OxfordAQA CH01 chemistry: inorganic 1 and physical 1

I’d start with moles and bonding, then work through energetics, redox and the inorganic trends.

CH01 · 90 minutes · 70 marks · 20% of the full A-level · 50% of AS

January exam: 12 January 2027. Check the timetable and local starting time.

What to revise for CH01

Atomic structure, isotopes, simple time-of-flight mass spectrometry and electron configuration
Amounts, equations, concentrations, titrations, ideal gases, yields and atom economy
Ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, structures, molecular shapes and intermolecular forces
Calorimetry, Hess cycles and mean bond enthalpies
Oxidation states, half-equations and redox equations
Periodicity, Group 2 chemistry and halogen reactions

Kinetics and K_c are in CH02. Check the topic before choosing a question from a UK AQA paper.

Try CH01 questions

Answer true or false, then read the explanation. Your score counts first answers; any questions you miss come back for a retry.

Questions to work through on paper

Write your answer before opening mine. Check your working and explanation as well as the final answer.

Titration calculation

25.0 cm³ of NaOH is neutralised by 20.00 cm³ of 0.100 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄. Calculate the NaOH concentration.

Show worked answer

H₂SO₄ + 2NaOH → Na₂SO₄ + 2H₂O. Acid amount = 0.100 × 0.02000 = 0.00200 mol. NaOH amount = 0.00400 mol. Concentration = 0.00400 ÷ 0.0250 = 0.160 mol dm⁻³.

Heat released by a reaction

A reaction warms 50.0 g of solution from 20.0 to 26.0 °C. Use c = 4.18 J g⁻¹ K⁻¹. If 0.0250 mol reacts, estimate the molar enthalpy change.

Show worked answer

The solution gains 50.0 × 4.18 × 6.0 = 1254 J. The reaction releases this heat, so ΔH = −1.254 ÷ 0.0250 = −50.2 kJ mol⁻¹. This estimate assumes no heat loss and that the solution has the stated heat capacity.

Magnesium and aluminium ionisation energies

Explain why the first ionisation energy falls from magnesium to aluminium.

Show worked answer

The electron removed from aluminium is in a 3p sub-shell, at higher energy than magnesium’s 3s electron. This makes it easier to remove despite aluminium’s higher nuclear charge.

More practice

You can use these UK-labelled tools for the topics below. Choose the AQA setting where there’s a choice.

Mass, moles and particle numberUse n = m/M and the Avogadro constant.
Solution concentrationsUse n = cV and practise dilution.
Empirical and molecular formulaeWork out formulae from masses, percentages and M_r.
Hess law calculationsChoose formation or combustion cycles.

Find UK AQA papers for CH01

About these resourcesMade by Dr T. Smith · Chemistryhelp.co.uk