1.

Which of the following best describes the reason for the difference in atomic radii

between magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S)?

○ (A) Sulfur has a larger atomic radius than magnesium due to its higher atomic

number.

○ (B) Magnesium has a larger atomic radius than sulfur because it has fewer

protons and a smaller effective nuclear charge.

○ (C) Magnesium has a smaller atomic radius than sulfur because it has fewer

electrons.

○ (D) Sulfur has a smaller atomic radius than magnesium due to fewer electron

shells.

2. Which ionization process requires the greatest amount of energy?

○ (A) Na → Na⁺

○ (B) Mg⁺ → Mg²⁺

○ (C) Al²⁺ → Al³⁺

○ (D) Cl → Cl⁻

3. The average atomic mass of an element is determined by:

○ (A) The number of neutrons in the nucleus

○ (B) The sum of protons and neutrons in its most common isotope

○ (C) The weighted average of the masses of the element’s isotopes

○ (D) The sum of the masses of its ions

4. Which element has the highest electronegativity?

○ (A) Na

○ (B) Cl

○ (C) K

○ (D) Br
5. Which of the following quantum numbers describes the shape of an orbital?

○ (A) Principal quantum number (n)

○ (B) Angular momentum quantum number (l)

○ (C) Magnetic quantum number (mₗ)

○ (D) Spin quantum number (mₛ)

6. How many unpaired electrons are in a ground-state atom of nitrogen (N)?

○ (A) 1

○ (B) 2

○ (C) 3

○ (D) 5

7. Which of the following ions has the largest ionic radius?

○ (A) F⁻

○ (B) Na⁺

○ (C) Mg²⁺

○ (D) O²⁻

8. The emission spectrum of hydrogen results from:

○ (A) Electrons moving to higher energy levels

○ (B) Electrons being ejected from the atom

○ (C) Electrons falling back to lower energy levels

○ (D) Nuclei of hydrogen atoms decaying

9. In which pair are the two elements most likely to have similar chemical

properties?

○ (A) C and O

○ (B) Na and K

○ (C) Mg and Cl

○ (D) N and S
10. Which element would you expect to have the lowest first ionization energy?

○ (A) Na

○ (B) Al

○ (C) Cl

○ (D) S

11. Which of the following correctly describes the order of increasing first ionization

energy?

○ (A) Mg < Al < Si < P

○ (B) P < Si < Al < Mg

○ (C) Al < Mg < P < Si

○ (D) Al < Si < P < Mg

12. Which of the following atoms has the highest second ionization energy?

○ (A) Na

○ (B) Mg

○ (C) K

○ (D) Ca

13. When a photon is absorbed by an atom, it results in:

○ (A) Electron emission

○ (B) Excitation of an electron to a higher energy level

○ (C) Nuclear fusion

○ (D) Nucleus emission

14. Which of the following ground-state atoms has a completely filled 2p sublevel?

○ (A) C

○ (B) N

○ (C) O

○ (D) Ne
15. Which of the following represents an isotope?

○ (A) C-12 and C-13

○ (B) Na⁺ and K⁺

○ (C) N₂ and N₃

○ (D) F⁻ and Cl⁻

16. Which of the following has the smallest atomic radius?

○ (A) Li

○ (B) Be

○ (C) B

○ (D) C

17. Which of the following atoms has the largest atomic radius?

○ (A) O

○ (B) F

○ (C) N

○ (D) C

18. How many valence electrons are present in an atom of sulfur (S)?

○ (A) 4

○ (B) 6

○ (C) 8

○ (D) 16

19. Which of the following statements is true regarding the Bohr model of the atom?

○ (A) Electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed paths.

○ (B) Electrons are arranged in clouds around the nucleus.

○ (C) Electrons occupy specific energy levels, not fixed paths.

○ (D) The Bohr model is based on Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

20. The atomic mass of boron is closest to 10.8 amu. What does this value represent?
 ○ (A) The mass of the most common isotope of boron

○ (B) The weighted average of all isotopes of boron

○ (C) The mass of a single boron atom

○ (D) The number of protons and neutrons in boron-11

Short Answer Questions (6 Questions)

Explain why the atomic radius decreases across a period from left to right on the

periodic table. Include the concept of effective nuclear charge in your answer.

