AQA GCSE Chemistry Chemistry Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2023: Question 6
12 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Analyze fuels used for electricity generation, comparing their properties, atmospheric pollutants produced (sulfur dioxide and particulates), and trends in UK fuel use from 2002 to 2020.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
06 This question is about fuels.
The energy produced by burning fuels is used to generate electricity in power stations.
Table 5 shows information about three fuels used to generate electricity.
Table 5
Fuel
Coal Oil Natural gas
State of fuel at room temperature solid liquid gas
Transportation of fuel to power
train pipeline pipeline
station
Percentage by mass of sulfur in
51 0.001
fuel (%)
Relative quantity of solid particles
high medium low
produced when fuel is burned
06.1 Explain why coal is usually transported to power stations by train and not by pipeline.
Use Table 5.
[2 marks]
Sulfur dioxide and particulates are atmospheric pollutants produced when fuels
are burned.
06.2 1 kg of each fuel in Table 5 is burned.
Which fuel produces the most sulfur dioxide?
Give one reason for your choice.
[2 marks]
Fuel
Reason
06.3 Give one problem caused by sulfur dioxide.
[1 mark]
06.4 Particulates are formed from solid particles.
1 kg of each fuel in Table 5 is burned.
Which fuel produces the least particulates?
Give one reason for your choice.
[2 marks]
Fuel
Reason
06.5 Give one problem caused by particulates.
[1 mark]
06.6 Complete the sentence.
[1 mark]
*25* Solid particles are formed when fuels undergo incomplete .
06.7 Figure 6 shows how the use of oil and of natural gas as fuels changed in the UK
between 2002 and 2020.
Figure 6
Describe the trends shown in Figure 6.
[3 marks]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
06.1 ignore references to cost AO3
coal is a solid 1 4.2.2.1
(so solid) coal cannot flow allow (so) coal has to be made 1
through pipelines into a slurry to flow through
pipelines
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.2 MP2 is dependent upon MP1 AO3
being awarded 4.9.3.1
(fuel) coal 1
(reason) (coal contains the) 1
highest percentage of sulfur
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.3 any one from: 1 AO1
• acid rain allow specified effects of acid 4.9.3.2
rain
• respiratory problems (in allow specified respiratory
humans) problems
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.4 MP2 is dependent upon MP1 AO3
being awarded 4.9.3.1
(fuel) (natural) gas 1
(reason) (natural gas produces) 1
fewer / fewest solid particles – HEMISTRY – –
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.5 any one from: 1 AO1
• global dimming 4.9.3.2
• health problems for humans
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.6 combustion 1 AO1
4.9.3.1
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.7 any three from: 3 AO2
4.9.2.4
• more oil is used than gas 4.9.3.1
• use of oil has decreased
overall
• use of oil increased in some
years
• there was a large drop in use
of oil between 2019 and 2020
• use of natural gas decreased
overall
• use of natural gas increased
in some years
• use of natural gas remained
fairly constant from 2014 to
2020
– – 8462/2F –
Total Question 6 12
Question 7
How to answer it
Fossil Fuels, Atmospheric Pollutants and Fuel Trends
This question assesses knowledge from AQA Chemistry Topic 9 (Chemistry of the Atmosphere) and states of matter:
- Relating the physical state of a fuel (solid vs liquid/gas) to transport methods.
- Interpreting data from tables to identify pollutant yields (sulfur dioxide and carbon particulates).
- Recalling the environmental and health impacts of atmospheric pollutants (acid rain, global dimming, respiratory problems).
- Describing general and detailed trends from dual-line graphs over time.
Transporting Coal vs Pipeline
Explaining why coal is transported by train rather than pipeline using Table 5
✅ Correct Answer (Both required for 2 marks)
- Mark 1: Coal is a solid (at room temperature).
- Mark 2: (So) coal cannot flow through pipes / pipelines.
Alternative: Allow "coal has to be crushed / made into a slurry to flow through pipes" for Mark 2.
🧠 Exam Technique: Two-Part Explanations
The prompt explicitly says "Use Table 5". Look at the row labeled 'State of fuel at room temperature':
- Oil is liquid and natural gas is gas (fluids that flow).
