Structured Questions

|!|EL03001|!|
A part of the Periodic Table is shown below. [17]

Group
I II III IV V VI VII 0
Period

2 A B

3 C D E F

4 G H

5 I J

Answer the following questions with the letters given in the table.
(a) Which element has the greatest atomic number?
(b) Which elements can be found as monoatomic molecule in nature? Explain your answer.
(c) Which element is the most reactive metal?
(d) Which element(s) is/are semi-metal?
(e) Why elements C, D, E and F are put in the same period?
(f) Which element, C or I, is more reactive?
Explain your answer.
(g) Group 0 elements are sometimes called inert gases. Explain why they are so inert.
(h) Element G and H form a compound. What are the formula and the nature of bonding in the
compound?
(i) Element D can form a compound with oxygen. Name the compound and its structure.
##
(a) J (1)
(b) B and F (1+1) Atoms of B and F have octet structure / fully filled outermost shell which is a stable
state. (1) They will not form bond with other atoms, neither by transferring nor by sharing of
outermost electrons. (1)
(c) I (1)
(d) D (1)
(e) They all have three/same number of occupied electron shells (1).
(f) I is more reactive (1). It is because I has a greater atomic size, hence there is a greater distance
between positively charged nucleus and outermost shell electrons within the atom, and therefore
weaker attractive force between the nucleus and outermost electrons is resulted (2). Element I, as a
result, loses outermost electrons to undergo reaction more easily than Element C does (1).
(g) All elements in Group 0 have their outermost electron shells fully filled (1). This accounts for their
stability.
(h) The formula of the compound is GH2 (1). It is an ionic compound (1).
(i) The compound is silicon(IV) oxide. (1) It has a giant covalent structure. (1)
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|!|EL03002|!|
The diagram below shows the structure of an atom of element X. The crosses, black dots and white dots
represent three different kinds of particles. [8]

(a) Identify these particles and state their charges.

(b) What is the atomic number and mass number of element X?
(c) To which group does element X belong? What name is given to the elements in this group?
(d) What would be the formula of the compound formed by X and carbon?

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(a) Cross: electron, charge: negative (1) (1)
Black dot: neutrons, charge: neutral (0) (1)
White dot: protons, charge: positive (+1) (1)
(b) Atomic number = 9 (1)
Mass number = 19 (1)
(c) Group VII; halogens. (2)
(d) CX4. (1)
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|!|EL03003|!|
Given the following information about two elements X and Y of the same group. [16]
Element Atomic number Relative atomic mass

X 17 35.5

Y 35 79.9

(a) Deduce the group number of the two elements based on the information given.
(b) State the names, colours and physical states at room conditions of the element X and Y.
(c) Explain why the relative atomic masses of the elements are not integers.
(d) With the aid of electron diagrams (showing electrons in the outermost shell), explain how element
X can form
(i) an ionic compound with sodium, and
(ii) a covalent compound with hydrogen.
##
(a) Atomic number of element X is 17, which is equal to the number of protons in the atom. So there
are 17 protons in an atom of X. (1) As atom is electrically neutral because the number of protons is
equal to the number of electrons. So there are 17 electrons in an atom of X. (1) The electronic
configuration of atom X will be 2,8,7. (1) There are 7 outermost electrons in atom X, so it belongs
to Group VII. (1) As element Y belongs to the same group as element X, so element Y also belongs
to Group VII. (1)
(b) Element X is chlorine, a greenish yellow gas. (2)
Element Y is bromine, a dark red liquid. (2)
(c) The relative atomic masses are not integers because of the existence of isotopes in the elements. (1)
Relative atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the relative isotopic masses of the
element. (1)
(d) (i) A sodium atom transfers one electron to a chlorine atom and both can attain the stable noble
gas / octet structure. (1) Thus, Na+ ion and Cl ion are formed and they are held together by
ionic bond. (1)

(1)

(ii) Hydrogen and chlorine atom each contributes one electron for sharing to form a covalent
bond, and both attain the stable noble gas structures. (1)

(1)

