The Periodic Table (AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy: Physical Sciences): Exam Questions

Exam code: 8465

1 hour10 questions
1a
2 marks

This question is about reactions of metals.

A student investigated the reactivity of three metals.

Figure 1 shows the order of reactivity of the three metals.

Diagram showing a vertical arrow labelled decreasing reactivity, with metals ordered: magnesium at top, then zinc, then copper at the bottom.

The student added each metal to three different metal sulfate solutions.

Table 1 shows some of the results.

Table 1

Metal sulfate solution

Metal

Magnesium sulfate

Zinc sulfate

Copper sulfate

Magnesium

Zinc

Copper

Key:

reaction occurs,

no reaction

A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from a compound.

Complete Table 1.

Use:

  • where a reaction occurs

  • where there is no reaction.

Use Figure 1.

1b
1 mark

Potassium is in Group 1 of the periodic table.

A teacher demonstrated the reaction of potassium with water.

Figure 2 shows the apparatus.

Diagram showing tongs holding a small piece of potassium above a trough of water, labelled “Potassium” and “Water” as in a school chemistry experiment

What type of solution is formed when potassium reacts with water?

  • Acidic

  • Alkaline

  • Neutral

1c
1 mark

Which gas is produced when potassium reacts with water?

  • Carbon dioxide

  • Hydrogen

  • Oxygen

1d
1 mark

Give one observation seen when potassium is added to water.

1e
1 mark

Sodium is above potassium in Group 1 of the periodic table.

How does the reactivity of sodium compare with the reactivity of potassium?

  • Sodium is less reactive than potassium.

  • Sodium has the same reactivity as potassium.

  • Sodium is more reactive than potassium.

1f
1 mark

Figure 3 shows the electronic structure of two different atoms.

Diagram comparing sodium and magnesium atoms, each with a central nucleus and three electron shells showing their different outer electron arrangements.

A sodium atom forms a Na+ ion.

Which ion does a magnesium atom form?

  • Mg+

  • Mg

  • Mg2+

  • Mg2−

2a
4 marks

This question is about the periodic table.

The halogens are in Group 7 of the periodic table.

Explain the trend in reactivity going down Group 7.

2b
2 marks

Explain how the electronic structure of calcium relates to calcium reacting as a metal.

2c
3 marks

Rubidium has an atomic number of 37.

Complete the equation for the reaction of rubidium with water.

You should balance the equation.

Use the periodic table.

___Rb+___H2O______________+______________

3
2 marks

A teacher demonstrates the reaction of potassium with water.

Give two observations seen when potassium reacts with water.

4a
1 mark

This question is about Group 7 elements.

Figure 2 shows some Group 7 elements in the periodic table.

Figure showing group 7 halogens: fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, each with relative atomic mass and atomic number in periodic table layout

What is the name of the Group 7 elements?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • Alkali metals

  • Halogens

  • Noble gases

4b
1 mark

Which element in Figure 2 has the highest melting point?

4c
1 mark

A fluorine atom has 9 electrons.

What is the electronic structure of a fluorine atom?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • 2,3,4

  • 2,7

  • 4,3,2

  • 7,2

4d
1 mark

Name the compound produced when potassium reacts with iodine.

4e
3 marks

A less reactive Group 7 element can be displaced from an aqueous solution of its salt by a more reactive Group 7 element.

Complete Table 2 to show if a reaction occurs when the element is added to the aqueous solution.

Use:

  • ✓ where a reaction occurs

  • ✗ where there is no reaction

Table 2

Aqueous solution

Element

Sodium fluoride

Sodium chloride

Sodium bromide

Fluorine

Chlorine

Bromine

5a
1 mark

This question is about the periodic table and the elements in Group 0.

Complete the sentence.

Choose the answer from the box.

atomic number

mass number

neutron number

The elements in the periodic table are arranged in order of _.

5b
1 mark

Which electronic structure represents an atom of an element in Group 0?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • Diagram of an atom with a solid nucleus, two circular electron shells, and three electrons marked as crosses on the outer shell
  • Simple atomic model diagram with a black central nucleus and two circular electron orbits, the outer orbit marked by five small crosses
  • Bohr model of a neon atom showing a central nucleus, one inner electron shell and an outer shell with eight electrons marked as crosses
5c
1 mark

Which is a property of the elements in Group 0?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • Are unreactive

  • Conduct electricity

  • Consist of molecules

5d
1 mark

Table 1 shows the relative atomic masses (Aᵣ) and the boiling points of some elements in Group 0.

Table 1

Element

Relative atomic mass (Aᵣ)

Boiling point in °C

Helium

4

−269

Neon

20

−246

Z

40

X

Krypton

84

−153

Xenon

131

−108

What is the state of the elements in Group 0 at room temperature?

Use Table 1.

5e
1 mark

Complete the sentence.

Use Table 1.

The boiling points of elements in Group 0 increase as the relative atomic masses .

5f
1 mark

What is value X in Table 1?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • −100 °C

  • −131 °C

  • −186 °C

  • −252 °C

5g
1 mark

Identify element Z in Table 1.

Use the periodic table.

