Cambridge IGCSE™

CHEMISTRY 0620/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice (Core) February/March 2020
45 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*3454751695*

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. A mark will not be deducted for a wrong answer.
• Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
• The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.

This document has 16 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

IB20 03_0620_12/4RP
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1 Which row represents the particles of a gas colliding most frequently?

pressure temperature

A high high
B high low
C low high
D low low

2 Which test is used to show that a sample of water is pure?

A Evaporate the water to see if any solids remain.

B Heat the water to check its boiling point.

C Test with anhydrous cobalt(II) chloride.

D Use universal indicator paper to check its pH.

3 Which piece of apparatus is used to measure 1.5 cm3 of a solution accurately?

A 25 cm3 measuring cylinder

B 25 cm3 pipette
C 50 cm3 measuring cylinder
D 50 cm3 burette

4 A representation of an atom is shown.

+ +
– – + + + – –
+

What is the nucleon number of this atom?

A 6 B 7 C 12 D 13

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5 Lithium reacts with fluorine to form the compound lithium fluoride.

Which statement about this reaction is correct?

A Each fluorine atom gains one electron.

B Each fluorine atom gains two or more electrons.
C Each fluorine atom loses one electron.
D Each fluorine atom loses two or more electrons.

6 Ammonia, NH3, is a covalent molecule.

Which diagram shows the outer shell electron arrangement in a molecule of ammonia?

A B

H N H H N H

H H

C D

H N H H N H

H H

7 Which row describes the structure and a use of diamond?

structure use

A ionic in cutting tools

B ionic lubricant
C macromolecular in cutting tools
D macromolecular lubricant

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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 Which statement about electrolysis is correct?

A Chemical energy is converted to electrical energy.

B Electrons flow through the electrolyte.
C Ionic compounds are broken down.
D Metals are formed at the positive electrode.

10 Which energy level diagram shows the reaction that will give out the most energy?

A B

reactants products

energy energy

products reactants

progress of reaction progress of reaction

C D

products reactants
energy energy

reactants products

progress of reaction progress of reaction

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11 Which change is a physical change?

A Copper(II) carbonate changes colour from green to black when it is heated, and stays black
when it cools.
B Ethanol reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.
C Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen when it is boiled.
D Ice forms liquid water when it is heated.

12 Marble chips (calcium carbonate) react with hydrochloric acid in an exothermic reaction.

calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid → calcium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

When excess marble chips are added to dilute hydrochloric acid the rate of the reaction starts off
fast, then gets slower until the reaction stops.

Why does the reaction rate get slower?

A The concentration of the hydrochloric acid is decreasing.

B The concentration of calcium chloride is increasing.
C The calcium carbonate is completely used up.
D The temperature of the mixture decreases.

13 The diagram shows the change from an anhydrous salt to its hydrated form.

forward
anhydrous salt hydrated salt
reverse

Which statement is correct?

A The forward reaction requires heat and water.

B The forward reaction requires water only.
C The reverse reaction requires heat and water.
D The reverse reaction requires water only.

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14 A violent reaction occurs when a mixture of chromium(III) oxide and aluminium is ignited with a
magnesium fuse as shown.

magnesium fuse

crucible
mixture of
chromium(III) oxide
and aluminium

sand

The equation for the reaction is shown.

Cr2O3 + 2Al → 2Cr + Al 2O3

Which substance is oxidised in the reaction?

A aluminium
B aluminium oxide
C chromium

D chromium(III) oxide

15 A farmer’s soil is acidic.

Which substance should the farmer add to neutralise the soil?

A ammonium sulfate
B calcium oxide
C hydrochloric acid
D NPK fertiliser

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16 Three elements, X, Y and Z, are burned in oxygen.

The oxides formed are dissolved in water and the pH of the solutions measured.

The results are shown.

pH of oxide solution

X 2.0
Y 14.0
Z 8.0

Which statements are correct?

1 Element X could be sulfur.

2 Element Y could be sodium.
3 Element Z is a non-metal.
4 No metal elements were used.

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

17 The following substances can be reacted together to prepare salts.

1 copper(II) oxide and excess hydrochloric acid

2 hydrochloric acid and excess sodium hydroxide

3 hydrochloric acid and excess zinc carbonate

In which reactions can the excess reactant be separated from the solution by filtration?

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

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18 Salt S is dissolved in water and three tests are carried out on the solution.

test result
1 aqueous sodium green precipitate formed,
hydroxide is added insoluble in excess sodium
hydroxide
2 dilute nitric acid is added no reaction
3 aqueous barium nitrate is added white precipitate formed
to the acidified solution from test 2

What is the identity of S?

A copper(II) chloride

B copper(II) sulfate

C iron(II) chloride

D iron(II) sulfate

19 Which statement about the Periodic Table is correct?

A Most metallic elements are on the left.

