1. Carbon and silicon belong to the same group of the periodic table.

(a) Distinguish between the terms group and period in terms of electron
arrangement.

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(2)

(b) State the period numbers of both carbon and silicon.

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(1)
(Total 3 marks)

2. Which statements about the periodic table are correct?

I. Elements in period 3 have similar chemical properties.

II. Elements in group 7 show a gradual change in physical properties.

III. The position of an element in period 3 is related to the number of

electrons in the highest occupied energy level.

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 1
3. The periodic table shows the relationship between electron arrangement and
the properties of elements and is a valuable tool for making predictions in
chemistry.

(i) Identify the property used to arrange the elements in the periodic table.
(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 2
 (ii) Outline two reasons why electronegativity increases across period 3 in the
periodic table and one reason why noble gases are not assigned
electronegativity values.
(3)
(Total 4 marks)

4. An element is in group 4 and period 3 of the periodic table. How many electrons
are in the highest occupied energy level of an atom of this element?

A. 3

B. 4

C. 12

D. 14
(Total 1 mark)

5. Which statement is correct for all elements in the same period?

A. They have the same number of electrons in the highest occupied energy
level.

B. They have the same chemical reactivity.

C. They have the same number of occupied energy levels.

D. They have the same number of neutrons.

(Total 1 mark)

6. What are the products of the reaction between chlorine and water?

A. O2, H2 and HCl

B. H2 and OCl2

C. HCl and HOCl

D. HOCl, H2 and Cl2

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 3
IB Questionbank Chemistry 4
7. Nitrogen and silicon belong to different groups in the periodic table.

(i) Distinguish in terms of electronic structure, between the terms group and
period.
(2)

(ii) State the maximum number of orbitals in the n = 2 energy level.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

8. An atom of an element contains 19 electrons. In which group of the periodic

table does it occur?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 5

D. 7
(Total 1 mark)

9. Which property generally decreases across period 3?

A. Atomic number

B. Electronegativity

C. Atomic radius

D. First ionization energy

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 5
10. Which property increases down group 1?

A. First ionization energy

B. Melting point

C. Reactivity

D. Electronegativity
(Total 1 mark)

11. (i) Define the term first ionization energy.

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(2)

(ii) Explain why the first ionization energy of magnesium is higher than that of
sodium.

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(2)
(Total 4 marks)

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12. Which change explains why the boiling points of the halogens increase as their
molecular masses increase?

A. The intermolecular attraction due to temporarily induced dipoles increases.

B. The gravitational attraction between molecules increases.

C. The polarity of the bond within the molecule increases.

D. The strength of the bond within the molecule increases.

(Total 1 mark)

13. Which pair of elements has the greatest difference in electronegativity?

A. Cs and F

B. Cs and Cl

C. Cs and Br

D. Cs and I
(Total 1 mark)

14. Which statements about period 3 are correct?

I. The electronegativity of the elements increases across period 3.

II. The atomic radii of the elements decreases across period 3.

III. The oxides of the elements change from acidic to basic across period
3.

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 7
15. Explain why the melting points of the elements decrease down group 1 and
increase down group 7.
(Total 4 marks)

16. Which property decreases down group 7 in the periodic table?

A. Melting point

B. Electronegativity

C. Atomic radius

D. Ionic radius
(Total 1 mark)

17. Consider the bonding and structure of the period 3 elements.

(a) Explain the increase in the melting point from sodium to aluminium.

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(2)

(b) Explain why sulfur, S8, has a higher melting point than phosphorus, P 4.

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(2)

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 (c) Explain why silicon has the highest melting point and argon has the lowest
melting point.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

18. (i) Define the term first ionization energy of an atom.

(2)

(ii) Explain the general increasing trend in the first ionization energies of the
period 3 elements, Na to Ar.
(2)

(iii) Explain why sodium conducts electricity but phosphorus does not.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

19. Which ion has the largest radius?

A. Cl–

B. K+

C. Br–

D. F–
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 10
20. (i) Outline two reasons why a sodium ion has a smaller radius than a sodium
atom.
(2)

(ii) Explain why the ionic radius of P3– is greater than the ionic radius of Si4+.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

21. (i) Explain why the first ionization energy of aluminium is lower than the first
ionization energy of magnesium.
(2)

(ii) Explain why the first ionization energy of sulfur is lower than the first
ionization energy of phosphorus.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

22. Which properties of the alkali metals decrease going down group 1?

A. First ionization energy and reactivity

B. Melting point and atomic radius

C. Reactivity and electronegativity

D. First ionization energy and melting point

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 11
23. Which statements about the periodic table are correct?

I. The elements Mg, Ca and Sr have similar chemical properties.

II. Elements in the same period have the same number of main energy
levels.

III. The oxides of Na, Mg and P are basic.

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

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

24. The x-axis of the graph below represents the atomic number of the elements in
period 3.

Which variable could represent the y-axis?

