Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Chemistry): Exam Questions

The table gives the composition of three particles.

What is the evidence in the table for each of the following? 

i) Particle A is an atom. 

[1]

ii) A, B and C are all particles of the same element. 

[1]

iii) Particles A and C are isotopes of the same element. 

[2]

i) What is the electronic structure of particle A?

[1]

ii) Is element A, a metal or a non-metal? Give a reason for your choice.

[1]

i) Define the term atomic number.

[1]

ii) Define the term nucleon number.

[2]

The table shows the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in some atoms or ions.

Complete the table. The first line is given as an example.

The table below gives information about particles.

Complete the table. The first line has been done for you.

Gallium is a Group III element.

Define the term element.

The following are gallium atoms.

Complete the following table.

The table below gives the composition of six particles which are either atoms or ions.

Which particles are atoms? Explain your choice.

Which particle is a negative ion and why has this particle got a negative charge?

Which particles are positive ions?

Explain why particle A and particle D are isotopes.

Figure 1.1 shows the electronic configurations of five atoms, A, B, C, D and E.

Figure 1.1

Each letter may be used once, more than once or not at all.

Give the letter of the atom, A, B, C, D or E, that is in Group III of the Periodic Table.

Give the letter of the atom, A, B, C, D or E, that  has 13 protons.

Give the letter of the atom, A, B, C, D or E, that  is a noble gas. 

Give the letter of the atom, A, B, C, D or E, that forms a stable ion with a single negative charge.

Sulfuric acid is a compound.

Define the term compound.

Complete Table 2.1  to show the number of electrons, neutrons and protons in the sulfur atom and oxide ion.

Table 2.1 

Complete Figure 2.2 to show the electronic configuration of a potassium ion.

Figure 2.2

Atoms and ions contain protons, neutrons and electrons.

Complete Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

Table 2.2 shows some information about six particles.

Table 2.2

i) Deduce the nucleon number for particle A.

[1]

ii) Explain why particle B is a negative ion.

[1]

iii) Identify two atoms that are isotopes of the same element.

Explain your answer.

[2]

The symbols of six particles are shown below.

Select from the list of particles to answer the following questions. A particle may be selected once, more than once or not at all.

i) Which two ions have the same electronic structure?

[1]

ii) Which ion has the same electronic structure as an atom of argon?

[1]

iii) Which atom can form an ion of the type X^3–? 

[1]

iv) Which atom can form a hydride which has a formula of the type XH₄?

[1]

i) How many protons, neutrons and electrons are there in one copper(II) ion 

[2]

ii) represents an atom of scandium. How many nucleons and how many charged particles are there in one atom of scandium?

[2]

Two different atoms of sodium are and .

i) Explain why these two atoms are isotopes.

 [2]

ii)  is radioactive. It changes into an atom of a different element which has one more proton. Identify this element.

 [1]

The table gives the composition of three particles.

What is the evidence in the table for each of the following?

i) Particle A is an atom.

[1]

ii) They are all particles of the same element.

[1]

iii) Particle B is a negative ion.

[1]

iv) Particles A and C are isotopes.

[2]

i) What is the electronic structure of particle A?

[1]

ii) What is the valency of the element?

[1]

iii) Is the element a metal or a non-metal? Give a reason for your choice.

[1]

Complete the table which gives the names, symbols, relative masses and relative charges of the three subatomic particles.

Use the information in the table to explain the following.

i) Atoms contain charged particles but they are electrically neutral because they have no overall charge.

[2]

ii) Atoms can form positive ions.

[2]

iii) Atoms of the same element can have different masses.

[2]

iv) Scientists are certain that there are no undiscovered elements missing from the Periodic Table from hydrogen to lawrencium.

[1]

The table below gives the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms or ions.

Complete the table. The first line is given as an example.

Which atom in the table is an isotope of the atom which has the composition 11p, 11e and 14n?

Give a reason for your choice.

This question is concerned with the elements in Period 5, Rb to Xe.

The electron distributions of some of these elements are given in the following list.

element A    2 + 8 + 18 + 10
element B    2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 8
element C    2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 5
element D    2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 6
element E    2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 4
element F    2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 7

i) Identify element C.

[1]

ii) Which element in the list does not form any compounds?

[1]

iii) Which element in the list forms a chloride of the type XCl₂?

 [1]

iv) Which two elements would react together to form a compound of the type XY₄?

[1]

v) Which element in the list would react with cold water to form an alkaline solution and hydrogen?

[1]

Predict two differences in physical properties and two differences in chemical properties between rubidium and the transition metal niobium.

physical .............................................................................................

chemical ............................................................................................