1.

C
[1]

2. (a) argon has a greater proportion of heavier isotopes / OWTTE /

argon has a greater number of neutrons; 1

(b) 19 protons and 18 electrons; 1

(c) 2, 8, 8; 1
Accept 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6.
[3]

3. 2809 = 3.10 × 30 + 28x + 29(96.9 – x);

% 28Si = (93 + 2810.1 – 2809) = 94.1 %; 2
Award [2] for correct final answer.
[2]

14
4. C and radiocarbon dating/(tracer in) medical/scientific tests;
11
C and (tracer in) medical/scientific tests; 1 max
[1]

5. B
[1]

6. B
[1]

7. (a) cobalt has a greater proportion of heavier isotopes / OWTTE /

cobalt has greater number of neutrons; 1

(b) 27 protons and 25 electrons; 1

(c) 1s22s22p63s23p63d7 / [Ar] 3d7; 1

IB Questionbank Chemistry 1
 60
(d) Co/Co-60/cobalt-60 and radiotherapy/sterilization of medical
supplies/radiation treatment of food sterilizations/industrial
radiography/density measurements in industry/(medical/radioactive) tracer;
Allow treatment of cancer.
Do not allow just “used in medicine”.
OR
57
Co/Co-57/cobalt-57 and medical tests/label for vitamin B12 uptake; 1 max
Do not allow just “used in medicine”.
[4]

8. A
[1]

9. B
[1]

10. (a) (let x = fraction of 85Rb)

( x ´ 85) + [(100 - x) ´ 87]
= 85.47;
100
85
Rb = 76.5 % and 87Rb = 23.5 %; 2
Award [2] for correct final answer.

(b) the (vaporized) ions are deflected by the (external) magnetic field;
the 85Rb /lighter ions are deflected more than the 87Rb/heavier
ions / OWTTE;
Allow deflection depends on mass to charge ratio or momentum
of ions.
the ions are detected by conversion into an electrical current / OWTTE;
the ratio of the intensity of the peaks in the spectrum is equal to
the ratio of the ions in the sample / the ratio of the height of the
peaks due to 85Rb and 87Rb will be 76.5:23.5 / OWTTE; 3 max
If atoms/elements used instead of ions, penalize only once.
Allow the use of sample or isotopes instead of ions.

(c) 37 (electrons);
50 (neutrons); 2
[7]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 2
11. C
[1]

12. A
[1]

13. (i) the electron configuration (of argon) / 1s22s22p63s23p6; 1

(ii) x = 1 and y = 5; 1

(iii)

4s 3d

Accept all six arrows pointing down rather than up. 1

[3]

14. B
[1]

15. D
[1]

16. (a) average mass of isotopes of an element compared to (1/12 g of) 12C / average
mass of an atom relative to C–12 having a mass of exactly 12 / OWTTE;
Allow element instead of atom.
Must refer to average mass and C–12. 1

IB Questionbank Chemistry 3
 (b) Diagram of mass spectrometer containing in the correct sequence:
vaporization/vaporized sample;
ionization/electron gun;
acceleration/oppositely charged plates;
deflection/magnetic field;
detection;
Award [3] for 5 correct labels, [2] for 3–4 correct labels, [1] for 2 correct labels.
Award [1] for correct order for at least 4 correct labels.
Award [1] for diagram, which must at least show ionization (e.g. electron
beam), acceleration (e.g. charged plates) and deflection (e.g. magnetic
field) even if these are incorrectly labelled. 5
[6]

17. 63x + 65(1 – x) = 63.55;

(or some other mathematical expression).
63
Cu = 72.5 % and 65Cu = 27.5 %;
Allow 63Cu = 0.725 and 65Cu = 0.275.
Award [2] for correct final answer. 2
[2]

18. B
[1]

19. B
[1]

20. B
[1]

21. D
[1]

22. B
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 4
23.

showing y-axis labelled as energy/E / labelling at least two energy levels;

showing a minimum of four energy levels/lines with convergence;
showing jumps to n = 1 for ultraviolet series;
showing jumps to n = 2 for visible light series;
Must show at least two vertical lines per series to score third and fourth mark
but penalize once only.
For third and fourth marks if transition not shown from higher to lower
energy level penalize only once. 4
[4]

24. 1s22s22p63s1;
Do not accept [Ne] 3s1.
first electron easy/easiest to remove / 1 electron in outermost/n = 3
energy level / furthest from nucleus;
large increase between 1st and 2nd IE as electron now removed from n = 2;
next 8 electrons more difficult to remove / show (relatively) small increase
as these electrons are in the same energy level/second energy level/n = 2;
large increase between 9th and 10th IE as electron now removed from n = 1 / 2
electrons very hard/most difficult to remove / innermost/lowest/closest to the
nucleus/energy level/n = 1 / OWTTE;
electron 11 also comes from 1s, so shows a small increase; 4 max
[4]

