A-LevelChemistryAtomic structureMay/June 2016Paper 1 Q21 Mark

Four electronic configurations are shown below. Three of these configurations belong to atoms of the elements chlorine, sodium and vanadium. Which electronic configuration belongs to an atom of another element?

Q: What is the correct answer to this A-Level Chemistry question?

The correct answer is D: 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d⁶4s².

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Atomic structure in A-Level Chemistry (syllabus code 9701). It is worth 1 mark.

A1s²2s²2p⁶3s¹

B1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁵

C1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d³4s²

D1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d⁶4s²

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is D: 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d⁶4s²

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

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About This A-Level Chemistry Question

Topic

This multiple-choice question tests Atomic structure in A-Level Chemistry (syllabus code 9701). It is worth 1 mark.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Chemistry May/June 2016 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2.

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