The Periodic Table (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry)

Exam Questions

1 hour16 questions
1a5 marks

This question is about chemical elements.

Use the Periodic Table to help you answer this question.

i)
Identify the element with atomic number 5
 
(1)
 
ii)
Give the symbol of a metallic element in Period 3
 
(1)
 
iii)
Identify the element whose atoms contain 14 protons.
 
(1)
 
iv)
Identify the element whose atoms have the electronic configuration 2.5
 
(1)
 
v)
Give the name of the compound formed between oxygen and the element with atomic number 13
 
(1)
1b2 marks

The position of an element in the Periodic Table can be used to predict its properties.

 
i)
Which group contains elements that are all unreactive?
(1)
  A Group 2
  B Group 5
  C Group 6
  D Group 0
 
 
ii)
Which of these is the least reactive element in Group 1?
(1)
  A caesium
  B lithium
  C potassium
  D sodium
 

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2a5 marks

The box shows the names of some substances.

bromine carbon dioxide copper iodine
methane nitrogen sulfur dioxide water

 

Complete the table by choosing substances from the box that match the description.

 

Each substance may be used once, more than once or not at all.

  
Description Substance
a good conductor of electricity  
an element that has a basic oxide  
a substance used as a fuel  
a major cause of acid rain  
a non‐metallic element that is a solid
at room temperature
 
2b2 marks

Describe a test for carbon dioxide.

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3a4 marks

The diagram shows the positions of some elements in the Periodic Table.

screen-shot-2022-10-17-at-19-10-35

Use symbols from this table to answer these questions.

Each symbol may be used once, more than once or not at all.

i)
Give the symbol of a metal.

(1)

ii)
Give the symbol of a noble gas.

(1)

iii)
Give the symbol of a liquid at room temperature.

(1)

iv)
Give the symbols of the two elements in Period 3

(1)

   ......................................... and .........................................

3b1 mark
Deduce the electronic configuration of Na.

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4a2 marks

The diagram shows part of the Periodic Table, with elements represented by the letters L, M, Q, R and T.

The letters in the diagram represent elements but are not their chemical symbols.

alphabet-periodic-table

i)
Give the letter from the diagram that represents an element in period 3.
 
(1)
 
ii)
Give two letters from the diagram that represent elements that are in the same group
 
(1)
4b2 marks

Use the diagram in part a) to answer this question.

 
i)
Give the letter from the diagram that represents the element with 5 protons.
 
(1)
 
ii)
State the electronic configuration of the element with 5 protons.
 
(1)
4c3 marks

An element on the Periodic Table has the electronic configuration 2.8.6.

 
i)
State the number of the period to which this element belongs.
 
(1)
ii)
State the number of the group to which this element belongs.
 
(1)
iii)
Give the name of the element with the electronic configuration 2.8.6.
 
(1)
4d2 marks
i)
Name of the element with the electronic configuration 2.8.1. 
 
(1)
 
ii)
State whether the element in part i) is a metal or a non-metal. 
 (1)

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5a1 mark

Mendeleev arranged the elements in the Periodic Table so that elements with similar properties fell into the same vertical columns. The physical property that he used was the atomic mass of the element and the chemical property was the behaviour of the oxide and hydride formed.

What term is used to describe the vertical columns of the Periodic Table?

5b3 marks

The Group 1 elements are often called the alkali metals because of their reaction with water to form metal hydroxides and hydrogen.

 
i)
Name two alkali metals.
 
(1)
 
ii)
Name the element that is in Group 1 but cannot be classed as an alkali metal.
 
(1)
 
iii)
State one observation when an alkali metal reacts with water.
 
(1)
5c3 marks

State the trends, if any, in the reactivity of elements in Groups 1, 7 and 0.

 
5d1 mark

Argon is a Group 0 element that is found in Period 3 of the Periodic Table.

Complete the diagram to show the electronic configuration of argon.

 
6-1-2c-e-3-electron-shells

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11 mark

What is the electronic configuration of silicon?

1-4-q1-edexcel-igcse-chemistry

  A 2,4
  B 2,2,4
  C 2,2,8
  D 2,8,4

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21 mark

Which diagram shows the electronic configuration of a nitrogen atom?

1-4-q2-edexcel-igcse-chemistry

  A  
  B  
  C  
  D  

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31 mark

The diagram shows part of the periodic table, with elements represented by the letters M, Q, R and T.
The letters in the diagram represent elements but are not their chemical symbols.

Use the Periodic Table to help you answer this question.

1-4-q3-edexcel-igcse-chemistry

Which of these statements is true?

