) Can do reacting mass calculations

Shows full working Write balanced equations Understands limiting reagents

Explanations are clear Write ionic equations Can do solution calculations

Convert units Identify structure type of substances Can work out PNE numbers in atoms/ions

Work to appropriate sig figs Understands Avogadro constant

Gives units when appropriate Can work out formula mass

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 GCSE BASICS 2

1 Complete the table to show the formula and structure type (use üs) of the following substances. (8)

Simple Giant
Substance Formula Monatomic Ionic Metallic
molecular covalent

ammonia NH3 ü

iodine I2 ü

lithium bromide LiBr ü

potassium K ü

aluminium hydroxide Al(OH)3 ü

diamond C ü

buckminsterfullerene C60 ü

helium He ü

2 Convert these quantities into the units shown.

a) 25 cm3 to dm3 ü 25 x 10–3 = 0.025 dm3 (1)

b) 500 cm3 to m3 ü 500 x 10–6 = 5.00 x 10–4 m3 (1)

c) 100 kPa to Pa ü 100 x 103 = 1.0 x 105 Pa (1)

d) 89 mg to g ü 89 x 10–3 = 0.089 g (1)

e) –196°C to K ü –196 + 273 = 77 K (1)

f) 0.102 nm to m ü 0.102 x 10–9 = 1.02 x 10–10 m (1)

3 Write a balanced equation for each of these reactions. ü correct formulas & ü balanced (8)

a) copper(II) carbonate + nitric acid

üü CuCO3 + 2HNO3 ® Cu(NO3)2 + CO2 + H2O

b) magnesium oxide + hydrochloric acid

üü MgO + 2HCl ® MgCl2 + H2O

c) silane (SiH4) + oxygen

üü SiH4 + 2O2 ® SiO2 + 2H2O

d) calcium + hydrochloric acid

üü Ca + 2HCl ® CaCl2 + H2

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4 Write an ionic equation for each of these reactions. (6)

a) precipitation of lead(II) iodide when solutions of potassium iodide and lead(II) nitrate are mixed

ü Pb2+ + 2I– ® PbI2

b) acid-base reaction between sulfuric acid and lithium hydroxide

ü H+ + OH– ® H2O

c) redox reaction between solution of iron(II) nitrate and zinc metal

ü Fe2+ + Zn ® Fe + Zn2+

5 Complete the table about these atoms and ions. ü correct row (2)

atomic mass
atom / ion protons neutrons electrons
number number
!# !"
#$P 15 31 15 16 18

𝟖𝟏 "
𝟑𝟓𝐁𝐫 17 37 35 46 36

6 Which is the limiting reagent and what mass of lithium oxide is formed when 1.0 g of lithium is heated with 1.3 g
of oxygen?
4Li(s) + O2(g) ® 2Li2O(s)

𝟏.𝟎 𝟏.𝟑
ü moles Li = = 0.145 moles O2 = = 0.0406
𝟔.𝟗 𝟑𝟐.𝟎

ü limiting reagent is Li as 0.0406 mol of O2 would need 0.162 mol of Li but there is only 0.145 mol
𝟏
ü moles Li2O = 0.145 x = 0.00725
𝟐

ü mass Li2O = 0.00725 x 29.8 = 2.2 g (4)

7 Calculate the percentage atom economy to form chlorine in this reaction.

2NaCl + 2H2O ® Cl2 + H2 + 2NaOH
𝟕𝟏.𝟎
ü % atom economy = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟐(𝟓𝟖.𝟓)1𝟐(𝟏𝟖.𝟎)

ü = 46.4% (2)

8 Calculate the mass of one atom of 2!Li. (Avogadro constant, L = 6.022 x 1023 mol–1)

𝟕
ü mass = 𝟔.𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑
= 1.162 x 10–23 g (1)

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9 In a reaction, 115 g of tungsten was formed from 200 g of tungsten oxide. Calculate the percentage yield.
WO3 + 3H2 ® W + 3H2O
𝟐𝟎𝟎
ü moles WO3 = = 0.863
𝟐𝟑𝟏.𝟖

ü moles W = 0.863
ü mass W = 0.863 x 183.8 = 158.6 g
𝟏𝟏𝟓
ü % yield = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 72.5% (4)
𝟏𝟓𝟖.𝟔

10 In a titration, it was found that 25.00 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm–3 sodium hydroxide reacts with 26.38 cm3 of nitric
acid. Calculate the concentration of the nitric acid solution in mol dm–3.

