Chapter 3:

Atomic Structure

Daltons Atomic Model:

1. Which of the following was NOT part of Dalton's atomic theory?

a) Atoms are indivisible particles
b) Atoms of the same element have identical properties
c) Atoms can be created or destroyed in chemical reactions
d) Atoms combine in simple ratios

Answer: c) Atoms can be created or destroyed in chemical reactions

2. Dalton's theory explained which of the following laws?

a) Law of Conservation of Mass
b) Law of Definite Proportions
c) Both (a) and (b)
d) Neither (a) nor (b)

Answer: c) Both (a) and (b)

3. According to Dalton, atoms of different elements differ in:

a) Size
b) Mass
c) Chemical reactivity
d) All of the above

Answer: b) Mass

4. Which modern discovery contradicted Dalton's idea that atoms are

indivisible?
a) Quantum mechanics
b) Discovery of subatomic particles (electrons, protons, neutrons)

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 c) Periodic table
d) Chemical bonding

Answer: b) Discovery of subatomic particles

Short Questions on Dalton's Atomic Theory

State the four main postulates of Dalton's atomic theory.

Answer:

o All elements are made of tiny, indivisible atoms.

o Atoms of the same element are identical in mass and properties.
o Atoms combine in simple ratios to form compounds.
o Atoms cannot be created or destroyed in chemical reactions.

How did Dalton's theory explain the Law of Conservation of Mass?

Answer: Since atoms are neither created nor destroyed in reactions, the total
mass of reactants equals the mass of products.

What was a limitation of Dalton's atomic model?

Answer: It failed to account for subatomic particles (protons, neutrons,
electrons) and isotopes (atoms of the same element with different masses).

Why was Dalton's theory significant in the development of

chemistry?
Answer: It provided the first scientific framework to explain chemical
reactions and laid the foundation for modern atomic theory.

Rutherford Atomic Model

What particles did Rutherford use in his famous experiment?

a) Electrons
b) Neutrons
c) Alpha particles (He²⁺ nuclei)

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d) X-rays
Answer: c) Alpha particles (He²⁺ nuclei)

What was the most surprising observation in Rutherford's experiment?

a) All alpha particles passed straight through
b) Some alpha particles were slightly deflected
c) A few alpha particles bounced straight back
d) The gold foil melted during the experiment
Answer: c) A few alpha particles bounced straight back

Rutherford concluded that atoms are mostly empty space because:

a) Most alpha particles passed straight through
b) Some alpha particles were deflected
c) The gold foil was very thin
d) The alpha particles were positively charged
Answer: a) Most alpha particles passed straight through

The deflection of alpha particles proved that:

a) Atoms contain electrons
b) The positive charge is concentrated in a tiny nucleus
c) Atoms are neutral overall
d) Electrons orbit the nucleus
Answer: b) The positive charge is concentrated in a tiny nucleus

Short Answer Questions

What were the three key observations from Rutherford's gold foil
experiment?

Answer:

Most alpha particles passed straight through (showing atoms are mostly
empty space)

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Some particles were slightly deflected (showing a positive charge exists)

A few particles bounced straight back (showing a dense, positively charged

nucleus)

Why was Rutherford surprised by the results of his experiment?

Answer: Rutherford expected all alpha particles to pass through with minimal
deflection, based on Thomson's "plum pudding" model. The large deflections
and backscattering were unexpected and led to his nuclear model.

How did Rutherford's model differ from Thomson's plum pudding model?

Answer: Thomson's model had positive charge spread throughout the atom,
while Rutherford's showed it concentrated in a tiny nucleus with electrons
orbiting at a distance.

What did Rutherford conclude about the size of the nucleus compared to the
atom?

Answer: He concluded the nucleus was extremely small compared to the

overall atom - like a marble in a football stadium.

What was Rutherford's main contribution to atomic theory?

a) Discovery of electrons
b) Discovery of the nucleus
c) Quantum theory of atoms
d) Wave-particle duality
Answer: b) Discovery of the nucleus

Rutherford's planetary model suggested that:

a) Electrons are embedded in positive charge

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b) Electrons orbit the nucleus like planets
c) Atoms have no internal structure
d) Electrons are stationary
Answer: b) Electrons orbit the nucleus like planets

The major defect in Rutherford's model was that it predicted:

a) Atoms should be unstable
b) Electrons should gain energy
c) Atoms should be negatively charged
d) Nuclei should break apart
Answer: a) Atoms should be unstable

According to classical physics, why should Rutherford's model collapse?

a) Electrons would lose energy and spiral into nucleus
b) Protons would repel each other
c) Neutrons would decay
d) The nucleus would expand
Answer: a) Electrons would lose energy and spiral into nucleus

Short Answer Questions

What were the three key observations from Rutherford's gold foil
experiment?

Answer:

Most alpha particles passed straight through (showing atoms are mostly
empty space)

Some particles were slightly deflected (showing a positive charge exists)

A few particles bounced straight back (showing a dense, positively charged

nucleus)

Why was Rutherford surprised by the results of his experiment?

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Answer: Rutherford expected all alpha particles to pass through with minimal
deflection, based on Thomson's "plum pudding" model. The large deflections
and backscattering were unexpected and led to his nuclear model.

What did Rutherford conclude about the size of the nucleus

compared to the atom?

