1.

Which properties of the alkali metals decrease going down group 1?

A.

First ionization energy and reactivity

B.

Melting point and atomic radius

C.

Reactivity and electronegativity

D.

First ionization energy and melting point

(Total 1 mark)

2.

Which statements about the periodic table are correct?

I.

The elements Mg, Ca and Sr have similar chemical properties.

II.

Elements in the same period have the same number of main energy levels.

III.

The oxides of Na, Mg and P are basic.

A.

I and II only

B.

I and III only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

3.

The x-axis of the graph below represents the atomic number of the elements in period 3.

Which variable could represent the y-axis?

A.

Melting point

B.

Electronegativity

C.

Ionic radius

D.

Atomic radius
(Total 1 mark)

4.

Cu2+(aq) reacts with ammonia to form the complex ion [Cu(NH 3)4]2+. Explain this reaction in
terms of an acid-base theory, and outline how the bond is formed between Cu2+ and NH3.
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

5.

(i)

State whether aqueous solutions of magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride are acidic,
alkaline or neutral.
(1)

(ii)

State an equation for the reaction between magnesium oxide and water.
(1)
(Total 2 marks)

6.

How many protons, neutrons and electrons are present in each atom of
Protons

Neutrons

Electrons

A.

16

15

16

B.

15

16

15

C.

15

31

15

D.

16

31

16

31

P?

(Total 1 mark)

7.

An element is in group 4 and period 3 of the periodic table. How many electrons are in the
highest occupied energy level of an atom of this element?
A.

B.

C.

12

D.

14
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

8.

Which is the best definition of electronegativity?

A.

Electronegativity is the energy required for a gaseous atom to gain an electron.

B.

Electronegativity is the attraction of an atom for a bonding pair of electrons.

C.

Electronegativity is the attraction between the nucleus and the valence electrons of an
atom.

D.

Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons from another atom.

(Total 1 mark)

9.

Sodium oxide, Na2O, is a white solid with a high melting point.

(a)

Explain why solid sodium oxide is a non-conductor of electricity.

......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Molten sodium oxide is a good conductor of electricity. State the half-equation for the
reaction occurring at the positive electrode during the electrolysis of molten sodium
oxide.
......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

(i)

State the acid-base nature of sodium oxide.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

State the equation for the reaction of sodium oxide with water.
...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 4 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

10.

The graph of the first ionization energy plotted against atomic number for the first twenty
elements shows periodicity.

(i)

Define the term first ionization energy and state what is meant by the term periodicity.
(2)

(ii)

State the electron arrangement of argon and explain why the noble gases, helium, neon
and argon show the highest first ionization energies for their respective periods.
(3)

(iii)

A graph of atomic radius plotted against atomic number shows that the atomic radius
decreases across a period. Explain why chlorine has a smaller atomic radius than sodium.
(1)

(iv)

Explain why a sulfide ion, S2, is larger than a chloride ion, Cl.
(1)

(v)

Explain why the melting points of the Group 1 metals (Li Cs) decrease down the
group whereas the melting points of the Group 7 elements (F I) increase down the
group.
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

11.

Which transition element, or compound of a transition element, is used as a catalyst in the

Contact process?
A.

Fe

B.

MnO2

C.

V2O5

D.

Ni
(Total 1 mark)

12.

Deduce the oxidation number of cobalt in the following species.

(i)

[Co(H2O)6]2+
(1)

(ii)

Co2(SO4)3
(1)

(iii)

[CoCl4]2
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

13.

(i)

State the full electronic configurations of copper, Cu, and the copper(I) ion, Cu+.
(2)

(ii)

Explain why copper(II) compounds in aqueous solution are coloured whereas

scandium(III) compounds in aqueous solution are colourless.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

14.

Which statement describes the trends of electronegativity values in the periodic table?
A.

Values increase from left to right across a period and increase down a group.

B.

Values increase from left to right across a period and decrease down a group.

C.

Values decrease from left to right across a period and increase down a group.

D.

Values decrease from left to right across a period and decrease down a group.
(Total 1 mark)

15.

Which statement is correct for all elements in the same period?

A.

They have the same number of electrons in the highest occupied energy level.

B.

They have the same chemical reactivity.

C.

They have the same number of occupied energy levels.

D.

They have the same number of neutrons.

