1 Atomic structure

AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

1
a Table 1.1 shows some data about fundamental particles in an atom.

Table 1.1 Mass of fundamental particles

Particle proton neutron electron
Mass / g 1.6725 × 10–24 1.6725 × 10–24 0.0009 × 10–24

i An atom of hydrogen can be represented as 1H. Use data from Table 1.1
to calculate the mass of this hydrogen atom.

(1 mark)

ii Which one of the following is a fundamental particle that would not be

deflected by an electric field?
A electron
B neutron
C proton
Write the correct letter, A, B, or C, on the line below.

(1 mark)

b A naturally occurring sample of the element boron has a relaive atomic mass
of 10.8. In this sample, boron exists as two isotopes, 10B and 11B.
i Calculate the percentage abundance of 10B in this naturally occurring
sample of boron.

(2 marks)

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 1 Atomic structure
AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

ii State, in terms of fundamental particles, why the isotopes 10B and 11B
have similar chemical reactions.

(1 mark)

c Complete Table 1.2 by suggesting a value for the third ionisation energy of
boron.
Table 1.2 Ionisation energies of boron.
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Ionisation 799 2420 25 000 32 800
energy /
kJ mol–1

d Write an equation to show the process that occurs when the second
ionisation energy of boron is measured. Include state symbols in your
equation.

(1 mark)

e Explain why the second ionisation energy of boron is higher than the first
ionisation energy of boron.

(1 mark)

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 1 Atomic structure
AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

2 The mass spectrum of a sample of krypton taken from a meteorite is shown in

Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1 Mass spectrum of a sample of krypton

Use this spectrum to calculate the relative atomic mass of this sample of krypton.
Give your answer to one decimal place.
Explain why the value you have calculated is slightly different from the relative
atomic mass given in the Periodic Table.

(4 marks)

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 1 Atomic structure
AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

3
a State the meaning of the term mass number of an isotope.

(1 mark)

b Give the symbol of the element that has an isotope with a mass number of
68 and has 38 neutrons in its nucleus.

(1 mark)

c A sample of element R contains isotopes with mass numbers of 206, 207

and 208 in a 1:1:2 ratio of abundance.
i Calculate the relative atomic mass of R. Give your answer to one decimal
place.

(3 marks)

ii Identify R.

(1 mark)

iii All the isotopes of R react in the same way with concentrated nitric acid.
State why isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties.

(1 mark)

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 1 Atomic structure
AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

4 Indiium is in Group 3 in the Periodic Table and exists as a mixture of the

isotopes 113In and 115In.
a Use your understanding of the Periodic Table to complete the electron
configuration of indium.
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6

(1 mark)

b A mass spectrum of a sample of indium showed two peaks at m/z = 113 and
m/z = 115. The relative atomic mass of this sample of indium is 114.5.
i Give the meaning of the term relative atomic mass.

(2 marks)

ii Use these data to calculate the ratio of the relative abundances of the two
isotopes.

(2 marks)

c State and explain the difference, if any, between the chemical properties of
the isotopes 113In and 115In.
Difference in chemical properties

Explanation

(2 marks)

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 1 Atomic structure
AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

d Phosphorus is also in Period 3 of the Periodic Table.

The electron configuration of phosphorus shown in Figure 4.1 is incorrect.

Figure 4.1 Incorrect electron configuration of phosphorus

i Explain why the arrangement is incorrect

(2 marks)

ii Complete the boxes to show the correct arrangement of phosphorus. (1 mark)

Figure 4.2 Incomplete electron configuration of phosphorus

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 1 Atomic structure
AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

5 This question is about the isotopes of neon.

a Isotopes of neon include 22Ne and 20Ne.
i Deduce the number of protons in 22Ne.

(1 mark)

ii Deduce the number neutrons in 22Ne.

(1 mark)

b State and explain the difference, if any, between the chemical properties of the
isotopes 22Ne and 20Ne.

(1 mark)

c Table 5.1 gives the relative abundance of each isotope in the mass
spectrum of neon. Use the data in Table 5.1 to calculate a value for the relative
atomic mass of this sample of neon. Give your answer to one decimal place.

Table 5.1 Mass of fundamental particles

m/z 20 21 22
Relative
90.9 0.26 8.8
abundance / %

(2 marks)

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 1 Atomic structure
AQA Chemistry Exam-style questions

d Give the full electron arrangement for the isotope 22Ne and suggest why it is
unreactive.

(2 marks)

6 A sample of magnesium consists of three isotopes and has a relative atomic

mass of 23.32. Table 6.1 shows the relative abundance of two of these isotopes.

Table 6.1 Relative abundances of two isotopes of magnesium

Mass number of isotope 23 24
Relative abundance / % 79.0 10.0

Use this information to determine the relative abundance and the mass of the
third isotope. Give your answer to the appropriate number of significant figures.

(4 marks)

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