Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · CHEMISTRY · Chapter
The Periodic Table
103 practice questions
Topics covered
- The arrangement of the electrons in an atom19 practice questions
- Drawing diagrams of electronic configurations19 practice questions
- Electronic configurations and the periodic table19 practice questions
- Metals and non-metals in the periodic table18 practice questions
- Differences between the properties of metals and non-metals19 practice questions
Practice questions
1–10 of 17 · Hard
Question 1
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Element Z is found in Group 5 and Period 3 of the Periodic Table.
Explain what the group and period numbers tell you about the arrangement of electrons in an atom of element Z.
Question 2
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Element Y has an atomic number of 17.
(a)[2 marks]Write the full electronic configuration of element Y.
(b)[1 mark]How many electron shells does an atom of element Y have?
(c)[2 marks]In which group of the Periodic Table is element Y found? Explain your answer.
Question 3
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Explain why the atomic number of an element determines its position in the Periodic Table and not its mass number.
Question 4
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →The diagram below represents the electronic configuration of an atom using shells and electrons:
Electronic configuration of an atom X Shell 1 contains 2 electrons, shown as crosses or dots. Shell 2 contains 4 electrons, shown as crosses or dots.
Interpret this diagram to answer the following:
(a)[1 mark]How many electrons are present in atom X?
(b)[1 mark]State the electronic configuration of atom X using numbers to show the electrons in each shell.
Question 5
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Answer the following about the rules for filling electron shells up to the third shell.
(a)State the maximum number of electrons that can occupy:
(i)[1 mark]the first shell
(ii)[1 mark]the second shell
(iii)[1 mark]the third shell, up to atomic number 10
(b)[1 mark]Describe the order in which electrons fill these shells in an atom.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why the first shell is always filled before electrons occupy the second shell.
Question 6
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Draw a diagram to show the electronic configuration of an atom of fluorine (atomic number 9). Represent the shells as circles and the electrons as dots or crosses.
Question 7
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →An unknown element X has the electronic configuration 2, 8, 3. State the group and period of element X in the Periodic Table.
Question 8
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →An element Y has the atomic number 15.
(a)[1 mark]Write the electronic configuration for element Y.
(b)[1 mark]State the number of electrons in the outer shell of element Y.
(c)[2 marks]Identify the group number and the period number for element Y.
(d)[1 mark]Explain how the electronic configuration relates to the group and period for element Y.
Question 9
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Explain why an atom with the electronic configuration 2, 7 is placed in both Group 7 and Period 2 of the Periodic Table.
Question 10
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Explain why all elements in Group 2 of the periodic table react in a similar way. Your answer should refer to electronic structure.