Topic: Atomic Structure

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions

1

Which one of the species has more electrons than neutrons and more
neutrons than protons?
Particle
P
QR2+
S3A

Neutrons
16
18
17
16
Q-

Nucleons
33
35
34
31
R2+

D
S3NJC Prelims 2007

Beams of particles travelling at the same speed from different sources are
subjected to an electric field as shown in the diagram below. A beam of
neutrons has already been drawn.

neutrons

X
-

+
Z

source
Which of the following represent the particles labelled X, Y and Z?

A
B
C
D

X
4
He+
4
He+
1 +
H
1 +
H

Y
1 +
H
2 +
H
2 +
H
2 +
H

Z
electrons
1 +
H
3 +
H
electrons
SRJC Prelims 2007

Which species is deflected to the least extent in an electric field?

A

24
2
12 Mg

27
3
13 Al

16
2
8O

31 3
15 P

VJC Prelims 2007

4

Which of the graph represents the first 4 ionisation energies of a Group III
element?
A
IE

X
electrons removed

12

Atomic Structure_2014

B
X

IE
X
X

electrons removed
1

C
IE

X
X
X

X
1

IE

electrons removed

4
X

electrons removed
4

YJC Promos 2007

5

Five ionisation energies, in kJ mol-1, are listed below.

864
839
1008
1170
376
What do these values most likely represent?
A
B
C
D

For which of the following is the ratio of the second ionization energy to the
first ionization energy the highest?
A

First ionisation energies for successive elements in Group V, VI, VII, 0

and I.
First ionisation energies for five elements from Group V, listed in the
order of increasing atomic mass.
Successive ionisation energies for a Group V element.
Successive ionisation energies for the element of atomic number 5.
MJC Promos 2007

Sodium

Magnesium C

Aluminium

D
Argon
IJC Prelims 2007

Figure 1 shows the first six ionisation energies of an element X.

13

Atomic Structure_2014

Figure 2 shows the first ionisation energy of eight consecutive elements

(including X) of Period 3.

With reference to Figure 2, which of the options corresponds to the first

ionisation energy of element X?
AJC Prelims 2007
8

Which of the following particles has an unpaired electron in the s orbital in its
ground state?
A

Cu atom

Mn2+ ion

D
Cr+ ion
MJC Promos 2007

Which one of the following ions has the most number of unpaired electrons?
A

10

V atom

Cr3+

Ni2+

Ca2+

D
Co3+
NJC Prelims 2007

Which is the correct electronic configuration for Ni in [NiO2]2-?

A
B
C
D

1s22s22p63s23p63d74s1
1s22s22p63s23p63d84s2
1s22s22p63s23p63d64s2
1s22s22p63s23p63d8
TJC Promos 2007

11

Which one of the following particles would, on losing an electron, have a halffilled set of p orbitals?
A

12

C-

N-

D
O+
Modified TYS J93 P4 Q2

Ions of two isotopes of sulfur are shown below.

31

35 2
S2
S
Which one of the following statements is true?

A
B
C
D

The electron arrangement of both ions is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2.
The 31S2 ion has more protons in its nucleus than the 35S2 ion.
Both ions have the same number of electrons but different number of
neutrons.
Under the same magnetic field, the 35S2 ion will be deflected more than
the 31S2.
JJC Promos 2009

14

Atomic Structure_2014

13

How many 4s electrons are present in Cu and Cu2+?

2+
29Cu
29Cu
A
1
0
B
1
1
C
2
0
D
2
1
CJC Promos 2008

14

For which of the following pairs does the first species contain more unpaired
electrons than the second species?
A

15

C+, N

O, S2+

Cr, Fe3+

D
Mn4+, Co
RJC Promos 2009

Which of the following ions has more electrons than protons and more protons
than neutrons? [ H = 11 H; D = 21 H; T = 3H; C = 126 C; O = 168 O ]?
A

CO32-

H2DO+

OH-

D
TCO3MJC Prelims 2009

The responses A to D should be selected on the basis of

A
1, 2 and 3 are correct
16

B
1 and 2 are correct

C
2 and 3 are correct

D
Only 1 is correct

Which particle has a half filled set of p orbitals?

1
2
3

O- ion.
N atom.
P atom.
CJC Prelims 2007

17

Which statements about the s and p orbitals is/are correct?

1
2

18

p orbitals of different quantum numbers have the same shape.

A p orbital has a higher energy of a s orbital of the same principal quantum
number.
3
Each p orbital can contain a maximum of 2 electrons.
AJC Promos 2006
Which of these statements incorrectly describe the outermost subshell of the
phosphorus atom?
1
2
3

19

It has a spherical shape.

It belongs to the shell with principal quantum number n = 3.
It is half-filled with electrons.
VJC Prelims 2007

Gaseous particle Y has n protons and a charge of +2.

Gaseous particle Z has (n-1) protons and is isoelectronic with Y.
Which of the following statements correctly describe Y and Z?
1
2
3

Y has a smaller radius than Z.

