EXAM QUESTIONS

AQA TRILOGY

ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND

THE PERIODIC TABLE

Q1-6 FOUNDATON

Q3-9 HIGHER

MARK SCHEME AT THE END OF

ALL THE QUESTIONS

Page 1 of 27
Q1.
This question is about the elements in Group 2 of the periodic table.

(a)  Figure 1 shows the positions of four elements, A, B, C, and D, in the periodic table.

Figure 1

Which element is in Group 2?

Tick one box.

A B C D

(1)

Group 2 metal carbonates break down when heated to produce a metal oxide and a gas.

metal carbonate ⟶ metal oxide + gas

(b)  Name the two products when calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is heated.

_______________________ and _______________________

(2)

(c)  What type of reaction happens when a compound breaks down?

Tick one box.

burning

decomposition

neutralisation

reduction

(1)

(d)  The metal carbonate takes in energy from the surroundings to break down.

What type of reaction takes in energy from the surroundings?

Tick one box.

Page 2 of 27
 combustion

electrolysis

endothermic

exothermic

(1)

(e)  Figure 2 shows the volume of gas produced when a Group 2 metal carbonate is
heated.

Figure 2

The student collected 5.2 dm3 of gas.

What mass of the Group 2 metal carbonate is heated?

Mass = ______________________ g
(1)

(f)  Calculate the mass of the Group 2 carbonate needed to produce 24 dm3 of gas.

Use your answer from part (e) to help you.

___________________________________________________________________

Page 3 of 27
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Mass = ______________________ g
(2)

(g)  A student heated different masses of a Group 2 carbonate. The student measured
the volume of gas produced.

Figure 3 shows a graph of the student’s results.

The student calculates the gradient of the line in Figure 3

The student makes two mistakes.

Figure 3

Identify the two mistakes the student makes.

Calculate the correct gradient of the line.

Mistake 1 ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Mistake 2 ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Calculation _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 4 of 27
 Gradient = ______________________ cm3 per g
(4)

(h)  A student repeated the experiment with a different Group 2 metal carbonate (XCO3).

The relative formula mass (Mr) of XCO3 is 84

Relative atomic masses (Ar):  C = 12  O = 16

Calculate the relative atomic mass (Ar) of X.

Name metal X.

Use the periodic table.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Relative atomic mass (Ar) = ______________________

Metal X is ______________________
(4)
(Total 16 marks)

Q2.
The table below shows the relative mass and charge of the particles in an atom.

Name of particle Relative mass Charge

proton 1 +1

neutron

electron very small

(a)  Complete the table above.

(3)

(b)  The diagram below represents a lithium atom.

Page 5 of 27
 Give the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in the lithium atom shown in the
diagram above.

Number of protons  _________________

Number of neutrons  _________________

Number of electrons  _________________

(3)

(c)  Scientific models of the atom have changed over time.

Draw one line from each description of the atomic model to the stage in the
development of the atomic model.

Stage in the
Description of atomic
development of the
model
atomic model

Dalton atoms

A ball of positive charge with

electrons embedded in it

Neutrons discovered

Nucleus of atoms
discovered

Spherical atoms

Plum pudding model

(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q3.
This question is about structure and bonding.

(a) Figure 1 shows part of one layer of graphene.

Page 6 of 27
 Figure 1

Which element is graphene made from?

Tick one box.

Carbon

Copper

Hydrogen

Sodium

(1)

(b) Each atom in graphene has one delocalised electron.

Complete the sentence.

Choose the answer from the box.

act as a lubricant be used as a fuel

conduct electricity dissolve in water

Delocalised electrons allow graphene to __________________________ .

(1)

(c) Which structure is a fullerene?

Tick one box.

Page 7 of 27
 (1)

Figure 2 shows part of a large hydrocarbon molecule.

Figure 2

(d) Which two elements are in all hydrocarbons?

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e) Complete the sentence.

Page 8 of 27
 Choose the answer from the box.

an atom a metal a polymer a salt

The large molecule represented in Figure 2 is __________________________ .

(1)

(f) Complete the sentence.

