O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

PAPER -1 MCQz
1- Which statement is true about an atom?
A- All the elements have only one nucleon (mass) number.
B- The nucleon (mass) number can be less than the proton (atomic) number.
C- The nucleon (mass) number can equal to the proton (atomic) number.
D- The number of neutrons never equal the numbers of electrons.
2- Elements X and Y react to form an ionic compound of formula XY.
What could be the proton (atomic) numbers of X and Y?
[J00/Q8]
X

1
2

1
6
1
6

3-Which ion has the most shells that contain electrons?

A Al3+
B Be2+
C N3
D S2
[D02/Q5]
4- The table gives data about four substances.
Which substance could be an ionic compound?

Which substance contains covalent bonds, but also conducts electricity?

A brass
B graphite
C iodine
D steel
[D02/Q9]
5-

[J00/Q6]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

[D02/Q14]

6- For which of the following can graphite be used?

A as an abrasive only
B as an abrasive and as an electrode
C as an electrode and as a lubricant
D as a lubricant only

[J03/Q6]

7- The letters X, Y and Z represent different atoms.

What can be deduced from the proton numbers and nucleon numbers of X, Y and Z?
A X and Y are the same element.
B X and Z are the same element.
C X has more protons than Y.
D Z has more neutrons than Y.

[J03/Q7]

8- How does a magnesium atom form a bond with an oxygen atom?

A by giving one pair of electrons to the oxygen atom
B by sharing one pair of electrons, both electrons provided by the magnesium atom
C by sharing two pairs of electrons, both pairs provided by the oxygen atom
D by sharing two pairs of electrons, each atom donating one pair of electrons. [J03/Q8]
9- Which diagram represents the structure of the metal sodium?

10- Elements X and Y combine to form the gas XY2.

What are X and Y? C

[J03/Q10]

[J03/Q9]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

11- Which of the following contains the same number of electrons as an atom of neon?
A C l
B Li
C Li+
D O2

[J03/Q11]

12- A researcher notices that atoms of an element X are releasing energy.

Why does this happen?
A The atoms are affected by light.
B The atoms are radioactive.
C The atoms react with argon in the air.
D The atoms are evaporating.

[D03]

13- An atom of element X is represented by 73X.

Which statement about an atom of X is correct?
A It is in Group III of the Periodic Table.
B It is in Group VII of the Periodic Table.
C The total number of protons and electrons is 6.
D The total number of protons and neutrons is 10.

[D03]

14- In which pair of substances, does each have a giant molecular structure?
A diamond, iodine
B diamond, silica (sand)
C iodine, methane
D methane, silica (sand)

[D03]

15- In which substance is each carbon atom covalently bonded to only three other atoms?
A carbon dioxide
B diamond
C graphite
D methane

[D03]

16- How many electrons are shared in the covalent bonding of a methane molecule?
A2
B4
C6
D8

[D03]

17- The table gives information about the ability of four substances to conduct electricity. C

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

[D03]

18- Two particles X and Y have the composition shown in the table.

The particles X and Y are

A metal atoms.
B non-metal atoms.
C negative ions.
D positive ions.

[D04]

19-

C
[D04]

20- Which compound has both ionic and covalent bonds?

A ammonium chloride
B carbon dioxide
C ethyl ethanoate
D sodium chloride

[D04]

21- The experiment shown is used to test potassium bromide crystals.

The lamp does not light.
Distilled water is then added to the beaker and the lamp lights.

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

Which statement explains these results?

A Electrons are free to move in the solution when potassium bromide dissolves.
B Metal ions are free to move when potassium bromide melts.
C Metal ions are free to move when potassium reacts with water.
D Oppositely charged ions are free to move in the solution when potassium bromide
dissolves.

[D04]
22-

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

[Nov-2005]

23- The diagram shows the arrangement of electrons in a molecule of compound YZ2.

[Nov-2005]
24- Which two statements about a covalent bond are correct?

1 It
2 It
3 It
4 It
A1

can be formed between two metal atoms.

can be formed between two non-metal atoms.
is formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms.
is formed by sharing electrons between atoms.
and 3
B 1 and 4
C 2 and 3
D 2 and 4

[Nov-2005]

25- Which statement explains why sodium chloride, NaCl, has a lower melting point than
magnesium
oxide, MgO?
A Sodium chloride is covalent but magnesium oxide is ionic.
B Sodium is more reactive than magnesium.

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

C The attraction between Na+ and Cl is weaker than that between Mg2+ and O2.
D The melting point of sodium is lower than that of magnesium.
[Nov-2005]
26- Four substances have the following electrical properties.