Describe the differences in ionization energy between metals and nonmetals.

Provide an example of an element with a high first ionization energy and explain

why.

Explain how the Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule affect the arrangement

of electrons in the orbitals of a subshell.

Chlorine (Cl) has two stable isotopes: Cl-35Cl-35 and Cl-37Cl-37. Explain why the

average atomic mass of chlorine is not a whole number and describe how you
would calculate the average atomic mass if you were given the percent abundance

of each isotope.

Explain why potassium (K) has a lower first ionization energy than calcium (Ca)

even though they are in the same period of the periodic table.

Describe the trend in electronegativity across a period and down a group on the

periodic table. Provide reasoning for each trend.

(B) Magnesium has a larger atomic radius than sulfur because it has fewer protons, leading to a

lower effective nuclear charge and weaker attraction to its electrons.

(C) The ionization energy required to remove a third electron from aluminum (Al²⁺ → Al³⁺) is high

due to the electron configuration after the removal of two electrons (more stable and closer to

the nucleus).

(C) The average atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the masses of its

isotopes.

(B) Chlorine (Cl) has the highest electronegativity among the options listed.

(B) The angular momentum quantum number (l) describes the shape of the orbital.

(C) A nitrogen atom has 3 unpaired electrons in its 2p subshell (based on Hund's rule).

(D) Among these ions, O²⁻ has the largest ionic radius due to its increased electron-electron

repulsion and fewer protons to attract the electrons.

(C) Emission spectra occur when electrons fall back to lower energy levels, releasing energy as

photons.

(B) Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) have similar chemical properties because they are in the

same group and have the same number of valence electrons.

(A) Sodium (Na) has the lowest first ionization energy because it is in Group 1, where elements

readily lose their single valence electron.

(A) The correct order is Mg < Al < Si < P based on periodic trends; ionization energy generally

increases across a period.

(A) Sodium (Na) has the highest second ionization energy because removing a second electron

means disrupting its stable, noble gas-like configuration.

(B) When a photon is absorbed, an electron is excited to a higher energy level.

(D) Neon (Ne) has a completely filled 2p sublevel.

(A) C-12 and C-13 are isotopes, as they are atoms of the same element with different numbers

of neutrons.

(D) Carbon (C) has the smallest atomic radius among these options due to increasing effective

nuclear charge across the period.

(C) Nitrogen (N) has the largest atomic radius among these elements because it has fewer

protons than oxygen and fluorine.

(B) Sulfur (S) has 6 valence electrons, located in the 3s and 3p orbitals.

(C) The Bohr model proposed that electrons occupy specific energy levels.

(B) The atomic mass of boron represents the weighted average of all its isotopes.

Short-Answer Key Points

1. Atomic Radius Trend Across a Period: The atomic radius decreases across a period

because, as protons are added to the nucleus, the effective nuclear charge increases.

This draws the electrons closer to the nucleus, decreasing the radius.
2. Ionization Energy of Metals vs. Nonmetals: Metals generally have lower ionization

energies than nonmetals because metals prefer to lose electrons, while nonmetals prefer

to gain them. For example, fluorine has a high first ionization energy due to its high

electronegativity and strong attraction for electrons.

3. Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule: The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that

no two electrons can have the same set of quantum numbers, which means each orbital

can hold only two electrons with opposite spins. Hund’s Rule states that electrons

occupy degenerate orbitals singly before pairing, minimizing electron-electron repulsion

in subshells.

4. Average Atomic Mass of Chlorine: The average atomic mass is not a whole number

because it is a weighted average of the masses of chlorine’s isotopes (Cl-35 and Cl-37).

To calculate it, you multiply the mass of each isotope by its relative abundance and then

sum the products.

5. Ionization Energy of Potassium vs. Calcium: Potassium has a lower first ionization

energy than calcium because it has a larger atomic radius and less nuclear charge,

meaning its outermost electron is farther from the nucleus and easier to remove.

