1.

Which statement about the numbers of protons, electrons and neutrons in an atom is always
correct?

A. The number of neutrons minus the number of electrons is zero.

B. The number of protons plus the number of neutrons equals the number of electrons.

C. The number of protons equals the number of electrons.

D. The number of neutrons equals the number of protons.

(Total 1 mark)

2. (a) Explain why the relative atomic mass of argon is greater than the relative atomic mass of
potassium, even though the atomic number of potassium is greater than the atomic
number of argon.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

+
(b) Deduce the numbers of protons and electrons in the K ion.

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

+
(c) Deduce the electron arrangement for the K ion.

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 1
 28 29 30 30
3. Silicon has three stable isotopes, Si, Si and Si. The heaviest isotope, Si, has a percentage
abundance of 3.1 %. Calculate the percentage abundance of the lightest isotope to one decimal
place.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)

4. Identify a radioactive isotope of carbon and state one of its uses.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 1 mark)

5. What is the electron configuration of vanadium?

2 2 6 2 6 2 3
A. 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s
2 2 6 2 6 3 2
B. 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s
2 2 6 2 6 4 1
C. 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s
2 2 6 2 6 5
D. 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 2
6. Which quantities are the same for all atoms of chlorine?

I. Number of protons

II. Number of neutrons

III. Number of electrons

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

7. (a) Explain why the relative atomic mass of cobalt is greater than the relative atomic mass of
nickel, even though the atomic number of nickel is greater than the atomic number of
cobalt.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

2+
(b) Deduce the numbers of protons and electrons in the ion Co .

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

2+
(c) Deduce the electron configuration for the ion Co .

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 3
 (d) Identify a radioactive isotope of cobalt and state one of its uses.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 4 marks)

35 37
8. Which statements about the isotopes of chlorine, 17 Cl and 17 Cl , are correct?

I. They have the same chemical properties.

II. They have the same atomic number.

III. They have the same physical properties.

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

9. In the emission spectrum of hydrogen, which electronic transition would produce a line in the
visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum?

A. n = 2 →n = 1

B. n=3→n=2

C. n=2→n=3

D. n=∞→n=1
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 4
 85 87
10. Rubidium contains two stable isotopes, Rb and Rb. The relative atomic mass of rubidium is
given in Table 5 of the Data Booklet.

(a) Calculate the percentage of each isotope in pure rubidium. State your answers to three
significant figures.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) The percentage of each isotope can be checked experimentally using a mass spectrometer.
A vaporized sample of pure rubidium is ionized and then accelerated in a mass
spectrometer. Outline how the use of a magnetic field and a detector in the mass
spectrometer enables the percentages of the two isotopes to be determined.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(3)

87
(c) State the number of electrons and the number of neutrons present in an atom of Rb.

Number of electrons:

......................................................................................................................................

Number of neutrons:

......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 5
11. Consider the relative abundance of the isotopes of element X.

Isotope Relative abundance (%)

24 80
X
25 10
X
26 10
X

What is the relative atomic mass of X?

A. 24

B. 25

C. Between 24 and 25

D. Between 25 and 26
(Total 1 mark)

12. Values for the successive ionization energies for an unknown element are given in the table
below.

First ionization energy / Second ionization Third ionization Fourth ionization

–1 –1 –1 –1
kJ mol energy / kJ mol energy / kJ mol energy / kJ mol
420 3600 4400 5900

In which group of the periodic table would the unknown element be found?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 6
 x y
13. The electron configuration of chromium can be expressed as [Ar]4s 3d .

(i) Explain what the square brackets around argon, [Ar], represent.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) State the values of x and y.

x: ..................................................................................................................................

y: ..................................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) Annotate the diagram below showing the 4s and 3d orbitals for a chromium atom using
an arrow, and , to represent a spinning electron.

4s 3d
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

24
14. Which of the following is an isotope of 12 Mg?

24 2
A. 12 Mg

26
B. 12 Mg

42
C. 13 Mg

26
D. 13 Mg

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 7
15. Which describes the visible emission spectrum of hydrogen?

