Edexcel | GCSE Chemistry | Paper 1 | 2025 predicted paper

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Jen - Primrose Kitten
March 31, 2025

Hey lovely people! 😊 

If you're getting ready for your Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 this year – we've got your back! 💪💚

Our brand new 2025 Predicted Paper is out now and it's designed to help you feel super confident heading into the exam 📝💡 Whether you’re aiming for a grade 4 or pushing for a 9, this is the perfect way to practise the exact kind of questions the examiners LOVE to ask! 🎯

📹 And the best bit?
We've made a full video walkthrough for every single question! Yep – we go through it all step-by-step, showing you exactly what the examiner wants to see 🧐✨ So whether you’re struggling with electrolysis ⚡, mole calculations ⚖️, or just want to get quicker at those six-markers 💬 – we’re here to help!

🌟 Why you’ll love it: ✅ Realistic questions based on the spec & exam trends
✅ Full mark scheme included 🧾
✅ Clear, calm video explanations with me (your friendly teacher!) 👩‍🏫
✅ Over 1,000 FIVE-STAR reviews from students, parents & teachers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

You are NOT alone in this. I know revision can feel overwhelming, but honestly – little by little, it all adds up. And just a reminder: your grades do NOT define your worth. You are amazing already 🥰 But let’s help you feel confident and ready to show off everything you’ve learned! 🌈🔥

🧪 Ready to smash that Chemistry Paper 1?
Grab the predicted paper & watch the walkthroughs now – let’s gooo! 🚀💥

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Edexcel GCSE Separate Science Chemistry | Higher | Paper 1 | 2025:

🧪 1. Separating Mixtures

You must be able to describe and explain simple physical separation techniques 
Top tip:

  • Filtration is for separating an insoluble solid from a liquid.

  • Simple distillation separates a liquid from a solution (e.g., water from salt water).

⚛️ 2. Dot and Cross Diagrams

Be able to draw and interpret dot and cross diagrams for ionic, covalent and metallic bonding.
Top tip:

  • Ionic bonding (e.g., NaCl): electrons are transferred; show full outer shells and charges.

  • Covalent bonding (e.g., H₂O, O₂, CH₄): electrons are shared; show outer shells.

⚡ 3. Electrolysis and Half Equations

Understand how electrolysis works and be able to write half equations for reactions at the electrodes.
Top tip:

  • Electrolysis is splitting using electricity.

  • Positive, attracts anions (non-metals).

  • Negative, attracts cations (metals).

  • Learn the reactivity series – less reactive metals are deposited first.

  • Practice writing half equations: e.g., Na⁺ + e⁻ → Na (reduction), Cl⁻ → Cl₂ + 2e⁻ (oxidation).

🧱 4. Effect of Bonding on Structure

Know how types of bonding affect properties like melting point, conductivity, and hardness.
Top tip:

  • Ionic compounds: high melting points, conduct electricity when molten or in solution.

  • Simple covalent molecules: low melting points, don’t conduct.

  • Giant covalent structures: very high melting points, mostly don’t conduct (except graphite).

  • Metals: high melting points, good conductors (delocalised electrons!).

💎 5. Diamond and Graphite

Compare and explain the structures and properties of diamond and graphite.
Top tip:

  • Diamond: 4 bonds per carbon, no free electrons, very hard, doesn’t conduct.

  • Graphite: 3 bonds per carbon, layers that slide, free electrons – it conducts!

  • Make sure you can explain how structure leads to properties.

♻️ 6. Atom Economy

Be able to calculate atom economy and understand why it’s important.
Top tip:

  • Formula:
    Atom economy = (Mr of desired product ÷ total Mr of all products) × 100

  • High atom economy = less waste = better for the environment and profit!

  • Only use balanced equations to calculate it.

🧪 7. Weak and Strong Acids

Know the difference between strong and weak acids in terms of ionisation.
Top tip:

  • Strong acids (e.g., HCl) ionise completely in water.

  • Weak acids (e.g., ethanoic acid) ionise partially.

  • This affects pH, not concentration – strong acids have lower pH than weak acids of the same concentration.

🔬 8. Titrations

Be able to describe and carry out titration experiments and calculate concentrations.
Top tip:

  • Use a burette, pipette, and conical flask with indicator (usually phenolphthalein or methyl orange).

  • Remember to repeat for concordant results (within 0.10 cm³).

