1.

2.

Which statement about the numbers of protons, electrons and neutrons in an atom is always
correct?
A.

The number of neutrons minus the number of electrons is zero.

B.

The number of protons plus the number of neutrons equals the number of electrons.

C.

The number of protons equals the number of electrons.

D.

The number of neutrons equals the number of protons.

(a)

Explain why the relative atomic mass of argon is greater than the relative atomic mass of
potassium, even though the atomic number of potassium is greater than the atomic number
of argon.

(Total 1 mark)

......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(b)

Deduce the numbers of protons and electrons in the K+ ion.

......................................................................................................................................

(c)

(1)

(1)

Deduce the electron arrangement for the K+ ion.

......................................................................................................................................

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

3.

Silicon has three stable isotopes, 28Si, 29Si and 30Si. The heaviest isotope, 30Si, has a percentage
abundance of 3.1 %. Calculate the percentage abundance of the lightest isotope to one decimal
place.
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................

(Total 2 marks)

4.

Identify a radioactive isotope of carbon and state one of its uses.

................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................

(Total 1 mark)

5.

6.

7.

What is the electron configuration of vanadium?

A.

1s22s22p63s23p63d24s3

B.

1s22s22p63s23p63d34s2

C.

1s22s22p63s23p63d44s1

D.

1s22s22p63s23p63d5

(Total 1 mark)

Which quantities are the same for all atoms of chlorine?

I.

Number of protons

II.

Number of neutrons

III.

Number of electrons

A.

I and II only

B.

I and III only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II and III

(a)

Explain why the relative atomic mass of cobalt is greater than the relative atomic mass of
nickel, even though the atomic number of nickel is greater than the atomic number of cobalt.

(Total 1 mark)

......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(1)

(b)

Deduce the numbers of protons and electrons in the ion Co2+.

......................................................................................................................................

(c)

Deduce the electron configuration for the ion Co2+.

......................................................................................................................................

(d)

(1)

(1)

Identify a radioactive isotope of cobalt and state one of its uses.

......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(1)
(Total 4 marks)

8.

9.

Which statements about the isotopes of chlorine, and , are correct?

I.

They have the same chemical properties.

II.

They have the same atomic number.

III.

They have the same physical properties.

A.

I and II only

B.

I and III only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II and III

(Total 1 mark)

In the emission spectrum of hydrogen, which electronic transition would produce a line in the
visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum?
A.

n = 2 n = 1

B.

n=3n=2

C.

n=2n=3

D.

n=n=1

(Total 1 mark)

10.

Rubidium contains two stable isotopes, 85Rb and 87Rb. The relative atomic mass of rubidium is
given in Table 5 of the Data Booklet.
(a)

Calculate the percentage of each isotope in pure rubidium. State your answers to three
significant figures.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(b)

(2)

The percentage of each isotope can be checked experimentally using a mass spectrometer.
A vaporized sample of pure rubidium is ionized and then accelerated in a mass spectrometer.
Outline how the use of a magnetic field and a detector in the mass spectrometer enables the
percentages of the two isotopes to be determined.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(c)

(3)

State the number of electrons and the number of neutrons present in an atom of 87Rb.
Number of electrons:
......................................................................................................................................
Number of neutrons:
......................................................................................................................................

(2)
(Total 7 marks)

11.

Consider the relative abundance of the isotopes of element X.

Isotope

Relative
abundance
(%)

24X

80

25X

10

26X

10

What is the relative atomic mass of X?

12.

A.

24

B.

25

C.

Between 24 and 25

D.

Between 25 and 26

(Total 1 mark)

Values for the successive ionization energies for an unknown element are given in the table below.

First
ionization
energy / kJ
mol1

Second
ionization
energy / kJ
mol1

Third
ionization
energy / kJ
mol1

Fourth
ionization
energy / kJ
mol1

420
3600
4400
5900
In which group of the periodic table would the unknown element be found?

13.

A.

B.

C.

D.

(Total 1 mark)

The electron configuration of chromium can be expressed as [Ar]4sx3dy.

(i)

Explain what the square brackets around argon, [Ar], represent.

......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(1)

(ii)

State the values of x and y.

x: ..................................................................................................................................
y: ..................................................................................................................................

(iii)

(1)

Annotate the diagram below showing the 4s and 3d orbitals for a chromium atom using an
arrow, and , to represent a spinning electron.

4s

3d
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

14.

