Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

16 original exam-style questions - 7 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

Download PDF Jump to mark scheme (page 8)Read the revision guide

Next in this strand

Revision Library

revisionlibrary.co.uk

GCSE · Chemistry

C1 Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

AQA 8462 · Calculator allowed · about 67 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question is about atoms, elements and compounds.

(a)Which of these is the approximate radius of an atom?(1)

A) 1 x 10^-10 m
B) 1 x 10^-3 m
C) 1 x 10^-2 m
D) 1 x 10^-6 m

(b)An element contains only one type of atom. What is a compound?(1)

(c)Give one difference between a compound and a mixture.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 3 marks)

Mixtures can be separated using physical methods.

(a)Name the method used to obtain pure water from a solution of salt in water.(1)

(b)Name the method used to separate an insoluble solid from a liquid.(1)

(c)A student separates a mixture of coloured dyes using paper chromatography. Name the stationary phase and the mobile phase in this method.(2)

(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)

Atoms are made of protons, neutrons and electrons.

(a)Give the relative charge of a proton and the relative charge of an electron.(2)

(b)The relative mass of a proton is 1. State the relative mass of an electron.(1)

(c)Where in the atom is almost all of the mass concentrated?(1)

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

An atom of aluminium can be written as mass number 27, atomic number 13, symbol Al.

(a)State the number of protons in this atom.(1)

(b)Calculate the number of neutrons in this atom.(1)

(c)State the number of electrons in this atom, and explain why it is equal to the number of protons.(2)

(Total for Question 4 is 4 marks)

Chlorine has two main isotopes, chlorine-35 and chlorine-37. The atomic number of chlorine is 17.

(a)What are isotopes?(2)

(b)Calculate the number of neutrons in an atom of chlorine-35 and in an atom of chlorine-37.(2)

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

A sample of chlorine gas contains 75% chlorine-35 atoms and 25% chlorine-37 atoms.

(a)Calculate the relative atomic mass of chlorine in this sample. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.(2)

(Total for Question 6 is 2 marks)

Magnesium has three isotopes. The table shows the percentage abundance of each isotope in a sample.
Isotope: Mg-24, abundance 79%. Isotope: Mg-25, abundance 10%. Isotope: Mg-26, abundance 11%.

(a)Use the data in the table to calculate the relative atomic mass of magnesium. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.(3)

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Electrons are arranged in energy levels (shells) around the nucleus.

(a)An atom of chlorine has 17 electrons. Write the electronic structure of this atom.(1)

(b)An atom has the electronic structure 2,8,8,2. State its atomic number.(1)

(c)State what the number of electrons in the outer shell of an atom tells you about the atom's position in the periodic table.(1)

(Total for Question 8 is 3 marks)

The model of the atom has changed over time as new evidence was found.

(a)Before the electron was discovered, John Dalton described atoms in a particular way. Describe Dalton's model of the atom.(1)

(b)The discovery of one type of particle led to the 'plum pudding' model. Name this particle and name the scientist whose work led to the plum pudding model.(2)

(c)In the α particle scattering experiment, most α particles passed straight through the gold foil but a small number were deflected through large angles. Explain how these two observations led scientists to the nuclear model of the atom.(3)

(Total for Question 9 is 6 marks)

This question is about the periodic table.

(a)In the modern periodic table, in order of what quantity are the elements arranged?(1)

(b)Mendeleev left gaps in his early periodic table. Give one reason why leaving gaps was useful.(1)

(c)Explain why elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar chemical properties.(1)

(Total for Question 10 is 3 marks)

The Group 1 elements are known as the alkali metals.

(a)State the trend in reactivity of the Group 1 metals going down the group.(1)

(b)Explain, in terms of electrons, why reactivity increases going down Group 1.(3)

(c)Write a word equation for the reaction of sodium with water.(2)

(Total for Question 11 is 6 marks)

The Group 7 elements are known as the halogens.

