The Nuclear Model of the Atom (Cambridge O Level Physics)

Exam Questions

2 hours30 questions
1a
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2 marks

Fig. 12.1 shows a diagram to represent a helium atom, and an incomplete key.

 
f~nACQwG_q12a

Complete the key in Fig. 12.1. State the name of each particle.

1b
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2 marks

The table in Fig. 12.2 compares two isotopes of helium.

yPJE2~HF_q12b

For each isotope, write the number of protons and the number of neutrons in the correct places in the table.

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2a
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3 marks

Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon. An atom of carbon-14 has 6 protons in its nucleus.

 

Another isotope of carbon is carbon-12.

 
(i)
Determine the number of protons in a carbon-12 nucleus.
[1]
(ii)
Determine the number of neutrons in a carbon-14 nucleus.
[1]
(iii)
Determine the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus of a single carbon-14 atom.
[1]

2b
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1 mark

Carbon-14 decays by emitting a β-particle.

State what happens to a nucleus of carbon-14 when it emits a β-particle.

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3a
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1 mark

State the term used to describe nuclides which have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

3b
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2 marks

Table 1.1 describes four nuclides. The nuclide notation for lead-206 is missing.

name of nuclide radium-222 radon-222 lead-216 lead-206
nuclide notation Ra presubscript 88 presuperscript 222 Rn presubscript 86 presuperscript 222 Pb presubscript 82 presuperscript 216  

Table 1.1

(i)
State which two nuclides have the same number of protons.
[1]
 
(ii)
Complete the table by filling in the nuclide notation for lead-206.
[1]

3c
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3 marks

Using the information from Table 1.1

 
(i)
State which two nuclides have the same number of nucleons.
[1]
 
(ii)
State which two nuclides have the same number of neutrons. 
[1]
 
(iii)
State which one of the four nuclides has the most electrons orbiting when it is in a neutral atom.
[1]

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4a
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1 mark

Fig 1.1 show two different models of an atom.

5-1-4a-e-models-of-atoms-sq-igcse

Fig 1.1

The particles labelled X in the plum pudding model are also included in the model of the atom used today.

State the name of the particles labelled X.

4b
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3 marks

Use words from the box to complete the sentences about the particles in an atom in today's model. Words can be used once, more than once or not at all.

 
an electron                a neutron                a proton

 

The particle with a positive charge is ..........................................

The particle with the smallest mass is ..........................................

The particle with no charge is ..........................................

4c
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2 marks

An electron is removed from the atom, as shown in Fig. 1.2.

5-1-4c-e-ion-atomic-structure-sq-igcse

Fig. 1.2

(i)
State the name given to this type of atom.
[1]
 
(ii)
State the effect on the charge of the overall atom.
[1]

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1a
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3 marks

This notation represents the nucleus of a neutral atom of carbon-14.

 straight C presubscript 6 presuperscript 14

State the number of:

 
(i)
protons in the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14
[1]
(ii)
electrons orbiting the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14
[1]
(iii)
neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14.
[1]

1b
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3 marks

Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon. Carbon-12 is another isotope of carbon.

 
Compare the nucleus of carbon-14 with the nucleus of carbon-12.

  
State the similarities and differences.

1c
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3 marks

Scientists use carbon-14 to estimate the age of wood that is very old.

A very old sample of wood contains 1.0 × 108 carbon-14 atoms.

When the sample was new, it contained 8.0 × 108 carbon-14 atoms. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5700 years.

Estimate the age of the sample of wood.

 
 
 
 
age of wood = ........................... years 

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2a
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3 marks

Use words from the box to complete the sentences about the charges in an atom. Words can be used once, more than once or not at all. 

  
negative  neutral  positive
 

The charge on the nucleus of an atom is ..........................................

 
The charge on a proton is .......................................... 

  
The charge on electrons orbiting the nucleus is ..........................................

2b
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3 marks

A nucleus of radium-226 has the nuclide notation shown.

  
space presubscript 88 presuperscript 226 R a
    
(i)
Determine the number of protons in a nucleus of radium-226.
[1]
  
(ii)
Determine the number of neutrons in a nucleus of radium-226.
[1]
   
(iii)
Radium has another isotope, radium-223. 
     
Write the nuclide notation for radium-223.
[1]
2c
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2 marks

Radium-226 has a half-life of 1600 years.

 
A sample contains 8.0 mg of radium-226.

 
Calculate the time for the sample to decay until only 1.0 mg of radium-226 remains.

 

  
  
time = ............................................... years 

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3a
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2 marks

A nuclear power station uses uranium to generate thermal energy.