Y has a higher first ionization energy than Z.
Y is less electronegative than Z.
AJC Prelims 2007

15

Atomic Structure_2014

Which of the following statements concerning 16O, 17O and 18O is/are correct?

20

1
2
3

16

O, 17O and 18O have the same electronic configuration.

First ionization energies of 16O, 17O and 18O are in increasing order.
There is an increasing number of protons from 16O to 17O to 18O.
AJC Promos 2007

Which of the following statements is/are correct for N3-, Mg2+ and F- ions?

21

1
2
3

22

All 3 ions do not contain any unpaired electrons in their valence shells.
Among the 3 ions, F- ion will be deflected the least in an electric field.
The ionic size increases in the order of N3-, F- , Mg2+.
CJC Promos 2006

Which of the following explain the decrease in first ionisation energy down a
group in a Periodic Table?
1
2
3

23

The nuclear charge is increasing.

The electron to be ionised becomes progressively further from the
nucleus.
There are progressively more electrons between the nucleus and the
electron to be ionised.
PJC Promos 2006

The first eight ionization energies of an element E (in kJ mol-1) are as follows:
966, 1950, 2730, 4850, 6020, 12300, 15400, 18900
Which of the following statements about element E is/are correct?
1
2
3

24

It is in group V of the Periodic Table.

It can form a chloride that is trigonal pyramidal in shape.
It has half-filled p-orbitals.
MJC Promos 2006

Use of the Data Booklet is relevant to this question.

An ion X2 has 36 electrons and 45 neutrons. Which of the following statements
are true?
1
2
3

It is isoelectronic with Rb+.

It has a larger radius than Sr2+.
More energy is required to remove an electron from X than from X2.
NJC Prelims 2009

Answers to MCQs
1
2
3
4
5
6

D
D
A
A
A
A

7
8
9
10
11
12

13
14
15
16
17
18

B
B
D
D
C
C

16

A
C
C
C
A
D

19
20
21
22
23
24

B
D
B
C
A
A

Atomic Structure_2014

Section B: Structured Questions

1 (a)

There are two stable isotopes of nitrogen in nature, nitrogen14 and

nitrogen15.
(i)

Define the term isotope.

[1]

(ii)

Complete the following table with the number of elementary particles

(electrons, protons, and neutrons) that are contained in the two
isotopes of nitrogen.
[1]
Isotope
protons
neutrons
electrons
14
N
15
N
(b) Nitrogen can form an ion which is isoelectronic with the fluoride ion.
(i)

Explain what is meant by isoelectronic.

[1]

(ii)

State the electronic configuration of fluoride ion.

[1]

(iii) Explain why the first ionisation energy of the fluoride ion is more than
that of the ion of nitrogen.
[2]
YJC Prelims 2007
2 P, Q, R and S are a sequence of consecutive elements of increasing proton
number.
(a)

The successive ionization energies, in kJ mol-1 of element Q are given

below.
1681 3374 6050 8407 11020 15160 17870 92040 106400
Which Group does element Q belongs to? Explain your answer.
[2]

(b) P, Q and S form ions that are isoelectronic with atom R.

(i)

State the charge on the ions of P, Q and S.

[1]

(ii)

Arrange the ions of P, Q and S in decreasing ionic radius.

[1]
VJC Prelims 2007

Fluorine is the most reactive of all elements and even combines with all noble
gases except helium and neon. Compounds containing the element fluorine are
commonly called fluorides.
(a) Give the electronic configuration of fluorine,F.
[1]
(b) On the axes below, sketch the shape(s) of the singlyoccupied orbital(s) in
an atom of F at ground state.
[2]
z
RJC Prelims 2009
y
x

17

Atomic Structure_2014

4 The electronic configuration of sulphur can be represented by 1s22s22p63s23p4.

On the axis below, sketch the graph for the first seven ionisation energies of the
element against the number of electrons removed.
[2]
Ionisation energy/ kJ mol1

7 No. of electrons removed

RJC Prelims 2007

5 On the grids below, sketch the trend of the successive ionization energies of the
first 10 electrons of a chlorine atom.
[3]

HCI Prelims 2007

18

Atomic Structure_2014

6 The graph below shows the successive ionisation energies of element X.

Ionisation
energy/
-1
kJ mol

6 7

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

No. of electrons removed

(a)

Identify element X by writing down its symbol notation in the form

explain how you derive at your answer.

(b) Predict the full electronic configuration for atom X.

(c)

7 (a)

a
b

X and
[1.5]
[1]

Describe the general trend of the successive I.E. of X. Give reasons for your
observation.
[2]
SRJC Prelims 2007
Write the electronic configuration of sulphur.

