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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry 1SC0
Key Concepts in Chemistry
Topic overviewFormulae, word equations and balanced equationsHazard symbols and assessing riskThe changing model of the atomProtons, neutrons and electronsThe nucleus, mass number and atomic massElements and isotopesCalculating particle numbers and relative atomic massMendeleev's periodic tableHow the modern periodic table is arrangedElectronic configuration and the periodic tableHow ionic bonds formIons in ionic compoundsFormulae of ionic compoundsNaming compounds and the ionic latticeCovalent bonds and moleculesDot and cross diagrams for simple moleculesClassifying substances and the properties of ionic compoundsProperties of simple molecular substances, and forms of carbonGraphite and diamondFullerenes and graphenePolymers and models of bondingThe properties of metalsRelative formula mass and percentage compositionEmpirical and molecular formulaeConservation of mass in closed and open systemsReacting masses from balanced equationsConcentration in grams per cubic decimetre
States of Matter and Mixtures
Topic overviewThe three states of matter and changes of stateEnergy changes during changes of state, and predicting statePure substances and melting point dataChoosing a separation techniqueSeparating a mixture in practicePaper chromatography and interpreting a chromatogramInvestigating inks by distillation and chromatographyMaking water potable
Chemical Changes
Topic overviewAcids, alkalis and the pH scaleIndicators: litmus, methyl orange and phenolphthaleinInvestigating pH change when neutralising an acidBases and alkalisReactions of acids, and testing for hydrogen and carbon dioxideNeutralisation and its ionic equationPreparing soluble salts from insoluble and soluble reactantsPreparing pure, dry copper sulfate crystalsCarrying out an acid-alkali titrationSolubility rulesPredicting precipitates and preparing an insoluble saltElectrolytes and what electrolysis isMovement of ions and predicting the products of molten electrolysisElectrolysis with inert electrodesElectrolysis of copper sulfate solutionInvestigating the electrolysis of copper sulfate
Extracting Metals and Equilibria
Groups in the Periodic Table
Topic overviewThe groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metalsReactions of the alkali metals with waterThe pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happensPhysical properties of the halogensThe test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metalsHydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivityDisplacement reactions of the halogensGroup 0: the noble gases
Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
Fuels and Earth Science
Topic overviewHydrocarbons and crude oilFractional distillation and the fractionsProperties of the fractions and homologous seriesComplete and incomplete combustionCarbon monoxide and sootPollutants and acid rainHydrogen and fossil fuels comparedCracking and why it is necessaryThe Earth's early atmosphereHow the oceans formed and how oxygen appearedThe test for oxygen and the greenhouse gasesToday's atmosphere and evidence for climate change
States of Matter and Mixtures
- 8 subtopics
- 24 things to know
- Paper 3
What States of Matter and Mixtures covers
States of Matter and Mixtures is examined in Paper 3, Chemistry 1. It covers the three states of matter and changes of state, energy changes during changes of state, and predicting state, pure substances and melting point data, choosing a separation technique, separating a mixture in practice, paper chromatography and interpreting a chromatogram, investigating inks by distillation and chromatography and making water potable.
