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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 1

SUBATOMIC PARTICLES
a) (i)

Define the terms atom and element, distinguishing carefully between these two terms.
Atom ...................................................................................................................................................... [1]
...................................................................................................................................................................
Element ......................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Define the term isotopes.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) Define the terms mass number and atomic number. Use these terms to explain the difference between
the terms element and isotope.
Mass number ......................................................................................................................................... [1]
Atomic number ...................................................................................................................................... [1]
Difference between an element and an isotope .........................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) Name the main particles found in the atomic nuclei of all elements, with the exception of an isotope of one
particular element. Give the main characteristics of these particles and name the exceptional isotope.
Names and characteristics ................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
Exception ....................................................................................................................................................... [1]
c) Using your Periodic Table, complete the following table:
Number of neutrons

Number of electrons

Radon-222
208

Pb2+

127 -

[3]

TOTAL / 16

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 2

RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS

a) (i)

Define the term relative abundance as it refers to isotopes of elements in the Earths crust.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Define the term relative atomic mass.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Bromine occurs as two stable isotopes in the Earths crust, bromine-79 and bromine-81. The relative
abundances of these are 50.5% and 49.5% respectively. Use these data to calculate the relative atomic
mass of bromine to one decimal place.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) (i)

In quantitative chemistry, the amount of a substance is quoted as a number of moles. Define the term
mole.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Define the term molar mass and the write down a mathematical expression which relates this term to
the number of moles and mass.
Molar mass ............................................................................................................................................ [1]
Relationship ..............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) How many particles are there in 15 grams of carbon-12 ?
(Take Avogadros number, L, to be 6.023 x 1023)
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 12

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 3

THE MASS SPECTROMETER

a) Label the components of the mass spectrometer, A - F.

C
C

123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
F
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
E 123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
F
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234
123456789012345678901234567
12345678901234

[6]
b) (i)

What are the main functions of a vacuum pump in a mass spectrometer?

...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Explain the meaning of the term mass spectrum.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Explain why a chemical species must be positively charged to be detected by a mass spectrometer.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 13

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 4

PRINCIPLES OF MASS SPECTROMETRY

Explain the terms ionisation, fragmentation, acceleration, deflection and detection as used in mass spectrometry.
Ionisation ................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................ [4]

Fragmentation ........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................ [4]

Acceleration ............................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................ [3]

Deflection ........................................................................................................................................................... [1]

Detection .................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................ [3]

TOTAL / 15

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 5

RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS FROM MASS SPECTROMETRY

a) The mass spectrum of a sample of gallium contains only two peaks at mass/charge ratios 69 and 71.
The heights of these peaks in a mass spectrum of gallium are 145 mm and 95 mm.
(i) Calculate the relative abundance of each isotope of gallium to one decimal place.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Calculate the relative atomic mass of gallium to two decimal places.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Why is it a good approximation to assume that the relative mass of the Ga+ cations, calculated from mass
spectrometry, is the same as the relative atomic mass of Ga?
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) The diagram below is the mass spectrum for molecular bromine.

Relative Abundance / %

100

50

0
70

80

90

150

160

170

Mass / Charge Ratio

(i)

Identify the chemical species responsible for each peak in the spectrum.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
(ii) Bromine occurs in the Earths crust as two stable isotopes with approximately 50% relative abundance.
Why are the peaks corresponding to mass/charge ratios of 79 and 81 of similar height?
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Explain why the heights of the triplet of peaks at mass/charge ratio 158, 160 and 162 are in the ratio
1 : 2: 1.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 14

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 6

FIRST IONISATION ENERGY

a) Define the term first ionisation energy and write an equation to represent the first ionisation energy of chlorine.
Definition ..........................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
Equation ........................................................................................................................................................ [2]
b) Give the name of the enthalpy change occurring in the following process:Mn3+(g) Mn4+(g) + e....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
c) State whether the process in b) is exothermic or endothermic and explain your choice.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
d) State and explain the trend in first ionisation energies down a group of the Periodic Table.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

TOTAL / 14

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 7

CHANGES IN FIRST IONISATION ENERGIES ACROSS THE PERIODIC TABLE

a) State and explain the general trend in first ionisation energies across a period of s-block and p-block elements.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
b) Statement 1Between Groups 2 and 3 and between Groups 5 and 6 this overall trend is contravened.
(i) Using electron-in-box notation, draw the electron configurations of beryllium and boron and, also, the
configurations of the chemical species which are formed when the first ionisation occurs.