Choose the answer from the box.

attract bond slide vibrate

Metals can be stretched into wires

because the layers of atoms can __________________________ .

(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Q4.
Figure 1 shows two models of the atom.

Figure 1

(a)  Write the labels on Figure 1

Choose the answers from the box.

atom electron nucleus

neutron orbit proton
(4)

(b)  Explain why the total positive charge in every atom of an element is always the
same.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 9 of 27
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c)  The results from the alpha particle scattering experiment led to the nuclear model.

Alpha particles were fired at a thin film of gold at a speed of 7% of the speed of light.

Determine the speed of the alpha particles.

Speed of light = 300 000 000 m/s

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Speed = _____________________ m/s

(2)

(d)  Figure 2 shows two atoms represented as solid spheres.

Figure 2

A hydrogen atom has a radius of 2.5 × 10−11 m

Determine the radius of a magnesium atom.

Use measurements from Figure 2

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Radius = _____________________ m
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 10 of 27
Q5.
This question is about sodium and chlorine.

Figure 1 shows the positions of sodium and chlorine in the periodic table.

Figure 1

(a)  State one difference and one similarity in the electronic structure of sodium and of
chlorine.

Difference __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Similarity ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b)  Sodium atoms react with chlorine atoms to produce sodium chloride (NaCl).

Describe what happens when a sodium atom reacts with a chlorine atom.

Write about electron transfer in your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

(c)  The reaction between sodium and chlorine is an exothermic reaction.

Complete the reaction profile for the reaction between sodium and chlorine.

Figure 2

Page 11 of 27
 (2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q6.
This question is about atoms and chemical elements.

Mendeleev’s periodic table has groups of elements with similar properties.

Figure 1 shows part of Mendeleev’s periodic table.

Figure 1

(a) Compare Mendeleev’s periodic table with the modern periodic table.

Which group is missing from Mendeleev’s periodic table?

Tick one box.

Group 1

Group 2

Group 7

Group 0

(1)

Page 12 of 27
(b) In the early periodic tables some elements were placed in the wrong groups.

Mendeleev overcame some of these problems in his periodic table.

Give two ways Mendeleev did this.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

Atoms were thought to be tiny spheres that could not be divided.

(c) Draw one line from each scientist to the discovery the scientist made.

Discovery the
Scientist
scientist made

Discovered electrons

Electrons orbit the

Neils Bohr
nucleus

Existence of neutrons

Mass of atom
James Chadwick
concentrated at centre

Proton found in nucleus

(2)

(d) A beam of electrons, neutrons and protons can be separated by passing them
through an electric field.

Figure 2 shows the directions of the three particles after entering the electric field.

Figure 2

Page 13 of 27
 Charged particles are attracted to the oppositely charged plate in the electric field.

Which direction, A, B or C, does each particle follow?

Complete the table.

Particle Direction

Electron

Neutron

Proton
(2)

(e) Calculate the mass of one atom of sodium.

Use the equation:

Avogadro constant = 6.02 × 1023

Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Mass = ____________________ g
(3)

(f) The radius of a sodium atom is 227 picometres.

1 picometre = 10–12 metres (m)

The radius of a nucleus is of that of the atom.

Page 14 of 27
 Which calculation shows the radius of a sodium atom’s nucleus?

Tick one box.

227 × 10 000 m

227 × m

227 × 10–12 × 10 000 m

227 × 10–12 × m
(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q7.
The elements in Group 1 of the periodic table are metals.

(a) The elements in Group 1 are called the alkali metals.

Why are they called the alkali metals?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Explain the increase in reactivity of elements further down the group.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

(c) Lithium oxide is an ionic compound.

Draw a dot and cross diagram to show how lithium and oxygen combine to form

Page 15 of 27
 lithium oxide.

Only show the electrons in the outer shell of each atom.

Give the charges on the ions formed.

(4)
(Total 10 marks)

Q8.
In 1869 there were 60 known elements.

Mendeleev arranged the elements in order of their atomic mass (atomic weight).

He realised that elements with similar properties occurred at regular intervals.