A. A series of lines converging at longer wavelength

B. A series of regularly spaced lines

C. A series of lines converging at lower energy

D. A series of lines converging at higher frequency

(Total 1 mark)

16. (a) Define the term relative atomic mass (Ar).

(1)

(b) Relative atomic masses are obtained using a mass spectrometer. Draw a simple annotated
diagram of the mass spectrometer.
(5)
(Total 6 marks)

17. The relative atomic mass of naturally occurring copper is 63.55. Calculate the abundances of
63 65
Cu and Cu in naturally occurring copper.
(Total 2 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 8
18. The graph represents the energy needed to remove nine electrons, one at a time, from an atom of
an element. Not all of the electrons have been removed.

Which element could this be?

A. C

B. Si

C. P

D. S
(Total 1 mark)

2 2 6 2 6 10
19. An ion has the electron configuration 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d . Which ion could it be?
2+
A. Ni
+
B. Cu
2+
C. Cu
3+
D. Co
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 9
 63 65
20. A sample of element X contains 69 % of X and 31 % of X. What is the relative atomic mass
of X in this sample?

A. 63.0

B. 63.6

C. 65.0

D. 69.0
(Total 1 mark)

31 3
21. How many electrons does the ion 15 P contain?

A. 12

B. 15

C. 16

D. 18
(Total 1 mark)

2+
22. What is the electron arrangement of the Mg ion?

A. 2,2

B. 2,8

C. 2,8,2

D. 2,8,8
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 10
23. Draw and label an energy level diagram for the hydrogen atom. In your diagram show how the
series of lines in the ultraviolet and visible regions of its emission spectrum are produced,
clearly labelling each series.

(Total 4 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 11
24. The graph below represents the successive ionization energies of sodium. The vertical axis plots
log (ionization energy) instead of ionization energy to allow the data to be represented without
using an unreasonably long vertical axis.

State the full electron configuration of sodium and explain how the successive ionization energy
data for sodium are related to its electron configuration.
(Total 4 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 12
 63 2+ 65 +
25. Which statement about the species Cu and Cu is correct?

A. Both species have the same number of protons.

B. Both species have the same number of electrons.

C. Both species have the same number of neutrons.

D. Both species have the same electron arrangement.

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 13
26. Which statement about the isotopes of an element is correct?

A. They have the same mass number.

B. They have a different atomic number.

C. They have the same chemical properties.

D. They are located in different places in the periodic table.

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 14
27. Iron has three main naturally occurring isotopes which can be investigated using a mass
spectrometer.

The first stage in the operation of the mass spectrometer is vaporization. The iron is then
ionized.

(i) Explain why the iron is ionized.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 15
 (ii) Explain why a very low pressure is maintained inside the mass spectrometer.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 16
28. A sample of iron has the following isotopic composition by mass.

Isotope 54 56 57
Fe Fe Fe
Relative abundance / % 5.95 91.88 2.17

Calculate the relative atomic mass of iron based on this data, giving your answer to two
decimal places.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 17
29. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. The successive ionization
energies of the element are shown below.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 18
 (i) Define the term first ionization energy and state the equation for the first ionization of
magnesium.
(3)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 19
 (ii) Explain the general increase in successive ionization energies of the element.
(2)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 20
 (iii) Explain the large increase between the tenth and eleventh ionization energies.
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 21
 31
30. How many protons, neutrons and electrons are present in each atom of P?

Protons Neutrons Electrons

A. 16 15 16
B. 15 16 15
C. 15 31 15
D. 16 31 16
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 22
31. Which is correct for the following regions of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Ultraviolet (UV) Infrared (IR)

A. high energy short wavelength low energy low frequency
B. high energy low frequency low energy long wavelength
C. high frequency short wavelength high energy long wavelength
D. high frequency long wavelength low frequency low energy
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 23
32. (i) Describe and explain the operation of a mass spectrometer.
(5)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 24
 (ii) State three factors that affect the degree of deflection of ions in a mass spectrometer.
(3)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 25
 (iii) Strontium exists as four naturally-occurring isotopes. Calculate the relative atomic mass
of strontium to two decimal places from the following data.

