A Level Edexcel Chemistry 57 mins 6 questions
Structured Questions
1.2 Ions & Electrons
1.2.1 Ionisation Energy / 1.2.2 Quantum Shells / 1.2.3 Orbitals / 1.2.4 Electronic
Configurations
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Easy (3 questions) /11
Medium (3 questions) /46
Total Marks /57
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Easy Questions
1 (a) This question is about the electronic structure of some Group 5 elements.
Which is the electronic configuration of the arsenide ion, As3–?
☐ A 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s2
☐ B 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p3
☐ C 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p6
☐ D 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p34d3
(1 mark)
(b) The electronic configuration of a phosphorus atom can be written
1s22s22p63s23p3
An alternative way to express the electronic configuration is
i) State what is meant by the two arrows in the first box.
(1)
ii) State why the arrows are all pointing in the same direction in the 3p boxes.
(1)
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(2 marks)
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2 (a) This question is about ionisation energies.
i) Which equation represents the second ionisation of bromine?
(1)
☐ A Br(g) + e– → Br–(g)
☐ B Br-(g) + e– → Br2–(g)
☐ C Br(g) - 2e– → Br2+(g)
☐ D Br+(g) - e– → Br2+(g)
ii) Which set of successive ionisation energies is most likely to be associated with the
element boron?
(1)
☐ A 738, 1451, 7733, 10541, 13629
☐ B 801, 2427, 3660, 25026, 32828
☐ C 1086, 2353, 4621, 6223, 37832
☐ D 1402, 2856, 4578, 7475, 9445
(2 marks)
(b) i) Complete the graph to show how the first ionisation energies of the Period 3
elements change across the period. Precise figures are not required.
(3)
First ionisation energies of the Period 3 elements
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ii) The successive ionisation energies of sodium are shown on the graph.
State what deductions can be made from this graph.
(2)
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(5 marks)
3 What is the electronic configuration of the sulfide ion, S2−?
☐ A 1s22s22p63s23p2
☐ B 1s22s22p63p4
☐ C 1s22s22p63s23p4
☐ D 1s22s22p63s23p6
(1 mark)
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Medium Questions
1 (a) This question is about hydrogen, the element with atomic number Z = 1.
i) Hydrogen has two stable isotopes. Complete the table to show the number of
subatomic particles present in the nuclei of these two isotopes of hydrogen.
Isotope Number of protons Number of neutrons
1
1H
(1)
ii) Use the data in the table to explain the term isotopes.
(2)
(3 marks)
(b) The relative atomic mass of hydrogen in the Periodic Table is 1.0.
This is correct to two significant figures.
The table gives data for the relative isotopic mass and natural abundance of the two
stable isotopes of hydrogen.
Isotope Relative isotopic mass Percentage abundance
1
1
H 1.007825 99.9885
2
1
H 2.014101 0.0115
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i) Using the data in the table, give a reason why it can be estimated that the relative
atomic mass of hydrogen is greater than 1.0.
(1)
ii) Calculate the relative atomic mass of hydrogen from these data, giving your
answer to four decimal places.
(2)
(3 marks)
(c) i) Write an equation to represent the first ionisation energy of hydrogen.
Include state symbols.
(2)
ii) The sequence of the first three elements in the Periodic Table is hydrogen, helium
and then lithium.
Explain why the first ionisation energy of hydrogen is less than that of helium, but
greater than that of lithium.
(4)
(6 marks)
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(d) Hydrogen can be placed in several different positions in periodic tables. One is
immediately above lithium in Group 1. Another is in the centre of the first row, as shown
in the Periodic Table on the back cover.
Criticise the position of hydrogen immediately above lithium by giving one reason in
favour and two against.
(3 marks)
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2 (a) Sulfur is a bright yellow crystalline solid at room temperature.
Sulfur forms rings of 8 sulfur atoms so the formula of the yellow solid is S8.
A section of a periodic table showing values of first ionisation energy in kJ mol–1 is shown.
i) Which equation represents the first ionisation energy of sulfur?
(1)
☐ A S(s) → S+(g) + e–
S8(s) → S + –
☐ B 8 (g) + e
☐ C S(g) → S+(g) + e–
–
☐ D S8(g) → S +
8 (g) + e
ii) Explain the trend in the values of the first ionisation energies for the group
containing sulfur.
(3)
iii) Explain why the first ionisation energy of sulfur is lower than that of chlorine.
(2)
iv) Explain why the first ionisation energy of sulfur is lower than that of phosphorus.
(2)
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(8 marks)
(b) Compound X is an oxide of sulfur. A gaseous sample of 0.318 g of X occupied a volume
of 132 cm3 at a temperature of 420 K and pressure of 105 kPa.
The number of moles of a gas and the volume occupied by it can be found using the
ideal gas equation
pV = nRT
Calculate the relative molecular mass of X and hence its molecular formula.
You must show all your working.
[R = 8.31 J mol–1 K–1]
(5 marks)
(c) Sulfur and the other elements in Group 6 form dihydrogen compounds.
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Melting
Atomic number of
Compound temperature
Group 6 element
/K
H2O 8 273
H2S 16 To be estimated
H2Se 34 207
H2Te 52 224
H2Po 84 238
i) Plot a graph of atomic number of the Group 6 element on the x-axis against
melting temperature of the dihydrogen compound on the y-axis.
(2)
ii) Give an estimate of the melting temperature of H2S.
(1)
(3 marks)
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3 (a) Ionisation energies provide information about the number of electrons and the
arrangement of the electrons in an atom of an element.
A student’s definition of first ionisation energy is shown.
First ionisation energy is the energy released when one mole of gaseous atoms loses one mole of
electrons to form one mole of gaseous 1+ ions.
There is one incorrect word in the student’s definition.
Identify the word, giving the reason why this word is incorrect.
(2 marks)
(b) Write an equation for the second ionisation energy of oxygen.
Include state symbols.
(2 marks)
(c) A sodium atom has 11 protons whereas a potassium atom has 19 protons.
Explain why the first ionisation energy of sodium is greater than that of potassium.
(3 marks)
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(d) The successive ionisation energies for magnesium are given in the table.
i) Complete the table.
(1)
ii) Give a reason why the logarithm of the ionisation energy, rather than just the
ionisation energy, is used to plot a graph.
(1)
iii) Give a reason why the successive ionisation energies increase.
(1)
iv) Plot the graph of log(ionisation energy) against electron number removed.
Join the individual points using straight lines.
(3)
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v) Identify on the graph, using a circle, the points that represent the removal of the
electrons in the outermost energy level of magnesium.
(1)
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(7 marks)
(e) Estimate a value for the first ionisation energy of oxygen given the data in the table.
First ionisation energy /
Element
kJmol–1
carbon 1086
nitrogen 1402
oxygen
(1 mark)
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