Isotopes (Cambridge O Level Chemistry)

Exam Questions

54 mins9 questions
1a2 marks

Cobalt is an element in Period 4 of the Periodic Table.

Use your copy of the Periodic Table to help you complete the table below.

particle number of protons number of neutrons number of electrons
Co      
Co2+      

1b3 marks

60Co is an isotope.

i)
Explain the term isotope.
[2]
 
ii)
Explain why two isotopes of the same element have identical chemical properties.
[1]

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1a3 marks

Protons, neutrons and electrons are subatomic particles.

Complete the table to show the relative mass and relative charge of a proton, a neutron and an electron.

 
particle relative mass relative charge
proton    
neutron     
electron begin mathsize 16px style 1 over 1840 end style  

[3]

1b4 marks

Extended Only

Bromine has two isotopes. 

i)
Define the term isotope.
[2]
 
ii)
Explain why the two isotopes of bromine have the same chemical properties.
[2]
1c
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5 marks

The table shows the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in some atoms and ions.

Complete the table.

particle number of protons number of neutrons number of electrons
Li presubscript 3 presuperscript 7      
straight S presubscript 16 presuperscript 34 superscript 2 minus end superscript      
  19 22 18

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2a2 marks

This question is about elements X, Y and Z.

An atom of element X is represented as begin mathsize 16px style straight X presubscript 16 presuperscript 34 end style

Name the different types of particles found in the nucleus of this atom of X.

2b1 mark

What is the term for the total number of particles in the nucleus of an atom?

2c1 mark

What is the total number of particles in the nucleus of an atom of begin mathsize 16px style X presubscript 16 presuperscript 34 end style ?

2d1 mark

What is the electronic structure of the ion X2–?

2e1 mark

What term is used to describe atoms of the same element with different numbers of particles in the nucleus?

2f
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3 marks

Separate: Chemistry and Extended Only

Part of the definition of relative atomic mass is ‘the average mass of naturally occurring atoms of an element’.

Some relative atomic masses are not whole numbers.

Element Y has only two different types of atom, 69Y and 71Y

The ratio of atoms present in element Y is shown.

69Y : 71Y = 3 : 2

  • Calculate the relative atomic mass of element Y to one decimal place.

relative atomic mass: ..........

  • Identify element Y.   
  • element Y: ..........
2g2 marks

Element Z is in Period 3 and Group V.

Explain in terms of electron transfer why Z behaves chemically as a non-metal.

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3a2 marks

Chlorine is in Group VII of the Periodic Table.

Two isotopes of chlorine are chlorine‑35 and chlorine‑37

State why these two isotopes of chlorine have the same chemical properties.

3b
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3 marks

Chlorine is in Group VII of the Periodic Table.

Two isotopes of chlorine are chlorine‑35 and chlorine‑37.

Complete the table to show the number of electrons, neutrons and protons in each atom and ion.

  number of electrons number of neutrons number of protons
begin mathsize 16px style Cl presubscript 17 presuperscript 35 end style      
begin mathsize 16px style Cl presubscript 17 presuperscript 37 superscript minus sign end style      
3c3 marks

begin mathsize 16px style Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 22 end style, Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 23 and begin mathsize 16px style Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 24 end style are isotopes of sodium.

Describe how these sodium isotopes are the same and how they are different in terms of the total number of protons, neutrons and electrons in each.

same:

different:

3d1 mark

begin mathsize 16px style Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 22 end style, Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 23 and  Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 24 are isotopes of sodium.

Why do all three isotopes have an overall charge of zero?

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4a2 marks

This question is about the structures of atoms and ions.

Define the term proton number.

4b
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2 marks

Complete the table to show the number of protons, neutrons and electrons present in atoms of begin mathsize 16px style Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 24 end style and begin mathsize 16px style Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 26 end style.

  number of protons number of neutrons number of electrons
Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 24      
Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 26      
4c1 mark

What term is used to describe atoms of the same element, such as begin mathsize 16px style Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 24 end style and Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 26?

4d2 marks

Extended Only

Explain why the chemical properties of begin mathsize 16px style Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 24 end style and begin mathsize 16px style Mg presubscript 12 presuperscript 26 end style are the same.

4e
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4 marks

Complete the table to identify the atoms and ions which have the following numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons.

  number of protons number of neutrons number of electrons
begin mathsize 16px style Na presubscript 11 presuperscript 23 superscript plus end style 11 12 10
  4 5 4
  17 20 18
4f2 marks

State the electronic structure of the following atom and ion.

Al:

S2–:

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