6. Electronegativity Trends: Electronegativity generally increases across a period due to

an increase in effective nuclear charge, attracting electrons more strongly. It decreases

down a group as atomic radius increases, reducing the nucleus’s pull on bonding

electrons.
1. A sample contains 3.00 moles of nitrogen (N₂) gas. How many molecules of

nitrogen gas are in this sample?

○ (A) 3.00×10233.00×1023

○ (B) 1.81×10231.81×1023

○ (C) 1.81×10241.81×1024

○ (D) 6.02×10246.02×1024

2. The molar mass of an unknown metal is 55.85 g/mol. If 0.100 moles of the metal

weigh 5.585 grams, identify the metal.

○ (A) Aluminum

○ (B) Iron

○ (C) Nickel

○ (D) Copper

3. What is the percent composition of oxygen in calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)?

○ (A) 16%

○ (B) 32%

○ (C) 40%

○ (D) 48%

4. A sample of an element is analyzed using mass spectrometry, yielding two peaks

at 10 amu (75%) and 11 amu (25%). What is the average atomic mass of this

element?

○ (A) 10.0 amu

○ (B) 10.25 amu

○ (C) 10.5 amu

○ (D) 11.0 amu

5. Which of the following statements correctly describes the purpose of mass

spectrometry in determining isotopic composition?

 ○ (A) It measures the chemical reactivity of each isotope.

○ (B) It determines the mass and relative abundance of each isotope.

○ (C) It identifies molecular compounds in a sample.

○ (D) It separates isotopes based on their atomic numbers.

6. Which pair of elements is most likely to form an ionic compound?

○ (A) N and O

○ (B) Na and Cl

○ (C) C and H

○ (D) O and F

7. Which of the following is true about the empirical formula of a compound?

○ (A) It represents the exact number of atoms of each element in a molecule.

○ (B) It represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in the compound.

○ (C) It provides the molecular mass of the compound.

○ (D) It varies based on the mass of the sample analyzed.

8. The empirical formula of a compound is CH₂O, and its molar mass is found to be

approximately 180 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of the compound?

○ (A) CH₂O

○ (B) C₂H₄O₂

○ (C) C₆H₁₂O₆

○ (D) C₃H₆O₃

9. A mass spectrum of chlorine shows two peaks with relative abundances of 75.77%

for Cl-35 and 24.23% for Cl-37. What is the average atomic mass of chlorine?

○ (A) 35.5 amu

○ (B) 36.0 amu

○ (C) 36.5 amu

○ (D) 37.0 amu

10. Which of the following elements has the highest first ionization energy?

○ (A) Na

○ (B) Al

○ (C) Cl

○ (D) Mg

11. If an atom has an electron configuration of 1s22s22p63s23p11s22s22p63s23p1,

what element is it?

○ (A) Mg

○ (B) Al

○ (C) Si

○ (D) P

12. What would be the first ionization energy trend in a period from left to right?

○ (A) Decreases

○ (B) Increases

○ (C) Stays the same

○ (D) Has no general trend

13. Given the photoelectron spectrum of an element with two peaks in the 1s and 2s

regions, identify the element if the binding energy of the 1s peak corresponds to

carbon.

○ (A) B

○ (B) N

○ (C) C

○ (D) O

14. Which element would you expect to have the largest atomic radius?

○ (A) O

○ (B) S
 ○ (C) F

○ (D) P

15. What is the molar mass of a compound with the formula Mg(OH)₂?

○ (A) 24.3 g/mol

○ (B) 34.3 g/mol

○ (C) 58.3 g/mol

○ (D) 74.3 g/mol

16. If 22.4 liters of gas at STP contains 1 mole, how many liters would 0.5 moles of the

gas occupy?

○ (A) 11.2 L

○ (B) 22.4 L

○ (C) 44.8 L

○ (D) 5.6 L

17. Which of the following has the greatest electron affinity?

○ (A) Cl

○ (B) Na

○ (C) S

○ (D) Mg

18. In a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gases, the mole fraction of nitrogen is 0.70.

What percentage of the mixture’s total pressure is exerted by nitrogen?

