1.

Atomic Structure Tutorial

Silicon has three stable isotopes, 28Si, 29Si and 30Si. The heaviest isotope, 30Si, has a percentage
abundance of 3.1 %. Calculate the percentage abundance of the lightest isotope to one decimal
place.(2)

2.

Identify a radioactive isotope of carbon and state one of its uses.(1)

3.

The electron configuration of chromium can be expressed as [Ar]4sx3dy.

(i)
Explain what the square brackets around argon, [Ar], represent.(1)
(ii) State the values of x and y.(1)
(iii) Annotate the diagram below showing the 4s and 3d orbitals for a chromium atom using
an arrow, and , to represent a spinning electron.
4s

3d
(1)

4.

5.

(a)
(b)

Define the term relative atomic mass (Ar).(1)

Relative atomic masses are obtained using a mass spectrometer. Draw a simple annotated
diagram of the mass spectrometer.(5)

The relative atomic mass of naturally occurring copper is 63.55. Calculate the abundances of
Cu and 65Cu in naturally occurring copper.(2)

63

6.

The graph below represents the successive ionization energies of sodium. The vertical axis plots
log (ionization energy) instead of ionization energy to allow the data to be represented without
using an unreasonably long vertical axis.

State the full electron configuration of sodium and explain how the successive ionization energy
data for sodium are related to its electron configuration.
(4)

Term 3 Tutorial - Atomic Structure

7.

Iron has three main naturally occurring isotopes which can be investigated using a mass
spectrometer.
The first stage in the operation of the mass spectrometer is vaporization. The iron is then
ionized.
(i)
Explain why the iron is ionized.(2)
(ii) Explain why a very low pressure is maintained inside the mass spectrometer.(1)

8.

A sample of iron has the following isotopic composition by mass.

54
56
57
Isotope
Fe
Fe
Fe
5.95
91.88
2.17
Relative abundance / %
Calculate the relative atomic mass of iron based on this data, giving your answer to two
decimal places(2)

9.

Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earths crust. The successive ionization
energies of the element are shown below.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
10.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Define the term first ionization energy and state the equation for the first ionization of
magnesium.(3)
Explain the general increase in successive ionization energies of the element.(2)
Explain the large increase between the tenth and eleventh ionization energies.(3)
Describe and explain the operation of a mass spectrometer.(5)
State three factors that affect the degree of deflection of ions in a mass spectrometer.(3)
Strontium exists as four naturally-occurring isotopes. Calculate the relative atomic mass
of strontium to two decimal places from the following data.
Isotope
Sr-84
Sr-86
Sr-87
Sr-88

Percentage abundance
0.56
9.90
7.00
82.54
(2)

Term 3 Tutorial - Atomic Structure

11.

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

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

Define the term first ionization energy and state what is meant by the term periodicity.(2)
Explain how information from this graph provides evidence for the existence of main
energy levels and sub-levels within atoms.(4)
State what is meant by the term second ionization energy.(1)
Sketch and explain the shape of the graph obtained for the successive ionization energies
of potassium using a logarithmic scale for ionization energy on the y-axis against number
of electrons removed on the x-axis.(4)

12.

Describe the emission spectrum of hydrogen. Outline how this spectrum is related to the energy
levels in the hydrogen atom.(3)

13.

(a)

(b)
(c)
14.

(a)

(b)
(c)
(d)
15.

Explain why the relative atomic mass of argon is greater than the relative atomic mass of
potassium, even though the atomic number of potassium is greater than the atomic
number of argon.(1)
Deduce the numbers of protons and electrons in the K+ ion.(1)
Deduce the electron arrangement for the K+ ion.(1)
Explain why the relative atomic mass of cobalt is greater than the relative atomic mass of
nickel, even though the atomic number of nickel is greater than the atomic number of
cobalt.(1)
Deduce the numbers of protons and electrons in the ion Co2+.(1)
Deduce the electron configuration for the ion Co2+.(1)
Identify a radioactive isotope of cobalt and state one of its uses.(1)

Rubidium contains two stable isotopes, 85Rb and 87Rb. The relative atomic mass of rubidium is
given in Table 5 of the Data Booklet.
(a) Calculate the percentage of each isotope in pure rubidium. State your answers to three
significant figures.(2)
(b) The percentage of each isotope can be checked experimentally using a mass spectrometer.
A vaporized sample of pure rubidium is ionized and then accelerated in a mass
spectrometer. Outline how the use of a magnetic field and a detector in the mass
spectrometer enables the percentages of the two isotopes to be determined.(3)
(c) State the number of electrons and the number of neutrons present in an atom of 87Rb.(2)

Term 3 Tutorial - Atomic Structure

16.

Draw and label an energy level diagram for the hydrogen atom. In your diagram show how the
series of lines in the ultraviolet and visible regions of its emission spectrum are produced,
clearly labelling each series.(4)

17.

(a)

(b)
(c)

List the following types of electromagnetic radiation in order of increasing wavelength

(shortest first).
I.
Yellow light
II.
Red light
III. Infrared radiation
IV. Ultraviolet radiation(1)
Distinguish between a continuous spectrum and a line spectrum.(1)
The thinning of the ozone layer increases the amount of UV-B radiation that reaches the
Earths surface.
Type of Radiation
Wavelength / nm
UV-A
320380
UV-B
290320
Based on the information in the table above explain why UV-B rays are more dangerous
than UV-A.(3)

Term 3 Tutorial - Atomic Structure