Homework - Atomic structure

1. An element X forms a positive ion with the electronic structure 2,8,8.

What is the proton (atomic) number of X?

A. 16
B. 17
C. 18
D. 19

Explanation

As the element X forms a positive ion, it must be belonging to group 1, 2 or 3 in the periodic
table. In this case option D, atomic number 19, (2, 8, 8, 1) belongs to group one.

2. Which statement about the numbers of particles in atoms is correct?

Apart from hydrogen, most atoms contain

A. more neutrons than protons.

B. more protons than neutrons.
C. more electrons than protons.
D. more protons than electrons.

Explanation

The number of neutrons in 42He, 126C, 147N,166O, 2814Si, 3216S & 4020Ca are equal to the
number of protons in their nuclei. The rest of all elements (except H) have the number of neu-
trons more than the number of protons in their nuclei.

3. Naturally-occurring bromine has a relative atomic mass of 80 and consists entirely of two isotopes
of relative atomic masses 79 and 81.
What can be deduced about naturally-occurring bromine from this information only?

A. Bromine contains the two isotopes in equal proportions.

B. Bromine has different oxidation states.
C. Bromine isotopes have different numbers of protons.
D. Bromine is radioactive.

Explanation

The relative atomic mass of naturally occurring bromine is the exact average of the relative
atomic masses of both isotopes.

A
4. What is the nucleon number of the isotope of uranium, 23592U?

A. 92
B. 143
C. 235
D. 327

Explanation

When we refer to a certain isotope, AZX, X is the chemical symbol for the element, Z is the
atomic number, and A is the number of neutrons and protons combined, called the nucleon
number or mass number.

5. The atoms 3115P and 3216S have the same

A. nucleon number.
B. number of electrons.
C. number of neutrons.
D. number of protons.

Explanation

Element Nucleon number No. of proton No. of neutrons

31P 31 15 16
32S 32 16 16

6. Which statement is correct about sulphur, atomic number 16?

A. Sulphur can form the ion S2–.

B. Sulphur dissolves in water to form sulphuric acid.
C. Sulphur forms ionic oxides.
D. Sulphur will react with metals to produce S6+ ions.

Explanation

Sulphur having electronic configuration 2, 8, 6, belongs to sixth group, can take two electrons
to complete its octa configuration producing S2- ion.

7. In the Periodic Table, how many periods are needed to accommodate the elements of atomic
numbers 1-18?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 8
 Explanation

Two elements in first period, eight in 2nd & eight in 3rd period making a total of 18
acomodated In three periods.

8. An atom of element Z has 14 neutrons and 13 protons.

It forms a positive ion.
How many electrons does the ion of Z have?

A. 10
B. 13
C. 14
D. 27

Explanation

Z is in group 3 of the periodic table as it has 3 electrons in it’s valence shell. Therefore Z
forms the ion which will have 13-3 = 10 electrons.

9. The atom with electronic configuration 2.8.7 has

A. a nucleon number of 17.

B. 17 neutrons in its nucleus.
C. a proton number of 17.
D. 7 electrons.

Explanation

The number of protons is the same as the number of electrons for the same atom.

10. Choose the electron arrangements with three valence electrons from the diagrams below.

A. The answer is A as shown above

B. The answer is B as shown above
 C. The answer is C as shown above
D. The answer is D as shown above

Explanation

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom, which are important in determining
how the atom reacts chemically with other atoms.

11. The table below shows information about an atom.

• It has 10 neutrons
• Its nucleon number is 20
Choose the diagram that fits the description of the atom.

A. The answer is A as shown above

B. The answer is B as shown above
C. The answer is C as shown above
D. The answer is D as shown above

Explanation

Nucleon number = Number of protons + Number of neutrons

10p + 10n

12. Which statement explains why isotopes of the same element have the same chemical properties?

A. They have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus.

 B. They have the same number of neutrons in the nucleus.
C. They have the same number of outer shell electrons.
D. They have the same number of protons as neutrons.

Explanation

Chemical properties depend on the electron arrangement in an atom, and have nothing to do
with what is in the nucleus.

13. An atom has three electron shells. There are three electrons in the outer shell.
How many protons and how many neutrons are in this atom?

protons neutrons
A 13 14
B 13 27
C 14 13
D 21 24

A. The answer is A as shown above

B. The answer is B as shown above
C. The answer is C as shown above
D. The answer is D as shown above

Explanation

The atom must be aluminium, with electron arrangement 2.8.3. It will therefore have 13
protons. From the periodic table, its relative atomic mass is 27, so it would have 27 - 13 = 14
neutrons.

14. Two particles have the same numbers of protons and neutrons but different numbers of electrons
might be

A. an atom and an ion of different elements.

B. an atom and an ion of the same element.
C. an atom and an isotope of different elements.
D. an atom and an isotope of the same element

Explanation

When an atom loses or gains electrons, the atom becomes positively or negatively charged,
and is known as an ion.

15. The atom with electronic configuration 2.8.7 has

A. a nucleon number of 17.

B. 17 neutrons in its nucleus.
C. a proton number of 17.
D. 7 electrons.

Explanation

The number of protons is the same as the number of electrons for the same atom.

C
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16. This question is about the structures of atoms and ions.

(a) Define the term proton number.

number of protons (1)
....................................................................................................................................................
protons in the nucleus (of an atom) (1)
.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) (i) Complete the table to show the number of protons, neutrons and electrons present in
24
atoms of 12 Mg and 12
26
Mg.

number of number of number of

protons neutrons electrons

12p 12n 12e (1)

12Mg
24

12Mg
26
12p 14n 12e (1)
[2]

(ii) 24
What term is used to describe atoms of the same element, such as 12 Mg and 12
26
Mg?
isotope(s)
....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) 24
Explain why the chemical properties of 12 Mg and 12
26
Mg are the same.
same number of electrons (1)
.............................................................................................................................................
(same number) of electrons in the outer shell (1)
....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Complete the table to identify the atoms and ions which have the following numbers of protons,
neutrons and electrons.

number of number of number of

protons neutrons electrons

11Na
23 +
11 12 10

9 Be
4 4 5 4
37 -
17 Cl 17 20 18
[4]

(d) State the electronic structure of the following atom and ion.
2 8 3 (1)
A ...............................
2 8 8 (1)
S2– ..............................
[2]

[Total: 13]
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11Na, 11Na 11Na are isotopes of sodium.
22 23
17. (a) and 24

(i) Describe how these sodium isotopes are the same and how they are different in terms of
the total number of protons, neutrons and electrons in each.

M1 protons (are the same) / 11 protons (1)

same ...................................................................................................................................
M2 electrons (are the same) / 11 electrons (1)
.............................................................................................................................................
M3 neutrons (are different) / 11,12,13 neutrons (1)
different ...............................................................................................................................

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

(ii) Why do all three isotopes have an overall charge of zero?

same number of protons and electrons (1)
.............................................................................................................................................

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

(iii) Why do all three isotopes have the same chemical properties?
M1 same number of electrons (1)
.............................................................................................................................................
M2 (same number of) electrons in outer shell (1)
....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iv) Why do sodium ions have a charge of +1?

(they all have) 1 more proton than electrons / 11 protons and 10 electrons
.............................................................................................................................................

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

(b) Carbon is an element which exists in different forms.

(i) Name two forms of the element carbon that have giant covalent structures.
diamond / graphite / graphene
...............................................................
ANY TWO and .............................................................. [1]

(ii) Name the oxide of carbon that is a toxic gas.

carbon monoxide
....................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 9]