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The periodic table

Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry

Topic questions Atomic structure and the periodic table The periodic table

The periodic table

17 questions · 121 marks · about 2 hours

The periodic table questions

TopicThe periodic table

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2024 (R), Question 4 6 marks

This question is about the alkali metals.

A teacher demonstrates the reaction between sodium and water.

The teacher fills a trough with water and then adds a piece of sodium.

(a)

The sodium reacts with the water, forming bubbles of hydrogen gas and a colourless solution.

State two other observations that would be made.

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(b)

Give a test to show that, at the end of the reaction, the solution contains sodium ions.

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(c)

Lithium, sodium and potassium react in a similar way when added to water.

(c)(i)

State, with reference to the electronic configurations of atoms, why these elements have similar reactions.

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(c)(ii)

The table shows the atomic radius of a lithium atom, a sodium atom and a potassium atom.

Atom	Atomic radius in cm
lithium	1.82 × 10⁻¹²
sodium	2.27 × 10⁻¹²
potassium	2.80 × 10⁻¹²

Deduce the relationship between the atomic radius and the reactivity of the metals.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024 (R), Question 1 4 marks

This question is about sulfur.

(a)

The diagram represents the electronic configuration of an atom of sulfur.

(a)(i)

Which period of the Periodic Table contains sulfur?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(a)(ii)

What is the charge on a sulfide ion?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(b)

When a mixture of sulfur and zinc is heated to a high temperature a reaction occurs, forming the compound zinc sulfide, ZnS

(b)(i)

Give a reason why the mixture of sulfur and zinc needs heating before a reaction occurs.

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(b)(ii)

Calculate the relative formula mass (M_r) of zinc sulfide.

[for Zn, A_r = 65 for S, A_r = 32]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024, Question 1 7 marks

Use the Periodic Table to answer these questions.

(a)

(a)(i)

Give the name of the element with atomic number 16

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Give the name of the element with relative atomic mass 9

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(a)(iii)

Give the name of the element in Group 3 and Period 2

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(a)(iv)

Give the electronic configuration of an atom of silicon.

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(b)

Explain, in terms of electron configuration, why sodium is more reactive than lithium.

[3]

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Chemistry Paper 1 November 2023, Question 2 10 marks

(a)

Table 1 shows some relative masses and charges of subatomic particles.

Complete table 1 by giving the missing information.

[2]

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(b)

Table 2 gives the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms and ions of some elements.

The letters are not the symbols of the elements.

(b)(i)

What is the atomic number of P in table 2?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

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(b)(ii)

What is the mass number of U in table 2?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

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(b)(iii)

Give the letter in table 2 that represents an element in Group 5 of the Periodic Table.

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(c)

Q and R represent isotopes of the same element.

(c)(i)

Explain, in terms of subatomic particles, why Q and R are isotopes.

[2]

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(c)(ii)

A sample containing the isotopes Q and R has this percentage composition by mass.

Q = 20.6 %
R = 79.4 %

Calculate the relative atomic mass (A_r) of this sample of the element.

Give your answer to one decimal place.

[3]

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2023 (R), Question 3 8 marks

(a)

The diagram represents an atom of an element.

(a)(i)

What is the particle labelled W?

$Question 3, shown as an image$

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(a)(ii)

An atom of this element contains 13 neutrons.

What is the mass number of this element?

$Question 3, shown as an image$

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(a)(iii)

State why atoms have no overall charge.

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(a)(iv)

What is the charge on the ion usually formed from this element?

$Question 3, shown as an image$

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(b)

There are two isotopes of the element lithium.

$Question 3, shown as an image$

(b)(i)

State why both isotopes react in the same way.

[1]

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(b)(ii)

A sample of lithium contains 7.60%₃⁶Li and 92.4%⁷₃Li

Calculate the relative atomic mass, A_r, of this sample of lithium.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

[3]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023 (R), Question 1 6 marks

(a)

The table lists three subatomic particles.

Complete the table by giving the missing information.

[2]

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(b)

(b)(i)

How are elements arranged in the Periodic Table?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(b)(ii)

Which statement is correct about the position of phosphorus, P, in the Periodic Table?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(b)(iii)

Explain which of the four elements in the diagram is least reactive.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 1 7 marks

Use the Periodic Table to help you answer this question.

(a)

(a)(i)

Name the element with atomic number 14.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Name the element in Group 2 and Period 3.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Name an element that is a liquid at room temperature.

