AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), Higher tier · Atomic structure and the periodic table › Atoms, isotopes and electronic structure
Practise Electronic structure. 13 exam-style questions plus unlimited generated ones on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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An aluminium atom has 13 electrons. Give the electronic structure of an aluminium atom.
2,8,3
Which two of these elements have the same number of electrons in the outer energy level of their atoms?
magnesium and calcium
An atom of Q has three occupied energy levels. It has one electron in its outer energy level. Give the electronic structure and the atomic number of Q.
2,8,1; atomic number 11
An ion X2+ has the electronic structure 2,8,8. Give the electronic structure of an atom of X and the atomic number of X.
2,8,8,2; atomic number 20
The electronic structure of silicon is 2,8,4. Explain why silicon and germanium have similar chemical properties.
Both have 4 electrons in their outer energy level.
Elements D, E and G have consecutive atomic numbers. D has the smallest atomic number. D is a noble gas. The total number of electrons in one atom of each of D, E and G is 57. Determine the atomic number of D. Show your working.
18
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy5 marks
The electrons in an atom occupy the lowest available energy levels.
(a) An aluminium atom has 13 electrons. Give the electronic structure of an aluminium atom.[1]
(b) An atom of element Q has the electronic structure 2,8,6. How many electrons are in the outer energy level of an atom of Q?[1]
(c) What is the atomic number of element Q?[1]
(d) Potassium has the atomic number 19. Give the electronic structure of a potassium atom.[1]
(e) A lithium atom has 3 electrons. Explain why the electronic structure of lithium is 2,1.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: 2,8,3
2,8,3
(b)Answer: 6
6
(c)Answer: 16
16
(d)Answer: 2,8,8,1
2,8,8,1
(e)Answer: The first energy level can only hold 2 electrons, so the third electron goes into the second energy level.
the first energy level / shell can hold only 2 electrons (so the third electron is in the second level)
Question 2Medium5 marks
The electronic structures of the first 20 elements follow a pattern.
(a) Give the electronic structure of an atom of each element. carbon (atomic number 6) magnesium (atomic number 12) argon (atomic number 18) calcium (atomic number 20)[4]
(b) Which two of these elements have the same number of electrons in the outer energy level of their atoms?[1]