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|!|EL03004|!|
Elements X and Y form ionic oxides X2O and Y2O3 respectively. [14]
(a) To which groups do X and Y belong in the Periodic Table?
(b) Explain why X and Y form oxides with such chemical formulae.
(c) X and Y are in the same period. Which element, X or Y, has a greater atomic number? Explain your
answer.
(d) Explain how Y forms a compound with chlorine. Draw the electron diagram (showing outermost
shell only) of the compound formed.
##
(a) X belongs to Group I. (1) Y belongs to Group III. (1)
(b) To form an oxide ion, each oxygen atom needs 2 more electrons to form the stable octet structure.
(1) An X atom can only lose one electron to attain the stable noble gas structure, (1) so two X atoms
lose a total of 2 electrons to the oxygen atom. (1) The chemical formula of the compound is
therefore X2O.
(OR The X2O is electrically neutral. (1) When an oxide ion has a charge of 2, and an ion of X has a
charge of +1, (1), the ratio of X+ ion to O2 ion should be 2:1.(1) The chemical formula of the
compound is therefore X2O.)
To form an oxide ion, each oxygen atom needs 2 more electrons to form the stable octet
structure. (1) A Y atom can lose three electrons to attain the stable noble gas structure, (1) so two Y
atoms lose a total of 6 electrons to three oxygen atoms. (1) The chemical formula of the compound
is therefore Y2O3.
(OR The Y2O3 is electrically neutral. (1) When an oxide ion has a charge of 2, and an ion of Y has
a charge of +3, (1), the ratio of Y3+ ion to O2 ion should be 2:3.(1) The chemical formula of the
compound is therefore Y2O3.)
(OR OTHER ACCEPTABLE APPROACH.)
(c) In the Periodic Table, elements are arranged in ascending order of atomic numbers. (1) As X and Y
are in the same period, but X is a Group I element while Y is a Group III element, so Y should be at
the right side of X in the table, and therefore Y has a greater atomic number. (1)
(d) Each Y atom loses 3 outermost shell electrons to attain a noble gas structure. (1) Each chlorine atom
gains 1 electron to attain a noble gas structure. (1) So three chlorine atoms are needed to accept the
3 electrons transferred from 1 Y atom. (1)
 (1)

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|!|EL03005|!|
G is the only liquid non-metal element in the Periodic Table.
(Look up the Periodic Table, and use the real chemical symbols to answer this question.) [21]
(a) Name the element G.
(b) State the colour of G.
(c) What is the group number of G?
(d) Give the chemical formula and electron diagram (showing outermost shell only) of element G at
room conditions.
(e) Can G form a compound of any kind with the element just next to it in the Periodic Table? Explain
your answer.
(f) G reacts with the element just above it in the Periodic Table to give compound A.
(i) Write the chemical formula of compound A.
(ii) Draw the electron diagram of compound A (showing outermost shell only).
(g) G reacts with a Group II element of the same period to form another compound B.
(i) Write the chemical formula of compound B.
(ii) Draw the electron diagram of compound B (showing outermost shell only).
(h) Which compound, A (in (f)) or B (in (g)), has a higher melting point? Explain your answer.
(i) State and explain whether compound B is an electrolyte.
(Hints: Refer to the Periodic Table if necessary.)
##
(a) Bromine (1)
(b) Dark red (1)
(c) Group VII (1)
(d) Br2 (1)

(1)

(e) No, (1) the element just next to Br is a noble gas which is unreactive and has fully filled outermost
shell. (1) It will neither lose, gain or share electrons with other atoms to form bonds. (1)
(f) (i) ClBr / BrCl (1)

(ii) (1)

(g) (i) CaBr2 (1)

(ii) (1)

(h) Compound B will have a higher melting point. (1)

Compound B is an ionic compound, and ions are held together by strong ionic bonds in the solid
state. (1) A lot of energy is needed to break the ionic bonds and separate the ions. (1) Thus, the
melting point is higher.
 Compound A will have a lower melting point. (1)
Compound A is a covalent molecular compound, and molecules in the solid state are held together
by weak intermolecular forces. (1) Thus, not much energy is needed to separate the molecules in the
solid state (1) and thus lower melting point.
(i) Compound B is an electrolyte. (1) In the solid state of compound B, the ions are not mobile, so it
cannot conduct electricity. (1) But in molten or aqueous state, ions become mobile and conduct
electricity, so it is an electrolyte.(1)
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|!|EL03006|!|
Lithium is one of the alkali metals in the Periodic Table. It occurs naturally in two isotopic forms. [9]
(a) What does the term “isotope” mean?
(b) The two isotopes are Li and Li. Their relative abundance are 7.6% and 92.4% respectively.
Com
bin
Com
bin

Calculate the relative atomic mass of lithium.