Answer: He concluded the nucleus was extremely small compared to the

overall atom - like a marble in a football stadium.

How did Rutherford's model differ from Thomson's plum pudding

model?

Answer: Thomson's model had positive charge spread throughout the atom,
while Rutherford's showed it concentrated in a tiny nucleus with electrons
orbiting at a distance.

What were the two main defects of Rutherford's atomic model?

Answer:

1. According to classical electromagnetism, orbiting electrons should

continuously emit radiation and lose energy, causing them to spiral
into the nucleus

2. This energy loss should produce a continuous spectrum, but atoms

emit discrete line spectra

How did Rutherford explain the stability of electron orbits in his

model?

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Answer: He proposed that the centrifugal force from the electron's motion
balanced the electrostatic attraction to the nucleus, maintaining stable orbits
(though this was later shown to be incorrect by classical physics).

What observation about atomic spectra contradicted Rutherford's

model?

Answer: Atoms emit discrete line spectra (specific wavelengths), not the
continuous spectrum that should result from electrons continuously losing
energy as they spiral inward.

How did Bohr's model improve upon Rutherford's model?

Answer: Bohr proposed that electrons move in fixed, quantized orbits without
radiating energy, explaining both atomic stability and discrete spectra.

Bohr’s Atomic Model

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Bohr's model successfully explained:

a) The photoelectric effect
b) The line spectrum of hydrogen
c) Nuclear reactions
d) Radioactive decay
Answer: b) The line spectrum of hydrogen

2. According to Bohr's theory, when does an atom emit light?

a) When an electron jumps to a higher orbit
b) When an electron falls to a lower orbit
c) When the nucleus splits
d) When protons absorb energy
Answer: b) When an electron falls to a lower orbit

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3. The angular momentum of an electron in Bohr's orbit is:
a) Random
b) A fraction of h/2π
c) An integral multiple of h/2π
d) Always zero
Answer: c) An integral multiple of h/2π

4. Which statement is NOT part of Bohr's theory?

a) Electrons move in circular orbits
b) Each orbit has a fixed energy
c) Electrons continuously emit radiation
d) Energy is quantized
Answer: c) Electrons continuously emit radiation

Short Answer Questions

State any three postulates of Bohr's atomic theory.

Answer:

1. Electrons revolve in fixed circular orbits (energy levels) without

radiating energy

2. Angular momentum is quantized (L = nh/2π)

3. Energy is emitted/absorbed when electrons jump between orbits (ΔE =

E₂-E₁)

How did Bohr's model explain atomic stability where Rutherford's

failed?

Answer: Bohr proposed electrons in stationary orbits don't radiate energy,

avoiding the classical prediction of collapsing into the nucleus.

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What is the significance of Planck's constant in Bohr's theory?

Answer: It appears in the quantization condition (L = nh/2π), showing atomic

energy levels are quantized rather than continuous.

Why doesn't the Bohr model show the three-dimensional aspect of

atoms?

Answer: It depicts electrons in simple circular orbits (2D) rather than the
complex 3D orbitals of quantum mechanics.

Calculate the angular momentum of an electron in the 3rd Bohr

orbit (n=3).

Answer:
L = nh/2π = 3 × (6.626×10⁻³⁴ Js)/2π
= 3.16 × 10⁻³⁴ Js

If a hydrogen electron transitions from n=4 to n=2, does it absorb

or emit energy? Why?

Answer: It emits energy (as light) because it's moving to a lower energy level
(E₂ < E₄), with ΔE = E₄-E₂ released as a photon.

Quantum Mechanical Model

Heisenberg uncertainity principle

1. What is the main limitation of the Bohr model?

a) It shows electrons as particles only
b) It does not depict the three-dimensional aspect of an atom
c) It ignores the nucleus
d) It contradicts quantum mechanics

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 Answer: (b) It does not depict the three-dimensional aspect of an
atom
2. The Quantum Mechanical Model describes electrons as:
a) Only particles
b) Only waves
c) Wave-particle entities
d) Fixed orbits
Answer: (c) Wave-particle entities
3. What are "orbitals" in the Quantum Mechanical Model?
a) Fixed paths of electrons
b) Probability regions where electrons are likely to be found
c) Energy levels with exact positions
d) Circular orbits like planets
Answer: (b) Probability regions where electrons are likely to be found
4. Who formulated the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle?
a) Niels Bohr
b) Albert Einstein
c) Werner Heisenberg
d) Erwin Schrödinger
Answer: (c) Werner Heisenberg
5. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that:
a) Electrons move in fixed orbits
b) We cannot know both the position and momentum of an electron
simultaneously
c) Electrons always stay in the same orbital
d) The nucleus has uncertain charge
Answer: (b) We cannot know both the position and momentum of an
electron simultaneously
6. Why can't we determine the exact orbit of an electron?
a) Because electrons don't move

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 b) Because observing an electron changes its position and momentum
c) Because electrons are too small
d) Because the nucleus repels them
Answer: (b) Because observing an electron changes its position and
momentum

Short Questions & Answers

1. What replaced the Bohr model, and why?

Answer: The Quantum Mechanical Model replaced the Bohr model
because it better explains electron behavior using probability orbitals
and wave-particle duality, whereas the Bohr model only described
fixed orbits.
2. How does the Quantum Mechanical Model describe electron
location?
Answer: It describes electron location in terms of probability
regions (orbitals), not fixed paths.
3. What does the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle say about
electrons?
Answer: It states that we cannot simultaneously know the exact
position and momentum (velocity/direction) of an electron.
4. Why can't we track an electron's exact path?
Answer: Because measuring its position disturbs its momentum,
making its future path uncertain.
5. What is an orbital?
Answer: An orbital is a three-dimensional region where there is a
high probability of finding an electron.
6. How does observing an electron affect its behavior?
Answer: Observation disturbs the electron, changing its position or
momentum, making exact tracking impossible.