- Coal is solid. Connect the physical state directly to why it cannot be pumped through a pipeline.
❌ Common Errors
- Talking about cost: The mark scheme explicitly states: "ignore references to cost". Economic reasons score zero.
- Vague answers: Saying "it's too heavy" or "trains hold more" does not use the scientific properties given in the table.
Sulfur Dioxide Production & Environmental Impact
✅ Correct Answer: 06.2 (2 Marks)
- Fuel: Coal [1 mark]
- Reason: Coal contains the highest percentage of sulfur (5%) [1 mark]
Note: The reason mark is dependent on choosing coal.
✅ Correct Answer: 06.3 (1 Mark)
Give one problem caused by sulfur dioxide:
- Acid rain (or specific effects like damaging limestone buildings, killing fish/trees)
- Respiratory problems / breathing issues in humans (e.g. triggers asthma)
💡 Key Knowledge: Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)
Fossil fuels contain sulfur impurities. When burned:
S (s) + O₂ (g) → SO₂ (g)
SO₂ dissolves in clouds to form dilute sulfuric acid (acid rain), which lowers soil pH and acidifies lakes.
❌ Common Errors
- Confusing acid rain with global warming. SO₂ does not cause the greenhouse effect or global warming!
- Forgetting to give both the fuel name and a clear comparative reason ("highest sulfur content") in 06.2.
Particulates & Incomplete Combustion
✅ Correct Answer: 06.4 (2 Marks)
- Fuel: Natural gas [1 mark]
- Reason: It produces the fewest / lowest quantity of solid particles (as shown in Table 5) [1 mark]
✅ Correct Answer: 06.5 (1 Mark)
Give one problem caused by particulates:
- Global dimming (reflecting sunlight back into space)
- Health problems for humans / respiratory problems / lung damage
✅ Correct Answer: 06.6 (1 Mark)
Solid particles are formed when fuels undergo incomplete combustion.
💡 Key Knowledge: Particulates
Particulates consist of unburned hydrocarbons and tiny solid particles of carbon (soot). They form during incomplete combustion when there is a limited supply of oxygen.
❌ Common Errors
- Spelling/Term Mix-up in 06.6: Writing "burning" instead of scientific terminology like combustion, or confusing "incomplete" with "complete".
- Vague health effects in 06.5: Stating just "sickness" or "death" instead of respiratory / lung problems.
Describing Trends from Line Graphs (Figure 6)
Changes in UK fuel use between 2002 and 2020
✅ Correct Answer: Any THREE from the following (1 mark each):
- Comparative overview: More oil is used than natural gas throughout the entire period.
- Overall oil trend: Use of oil decreased overall (from ~76 in 2002 to ~54 in 2020).
- Fluctuation in oil: Use of oil increased in some years (e.g. between 2002 and 2005, or 2013 to 2017).
- Specific oil drop: There was a sharp / large drop in oil use between 2019 and 2020.
- Overall gas trend: Use of natural gas decreased overall (from ~56 in 2002 to ~42 in 2020).
- Fluctuation in gas: Use of natural gas increased in some years (e.g. 2009–2010 or 2012–2013).
- Plateau in gas: Use of natural gas remained fairly constant / leveled off from 2014 to 2020.
🧠 Exam Technique: Securing 3/3 on Trend Questions
- Compare the two lines: Is one always higher? (Oil is always higher than gas). That's an easy 1st mark!
- State overall direction: Look from start (2002) to end (2020). Both show an overall decrease.
- Spot anomalies or sharp changes: Notice the sudden steep drop for oil between 2019 and 2020, or the flat region for gas from 2014 onwards.
❌ Common Errors
- Giving reasons instead of descriptions: Writing "because renewable energy was built" gets 0 marks. The question says Describe, not explain!
- Only describing one fuel: Only discussing oil limits your marks. Always reference both lines or compare them.
- Saying "it constantly went down": Neither line goes straight down; both fluctuate up and down.
Topics
Chemistry · C2: Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter · C9: Chemistry of the Atmosphere
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Chemistry examination, Chemistry Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2023. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.