Multiple choice questions
Multiple choice questions are perhaps the easiest to complete - you simply put a cross in a box. However, the questions often have two answers that could, at first glance, be correct. Don't make the mistake of reading the first answer and thinking this is correct without checking all the others.
If it says 'Tick one box', you must tick one box. If you leave it blank or tick two or more boxes, you will get zero marks. These multiple choice questions will not start with command words like 'describe' or 'explain'. They will be written in the form of a question like 'What鈥?' or 'Why鈥?'.
There will be more multiple choice questions on the Foundation paper.
Edexcel questions courtesy of Pearson Education Ltd.
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Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Which of these particles has a negative charge? [1 mark]
| A | Alpha particle | |
| B | Electron | |
| C | Neutron | |
| D | Nucleus |
| A |
|---|
| Alpha particle |
| B |
|---|
| Electron |
| C |
|---|
| Neutron |
| D |
|---|
| Nucleus |
| A | Alpha particle | |
| B | Electron | 鉁 |
| C | Neutron | |
| D | Nucleus |
| A |
|---|
| Alpha particle |
| B |
|---|
| Electron |
| 鉁 |
| C |
|---|
| Neutron |
| D |
|---|
| Nucleus |
Electrons have a charge of minus one.
Sample question 2 - Foundation and Higher
Question
Which two nuclei have the same number of neutrons? [1 mark]
| A | Plutonium-238 and uranium-235 | |
| B | Uranium-235 and americium-238 | |
| C | Uranium-234 and americium-238 | |
| D | Americium-238 and plutonium-238 |
| A |
|---|
| Plutonium-238 and uranium-235 |
| B |
|---|
| Uranium-235 and americium-238 |
| C |
|---|
| Uranium-234 and americium-238 |
| D |
|---|
| Americium-238 and plutonium-238 |
| A | Plutonium-238 and uranium-235 | |
| B | Uranium-235 and americium-238 | 鉁 |
| C | Uranium-234 and americium-238 | |
| D | Americium-238 and plutonium-238 |
| A |
|---|
| Plutonium-238 and uranium-235 |
| B |
|---|
| Uranium-235 and americium-238 |
| 鉁 |
| C |
|---|
| Uranium-234 and americium-238 |
| D |
|---|
| Americium-238 and plutonium-238 |
To find the number of neutrons, subtract the number of protons (the number at the bottom) from the number of protons and neutrons (the number at the top).
For uranium-234, 234 - 92 = 142 neutrons.
For uranium-235, 235 - 92 = 143 neutrons.
For plutonium-238, 238 - 94 = 146 neutrons.
For americium-238, 238 - 95 = 143 neutrons.
So uranium-235 and americium-238 have the same number of neutrons.