(c) Lithium forms an ionic compound with oxygen. Explain why the compound is ionic, but not
covalent.
(d) Which metal, lithium or sodium, is more reactive?
Explain your answer.

##
(a) Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but different mass numbers. /
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of
neutrons. (1)
(b) The relative atomic mass of lithium
= 6  0.076 + 7  0.924 (1)
= 6.924 (1)
(c) Each lithium atom readily loses 1 outermost electron to attain a stable noble gas structure, forming
Li+ ion. (1) Each oxygen atom needs 2 electrons to complete the octet and forms an O2 ion. (1)
These cannot be done by sharing electrons and thus the compound formed is not covalent.
OR Lithium is a metal (1) while oxygen is a non-metal (1).
(d) Sodium is more reactive (1). The reactivity of Group I elements depends on the ease of losing
electrons (1) of the element. As the position of sodium in the Periodic Table is lower than that of
lithium, the atomic size of sodium is greater (1). Therefore, the attractive force between nucleus and
outermost electrons in a sodium atom is weaker (1). That is, sodium is more readily to lose its
outermost electrons (1).
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|!|EL03007|!|

(a) The above diagram shows the ion arrangement in a calcium oxide crystal. The black dot represents
a cation; and the white dot represents an anion. Add the missing ions to complete the diagram.
(b) Calcium oxide does not conduct electricity in solid state. Use the information from the above
diagram to explain the fact.
(c) Explain why the melting point of the above crystal is much higher than that of iodine solid.

##
(a)
(b) The ions are held in fixed positions (1) in the crystal and therefore they cannot move to conduct
electricity (1).
(c) Calcium oxide has a higher melting point (1).
Calcium oxide has a giant ionic structure. (1) There is strong electrostatic force between ions.(1)
Iodine has a simple molecular structure(1). There is weak intermolecular force between molecules.
(1) Therefore, more energy is required to melt calcium oxide. (1)
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|!|EL03008|!|
Consider the full atomic symbols of the following four elements. [14]
W, X, Y, Z
Com
bin
Com
bin
Com
bin
Com
bin

(a) Which elements are in the same group in the Periodic Table? Explain your answer.
(b) Elements X and Z form a compound A. State the type of bonding and write the formula of the
compound.
(c) Elements X and Y form a compound B. State the type of bonding and write the formula of the
compound.
(d) Which compound, A or B, can conduct electricity in the molten state? Explain your answer.
(e) Name and describe the type of forces exists between the atoms of elements W and Z.
(f) Elements W and Z usually have high melting point, boiling point and density. Explain these
properties in terms of their structures and bonding.

##
(a) W and Z. (1) Their electronic configuration are 2,8,1 and 2,8,8,1 respectively. They both have
1 outermost shell electron, so they are in the same group. (1)
(b) Type of bonding: ionic. (1) Formula of the compound is ZX. (1)
(c) Type of bonding: covalent. (1) Formula of the compound is YX4. (1)
(d) Compound A can conduct electricity in the molten state because ions are mobile and help to
conduct electricity. (1)
Compound B cannot conduct electricity because it has no ion and mobile electron.(1)
(e) Metallic bonding. (1) As W and Z are metals, their outermost shell electrons are loosely held. (1)
The outermost shell electrons of all the metal atoms are free to move in the metallic lattice to form
the ‘sea of electrons’. (1) The electrostatic attraction between the ‘sea of electrons’ and the metallic
ions constitutes the metallic bond and helps to hold the metal atoms together. (1)
(f) Metals have high melting and boiling points because a lot of energy is needed to break down the
strong metallic bonds between metal atoms in the lattice during melting and boiling. (1)
Metals have high density because metal atoms pack closely together in a regular arrangement. (1)
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|!|EL03009|!|
A and Bare elements with atomic number less than 20 in the Periodic Table. Some
properties of their chlorides are shown below. [9]
Electrical conductivity
Chloride Melting point /°C Boiling point /°C
in molten state