HNO3(aq) + NaOH(aq) ® NaNO3(aq) + H2O(l)

𝟐𝟓.𝟎
ü moles NaOH = x 0.100 = 0.00250
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

ü moles HNO3 = 0.00250

𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟎
ü concentration HNO3 = 𝟐𝟔.𝟑𝟖 = 0.0945 mol dm–3 (3)
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

11 Draw stick diagrams and dot-cross diagrams for each of these molecules. (8)

NH3 CO2 HBr N2

H
stick
diagram
O C O H Br N N
H N H

H
dot-cross O C O
diagram H Br N N
H N H

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 12 Explain each of the following.

a) Magnesium chloride has a high melting point.

ü ionic structure
ü strong attraction between positive and negative ions
ü takes a lot of energy to overcome attraction (3)

b) Copper conducts electricity.

ü outer shell
ü electrons are delocalised
ü and carry charge through structure / metal (3)

c) Methane has a low boiling point.

ü simple molecular
ü weak forces between molecules
ü does not need much energy to overcome attraction (3)

d) Aluminium oxide conducts electricity when molten but not as a solid.

ü ions cannot move as solid

ü ions can move as liquid
ü and carry charge through structure (3)

e) Helium has a very low boiling point.

ü monatomic
ü weak forces between atoms
ü does not need much energy to overcome attraction (3)

Area Strength To develop Area Strength To develop Area Strength To develop

Done with care and thoroughness Write formulae (ionic) Can do solution calculations

Good SPG Write formulae (other) Can find % atom economy

Shows full working Write balanced equations Can find % yield

Explanations are clear Write ionic equations Can work out PNE numbers in atoms/Ions

Convert units Identify structure type of substances Can draw stick diagrams

Work to appropriate sig figs Understands Avogadro constant Can draw dot-cross diagrams

Gives units when appropriate Can work out formula mass Good understand of structure & bonding

Find moles from mass (and vice versa) Use of terms: atoms / molecules / ions / e-

Can do reacting mass calculations Use of terms: bonds / forces

Understands limiting reagents

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 GCSE BASICS 3

1 Complete the table using üs to show which type of structure the following substances have. (8)

Simple Giant
Substance Monatomic Ionic Metallic
molecular covalent

helium (He) ü
nitrogen fluoride (NF3) ü
silicon chloride (SiCl4) ü
strontium chloride (SrCl2) ü
iron oxide (Fe2O3) ü
phosphorus (P4) ü
silicon dioxide (SiO2) ü
iridium (Ir) ü

2 Give the formula of each of the following ionic substances. (8)

a) potassium bromide ü KBr e) cobalt(II) carbonate ü CoCO3

b) aluminium sulfide ü Al2S3 f) ammonium nitrate ü NH4NO3

c) magnesium hydroxide ü Mg(OH)2 g) titanium(IV) oxide ü TiO2

d) iron(III) nitrate ü Fe(NO3)3 h) rubidium sulfate ü Rb2SO4

3 Write a balanced equation for each of these reactions. ü correct formulas & ü balanced (10)

a) potassium oxide + hydrochloric acid

üü K2O + 2HCl ® 2KCl2 + H2O

b) barium + water

üü Ba + 2H2O ® Ba(OH)2 + H2

c) propane (C3H8) + oxygen

üü C3H8 + 5O2 ® 3CO2 + 4H2O

d) magnesium + nitric acid

üü Mg + 2HNO3 ® Mg(NO3)2 + H2

e) zinc(II) carbonate + sulfuric acid

üü CuCO3 + H2SO4 ® CuSO4 + CO2 + H2O

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4 Write an ionic equation for each of these reactions. (3)

a) redox reaction between solution of copper(II) sulfate and magnesium metal

ü Cu2+ + Mg ® Cu + Mg2+

b) acid-base reaction between nitric acid and calcium hydroxide

ü H+ + OH– ® H2O

c) precipitation of silver(I) bromide when solutions of potassium bromide and silver(I) nitrate are mixed

