AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy Chemistry Paper 1 (Higher), 2022: Question 5
9 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Extended Answer
Identify a fullerene nanotube, state a property that makes it useful in nanotechnology, explain why alloying aluminium makes it harder, and compare covalent bonding in polymer chains with intermolecular forces between chains.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
05 This question is about structure and bonding.
05.1 Figure 5 represents part of a carbon molecule.
Figure 5
Name the type of carbon molecule in Figure 5.
[1 mark]
05.2 Suggest one property that makes the carbon molecule in Figure 5 useful
in nanotechnology.
[1 mark]
05.3 An alloy of aluminium contains small amounts of other metals.
Explain why other metals are added to aluminium.
[4 marks]
05.4 Figure 6 represents part of the structure of a polymer.
Figure 6
Compare the bonding within the chains with the forces between the chains in
this polymer.
[3 marks]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 5
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
05.1 fullerene allow (carbon) nanotube 1 AO1
5.2.3.3
do not accept
Buckministerfullerene
AO /
Spec. Ref.
05.2 any one from: 1 AO2
5.2.3.3
• conducts heat
• conducts electricity
• very high length to diameter allow large surface area to
ratio volume ratio
allow high tensile strength
allow can trap other molecules /
atoms / ions
AO /
Spec. Ref.
05.3 other metal atoms have different 1 AO1
sizes to aluminium atoms 5.2.2.7
(so) the layers of aluminium 1
atoms are distorted
(so) the layers cannot slide allow (so) the atoms cannot 1
slide over each other
(which) makes the alloy harder allow (which) makes the alloy 1
stronger
AO /
Spec. Ref.
05.4 covalent bonds (between atoms) 1 AO1
in the chain 5.2.2.5
intermolecular forces between 1
the chains
covalent bonds are strong 1
and
intermolecular forces are weak
Total Question 5 9
How to answer it
Carbon nanotube, alloys and polymers
Recognising a carbon nanostructure from a diagram, linking a nanomaterial to one useful property, explaining why alloys are harder than pure metals, and comparing strong covalent bonds within polymer chains with weak forces between chains.
Question 05.1 — Name the carbon molecule in Figure 5
✅ Correct answer
Fullerene
Allow: (carbon) nanotube
💡 Key knowledge
- Fullerenes are forms of carbon with atoms arranged in hollow shapes.
- The image shows a carbon nanotube, which is a type of fullerene.
- Do not write “Buckminsterfullerene” for this image — that is a spherical fullerene.
🧠 Exam technique
- If the diagram is a tube, think nanotube.
- If the question asks for the type of carbon molecule, fullerene is the broad mark-scheme answer.
❌ Common errors
- Writing graphite or diamond instead of a fullerene structure.
- Writing Buckminsterfullerene for a tube-shaped structure.
Question 05.2 — One property that makes the molecule useful in nanotechnology
✅ Correct answer
Any one of these:
- conducts heat
- conducts electricity
- very high length to diameter ratio
Also accept: large surface area to volume ratio, high tensile strength, can trap other molecules / atoms / ions.
💡 Key knowledge
- Nanotubes are tiny but can be very strong and conductive.
- The length to diameter ratio means they are very long and thin.
- A large surface area to volume ratio makes them useful for adsorption and sensors.
🧠 Exam technique
- One clear property is enough for 1 mark.
- Write a property, not a use. For example, say conducts electricity, not just “used in electronics”.
❌ Common errors
- Giving a use instead of a property.
- Writing vague statements like “it is special” or “it is strong” without enough precision.
Question 05.3 — Why are other metals added to aluminium?
✅ Correct answer
A full 4-mark answer could be:
Other metal atoms have different sizes to aluminium atoms, so the layers of aluminium atoms are distorted. This means the layers cannot slide over each other easily, which makes the alloy harder/stronger.
💡 Key knowledge
- Pure metals have layers of atoms that can slide.
- Alloys contain different sized atoms.
- Different sized atoms distort the regular layers and make sliding difficult.
- This increases hardness and strength.
🧠 Exam technique
- For 4 marks, the examiner is looking for a chain of reasoning.
- Use the order: different sizes → distorted layers → cannot slide → harder/stronger.
- Each idea builds one mark.
❌ Common errors
- Saying the alloy is harder because it is “more dense” or “contains more atoms”.
- Only writing “it is stronger” without explaining why.
- Confusing alloys with compounds or chemical bonding changes.
Question 05.4 — Compare bonding within the chains with the forces between the chains in this polymer
✅ Correct answer
- Covalent bonds are between the atoms in the polymer chain.
- Intermolecular forces are between the polymer chains.
- Covalent bonds are strong and intermolecular forces are weak.
This is the 3-mark comparison the examiner wants.
💡 Key knowledge
- Polymers are long chains of repeating units.
- Atoms within each chain are held together by strong covalent bonds.
- Separate chains attract each other with weak intermolecular forces.
🧠 Exam technique
- Use the words within and between carefully.
- To compare, mention both types of bonding and their relative strengths.
- Top answers usually include: strong covalent bonds in chains, weak intermolecular forces between chains.
❌ Common errors
- Saying there are covalent bonds between the chains.
- Calling intermolecular forces “bonds” without any comparison.
- Missing the strength comparison, which is needed for full marks.
How the marks are awarded
💡 Mark breakdown summary
- 05.1 — 1 mark for naming fullerene / nanotube.
- 05.2 — 1 mark for one correct property.
- 05.3 — 4 marks for explaining the alloy effect step by step.
- 05.4 — 3 marks for the bonding comparison.
🧠 Best revision pattern
- Learn the structure names: fullerene, nanotube, graphene.
- Learn the alloy explanation as a chain of cause and effect.
- Memorise: strong covalent bonds inside chains; weak intermolecular forces between chains.
Topics
Chemistry · C2: Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy examination, Chemistry Paper 1 (Higher), 2022. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.