[1]

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(a)(iv)

Give the electronic configuration of an atom of phosphorus.

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(a)(v)

Give the formula of sodium sulfide.

[1]

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(b)

Explain, in terms of electron configuration, why neon is unreactive.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2022, Question 1 5 marks

The diagram shows the electronic configuration of an atom of an element.

(a)

Name the part of the atom that contains the protons and neutrons.

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(b)

Give the number of protons in this atom.

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(c)

Give the number of the group that contains this element.

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(d)

Give the number of the period that contains this element.

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(e)

Give the charge on the ion formed from this atom.

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Chemistry Paper 2 January 2022, Question 4 11 marks

This question is about the reactions of Group 1 metals with water.

(a)

A teacher adds a piece of sodium to some water containing universal indicator.

The equation for this reaction is

$Question 4, shown as an image$

The sodium floats on the surface of the water and the universal indicator changes colour because an alkaline solution is formed.

(a)(i)

Give two other observations.

[2]

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(a)(ii)

Give the final colour of the universal indicator.

[1]

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(b)

The diagram represents an atom of lithium and an atom of sodium.

(b)(i)

Give a reason why lithium and sodium have similar reactions with water.

[1]

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(b)(ii)

Explain why lithium is less reactive than sodium.

[3]

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(c)

The teacher adds 0.150 g of lithium to an excess of water and collects the hydrogen gas produced.

The equation for the reaction is

$Question 4, shown as an image$

The teacher collects 254 cm³ of hydrogen gas at room temperature and pressure (rtp).

Show by calculation that 1 mol of hydrogen gas has a volume of approximately 24 000 cm³ at rtp.

[4]

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Chemistry Paper 2 November 2021, Question 1 5 marks

Use the Periodic Table to help you answer this question.

(a)

Identify the element with atomic number 7

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(b)

Identify a solid non‑metallic element in Period 3

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(c)

Name an element in Group 7 that is a liquid at room temperature.

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(d)

State the relative atomic mass of the element that is in Group 4 and Period 4

[1]

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(e)

Which row shows the most reactive element in Group 1 and Group 7?

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2021 (R), Question 1 6 marks

The box lists some substances.

Choose substances from the box to answer these questions.

Each substance may be used once, more than once or not at all.

(a)

Name a metallic element.

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(b)

Name a compound.

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(c)

Name a mixture.

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(d)

Name an element that is a gas at room temperature.

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(e)

Name an element that forms a basic oxide.

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(f)

Name two elements that are in the same group of the Periodic Table.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020, Question 1 7 marks

This question is about chemical elements.

Use the Periodic Table to help you answer this question.

(a)(i)

Identify the element with atomic number 5

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Give the symbol of a metallic element in Period 3

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Identify the element whose atoms contain 14 protons.

[1]

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(a)(iv)

Identify the element whose atoms have the electronic configuration 2.5

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(a)(v)

Give the name of the compound formed between oxygen and the element with atomic number 13

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(b)

The position of an element in the Periodic Table can be used to predict its properties.

(b)(i)

Which group contains elements that are all unreactive?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(b)(ii)

Which of these is the least reactive element in Group 1?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020 (R), Question 2 5 marks

The diagram shows the positions of some elements in the Periodic Table.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

$Question 2, shown as an image$

(a)

Use symbols from this table to answer these questions.

Each symbol may be used once, more than once or not at all.

(a)(i)

Give the symbol of a metal.

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(a)(ii)

Give the symbol of a noble gas.

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(a)(iii)

Give the symbol of a liquid at room temperature.

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(a)(iv)

Give the symbols of the two elements in Period 3

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(b)

Deduce the electronic configuration of Na

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Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020 (R), Question 6 13 marks

This question is about elements in Group 7 of the Periodic Table and their compounds.

(a)(i)

Give the name of this group of elements.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

State the colour of chlorine gas.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Give a test for chlorine gas.

[2]

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(b)

Give a test to show that a solution contains iodide ions.

[3]

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(c)

A student compares the reactivity of the elements bromine, chlorine and iodine.

He mixes these pairs of solutions and observes the reactions that occur.

• chlorine solution and potassium bromide solution

• bromine solution and potassium iodide solution

Explain how the reactions can be used to show the order of reactivity of the three elements.

Include the colour change that the student would observe in each reaction.

[6]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 1 6 marks

The diagram shows the particles in the atom of an element.