[2]
(ii) Using electron-in-box notation, draw the electron configurations of nitrogen and oxygen and, also,
the configurations of the chemical species formed when the first ionisation occurs.

[2]
(iii) Using the diagrams you have given, explain Statement 1.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [6]
TOTAL / 13

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 8

SUCCESSIVE IONISATION ENERGIES

Consider the first eight successive ionisation energies for three elements.
Successive ionisation energies / kJ mol-1
7th
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th

Element
1st

8th

736

1450

7740

10500

13600

18000

21700

25600

577

1820

2740

11600

14800

18400

23400

27500

590

1150

4940

6480

8120

10700

12300

14600

a) Suggest to which group in the Periodic Table each element belongs. Give the reasons for your choice.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [5]
b) Place the atoms in order of increasing atomic number.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
c) X is from the third period. Suggest its identity and use the data to sketch the shape of a graph of logarithm
(successive ionisation energy) versus number of electrons removed.
Identity of X ................................................................................................................................................... [1]

lg I

No. of electrons removed

d) On your graph indicate from which sub-shell each electron is removed.

[3]
[2]

e) Explain what could be deduced about the electronic energy levels in a sodium atom from inspection of the 11
successive ionisation energies of this element.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
TOTAL / 16

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 9

ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATIONS OF ATOMS

a) Information is summarised for the s-block element, sodium, in the following table. Complete the table for the
other species.
Element/Ion

Electronic configuration

Block

Sodium

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1

Copper
Silicon
Sulphide, S2[6]
b) With the aid of labelled diagrams, describe the three dimensional shape of the following atomic orbitals:
(i) an s atomic orbital
Description ........................................................................................................................................................
Diagram

[2]
(ii) a py atomic orbital
Description ........................................................................................................................................................
Diagram

[2]
c) Place the following orbitals in ascending order of energy, starting with a 1s orbital.
1s, 3p, 5d, 4s, 4f, 6p, 4p, 5s, 2p, 3d.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
d) Explain why the first row of d-block elements is placed in the fourth row of the Periodic Table, when,
generally, their electronic configurations change by the addition of electrons to the third shell.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 15

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 10

ELECTRON AFFINITY
a) (i)

Explain the meaning of the term first electron affinity with reference to oxygen.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Write an equation for the process by which second electron affinity of oxygen is defined.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) State whether the first and second electron affinities of oxygen are exothermic or endothermic or neither.
Explain your statement.
First electron affinity ................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................... [2]
Second electron affinity .............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) (i)

Suggest how and why the values of the electron affinities down Group 7 in the Periodic Table vary from
chlorine to iodine.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Predict, giving your reasons, whether the first electron affinity of sulphur is greater or smaller than the
first electron affinity of chlorine.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(iii) The electron affinity of fluorine is said to be anomalous when compared with the rest of the Group 7
elements. What does this statement mean and why is it so?
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 16

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 11

ATOMIC RADII
a) Explain what is meant by the terms atomic shielding, nuclear charge and effective nuclear charge.
Atomic shielding ................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

Nuclear charge ..................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

Effective nuclear charge ....................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) Use these terms to explain the following trends.
(i) Variation of atomic radii across a period of s- and p-block elements in the Periodic Table.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(ii) Variation of atomic radii down a group of elements in the Periodic Table.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(iii) Variation of atomic radii across a row of d-block elements in the Periodic Table.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 16

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 12

COMPARISONS OF ATOMIC AND IONIC RADII

For each of the following pairs of chemical species, state which has the larger radius. Explain your choice.
a) Na and Cl ...........................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

b) Na+ and Rb+ ......................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

c) Cu+ and Cu2+ ......................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
-

d) Cl and Cl ...........................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

e) H+ and H- ..........................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
2-

f) O- and O ..........................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 18

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 13

IONISING RADIATIONS
a) (i)

Complete the following table

Radiation

Nature of radiation

Alpha

Relative penetrative power

Thin sheet of paper

Emission of electrons

Gamma
[5]
(ii) Using a labelled sketch, describe how each of these forms of radiation is affected by an electrical field
created between two electrodes.