ACl 801 1413 Good

BCl4 -69 58 Nil

(a) Name the structures of the two chlorides in the solid state.
(b) Explain the difference in the melting points of chlorides of A and B.
(c) Explain the difference in the electrical conductivity of the 2 chlorides in molten state.

##
(a) ACl : giant ionic structure BCl4: simple molecular structure (2)
(b) Chloride of A is an ionic compound.(1) Melting an ionic compound is to break the strong ionic
bond between cations and anions in the ionic lattice. (1) Chloride of B has a simple molecular
 structure(1). Melting the chloride of B is to break the weak intermolecular forces (1) among the
molecules (to pull the molecules further apart). As much more energy is needed to break the strong
ionic bond, chloride of A has a higher melting point than chloride of B. (1)
(c) Chloride of A can conduct electricity because the ions become mobile in the molten state. (1) But
chloride of B are just simple molecules, no ions are present in any state; thus, it cannot conduct
electricity. (1)
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|!|EL03010|!|
In the setup below, a small crystal of potassium permanganate was placed at the centre of a piece of filter
paper soaked with sodium sulphate solution. [10]

small crystal of KMnO4(s)

filter paper soaked with Na2SO4(aq)

electrode P electrode Q
6 V d.c.
supply

(a) Could the wet filter paper be replaced with a dry one (i.e. without sodium sulphate solution)?
Explain your answer.
(b) Could the filter paper be soaked with copper(II) sulphate solution instead of sodium sulphate
solution? Explain your answer.
(c) A purple patch was later found on the filter paper closer to electrode Q. What is it?
(d) Deduce with reason the polarity of electrode Q.
(e) Something was migrating towards electrode P but we could not see it. Why?
(f) What would happen if the polarity of the 2 electrodes were reversed?

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(a) The wet filter paper could not be replaced with a dry one (1) because the solution in the filter paper
helps to complete the circuit (1), dissolve the crystal (1) and work as a medium for the dissolved
ions to travel through (1).
(b) No. (1) Copper(II) ions are blue, and the colour would confuse the real colour movement (1).
(c) The purple patch is the permanganate ions. (1)
(d) Permanganate ion is an anion / negatively charged ion. (1) The ion will move towards the positive
electrode. So electrode Q is the positive electrode. (1)
(e) We cannot see any colour movement because potassium ions are colourless. (1)
(f) The purple patch would migrate towards the opposite direction. (1)
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|!|EL03011|!|
The following table shows some information about three atoms W, X and Y of the same element Q. [12]

Mass number Atomic Number

W 24 12

X 25 12

Y 26 12

(a) What term is used to describe the relationship between atoms W, X and Y? Explain your answer.
(b) If the relative abundance of X and Y are the same and the relative atomic mass of the element is
24.3. What are the relative abundance of W, X and Y?
(c) Name the element Q.
(d) To which group does element Q belong? Explain your answer.
(e) State and explain TWO characteristic physical properties of element Q.

##
(a) Isotopes. They have the same atomic number but different mass numbers. (2)
(b) Let a% be the relative abundance of atom X and Y, (100-2a)% be the relative abundance of atom W.
The relative atomic mass = [24(100-2a) + 25a + 26a]/100 = 24.3
a = 10
Therefore, the relative abundance of atom W = 100  2  10 = 80%; atom X and Y both 10%. (3)
(c) Magnesium (1)
(d) Group II (1), the electronic arrangement of Q is 2,8,2, so there are 2 outermost electrons (1)
(e) Any Two:
High melting and boiling points: a lot of energy is needed to break the quite strong metallic bond
(2)
High density: metal atoms are of similar size, they can pack closely and regularly together in the
solid state by strong ionic bond (2)
Good electrical and thermal conductivity: the presence of free / delocalized electrons in the metallic
lattice help to conduct electricity and heat efficiently (2)
Malleable and ductile: metal atoms are arranged in layered structure, the layers can slide over one
another under forces, during which metallic bonds are not broken and the metallic lattice remains
more or less intact. (2)
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|!|EL03012|!|
A student tried to use the following set-up to investigate the electrical conductivities of some compounds
in order to classify them into electrolytes or non-electrolytes. [11]