(Total 1 mark)

16.

Some of the most important processes in chemistry involve acid-base reactions.

(a)

Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of each of the period 3 elements, Na to Cl.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(3)

(b)

State one example of an acidic gas, produced by an industrial process or the internal
combustion engine, which can cause large-scale pollution to lakes and forests.
......................................................................................................................................
(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

(c)

Suggest one method, other than measuring pH, which could be used to distinguish
between solutions of a strong acid and a weak acid of the same molar concentration.
State the expected results.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

17.

Which equation best represents the first ionization energy of magnesium?

A.

Mg(s) Mg+(s) + e

B.

Mg(g) Mg2+(g) + 2e

C.

Mg(g) Mg+(g) + e

D.

Mg(s) Mg+(g) + e
(Total 1 mark)

18.

What are the products of the reaction between chlorine and water?
A.

O2, H2 and HCl

B.

H2 and OCl2

C.

HCl and HOCl

D.

HOCl, H2 and Cl2

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

19.

(a)

(i)

Draw the shape of the pz orbital using the coordinates shown.

(1)

(ii)

State the electron configuration of Fe3+.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii)

Define the term ligand.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iv)

Explain why the complex [Fe(H2O)6]3+ is coloured.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(3)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

(v)

The element selenium (Z = 34) has electrons in the 4s, 3d and 4p orbitals. Draw an
orbital box diagram (arrow-in-box notation) to represent these electrons.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

20.

Nitrogen and silicon belong to different groups in the periodic table.

(i)

Distinguish in terms of electronic structure, between the terms group and period.
(2)

(ii)

State the maximum number of orbitals in the n = 2 energy level.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

21.

What happens when sodium is added to water?

I.

A gas is evolved

II.

The temperature of the water increases

III.

A clear, colourless solution is formed

A.

I and II only

B.

I and III only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

10

22.

An atom of an element contains 19 electrons. In which group of the periodic table does it occur?
A.

B.

C.

D.

7
(Total 1 mark)

23.

Which species has the largest radius?

A.

Cl

B.

C.

Na+

D.

K+
(Total 1 mark)

24.

Which process is responsible for the colour of a transition metal complex?

A.

The absorption of light when electrons move between s orbitals and d orbitals

B.

The emission of light when electrons move between s orbitals and d orbitals

C.

The absorption of light when electrons move between different d orbitals

D.

The emission of light when electrons move between different d orbitals

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

11

25.

Transition elements form complexes such as [Fe(CN)6]4 and [FeCl4]. Deduce the oxidation
number of iron in each of these complex ions.
[Fe(CN)6]4 ............................................................................................................................
[FeCl4] ..................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)

26.

Which series is arranged in order of increasing radius?

A.

Ca2+ < Cl < K+

B.

K+ < Ca2+ < Cl

C.

Ca2+ < K+ < Cl

D.

Cl < K+ < Ca2+

(Total 1 mark)

27.

Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of the period 3 elements Na to Ar. For sodium
oxide and sulfur trioxide, write balanced equations to illustrate their acid-base character.
(Total 3 marks)

28.

Which salts form coloured solutions when dissolved in water?

I.
II.
III.

FeCl3
NiCl2
ZnCl2

A.

I and II only

B.

I and III only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

12

29.

Which combination is correct for the complex ion in [Co(NH 3)4(H2O)Cl]Br?

Oxidation state of cobalt

Shape of the complex ion

Overall charge of the

complex ion

A.

+2

Octahedral

+2

B.

+3

Octahedral

C.

+2

Octahedral

+1

D.

+2

Tetrahedral

+1
(Total 1 mark)

30.

Consider the transition metal complex, K3[Fe(CN)6].

(i)

Define the term ligand, and identify the ligand in this complex.
(1)

(ii)

Write the full electron configuration and draw the orbital box diagram of iron in its
oxidation state in this complex, and hence, determine the number of unpaired electrons in
this state.
(3)

(iii)

Explain why many transition metal d-block complexes are coloured.

(3)
(Total 7 marks)

31.

By reference to the structure and bonding in NaCl and SiCl4:

(i)

State and explain the differences in electrical conductivity in the liquid state.
(3)

(ii)

Predict an approximate pH value for the solutions formed by adding each compound
separately to water. Explain your answer.
(4)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry

13