ü Ag+ + Br– ® AgBr

5 Convert these quantities into the units shown.

a) 25 cm3 to m3 ü 25 x 10–6 = 2.5 x 10–5 m3 (1)

b) 150 cm3 to dm3 ü 150 x 10–3 = 0.150 dm3 (1)

c) 40 MPa to Pa ü 40 x 106 = 4.0 x 105 Pa (1)

d) 7.5 mg to g ü 7.5 x 10–3 = 0.0075 g (1)

6 6.15 g of hydrated magnesium sulfate, MgSO4.xH2O decompose to form 3.00 g of anhydrous magnesium sulfate
on heating. Calculate the formula mass of hydrated magnesium sulfate and the value of x.
𝟑.𝟎𝟎
ü moles MgSO4 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎.𝟒
= 0.0249
ü moles MgSO4.xH2O = 0.0249
𝟔.𝟏𝟓
ü Mr MgSO4.xH2O = 𝟎.𝟎𝟐𝟒𝟗
= 246.8
𝟏𝟐𝟔.𝟒
ü Mr xH2O = 246.8 – 120.4 = 126.4 x = = 7.02 = 7 (nearest integer) (4)
𝟏𝟖.𝟎

7 Determine the limiting reagent and then calculate the mass of titanium produced when 10.00 g of titanium
chloride react with with 2.00 g of magnesium.

TiCl4 + 2Mg ® 2MgCl2 + Ti

𝟏𝟎.𝟎𝟎 𝟐.𝟎𝟎
ü moles TiCl4 = = 0.0527 moles Mg = = 0.0823
𝟏𝟖𝟗.𝟗 𝟐𝟒.𝟑

ü limiting reagent is Mg as 0.0527 mol of TiCl4 would need 0.1054 mol Mg but there is only 0.0823 mol
𝟏
ü moles TI = 0.0823 x = 0.04115
𝟐

ü mass TI = 0.04115 x 47.9 = 1.97 g (4)

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 8 Describe what each of the following formulae tells you about the substance shown.

a) Ammonia has the molecular formula NH3

ü in each molecule
ü 1 N atom and 3 H atoms (2)

b) Silicon dioxide has the formula SiO2

ü ratio through structure

ü is 1 Si atom : 2 O atoms (2)

c) Aluminium oxide has the formula Al2O3.

ü ratio through structure

ü is 2 Al3+ : 3 O2– ions (2)

d) Sulfur has the molecular formula S8.

ü in each molecule
ü 8 S atoms (2)

9 The element carbon exists in several different forms (allotropes), including diamond, graphite and graphene.

a) Explain why these forms of carbon all have high melting points.

ü giant covalent structure

ü need to break covalent bonds
ü takes a lot of energy to overcome (3)

b) Explain why graphite and graphene are electrical conductors but diamond is not.

ü graphite has delocalised electrons

ü and carry charge through structure
ü diamond has no delocalised electrons (3)

c) Buckminsterfullerene is another form of carbon with the formula C60. Explain how the formula C60 tells us that
this is a molecular substance and not a giant covalent substance.

ü there are 60 C atoms in each molecule

ü if it was giant covalebt the formula would be C as it is an empirical formula (2)

Area Strength To develop Area Strength To develop Area Strength To develop

Done with care and thoroughness Write formulae (ionic) Understands limiting reagents

Good SPG Write formulae (other) What formulas mean

Shows full working Write balanced equations Link structure types to properties

Explanations are clear Write ionic equations Identify structure types of substances

Convert units Can work out formula mass

Work to appropriate sig figs Find moles from mass (and vice versa)

Gives units when appropriate Can do reacting mass calculations

© www.CHEMSHEETS.co.uk 02-April-2020 page 3 Chemsheets AS 1238