Cambridge IGCSE™

CHEMISTRY 0620/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice (Core) February/March 2023
45 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*1976189119*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty 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 in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
 The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.

This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB23 03_0620_12/3RP
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1 The arrangements of particles in solids, liquids and gases are different.

Which statement about the molecules in ice, water or steam is correct?

A The H2O molecules are on average closest together in steam.

B The H2O molecules are on average furthest apart in water.
C The H2O molecules in steam have the second highest average velocity.
D The H2O molecules in ice are able to vibrate.

2 The melting points and boiling points of three elements, at 1 atm pressure, are shown.

melting point boiling point

/ C / C

argon –189 –186

nitrogen –210 –196
oxygen –218 –183

Separate samples of argon, nitrogen and oxygen are stored at –200 C and at 1 atm pressure.

How many samples are liquids?

A 0 B 1 C 2 D 3

3 Which statement describes a compound?

A It contains two or more elements chemically combined.

B It contains two or more elements physically combined.
C It contains two or more elements forming an alloy.
D It contains two or more elements that can easily be separated.

4 Which statement about elements in the Periodic Table is correct?

A A potassium ion, K+, has the same electronic configuration as a chloride ion, Cl –.
B The electronic configuration of a Ca2+ ion is 2,8,8,2.
C The halogens are in Group VI and so their atoms have six electrons in their outer shell.
D Magnesium is in Period 3 and so a magnesium ion, Mg2+, has three occupied electron shells.

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5 Which statement about ions and ionic bonds is correct?

A Bromine atoms form negatively charged bromide ions.

B Ionic bonds form between elements in Group VII of the Periodic Table.
C Positive ions are formed when atoms lose protons.
D Potassium iodide contains negatively charged potassium ions.

6 Which molecule has only two shared pairs of electrons?

A CH4 B Cl 2 C HCl D H2O

7 Which statement about graphite explains why it is used as an electrode?

A It contains ions.
B It has a giant covalent structure.
C It is a metal.
D It has mobile electrons.

8 Methane, CH4, burns in air to form carbon dioxide and water.

What is the balanced equation for this reaction?

A CH4(g) + O2(g)  CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

B CH4(g) + 2O2(g)  CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

C CH4(g) + 2O2(g)  CO2(g) + H2O(g)

D CH4(g) + 3O2(g)  CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

9 Magnesium reacts with steam.

Mg + H2O  MgO + H2

When 2.43 g of magnesium reacts with an excess of steam, the products are 4.03 g of
magnesium oxide and 0.20 g of hydrogen.

What is produced when 7.29 g of magnesium reacts with an excess of steam?

A 1.34 g of magnesium oxide and 0.07 g of hydrogen

B 4.03 g of magnesium oxide and 0.20 g of hydrogen
C 8.06 g of magnesium oxide and 0.40 g of hydrogen
D 12.09 g of magnesium oxide and 0.60 g of hydrogen

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10 The diagram shows an electrolysis circuit.

At which electrode is hydrogen formed?

+ – + –

A B C D

aqueous molten
sodium chloride sodium chloride

11 Which gases are used to generate electricity in a fuel cell?

A carbon dioxide and oxygen

B hydrogen and methane
C hydrogen and oxygen
D methane and carbon dioxide

12 The reaction pathway diagram for a reaction is shown.

products
energy

reactants

progress of reaction

Which statements about the reaction are correct?

1 The reaction is endothermic.

2 The reaction is exothermic.
3 The diagram represents the combustion of methane.
4 The diagram represents the thermal decomposition of limestone.

A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

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13 Which row describes a chemical change?

new substances there is a

are made change of state

A always always
B always sometimes
C never always
D never sometimes

14 Magnesium powder reacts with an excess of dilute hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas.

Which statements about this reaction are correct?

1 The smaller the particles of magnesium powder, the more slowly the hydrogen is
produced.
2 The higher the temperature, the faster the magnesium powder disappears.
3 The lower the concentration of dilute hydrochloric acid, the faster the rate of
reaction.
4 The faster the magnesium powder disappears, the faster the rate of reaction.

A 1 and 2 B 2 and 3 C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4

15 Which statement about hydrated cobalt(II) chloride is correct?

A It turns blue when it is heated.

B It turns blue when water is added to it.
C It turns pink when water is added to it.
D It turns white when it is heated.

16 An aqueous solution reacts with a solid. The products are an alkaline gas, a salt and water.

What are the aqueous solution and the solid?

aqueous solution solid

A sodium hydroxide magnesium carbonate

B hydrochloric acid magnesium carbonate
C hydrochloric acid ammonium chloride
D sodium hydroxide ammonium chloride

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17 Both calcium oxide, CaO, and calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, are used to remove sulfur dioxide,
SO2, from flue gases in industrial plants.

Which row classifies calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide and sulfur dioxide?

calcium oxide calcium hydroxide sulfur dioxide

A acidic acidic basic

B acidic basic acidic
C basic acidic acidic
D basic basic acidic

18 Copper(II) sulfate is prepared by adding excess copper(II) carbonate to sulfuric acid.

Why is an excess of copper(II) carbonate added?

A to ensure all the copper(II) carbonate has reacted

B to ensure all the sulfuric acid has reacted
C to increase the rate of reaction

D to increase the amount of copper(II) sulfate produced

19 Part of the Periodic Table is shown.

Which element has two electrons in its outer shell and three electron shells?

