AS Cambridge (CIE) Chemistry 49 mins 6 questions

Structured Questions

Particles in the Atom

& Atomic Radius
Atomic Structure & Subatomic Particles / Determining Subatomic Structure /
Variations in Atomic & Ionic Radius

Easy (2 questions) /16 Scan here to return to the course

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Medium (3 questions) /23

Hard (1 question) /10

Total Marks /49

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Easy Questions
1 (a) Complete Table 1.1 to show the relative charge and mass of the subatomic particles.

Table 1.1

Subatomic particle Relative Charge Relative Mass

Proton 1

Neutron

Electron 1
1836

(4 marks)

(b) Using the Periodic Table, complete Table 1.2 to show the number of protons, neutrons
and electrons in each of the given species.

Table 1.2

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 Species Number of protons Number of neutrons Number of electrons

31P

24Na+

37Cl–

(3 marks)

(c) State why the physical properties of isotopes are different.

(2 marks)

(d) Explain why the chemical properties of 35Cl and 37Cl are similar.

(2 marks)

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2 (a) Fig. 5.1 shows how protons, neutrons and electrons behave differently when they move
at the same velocity in an electric field.

Label the positive and negative plates in Fig. 5.1.

Fig. 5.1

(1 mark)

(b) Using the Periodic Table, complete Table 5.1 to show the number of protons, neutrons
and electrons in each of the given species.

Table 5.1

Symbol Protons Neutrons Electrons

23
Na

32S2–

86Sr2+

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 (3 marks)

(c) Write the electronic configuration for the 32S2– atom.

(1 mark)

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Medium Questions
1 (a) The Bohr model of an atom represents a central nucleus, consisting of protons and
neutrons, with electrons surrounding it moving in circular orbits. This model was
proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913 and after some further research, energy levels and
sublevels were recognised, and the model was refined.

Using your knowledge of atomic structure, complete Table 1.1 below for the particles
found in an atom.

Table 1.1

Particle Relative charge Relative mass

Proton

Neutron

Electron

(3 marks)

(b) State the block in the Periodic Table in which silicon is placed. Explain your answer.

(2 marks)

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(c) A mass spectrometer can be used to detect isotopes of an element, such as silicon. For
these to be detected in the mass spectrometer, a sample containing the isotopes must
first be vapourised and then ionised.

Give two reasons why the sample of isotopes must be ionised, and state what could be
adjusted in order to allow ions formed by different isotopes to reach the detector.

(3 marks)

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2 (a) Using your Periodic Table, complete Table 1.1

Table 1.1

Symbol Protons Neutrons Electrons

23Na

32S2-

86
Sr2+

(2 marks)

(b) Sodium is an element in Period 3. State and explain the trend in atomic radius across the
period.

Trend ...........................................................................................................................................

Explanation .................................................................................................................................

(3 marks)

(c) Chlorine is an element in Period 3 which has an atomic radius of 99 pm. The chloride ion
has an ionic radius of 167 pm.

Explain the difference between the two radii.

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 (3 marks)

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3 (a) The composition of atoms and ions can be determined from knowledge of atomic
number, nucleon number and charge.

Complete Table 3.1.

Table 3.1

Atomic Nucleon Number of Number of Number of Symbol

number number electrons protons neutrons

15 31 3−
15 P

18 17 19

(2 marks)

(b) Beams of protons, neutrons and electrons behave differently in an electric field due to
their differing properties.

Fig. 3.1 shows the path of a beam of electrons in an electric field.

Add and label lines to Fig. 3.1 to represent the paths of beams of electrons and neutrons
in the same field.

Fig. 3.1

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 (3 marks)

(c) Chlroine and sulfur are in Period 3. Outline why the chlorine atom has a smaller atomic
radius than the sulfur atom.

(2 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) Table 4.1 below shows the atomic radii for the elements of Period 2, Li to F.

Table 4.1

Element Li Be B C N O F

Atomic radius / pm 152 112 88 77 70 66 64

i) Explain the variation in atomic radius.

[4]

ii) The value for neon is missing in Table 4.1. Explain why the atomic radius of neon
cannot be measured in the same way as the other Period 2 elements.

[2]

(6 marks)

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(b) Complete Fig. 4.1 to show the electronic configuration of boron in the excited state.

Fig. 4.1

(1 mark)

(c) Explain why the first ionisation energy of boron is lower than the first ionisation of
beryllium.

(2 marks)

(d) The successive ionisation energies for another element, J, are shown in Table 4.2.