B Elements in the same period have the same number of outer electrons.
C Elements on the left are usually gases.
D The relative atomic mass of the elements increases from right to left.

20 The diagram shows elements W, X, Y and Z in a section of the Periodic Table.

W
X Z
Y

Which statement about the reactivity of the elements is correct?

A X is more reactive than Y, and W is more reactive than Z.

B X is more reactive than Y, and Z is more reactive than W.
C Y is more reactive than X, and W is more reactive than Z.
D Y is more reactive than X, and Z is more reactive than W.

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21 Some properties of substances are listed.

1 They conduct electricity.

2 They have low densities.
3 They have high melting points.
4 They are malleable.

Which properties are shown by transition metals?

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

22 Which statement about the noble gas argon is correct?

A It burns with a hot flame.

B It is used in airships because of its low density.
C It exists as diatomic molecules.
D It has eight electrons in its outermost shell.

23 Sodium is a Group I metal.

Which property, that is typical of most metals, is not shown by sodium?

A conductor of heat
B high melting point
C malleable
D shiny

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24 Manganese, nickel and silver are all metals.

Samples of powdered manganese, nickel and silver were placed in separate test-tubes
containing dilute hydrochloric acid.

The results are shown.

hydrogen
hydrogen

nickel manganese silver

What is the order of reactivity of the metals, most reactive to least reactive?

A manganese → nickel → silver

B manganese → silver → nickel

C silver → manganese → nickel

D silver → nickel → manganese

25 Which statement about aluminium is correct?

A Aluminium is easy to extract from its ore because it is near the bottom of the reactivity series.
B Aluminium is formed when aluminium oxide is heated with carbon.
C Bauxite is an important ore of aluminium.
D Hematite is an important ore of aluminium.

26 Some properties of aluminium are listed.

1 It conducts heat.
2 It has a low density.
3 It is strong.
4 It is resistant to corrosion.

Which of these properties make aluminium suitable for making food containers for chilled food
products?

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

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27 Water is treated at a waterworks to make it fit to drink.

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

A bacteria only
B bacteria and insoluble substances
C chlorine compounds only
D chlorine compounds and soluble substances

28 Sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen are common gaseous pollutants found in
the air.

Which pollutants contribute to acid rain?

A carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide

B oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide
C oxides of nitrogen only
D sulfur dioxide only

29 Which methods prevent iron from rusting?

coating washing with

painting
with zinc salt water

A    key
B    = prevents rusting
C    = does not prevent rusting
D   

30 Fertilisers are mixtures of different compounds used to increase the growth of crops.

Which pair of substances contain the three essential elements for plant growth?

A ammonium nitrate and calcium phosphate

B ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride
C ammonium phosphate and potassium chloride
D potassium nitrate and calcium carbonate

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31 Which process does not add a greenhouse gas to the atmosphere?

A burning methane
B decomposition of vegetation
C polymerisation
D respiration

32 Why is sulfur dioxide used as a food preservative?

A It is a gas at room temperature.

B It is used to make sulfuric acid.
C It kills bacteria.
D It reacts with alkalis.

33 Which statements about lime (calcium oxide) and limestone (calcium carbonate) are correct?

1 Limestone is used in the manufacture of iron.

2 Lime is made by heating limestone.
3 Powdered limestone is heated with clay in the production of cement.
4 Limestone causes soil to be acidic.

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

34 The formulae of two organic compounds, P and Q, are shown.

P Q
CH3CH2CH2OH CH3CHCHCH3

Which type of organic compounds are P and Q?

P Q

A alcohol alkane
B alcohol alkene
C carboxylic acid alkane
D carboxylic acid alkene

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35 Petroleum is an important raw material that is separated into useful products.

Which terms describe petroleum and the method used to separate it?

description separation method

A compound cracking
B compound fractional distillation
C mixture cracking
D mixture fractional distillation

36 Which type of compound is a member of a homologous series?

A carbonate
B carboxylic acid
C halogen
D hydroxide

37 Which statements about propene are correct?

1 Propene contains only single bonds.

2 Propene decolourises bromine water.
3 Propene is obtained by cracking.
4 Propene is a hydrocarbon.

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

38 Which row describes the production of ethanol and its properties?

can be made can be made is used as a is used as a

from glucose from ethene fuel solvent

A     key
B     = yes
C     = no
D    

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39 Which statements about ethanoic acid are correct?

1 It contains a carbon–oxygen double bond.

2 It contains two carbon atoms.
3 It decolourises bromine water.
4 It contains an –OH group.

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

40 Which polymers are natural polymers?

1 carbohydrates
2 poly(ethene)
3 protein

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

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publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

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 the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2020 0620/12/F/M/20

 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group
I II III IV V VI VII VIII

© UCLES 2020
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
85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
16

55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn

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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 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 114 116
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Fl Lv
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium flerovium livermorium
– – – – – – – – – – – – –

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.).