A. Melting point

B. Electronegativity

C. Ionic radius

D. Atomic radius
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 12
IB Questionbank Chemistry 13
25. Which is the best definition of electronegativity?

A. Electronegativity is the energy required for a gaseous atom to gain an

electron.

B. Electronegativity is the attraction of an atom for a bonding pair of

electrons.

C. Electronegativity is the attraction between the nucleus and the valence

electrons of an atom.

D. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons from another

atom.
(Total 1 mark)

26. The graph of the first ionization energy plotted against atomic number for the
first twenty elements shows periodicity.

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

(ii) State the electron arrangement of argon and explain why the noble gases,
helium, neon and argon show the highest first ionization energies for their
respective periods.
(3)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 14
IB Questionbank Chemistry 15
 (iii) A graph of atomic radius plotted against atomic number shows that the
atomic radius decreases across a period. Explain why chlorine has a
smaller atomic radius than sodium.
(1)

(iv) Explain why a sulfide ion, S2–, is larger than a chloride ion, Cl–.
(1)

(v) Explain why the melting points of the Group 1 metals (Li → Cs) decrease
down the group whereas the melting points of the Group 7 elements (F →
I) increase down the group.
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

27. Which statement describes the trends of electronegativity values in the periodic
table?

A. Values increase from left to right across a period and increase down a
group.

B. Values increase from left to right across a period and decrease down a
group.

C. Values decrease from left to right across a period and increase down a
group.

D. Values decrease from left to right across a period and decrease down a
group.
(Total 1 mark)

28. Which equation best represents the first ionization energy of magnesium?

A. Mg(s) → Mg+(s) + e–

B. Mg(g) → Mg2+(g) + 2e–

C. Mg(g) → Mg+(g) + e–

D. Mg(s) → Mg+(g) + e–
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 16
IB Questionbank Chemistry 17
29. Which species has the largest radius?

A. Cl–

B. K

C. Na+

D. K+
(Total 1 mark)

30. Which series is arranged in order of increasing radius?

A. Ca2+ < Cl– < K+

B. K+ < Ca2+ < Cl–

C. Ca2+ < K+ < Cl–

D. Cl– < K+ < Ca2+

(Total 1 mark)

31. Samples of sodium oxide and sulfur trioxide are added to separate beakers of
water.
Deduce the equation for each reaction and identify each oxide as acidic, basic
or neutral.

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 (Total 3 marks)

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32. Which statement about the elements in group 7 is correct?

A. Br2 will oxidize Cl–.

B. F2 has the least tendency to be reduced.

C. Cl2 will oxidize I–.

D. I2 is a stronger oxidizing agent than F2.

(Total 1 mark)

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(Total 3 marks)

33. State the equations for the reactions of sodium oxide, Na 2O, and phosphorus(V)
oxide, P4O10, with water.

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(Total 2 marks)

34. (a) State a balanced equation for the reaction of sodium with water. Include
state symbols.
(2)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 20
 (b) With reference to electronic arrangements, suggest why the reaction
between rubidium and water is more vigorous than that between sodium
and water.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

35. Describe and explain what you will see if chlorine gas is bubbled through a
solution of

(i) potassium iodide.

(2)

(ii) potassium fluoride.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

36. Which oxides produce an acidic solution when added to water?

I. P4O10

II. MgO

III. SO3

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

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

37. Sodium oxide, Na2O, is a white solid with a high melting point.

(a) Explain why solid sodium oxide is a non-conductor of electricity.

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(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 21
 (b) Molten sodium oxide is a good conductor of electricity. State the half-
equation for the reaction occurring at the positive electrode during the
electrolysis of molten sodium oxide.

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(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 22
 (c) (i) State the acid-base nature of sodium oxide.

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(1)

(ii) State the equation for the reaction of sodium oxide with water.

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(1)
(Total 4 marks)

38. Some of the most important processes in chemistry involve acid-base reactions.

(a) Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of each of the period 3
elements, Na to Cl.

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(3)

(b) State one example of an acidic gas, produced by an industrial process or

the internal combustion engine, which can cause large-scale pollution to
lakes and forests.

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(1)

(c) Suggest one method, other than measuring pH, which could be used to
distinguish between solutions of a strong acid and a weak acid of the
same molar concentration.
State the expected results.

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IB Questionbank Chemistry 23
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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

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39. What happens when sodium is added to water?

I. A gas is evolved

II. The temperature of the water increases

III. A clear, colourless solution is formed

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

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

40. Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of the period 3 elements Na to
Ar. For sodium oxide and sulfur trioxide, write balanced equations to illustrate
their acid-base character.
(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 25