Table 4.2

Energy number 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Ionisation energy value / kJ mol−1 738 1450 7733 10543 13630

State the formula of the compound when element J reacts with chlorine.

(1 mark)

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AS Cambridge (CIE) Chemistry 18 mins 3 questions

Structured Questions

Isotopes
Isotopes

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Total Marks /18

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1 (a) Iron and cobalt are adjacent elements in the Periodic Table. Iron has three main
naturally occurring isotopes, cobalt has one.

Explain the meaning of the term isotope.

(2 marks)

(b) Isotopes of polonium, proton number 84, are produced by the radioactive decay of
several elements including thorium, proton number 90. The isotope 213Po is produced
from the thorium isotope 232Th.

Complete Table 1.1 below to show the atomic structures of the isotopes 213Po and 232Th.

Table 1.1

Isotope Protons Neutrons Electrons

213Po

232Th

(3 marks)

(c) Polonium has twenty five different isotopes.

Explain why the isotopes of polonium exhibit the same chemical reactions but their
boiling points differ slightly.

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 (2 marks)

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2 (a) Atoms are made up of three subatomic particles; protons, neutrons and electrons.

Table 2.1 below shows data about these particles.

Table 2.1

Particle Proton Neutron Electron

Mass / kg 1.673 × 10-27 1.675 × 10-27 9.000 × 10-31

Calculate the mass of one atom of carbon in kg. Use data from Table 2.1 in your
calculation. Show your working.

(2 marks)

(b) A sample of carbon contains 3 isotopes, 12C, 13C and 14C.

State one similarity and one difference in the properties of these isotopes of carbon.
Explain your answer.

(2 marks)

(c) A sample of element E contains five isotopes. The percentage abundance of the five
isotopes is shown in Table 2.2.

Table 2.2

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 isotope of E percentage abundance / %

46E 8.02

47E 7.31

48E 73.81

49E

50
E 5.32

i) Calculate the percentage abundance of 49E.

[1]

ii) Calculate the relative atomic mass, Ar, of element E to 1 decimal place. Use the data
from Table 2.2 in your calculation.

[2]

iii) Identify element E.

[1]

(4 marks)

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3 (a) The symbols below describe two isotopes of the element antimony.

121 123
51 Sb 51 Sb

State the meaning of the term isotope.

(1 mark)

(b) State two ways in which these two isotopes of antimony are identical.

(1 mark)

(c) State the number of electrons present in one Sb2+ ion.

(1 mark)

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AS Cambridge (CIE) Chemistry 36 mins 5 questions

Structured Questions

Electrons, Energy
Levels & Atomic
Orbitals
Electronic Structure / Sub-shells & Orbitals / Electronic Configuration / Determining
Electronic Configuration

Easy (1 question) /5 Scan here to return to the course

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Medium (3 questions) /22

Hard (1 question) /9

Total Marks /36

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Easy Questions
1 (a) Aluminium is a metal in Group 13

Complete the electron configuration in Fig. 3.1 for an aluminium atom using box
notation.

Fig. 3.1

(1 mark)

(b) Draw the orbital of the 2s orbital on the axis in Fig. 3.2.

Fig. 3.2

(1 mark)

(c) The first ionisation energy values of Li, Mg and Na are shown in Table 3.1

Table 3.1

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 Element First ionisation energy (kJ mol-1)

496

Li 520

738

Complete the table.

(1 mark)

(d) Explain why the first ionisation energy of aluminium is lower than the first ionisation
energy of magnesium.

(2 marks)

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Medium Questions
1 (a) The model of the nuclear atom was first proposed by Ernest Rutherford. He developed
this model on the basis of results obtained from an experiment using gold metal foil.

Complete the Table 2.1 with information for two of the particles in an atom of 197Au.

Table 2.1

Particle Relative Relative Location within Total number in an

mass charge atom atom of 197Au

electron 0.0005 -1 79

neutron nucleus

(4 marks)

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(b) A sample of gold found in the earth consists of only one isotope.

i) Explain what is meant by the term isotopes

[2]

ii) A different sample of gold contains more than one isotope.

Suggest why this different sample of gold has the same chemical properties as the
sample found in the earth.

[1]

(3 marks)

(c) Gold(III) chloride, traditionally called auric chloride, is one of the most common
compounds of gold.

It has the formula AuCl3.

Complete the electron configuration for the chloride ion using box notation.