(a)

Particle Y is a proton.

What is particle Z?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(b)

Which of these has the smallest mass?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(c)

What is the mass number of this atom?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(d)

What is the atomic number of this atom?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(e)(i)

Identify the element that contains this atom.

[1]

(e)(ii)

State what is formed when this atom loses its outer shell electrons.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 3 9 marks

Also involves Hazard symbols and risk assessment

The Group 7 elements are called halogens.

Halogens form compounds called halides.

Three of the halogens are represented by the formulae X₂, Y₂ and Z₂

Solutions of these halogens are added separately to solutions of sodium halides, NaX, NaY and NaZ.

The table shows whether or not a reaction occurs.

	X₂	Y₂	Z₂
NaX	no	yes	yes
NaY	no	no	yes
NaZ	no	no	no

(a)

Use the information in the table to deduce the order of reactivity of the halogens X₂, Y₂ and Z₂

[1]

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(b)

An aqueous solution of halogen Y₂ is orange.

This solution is decolourised when it reacts with an alkene.

Deduce the identity of halogen Y₂

[1]

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(c)(i)

The table shows some physical properties of the halogens.

Complete the table by predicting a boiling point for chlorine, the state of fluorine at room temperature and the colour of astatine.

Halogen	Boiling point in °C	State at room temperature	Colour
fluorine	−188		yellow
chlorine		gas	green
bromine	59	liquid	red-brown
iodine	sublimes	solid	grey
astatine	337	solid

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(c)(ii)

Why do the halogens have similar chemical properties?

$Question 3, shown as an image$

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(d)

A teacher uses this apparatus to demonstrate the reaction between chlorine gas and iron wool. The teacher does the reaction in a fume cupboard.

(d)(i)

Suggest why the teacher does the reaction in a fume cupboard.

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(d)(ii)

The product of the reaction between iron and chlorine is iron(III) chloride.

The ions in iron(III) chloride are Fe³⁺ and Cl⁻

Use this information to give the chemical equation for this reaction.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 2 January 2020 (R), Question 1 6 marks

Substances can be classified as elements, mixtures or compounds.

(a)

Each box represents an element, a mixture or a compound.

Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5

(a)(i)

Which box represents a mixture?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(a)(ii)

Which two boxes represent elements?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(a)(iii)

Explain why Box 5 represents a compound.

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(b)

The Periodic Table contains all the known elements.

(b)(i)

How are the elements arranged in the Periodic Table?

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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(b)(ii)

Elements in the same group have the same number of

$Question 1, shown as an image$

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2024 (R), Question 4 Chemistry Paper 1 · June 2024 (R) · Question 4 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024 (R), Question 1 Chemistry Paper 2 · June 2024 (R) · Question 1 4 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024, Question 1 Chemistry Paper 2 · June 2024 · Question 1 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2023, Question 2 Chemistry Paper 1 · November 2023 · Question 2 10 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2023 (R), Question 3 Chemistry Paper 1 · June 2023 (R) · Question 3 8 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023 (R), Question 1 Chemistry Paper 2 · June 2023 (R) · Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 1 Chemistry Paper 2 · June 2023 · Question 1 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2022, Question 1 Chemistry Paper 1 · June 2022 · Question 1 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2022, Question 4 Chemistry Paper 2 · January 2022 · Question 4 11 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2021, Question 1 Chemistry Paper 2 · November 2021 · Question 1 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2021 (R), Question 1 Chemistry Paper 1 · January 2021 (R) · Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020, Question 1 Chemistry Paper 1 · November 2020 · Question 1 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020 (R), Question 2 Chemistry Paper 1 · November 2020 (R) · Question 2 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020 (R), Question 6 Chemistry Paper 1 · November 2020 (R) · Question 6 13 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 1 Chemistry Paper 1 · January 2020 (R) · Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 3 Chemistry Paper 1 · January 2020 (R) · Question 3 9 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2020 (R), Question 1 Chemistry Paper 2 · January 2020 (R) · Question 1 6 marks

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2024 (R), Question 4 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024 (R), Question 1 4 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2024, Question 1 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2023, Question 2 10 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2023 (R), Question 3 8 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023 (R), Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 1 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2022, Question 1 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2022, Question 4 11 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2021, Question 1 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2021 (R), Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020, Question 1 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020 (R), Question 2 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2020 (R), Question 6 13 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 3 9 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2020 (R), Question 1 6 marks