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 Understanding Atomic Model

1. What prevents us from knowing an electron’s exact position

and path?
a) Electron’s small size
b) Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
c) Weak microscope technology
d) Electron’s negative charge
Answer: (b) Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

2. In a hydrogen atom, where is the electron most likely found?

a) Inside the nucleus
b) Far from the nucleus
c) In a spherical region (orbital) near the nucleus
d) In a fixed circular orbit
Answer: (c) In a spherical region (orbital) near the nucleus

3. Who proposed the wave-particle duality of electrons?

a) Werner Heisenberg
b) Niels Bohr
c) Louis de Broglie
d) Davisson and Germer
Answer: (c) Louis de Broglie

4. What did Davisson and Germer’s 1927 experiment confirm?

a) Electrons are only particles
b) Electrons exhibit wave-like behavior
c) Electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed paths

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 d) Electrons have no mass
Answer: (b) Electrons exhibit wave-like behavior

5. What is an atomic model primarily used for?

a) To physically build atoms
b) To simplify and explain atomic behavior
c) To replace chemical reactions
d) To measure atomic mass precisely
Answer: (b) To simplify and explain atomic behavior

6. Where is most of an atom’s mass concentrated?

a) In the electron shells
b) In the nucleus (protons and neutrons)
c) Evenly distributed
d) In the empty space
Answer: (b) In the nucleus (protons and neutrons)

Short Questions & Answers

1. Why can’t we draw an electron’s exact orbit?

Answer: Due to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, we cannot
simultaneously determine an electron’s position and momentum,
making fixed orbits impossible to define.

2. What is an orbital?
Answer: An orbital is a 3D region around the nucleus where an
electron is most likely (e.g., 95% probability) to be found.

3. How did de Broglie contribute to quantum mechanics?

Answer: He proposed wave-particle duality, showing electrons
exhibit both particle-like and wave-like properties.

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 4. What did Davisson and Germer’s experiment prove?
Answer: It experimentally confirmed that electrons behave like
waves, supporting de Broglie’s hypothesis.

5. What is the purpose of an atomic model?

Answer: To provide a simplified, conceptual representation of
atomic structure and behavior for understanding experiments.

6. Where are electrons located in an atom?

Answer: Electrons occupy shells/orbitals surrounding the nucleus,
while protons and neutrons are in the nucleus.

7. Why is the nucleus considered the atom’s mass center?

Answer: Because protons and neutrons (massive particles) are
concentrated there, while electrons have negligible mass.

Nuclear Force

1. What prevents protons in the nucleus from repelling each

other?
a) Gravitational force
b) Electromagnetic force
c) Strong nuclear force
d) Weak nuclear force
Answer: (c) Strong nuclear force

2. Which statement about the strong nuclear force is correct?

a) It acts only between protons
b) It is weaker than electrostatic forces
c) It binds protons and neutrons together
d) It causes atomic nuclei to break apart
Answer: (c) It binds protons and neutrons together

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 3. What is the charge and mass of a neutron?
a) Charge: +1, Mass: 1 amu
b) Charge: 0, Mass: 1 amu
c) Charge: -1, Mass: 0 amu
d) Charge: 0, Mass: 0 amu
Answer: (b) Charge: 0, Mass: 1 amu

4. Why don’t atomic nuclei disintegrate despite proton repulsion?

a) Electrons neutralize the nucleus
b) Strong nuclear force overcomes electrostatic repulsion
c) Neutrons cancel out proton charges
d) Magnetic forces stabilize the nucleus
Answer: (b) Strong nuclear force overcomes electrostatic repulsion

5. Which particle has a relative mass of ~1 amu but no charge?

a) Proton
b) Neutron
c) Electron
d) Positron
Answer: (b) Neutron

6. The strong nuclear force acts between:

a) Protons only
b) Neutrons only
c) Protons and neutrons
d) Electrons and protons
Answer: (c) Protons and neutrons

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Short Questions & Answers

1. What is the role of the strong nuclear force?

Answer: It binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus,
overcoming electrostatic repulsion between protons.

2. Why don’t protons repel each other out of the nucleus?

Answer: The strong nuclear force (stronger than electrostatic
repulsion) holds them together.

3. Compare the charges of protons and neutrons.

Answer:
o Proton: +1 charge

o Neutron: 0 charge (neutral)

4. What are the relative masses of protons and neutrons?

Answer: Both have a mass of ~1 atomic mass unit (amu).

5. List the three main subatomic particles in an atom.

Answer: Proton, neutron, and electron.

6. Is the strong nuclear force attractive or repulsive?

Answer: Attractive—it holds nucleons (protons/neutrons) together.

