AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

Q1.
This question is about carbon and its compounds.

Fullerenes are molecules of carbon atoms.

The first fullerene to be discovered was Buckminsterfullerene (C60).

(a) What shape is a Buckminsterfullerene molecule?

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(1)

(b) Give one use of a fullerene.

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(1)

Propanone is a compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Figure 1 shows the dot and cross for a propanone molecule.

Figure 1

(c) Complete Figure 2 to show a propanone molecule.

Use a line to represent each single bond.

Use Figure 1.

Figure 2

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

(1)

(d) Determine the molecular formula of propanone.

Use Figure 1.

Molecular formula = _______________

(1)

(e) Propanone is a liquid with a low boiling point.

Why does propanone have a low boiling point?

Tick (✓) one box.

The covalent bonds are strong.

The covalent bonds are weak.

The intermolecular forces are strong.

The intermolecular forces are weak.

(1)

(f) Figure 3 represents the structure of graphite.

Figure 3

Explain why graphite is:

• a good electrical conductor
• soft and slippery.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

You should answer in terms of structure and bonding.

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(6)
(Total 11 marks)

Q2.
This question is about materials and their properties.

(a) Figure 1 shows a carbon nanotube.

Figure 1

The structure and bonding in a carbon nanotube are similar to graphene.

Carbon nanotubes are used in electronics because they conduct electricity.

Explain why carbon nanotubes conduct electricity.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

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(2)

(b) Figure 2 shows a badminton racket.

Figure 2

The following table shows some properties of materials.

The materials could be used to make badminton racket frames.

Relative Relative
Material Density in g/cm3
strength stiffness

Aluminium 2.7 0.3 69

Carbon nanotube 1.5 60 1000

Wood 0.71 0.1 10

Evaluate the use of the materials to make badminton racket frames.

Use the table above.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

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(4)

Zinc oxide can be produced as nanoparticles and as fine particles.

(c) A nanoparticle of zinc oxide is a cube of side 82 nm

Figure 3 represents a nanoparticle of zinc oxide.

Figure 3

Calculate the surface area of a nanoparticle of zinc oxide.

Give your answer in standard form.

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Surface area = __________________________ nm2

(1)

(d) Some suncreams contain zinc oxide as nanoparticles or as fine particles.

Suggest one reason why it costs less to use nanoparticles rather than fine
particles in suncreams.

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(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Q3.
A student investigated the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

Figure 1 shows the apparatus.

Figure 1

The student measured the volume of gas collected in each measuring cylinder
every minute for 20 minutes.

(a) Figure 2 shows the volume of hydrogen gas collected in the measuring
cylinder after 8 minutes.

Figure 2

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

What is the volume of hydrogen gas collected?

Volume = ___________________ cm3

(1)

Figure 3 shows the results of the investigation.

Figure 3

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

(b) Which of the lines on Figure 3 show that the volume of gas collected is
directly proportional to the time?

Tick one box.

Both lines

Chlorine line only

Hydrogen line only

Neither line

(1)

(c) Which of the lines on Figure 3 show a positive correlation between the
volume of gas collected and time?

Tick one box.

Both lines

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

Chlorine line only

Hydrogen line only

Neither line

(1)

A teacher demonstrates the electrolysis of different substances using graphite

electrodes.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus used.

Figure 4

(d) Why can graphite conduct electricity?

Tick one box.

Graphite exists in layers of atoms.

Graphite has a giant structure.

Graphite has a high melting point.

Graphite has delocalised electrons.

(1)

(e) The teacher demonstrates the electrolysis of:

• molten zinc chloride
• potassium bromide solution.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

Complete the table below to predict the products.

Choose answers from the box.

chlorine bromine hydrogen oxygen potassium zinc

Substance Product at cathode Product at anode

electrolysed (negative electrode) (positive electrode)

Molten zinc chloride

Potassium bromide
solution

(4)
(Total 8 marks)

Q4.
This question is about structure and bonding.

(a) Complete the dot and cross diagram to show the covalent bonding in a
nitrogen molecule, N2

Show only the electrons in the outer shell.

