IGCSE Practice

Cambridge IGCSE·Co-ordinated Sciences 0654·Chemistry Separation Purification
📋Key knowledge — Experimental Techniques Analysis

Formulas & equations

  • Rf = distance moved by spot ÷ distance moved by solvent front (chromatography)

Key facts & rules

  • Filtration: separates insoluble solid from liquid.
  • Evaporation/crystallisation: separates soluble solid from solution.
  • Simple distillation: separates a liquid from a solution (e.g. water from salt solution).
  • Fractional distillation: separates liquids with different boiling points.
  • Paper chromatography: separates dissolved substances by how far they travel on paper with solvent.
  • Test for H₂: lit splint → squeaky pop.
  • Test for O₂: glowing splint → relights.
  • Test for CO₂: limewater → turns milky.
  • Test for Cl₂: damp litmus paper → bleaches white.
  • Flame tests: Li→red, Na→yellow, K→lilac, Ca→orange-red, Cu→blue-green.
  • Test for sulfate SO₄²⁻: add Ba²⁺(aq) → white precipitate BaSO₄.
  • Test for halide ions: add AgNO₃(aq): Cl⁻→white ppt; Br⁻→cream ppt; I⁻→yellow ppt.

IGCSE Chemistry — Separation & purification

29 Cambridge IGCSE 0654 questions on separation & purification, across all three components.

About separation & purification on IGCSE 0654

Every Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences 0654 question on separation & purification (Experimental techniques & analysis, Chemistry), across all three exam components. Theory and alternative-to-practical come with full mark schemes; multiple choice is interactive — click an option to check it.

Theory

Papers 3 & 4 · 1 question · Structured written questions, each with its full mark scheme.
Separation & purification — Extended theory questions1 total · Paper 4

Exercise 1 — IGCSE 0654 Jun 2025 Paper 41 Q5

Cambridge past paperExtended10 marks Paper 41Jun 2025
IGCSE 0654 Jun 2025 Paper 41 Question 5 — Separation & purification
Show mark scheme
Mark scheme for IGCSE 0654 Jun 2025 Paper 41 Q5
↑ Back to top

Multiple choice

Papers 1 & 2 · 27 questions · Click an option (A–D) to check your answer instantly.
Separation & purification — Core multiple choice questions14 total · Paper 1

Exercise 1 — IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 12 Q27

Cambridge past paperCore1 mark Paper 12May/June 2025
IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 12 Question 27 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: C

Exercise 2 — IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 13 Q27

Cambridge past paperCore1 mark Paper 13May/June 2025
IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 13 Question 27 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: C

Exercise 3 — IGCSE 0654 May/June 2023 Paper 11 Q14

Cambridge past paperCore1 mark Paper 11May/June 2023
IGCSE 0654 May/June 2023 Paper 11 Question 14 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: C

Exercise 4 — IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2023 Paper 11 Q14

Cambridge past paperCore1 mark Paper 11Oct/Nov 2023
IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2023 Paper 11 Question 14 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: C
Separation & purification — Extended multiple choice questions13 total · Paper 2

Exercise 5 — IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2025 Paper 22 Q27

Cambridge past paperExtended1 mark Paper 22Oct/Nov 2025
IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2025 Paper 22 Question 27 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: A

Exercise 6 — IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2025 Paper 23 Q23

Cambridge past paperExtended1 mark Paper 23Oct/Nov 2025
IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2025 Paper 23 Question 23 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: B

Exercise 7 — IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 23 Q24

Cambridge past paperExtended1 mark Paper 23May/June 2025
IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 23 Question 24 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: B

Exercise 8 — IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 23 Q26

Cambridge past paperExtended1 mark Paper 23May/June 2025
IGCSE 0654 May/June 2025 Paper 23 Question 26 — Separation & purification
Show answer
Correct answer: B
↑ Back to top

Alternative to practical

Paper 6 · 1 question · Experiment-based questions, each with its full mark scheme.

Exercise 1 — IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2025 Paper 62 Q3

Cambridge past paperPractical Paper 62Oct/Nov 2025
IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2025 Paper 62 Question 3 — Separation & purification
Show mark scheme
Mark scheme for IGCSE 0654 Oct/Nov 2025 Paper 62 Q3
↑ Back to top

More Experimental techniques & analysis subtopics