Paper 1 Topic 1 - Atomic Structure & The Periodic Table (Atomic Structure)

Question 1

When did John Dalton publish the Atomic theory?

Answer 1

1803

Question 2

What subatomic particle did J.J. Thompson discover?

Answer 2

The electron

Question 3

Exam style question.

Describe J.J. Thompson’s “plum pudding” model of the atom (2)

Answer 3

A positively charged atom with negative electrons embedded into it

Question 4

Exam style question

Describe Ernest Rutherford’s gold foil experiment and state 2 discoveries that he made from it. (4)

Answer 4

The experiment:
- Alpha particles were fired at a thin layer of gold foil
- Most went straight through, however a small % were scattered in different directions

The discoveries:
- The mass of the atom is concentrated at the centre
- The nucleus of the atom is positively charged

Question 5

What adaptations did Niels Bohr make to Rutherford’s model?

Answer 5

He accepted Rutherford’s theory, however also suggested that the electrons orbit the nucleus in shells

Question 6

Which sub-atomic particle did James Chadwick discover?

Answer 6

Neutron

Question 7

Describe the structure of the atom.

Answer 7

A central positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons, arranged in shells.

Question 8

What is the relative mass and charge of a proton?

Answer 8

1, +1

Question 9

What is the relative mass and charge of a neutron?

Answer 9

1,0

Question 10

What is the relative mass and charge of an electron?

Answer 10

Negligible, -1

Question 11

Define atomic number.

Answer 11

The number of protons in the nucleus of the atom

Question 12

Why do atoms contain the same number of protons and electrons?

Answer 12

An atom must have a neutral charge. If it doesn’t, it becomes an ion.

Question 13

How do you calculate the number of neutrons in any given atom?

Answer 13

Mass number - Atomic number

Question 14

Define “isotope”.

Answer 14

An atom with the same number of protons and electrons but a different number of neutrons

Question 15

Why do isotopes of the same element have very similar chemical properties?

Answer 15

Chemical properties are determined by the number of electrons and this remains the same in all isotopes of an element

Question 16

Define relative atomic mass.

Answer 16

The weighted mean mass of each isotope of an element

Question 17

What is the symbol for relative atomic mass?

Answer 17

Ar

Question 18

What is the formula to calculate the Ar of any given element given isotopic abundances?

Answer 18

(Mass number of isotope 1 x abundance) + (Mass number of isotope 2 x abundance) ÷ 100