25. A
[1]

26. C
[1]

27. (i) ions/particles accelerated by electric field;

IB Questionbank Chemistry 5
 ions/particles deflected by magnetic field;
Award [1 max] for acceleration and deflection of ions without
reference to fields. 2

(ii) prevents collisions / avoid false readings due to presence of other particles; 1
[3]

(54 ´ 5.95) + (56 ´ 91.88) + (57 ´ 2.17)

28. ;
100
55.90;
Award [2] for correct final answer.
Answer must be to 2 d.p. 2
[2]

29. (i) energy (per mole) needed to remove one/first/most loosely bound
electron from a (neutral) atom;
in the gaseous state;
Mg(g) → Mg+(g) + e–;
Gaseous state symbols needed.
Accept e instead of e–.
Only penalize omission of gas phase once in either the second marking
point or the third marking point. 3

(ii) successive electrons (are more difficult to remove because each is) taken from
more positively charged ion/ OWTTE;
increased electrostatic attraction; 2

(iii) 10th electron comes from 2nd energy level/n = 2 and 11th electron
comes from 1st first energy level/n = 1 / OWTTE;
electron in 1st energy level closer to nucleus;
electron in 1st energy level not shielded by inner electrons /
exposed to greater effective nuclear charge; 3
[8]

30. B
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 6
31. A
[1]

32. (i) a vaporized sample must be used;

bombarded with (high energy) electrons to form positive ions;
accelerated by passing through an electric field;
deflected by passing through a magnetic field;
detected by producing a current;
Award [2 max] if just the words vaporization, ionization, acceleration,
deflection and detection are used with no explanation. 5

(ii) (size of the positive) charge (on the ion);

mass (of the ion);
strength of the magnetic field;
velocity/speed (of the ions) / strength of electric field;
m/z scores the first two marking points. 3 max

[(0.56 ´ 84) + (9.90 ´ 86) + (7.00 ´ 87) + (82.54 ´ 88)]

(iii) Ar = ;
100
= 87.71;
Award [1 max] if answer not given to two decimal places.
Award [2] for correct final answer.
Apply –1(U) if answer quoted in g or g mol–1. 2
[10]

33. C
[1]

34. (i) first ionization energy: M(g) → M+ (g) + e–/e / the (minimum) energy (in
kJ mol–1) to remove one electron from a gaseous atom / the energy required
to remove one mole of electrons from one mole of gaseous atoms;
periodicity: repeating pattern of (physical and chemical) properties; 2

(ii) (evidence for main levels)

highest values for noble gases / lowest values for alkali metals / OWTTE;
general increase across a period;
(evidence for sub-levels)
drop in I.E. from Be to B/Mg to Al/Group 2 to Group 3;
drop in I.E. from N to O/P to S/Group 5 to Group 6; 4

IB Questionbank Chemistry 7
 (iii) M+(g) → M2+(g) + e–/ OWTTE;
Accept e instead of e–. 1

(iv) Rough sketch to show:

Graph of successive ionization energies for potassium

correct use of axes and one electron relatively easy to remove;

a jump in value then eight, another jump to another eight and finally
another jump for the remaining two electrons;
electronic configuration of K = 1s22s22p63s23p64s1 / first electron due to
removal of 4s1, next eight due to third level/3s23p6, next eight due to
second level/2s22p6 and last two due to removal of first level/1s2;
the more electrons removed the more the positive nucleus attracts the
remaining electrons and each main energy level is closer to the
nucleus / OWTTE; 4
[11]

35. A
[1]

36. A
[1]

37. D
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 8
38. D
[1]

39. B
[1]

40. D
[1]

41. A
[1]

42. B
[1]

43. C
[1]

44. series of lines/lines;

electron transfer/transition between higher energy level to lower energy level /
electron transitions into first energy level causes UV series / transition into second
energy level causes visible series / transition into third energy level causes
infrared series;
convergence at higher frequency/energy/short wavelength;
Allow any of the above points to be shown on a diagram. 3
[3]

45. A
[1]

46. A
[1]

47. (a) IV < I < II < III/

IB Questionbank Chemistry 9
 ultra violet radiation < yellow light < red light < infrared radiation; 1

(b) A continuous spectrum has all colours/wavelengths/frequencies whereas

a line spectrum has only (lines of) sharp/discrete/specific colours/
wavelengths/frequencies; 1

(c) UV-B radiation has shorter wavelength;

hence, has higher energy;
increases risk of damage to skin cells / OWTTE / causes cancer; 3
[5]

48. D
[1]

IB Questionbank Chemistry 10