7. Why isn’t electromagnetic force sufficient to stabilize the

nucleus?
Answer: It causes proton repulsion; the strong nuclear force is
needed for attraction.

Subatomic Particles

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 1. What is the relative charge and mass of a neutron?
a) Charge: +1, Mass: 1 amu
b) Charge: 0, Mass: 1 amu
c) Charge: -1, Mass: 1/1836 amu
d) Charge: 0, Mass: 0 amu
Answer: (b) Charge: 0, Mass: 1 amu

2. Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom?

a) Orbiting the nucleus
b) In the electron cloud
c) In the nucleus
d) Outside the atom
Answer: (c) In the nucleus

3. Which subatomic particle is deflected toward the positive plate

in an electric field?
a) Proton
b) Neutron
c) Electron
d) Nucleus
Answer: (c) Electron

4. Why do neutrons travel straight in an electric field?

a) They have no charge
b) They are too heavy
c) They are positively charged
d) They are negatively charged
Answer: (a) They have no charge

5. What force holds protons and neutrons together in the

nucleus?

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 a) Electromagnetic force
b) Gravitational force
c) Strong nuclear force
d) Weak nuclear force
Answer: (c) Strong nuclear force

6. Which particle contributes least to the atomic mass?

a) Proton
b) Neutron
c) Electron
d) Nucleus
Answer: (c) Electron

Short Questions & Answers

1. Compare the masses of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Answer:
o Proton: ~1 amu

o Neutron: ~1 amu

o Electron: ~1/1836 amu (negligible mass).

2. What happens to protons, neutrons, and electrons in an

electric field?
Answer:
o Protons (+) deflect toward the negative plate.

o Electrons (-) deflect toward the positive plate.

o Neutrons (0) travel straight (no deflection).

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 3. Why do electrons orbit the nucleus?
Answer: Due to electromagnetic attraction between the negatively
charged electrons and positively charged protons.

4. What is the role of neutrons in the nucleus?

Answer: They add mass and stability (via strong nuclear force)
without adding charge.

5. How does the strong nuclear force differ from electromagnetic

force?
Answer:
o Strong force: Binds nucleons (protons/neutrons) over short
distances.

o Electromagnetic force: Causes proton repulsion but is weaker

than the strong force.

6. Why is an atom’s mass concentrated in the nucleus?

Answer: Because protons and neutrons (massive particles) are in the
nucleus, while electrons have negligible.

Behavior of Proton, Neutron and Electron in Electric Field

1. Why are atoms electrically neutral?

a) Equal protons and neutrons
b) Equal protons and electrons
c) Equal neutrons and electrons
d) No charged particles
Answer: (b) Equal protons and electrons

2. Which particle is deflected most in an electric field if moving at

the same speed?

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 a) Proton
b) Neutron
c) Electron
d) Alpha particle
Answer: (c) Electron

3. What defines isotopes of an element?

a) Different proton numbers
b) Different neutron numbers
c) Different electron numbers
d) Different chemical properties
Answer: (b) Different neutron numbers

4. Why do radioactive isotopes decay?

a) Excess electrons
b) Unstable proton-neutron ratio
c) Too many protons
d) Weak nuclear force
Answer: (b) Unstable proton-neutron ratio

5. Which statement about particle deflection is true?

a) Protons deflect more than electrons
b) Neutrons deflect slightly
c) Electrons deflect most due to lower mass
d) All particles deflect equally
Answer: (c) Electrons deflect most due to lower mass

6. Example of a radioactive isotope:

a) Hydrogen-1
b) Carbon-12
c) Uranium-238

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 d) Oxygen-16
Answer: (c) Uranium-238

Short Questions & Answers

1. Explain charge neutrality in atoms.

Answer: Atoms are neutral because the number of protons (+ve)
equals the number of electrons (-ve), balancing charges.

2. Why do electrons deflect more than protons in an electric

field?
Answer: Electrons have much less mass than protons, so the same
force accelerates them more.

3. What are isotopes? Give an example.

Answer: Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different
neutron numbers (e.g., Carbon-12 and Carbon-14).

4. What makes an isotope radioactive?

Answer: An unstable nucleus (imbalanced protons/neutrons) causes
radioactive decay.

5. How does neutron number affect atomic properties?

Answer: Changes mass and stability but not chemical properties
(same proton/electron count).

6. List two examples of radioactive isotopes.

Answer: Uranium-238, Carbon-14.

Proton number

1. What determines the identity of an element?

a) Number of neutrons

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 b) Number of protons (atomic number)
c) Number of electrons
d) Total mass of the atom
Answer: (b) Number of protons (atomic number)

2. What is the symbol for atomic number?

a) A
b) N
c) Z
d) P
Answer: (c) Z

3. In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to:

a) Number of neutrons
b) Number of electrons
c) Mass number
d) Atomic mass
Answer: (b) Number of electrons

4. If an atom has 6 protons, which element is it?

a) Nitrogen
b) Oxygen
c) Carbon
d) Sodium
Answer: (c) Carbon

5. How are elements arranged in the periodic table?

a) By atomic mass
b) By number of neutrons
c) By atomic number (proton number)

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 d) By electron configuration
Answer: (c) By atomic number (proton number)

6. What is the atomic number of helium (He)?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 4
d) 8
Answer: (b) 2

Short Questions & Answers

1. Define atomic number (proton number).

Answer: The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons in the nucleus
of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

2. Why is the atomic number unique for each element?

Answer: Each element has a distinct number of protons, which defines its
properties and position in the periodic table.