(a) Suggest why one of the groups that is on today’s periodic table was not in
Mendeleev’s periodic system.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Explain the arrangement of the first 20 elements in today’s periodic table.

You should answer in terms of atomic structure.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) A student put some potassium bromide solution in a test tube.

She added a few drops of chlorine solution and observed the result.

She repeated the process using different potassium halide salts and different
halogens.

The table below shows the student’s results.

Potassium Potassium Potassium

Solution of
chloride bromide iodide
halogen
solution solution solution

Orange colour Brown colour

Chlorine
forms forms

Brown colour
Bromine No reaction
forms

Page 16 of 27
 Iodine No reaction No reaction

Give the order of reactivity of the halogens from the results in the table above.

Explain how you used the results to show this order of reactivity.

Order ______________________________________________________

Explanation _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) Write a balanced ionic equation for the reaction of chlorine with bromide ions in
solution.

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(e) Explain the order of reactivity of Group 7 elements.

Include information about atomic structure.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q9.
Figure 1 shows the plum pudding model of the atom.

This model was used by some scientists after the discovery of electrons in 1897.

Figure 1

Plum-pudding model

Page 17 of 27
In 1911 the scientists Geiger and Marsden investigated the effect of firing alpha particles
at very thin sheets of gold foil.

Their experiment is shown in Figure 2. The arrows show the paths taken by alpha
particles in the experiment.

Figure 2

(a) Explain why scientists replaced the plum pudding model of the atom with the
nuclear model of the atom as a result of the experiment.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

(b) According to modern measurements:

• the radius of an atom is about 1 × 10–10m

• the radius of an atomic nucleus is about 1 × 10–14m

Show that these values fit with the nuclear model of the atom.

___________________________________________________________________

Page 18 of 27
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) In 1931 a scientist discovered that there are hydrogen atoms with mass number 2
as well as hydrogen atoms with mass number 1.

A year later, another scientist discovered neutrons.

Explain why the discovery of neutrons could explain the presence of hydrogen
atoms with different mass numbers.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(d) How would the results of the experiment shown in Figure 2 change if neutrons were
used instead of alpha particles to bombard a thin sheet of gold?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

Page 19 of 27
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a)  B
1

(b)  calcium oxide or CaO

1

carbon dioxide or CO2

1
either order

(c)  decomposition
1

(d)  endothermic
1

(e)  32 (g)
allow 31−33 (g)
1

(f)  
1

148 (g)
allow a range 143−153 (g)

or

uses graph e.g. 12 dm3 gives 74 (g) (1)

(then factors up so that 24 dm3 gives) 148 (g) (1)

allow a range 143−153 (g)
1
an answer of 148 (g) scores 2 marks
allow ecf from part (e)

(g)  (mistakes)
increase in mass = 3 (not 4)
allow mistakes in either order
1

inserted numbers inversely into formula

allow numbers wrong way round
1

(calculation)
an answer of 250 scores the 2 calculation marks
1

Page 20 of 27
 250 (cm3 per g)
if no calculation marks awarded

or 0.004 for 1 mark

1

(h)  3 × 16 or 48
1

(48) + 12 or 60
allow their mass of oxygen + 12
1

84 − (60) or 24
allow 84 − their mass of carbonate
1

magnesium or Mg
magnesium or Mg without working scores this
mark
1
an answer of 24 scores the 3 calculation marks
[16]

Q2.
(a)
name of relative
charge
particle mass

proton (1) (+1)

neutron 1 0 1+1

electron (very small) −1 1

allow words instead of numbers

allow neutral or no charge for the neutron

(b)  (protons) 3
1

(neutrons) 4
1

(electrons) 3
1
allow words instead of numbers

Page 21 of 27
 (c)

1
1
[8]

Q3.
(a) carbon
1

(b) conduct electricity

1

(c)
1

(d) carbon

hydrogen
either order
2

(e) a polymer
1

(f) slide
1
[7]

Q4.
(a)  electron
1

atom
1

nucleus
1

orbit

Page 22 of 27
 1

(b)  positive charge is provided by protons

1

(every atom of the same element contain the) same number of protons
do not accept same number of protons and
neutrons
ignore reference to electrons
1

