Simple and giant structures — Question Bank (Cambridge) — Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

Cambridge Lower Secondary Stage 9

Question 1
Paper Ref: 0620/21_Summer_2024_Q7

Which statements about potassium chloride are correct?
A
—_
kK WwW ND
1 and 2
It conducts electricity when solid because its ions are free to move.
It has a high melting point because it has strong intermolecular forces.
Its structure is a giant lattice of alternating positive and negative ions.
It is soluble in water.
B 1and4 C 2and3 D 3and4

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: D

Question 2
Paper Ref: 0620/23_Summer_2023_Q5

Magnesium oxide is a white solid at room temperature and pressure.
Part of the structure of solid magnesium oxide is shown.
key
@ =Mg** magnesium ion
C) = O* oxide ion
Three statements are listed.
1 Magnesium ions are smaller than oxide ions because they contain fewer electrons.
2 Magnesium oxide has good electrical conductivity when molten because the ions
are mobile.
3 Magnesium oxide has a high melting point because of the strong electrostatic
attraction between the ions and delocalised electrons in the giant lattice.
Which statements are correct?
A 1and2 B iand3 C 2and3 D 2only

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: D

Question 3
Paper Ref: 0620/22_Summer_2024_Q6

Information about four substances, W, X, Y and Z, is shown.
po melting point/°C electrical conductivity
does not conduct when solid
conducts when solid
does not conduct
conducts when molten
W, X, Y and Z are graphite, poly(ethene), sodium chloride and silicon([V) oxide but not in that order.
What are W, X, Y and 2?
graphite poly(ethene) silicon(IV) oxide sodium chloride
sodium chloride graphite poly(ethene) silicondV) oxide
poly(ethene) sodium chloride graphite silicon(IV) oxide
silicon(iv) oxide graphite poly(ethene) sodium chloride

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: D

Question 4
Paper Ref: 0620/22_Winter_2009_Q5

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are about diamond and graphite.
1 They are different solid forms of the same element.
2 They each conduct electricity.
3. They have atoms that form four equally strong bonds.
Which statements are correct?
A 1 only B 3only Cc 1and3 D 2and3

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: A

Question 5
Paper Ref: 0620/23_Summer_2023_Q8

Which row describes the structure of a solid metal and explains the property?
| | structure of solid metal property of solid metal
lattice of negative ions conducts electricity because
in a sea of electrons the electrons are free to move
lattice of negative ions is malleable because the layers
in a sea of electrons of ions can slide over each other
lattice of positive ions conducts electricity because
in a sea of electrons the ions are free to move
lattice of positive ions is malleable because the layers
in a sea of electrons of ions can slide over each other

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: D

Question 6
Paper Ref: 0620/12_Winter_2017_Q8

Which statement explains why graphite is used a lubricant?
0 9 DW
All bonds between the atoms are weak.
It conducts electricity.
It has a low melting point.
Layers in the structure can slide over each other.

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: D

Question 7
Paper Ref: 0620/11_Summer_2026_Q27

Which substances have a high melting point and conduct electricity when solid?
1 zinc
2 diamond
3 sulfur
4 graphite
A iand2 B 1and4 C 2and3 D 3and4

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: B

Question 8
Paper Ref: 0620/13_Summer_2020_Q7

Diamond and graphite are macromolecules.
Which statement is correct for both diamond and graphite?
A
B
C
D
They act as lubricants.
They conduct electricity.
They have high melting points.
They are very hard.

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: C

Question 9
Paper Ref: 0620/23_Winter_2025_Q8

Rescuers are drilling through fallen rock in order to rescue some people trapped in a cave. The
drill needs lubricating from time to time.
Four statements are made about the materials used for the drill tip and the lubricant to explain the
reasons for their use.
1
2
3
4
Diamond is used for the drill tip as it does not conduct electricity.
Diamond is used for the drill tip as it is very hard.
Graphite is used as the lubricant as it conducts electricity.
Graphite is used as the lubricant as it is soft and slippery.
Which statements are correct?
A iand3
B 1and4 C 2and3 D 2and4

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: D

Question 10
Paper Ref: 0620/12_Summer_2023_Q4

Which row describes properties of lithium fluoride?
electrical conductivity electrical conductivity
melting point
when solid when molten
does not conduct conducts
does not conduct does not conduct
conducts conducts
conducts does not conduct

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: A

Question 11
Paper Ref: 0620/22_Spring_2026_Q5

Which row describes the properties of a simple molecular compound?
melting point | boiling point | electrical conductivity at room
(°C °C temperature and pressure

Options:
A
B
C
D
Correct Key: C

•1•.• • • •[•P•R•I• •2•0•1•9••• •P•1• • •·• • •Q•8• • •P•a•r•t• •(•b•)• • •·• • •2•0•1•9• • •·• • •P•r•i•m•a•r•y• •0•8•4•6•]• • • • • • •2• •e•a•c•h• •c•o•r•r•e•c•t• •a•n•s•w•e•r• •=• •1• •m•a•r•k• •t•h•e• •t•e•m•p•e•r•a•t•u•r•e• •a•t• •w•h•i•c•h• •a• •s•o•l•i•d• •b•e•c•o•m•e•s• •a• •l•i•q•u•i•d• ••• •B• •C• •D• •E• •F• •1• •m•o•r•e• •t•h•a•n• •o•n•e• •a•n•s•w•e•r• •c•i•r•c•l•e•d• •=• •0• •m•a•r•k•s• •2•9•/•3•8•4•

•2•.• • • •[•P•T• •S•9• •2•0•2•5• •P•2• • •·• • •Q•1•0• • •P•a•r•t• •(•b•)• • •·• • •2•0•2•5• • •·• • •L•o•w•e•r• •S•e•c• •0•8•9•3•]• • • • • • •g•i•a•n•t• •1• •I•g•n•o•r•e• •m•e•t•a•l•l•i•c• •o•r• •i•o•n•i•c• •o•r• •m•o•l•e•c•u•l•a•r• •o•r• •c•o•v•a•l•e•n•t• •©• •U•C•L•E•S• •2•0•2•5• •P•a•g•e• •9• •o•f• •1•4• •S•9•/•0•2• •S•c•i•e•n•c•e• •S•t•a•g•e• •9• •P•a•p•e•r• •2• •M•a•r•k• •S•c•h•e•m•e• •2•0•2•5•

•3•.• • • •[•C•P• •M•a•y• •2•0•2•5• •P•1• • •·• • •Q•1•0• • •·• • •2•0•2•5• • •·• • •L•o•w•e•r• •S•e•c• •0•8•9•3•]• • • • • • •o•x•y•g•e•n• •o•r• •w•a•t•e•r• •1•