3. How does the atomic number relate to electrons in a neutral

atom?
Answer: In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the atomic
number (proton number) to balance the charge.

4. Identify the element with atomic number 11.

Answer: Sodium (Na).

5. What is the atomic number of carbon (C)?

Answer: 6.

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6. Why can’t two different elements have the same atomic number?
Answer: The atomic number defines an element’s identity; changing it
would result in a different element.

Atomic Number and Mass Number

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What determines an element's position in the periodic table?

a) Number of neutrons
b) Number of electrons
c) Atomic number (proton number)
d) Atomic mass
Answer: (c) Atomic number (proton number)

2. What is the mass number of an atom?

a) Number of protons only
b) Number of neutrons only
c) Sum of protons and neutrons
d) Sum of protons and electrons
Answer: (c) Sum of protons and neutrons

3. Atoms of the same element with different neutron numbers are called:
a) Ions
b) Isotopes
c) Allotropes
d) Isomers
Answer: (b) Isotopes

4. If an element has atomic number 17 and mass number 35, how many neutrons does it
have?
a) 17

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 b) 18
c) 35
d) 52
Answer: (b) 18 (Mass number – Atomic number = 35 - 17 = 18)

5. Which of the following represents the correct formula to calculate neutrons?

a) Neutrons = Atomic number - Mass number
b) Neutrons = Mass number + Atomic number
c) Neutrons = Mass number – Atomic number
d) Neutrons = Electrons - Protons
Answer: (c) Neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number

6. What is the atomic number of sodium (Na)?

a) 11
b) 12
c) 23
d) 35
Answer: (a) 11

Short Questions & Answers

1. Define mass number (nucleon number).

Answer: The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's
nucleus.

2. What are isotopes? Give an example.

Answer: Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
(e.g., Carbon-12 and Carbon-14).

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 3. How do you calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?
Answer: Neutrons = Mass number – Atomic number.

4. An atom has an atomic number of 8 and a mass number of 16. How many protons
and neutrons does it have?
Answer:
o Protons = Atomic number = 8

o Neutrons = Mass number – Atomic number = 16 - 8 = 8

5. Why do isotopes of the same element have the same chemical properties?
Answer: Because chemical properties depend on the number of electrons (and protons),
which is the same in isotopes.

6. Identify the element with atomic number 17 and mass number 35.
Answer: Chlorine (Cl).

Radioactivity
1. If an element has an atomic number of 17 and a mass number of 35, how many
neutrons does it have?
a) 17
b) 18
c) 35
d) 52
Answer: (b) 18 (Mass number – Atomic number = 35 - 17 = 18)

2. What happens to an atom's identity if it loses a proton during radioactive decay?

a) It becomes an isotope of the same element
b) It transforms into a different element
c) Its mass number remains unchanged

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 d) It gains energy
Answer: (b) It transforms into a different element

3. Which of the following is an example of radioactive decay?

a) Carbon-12 → Carbon-13
b) Carbon-14 → Nitrogen-14
c) Oxygen-16 → Oxygen-17
d) Hydrogen-1 → Hydrogen-2
Answer: (b) Carbon-14 → Nitrogen-14

4. What is the final stable product of Uranium-238 decay?

a) Radium-226
b) Lead-206
c) Thorium-234
d) Polonium-210
Answer: (b) Lead-206

5. What determines whether an atom is radioactive?

a) Number of electrons
b) Imbalance in nuclear forces
c) Total atomic mass
d) Number of electron shells
Answer: (b) Imbalance in nuclear forces

6. In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of:

a) Neutrons
b) Electrons
c) Nucleons
d) Isotopes
Answer: (b) Electrons

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Short Questions & Answers

1. How do you calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?

Answer:
Neutrons = Mass number – Atomic number.

2. Explain radioactive decay with an example.

Answer:
Radioactive decay is the process where an unstable nucleus emits particles/energy to
become stable.
Example: Carbon-14 decays into Nitrogen-14 by emitting beta radiation.

3. Why does losing a proton change an atom's identity?

Answer:
The atomic number (proton number) defines the element. Changing protons alters the
element's identity.

4. What is the difference between stable and radioactive isotopes?

Answer:
o Stable isotopes: Balanced nuclear forces, do not decay.

o Radioactive isotopes: Unstable nucleus, undergoes decay to achieve stability.

5. Identify the element with atomic number 17 and mass number 35.
Answer:
Chlorine (Cl).

6. What happens to Uranium-238 over time?

Answer:
It decays through a series of steps and eventually becomes stable Lead-206.