A B
C D

20 Some information about element X is given.

● melting point = 64 C
● density = 0.86 g / cm3
● vigorous reaction with water

Where in the Periodic Table is X placed?

A Group 0
B Group I
C Group VII
D transition metals

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21 The properties of the element titanium, Ti, can be predicted from its position in the Periodic Table.

Which row identifies the properties of titanium?

can be conducts forms

has
used as electricity coloured
low density
a catalyst when solid compounds

A    
B    
C    
D    

22 Which description of brass is correct?

A a compound of copper and zinc

B a compound of copper and tin
C a mixture of copper and zinc
D a mixture of copper and tin

23 What is the symbol of the metal used in the manufacture of aircraft because of its low density?

A Al B Cu C Fe D Zn

24 Which property of stainless steel makes it suitable for making cutlery?

A It conducts electricity.
B It has a high melting point.
C It is resistant to rusting.
D It is ductile.

25 Which substances react to form hydrogen gas?

1 calcium and water

2 silver and dilute hydrochloric acid
3 magnesium and steam
4 zinc and dilute hydrochloric acid

A 1, 3 and 4 B 1 and 3 only C 2 and 4 D 4 only

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26 Some statements about the reactions of the metals tin, lithium and manganese are listed.

● Tin does not react with steam but does react with dilute hydrochloric acid.
● Lithium reacts with cold water.
● Manganese does not react with cold water but does react with steam.

What is the order of reactivity of the three metals?

least most
reactive reactive

A lithium manganese tin

B tin lithium manganese
C manganese tin lithium
D tin manganese lithium

27 Which substances are required for iron to rust?

A oxygen and salt

B oxygen only
C water and oxygen
D water and salt

28 Coke (carbon) and limestone are two raw materials used in the extraction of iron from hematite.

Which type of reaction occurs when each substance is heated during the process?

coke limestone

A redox redox
B redox thermal decomposition
C thermal decomposition redox
D thermal decomposition thermal decomposition

29 Water is treated at a waterworks to make it safe to drink.

What is present in the water when it leaves the waterworks?

A bacteria and insoluble substances

B bacteria only
C soluble substances, including chlorine compounds
D chlorine compounds only

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30 The formulae of four compounds, W, X, Y and Z, are given.

compound formula

W FeSO4
X (NH4)3PO4
Y KNO3
Z NaCl

Which compounds are mixed to create a fertiliser containing the three elements necessary for
improved plant growth?

A W and X B W and Z C X and Y D Y and Z

31 Some combustion reactions produce pollutant gases.

Which reactions produce a pollutant gas that is not present in clean air?

1 2CH4 + 3O2  2CO + 4H2O

2 2H2 + O2  2H2O

3 C + O2  CO2

4 N2 + O2  2NO

A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 3 and 4

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32 Which row identifies the homologous series to which the molecular structure belongs?

molecular structure homologous series

H H H H H H

A H C C C C C C H alkane

H H H H H H

H H

B H C C H alkene

H H

H H O

C H C C C alcohol

H H O H

H H H H

D H C C C C O H carboxylic acid

H H H H

33 Petroleum is fractionally distilled at an oil refinery.

The table shows some fractions and uses.

fraction use

1 gasoline fuel for ships

2 refinery gas lubrication
3 naphtha making chemicals
4 kerosene jet fuel

Which rows identify a use for the fraction listed?

A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3 C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4

34 What is the word equation for the preparation of ethanol?

A glucose  ethanol + carbon dioxide

B glucose + yeast  ethanol + water

C ethane + water  ethanol

D ethene + water  ethanol + carbon dioxide

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35 Which row describes properties of aqueous ethanoic acid?

effect of adding effect of adding

pH
magnesium sodium carbonate
A 1 reacts to form reacts to form carbon dioxide
hydrogen and water only
B 4 reacts to form reacts to form a salt,
hydrogen carbon dioxide and water
C 5 no reaction reacts to form a salt,
carbon dioxide and water
D 8 no reaction reacts to form carbon dioxide
and water only

36 Which row describes the relative sizes of monomer and polymer molecules?

monomer polymer

A large large
B large small
C small large
D small small

37 2.00 g of powdered calcium carbonate is added to 50.0 cm3 of hydrochloric acid.

Which apparatus is used to measure these quantities of calcium carbonate and

hydrochloric acid?

calcium carbonate hydrochloric acid

A balance burette
B balance thermometer
C pipette burette
D pipette thermometer

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38 The diagram shows a chromatogram obtained from the colours of three different sweets, X, Y
and Z.

red red

yellow yellow yellow

red red

sweet X sweet Y sweet Z

How many different red dyes are present in the sweets?

A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

39 A mixture contains sand and an aqueous solution of sodium chloride.

Which processes are used to obtain a sample of solid sand and a sample of solid
sodium chloride from the mixture?

A crystallisation followed by filtration

B evaporation followed by filtration
C filtration followed by crystallisation
D simple distillation followed by crystallisation

40 A student tests an unknown compound M.

The compound:

● produces a lilac flame using a flame test

● produces a gas which turns limewater cloudy when dilute hydrochloric acid is added.

What is M?

A sodium sulfate
B sodium carbonate
C potassium sulfate
D potassium carbonate

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To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 0620/12/F/M/23

 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group

© UCLES 2023
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
1 2
H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10

Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
16

85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

0620/12/F/M/23
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –

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