(2)

(b) Explain why nitrogen is a gas at room temperature.

Answer in terms of nitrogen’s structure.

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(3)

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

(c) Graphite and fullerenes are forms of carbon.

Graphite is soft and is a good conductor of electricity.

Explain why graphite has these properties.

Answer in terms of structure and bonding.

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(4)

(d) Figure 1 shows a model of a Buckminsterfullerene molecule.

A lubricant is a substance that allows materials to move over each other

easily.

Suggest why Buckminsterfullerene is a good lubricant.

Use Figure 1.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

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(2)

Silver can form cubic nanocrystals.

Figure 2 represents a silver nanocrystal.

(e) A silver nanocrystal is a cube of side 20 nm

Calculate the surface area to volume ratio of the nanocrystal.

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Surface area to volume ratio = ____________________

(3)

(f) Silver nanoparticles are sometimes used in socks to prevent foot odour.

Suggest why it is cheaper to use nanoparticles of silver rather than coarse

particles of silver.

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(2)
(Total 16 marks)

Q5.
This question is about different substances and their structures.

(a) Draw one line from each statement to the diagram which shows the
structure.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

Statement Structure

(4)

(b) Figure 1 shows the structure of an element.

Figure 1

What is the name of this element?

Tick one box.

Carbon

Chloride

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

Nitrogen

Xenon

(1)

(c) Why does this element conduct electricity?

Tick one box.

It has delocalised electrons

It contains hexagonal rings

It has weak forces between the layers

It has ionic bonds

(1)

(d) Figure 2 shows the structure of an alloy.

Figure 2

Explain why this alloy is harder than the pure metal Y.

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(2)

(e) What percentage of the atoms in the alloys are atoms of X?

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(2)

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

(f) What type of substance is an alloy?

Tick one box.

Compound

Element

Mixture

(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q6.
This question is about substances containing carbon atoms.

(a) Diamond is made of carbon atoms.

(i) Diamond is used for tips of drills.

Figure 1 shows a drill.

© Kershawj/iStock

Give one reason why diamond is used for tips of drills.

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(1)

(ii) Diamond nanoparticles can be made.

Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence.

hundred million thousand

Nanoparticles contain a few ________________ atoms.

(1)

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

(b) Graphite is made of carbon atoms.

Figure 2 shows the structure of graphite.

(i) What type of bonding does graphite have?

Tick (✔) one box.

Covalent

Ionic

Metallic

(1)

(ii) How many carbon atoms does each carbon atom bond to in
graphite?

Tick (✔) one box.

(1)

(iii) What is a property of graphite?

Tick (✔) one box.

Dissolves in water

Has a low melting point

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

Soft and slippery

(1)

(c) Poly(ethene) is made of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Poly(ethene) is a thermosoftening polymer.

Figure 3 shows the structure of a thermosoftening polymer.

(i) Complete the sentence.

Between the polymer chains in a thermosoftening polymer there

are no _______________________ .
(1)

(ii) Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence.

condense dissolve melt

Heating would cause a thermosoftening polymer to

_____________________ .
(1)

(iii) Many ethene molecules react together to make poly(ethene).

Different types of poly(ethene) can be made by changing the

conditions for the reaction.
Suggest two conditions that could be changed.

1.
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2.
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(2)

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

(d) Figure 4 shows how the atoms are bonded in methane.

(i) What is the formula for methane?

Tick (✔) one box.

C4H

CH4

C4H4

(1)

(ii) Methane has a low boiling point.

What does methane consist of?

Tick (✔) one box.

Charged ions

A giant lattice

Small molecules

(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q7.
This question is about the properties and uses of materials.

Use your knowledge of structure and bonding to answer the questions.

(a) Explain how copper conducts electricity.

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AQA Chemistry GCSE - Structure and Bonding of Carbon

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(2)

(b) Explain why diamond is hard.

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(c) Explain why thermosetting polymers are better than thermosoftening

polymers for saucepan handles.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

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