  A T and Q form acidic oxides
  B M conducts electricity
  C M is a non-metal element
  D R is a gaseous non-metal element

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4a3 marks

Use the Periodic Table to help you answer this question.

i)
Name the element with atomic number 14
(1)

ii)
Name the element with a relative atomic mass of 11
(1)

iii)
Name the element in Group 2 and Period 3
(1)
4b3 marks
i)
Determine the number of neutrons in a phosphorus atom with mass number 31
(1)

ii)
State the electronic configuration of an aluminium atom.
(1)

iii)
State why neon is unreactive.
(1)

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51 mark

The following elements are found in group 0 of the periodic table.

He   Ne   Ar   Kr   Xe   Rn

What explains their similar chemical and physical properties?

  A They have the same number of valence electrons
  B They are all gases
  C They have the same number of protons and electrons
  D They have full outer shells

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61 mark

Which element, T, Q, R, or M has the electronic configuration 2,8,3?

1-4-q3-edexcel-igcse-chemistry

  A element M
  B element Q
  C element T
  D element R

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1a1 mark

The diagram shows part of the Periodic Table, with elements represented by the letters L, M, Q, R and T.

The letters in the diagram represent elements but are not their chemical symbols.

1-2-the-periodic-table-3a

Give the letter from the diagram that represents a noble gas.

1b1 mark
Elements L and M are in the same group.
 

State why they have similar chemical reactions.

 
1c2 marks

An atom of element Q has 31 protons.

 

Use this information to explain how you can determine the number of protons in an atom of element R.

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2a1 mark

In 1937, an airship full of hydrogen gas flew from Germany to America.

hydrogen-airship

(Source: © Michael Rosskothen/Shutterstock)

Which property of hydrogen makes it a suitable gas to use in an airship?

 
  A colourless
  B insoluble in water
  C low density
  D no smell
2b2 marks

Explain why helium is now used in airships instead of hydrogen.

2c2 marks

Hydrogen is used to manufacture ammonia, NH3 

 

Hydrogen is reacted with nitrogen using an iron catalyst.

 
i)
Give a chemical equation for this reaction.
 
(1)
 
ii)
State why a catalyst is used in this reaction.
 
(1)

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3a2 marks

Mendeleev's Periodic Table was published in 1869, classifying the elements that had been discovered at that time by their atomic weights. Part of his Periodic Table is shown.

Use the information in this table and the Periodic Table to answer the questions.

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7
H            
Li Be B C N O F
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl

Hydrogen is an element from Mendeleev's table that is not in the same group of the modern Periodic Table.

Give two reasons why it should not be in Group 1.

3b2 marks
Give two reasons why hydrogen could be placed in Group 1.
 
3c2 marks

Give two reasons why hydrogen could be placed in Group 7.

3d4 marks

The modern Periodic Table arranges the elements in order of atomic number.

What scientific discoveries allowed elements to be placed in their correct period and group?

How did this knowledge allow elements to be correctly placed?

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4a2 marks

The table shows the electronic structures of five elements represented by letters, not the chemical symbols of the element.

Element Electronic structure
J 2,8,8
K 2,8,1
L 2,8,8,1
M 2,7
N 2,8,4

Give the letters of two elements that belong to the same group in the Periodic Table and state the group that they belong to.

4b2 marks

One of the elements can form the giant covalent structure shown.

 
1-4-4b-h-labelled-silicon-dioxide
 
i)
Give the letter of the element that is represented by the atom labelled A.
 
(1)
 
ii)
State how the diagram shows that the atom labelled B is oxygen.
 
(1)
4c3 marks

Give the letter of the element that is monatomic.

Explain your answer.

4d1 mark
Give the letters of two elements that are gases at room temperature.
 

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5a2 marks

This question is about chemical elements.

Use the Periodic Table to help you answer this question.

i)
Identify the element whose atoms contain 10 neutrons and 9 protons.
 
(1)
ii)
Identify the element whose atoms have the electronic configuration 2.8.5
 
(1)
5b1 mark

Give the name of the compound formed between the element with an electronic configuration of 2.8.6 and the non-metallic element in Group 3.

5c5 marks

A white solid is formed from the reaction between the element with an atomic number of 7 and the element with an electronic configuration of 2.8.3

 
i)
State the type of bonding present in the white solid.
 
(1)
 
ii)
Describe the changes that occur to the atoms of both elements as they react to form the white solid.
 
(3)
 
iii)
Give the chemical formula of the white solid.
 
(1)
5d3 marks

The Group 6 element whose oxides are linked to acid rain can react with the element whose electronic configuration is 2.7 to form different compounds.

 
i)
Draw a dot-and-cross diagram to show the bonding in a molecule of the compound formed with a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 70.
 
(2)
 
ii)
An alternative product with a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 146 is formed under different conditions. Suggest the molecular formula of this product.
 
(1)

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