Name: …………………… ( )

Chem!stry Class: ………………

Date: …… / …… / ……

Twenty-Two Multiple-Choice Questions on Atomic Structure

• Multiple-choice. Write each answer in the space provided ( ). Each correct answer is worth one
mark.

1. Which definition of isotope is correct?

A Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of electrons.
B Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
C Isotopes are atoms with the same number of neutrons and a different number of protons.
D Isotopes are atoms with the same physical properties and different chemical properties.
( )
2. An isotope of element X has 40 nucleons and 19 protons. Which one of the following is
element X?
A Argon B Calcium C Cobalt D Potassium
( )
3. Which statement about an atom is correct?
A Each element has only one nucleon (mass) number.
B The nucleon (mass) number can be less than the proton (atomic) number.
C The nucleon (mass) number can equal the proton (atomic) number.
D The number of neutrons never equals the number of electrons.
( )
4. The relative atomic mass of naturally occurring chlorine is not a whole number. What is the
reason for this?
A Chlorine atoms can have different numbers of neutrons.
B Chlorine is unstable.
C Naturally occurring chlorine cannot be obtained pure.
D The mass of chlorine’s electrons has been included.
( )

15 P and 16 S have the same…

The atoms 31 32
5.
A Nucleon (mass) number. B Number of electrons.
C Number of neutrons. D Number of protons.
( )

1
6. A beam of particles contains neutrons, n, protons, p, and electrons, e. The beam is passed
between charged plates. Which diagram shows how the particles are affected by the plates?

( )
235
7. What is the nucleon (mass) number of the isotope of uranium, 92 U?
A 92 B 143 C 235 D 327
( )
8. The mass number of an atom is equal to…
A The number of neutrons in the atom.
B The number of neutrons and protons in the atom.
C The number of electrons and neutrons in the atom.
D The number of electrons and protons in the atom.
( )
9. A sodium atom has a mass number of 23 and an atomic number of 11. It follows that the atom
contains…
A 11 electrons B 11 neutrons
C 12 protons D 23 neutrons
( )
10. Which one of the following sets contains only the electronic configurations of metals?
A 2, 8, 3 2, 8, 4 2, 8, 5
B 2, 7 2, 8, 7 2, 8, 18, 7
C 2, 1 2, 8, 1 2, 8, 8, 1
D 2, 5 2, 6 2, 7
( )
11. The symbol for an atom of sodium can be written as 23
11 Na. The nucleus of the sodium atom

contains…
A 11 protons and 12 neutrons. B 11 neutrons and 12 protons.
C 12 neutrons and 11 electrons. D 11 protons and 12 electrons.
( )

2
12. Which one of the following elements has the greatest number of electrons in the outermost
electron shell (valence shell) of its atoms?
A Aluminium B Fluorine C Nitrogen D Sodium
( )
13. Which one of the following particles contains 11 electrons, 11 protons and 12 neutrons?
11 23 24 24
A 5 B B 11 Na C 11 Na D 12 Mg
( )
14. Helium has two isotopes, 32 He and 42 He. An atom of the lighter isotope contains…
A Two neurons.
B Three electrons.
C A total of three protons and neutrons.
D One fewer proton than an atom of the heavier isotope.
( )
15. The number of outer (valence) shell electrons for the atoms of the first 12 elements in the
Periodic Table was plotted against the proton (atomic) number of the element. Which one of
the following graphs was obtained?

( )

3
16. Isotopes of an element have different…
A Atomic numbers. B Numbers of electrons.
C Numbers of electron shells. D Numbers of neutrons.
( )
17. Isotopes are different atoms with the same number of…
A Electrons, protons and neutrons.
B Electrons, but a different number of protons.
C Neutrons, but a different number of protons.
D Protons, but a different number of neutrons.
( )
18. Two naturally occurring isotopes of uranium can be represented as 235 238
92 U and 92 U. Which one

of the following statements about the isotopes is correct?

A The 235 238
92 U atom has the same number of neutrons as the 92 U atom.

B The 235 238

92 U atom has fewer electrons than the 92 U atom.

C The 235
92 U atom has 92 protons and 144 neutrons.

D The 238
92 U atom has 92 electrons and 146 neutrons.

( )
19. Why are the elements sodium and chlorine in the same Period of the Periodic Table?
A Sodium is a reactive metal, and chlorine is a reactive non-metal.
B Sodium and chlorine combine together to form a compound with the formula NaCl.
C The atoms of both elements have only three electron shells containing electrons.
D The atoms of both elements have eight electrons in their second electron shell.
( )
20. An atom of element X has the symbol 37 X. Which statement about element X is correct?
A It is in Group 13 of the Periodic Table.
B It is in Group 17 of the Periodic Table.
C In one atom, the number of protons + the number of electrons = 6.
D In one atom, the number of protons + the number of neutrons = 10.
( )
21. Which statement about the noble gases is correct?
A The number of protons in the atoms equals the number of neutrons.
B Their atoms each have a stable arrangement of electrons.
C Their atoms each have eight electrons in their outer shell.
D They exist as molecules containing two atoms.
( )

4
22. The table shows information about particles X and Y.

Number of Protons Number of Neutrons Electronic Structure

X 11 12 2, 8, 1

Y 19 20 2, 8, 8, 1

Which statement is correct for both X and Y?

A They are atoms of non-metals.
B They are isotopes of the same element.
C They are from the same Group of the Periodic Table.
D They are from the same Period of the Periodic Table.
( )

• Scan the QR code below for the answers to this assignment.

http://www.chemist.sg/chemical_bonding/atomic_structure/atomic_structure_mcq_ans.pdf