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 Relative Atomic Mass and AMU
1. What is the standard isotope used for defining atomic mass units
(amu)?
a) Hydrogen-1
b) Carbon-12
c) Oxygen-16
d) Uranium-238
Answer: (b) Carbon-12

2. How is 1 atomic mass unit (amu) defined?

a) 1/16th the mass of an oxygen atom
b) 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom
c) The mass of one hydrogen atom
d) 1/10th the mass of a uranium atom
Answer: (b) 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom

3. If a hydrogen atom is 8.40% as massive as a carbon-12 atom,

what is its relative atomic mass?
a) 1.008 amu
b) 12.00 amu
c) 0.840 amu
d) 2.016 amu
Answer: (a) 1.008 amu

4. Which instrument is used to determine atomic masses

accurately?
a) Microscope
b) Spectrophotometer
c) Mass spectrometer

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 d) Barometer
Answer: (c) Mass spectrometer

5. What is the relative atomic mass of oxygen (O) as per the text?
a) 12.0000 amu
b) 15.9994 amu
c) 16.0000 amu
d) 22.9898 amu
Answer: (b) 15.9994 amu

6. Why was carbon-12 chosen as the standard for atomic masses?

a) It is the lightest element
b) Its mass can be measured most accurately
c) It is abundant in nature
d) It forms stable compounds
Answer: (b) Its mass can be measured most accurately

Short Questions & Answers

1. Define relative atomic mass.

Answer: The mass of an atom of an element relative to the mass of a
carbon-12 atom, which is assigned exactly 12 amu.

2. How is 1 atomic mass unit (amu) calculated?

Answer: 1 amu = 1/12th the mass of one carbon-12 atom.

3. Why can’t we measure the absolute mass of a single atom

directly?
Answer: Atoms are extremely small, so their masses are
determined relative to a standard (carbon-12).

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 4. Calculate the relative atomic mass of an element if its atom is
25% as massive as carbon-12.
Answer:
Relative atomic mass=25100×12=3 amuRelative atomic mass=10025
×12=3amu

5. List the relative atomic masses of sodium (Na) and aluminum

(Al) from the text.
Answer:
o Sodium (Na): 22.9898 amu

o Aluminum (Al): 26.9815 amu

6. What role did chemists like Dalton and Avogadro play in atomic
mass determination?
Answer: They studied combining proportions of elements in
compounds to infer relative atomic masses.

Isotopes
1. What defines isotopes of an element?
a) Same protons, different electrons
b) Same protons, different neutrons
c) Same neutrons, different protons
d) Different protons and electrons
Answer: (b) Same protons, different neutrons

2. Which uranium isotope is used in nuclear reactors?

234
a) 92 U
b) 92235U
c) 92238U

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 236
d) 92 U
Answer: (b) 235
92 U

3. How many neutrons does deuterium (12H12H) have?

a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
Answer: (b) 1

4. What is emitted when uranium-238 decays into thorium-234?

a) Beta particle
b) Gamma ray
c) Alpha particle
d) Neutron
Answer: (c) Alpha particle (42He24He)

5. Why do isotopes have similar chemical properties?

a) Same number of neutrons
b) Same number of protons and electrons
c) Same mass number
d) Same physical state
Answer: (b) Same number of protons and electrons

6. Which carbon isotope is radioactive?

a) Carbon-12
b) Carbon-13
c) Carbon-14
d) Carbon-11
Answer: (c) Carbon-14

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

7. What is the natural abundance of chlorine-35?
a) 25%
b) 50%
c) 75%
d) 100%
Answer: (c) ~75%

8. Heavy water contains which hydrogen isotope?

a) Protium
b) Deuterium
c) Tritium
d) Hydronium
Answer: (b) Deuterium

Short Questions & Answers

1. List the three isotopes of hydrogen and their neutron counts.

Answer:
1
o Protium (1 H): 0 neutrons

o Deuterium (12H): 1 neutron

o Tritium (13H): 2 neutrons

2. Why is 92
235
U significant in nuclear energy?
Answer: It undergoes fission, releasing large energy for reactors/bombs.

3. Calculate neutrons in 92
238
U.
Answer:
Neutrons = 238 - 92 = 146.

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

4. What property of heavy water (D2O) differs from ordinary water
(H2O)?
Answer:
o Higher density (1.1044 g/cm3vs. 0.997 g/cm3)

o Higher boiling/melting points.

5. Why does carbon-14 decay while carbon-12 is stable?

Answer: Carbon-14 has an unstable neutron-proton ratio (8 neutrons
vs. 6 protons).

Determination of Relative Atomic Mass

1. What determines the relative atomic mass of an element?

a) Only the most abundant isotope
b) A weighted average of all its isotopes
c) The heaviest isotope
d) The number of protons only
Answer: (b) A weighted average of all its isotopes

2. Why do isotopes of an element have similar chemical properties?

a) They have the same number of neutrons
b) They have the same number of protons and electrons
c) They have the same mass number
d) They are all radioactive
Answer: (b) They have the same number of protons and electrons

3. What is the relative atomic mass of carbon if the abundances are

98.8% 12C12C, 1.1% 13C13C, and 0.009% 14C14C?
a) 12.01
b) 12.50
c) 13.00

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 d) 14.00
Answer: (a) 12.01

4. Which isotope is most abundant in natural carbon?

a) 12C
b) 13C
c) 14C14C
d) 15C15C
Answer: (a) 12C

5. What is emitted during the fission of uranium-235?

a) Only energy
b) Smaller nuclei, neutrons, and energy
c) Protons and electrons
d) Alpha particles
Answer: (b) Smaller nuclei, neutrons, and energy

6. How does the energy from 1 kg of uranium-235 compare to

burning coal?
a) Equivalent to 100 kg of coal
b) Equivalent to 1,000 kg of coal
c) Equivalent to 17,000 kg of coal
d) Less than 1 kg of coal
Answer: (c) Equivalent to 17,000 kg of coal

Short Questions & Answers

1. How is the relative atomic mass of an element calculated?

Answer:

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 It is calculated as a weighted average of the masses of all its
naturally occurring isotopes, considering their relative abundances.