Which of the following is an isotope of

A.
B.
C.
D.

15.

16.

(Total 1 mark)

Which describes the visible emission spectrum of hydrogen?

A.

A series of lines converging at longer wavelength

B.

A series of regularly spaced lines

C.

A series of lines converging at lower energy

D.

A series of lines converging at higher frequency

(a)

Define the term relative atomic mass (Ar).

(Total 1 mark)

(1)

(b)

Relative atomic masses are obtained using a mass spectrometer. Draw a simple annotated
diagram of the mass spectrometer.

(5)
(Total 6 marks)

17.

The relative atomic mass of naturally occurring copper is 63.55. Calculate the abundances of 63Cu
and 65Cu in naturally occurring copper.

(Total 2 marks)

18.

The graph represents the energy needed to remove nine electrons, one at a time, from an atom of an
element. Not all of the electrons have been removed.

Which element could this be?

19.

A.

B.

Si

C.

D.

(Total 1 mark)

An ion has the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10. Which ion could it be?
A.

Ni2+

B.

Cu+

C.

Cu2+

D.

Co3+

(Total 1 mark)

20.

21.

22.

23.

A sample of element X contains 69 % of 63X and 31 % of 65X. What is the relative atomic mass of
X in this sample?
A.

63.0

B.

63.6

C.

65.0

D.

69.0

(Total 1 mark)

How many electrons does the ion contain?

A.

12

B.

15

C.

16

D.

18

(Total 1 mark)

What is the electron arrangement of the Mg2+ ion?

A.

2,2

B.

2,8

C.

2,8,2

D.

2,8,8

(Total 1 mark)

Draw and label an energy level diagram for the hydrogen atom. In your diagram show how the
series of lines in the ultraviolet and visible regions of its emission spectrum are produced, clearly
labelling each series.

(Total 4 marks)

24.

The graph below represents the successive ionization energies of sodium. The vertical axis plots
log (ionization energy) instead of ionization energy to allow the data to be represented without
using an unreasonably long vertical axis.

State the full electron configuration of sodium and explain how the successive ionization energy
data for sodium are related to its electron configuration.

(Total 4 marks)

25.

26.

Which statement about the species 63Cu2+ and 65Cu+ is correct?

A.

Both species have the same number of protons.

B.

Both species have the same number of electrons.

C.

Both species have the same number of neutrons.

D.

Both species have the same electron arrangement.

Which statement about the isotopes of an element is correct?

A.

They have the same mass number.

B.

They have a different atomic number.

(Total 1 mark)

27.

C.

They have the same chemical properties.

D.

They are located in different places in the periodic table.

(Total 1 mark)

Iron has three main naturally occurring isotopes which can be investigated using a mass
spectrometer.
The first stage in the operation of the mass spectrometer is vaporization. The iron is then ionized.
(i)

Explain why the iron is ionized.

......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(ii)

(2)

Explain why a very low pressure is maintained inside the mass spectrometer.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

28.

A sample of iron has the following isotopic composition by mass.

Isotope

54Fe

56Fe

57Fe

Relative
5.95
91.88
2.17
abundance /
%
Calculate the relative atomic mass of iron based on this data, giving your answer to two decimal
places.
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................

(Total 2 marks)

29.

Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earths crust. The successive ionization
energies of the element are shown below.

(i)

30.

Define the term first ionization energy and state the equation for the first ionization of
magnesium.

(ii)

Explain the general increase in successive ionization energies of the element.

(iii)

Explain the large increase between the tenth and eleventh ionization energies.

(3)

(2)

(3)
(Total 8 marks)

How many protons, neutrons and electrons are present in each atom of 31P?
Protons

Neutrons

Electrons

A.

16

15

16

B.

15

16

15

C.

15

31

15

D.

16

31

16
(Total 1 mark)

31.

Which is correct for the following regions of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Ultraviolet
(UV)

Infrared (IR)

A.

high energy

short
wavelength

low energy

low frequency

B.

high energy

low frequency

low energy

long
wavelength

C.

high frequency

short
wavelength

high energy

long
wavelength

D.

high frequency

long
wavelength

low frequency

low energy
(Total 1 mark)

32.

(i)

Describe and explain the operation of a mass spectrometer.

(ii)

State three factors that affect the degree of deflection of ions in a mass spectrometer.

(iii)

Strontium exists as four naturally-occurring isotopes. Calculate the relative atomic mass of
strontium to two decimal places from the following data.

