CHEMISTRY WORKSHEET NO.

3 SAMHA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Chapter no.10: The Periodic Table
1) May 2010 [31] Q (1_ii, iii, v)
1 Choose an element which fits each of the following descriptions.
(ii) This element is a black solid which, when heated, forms a purple vapour
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Most of its soluble salts are blue.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(v) It is an unreactive gas used to fill balloons.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
2) May 2010 [31] Q (7_a, d)
7 Titanium is a transition element. It is isolated by the following reactions.

(a) Why is it usually necessary to include a number in the name of the

compounds of transition elements?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(d) Complete the table which shows some of the properties of titanium and its
uses.
The first line has been completed as an example.
Property Related use

Soluble in molten steel Making steel titanium alloys

…………………………………………... Making aircraft and space vehicles

Resistance to corrosion, especially in …………………………………………...

sea water

[2]
3) May 2010 [32] Q (1)
1 For each of the following unfamiliar elements predict one physical and one
chemical property.
(a) caesium (Cs)
physical property ................................................................................................
chemical property ...............................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

(b) vanadium (V)

physical property ................................................................................................
chemical property ...............................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) fluorine (F)
physical property ................................................................................................
chemical property ...............................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
4) Nov 2010 [31] Q (6_a)
6 The table below shows the elements in the second period of the Periodic
Table and some of their oxidation states in their most common compounds.

(a) (i) What does it mean when the only oxidation state of an element is zero?
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Explain why some elements have positive oxidation states but others have
negative ones.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Select two elements in the table which exist as diatomic molecules of the
type X2.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
5) Nov 2010 [32] Q (4_a)
4 Chromium is a transition element.
(a) (i) Predict two differences in the physical properties of chromium and
sodium.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Predict two differences in the chemical properties of chromium and
sodium.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

6) May 2011 [32] Q (1)

1 Choose an element from the list below which best fits the description

Rb Fe Si I P Sr

(a) An element which reacts with cold water. ............... [1]

(b) It is a solid at room temperature and exists as diatomic molecules, X2 ... [1]
(c) It can form two oxides, XO and X2O3. ............... [1]
(d) This element has a hydride of the type XH3. ............... [1]
(e) It has a macromolecular structure similar to that of carbon. ............... [1]
7) Nov 2011 [33] Q (1)
1 Use your copy of the Periodic Table to answer these questions.
(a) Choose an element from the Periodic Table to match each description.
You may give either the name or the symbol.
(i) It is the most reactive metal. ..................................................................... [1]
(ii) It is the only non-metal which is a liquid at r.t.p........................................ [1]
(iii) An isotope of this element is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors. ............ [1]
(iv) This Group VII element is a solid at r.t.p................................................. [1]
(v) This element is in Group V and Period 4. ................................................ [1]
(vi) This unreactive gas is used to fill lamps. ................................................ [1]
(b) Predict the formula of each of the following compounds.
(i) germanium oxide ...........................................................................................
(ii) tellurium bromide ..................................................................................... [2]
(c) Give the formula of each of the following ions.
(i) strontium ........................................................................................................
(ii) fluoride ..................................................................................................... [2]
8) May 2012 [31] Q (3)
3 The Group I metals show trends in both their physical and chemical
properties.
(a) (i) How do their melting points vary down the Group?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Which element in the Group has the highest density?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) All Group I metals react with cold water. Complete the following equation.
........Rb + ........H2O 
→ ................ + ................
[2]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

(b) Lithium reacts with nitrogen to form the ionic compound, lithium nitride.
(i) State the formula of the lithium ion. .............…….. [1]
(ii) Deduce the formula of the nitride ion. .............…….. [1]
(iii) In all solid ionic compounds, the ions are held together in a lattice.
Explain the term lattice.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) What is the ratio of lithium ions to nitride ions in the lattice of lithium
nitride?
Give a reason for your answer.
........ lithium ions : ........ nitride ions
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
9) May 2012 [31] Q (4_a, b)
4 Vanadium is a transition element. It has more than one oxidation state.
The element and its compounds are often used as catalysts.
(a) Complete the electron distribution of vanadium by inserting one number.
2 + 8 + .......... + 2
[1]
(b) Predict three physical properties of vanadium which are typical of
transition elements.
1. ........................................................................................................................
2. ........................................................................................................................
3. ................................................................................................................... [2]
10) May 2012 [32] Q (1_a, b)
1 The table below includes information about some of the elements in Period 2.