2. Why is 12C12C used as the standard for atomic mass?

Answer:
Because it is abundant, stable, and its mass can be measured
accurately, making it a reliable reference.

3. Calculate the relative atomic mass of carbon using the given

data:
12C=98.8%12C=98.8%, 13C=1.1%13C=1.1%, 14C=0.009%14C=0.009%.
Answer:
Relative atomic mass=(98.8×12)+(1.1×13)+(0.009×14)100=1185.6+14.3+
0.126100=12.01 amu

Relative atomic mass=100(98.8×12) +(1.1×13) +(0.009×14)

=1001185.6+14.3+0.126

=12.01amu

4. What are the products of uranium-235 fission?

Answer:
Smaller nuclei, neutrons, and a large amount of energy.

5. Why don’t neutrons affect chemical properties?

Answer:
Chemical properties depend on protons and electrons; neutrons
only influence nuclear stability and physical properties.

6. What is the significance of uranium-235 in nuclear energy?

Answer:

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 It undergoes fission, releasing immense energy used in reactors and
atomic

Uses of Isotopes
1. Which radioactive isotope is used to diagnose thyroid problems?
a) Cobalt-60
b) Iodine-131
c) Sodium-24
d) Carbon-14
Answer: (b) Iodine-131

2. What is the primary use of Cobalt-60 in medicine?

a) Blood flow tracing
b) Cancer treatment
c) Brain imaging
d) Photosynthesis studies
Answer: (b) Cancer treatment

3. Which isotope is used to trace blood flow in the circulatory

system?
a) Iodine-123
b) Sodium-24
c) Carbon-14
d) Sulphur-35
Answer: (b) Sodium-24

4. Carbon-14 is commonly used for:

a) Treating tumors
b) Dating archaeological objects
c) Brain imaging

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 d) Blood flow studies
Answer: (b) Dating archaeological objects

5. What is the role of Sulphur-35 in chemistry?

a) Treating thyroid disorders
b) Determining molecular structures
c) Irradiating cancer cells
d) Tracing carbon pathways
Answer: (b) Determining molecular structures

6. Which of the following isotopes is used in brain imaging?

a) Iodine-131
b) Iodine-123
c) Sodium-24
d) Cobalt-60
Answer: (b) Iodine-123

Short Questions & Answers

1. List two medical uses of radioactive isotopes.

Answer:
o Iodine-131 for thyroid diagnosis.

o Cobalt-60 for cancer treatment.

2. How is Sodium-24 used in medicine?

Answer: It traces blood flow and detects obstructions in the circulatory
system.

3. Explain the application of Carbon-14 in science.

Answer: It is used for radiocarbon dating of ancient objects and
studying photosynthesis.

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

4. What is the significance of Sulphur-35 in chemistry?
Answer: It helps determine the structure of molecules like the
thiosulphate ion (S2O32−S2O32−).

5. Why are radioactive isotopes useful in studying chemical

reactions?
Answer: They act as tracers to track reaction pathways and
mechanisms.

6. Name an isotope used for both medical and archaeological

purposes.
Answer: Carbon-14 (medical: tracer studies; archaeological: dating).

Carbon Dating and IONS

1. What is the primary use of Carbon-14 in archaeology?
a) Treating diseases
b) Dating ancient objects
c) Tracing blood flow
d) Cancer treatment
Answer: (b) Dating ancient objects

2. How does Carbon-14 enter living organisms?

a) Through respiration only
b) Via photosynthesis and food chains
c) By artificial injection
d) From volcanic eruptions
Answer: (b) Via photosynthesis and food chains

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 3. What happens to Carbon-14 levels after an organism dies?
a) They increase
b) They remain constant
c) They decrease over time
d) They fluctuate randomly
Answer: (c) They decrease over time

4. What is a cation?
a) A negatively charged ion
b) A neutral atom
c) A positively charged ion
d) A type of isotope
Answer: (c) A positively charged ion

5. How is a cation formed?

a) By gaining electrons
b) By losing electrons
c) By gaining protons
d) By losing neutrons
Answer: (b) By losing electrons

6. Which type of atoms typically form cations?

a) Non-metals
b) Noble gases
c) Metals
d) Radioactive isotopes
Answer: (c) Metals

Short Questions & Answers

1. Explain the principle of carbon dating.

Answer:

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

 Carbon-14 is absorbed by living organisms. After death, C-14 decays at
a known rate. By comparing the remaining C-14 in a sample to living
tissue, the age of the sample is estimated.

2. Why can’t carbon dating be used for very old fossils (millions
of years)?
Answer:
C-14 has a half-life of ~5,730 years; after ~50,000 years, its amount
becomes too small to measure accurately.

3. What is the difference between a cation and a neutral atom?

Answer:
A cation has fewer electrons than protons, giving it a positive charge,
while a neutral atom has equal protons and electrons.

4. Give an example of a common cation and how it forms.

Answer:
Sodium ion (Na⁺): Forms when a sodium atom (Na) loses one
electron.

