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O-LevelChemistryAtomic Structure5070/22 · Oct/Nov 2018 · Q17 Marks

The electronic configurations of five atoms are shown. A: An atom with 3 electron shells, containing 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, and 8 in the third. B: An atom with 3 electron shells, containing 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, and 7 in the third. C: An atom with 3 electron shells, containing 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, and 4 in the third. D: An atom with 2 electron shells, containing 2 electrons in the first shell, and 6 in the second. E: An atom with 3 electron shells, containing 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, and 6 in the third.

  1. (a)Which electronic configuration represents each of the following descriptions? Each electronic configuration may be used once, more than once or not at all.
  2. (a)(i)a sulfur atom[1]
  3. (a)(ii)a metal atom[1]
  4. (a)(iii)an atom with a proton number of 14[1]
  5. (a)(iv)an atom of a noble gas with three occupied electron shells[1]
  6. (a)(v)an atom which forms a noble gas electronic configuration when it loses two electrons[1]
  7. (b)The element germanium has five naturally occurring isotopes. An isotope of germanium is represented by the symbol shown. ^{76}_{32}Ge
  8. (b)(i)What is the meaning of the term isotopes?[1]
  9. (b)(ii)Deduce the number of neutrons in one atom of this isotope of germanium.[1]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] (a)(i) E
  2. [1] (a)(ii) A
  3. [1] (a)(iii) C
  4. [1] (a)(iv) B
  5. [1] (a)(v) A
  6. [1] (b)(i) atoms with same number of protons but different number of neutrons / atoms with same atomic number but different mass number (1)
  7. [1] (b)(ii) 44

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About this question

Topic
Atomic Structure, O-Level Chemistry (syllabus 5070). Structured question, 7 marks.
Source
O-Level Chemistry, Oct/Nov 2018 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 1.

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