What are these four substances? C

[Nov-2005]/[June 2012]
27- What is the ratio of the volume of 2 g of hydrogen to the volume of 16 g of methane, both
volumes
at r.t.p.?
A 1 to 1
B 1 to 2
C 1 to 8
D 2 to 1
[Nov-2005]
28- Hydrogen can form both H+ ions and H ions.
Which statement about these two ions is correct?
A An H+ ion has no electrons in its first shell.
B An H+ ion has more protons than an H ion.
C An H ion has one more electron than an H+ ion.
D An H ion is formed when a hydrogen atom loses an electron.

[June -2006]

29- Which graph shows the number of electrons in the outer shell of an atom, plotted against the
proton (atomic) number for the first ten elements in the Periodic Table? [June -2006]/[June -2010]
C

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

30- The symbols and electronic structures for some elements are shown below.

silicon, Si (2,8,4) oxygen, O (2,6) hydrogen, H (1)

fluorine, F (2,7) nitrogen, N (2,5)
Which formula is correct for a compound containing silicon?

B
[June -2006]

31- Rubidium is in Group I and bromine is in Group VII of the Periodic Table.

How is a compound formed between rubidium and bromine?

A Each atom of bromine shares an electron with an atom of rubidium.
B Each atom of bromine shares a pair of electrons with an atom of rubidium.
C Each atom of bromine gives an electron to an atom of rubidium.
D Each atom of bromine receives an electron from an atom of rubidium.
32- Which atom has the same electronic configuration as the strontium ion?
A calcium
B krypton
C rubidium
D selenium
[June -2006]
33C

[June -2006]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

[NOV -2006]
34- A beam of particles contains neutrons, n, protons, p, and electrons, e.

The beam is passed between charged plates.

Which diagram shows how the particles are affected by the plates?

[NOV -2006]
35- The table shows the properties of some substances.

Which substance is a covalent compound?

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

[NOV -2006]
36- The diagram shows the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride and of molten sodium

chloride.

Which substance has both positive ions and mobile electrons?

A aqueous sodium chloride
B copper wire
C graphite electrodes
D molten sodium chloride
[NOV -2006]
37- Hydrogen can form both ionic and covalent compounds.

With which element will hydrogen form an ionic compound?

A carbon
B chlorine
C nitrogen
D sodium
[NOV -2006]
38-

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

[JUNE -2007]

39- In which substance is each carbon atom covalently bonded to only three other atoms?

A carbon dioxide
B diamond
C graphite
D methane

[JUNE -2007]

40- In which pair of substances does each have a giant molecular structure?

A diamond, iodine
B diamond, silica (sand)
C iodine, methane
D methane, silica (sand)
[JUNE -2007]
41- How does a magnesium atom form a bond with an oxygen atom?
A by giving one pair of electrons to the oxygen atom
B by sharing one pair of electrons, both electrons provided by the magnesium atom
C by sharing two pairs of electrons, both pairs provided by the oxygen atom
D by sharing two pairs of electrons, each atom donating one pair of electrons
[JUNE -2007]
42- Which material has the highest melting point?

A ammonia
B methane
C sodium chloride
D water

[NOV -2007]

43-A molecule of arsenic bromide, AsBr3, has the structure shown. A

[NOV -2007]
44- Which substance has a giant molecular structure at room temperature?

A methane
B sand

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

C sodium chloride
D water

[JUNE -2008]

45- When a covalent liquid boils its molecules become more widely spaced.
Which property of the molecules has the most influence on the energy required to boil a covalent
liquid?
A the forces of attraction between the molecules
B the reactivity of the molecules
C the shape of the molecules
D the strength of the covalent bonds in the molecules
[JUNE -2008]
46-

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

[JUNE -2008]

47- Naturally occurring bromine has a relative atomic mass of 80 and consists entirely of two
isotopes
of relative isotopic masses 79 and 81.
What can be deduced about naturally-occurring bromine from this information only?
A Bromine isotopes have different numbers of protons.
B Bromine contains the two isotopes in equal proportions.
C Bromine has different oxidation states.
D Bromine is radioactive.
[NOV -2008]/[June-2013]
48- Which statement describes the conversion of magnesium atoms to magnesium ions?
A The change is reduction, because there has been a gain of electrons.
B The change is oxidation, because there has been a loss of electrons.
C The change is reduction, because there has been a loss of electrons.
D The change is oxidation, because there has been a gain of electrons.
[NOV -2008]

49- In one molecule of carbon dioxide, CO 2, what is the total number of electrons present and how

many are involved in bonding between the carbon and oxygen atoms? D

[NOV -2008]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

50- Which statement explains why magnesium oxide has a very high melting point?

