Reynella East College YEAR 12 CHEMISTRY

The Periodic Table and Electronic Configurations

Question 1

By referring to the position of an element in the periodic table it is possible to determine a number of
properties of an element and its compounds.
(i) State whether sulfur, magnesium and aluminium would have a high, an intermediate, or a low
electronegativity.

(ii) List the elements in order of increasing metallic nature.

(iii) State the charge that is present on the ion formed by sulfur, magnesium and aluminium.

(iv) Identify the strongest oxidizer from the list of elements above.

(v) From the list of elements above which is oxidized the easiest.

(vi) Write the formula for the oxide that sulfur, magnesium and aluminium would form in their highest
oxidation state.

(vii) State whether each of these oxides would be a solid, liquid, or a gas at room temperature.

(viii) State the bonding and structure that would be expected for each of these oxides.

(ix) Describe two physical properties for the oxides of magnesium and sulfur.

Question 2

(i) Write down the electronic configuration for each of the three elements sulfur, chromium and sodium,
using the sub-shell notation.

(ii) Identify the block on the periodic table to which each of the elements above belongs.

(iii) State the group and period number to which each of the elements above belongs. Give reasons.

(iv) State the likely oxidation state(s) of the above elements in their compounds.

(v) Write down the electronic configuration for each of the monatomic ions that sulfur, chromium and
sodium would form (S2-, Cr3+, Na+), using the sub-shell notation.

Question 3

Explain why the chemical properties of calcium are similar to magnesium.

Question 4

Write the electronic configuration of the following using sub-shell notation.

(i) Silicon (ii) Copper (iii) Fe3+
Question 5

Identify the elements with the following electronic configuration:

(i) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d1 (ii) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2

(iii) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 (iv) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s1

Question 6

A metal ion M3+ has the electronic configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d3
(a) Give the atomic number and name of the element M, explaining the basis of your reasoning.

(b) Write the electronic configuration of M.

(c) Indicate how the electronic configuration of element M is related to its position in the periodic table.

Question 7

(a) Use the position of iron in the Periodic Table to:

(i) Write the electronic configuration of iron.

(ii) State two likely oxidation states of iron in its compounds.

(b) Account for the fact that there are ten elements in the first row of transition elements.

Question 8

Explain why light of specific wavelengths is emitted when copper compounds are heated in a flame.

Question 9

(a) State the most likely oxidation state for boron in its compounds.

(b) State the maximum oxidation state that can be exhibited by nitrogen.

(c) State the block of the Periodic Table to which plutonium belongs.
Reynella East College YEAR 12 CHEMISTRY

The Periodic Table and Electronic Configurations Answers

Question 1

(i) S = High Mg = Low Al = Intermediate

(ii) S, Al, Mg
(iii) S2-, Mg2+, Al3+
(iv) S
(v) Mg
(vi) SO3, MgO, Al2O3
(vii) Gas, Solid & Solid respectively.
(viii)
OXIDE BONDING STRUCTURE
SO3 Covalent Molecular
MgO Ionic Continuous
Al2O3 Ionic Continuous
(ix) MgO is a solid, brittle, dense, high melting & boiling point and a good conductor of electricity in the
molten state only.
SO3 is a gas, low melting & boiling point and a poor conductor of electricity in the solid and molten
state.

Question 2

(i) S = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4

Cr = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 3d5
Na = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
(ii) S = p block Cr = d block Na = S block
(iii)
Element Group Period
S 6 because there are 6 valence 3 because there are 3 shells
elecrons containing electrons
Cr No group number due the 4 because there are 4 shells
presence of an incomplete 3d containing electrons
subshell
Na 1 because there is 1 valence 3 because there are 3 shells
electrons containing electrons
(iv) S = +4, +6, -2 Cr = +2, +3, +6 Na = +1
2- 2 2 6
(v) S = 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 2 6
Cr3+ = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d3 OR 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d3
Na+ = 1s2 2s2 2p6
Question 3

Both elements have two valence electrons in their outer shell and these are responsible for an atom’s
chemical properties.

Question 4

(i) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2

(ii) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 3d10 OR 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d9
(iii) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5

Question 5

(i) Sc (ii) Si (iii) Na (iv) Rb

Question 6

(a) Atomic number = 24 Name = Chromium

The ion (which has 21 electrons) formed from an atom which had lost 3 electrons.
(b) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 3d5 OR 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d4
(c) No group number due the presence of an incomplete 3d subshell.
Period 4 because there are 4 shells containing electrons.

Question 7

(a) (i) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d6

(ii) +2 and +3
(b) Due to the progressive addition of 10 electrons into the 3d subshell.

Question 8

Atoms are comprised of electrons, which move around the nucleus in specific regions, without radiating
energy at very high speeds. These regions are called ENERGY LEVELS.
The volume of space occupied by an electron is called an ORBITAL whilst the path taken by an
electron in its orbital is called an ORBIT. The normal energy levels in which you find electrons are
called the GROUND STATE. Electrons may move to new energy levels by absorbing set, specific
amounts (QUANTA) of energy.
In these energy levels the electrons are said to be in an EXCITED STATE. These excited states are
short lived and in turn, the electrons return to their ground state. In doing so, coloured light of a specific
frequency is emitted.
In the case of copper compounds they emit a green light.

Question 9

(a) +3 and -3
(b) +5
(c) f block