(1 mark)

(d) On the axes shown in Fig. 2.1, draw a sketch diagram of one of each different type of
orbital that is occupied by the electrons in a Period 3 element.

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Label each type of orbital.

Fig. 2.1

(3 marks)

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2 (a) State the full electron configuration for chromium.

(1 mark)

(b) State the meaning of [Ar] and complete the orbital diagram shown in Fig. 2.1 for
chromium.

Fig. 2.1

(2 marks)

(c) This question is about the chromium(III) ion, 52

24
Cr 3+ .

i) State the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons in the chromium(III) ion.

[1]

ii) Write the full electron configuration for the chromium(III) ion.

[1]

(2 marks)

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3 (a) Electron configurations give you a summary of where you can find an electron around
the nucleus of an atom. They can also be determined for an ion after an atom loses or
gains electrons.

i) State the full electron configuration of the rubidium ion, 85

37
Rb + .

[1]

ii) State and explain the relative size of a rubidium ion compared to a krypton atom.

[2]

(3 marks)

(b) The electrons in an atom are found in orbitals around the nucleus, which have different
energy levels sometimes called shells.

i) The fourth shell consists of the atomic orbitals 4d, 4f, 4p and 4s. List these orbitals in
order of increasing energy.

[1]

ii) State the number of atomic orbitals present in 4d, 4f, 4p and 4s.

[1]

(2 marks)

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(c) Rubidium forms an ionic compound with selenium, Rb2Se Using boxes to represent
orbitals and arrows to represent electrons, sketch the orbital diagram of the valence
shell of selenium on the axis provided in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 3.1

(1 mark)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) In the blast furnace, carbon can react with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and carbon
monoxide.

Write one equation for the this reaction.

(2 marks)

(b) Identify and draw the subshell on Fig. 5.2 which has the highest occupied energy level in
an oxygen atom.

Subshell …………………………….

[1]

Diagram

Fig. 5.2

[1]

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 (2 marks)

(c) i) Complete Fig. 5.2 to show the excited state of a carbon atom.

Fig. 5.2

[1]

ii) Identify the type of hybridisation that arises in a molecule of carbon monoxide for
both atoms and explain how this hybridisation occurs

Hybridisation ………….

Explanation

[4]

(5 marks)

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AS Cambridge (CIE) Chemistry 1 hour 7 questions

Structured Questions

Ionisation Energy
Defining Ionisation Energy / Ionisation Energy Trends / Ionisation Energy &
Electronic Configuration

Easy (2 questions) /18 Scan here to return to the course

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Medium (3 questions) /35

Hard (2 questions) /21

Total Marks /74

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Easy Questions
1 (a) An isotope of element X has two more protons and two more neutrons than an atom of
41
K. Use the Periodic Table to identify element X.

(1 mark)

(b) Give the full electronic configuration of the following species:

K+ .........................................................................................

Ti ..........................................................................................

Co ........................................................................................

(3 marks)

(c) Ionisation energy reactions are endothermic processes.

i) Write the equations for the first ionisation energy of K and the second ionisation
energy of Sc

[2]

ii) Give the full electronic configuration of the Sc2+

[1]

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 (3 marks)

(d) Table 2.1 shows successive ionisation energies of element Z in Period 3.

Table 2.1

1 2 3 4 5

Ionisation energy (kJ mol-1) 786 1576 3232 4356 16091

i) State why the first ionisation energy generally increases from left to right across the
Periodic Table.

[2]

ii) Using the data of successive ionisation energies in table 2.1, state which group of the
Periodic Table element Z belongs to.

Group ........................................................................

Explanation ................................................................

[3]

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 (5 marks)

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2 (a) Give the electron configuration of the following species:

Mg .................................................................

Mg2+ .................................................................

(2 marks)

(b) Write an equation including state symbols to show the first ionisation energy of Mg.

(2 marks)

(c) Explain why the second ionisation energy of Mg is higher that the first ionisation energy.

(2 marks)

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Medium Questions
1 (a) The composition of atoms and ions can be determined from knowledge of atomic
number, nucleon number and charge.

Complete Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

Atomic Nucleon Number of Number of Number of Symbol

number number electrons protons neutrons

9 10 19 −
9F

23 26 32

(2 marks)

(b) Lithium and potassium are Group 1 metals.

State the following for the potassium 1+ ion with a nucleon number of 39.

Symbol .......................................

[1]

Full electronic configuration .................................................

[1]

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 (2 marks)

(c) Beams of protons, neutrons and electrons behave differently in an electric field due to
their differing properties.

