IB Chemistry SL 3.1 The Periodic Table Questions
Practise electron configurations, periodic trends, group reactions, oxide chemistry and oxidation-state reasoning across the periodic table.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Course
- Chemistry SL
- Level
- SL
Practise electron configurations, periodic trends, group reactions, oxide chemistry and oxidation-state reasoning across the periodic table.
Lithium and boron are elements in period 2 of the periodic table. Lithium occurs in group 1 (the alkali metals) and boron occurs in group 3. Isotopes exist for both elements.
Distinguish between the terms group and period.
Group: (elements in vertical) columns in periodic table and Period: (elements in horizontal) rows in periodic table;
Marking guidance:
Allow elements in same group have similar chemical properties and within a period, atoms have same number of shells/energy levels (but number of electrons in valence/outer shell increases).
Allow groups distributed vertically and periods distributed horizontally / OWTTE.
Allow group number gives number of valence/outer shell electrons (for main-group elements) and period gives same number of shells/energy levels.
Iron rusts in the presence of oxygen and water. Rusting is a redox process involving several steps that produces hydrated iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3∙nH2O, as the final product. The half-equations involved for the first step of rusting are given below.
Half-equation 1: Fe(s)→Fe2+(aq)+2e−
Half-equation 2: O2(aq)+4e−+2H2O(l)→4OH−(aq)
Identify the oxidation number of each atom in the three species in half-equation 2.
0 | I∣−II - II -
Marking guidance:
Award [2] for five correct.
Award [1] for four correct.
Accept use of oxidation states ( 0,+1,-2,-2,+1 ) for oxidation numbers.
Penalize once for incorrect notation (eg, 2, 2-).
State the property that determines the order in which elements are arranged in the periodic table.
atomic number / number of protons;
Marking guidance:
Accept number of electrons in a (neutral) atom.
State the relationship between the electron arrangement of an element and its group and period in the periodic table.
groups indicate the number of electrons in the highest energy level/outer/valence shell;
periods indicate the number of (occupied) energy levels/shells (in the atom);
Chlorine undergoes many reactions.
State, giving a reason, whether the chlorine atom or the chloride ion has a larger radius.
Cl−AND more «electron-electron» repulsion
Marking guidance:
Accept Cl−AND has an extra electron.
Outline why the chlorine atom has a smaller atomic radius than the sulfur atom.
Cl has a greater nuclear charge/number of protons/ Zeff «causing a stronger pull on the outer electrons»
same number of shells
OR
same «outer» energy level
OR
similar shielding
2.67 g of manganese(IV) oxide was added to 200.0 cm3 of 2.00moldmm−3HCl.
State the oxidation state of manganese in MnO2 and MnCl2.
MnO2:MnCl2 :
MnO2:+4MnCl2:+2
Iron rusts in the presence of oxygen and water. Rusting is a redox process involving several steps that produces hydrated iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3∙nH2O, as the final product. The half-equations involved for the first step of rusting are given below.
Half-equation 1: Fe(s)→Fe2+(aq)+2e−
Half-equation 2: O2(aq)+4e−+2H2O(l)→4OH−(aq)
State the relationship between the electron arrangement of an element and its group and period in the periodic table.
groups indicate the number of electrons in the highest energy level/outer/valence shell;
periods indicate the number of (occupied) energy levels/shells (in the atom);
Chlorine occurs in Group 7, the halogens.
Chlorine has an electronegativity value of 3.2 on the Pauling scale.
State the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of potassium bromide, KBr(aq), with chlorine, Cl2(aq).
(iv) colourless/pale yellow/green to yellow/orange/brown;
Start and end colours must both be mentioned.
Describe the colour change likely to be observed in this reaction.
Colourless/pale yellow/green → yellow/orange/brown.
Periodic trends enable chemists to predict the behaviour of related compounds.
Na2O and SO3 are two oxides of period 3 elements.
State the acid-base natures of Na2O and SO3.
Na2O basic and SO3 acidic;
Marking guidance:
Ignore state symbols.
State equations for the reactions of Na2O and SO3 with water.
Na2O + H2O -> 2 NaOH; SO3 + H2O -> H2SO4. State symbols may be ignored.
Chlorine undergoes many reactions.
2.67 g of manganese(IV) oxide was added to 200.0 cm3 of 2.00moldmm−3HCl.
State the oxidation state of manganese in MnO2 and MnCl2.
MnO2:MnCl2 :
MnO2:+4MnCl2:+2