A Magnesium atoms and oxygen atoms are joined by strong covalent bonds.
B The crystal lattice of magnesium oxide resembles that of diamond.
C The magnesium ions are strongly attracted to the oxide ions.
D The reaction between magnesium and oxygen is strongly exothermic.

[NOV -2008]

51- When the experiment shown is set up, the bulb lights, but there are no decomposition

products at
the electrodes.
What is X?
A aqueous sodium chloride
B bromine
C molten sodium chloride
D mercury

[NOV -2008]

52- What are the products formed at the electrodes during the electrolysis of molten magnesium
chloride between carbon electrodes?
C

[NOV -2008]

53- 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
[JUNE -2009]
54- Which two substances are elements with a giant molecular structure?

A diamond and graphite

B diamond and sand

C methane and iodine

D methane and sand

55- Which compound has both ionic and covalent bonds?

A ammonium chloride
B carbon dioxide
C ethyl ethanoate
D sodium chloride

[JUNE -2009]

56- Which statement about the numbers of particles in atoms is correct?

Apart from hydrogen, most atoms contain

[JUNE -2009]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

A more neutrons than protons.

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

[JUNE -2009]

57-

[NOV -2009]
58- Which statement is always true when two atoms join together by a covalent bond?

A One atom is a metal, the other atom is a non-metal.

B One atom loses one electron, the other atom gains one electron.
C The two atoms share one electron.
D The two atoms share two electrons.
[NOV -2009]
59- The diagram shows the structures of diamond and graphite.

Which property do these substances have in common?

A They are giant structures.
B They can act as lubricants.
C They can conduct electricity.
D They contain only covalent bonds.
[NOV -2009]
60- Calcium reacts with phosphorus to form the ionic compound calcium phosphide.
Which ions will this compound contain?
A
[NOV -2009]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

62- Which pair of elements, when combined together, do not form a covalent compound?

A caesium and fluorine

B nitrogen and chlorine
C phosphorus and fluorine
D sulfur and chlorine

[June 2010]

63- Hydrogen can form both H+ ions and H ions.

Which one of the statements below is correct?
A An H+ ion has more protons than an H ion.
B An H+ ion has no electrons.
C An H ion has one more electron than an H+ ion.
D An H ion is formed when a hydrogen atom loses an electron. [Nov 2010]
64- The diagram shows the molecule ethyl propanoate.

How many bonding pairs of electrons are there in the molecule?

A 13
B 16
C 17
D 20
[Nov 2010]
65- Element X has the electronic structure 2,8,5. Element Y has the electronic structure 2,8,7.
What is the likely formula of a compound containing only X and Y?
[June 2011]
A XY3
B X2Y3
C X3Y
D X3Y2
66- Radium (Ra) is in the same group of the Periodic Table as magnesium.
What is the charge on a radium ion?
A 2
B 1
C 1+
D 2+
[Nov2011]
67- Which statement about both chlorine atoms and chloride ions is correct?
A They are chemically identical.
B They are isotopes of chlorine.
C They have the same number of protons.
D They have the same physical properties.
[June 2011]
68- How many of the molecules shown contain only one covalent bond?
Cl 2 H2 HCl N2 O2
A2
B3
C4
D5
[Nov2011]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

69- Which compound contains three elements?

A aluminium chloride
B iron(III) oxide
C potassium oxide
D sodium carbonate
[Nov2011]
70- What happens when sodium chloride melts?
A Covalent bonds in a giant lattice are broken.
B Electrons are released from atoms.
C Electrostatic forces of attraction between ions are overcome.
D Molecules are separated into ions. [Nov2011]
71- Pentane, C5H12, has a higher boiling point than propane, C 3H8. Which statement explains the
difference in boiling point?
A Carbon-carbon single bonds are stronger than carbon-hydrogen bonds.
B Pentane has more covalent bonds to break.
C Pentane does not burn as easily as propane.
D The forces of attraction between pentane molecules are stronger than those between
propane molecules
[June 2012]
72- Which substance will conduct electricity without being chemically changed?
A sodium chloride solution
B solid iron
C solid sodium chloride
D solid sulfur
[June 2012]
73- Two particles have the compositions shown.

Which statement about X and Y is correct?