○ (A) 30%

○ (B) 50%

○ (C) 70%

○ (D) 90%

19. What is the ratio of the atoms in the empirical formula of a compound containing

80% carbon and 20% hydrogen by mass?

 ○ (A) CH₂

○ (B) CH₃

○ (C) C₂H₅

○ (D) C₄H₁₀

20. An unknown compound contains only C, H, and O. When 1.00 g of the compound

is combusted, it produces 1.65 g of CO₂ and 0.90 g of H₂O. What is the empirical

formula of the compound?

○ (A) CH₂O

○ (B) C₂H₄O

○ (C) C₃H₆O

○ (D) C₄H₈O₂

Short-Answer Questions (6 Questions)

1. Define molar mass and describe how it is used in stoichiometric calculations.

Provide an example calculation involving a conversion from grams to moles.

2. Describe the principles of mass spectrometry and explain how it can be used to

determine the isotopic composition of an element.

3. Explain how you would determine the empirical formula of a compound if you

were given only its percent composition.

4. Discuss the trend in first ionization energy across a period and down a group on

the periodic table. Explain how atomic structure influences this trend.

5. A mass spectrum of an unknown element shows two peaks at 64 amu and 66 amu

with relative abundances of 40% and 60%, respectively. Calculate the average

atomic mass of the element.

6. Explain how the photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) technique can be used to

identify elements and determine the electron configuration of an atom.

 7. (C)

8. (B)

9. (D)

10. (B)

11. (B)

12. (B)

13. (B)

14. (C)

15. (A)

16. (C)

17. (B)

18. (B)

19. (C)

20. (B)

21. (D)

22. (A)

23. (A)

24. (C)

25. (B)

26. (A)

Short-Answer Responses

1. Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance. Example: To find moles of

NaCl from grams, use molar mass (58.44 g/mol).

2. Mass spectrometry measures the masses of isotopes, determining isotopic

composition.

3. Use percent composition to find moles of each element, then divide by the

smallest value to find a ratio.

4. First ionization energy increases across a period and decreases down a group,

due to atomic structure.

5. Average atomic mass = 64(0.4) + 66(0.6) = 65.2 amu.

6. Photoelectron spectroscopy identifies elements and reveals electron

configurations based on binding energy spectra.

1. Which of the following expressions gives the number of moles in a 5.0g sample of

CaO?

2. A student has a 21g sample of pure copper (Cu) metal. What is the most useful

information for determining the number of Cu atoms?

3. In a lab, a student heats a 10g sample of BaCl₂ in water and adds Na₂SO₄, causing

BaSO₄ to precipitate. What scientific question can this experiment answer?

4. What is the electron configuration of an oxygen atom in the ground state?

5. How many unpaired electrons are there in an atom with the configuration

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p61s22s22p63s23p6?

6. Explain why the atomic radius of potassium (K) is larger than that of sodium (Na).

7. Why does K have a lower first ionization energy compared to Ca?

8. Identify another element likely to form a brittle, ionic compound with the formula

M2OM2​O similar to K₂O.

9. How can a mass spectrum be used to determine the average atomic mass of an

element with isotopes?

10. A mass spectrum shows two isotopes for an unknown element, with masses 185

and 187 and relative abundances of 40% and 60%, respectively. What is the

element’s approximate atomic mass?

1. Answer: 5.0 g÷56 g/mol5.0g÷56g/mol

2. Answer: The molar mass of Cu.

3. Answer: Is the BaCl₂ pure?

4. Answer: 1s2 2s2 2p41s22s22p4

5. Answer: 0

6. Answer: K has a larger atomic radius because it is in the period below Na, which means

it has an additional electron shell.

7. Answer: K has a larger atomic radius, so its outer electron is farther from the nucleus,

reducing the attraction and making it easier to remove.

8. Answer: Na.

9. Answer: Multiply the mass of each isotope by its relative abundance and add the

results.

10. Answer: 186.3 amu.