Where it is assessed
Paper 3
Chemistry 1: Chemistry in Combined Science: 1 hour 10 minutes, 60 marks, 16.67% of the qualification.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 8 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The three states of matter and changes of stateThe arrangement, movement and energy of particles in solids, liquids and gases, why gases compress and solids keep their shape, melting, freezing, boiling, evaporation, condensing and sublimation, and physical and chemical changes.Open →
- Energy changes during changes of state, and predicting stateWhat happens to particles and their energy as substances melt, boil, condense, freeze and sublime, why the temperature stays constant while a pure solid melts, and predicting a substance's state from its melting and boiling points.Open →
- Pure substances and melting point dataWhat pure means in chemistry and in everyday language, what a mixture is and why it can be separated physically, and how a sharp melting or boiling point shows a substance is pure while a mixture melts over a range.Open →
- Choosing a separation techniqueWhich mixtures are separated by filtration, crystallisation, simple distillation, fractional distillation and paper chromatography, and why each technique suits the properties of the substances being separated.Open →
- Separating a mixture in practiceChoosing filtration, crystallisation, chromatography or fractional distillation for sand and water, copper sulfate, sand and salt, pen dyes and ethanol and water, and how to obtain pure water from muddy salt water.Open →
- Paper chromatography and interpreting a chromatogramThe mobile and stationary phases, why substances travel different distances up the paper and which can be separated, how a chromatogram shows purity or identifies a substance, and calculating and interpreting Rf values.Open →
- Investigating inks by distillation and chromatographyWhat simple distillation of an ink separates, the condenser, thermometer and safety precautions, and why the chromatography start line is pencil, the spots small and the solvent below the line.Open →
- Making water potableWhat potable water is, sedimentation, filtration and chlorination, distilling sea water and why it is costly, why chemical tests use distilled or deionised water, and taking representative random samples of water.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Compare the three states of matter by particle energy and arrangement, and name the changes between solid and liquid.
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Which mixtures are separated by filtration and by crystallisation, and when is crystallisation chosen over distillation?
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What does the word 'pure' mean in chemistry?
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Which technique separates sand from a mixture of sand and water?
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What is the mobile phase in paper chromatography?
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When an ink is distilled, what is collected in the receiving vessel?
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Why is potable water not the same as pure water?
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Put the three states of matter in order of increasing energy of their particles.
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Explain, in terms of particles, what happens when a solid melts.
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Why can the parts of a mixture be separated by physical methods?
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What type of mixture is separated by filtration?
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Describe how to obtain copper sulfate crystals from copper sulfate solution.
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What is the stationary phase in paper chromatography?
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Where should the thermometer bulb be placed during simple distillation?
Process
Give the three main stages used to make ground water potable, in order.
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Why does a solid keep a fixed shape while a liquid does not?
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Explain what happens to the particles when a liquid boils.
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State one way in which the properties of a mixture differ from those of a pure substance.
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During filtration, what stays in the filter paper and what passes through it?
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A mixture contains sand and salt. Describe how to obtain dry salt from it.
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What causes the solvent to travel up the chromatography paper?
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Give one safety precaution to take when heating ink during distillation.
Process
What does the filtration stage of water treatment remove?
Take States of Matter and Mixtures further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Evaporation vs Boiling
Evaporation: change from liquid to gas at the surface only, at any temperature. Boiling: change from liquid to gas throughout the liquid at one fixed temperature.
Filtration vs Crystallisation
Filtration: separating an insoluble solid from a liquid using filter paper. Crystallisation: obtaining a dissolved solid by evaporating the solvent from its solution.
Simple distillation vs Fractional distillation
Simple distillation: separating a liquid solvent from the substances dissolved in it. Fractional distillation: separating liquids that mix together and have different boiling points.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
How are the particles arranged in a solid?
Model answer
They are packed closely together in a regular, fixed pattern.
- 2
How do the particles in a solid move?
Model answer
They vibrate about fixed positions and cannot move from place to place.
- 3
Describe the arrangement of the particles in a liquid.
Model answer
They are still close together but are arranged randomly rather than in a regular pattern.
- 4
How do the particles in a liquid move?
Model answer
They slide past one another randomly, so a liquid can flow and take the shape of its container.
- 5
Describe the arrangement and movement of the particles in a gas.
Model answer
They are spread far apart in a random arrangement and move quickly in all directions.
- 6
Put the three states of matter in order of increasing energy of their particles.
Model answer
Solid particles have the least energy, liquid particles have more, and gas particles have the most.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
States of Matter and Mixtures revision questions
- What does States of Matter and Mixtures cover in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry?
- 8 subtopics: the three states of matter and changes of state, energy changes during changes of state, and predicting state, pure substances and melting point data, choosing a separation technique, separating a mixture in practice, paper chromatography and interpreting a chromatogram, investigating inks by distillation and chromatography and making water potable. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is States of Matter and Mixtures organised?
- By the Edexcel 1SC0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in States of Matter and Mixtures, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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