6a
1 mark

This question is about groups in the periodic table.

What name is given to the Group 0 elements?

6b
2 marks

Explain the reactivity of the Group 0 elements.

6c
1 mark

Describe the relationship between relative atomic mass and boiling point for the elements in Group 0.

6d
1 mark

Fluorine is an element in Group 7.

Complete Figure 5 to represent the electronic structure of fluorine.

Figure 5

An empty atomic structure template — a nucleus with two concentric electron shells around it.
6e
1 mark

Which is a correct statement about the elements in Group 7?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • The elements in Group 7 consist of single, non-bonded atoms.

  • The elements in Group 7 react with non-metals to form covalent compounds.

  • The melting points of the elements in Group 7 decrease going down the group.

  • The reactivity of the elements in Group 7 increases going down the group.

6f
2 marks

The elements in Group 1 react with water.

Give two observations you would see when a small piece of lithium is added to water.

6g
3 marks

Lithium reacts with water less vigorously than sodium reacts with water.

Explain why lithium is less reactive than sodium.

7a
1 mark

The elements in the periodic table are arranged in groups.

What is similar about the elements in the same group?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • Chemical properties

  • Atomic numbers

  • Relative atomic masses

7b
1 mark

Figure 2 shows the arrangement of electrons in an atom.

Figure 2

(a Bohr-style diagram: 2 electrons in the inner shell, 8 electrons in the second shell, and 3 electrons in the outer shell)

What group of the periodic table is this atom in?

Group _________

7c
1 mark

Why are the elements in Group 0 unreactive?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • They are all gases at room temperature

  • They all have the same atomic number

  • They are all in the same group of the periodic table

  • They all have a stable arrangement of electrons

7d
4 marks

A teacher demonstrates the reaction of some alkali metals with water.

Look at Figure 3.

Figure 3

pieces of lithium and sodium dropped into separate beakers of water containing universal indicator).

The students write what they see:

  1. The alkali metals float on water.

  2. The alkali metals fizz when they react with water.

  3. The universal indicator changes from green to purple.

  4. The sodium disappears faster than the lithium.

Give a reason for each of the four things that the students see.

  1. The alkali metals float on water.

Reason: __________________________________

  1. The alkali metals fizz when they react with water.

Reason: _____________________________________

  1. The universal indicator changes from green to purple.

Reason: __________________________________

  1. The sodium disappears faster than the lithium.

Reason: ____________________________________

8a
1 mark

Table 2 shows information about some elements.

Table 2

Element

Melting point in °C

Boiling point in °C

Fluorine

–202

–188

Chlorine

–101

–35

Bromine

–7

59

Iodine

114

184

Astatine

Look at Table 2.

Describe the trend in melting point from fluorine to astatine.

8b
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Estimate the boiling point of astatine.

Use Table 2 to help you.

Boiling point of astatine = ________________ °C

8c
1 mark

Room temperature is 20 °C.

Which element in Table 2 is a liquid at room temperature?

8d
1 mark

To which group of the periodic table do the elements in Table 2 belong?

Tick (✓) one box.

  • Group 0

  • Group 1

  • Group 5

  • Group 7

8e
1 mark

A chlorine atom has 17 electrons.

On Figure 2 , use crosses (×) to show the arrangement of electrons in the outer shell of a chlorine atom.

Figure 2

(a blank atomic-shell diagram showing a central nucleus circle with inner electron shells)
8f
2 marks

Chlorine reacts with sodium bromide solution to produce bromine and sodium chloride solution.

Complete the symbol equation for the reaction.

________Cl₂ + ______NaBr → + ___________ + __________

8g
2 marks

Which element in Table 2 will react with sodium chloride solution?

Give a reason for your answer.

9a
1 mark

In 1869 there were 60 known elements.

Mendeleev arranged the elements in order of their atomic mass (atomic weight).

He realised that elements with similar properties occurred at regular intervals.

Suggest why one of the groups that is on today's periodic table was not in Mendeleev's periodic system.

9b
2 marks

Explain the arrangement of the first 20 elements in today's periodic table.

You should answer in terms of atomic structure.

9c
2 marks

A student put some potassium bromide solution in a test tube.

She added a few drops of chlorine solution and observed the result.

She repeated the process using different potassium halide salts and different halogens.

Table 2 shows the student's results.

Table 2

Solution of halogen

Potassium chloride solution

Potassium bromide solution

Potassium iodide solution

Chlorine

Orange colour forms

Brown colour forms

Bromine

No reaction

Brown colour forms

Iodine

No reaction

No reaction

Give the order of reactivity of the halogens from the results in Table 2.

Explain how you used the results to show this order of reactivity.

Order: ____________________________________________

Explanation: ____________________________________

9d
3 marks

Write a balanced ionic equation for the reaction of chlorine with bromide ions in solution.

9e
2 marks

Explain the order of reactivity of Group 7 elements.

Include information about atomic structure.

10a
2 marks

The elements in Group 1 of the periodic table are metals.

The elements in Group 1 are called the alkali metals.

Why are they called the alkali metals?

10b
4 marks

Explain the increase in reactivity of elements further down the group.