  • You’ll often be asked to calculate concentration using:
    n = c × v and balanced equations to find reacting ratios.

⚖️ 9. Le Chatelier’s Principle

Predict how changes affect reversible reactions at equilibrium.
Top tip:

  • If you increase temperature, the equilibrium shifts to the endothermic direction.

  • Increase pressure = shifts to side with fewer gas molecules.

  • Increase concentration = shifts to use up added substance.

  • Use arrows to show shifts ➡️ in your answers.

🌍 10. Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)

Understand the stages of a product’s life and be able to compare environmental impacts.
Top tip:

  • Four stages: 1️⃣ Raw material extraction, 2️⃣ Manufacturing, 3️⃣ Use, 4️⃣ Disposal.

  • Don’t forget to consider energy use, water, pollution, and waste.

  • Be ready to compare products (e.g., plastic vs paper bags) and explain trade-offs.

Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry | Higher | Paper 1 | 2025 predicted paper 🧪✨

🧪 1. Separating Mixtures

Know how to describe and explain the key physical separation techniques: filtration, crystallisation, simple distillation, and paper chromatography.
Top tip:

  • Filtration: removes insoluble solids from liquids.

  • Simple distillation: separates a solvent from a solution (e.g. pure water from salty water).

⚛️ 2. Dot and Cross Diagrams

You should be able to draw and interpret dot and cross diagrams for ionic and covalent bonding.
Top tip:

  • Ionic bonding: involves a metal and non-metal. Electrons are transferred. Draw full outer shells and show charges (e.g., Na⁺, Cl⁻).

  • Covalent bonding: involves two non-metals. Electrons are shared. Only draw outer shells.

  • Focus on molecules like H₂O, O₂, CO₂ and CH₄.

⚡ 3. Electrolysis and Half Equations

Understand how electrolysis works and be able to write simple half equations.
Top tip:

  • Electrolysis = using electricity to split ionic compounds.

  • Works only when the substance is molten or in solution (so ions are free to move).

  • Negative electrode, attracts positive ions (reduction).

  • Positive electrode, attracts negative ions (oxidation).

  • Be able to write half equations like:

    • Na⁺ + e⁻ → Na

    • 2Cl⁻ → Cl₂ + 2e⁻
      Stick to simple examples – no need for complex redox balancing.

💎 4. Diamond and Graphite

Be able to compare the properties of diamond and graphite, based on their structures.
Top tip:

  • Diamond: Each carbon makes 4 bonds → very strong, high melting point, doesn’t conduct electricity.

  • Graphite: Each carbon makes 3 bonds → layers slide (soft), delocalised electrons so it conducts.

  • You need to link structure → bonding → properties clearly in exam answers.

⚖️ 5. Le Chatelier’s Principle

Explain how changing conditions (temperature, pressure, concentration) affect equilibrium in reversible reactions.
Top tip:

  • If you increase temperature, equilibrium shifts to the endothermic side.

  • Increase pressure → shifts to side with fewer gas molecules.

  • Increase concentration → shifts to use up the added substance.
    You don’t need to remember specific examples – just understand how to apply the principle.

💧 6. Potable Water

Know how potable (safe to drink) water is produced in the UK and from seawater.
Top tip:

  • Potable water is not pure – it contains dissolved substances but is safe to drink.

  • From seawater: distillation (energy intensive) or reverse osmosis.

  • Be able to describe and compare the methods and evaluate their practicality.

Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry | Foundation Tier | Paper 1 | 2025 predicted paper 🧪✨

🍋 1. Acids and Alkalis

Understand what acids and alkalis are, how they react, and how to measure their strength using the pH scale.
Top tip:

  • Acids (e.g., hydrochloric acid) have a pH less than 7.

  • Alkalis (e.g., sodium hydroxide) have a pH greater than 7.

  • Neutral is pH 7.

  • Use universal indicator or litmus paper to test pH.

  • Know the word equations for neutralisation:
    Acid + Alkali → Salt + Water

🧪 2. Separating Mixtures

Be able to describe simple methods to separate substances from mixtures.
Top tip:

  • Filtration – removes insoluble solids (like sand from water).

  • Simple distillation – separates a solvent (e.g., getting water from salty water).

⚛️ 3. Dot and Cross Diagrams

Be able to draw simple dot and cross diagrams to show bonding in ionic and covalent substances.
Top tip:

  • Ionic bonding = between a metal and non-metal, electrons are transferred. Show full outer shells and charges.