 

carbon (graphite)
rods

crucible

substance under test

(a) What is the definition of an electrolyte?
(b) The following substances are put into the crucible separately to perform the investigation.
(i) Liquid bromine
(ii) Molten lead
(iii) Solid lead(II) bromide
Molten lead(II) bromide
What would you observe? Explain your observations.

##
(a) Electrolytes are compounds that do not conduct electricity in the solid state but conduct in the
molten or aqueous state. (1)
(b) (i) There is no observable change. (1) The circuit is not complete as there are no ions in liquid
bromine to help to conduct electricity between the graphite rods. So, the bulb does not light
up. (1)
(ii) The bulb lights up. (1) Lead is a metal that can conduct electricity both in the solid or molten
state by the delocalized electrons in the metal lattice. (1)
(iii) There is no observable change. (1) The circuit is not complete although there should be ions
in solid lead(II) bromide. These ions are not mobile in the solid state and cannot help to
conduct electricity. (1)
(iv) The bulb lights up. (1) Silvery grey solids of lead are deposited on the surface of the negative
electrode, (1) while reddish brown bromine vapour is liberated at the positive electrode. (1)
The bulb lights up because lead(II) ions and bromide ions are mobile in the aqueous solution
and help to conduct electricity. (1)
##

|!|EL03013|!|
(a) “Ionic bonds are formed between metals and non-metals.”
Explain the above statement using sodium chloride as an example. [6]
(b) Substance X is one form of an element that exists in a giant covalent structure, and it is known to be
the hardest substan ce in nature. [7]
(i) Name substance X.
(ii) Describe the structure of substance X.
(iii) Explain the hardness of substance X.
(c) Comment on the following statement.
“CO2 and SiO2 are two oxides formed by strong covalent bonds between the Group IV elements and
oxygen. Since CO2 is a gas, SiO2 is also a gas at room conditions.” [8]

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(a) As a metal, sodium atom tends to lose its outermost shell electron (1) to form a cation.(1) As a non-
metal, chlorine atom tends to gain one electron(1) to form an anion(1). Both of them aim to attain
the stable octet structure. (1)
A force is formed between positively-charged sodium ion and negative-charged chloride ion.(1) The
electrostatic force between ions is called ionic bond.(1)
(b) (i) diamond (1)
(ii) In diamond, covalent bonds are formed between carbon atoms. (1) Each carbon atom has 4
outermost shell electrons (1). To attain a stable structure, a carbon atom needs another 4
electrons. Therefore, in diamond, a carbon atom shares all of its 4 outermost shell electrons
with another 4 carbon atoms to form 4 single covalent bonds (2). That means 1 carbon atom
bonds to another 4 carbon atoms, and the structure can extend 3-dimensionallly and endlessly
to form a giant network. (1) This structure is called giant covalent structure.
(iii) Diamond is the hardest substance in nature because in order to break the lattice structure, a lot
of energy is needed to break the many very strong covalent bonds (1) in order to allow the
movement of the carbon atoms.
(c) The first statement is true but not the second part. (1) Strong (double) covalent bonds help to join
the carbon and oxygen atoms together in the carbon dioxide molecule. (1) But this is not related to
the melting and boiling points of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide molecules are held together in the
solid state by just weak intermolecular forces.(1) Not much energy is needed to separate the
molecules and thus it has a low melting and boiling point. (1)
Strong single covalent bonds hold silicon and oxygen atoms together (1) in the compound in a 3-
dimensional network to give a giant covalent structure. (1) In order to melt or even boil the
 compound, a lot of energy is needed to break the many very strong covalent bonds between the
silicon and oxygen atoms. (1) Thus, it has a high melting and boiling point and exists as a solid at
room conditions. (1)
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