Isotope Percentage abundance

Sr-84 0.56
Sr-86 9.90
Sr-87 7.00
Sr-88 82.54
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 26
33. Which species possesses only two unpaired electrons?

A. Zn

B. Mg

2+
C. Ti

2+
D. Fe
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 27
34. The graph of the first ionization energy plotted against atomic number for the first twenty
elements shows periodicity.

IB Questionbank Chemistry 28
 (i) Define the term first ionization energy and state what is meant by the term periodicity.
(2)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 29
 (ii) Explain how information from this graph provides evidence for the existence of main
energy levels and sub-levels within atoms.
(4)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 30
 (iii) State what is meant by the term second ionization energy.
(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 31
 (iv) Sketch and explain the shape of the graph obtained for the successive ionization energies
of potassium using a logarithmic scale for ionization energy on the y-axis against number
of electrons removed on the x-axis.
(4)
(Total 11 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 32
35. What is the atomic number of a neutral atom which has 51 neutrons and 40 electrons?

A. 40

B. 51

C. 91

D. 131
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 33
36. What is the relative atomic mass of an element with the following mass spectrum?

A. 24

B. 25

C. 26

D. 27
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 34
37. Which is the correct definition of the mass number of an atom?

A. The total mass of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of the atom

B. The total mass of neutrons, protons and electrons in the atom

C. The number of protons in the nucleus of the atom

D. The total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of the atom
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 35
38. The table below shows the number of protons, neutrons and electrons present in five species.

Species Number of protons Number of neutrons Number of electrons

X 6
Y 7
Z 7
W 8
Q 8
8 6
7 7
7 8
8 8
10 8

Which two species are isotopes of the same element?

A. X and W

B. Y and Z

C. Z and W

D. W and Q
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 36
39. What is the order of increasing energy of the orbitals within a single energy level?

A. d<s<f<p

B. s<p<d<f

C. p<s<f<d

D. f<d<p<s
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 37
 2+
40. What is the electron configuration of the Cr ion?
5 1
A. [Ar] 3d 4s
3 1
B. [Ar] 3d 4s
6 1
C. [Ar] 3d 4s
4 0
D. [Ar] 3d 4s
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 38
41. Which species have the same number of electrons?

2–
I. S

–
II. Cl

III. Ne

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 39
42. Which gives the correct order of these processes in a mass spectrometer?

A. ionization deflection acceleration

B. ionization acceleration deflection

C. acceleration ionization deflection

D. deflection acceleration ionization

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 40
43. Between which ionization energies of boron will there be the greatest difference?

A. Between 1st and 2nd ionization energies

B. Between 2nd and 3rd ionization energies

C. Between 3rd and 4th ionization energies

D. Between 4th and 5th ionization energies

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 41
44. Describe the emission spectrum of hydrogen. Outline how this spectrum is related to the energy
levels in the hydrogen atom.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 42
45. Which species has 54 electrons and 52 protons?

128 2
A. 52Te

132 2
B. 54 Xe

132 2
C. 54 Xe

128 2
D. 52Te

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 43
46. What is the correct sequence for the processes occurring in a mass spectrometer?

A. vaporization, ionization, acceleration, deflection

B. vaporization, acceleration, ionization, deflection

C. ionization, vaporization, acceleration, deflection

D. ionization, vaporization, deflection, acceleration

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 44
47. (a) List the following types of electromagnetic radiation in order of increasing wavelength
(shortest first).

I. Yellow light

II. Red light

III. Infrared radiation

IV. Ultraviolet radiation

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 45
 (b) Distinguish between a continuous spectrum and a line spectrum.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 46
 (c) The thinning of the ozone layer increases the amount of UV-B radiation that reaches the
Earth’s surface.

Type of Radiation Wavelength / nm

UV-A 320–380
UV-B 290–320

Based on the information in the table above explain why UV-B rays are more dangerous
than UV-A.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 47
48. What is the electron configuration for the copper(I) ion, (Z = 29)?

2 9
A. [Ar]4s 3d

1 10
B. [Ar]4s 3d

1 9
C. [Ar]4s 3d

10
D. [Ar]3d
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 48