[1]

(b) Draw five labeled diagrams of the three s orbitals and two p orbitals of
sulphur to illustrate their shapes and sizes.
[2]
PJC Prelims 2007
8 (a)

Sketch and label all the valence shell orbitals present in the fluorine atom. [2]

(b) The graph below shows the logarithm of successive ionisation energies (I.E)
for the first nine electrons in a gaseous atom X. Element X is in Period 4.

(i)

Deduce with reasoning the group number of element X.

(ii)

Draw the energy level diagram for element X.

19

[2]

[2]
MJC Promos 2006

Atomic Structure_2014

9 Hydrogen cyanide gas was the agent used by Germans Nazis for mass murder in
some gas chambers during the Holocaust. Inhaling excess hydrogen cyanide gas
is fatal as the cyanide ion can bind irreversibly to the iron in hemoglobin in our
blood to form the complex ion, Fe(CN)64-. This leads to oxygen gas being unable
to bind to hemoglobin in the blood.
Given that the oxidation state of iron in the complex, Fe(CN)64- is +2,
(a)

write the electronic configuration of iron in Fe(CN)64-.

[1]

(b) draw the energy level diagram showing the electronic configuration of iron in
Fe(CN)64-.
[3]
TJC Promos 2007
10 In an experiment, a sample of lead was vaporised, ionised and passed through
an electric field. Analysis of the deflection occurring at the electric region
revealed the following data for a sample of 208Pb2+ charged ions. It was observed
that a beam of 208Pb2+ gives an angle of deflection of 8.

(a)

Copy the above diagram and sketch to show how the beam of 208Pb2+ is
deflected. State its angle of deflection clearly on the diagram.
[1]

(b) Predict with reasoning and sketch on the same diagram the angle of
32 2
deflection
for
a
sample
of
.
16 S
[2]
MJC Prelims 2007
11

(a)

Nuclear medicine makes wide use of a metastable form of the isotope of

99
technetium 99
43Tc . The isotope 43Tc can be injected into the blood stream as
the compound NaTcO4 to monitor blood flow in some vital internal organs.
Describe the technetium atom, 99
43Tc , as fully as you can, including the nature
and location of the sub-atomic particles.
[2]

(b) Technetium and manganese are in the same group of the Periodic Table. In
an experiment, a sample of manganese was vaporized, ionized and passed
through an electric field. Analysis of the deflection occurring at the electric
55
region revealed that a beam of 25
Mn 2 gives an angle of deflection of 4.

20

Atomic Structure_2014

(c)

(i)

Predict with reasoning and indicate on the above diagram the angle

of deflection for a sample of 99

[2]
43Tc .

(ii)

Draw an energy level diagram to represent the electronic configuration

55
of 25
[1]
Mn 2 .

The diagram below shows successive ionisation energy values for three
unknown elements X, Y and Z in Period 3 of the Periodic Table.

(i)

Suggest with a reason the Group which Z belongs to.

[1]

(ii)

Element X exists as a macromolecule and it is a semi-conductor in

elemental form. Suggest an identity for X and hence write its full
electronic configuration.
[1]

(iii)

How would you expect the first ionisation energy of nitrogen to

compare with that of element Y? Give reasons to support your answer.
[2]

(iv)

Element Y reacts readily with bromine to give YBr5. Suggest why

nitrogen does not react similarly to give NBr5.
[1]
MJC Promos 2007

21

Atomic Structure_2014

In an analytical chemistry laboratory, the plasma torch is often used to ionise a

variety of samples during their analyses. In one series of analyses, samples of
elements A-G were passed through the plasma torch and their third ionisation
energies were recorded and plotted as shown. The elements A-G have
consecutive proton numbers below 20 and lies in period 3.
3rd Ionisation Energy / kJ mol

-1

12

9000

8000

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
A

Elements

(a)

Identify the group number to which element E belongs.

[1]

(b) Hence identify element E and state its ground state electronic configuration.
[2]
(c) Sketch, on the diagram below, how separate beams of A+ and E ions would
be.
[2]

Source

_
CJC Promos 2009
13 (a) Define the terms
(i)

isotope,

(ii)

isotopic mass.

(b)

particle
P
Q
R

[2]

protons
6
7
8

neutrons
8
7
7

electrons
6
10
7
[6]

(i)

Give the symbols (showing the nucleon numbers and charges) of the
following three particles.

(ii)

Use the Data Booklet to identify which are not the usual isotopes of
the elements concerned.

22

Atomic Structure_2014

(c)

A plasma is a gaseous mixture in which the atoms have been completely

stripped of their electrons, leaving bare nuclei. Because of possible use in
controlled nuclear fusion reactions, plasma behavior has been intensively
studied. When passed between two plates carrying a certain electric charge,
1H and 4 He nuclei are deflected as follows:

[4]

Giving reasons for your answers, suggest

(i)

the polarity (+ or -) of plate A,

(ii)

why 1H is deflected twice as much as 4 He ,

the angle of deflection of

(iii)

I: 2 H nuclei,
II: 3 He nuclei.
TYS J2000 P1 Q1

23

Atomic Structure_2014