[5]
b) (i)

Suggest why the occurrence of lung cancer can be higher than the national average in some communities
living in stone houses, and name the element concerned.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) The particular isotopes concerned are alpha emitters, which have very limited penetrating power. Explain
why they cause lung cancer, especially.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 14

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 14

RADIOACTIVITY
a) (i)

What is meant by the term radio-isotope?

....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Define the term half-life of a radionuclide.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Write a balanced equation for the decay of thorium-228 by emission of alpha radiation.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iv) Write a balanced equation for the decay of radium-228 by emission of beta radiation.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(v) Thorium-232 can decay to thorium-228 in three steps. Suggest a possible route, giving a balanced
nuclear equation for each step.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
b) (i)

Radon-222 is radioactive but almost chemically inactive. Explain this statement.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Radon-222 undergoes alpha emission with a half-life of 3 days and 20 hours. What percentage of a
sample of radon-222 will remain after 19 days and 4 hours ?
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) The half-life of radon-220 is 52 seconds. Approximately, how long will it take to decay to 6.25% of its
original mass ?
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 16

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 15

APPLICATIONS OF RADIO-ISOTOPES
a) Carbon from a sample of an ancient relic from an archaeological investigation gave a reading on a radiation
counter of 7.5 counts per minute. Fresh wood gave a reading of 15 counts per minute. How long ago would
you deduce the sample was made ? Give any assumptions you would make.
Age of sample ....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
Assumptions .......................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) Name a radio-isotope which is used in medicine and briefly outline its application.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
c) (i)

Explain, using a sketch, how a radioactive source can be used to control the thickness of the sheet steel
from a rolling mill.
Sketch

Explanation ...............................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................... [4]
(ii) What properties of a radio-isotope would you consider in selecting the best radio-isotope for this function?
Explain your choice.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [5]

TOTAL / 16

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 16

TEST QUESTION I
a) (i)

State and explain what would happen if a beam of protons, neutrons and electrons were to be passed
between two metal plates, one positively charged and the other negatively charged.
Protons
Effect ..................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Explanation ........................................................................................................................................... [1]
Neutrons
Effect ..................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Explanation ........................................................................................................................................... [1]
Electrons
Effect ..................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Explanation ........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) One of the particles mentioned in a) (i) would be deflected considerably more than the others. Which
one, and why?
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
b) Naturally occurring sulphur contains 95.0% sulphur-32, 0.76% sulphur-33 and 4.2% sulphur-34.
(i)

Complete the following table.

Number of protons
Sulphur-32

Number of neutrons

Number of electrons

16

Sulphur-33
Sulphur-34
[3]
(ii) Write down the symbols of these three isotopes, taking care that the atomic number and mass number of
each are shown in their correct positions.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(iii) Which of these three isotopes of sulphur would you expect to have the:
highest first ionisation energy? ............................................................................................................. [1]
highest melting point? ........................................................................................................................... [1]
greatest chemical reactivity? ................................................................................................................ [1]
(iv) Use the data in b) (i) to calculate the relative atomic mass of sulphur.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 19

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TOPIC 1 Questionsheet 17
TEST QUESTION II

a) Element X has an atomic number of 9. Figure 1 shows its mass spectrum and Figure 2 is a graph of its
successive lg ionisation energies.
Figure 1

Figure 2

Relative abundance

lg I

19

38

Mass/charge ratio

(i)

No. of electrons removed

Write down the electronic configuration of the element X.

....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) To which group of the Periodic Table does X belong?
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) What is the relative atomic mass of X?
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) In what way is the isotopic composition of X unusual?
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(v) Write down the formulae of the species which account for the two peaks shown in Figure 1.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(vi) How do you account for the shape of the graph shown in Figure 2?
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL(Continued...)
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TOPIC TOPIC
1 Questionsheet
1 Questionsheet
17 Continued
18
TEST QUESTION II

b) Element Y has the electronic configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p1.
(i)

To which group of the Periodic Table does Y belong?

....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Y has a relative atomic mass of 69.7, and consists of a mixture of two isotopes of mass numbers 69 and
71 respectively. On the axes of Figure 3, sketch the mass spectrum you would expect for element Y.

Relative abundance

Figure 3

[2]
Mass/charge ratio
(iii) On the axes of Figure 4, sketch the graph you would expect for successive lg ionisation energies of
element Y.

Figure 4
Lg I

10
20
No. of electrons removed

30
[3]

c) Write down the likely formula of a compound which could be formed between X and Y.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 16