The fuel for the power station is an isotope of uranium.

Explain the meaning of the term isotope.

3b
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2 marks

When the nucleus of one particular isotope of uranium decays, it releases a β-particle. In the periodic table the entry for this isotope looks like this:

 
U presubscript 92 presuperscript 239
 

State the proton number, the mass number and the neutron number of this isotope.

3c
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2 marks

A sample of rock includes some uranium-239.

The half-life of uranium-239 is 23 minutes.

Determine the fraction of the uranium-239 that remains after 46 minutes.

 

 

fraction remaining = ...........................................................

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4
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3 marks

The circles shown in Fig. 11.1 represent three gold nuclei. Three α-particles are approaching the gold nuclei.

screenshot-2022-11-02-at-16-31-52

On Fig. 11.1, complete the path of each α-particle.

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5
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3 marks

The isotope hydrogen-1 has a proton number of 1 and a nucleon number of 1.

 
Two isotopes of helium are helium-3 and helium-4.

 
Helium-3 has a proton number of 2 and a nucleon number of 3.

 
Helium-4 has a nucleon number of 4.

 
Complete Table 11.1 for neutral atoms of these isotopes of helium.

   table3

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6a
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3 marks

This notation represents the nucleus of a neutral atom of carbon-14.

 straight C presubscript 6 presuperscript 14

State the number of:

 
(i)
protons in the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14
[1]
(ii)
electrons orbiting the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14
[1]
(iii)
neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of carbon-14.
[1]

6b
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3 marks

Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon. Carbon-12 is another isotope of carbon.

Compare the nucleus of carbon-14 with the nucleus of carbon-12.

State the similarities and differences.

6c
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3 marks

Scientists use carbon-14 to estimate the age of wood that is very old.

 

A very old sample of wood contains 1.0 × 108 carbon-14 atoms.

 

When the sample was new, it contained 8.0 × 108 carbon-14 atoms. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5700 years.

 

Estimate the age of the sample of wood.

 
 
 
 
age of wood = ........................... years

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1a
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4 marks

Table 1.1 shows data about nine elements.

Table 1.1

proton number element symbol
2 helium He
3 lithium Li
4 beryllium Be
5 boron B
6 carbon C
7 nitrogen N
8 oxygen O
9 fluorine F
10 neon Ne

 

Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a nucleon number of 14. It decays by emitting β-particles.

Use data from Table 1.1 to write down the nuclide equation for this decay.

1b
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3 marks

A radioactive sample is placed close to a detector. The radioactive isotope in the sample has a long half-life. The detector records a count rate of 597 counts/s.
Fig. 11.2 shows the readings when different materials are placed between the radioactive sample and the detector.

 
Material fraction numerator c o u n t space r a t e over denominator c o u n t s divided by s end fraction
a sheet of paper  602
a piece of thin aluminium 598
a piece of thin lead 510

 Fig. 11.2

 

Explain whether any α-particles, β-particles or γ-rays are emitted by the radioactive sample.

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2a
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1 mark

Fig. 10.1 represents a neutral atom of an isotope of element X.

q10

State one similarity between this atom and a neutral atom of a different isotope of element X.

2b
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6 marks

The isotope of element X is radioactive. It decays to form an isotope of element Y by emitting a β-particle.

 
(i)

Using Fig. 10.1 deduce the nuclide notation for the isotope of Y produced by this decay.

 

 


nuclide notation: Y presubscript..... end presubscript presuperscript..... end presuperscript [3]

(ii)

β-particles ionise the air they pass through less strongly than the same number of α-particles.

Suggest why this is so.

[3]

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3
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3 marks

A radioactive nucleus of carbon decays to a nucleus of nitrogen by emitting a particle.

 
Complete the nuclide equation and state the name of the particle.

 
straight C presubscript 6 presuperscript 14 rightwards arrow straight N presubscript 7 presuperscript 14 plus straight X presubscript... end presubscript presuperscript... end presuperscript

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4
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2 marks
A radioactive substance decays by emitting an α-particle.
   

The nuclide notation for an α-particle is

   
straight alpha presubscript 2 presuperscript 4
    
(i)
State the term given to the number 4, written in the nuclide notation.
[1]
   
(ii)
State the term given to the number 2, written in the nuclide notation.
[1]

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5
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4 marks

Astatine-210 is a radioactive material. The nucleus of astatine can be represented by the symbol shown.

A presubscript 85 presuperscript 210 t

Complete the table to describe the nucleus of astatine-210.

 
type of particle number of particles charge on particle
neutron    
    positive

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