10 free IGCSE Chemistry The Periodic Table questions written in the style of Cambridge Chemistry papers: 2 multiple-choice and 8 structured, each with its answer and mark scheme. 4 of them are A* challenge questions, built to catch the mistakes strong students still make.
This topic covers Arrangement of elements, Group I, Group VII, Transition elements, Noble gases. Work through the questions below, then generate a full The Periodic Table paper with a fresh set every time.
Generate a full The Periodic Table paper →Transition elements have typical properties.
1 They often act as catalysts.
2 They can form ions with different charges.
3 They have low melting points.
Which statements are correct?
Answer: B
Aqueous chlorine is added to aqueous potassium bromide.
Does a reaction take place, and what is the colour of the final mixture?
| reaction? | colour of mixture | |
|---|---|---|
| A | yes | orange |
| B | no | colourless |
| C | yes | brown |
| D | no | orange |
Answer: A
Lithium, sodium and potassium are in Group I.
Describe what is seen when sodium is added to water.
Write a balanced equation for the reaction of potassium with water.
Explain why potassium is more reactive than sodium.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | floats, moves, fizzes, melts into ball Any 3 of: floats; moves around on the surface; fizzes/bubbles; melts into a ball (dissolves) B3 | 3 |
| (b) | 2K + 2H₂O → 2KOH + H₂ correct formulae B1 balanced B1 | 2 |
| (c) | outer electron further from nucleus, more easily lost the outer electron is further from the nucleus/more shielded B1 so it is lost more easily B1 | 2 |
Halogens react with metals to form halides.
Write a balanced equation for the reaction of sodium with chlorine.
Explain, in terms of electrons, why reactivity decreases down Group VII.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | 2Na + Cl₂ → 2NaCl correct formulae B1 balanced B1 | 2 |
| (b) | outer shell further, harder to gain electron the outer shell is further from the nucleus/more shielding B1 so an electron is attracted/gained less easily B1 | 2 |
The noble gases are found in Group VIII (Group 0).
Describe the trend in density down the group.
Explain why noble gases exist as single atoms.
Give a use of helium and explain why it is suitable.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | increases density increases B1 | 1 |
| (b) | stable full shell, do not bond they have a full outer shell so they do not form bonds B1 | 1 |
| (c) | balloons; low density and unreactive balloons/airships B1 low density and unreactive (non-flammable) B1 | 2 |
Lithium is stored under oil.
Describe how the surface of freshly cut lithium changes in air.
Write a word equation for the reaction of lithium with oxygen.
Describe the trend in reactivity of Group I metals with water.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | shiny then tarnishes it is shiny but quickly tarnishes/becomes dull B1 | 1 |
| (b) | lithium + oxygen → lithium oxide lithium + oxygen → lithium oxide B1 | 1 |
| (c) | increases down group reactivity increases down the group B1 | 1 |
The Periodic Table is arranged in order of proton number.
State what the elements in the same group have in common.
Describe how metallic character changes across a period.
Explain why elements in the same group have similar chemical properties.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | same number of outer electrons the same number of outer-shell electrons B1 | 1 |
| (b) | decreases metallic character decreases across a period (metals on the left, non-metals on the right) B1 | 1 |
| (c) | same outer electrons they have the same number of outer electrons, which determines how they react B1 | 1 |
Transition element compounds are often coloured.
Name the colour of copper(II) sulfate solution and of iron(III) compounds.
Explain what is meant by variable oxidation states, using iron as an example.
Give one use of a transition element as a catalyst.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | blue; orange-brown copper(II) sulfate: blue B1 iron(III): orange/brown/yellow B1 | 2 |
| (b) | Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ transition elements can form ions with different charges B1 e.g. iron forms Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ B1 | 2 |
| (c) | iron Haber; vanadium(V) oxide Contact; nickel hydrogenation iron in the Haber process / vanadium(V) oxide in the Contact process B1 | 1 |
Chlorine, bromine and iodine are halogens.
Describe the colours and states of chlorine, bromine and iodine at room temperature.
Describe the trend in reactivity down Group VII.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | pale green gas; red-brown liquid; grey-black solid chlorine: pale yellow-green gas B1 bromine: red-brown liquid B1 iodine: grey-black solid B1 | 3 |
| (b) | decreases reactivity decreases down the group B1 | 1 |
Elements across Period 3 change from metal to non-metal.
Describe the change in the type of oxide across Period 3.
Explain why argon is unreactive.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | basic → amphoteric → acidic Any 2 of: metal oxides on the left are basic; aluminium oxide is amphoteric; non-metal oxides on the right are acidic B2 | 2 |
| (b) | full outer shell it has a full outer shell B1 | 1 |
In the 0620 syllabus, The Periodic Table covers Arrangement of elements, Group I, Group VII, Transition elements, Noble gases.
This page has 10 The Periodic Table questions with answers. For more, the free generator on mentorriyaz.in builds a new The Periodic Table paper with a full mark scheme each time you click.
Riyaz Shaikh has mentored IGCSE, IB and A Level students for 15+ years, one-on-one, online and in Mumbai. The hardest questions on this site are the ones he uses to find a student's weak points.
Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in