Q1. The following table gives the melting points of some elements in Period 3.
Element Na Al Si P S
Melting point / K 371 933 1680 317 392
(a) State the type of structure shown by a crystal of silicon.
Explain why the melting point of silicon is very high.
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(3)
(b) State the type of structure shown by crystals of sulfur and phosphorus.
Explain why the melting point of sulfur is higher than the melting point of
phosphorus.
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(3)
(c) Draw a diagram to show how the particles are arranged in aluminium and explain
why aluminium is malleable.
(You should show a minimum of six aluminium particles arranged in two
dimensions.)
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(3)
(d) Explain why the melting point of aluminium is higher than the melting point of
sodium.
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(3)
(Total 12 marks)
Q2. The following diagram shows the first ionisation energies of some Period 3 elements.
(a) Draw a cross on the diagram to show the first ionisation energy of aluminium.
(1)
(b) Write an equation to show the process that occurs when the first ionisation energy
of aluminium is measured.
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(2)
(c) State which of the first, second or third ionisations of aluminium would produce an
ion with the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
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(1)
(d) Explain why the value of the first ionisation energy of sulfur is less than the value of
the first ionisation energy of phosphorus.
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(2)
(e) Identify the element in Period 2 that has the highest first ionisation energy and give
its electron configuration.
Element .......................................................................................................
Electron configuration ..................................................................................
(2)
(f) State the trend in first ionisation energies in Group 2 from beryllium to barium.
Explain your answer in terms of a suitable model of atomic structure.
Trend …........................................................................................................
Explanation ..................................................................................................
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(3)
(Total 11 marks)
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Q3. Ionisation energies provide evidence for the arrangement of electrons in atoms.
(a) Complete the electron configuration of the Mg+ ion.
1s2 ................................................................................................................
(1)
(b) (i) State the meaning of the term first ionisation energy.
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(2)
(ii) Write an equation, including state symbols, to show the reaction that occurs
when the second ionisation energy of magnesium is measured.
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(1)
(iii) Explain why the second ionisation energy of magnesium is greater than the
first ionisation energy of magnesium.
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(1)
(iv) Use your understanding of electron arrangement to complete the table by
suggesting a value for the third ionisation energy of magnesium.
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
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Ionisation energies of
736 1450 10 500 13 629
magnesium / kJ mol–1
(1)
(c) State and explain the general trend in the first ionisation energies of the Period 3
elements sodium to chlorine.
Trend ...........................................................................................................
Explanation ..................................................................................................
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(3)
(d) State how the element sulfur deviates from the general trend in first ionisation
energies across Period 3. Explain your answer.
How sulfur deviates from the trend ..............................................................
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Explanation ..................................................................................................
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(3)
(e) A general trend exists in the first ionisation energies of the Period 2 elements
lithium to fluorine. Identify one element which deviates from this general trend.
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(1)
(Total 13 marks)
Q4. (a) Complete the electronic configuration for the sodium ion, Na+
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ls2 .................................................................................................................
(1)
(b) (i) Write an equation, including state symbols, to represent the process for which
the energy change is the second ionisation energy of sodium.
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(2)
(ii) Explain why the second ionisation energy of sodium is greater than the
second ionisation energy of magnesium.
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(3)
(iii) An element X in Period 3 of the Periodic Table has the following successive
ionisation energies.
First Second Third Fourth
Ionisation energies / kJ mol–1 577 1820 2740 11600
Deduce the identity of element X.
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(1)
(c) State and explain the trend in atomic radius of the Period 3 elements from sodium
to chlorine.
Trend ...........................................................................................................
Explanation ..................................................................................................
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(3)
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(d) Explain why sodium has a lower melting point than magnesium.
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(3)
(e) Sodium reacts with ammonia to form the compound NaNH2 which contains the NH2–
ion. Draw the shape of the NH2– ion, including any lone pairs of electrons.
Name the shape made by the three atoms in the NH2– ion.
Shape of NH2–
Name of shape ............................................................................................
(2)
(f) In terms of its electronic configuration, give one reason why neon does not form
compounds with sodium.
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(1)
(Total 16 marks)
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