(a) Why does neon exist as single atoms but fluorine exists as molecules?
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

(b) What determines the order of the elements in a period?

....................................................................................................................... [1]
11) Nov 2012 [31] Q (2_a)
2 Three of the halogens in Group VII are listed below.
chlorine
bromine
iodine
(a) (i) How does their colour change down the Group?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) How do their melting points and boiling points change down the Group?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Predict the colour and physical state (solid, liquid or gas) of astatine, At.
colour .................................................................................................................
physical state ................................................................................................ [2]
12) Nov 2012 [32] Q (1_a, b)
1 This question is concerned with the elements in Period 5, Rb to Xe.
(a) The electron distributions of some of these elements are given in the
following list.
element A 2 + 8 + 18 + 8 + 2
element B 2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 8
element C 2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 5
element D 2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 6
element E 2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 4
element F 2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 7
(i) Identify element C. .................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Which element in the list does not form any compounds?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Which element in the list forms a chloride of the type XCl2?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) Which two elements would react together to form a compound of the type
XY4?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(v) Which element in the list would react with cold water to form an alkaline
solution and hydrogen?
....................................................................................................................... [1]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

(b) Predict two differences in physical properties and two differences in

chemical properties between rubidium and the transition metal niobium.
physical ..............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
chemical .............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [4]
13) Nov 2012 [33] Q (1)
1 For each of the following, select an element from Period 4, potassium to
krypton, which matches the description.
(a) A metal that reacts rapidly with cold water to form a compound of the type
M(OH)2 and hydrogen.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) Its only oxidation state is 0....................................................................... [1]
(c) It has a macromolecular oxide, XO2, which has similar physical properties
to those of diamond.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(d) This is one of the metals alloyed with iron in stainless steel. .................. [1]
(e) It can be reduced to an ion of the type X–. .............................................. [1]
(f) It can form a covalent hydride having the formula H2X. ........................... [1]
(g) Its soluble salts are blue and its oxide is black. ....................................... [1]
(h) It is a liquid at room temperature. ............................................................ [1]
14) Nov 2013 [31] Q (2_a)
2 (a) Give three differences in physical properties between the Group I metal,
potassium, and the transition element, iron.
1. ........................................................................................................................
2. ........................................................................................................................
3. ................................................................................................................... [3]
15) Nov 2013 [32] Q (2_a)
2 The halogens are a collection of diatomic non-metals in Group VII.
(a) (i) Define the term diatomic.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) What do the electron distributions of the halogens have in common?
....................................................................................................................... [1]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

(iii) How do their electron distributions differ?

....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) Complete the table.

[2]
16) May 2014 [31] Q (4_b)
(b) Across a period, the elements change from metallic to non-metallic.
(i) Describe how the type of oxide changes across this period.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Describe how the type of bonding in the chlorides formed by these
elements changes across this period.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
17) May 2014 [32] Q (6_a)
6 Scandium, proton number 21, is not a typical transition element.
(a) Scandium is a low density metal which has only one oxidation state in its
compounds. Scandium compounds are white solids which form colourless
solutions. Titanium, the next metal in the period, is a far more typical transition
element. How would the properties of titanium differ from those of scandium?
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [3]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

18) Nov 2014 [33] Q (1)

