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EnglandCombined Science

Topic 7: Rates of reaction and energy changes

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Why do reactions take in or give out energy, and how do the groups of the periodic table behave?

Exothermic and endothermic reactions, energy level (reaction profile) diagrams, activation energy, and the trends in reactivity of group 1, group 7 and group 0 elements.
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Topics 6 and 7 (CC6 to CC7), covering exothermic and endothermic reactions, reaction profile diagrams and activation energy, and the trends in reactivity of group 1, group 7 and group 0 elements.
9 min answer →

How do the elements in groups 1, 7 and 0 react, and what trends do they show?

The properties and reactions of the group 1 alkali metals, the group 7 halogens and their displacement reactions, and the group 0 noble gases, with the trends down each group.
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Topic 6 (CC6), covering the reactions and trends of the group 1 alkali metals, the group 7 halogens and their displacement reactions, and the group 0 noble gases.
9 min answer →

What controls how fast a reaction goes, and how do we measure rate?

The factors that affect the rate of reaction, collision theory, the effect of a catalyst, and methods of measuring and calculating rate from experimental data.
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Topic 7 (CC7), covering the factors that affect the rate of reaction, collision theory, catalysts, and how rate is measured and calculated from experimental data.
9 min answer →