(a)State the trend in reactivity of the halogens going down Group 7.(1)

(b)Chlorine solution is added to colourless potassium bromide solution. Describe what you would see, and explain why a reaction takes place.(2)

(c)Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction between chlorine and potassium bromide.(2)

(Total for Question 12 is 5 marks)

The Group 0 elements are the noble gases.

(a)Explain, in terms of electronic structure, why the noble gases are very unreactive.(2)

(b)State the trend in boiling point of the noble gases going down Group 0.(1)

(Total for Question 13 is 3 marks)

Transition metals are found in the central block of the periodic table.

(a)Compared with the Group 1 metals, give two ways in which the typical properties of the transition metals are different.(2)

(Total for Question 14 is 2 marks)

A student has a mixture of sand (insoluble) and salt (sodium chloride, soluble in water).

Describe a method the student could use to obtain a pure, dry sample of the sand and a pure, dry sample of the salt from the mixture. You should name the apparatus and separation techniques used.

(Total for Question 15 is 6 marks)

An element X has only two isotopes, of mass number 63 and mass number 65. The relative atomic mass of element X is 63.5.

(a)Calculate the percentage abundance of each isotope of element X.(3)

(Total for Question 16 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · C1 Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Question 1

(a) B1 A (1 x 10^-10 m, i.e. 0.1 nm)
(b) B1 two or more elements chemically combined (in fixed proportions)
(b) Answer: Two or more elements chemically combined
(c) B1 in a compound the elements are chemically combined / can only be separated by chemical reactions; in a mixture the substances are not chemically combined / can be separated by physical means (oe)
(c) Answer: A compound is chemically combined; a mixture is not (and can be separated physically)

Question 2

(a) B1 (simple) distillation
(a) Answer: Distillation
(b) B1 filtration
(b) Answer: Filtration
(c) B1 stationary phase = the (chromatography) paper
(c) B1 mobile phase = the solvent (e.g. water)
(c) Answer: Stationary phase: the paper; mobile phase: the solvent

Question 3

(a) B1 proton = +1
(a) B1 electron = -1
(a) Answer: Proton +1; electron -1
(b) B1 very small / negligible / 1/1836 (allow: almost 0)
(b) Answer: Very small (negligible, about 1/1836)
(c) B1 (in) the nucleus
(c) Answer: The nucleus

Question 4

(a) B1 13
(a) Answer: 13
(b) B1 14 (from 27 - 13)
(b) Answer: 14
(c) B1 13
(c) B1 atoms have no overall charge, so the number of negative electrons must equal the number of positive protons
(c) Answer: 13; the atom is neutral so electrons (-) balance protons (+)

Question 5

(a) B1 atoms of the same element with the same number of protons
(a) B1 but different numbers of neutrons (different mass numbers)
(a) Answer: Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons
(b) B1 chlorine-35: 18 (from 35 - 17)
(b) B1 chlorine-37: 20 (from 37 - 17)
(b) Answer: Chlorine-35: 18 neutrons; chlorine-37: 20 neutrons

Question 6

(a) M1 (75 x 35 + 25 x 37) / 100 (oe)
(a) A1 35.5 cao
(a) Answer: 35.5

Question 7

(a) M1 79 x 24 + 10 x 25 + 11 x 26 (= 2432)
(a) M1 their total / 100
(a) A1 24.3 (awrt) cao
(a) Answer: 24.3

Question 8

(a) B1 2,8,7
(a) Answer: 2,8,7
(b) B1 20
(b) Answer: 20
(c) B1 it equals the group number (of the element)
(c) Answer: It equals the group number

Question 9

(a) B1 atoms are tiny solid spheres that cannot be divided (allow: each element is a different type of sphere)
(a) Answer: Atoms are tiny, solid spheres that cannot be divided
(b) B1 particle = electron
(b) B1 scientist = (J J) Thomson
(b) Answer: Electron; J J Thomson
(c) B1 most passing straight through shows the atom is mostly empty space
(c) B1 the few deflected/repelled show there is a small region of positive charge (the nucleus)
(c) B1 which contains most of the mass; this replaced the plum pudding model with the nuclear model
(c) Answer: Mostly empty space (most pass through); a small, dense, positive nucleus (few deflected) holding most of the mass