5. Why do metals tend to form cations?

Answer:
Metals have few valence electrons and lose them easily to achieve a
stable noble gas configuration.

6. How does the charge of a cation relate to the number of

electrons lost?
Answer:
The charge equals the number of electrons lost (e.g., losing 2 electrons
→ 2+ charge).

Electronic configuration

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

1. According to the Aufbau principle, which sub-shell is filled immediately after 3p?
a) 3d
b) 4s
c) 4p
d) 4d
Answer: b) 4s
2. What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy an f sub-shell?
a) 2
b) 6
c) 10
d) 14
Answer: d) 14
3. In the notation ²⁴Mg²⁺, the number 24 represents:
a) Atomic number
b) Mass number
c) Number of neutrons
d) Number of electrons
Answer: b) Mass number
4. Which of the following represents the correct order of filling for sub-shells?
a) 1s < 2s < 3s < 2p
b) 1s < 2s < 2p < 3s
c) 1s < 2p < 2s < 3s
d) 1s < 3s < 2p < 2s
Answer: b) 1s < 2s < 2p < 3s

Short Answer Questions

1. State the Aufbau principle in your own words.

Answer: Electrons fill atomic orbitals starting from the lowest energy level before occupying
higher energy levels.

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

2. Write the electronic configuration for oxygen (atomic number 8).
Answer: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴
3. How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are present in ²⁴Mg²⁺?
Answer:

 Protons: 12
 Neutrons: 12 (24-12)
 Electrons: 10 (12-2)

4. Why does the 4s sub-shell fill before the 3d sub-shell?

Answer: Because 4s has lower energy than 3d according to the energy level sequence.

Exercise
Multiple Choice Questions

1. Chlorine has two isotopes, both of which have:

 (a) same mass number

 (b) same number of neutrons
 (c) different number of protons
 (d) same number of electrons
Answer: (d) same number of electrons

2. Number of neutrons in Al-27 are:

 (a) 13
 (b) 14
 (c) 27
 (d) 15
Answer: (b) 14 (27 - 13 protons = 14 neutrons)

3. Which isotope is commonly used to irradiate cancer cells?

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

  (a) Iodine-123
 (b) Carbon-14
 (c) Cobalt-60
 (d) Iodine-131
Answer: (c) Cobalt-60

4. M shell has sub-shells:

 (a) 1s, 2s
 (b) 2s, 2p
 (c) 3s, 3p, 3d
 (d) 1s, 2s, 3s
Answer: (c) 3s, 3p, 3d (M shell = n=3)

5. A sub-shell that can accommodate 6 electrons is:

 (a) s
 (b) d
 (c) p
 (d) f
Answer: (c) p

6. Electronic configuration of Na (atomic number 11):

 (a) 1s, 2s, 3s

 (b) 1s, 2s, 2p¹
 (c) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s²
 (d) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹
Answer: (d) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹

7. Incorrect statement about isotopes:

 (a) same atomic number

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

  (b) same number of protons
 (c) same chemical properties
 (d) same physical properties
Answer: (d) same physical properties (Isotopes differ in mass/density)

8. Isotope used in nuclear reactors:

 (a) U-234
 (b) U-238
 (c) U-235
 (d) All of these
Answer: (c) U-235

Short Answer Questions

1. Distinguish between shell and sub-shell.

Answer:

 Shell: Principal energy level (n=1, 2, 3...).

 Sub-shell: Orbitals within a shell (s, p, d, f).

2. Why is an atom electrically neutral?

Answer: It has equal numbers of protons (+) and electrons (−), balancing
charges.

3. How many sub-shells are in the N shell (n=4)?

Answer: 4 sub-shells (4s, 4p, 4d, 4f).

4. Notation for sub-shells of M shell (n=3):

Answer: 3s, 3p, 3d.

5. List M shell sub-shells in order of increasing energy.

Answer: 3s < 3p < 3d.

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

6. Can you identify an atom without knowing neutrons?
Answer: Yes, using the atomic number (protons = electrons).

7. Correct the electronic configurations:

 y = 1s² 2s¹ 2p¹ → 1s² 2s² (Be) or 1s² 2s² 2p¹ (B).
Mistake: 2s not fully filled before 2p.
 z = 1s² 2s² 2p⁵ 3s¹ → 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ (Ne).
Mistake: 3s filled before 2p completion.

5. Lower energy orbital in each pair:

 (a) 2s < 2p
 (b) 2p < 3p
 (c) 3s < 4s

7. Bohr’s Model for:

 Potassium (K-39): 2, 8, 8, 1
 Silicon (Si-28): 2, 8, 4
 Argon (Ar-39): 2, 8, 8

9. Electronic configurations:

 ²⁶₁₄Si: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p²

 ²⁴₁₂Mg: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s²
 ²⁷₁₃Al: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p¹
 ⁴⁰₁₈ Ar: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶

11. Uses of isotopes:

 Medical: Cobalt-60 (cancer therapy).

 Archaeology: Carbon-14 dating.
 Energy: U-235 (nuclear fuel).

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum

12. For atomic number 23, mass number 56:

 (a) Protons = 23, Electrons = 23.

 (b) Neutrons = 56 - 23 = 33.

13. Information from ²⁷₁₃Al:

 Protons = 13, Neutrons = 14 (27-13), Electrons = 13.

Chemistry by Roshni Qayyum