Fig. 1.1 shows the path of a beam of electrons in an electric field.

Add and label lines to Fig. 1.1 to represent the paths of beams of protons and neutrons
in the same field.

Fig. 1.1

(3 marks)

(d) The fifth to eighth ionisation energies of three elements in the third period of the
Periodic Table are given. The symbols used for reference are not the actual symbols of
the elements.

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 Ionisation energies, kJ mol-1

fifth sixth seventh eighth

X 6274 21 269 25 398 29 855

Y 7012 8496 27 107 31 671

Z 6542 9362 11 018 33 606

i) State and explain the group number of element Y.

Group number ...............................

Explanation ..............................

[1]

ii) State and explain the general trend in first ionisation energies across the third period.

[2]

iii) Explain why the first ionisation energy of element Y is less than that of element X.

[2]

iv) Complete the electronic configuration of element Z.

1s2 .................

[1]

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 (6 marks)

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2 (a) All elements have a value for a first ionisation energy.

i) Define the term first ionisation energy of an element.

[2]

ii) Write the equation for the first ionisation energy of aluminium.

[1]

(3 marks)

(b) Table 3.1 shows successive ionisation energies of an element A, found in period 3 of the
Periodic Table.

Table 3.1

Number of electrons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Ionisation energy (kJ 1012 1904 2914 4964 6274 21 25 29

-1
mol ) 268 431 872

Identify element A. Explain your answer using data from Table 3.1.

(2 marks)

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(c) Fig. 3.1 shows the trend in ionisation energy for Period 3 of the Periodic Table.

Fig. 3.1

i) Explain why the first ionisation energy increases across Period 3.

[3]

ii) Explain the deviations in the trend.

[3]

(6 marks)

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(d) Explain why the second ionisation energy of aluminium is a larger value than the first
ionisation energy.

(1 mark)

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3 (a) The first six ionisation energies of an element X are given below in Table 5.1.

Table 5.1

First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth

Ionisation energy 950 1800 2700 4800 6000 12 300

(kJ mol-1)

Write an equation, with state symbols, for the second ionisation energy of element X.

(2 marks)

(b) Use the data given above to deduce in which group of the Periodic Table element X is
placed. Explain your answer.

Group ........................................................

Explanation ................................................

(3 marks)

(c) The first ionisation energies (I.E.) for the elements of Group 4 are given below in Table
5.2.

Table 5.2

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 Element C Si Ge Sn Pb

1st I.E (kJ mol-1) 1090 786 762 707 716

Explain the trend shown by these values in terms of the atomic structure of the
elements.

(4 marks)

(d) Write the full electronic configuration for germanium.

(1 mark)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows the elements from the first three periods of the Periodic Table.

Fig. 1.1

Identify an element that fits each of the following descriptions:

i) An element that forms a 2- ion with the same electronic configuration as Ne

[1]

ii) The Period 3 element with the highest boiling point

[1]

iii) The element from the first three periods with the largest atomic radius

[1]

iv) The element from the first three periods with the highest first ionisation energy

[1]

v) The Period 3 element with the successive ionisation energies shown in Table 1.1

Table 1.1

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Ionisation number 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Ionisation energy / kJ mol−1 738 1451 7733 10541

[1]

(5 marks)

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(b) Fig. 1.2 shows the first ionisation energies for six consecutive elements labelled A-F.

Fig. 1.2

Complete the graph to show the first ionisation energies of elements G-K.

(5 marks)

(c) Explain why the value of the first ionisation energy for D is greater than for C.

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 (2 marks)

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2 (a) Successive ionisation energies provide evidence for the arrangement of electrons in
atoms. In Table 2.1, the successive ionisation energies of oxygen are given.

Table 2.1

Ionisation number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Ionisation energy / 1314 3388 5301 7469 10989 13327 71337 84080
kJ mol-1

i) Give the equation, including state symbols, for the third ionisation energy of oxygen.

[2]

ii) Explain how this data shows evidence of two energy shells in oxygen.

[2]

(4 marks)

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(b) Give the full electron configuration of the following atoms and ions.

i) Te

[1]

ii) Zn2+

[1]

iii) Cu2+

[1]

(3 marks)

(c) Palladium is a transition metal that is primarily used in a catalytic converter.

i) Give the electron configuration for the Zirconium 2+ ion, Zr2+, starting with [Kr].

[1]

ii) Give the equation including state symbols to represent the third ionisation energy of
Zirconium, Zr.

[1]

(2 marks)

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