1 For each of the following elements give one physical property and one
chemical property.
(a) bromine (Br2)
physical property ................................................................................................
chemical property ...............................................................................................
[2]
(b) carbon graphite (C)
physical property ................................................................................................
chemical property ...............................................................................................
[2]
(c) manganese (Mn)
physical property ................................................................................................
chemical property ...............................................................................................
[2]
19) Nov 2014 [33] Q (6_a)
6 Rubidium and strontium are very reactive metals at the top of the reactivity
series. Because their ions have different charges, their compounds behave
differently when heated.
(a) The formulae of the ions of these two elements are Rb+ and Sr2+.
Explain why these metals, which are in different groups, form ions which have
different charges.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
20) May 2015 [31] Q (5_a)
5 The halogens are a group of non-metals in Group VII of the Periodic Table.
(a) The reactivity of the halogens decreases down the group.
Describe an experiment which shows that chlorine is more reactive than
iodine. Include an equation in your answer.
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [3]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

21) Nov 2015 [32] Q (6)

6 The table below shows the elements in the third period of the Periodic
Table, the number of electrons in their outer energy level, their oxidation state
in their common compounds and their melting points.

(a) Describe and explain the variation in oxidation state across the period.
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [3]
(b) The first three elements, Na, Mg and Al, are metals.
Describe the structure of a typical metal.
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [3]

(c) Explain why Na, Mg and Al are good conductors of electricity.

....................................................................................................................... [1]
(d) Which element exists as diatomic molecules of the type X2?
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(e) Silicon has a similar structure to diamond.
Explain why silicon has the highest melting point in the period.
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
(f) Sodium chloride is a crystalline solid with a high melting point. It dissolves
in water to give a neutral solution. Phosphorus trichloride is a liquid at room
temperature. It reacts with water to form an acidic solution.
Suggest an explanation for these differences in properties.
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

22) Nov 2015 [33] Q (6_f)

(f) Manganese is a typical transition metal.
Predict three physical and two chemical properties of this metal.
physical properties
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
chemical properties
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
[5]
23) May 2016 [41] Q (2_h)
(h) Argon is an unreactive noble gas.
(i) Explain why argon is unreactive.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Give one use of argon.
....................................................................................................................... [1]
24) May 2016 [41] Q (4_c)
(c) Copper, nickel and silver are transition elements.
Typical physical properties of transition elements are a high density and a
high melting point.
Give three different properties of transition metals which are not typical of
other metals.
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [3]
25) May 2016 [42] Q (1_a)
1 (a) For each of the following, give the name of an element from Period 2
(lithium to neon), which matches the description.
Elements may be used once, more than once or not at all.
(i) an element which is gaseous at room temperature and pressure
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) an element which forms an oxide that is a reactant in photosynthesis
....................................................................................................................... [1]

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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Classified Paper_4_Topic 10

(iii) an element that is a product of photosynthesis

....................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) an element that makes up approximately 78% by volume of the air
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(v) an element which has atoms with a full outer shell of electrons
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(vi) an element which exists as both diamond and graphite
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(vii) an element that reacts vigorously with cold water
....................................................................................................................... [1]
(viii) a soft metallic element which is stored in oil
....................................................................................................................... [1]
26) May 2016 [43] Q (4_c)
(c) When chlorine gas is bubbled through an aqueous solution of potassium
iodide, a redox reaction takes place.
2I− + Cl2 
→ I2 + 2Cl−
(i) State the colour change expected in this reaction.
start colour .........................................................................................................
end colour ..........................................................................................................
[2]
(ii) Identify the reducing agent in this reaction. Explain your answer.
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... [2]
27) Nov 2016 [42] Q (5_b)
(b) A student bubbled chlorine gas into a test-tube containing aqueous
potassium bromide.
(i) Describe the colour change seen in the test-tube.
from ....................................................... to ........................................................
[2]
(ii) Complete the ionic equation for this reaction.
Include state symbols.
Cl2(g) + ......Br–(aq) 
→ ................ + ................
[3]

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