Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE
In Chemistry (4CH1) Paper 1CR
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Summer 2025
Question Paper Log Number P75821A
Publications Code 4CH1_1CR_2506_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2025
General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners
must mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they
mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must
be rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather
than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not
according to their perception of where the grade boundaries
may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark
scheme should be used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be
awarded. Examiners should always award full marks if
deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark scheme.
Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if
the candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to
the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will
provide the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the
mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader
must be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate
has replaced it with an alternative response.
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
1 (a) (i) freezing 1
(ii) evaporation 1
(iii) sublimation 1
(b) Any 3 from 3
M1 (particles) are far apart
M2 (particles) are randomly / irregularly arranged ALLOW no arrangement
M3 (particles) have (almost) total freedom of ALLOW random motion
movement /move freely
M4 particles have high/higher energy
M1 comment on spacing
M2 comment on arrangement
M3 comment on moving
M4 comment on energy
Total = 6
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
2 (a) (i) water ALLOW moisture /water 1
vapour /steam
(ii) (hydrated) iron(III) oxide ALLOW ferric oxide 1
/Fe2O3
If alternatives are
present all must be
correct
(b) (i) M1 (paint) acts as a barrier/coated with paint 2
/protective layer
M2 which prevents oxygen/air/water getting to the
iron 1
(ii) galvanising /galvanisation ALLOW sacrificial
protection
(iii) M1 zinc is more reactive (than iron) ALLOW zinc is higher in 2
the reactivity series
M2 zinc oxidises /zinc reacts / zinc loses electrons REJECT zinc rusts for
in preference to iron /zinc oxide forms /zinc M2
corrodes /zinc is a reducing agent
Total = 7
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
3 (a) M1 dissolving /dissolves /dissolution? can be either way 2
round
M2 diffusion /diffuses
(b) M1 particles move faster ALLOW particles have 2
more kinetic energy
ALLOW diffuse faster
M2 so particles collide and react after a shorter ALLOW more frequent
period of time collisions
(c) (i) 3 /three 1
(ii) 2+ / Cu2+ ALLOW +2 /Cu+2 1
Total = 6
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
4 (a) 3
Relative mass Relative
charge
REJECT any sign
1 0 for the relative
mass
1 +1
0.0005 to -1
0.0006 or
1/1800 to
1/2000
(b) (i) A 1
(ii) D 1
(iii) C 1
(c) similarity number of protons OR number of electrons 2
/electron configuration /3 protons
difference number of neutrons /3 or 4 neutrons
ALLOW same
atomic number
and different
mass number for
1 mark if no
other mark
awarded
(d) M1 ((79×24)+(10×25)+(26×11))÷100 3
M2 24.32
M3 24.3 ALLOW ecf from
M2 to 1dp
24.3 scores 3
marks
Total =
11
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
5 (a) 3
Colour Physical state at
room temperature
pale yellow gas
pale green gas
brown liquid do not accept red alone
/orange-brown
/red-brown
dark grey solid
black solid
(b) (i) Cl2 + 2NaBr → Br2 + 2NaCl IGNORE state symbols 2
even if incorrect
M1 all formulae correct
M2 equation correctly balanced M2 dep on M1
(ii) M1 no reaction 2
M2 bromine is less reactive than chlorine / chlorine ALLOW bromine is not
is more reactive than bromine as good an oxidising
agent as chlorine
do not allow bromide is
less reactive than
chlorine OR chloride is
more reactive than
bromine for M2
M2 dep on M1
(iii) M1 astatide (ions)/At- are oxidised/reducing agent ALLOW astatide (ions) 2
as they lose electrons are oxidised as their
oxidation state
increases
do not allow astatine is
oxidised OR bromide is
reduced
M2 bromine (molecules)/Br2 are reduced /oxidising ALLOW bromine is
agent as they gain electrons reduced as its oxidation
state deceases
ALLOW astatide (ions)
are oxidised and
bromine is reduced for
1 mark
ALLOW astatide loses
electrons and
bromine gains
electrons for 1 mark
Total = 9
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
6 (a) D (as a proton donor) 1
A is not the correct answer as acids are not electron
acceptors
B is not the correct answer as acids are not electron
donors
C is not the correct answer as acids are not proton
acceptors
(b) effervescence / bubbles / fizzing / a colourless IGNORE gas produced 1
solution forms /magnesium dissolves / magnesium
gets smaller/gets warm
(c) to ensure all the (hydrochloric) acid has reacted ALLOW acid used up for 1
reacted
ALLOW to ensure it has
neutralised
(d) A description connecting any 5 of the following: 5
M1 filter (the excess magnesium)
M2 heat
M3 until crystals first start to form ALLOW heat to
evaporate some of the
water
ALLOW heat until a
saturated solution forms
M4 allow to cool and crystallise
M5 pour off excess liquid ALLOW filter / decant
IGNORE washing the
crystals
M6 leave in a warm place to dry ALLOW dry with a paper
towel OR in a warm
oven OR dry in a
