AQA GCSE Chemistry Chemistry Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2023: Question 3
7 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Identify properties, isotopic composition, mass calculations, and allotropes of carbon including graphite and Buckminsterfullerene.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
03 This question is about carbon.
03.1 Which type of substance is carbon?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
Compound
Element
Mixture
03.2 Carbon has isotopes with mass numbers 12, 13 and 14.
Complete the sentences.
Choose answers from the box.
[2 marks]
electrons ions molecules neutrons protons
The isotopes of carbon have the same number of .
The isotopes of carbon have a different number of .
03.3 12 g of carbon contains 6.02 ×1023 atoms.
Which expression is used to calculate the mass of one atom of carbon?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
6.02 × 10
6.02 × 10
12 × 6.02 × 1023
03.4 Figure 2 shows diagrams that represent different forms of carbon.
Figure 2
Which diagram in Figure 2 represents Buckminsterfullerene?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
A B10 C
03.5 Figure 3 represents part of the structure of graphite.
Figure 3
Draw one line from each property of graphite to the structural feature that is the
reason for that property.
[2 marks]
Property Structural feature
Graphite has hexagonal rings
of carbon atoms.
Graphite conducts electricity.
The bonds between carbon
atoms in the layers are strong.
Graphite is soft. There are no covalent bonds
between layers of atoms.
There are delocalised
electrons in graphite.
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
03.1 element 1 AO1
4.1.1.1
AO /
Spec. Ref.
03.2 must be in this order AO1
4.1.1.5
protons allow electrons 1
neutrons 1
AO /
Spec. Ref.
03.3 12 1 AO2
6.02 × 1023 4.1.1.1
AO /
Spec. Ref.
03.4 B 1 AO1
4.2.3.3
– HEMISTRY – –
AO /
Question Answers Mark
Spec. Ref.
03.5 AO1
4.2.3.2
do not accept more than one line from a box on the left
– HEMISTRY – –
Total Question 3 7
Question 4
How to answer it
Carbon: Atomic Structure, Isotopes, and Allotropes
What this question tests
This question assesses foundational knowledge across Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table and Structure and Bonding:
- Classifying substances as elements, compounds, or mixtures.
- Defining isotopes in terms of subatomic particles (protons and neutrons).
- Setting up mathematical expressions involving Avogadro's constant.
- Identifying carbon allotropes (diamond, Buckminsterfullerene, nanotubes).
- Linking microscopic structures of graphite to macroscopic properties (conductivity and softness).
Classifying Carbon as a Substance
Type of substance: Compound, Element, or Mixture
✅ Correct Answer
Element
💡 Key Knowledge
An element consists of only one type of atom and cannot be broken down chemically into simpler substances. Carbon has the chemical symbol C and is found directly on the Periodic Table.
❌ Common Errors
Students sometimes tick compound or mixture because they confuse elemental forms (such as diamond, coal, or charcoal) with impure mixtures. Pure carbon in any allotrope is strictly an element.
Isotopes of Carbon
Completing sentences using: electrons, ions, molecules, neutrons, protons
✅ Correct Answer
The isotopes of carbon have the same number of protons.
The isotopes of carbon have a different number of neutrons.
(Note: "electrons" is accepted for the first blank).
🧠 Exam Technique
- The words must be in this exact order: protons first, neutrons second.
- Atomic number (bottom number) = number of protons. Since all carbon atoms have atomic number 6, they always have 6 protons.
- Mass number (top number) = protons + neutrons. Different mass numbers (12, 13, 14) mean different numbers of neutrons (6, 7, and 8).
❌ Common Errors
Mixing up the order (putting neutrons first and protons second) gives 0 marks. Selecting irrelevant distractor words like ions or molecules shows a failure to recall subatomic particles.
Calculating the Mass of a Single Atom
Working with Avogadro's constant and sample mass
✅ Correct Answer
Tick the first box:
12 6.02 × 10²³
📐 Step-by-Step Logic
- Total mass of sample = 12 g.
- Total number of atoms in sample = 6.02 × 10²³ atoms.
- To find the mass of one single atom, divide the total mass by the total number of atoms:
Total Mass (g) Number of Atoms = 12 6.02 × 10²³
❌ Common Errors
Choosing the inverted option 6.02 × 10²³ 12 . That would calculate how many atoms are in 1 gram, not the mass of 1 atom.
Identifying Allotropes of Carbon
Recognising Buckminsterfullerene from molecular diagrams
✅ Correct Answer
Tick box B
💡 Knowing All Carbon Allotropes in Figure 2
- A: Diamond — Rigid 3D giant tetrahedral network where each carbon forms 4 covalent bonds.
- B: Buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) — Spherical cage molecule composed of hexagons and pentagons (like a football).
- C: Carbon Nanotube — Cylindrical fullerene tube with high tensile strength.
Relating Graphite's Structure to Its Properties
Matching properties to structural features
✅ Correct Matches
- Graphite conducts electricity ➔
"There are delocalised electrons in graphite." - Graphite is soft ➔
"There are no covalent bonds between layers of atoms."
💡 Why These Match
- Electrical conductivity: In graphite, each carbon atom bonds to only 3 others. The 4th outer electron is delocalised and free to move throughout the structure carrying charge.
- Soft / Slippery: The hexagonal layers are held together only by weak intermolecular forces (no covalent bonds between layers), allowing the layers to easily slide over one another.
❌ Critical Exam Warning
Rule: The question states: "Draw one line from each property..." If you draw more than one line emerging from a box on the left, the mark scheme instructs the examiner to award 0 marks for that property.
Distractor Alert: "The bonds between carbon atoms in the layers are strong" explains graphite's high melting point, NOT why it is soft!
Topics
Chemistry · C1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table · C2: Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter · C3: Quantitative Chemistry
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Chemistry examination, Chemistry Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2023. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.