(5)

(3)

Isotope

Percentage
abundance

Sr-84

0.56

Sr-86

9.90

Sr-87

7.00

Sr-88

82.54
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

33.

Which species possesses only two unpaired electrons?

34.

A.

Zn

B.

Mg

C.

Ti2+

D.

Fe2+

(Total 1 mark)

The graph of the first ionization energy plotted against atomic number for the first twenty elements
shows periodicity.

(i)

Define the term first ionization energy and state what is meant by the term periodicity.

(ii)

Explain how information from this graph provides evidence for the existence of main energy
levels and sub-levels within atoms.

(iii)

State what is meant by the term second ionization energy.

(iv)

Sketch and explain the shape of the graph obtained for the successive ionization energies of
potassium using a logarithmic scale for ionization energy on the y-axis against number of
electrons removed on the x-axis.

(2)

(4)

(1)

(4)
(Total 11 marks)

35.

What is the atomic number of a neutral atom which has 51 neutrons and 40 electrons?

36.

37.

38.

A.

40

B.

51

C.

91

D.

131

(Total 1 mark)

What is the relative atomic mass of an element with the following mass spectrum?

A.

24

B.

25

C.

26

D.

27

(Total 1 mark)

Which is the correct definition of the mass number of an atom?

A.

The total mass of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of the atom

B.

The total mass of neutrons, protons and electrons in the atom

C.

The number of protons in the nucleus of the atom

D.

The total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of the atom

(Total 1 mark)

The table below shows the number of protons, neutrons and electrons present in five species.
Species

Number of
protons

Number of
neutrons

Number of
electrons

Q
8
10
8
Which two species are isotopes of the same element?

39.

40.

41.

A.

X and W

B.

Y and Z

C.

Z and W

D.

W and Q

(Total 1 mark)

What is the order of increasing energy of the orbitals within a single energy level?
A.

d<s<f<p

B.

s<p<d<f

C.

p<s<f<d

D.

f<d<p<s

(Total 1 mark)

What is the electron configuration of the Cr2+ ion?

A.

[Ar] 3d5 4s1

B.

[Ar] 3d3 4s1

C.

[Ar] 3d6 4s1

D.

[Ar] 3d4 4s0

Which species have the same number of electrons?

I.

S2

(Total 1 mark)

42.

43.

44.

II.

Cl

III.

Ne

A.

I and II only

B.

I and III only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II and III

(Total 1 mark)

Which gives the correct order of these processes in a mass spectrometer?

A.

ionization

deflection

acceleration

B.

ionization

acceleration

deflection

C.

acceleration

ionization

deflection

D.

deflection

acceleration

ionization

(Total 1 mark)

Between which ionization energies of boron will there be the greatest difference?
A.

Between 1st and 2nd ionization energies

B.

Between 2nd and 3rd ionization energies

C.

Between 3rd and 4th ionization energies

D.

Between 4th and 5th ionization energies

(Total 1 mark)

Describe the emission spectrum of hydrogen. Outline how this spectrum is related to the energy
levels in the hydrogen atom.
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................

(Total 3 marks)

45.

Which species has 54 electrons and 52 protons?

A.
B.
C.
D.

46.

47.

(Total 1 mark)

What is the correct sequence for the processes occurring in a mass spectrometer?
A.

vaporization, ionization, acceleration, deflection

B.

vaporization, acceleration, ionization, deflection

C.

ionization, vaporization, acceleration, deflection

D.

ionization, vaporization, deflection, acceleration

(a)

List the following types of electromagnetic radiation in order of increasing wavelength

(shortest first).
I.

Yellow light

II.

Red light

III.

Infrared radiation

IV.

Ultraviolet radiation

(Total 1 mark)

.....................................................................................................................................

(b)

(1)

Distinguish between a continuous spectrum and a line spectrum.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

(c)

(1)

The thinning of the ozone layer increases the amount of UV-B radiation that reaches the
Earths surface.
Type of
Radiation

Wavelength /
nm

UV-A

320380

UV-B
290320
Based on the information in the table above explain why UV-B rays are more dangerous
than UV-A.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

(3)
(Total 5 marks)

48.

What is the electron configuration for the copper(I) ion, (Z = 29)?

A.

[Ar]4s23d9

B.

[Ar]4s13d10

C.

[Ar]4s13d9

D.

[Ar]3d10

(Total 1 mark)