A They are both positively charged.
B They are particles of the same element.
C They have the same mass number.
D They have the same number of nucleons.
74- Which of the following is not a mixture?
A ethanol
B petrol
C steel
D tap water

[Nov-2012]

[Nov-2012]

75- Carbon and silicon are both in Group IV of the Periodic Table, but at room temperature CO 2 is
a

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

gas whereas SiO2 is a solid.

Which statement explains this?
A Covalent bonding is weaker in CO2.
B Covalent bonds in CO2 are double bonds and in SiO2 the covalent bonds are single bonds.
C CO2 is a covalent compound and SiO2 is ionic.
D CO2 is a simple covalent molecule and SiO2 is a macromolecule. [Nov-2012]
76- Which substance has metallic bonding? A

[Nov-2012]

77-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.
[June 2013]
78- Silicon carbide, SiC, has a structure similar to diamond. Boron nitride, BN, has a structure
similar
to graphite. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
Which statements about SiC, BN and bronze are correct?
1 All are bonded covalently.
2 All except silicon carbide conduct electricity when solid.
3 All have high melting points.
A 1 and 2 only
B 1 and 3 only
C 2 and 3 only
D 1, 2 and 3
[June 2013]
79- Sodium is in Group I of the Periodic Table.
When sodium combines with chlorine, what happens to each sodium atom?
A It gains one electron from one chlorine atom.
B It shares one electron with one chlorine atom.
C It transfers one electron to one chlorine atom.
D It transfers two electrons to one chlorine atom.
[June 2013]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

80- Hydrogen and sulfur react to form the compound hydrogen sulfide.
Which row shows the type of bonding between hydrogen and sulfur and the electrical
conductivity
of liquid hydrogen sulfide?
[June 2013]

81- Which elements exist as diatomic molecules at room temperature?

A hydrogen, oxygen, helium

B nitrogen, chlorine, neon
C nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine
D oxygen, chlorine, helium

[Nov-2013]

82- The diagram shows the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride and of molten sodium
chloride.

Which substance in the diagram has both positive ions and mobile electrons?
A aqueous sodium chloride
B copper wire
C graphite electrodes
D molten sodium chloride
[Nov-2013]
83- Substance X has a simple molecular structure and substance Y has a giant molecular
structure.
Which row is correct? [Nov-2013] D

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

84- The diagram shows the structure of an ionic compound

What is a possible formula for this compound?

A CaF2
B NaCl
C SO2
D MgO

[Nov-2013]

85- Ionic compounds have high melting points because of the strong attraction between
oppositely
charged ions.
Which compound has the lowest melting point?
C
[Nov-2013]

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

PAPER-2 THEORY.

1- Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen.

An ion of tritium has the following structure.

(a) Complete the following table to show the names and charges of the particles in this
tritium ion.

(b) Using the symbol T to represent tritium, give the formulae of

(i) the ion shown above .................................................................................................
(ii) the compound formed between tritium and sodium. ................................................
[2]
(c) Would you expect the oxide of tritium to be a solid, a liquid or a gas?
Explain your reasoning.
......................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
[D02/q3]
2- The structures of two ionic lattices are shown below.

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

(a) Explain why these two solids do not conduct electricity.

....................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) (i) Explain why magnesium oxide has a very high melting point.
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Suggest why the melting point of magnesium oxide is much higher than that of
sodium chloride.
........................................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................[2]
(c) Draw the electronic structure of a magnesium ion and of an oxide ion.
magnesium ion

oxide ion

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

[2]
[June 2003/q7]
3- The metal tungsten, symbol W, is used to make wire filaments in light bulbs. The wire glows
when electricity passes through it.
This is the structure of a typical metal

(a) Use this structure to explain how tungsten conducts electricity.

..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) Suggest two other physical properties of tungsten.
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2]
(c) In a light bulb, the tungsten wire may get so hot that it melts and breaks.
This graph shows the heating curve for tungsten.

O LEVEL PAST PAER QUESTIONS.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC 3: Atomic Structure / Chemical Bonding.

(i) Use the graph to give the boiling point of tungsten.

...................................................................................................................................
(ii) Predict the temperature when the tungsten wire breaks.
...............................................................................................................................[2]
[d 2003/q4]
4- Sodium is stored under oil because it rapidly oxidises to form sodium oxide, Na2O.
(a) Draw a dot and cross diagram to show the bonding in sodium oxide, Na2O. You need
only show outer shell electrons.

[2]
Sodium oxide reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide.
(b) Write an equation for this reaction.
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(c) 62 g of sodium oxide are used to make 2 dm3 of aqueous sodium hydroxide.
What is the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution?
Answer ............................................. mol/dm 3 [2]
[D 2003 /q6]