AQA A-Level Chemistry Paper 1– Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Predicted Paper 2026 questions and answers

AQA A-Level Chemistry Paper 1– Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Predicted Paper 2026 questions and answers

AQA

A-Level Chemistry 

Paper 1 – Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 

Predicted Paper 2026

Name ……………………………………………………………………

Date …………………

2 hours allowed

You should have access to the AQA insert (periodic table and data sheet) to help with answering the questions.

Grade boundaries

These are VERY rough guesses! Getting a C on this paper does not guarantee you the same mark in the exam.

• A* - 90

• A – 80

• B – 70

• C – 60

• D – 50

• E - 40

 

01 The Born Haber cycle below can be used to determine the lattice enthalpy of NaCl. The cycle includes the value for the enthalpy changes of the steps labelled A-F.

01.1 Complete the Born-Haber cycle by adding the species present on the two dotted lines. Include state symbols.

[2 marks]

 

Energy change Letter

Enthalpy change of atomization of chlorine A

Lattice energy of sodium chloride E

First electron affinity of chlorine F

01.2 Name the enthalpy changes for the following steps in the Born-Haber cycle.

[3 marks]

B: 

C: 

D: 

01.3 Calculate the lattice enthalpy of NaCl.

[1 mark]

 

02 The table below gives the relative abundance of each isotope in the mass spectrum of element X.

Mass number of isotope Percentage abundance

54 6.10

56 92.0

57 1.90

 

02.1

 

i. Calculate the relative atomic mass of the element X. Give your answer to three significant figures.

 

[2 marks]

 

 

ii. Identify the element X.

[1 mark]

02.2 The isotopes are converted into ions in a spectrometer. They are separated by deflection and then detected.

Describe how ions are formed and detected in a time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer.

[4 marks]

 

02.3 In a TOF mass spectrometer the kinetic energy (KE) of a 56 Fe 2+ ion was 1.562×10-13 J. Calculate the velocity of the ion using the below equation.

KE = ½ mv2

(m= mass/kg and v= velocity/ms-1) (Avogadro constant L= 6.022×1023 mol-1)

[3 marks]

Velocity = ms-1

 

03

03.1 What is meant by the term ‘buffer solution’?

[2 marks]

03.2 A phosphate buffer system contains both Na2HPO4 and NaH2PO4. The following equilibrium is present in the solution.

H2PO4- + H2O ⇌ HPO42- + H3O+

i. Explain how a solution containing a mixture of H2PO4- and HPO42- acts as a buffer.

[2 marks]

ii. Write an expression for the Ka of H2PO4-.

[1 mark]

iii. 100 cm3 of 0.5 moldm-3 Na2HPO4 and 100 cm3 of 0.3 moldm-3 NaH2PO4 are needed to give a pH of 7.43 in the phosphate buffer system.

Calculate the value of Ka.