Question 10

(a) B1 atomic (proton) number
(a) Answer: Atomic (proton) number
(b) B1 kept elements with similar properties in the same group OR allowed him to predict the properties of undiscovered elements
(b) Answer: It kept similar elements grouped together and let him predict undiscovered elements
(c) B1 they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell
(c) Answer: They have the same number of outer-shell electrons

Question 11

(a) B1 reactivity increases (going down the group)
(a) Answer: Reactivity increases down the group
(b) B1 going down the group, the outer electron is in a shell further from the nucleus (more shells / more shielding)
(b) B1 so the attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron is weaker
(b) B1 so the outer electron is lost more easily, making the atom more reactive
(b) Answer: Outer electron further from nucleus and more shielded, so weaker attraction, so lost more easily
(c) B1 correct reactants and products identified: sodium + water -> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
(c) B1 fully correct word equation (both products named correctly)
(c) Answer: sodium + water -> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen

Question 12

(a) B1 reactivity decreases (going down the group)
(a) Answer: Reactivity decreases down the group
(b) B1 the solution turns orange / brown (bromine is formed)
(b) B1 chlorine is more reactive than bromine, so it displaces the bromine from the compound
(b) Answer: Solution turns orange/brown; chlorine (more reactive) displaces bromine
(c) M1 correct formulae: Cl2, KBr, KCl, Br2
(c) A1 correctly balanced: Cl2 + 2KBr -> 2KCl + Br2
(c) Answer: Cl2 + 2KBr -> 2KCl + Br2

Question 13

(a) B1 they have a full (complete) outer shell of electrons
(a) B1 so they have a stable arrangement and do not easily gain or lose electrons
(a) Answer: Full outer shell (stable arrangement), so they do not readily gain or lose electrons
(b) B1 boiling point increases (going down the group)
(b) Answer: Boiling point increases down the group

Question 14

(a) B1 any one of: higher melting points / more dense / harder / stronger / less reactive
(a) B1 a second, different, correct property, e.g. form coloured compounds / useful as catalysts / form ions with different charges
(a) Answer: Any two of: higher melting points/density, harder/stronger, less reactive, form coloured compounds, catalytic, variable ion charges

Question 15

Level 3 (5-6): A logically ordered method that would obtain BOTH pure dry sand and pure dry salt. Techniques are correctly named and steps are in a sensible order.
Level 2 (3-4): A method that would obtain at least one of the pure substances, with some correct techniques named. Some steps may be missing or out of order.
Level 1 (1-2): One or more isolated correct steps or techniques with no coherent method.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- Add water to the mixture and stir so that the salt dissolves.
- The sand does not dissolve (it is insoluble).
- Filter the mixture using filter paper and a funnel.
- The sand is trapped as the residue in the filter paper.
- Rinse the sand with distilled water and leave it to dry (or dry in an oven) to obtain pure dry sand.
- The salt solution passes through as the filtrate.
- Heat the filtrate to evaporate most of the water (evaporating basin).
- Leave the remaining solution to crystallise / evaporate slowly to obtain pure dry salt crystals.
- Named apparatus: beaker, glass rod, filter funnel, filter paper, evaporating basin, Bunsen burner/water bath.

Question 16

(a) M1 sets up: (63x + 65(100 - x)) / 100 = 63.5, where x = % of mass-63 (oe)
(a) M1 solves: -2x = -150 (oe correct rearrangement)
(a) A1 75% of mass-63 and 25% of mass-65
(a) Answer: 75% mass-63, 25% mass-65

Question 16

3 marks

Did your answer earn the marks?

Mark my answers

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

More on this topic

Next in this strand

C1 Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Mark your answers

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16