(c) 
allow any correct method of determining 7% of
300 000 000
1

v = 21 000 000 (m/s)

allow 2.1 × 107 (m/s)
1
an answer of 21 000 000 scores 2 marks

(d)  r = 6 × 2.5 × 10−11

allow a ratio in the range of 5.7−6.3 or
measurements that would give this range,
correctly substituted
1

r = 1.5 × 10−10 (m)

allow 1.4 × 10−10 to 1.6 × 10−10
their ratio × 2.5 × 10−11 correctly calculated
scores 1 mark
1
an answer in the range 1.4 × 10−10 to 1.6 × 10−10
scores 2 marks
[10]

Q5.
(a)  (difference)
sodium has one and chlorine has seven electrons in outer level / shell
or
number of electrons
number of electrons must be correct if quoted
1

(similarity)
both have three / same number of levels / shells
or
have electrons in third level / shell
or
both have incomplete (outer) levels / shells
allow both have 2 electrons in inner shell
or
both have 8 electrons in second shell

Page 23 of 27
 or
both are one electron away from full outer level /
shell
1

(b)  sodium (atom) loses

allow moves / transfers for loses
do not accept sodium ion loses
1

one (outer shell electron)

1

chlorine (atom) gains

do not accept chloride
1

one (electron)
1
transfer of 1 electron from chlorine to sodium
max 2 marks
reference to sharing or covalent bonding max 3
marks
allow marks from suitable diagram(s)

(c)

ignore labels
any curve / line going up and then down
products line below reactants
allow curve to start / finish anywhere along
reactant / product lines
1
1
[8]

Q6.
(a) group 0
1

(b) left gaps

1

in some places changed the order based on atomic weights

1

Page 24 of 27
 (c)

1
1

(d) (electron) A

(neutron) B

(proton) C
3 correct answers scores 2 marks
1/2 correct answers scores 1 mark
2

(e)
1

3.820598... × 10–23
1

3.8 × 10–23
an answer of 3.8 × 10–23 scores 3 marks
1

(f) 227 × 10–12 × m

1
[11]

Q7.
(a) because they form hydroxides
1

that give alkaline solutions (in water)

1

(b) the atoms have more electron shells (as move down the group)
1

so the electron in the outer shell is further away from the nucleus
1

which reduces the attraction to the nucleus

1

so the electron is lost more easily from the atom

1

(c)

Page 25 of 27
 electronic structure of lithium drawn correctly
1
electronic structure of oxygen drawn correctly
1
correct charge on ions (Li and O )
+ 2–

1
correct number of each ion (2 lithium, 1 oxygen)
1
[10]

Q8.
(a) did not appear because they had not been discovered or they are unreactive or
they did not form compounds
1

(b) arranged in order of atomic / proton number

1

elements in the same group have the same number of electrons in the outer shell
1

(c) chlorine>bromine>iodine

table shows that chlorine displaces bromine and iodine

1

and bromine displaces iodine

1

(d) Cl2(aq) + 2 Br–(aq) Br2(aq) + 2 Cl–(aq)

correct formulae
1
correct balancing
1
correct state symbol
1

(e) the further down the group, the halogen becomes less reactive because outer
electrons are further from the nucleus
1

so less attractive force on an incoming electron

1
[10]

Q9.
(a) most alpha particles went straight through, suggesting lots of empty space
1

a few alpha particles bounced back, suggesting small central nucleus

1

Page 26 of 27
 with all the positive charge
1

the plum pudding model does not explain the results because it shows the whole
atom as a ball of positive charge with no empty space
1

(b) the figures show that the radius of an atom is 10 000 times bigger than the nucleus
1

consistent with the nuclear model, which says that the atom has a tiny nucleus at
the centre of the atom
1

(c) all hydrogen atoms have just one proton (in the nucleus)
1

some hydrogen atoms also have one neutron

1

protons and neutrons have the same relative mass so mass number of these atoms
is 2
1

(d) neutrons are not attracted or repelled by a positive nucleus

1

so the neutrons would all pass through the foil

1
[11]

Page 27 of 27