desiccator OR leave to
dry
If sample is heated to
dryness award M1 and
M2 only
Total = 8
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
7 (a) M1 (moles of CaCO3) = 5÷100 OR 0.05 mol 3
M2 (mass of CO2) = 0.05×44 OR 2.2g ecf for M1 if moles
attempted
M3 (reading on balance) 122.2-2.2 = 120.00g ecf for M2
120 g scores 2 marks
(b) (i) All points plotted correctly ± half a square 1
(ii) Curve of best fit joining all the points 1
(iii) M1 tangent drawn at 2 minutes If no tangent drawn 1 3
mark for M3 only
M2 gradient of tangent
M3 g/minute/g minute-1/g/min/g min- do not allow g/m for
1
/gram/minute M3
(iv) An explanation that links any 2 pairs of the 4
following points
Pair 1
M1 (the curve) is steep(est) at the start ALLOW the gradient is
greater at the start
M2 because the reaction is fast(est) at the start
/ because the (acid) concentration is high(est)
/more calcium carbonate /more chips
Pair 2
M3 (the curve) becomes less steep ALLOW the gradient
decreases
M4 because the reaction slows down / because the
acid becomes more dilute /less calcium carbonate
/less chips
Pair 3
M5 the curve levels off / the graph plateaus ALLOW the gradient
becomes zero/0/flat
/horizontal/constant
M6 because all the calcium carbonate /chips have
reacted /used up
(c) M1 the rate of reaction increases If more energy is 3
implied or move faster
lose 1 mark
M2 because the powder has a greater surface area
M3 so there are more collisions per unit time ALLOW more frequent
collisions /collide more
often
Total =
15
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
8 (a) M1 attraction between nuclei nucleus must be plural 2
M2 and shared pair(s) of electrons
OR
M1 attraction between shared pair(s) of electrons
M2 and nuclei nucleus must be plural
REJECT intermolecular
forces for both marks
(b) (i) ALLOW any combination 2
of dots and crosses
ALLOW any inner shells of
chlorine as long as they
are correct
M1 one shared pair of electrons
M2 rest of the molecule correct
(ii) M1 intermolecular forces of attraction are weak ALLOW weak forces
between molecules 2
M2 which require little energy to overcome M2 dep on M1
do not allow less energy
(c) (i) any one from: 1
oxygen/it is a smaller atom than silicon
oxygen/it has two shells, silicon has three shells
each silicon atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms
each oxygen atom is bonded to two silicon atoms
1
(ii) silicon dioxide/SiO2 is acidic and calcium oxide/CaO ALLOW an acid base
is basic reaction
ALLOW one is an acid, one
is a base
REJECT calcium oxide is
an alkali
5
(iii) an explanation linking any 5 of the following points:
NB do not credit high melting point as in the
question
M1 giant (covalent) structure / lattice
M2 covalent bonds are strong ALLOW strong attraction
between shared pairs of
electrons and nuclei
M3 which requires a lot of energy to break the M3 being dep on covalent
(covalent) bonds
do not allow more energy
M4 3D / tetrahedral structure
M5 every silicon atom makes 4 bonds / 4 pairs of
electrons shared
M6 no layers / atoms cannot slide over each other
Lose 1 mark if they
mention intermolecular
forces or ionic bonding
Total =
13
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
9 (a) alkane(s) not alkene(s) 1
(b) M1 when sulfur (impurity in fuels) burns /combusts ALLOW sulfur reacts 3
with oxygen
M2 sulfur dioxide / SO2 forms
M3 which dissolves / reacts with (rain) water do not allow acid rain
alone as this is in the
question
IGNORE mention of
nitrogen and NO2 and
carbon dioxide
M3 dep on M1 or M2
(c) (i) temperature 600-700°C 2
catalyst alumina/silica/aluminosilicates/zeolites
/Al2O3 /SiO2
(ii) M1 long-chain alkanes/hydrocarbons have lower ALLOW short chain 3
demand or are less useful hydrocarbons/alkanes
are more useful/higher
demand
M2 (cracking produces) shorter alkanes that are
more flammable / more useful as fuels or petrol or
gasoline
M3 (cracking produces) alkenes that can be used to
make polymers /alcohols
(d) (i) M1 same molecular formula ALLOW same number of 2
carbons and hydrogens
M2 different structural/displayed formulae ALLOW different of
arrangement of atoms 2
(ii)
Total = 13
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
10 (a) (i) Any two of the following 2
M1 use a polystyrene cup ALLOW use a beaker
with a lid
ALLOW any piece of
apparatus which is
better insulated
M2 less heat will be lost
M3 leave to reach a steady temperature to record
it
(ii) the zinc/powder/it is in excess 1
(iii) blue to colourless 1
(b) (i) M1 ΔT = 30.1(°C) 3
M2 25×4.2×30.1 ALLOW ecf from M1
M3 3160.5(J) ALLOW any number of
significant figures from
2
(ii) M1 (moles of CuSO4) 6.38÷159.5 OR 0.04 mol 4
M2 3800÷0.04 OR 95 000 ALLOW ecf from M1
M3 division by 1000 = 95 (kJ) ALLOW ecf from M2
M4 −95 kJ/mol correct answer -95
scores 4
ecf -79 scores 3 (using
the energy change from
(b)(i)
Total =
11
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
11 (a) sodium ions 5
M1 do a flame test ALLOW any description
of a flame test
M2 yellow / orange flame
sulfate ions
M3 (make a solution and) add hydrochloric acid ALLOW HCl / nitric acid
/ HNO3
REJECT sulfuric acid
M4 add barium chloride solution ALLOW BaCl2 / barium
nitrate / Ba(NO3)2
M5 white precipitate M5 dep on M4
(b) (i) the last two results are the same ALLOW mass is constant 1
ALLOW heat to constant
mass
(ii) 1.42 g 1
(iii) 1.80 g 1
(iv) M1 1.42÷142 OR 0.01 3
M2 1.8÷18 OR 0.10
M3 0.10÷0.01=10
Answer of 10 or
Na2SO4.10H2O scores 3
Total = 11
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