  • Covalent bonding = between two non-metals, electrons are shared. Only show outer shell.

  • Practice with examples like sodium chloride (NaCl), water (H₂O), methane (CH₄), and oxygen (O₂).
    No need for complex molecules – just get the basics right.

⚡ 4. Electrolysis

Understand the basics of electrolysis and how it splits substances using electricity.
Top tip:

  • Electrolysis splits ionic substances when molten or in solution.

  • positive electrode, attracts negative ions.

  • negative electrode, attracts positive ions.

  • Know simple examples like extracting aluminium or producing hydrogen and chlorine from salt water.

🌍 5. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs)

Be able to describe the main stages of a product’s life and its impact on the environment.
Top tip:

  • Four stages:
    1️⃣ Getting raw materials
    2️⃣ Making the product
    3️⃣ Using the product
    4️⃣ Disposing of the product

  • Think about energy use, pollution, waste and water use at each stage.

  • Be ready to compare two products (e.g., paper vs plastic bag) – there’s no perfect answer, but explain your thinking!

💧 6. Potable Water

Know what makes water safe to drink and how it’s treated.
Top tip:

  • Potable water = safe to drink, but not pure (it contains some dissolved substances).

  • In the UK:

    • Water is collected from rain

    • Filtered to remove solids

    • Sterilised to kill microbes (with chlorine, ozone or UV light)

  • Seawater can be turned into drinking water using distillation – but it’s expensive and uses lots of energy.

Edexcel GCSE Separate Science Chemistry | Foundation Tier | Paper 1 | 2025 predicted paper 🧪💚

🍋 1. Acids and Alkalis

Understand pH, the difference between acids and alkalis, and how neutralisation works.
Top tip:

  • Acid = pH less than 7

  • Alkali = pH more than 7

  • Neutral = pH 7

  • Neutralisation word equation:
    Acid + Alkali → Salt + Water

🧪 2. Separating Mixtures

Be able to describe filtration, crystallisation, simple distillation, and chromatography.
Top tip:

  • Filtration – separates solids from liquids.

  • Simple distillation – separates a liquid from a solution.

  • Paper chromatography – separates colours; know Rf = distance moved by spot ÷ distance moved by solvent.
    Be able to explain why each method is suitable in a given situation.

⚛️ 3. Dot and Cross Diagrams

Draw and interpret diagrams for ionic and covalent bonds.
Top tip:

  • Ionic: metal + non-metal → electrons are transferred. Show full outer shells and ion charges.

  • Covalent: two non-metals → electrons are shared. Draw only outer shells.

  • Stick to key examples: NaCl, H₂O, CH₄, O₂.
    Be clear and neat – examiners love tidy diagrams!

⚡ 4. Electrolysis

Understand how electrolysis works and where ions go.
Top tip:

  • Used to split ionic substances using electricity.

  • positive → attracts negative ions.

  • negative → attracts positive ions.

  • Be able to describe what’s made at each electrode, e.g., hydrogen and chlorine from salt solution.

♻️ 5. Atom Economy

Be able to use and explain atom economy.
Top tip:

  • Formula:
    Atom economy = (Mr of desired product ÷ total Mr of all products) × 100

  • High atom economy = less waste = better for environment and industry.

  • You'll usually be given the relative formula masses, so plug in the numbers carefully!

🔬 6. Titrations

Know how titrations are used to find out how much acid is needed to neutralise an alkali.
Top tip:

  • Add a few drops of indicator (like phenolphthalein or methyl orange).

  • Stop when the colour changes – that’s the end point.

  • Repeat for accurate results (concordant titres = within 0.1 cm³).

🌍 7. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs)

Understand the stages and impacts of a product’s life cycle.
Top tip:

  • Stages:
    1️⃣ Raw materials
    2️⃣ Manufacturing
    3️⃣ Use
    4️⃣ Disposal

  • Think about energy use, pollution, water use, and waste.

  • Be ready to compare two products and explain why one might be better overall.
    No maths here – just clear comparisons and simple explanations.

💧 8. Potable Water

Know what potable water is and how it’s made.
Top tip:

  • Potable = safe to drink – not necessarily pure!

  • In the UK:

    • Filtration removes solids

    • Sterilisation kills microbes (chlorine, UV or ozone)

  • From seawater: use distillation, but it’s energy intensive.
    Be able to describe and compare methods clearly.