plumiIonisation energies as evidence for shells and sub-shells: Edexcel International A Level Chemistry questions
Edexcel International A Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 2.2.2 Ionisation energies as evidence for shells and sub-shells, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q21(c)(i)
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All 33 questions on Ionisation energies as evidence for shells and sub-shells, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q21(b)(i) (2 marks): The following data show the first seven ionisation energies for an element in Period 3. Deduce, with a reason, the identity of the element. (2) Ionisation numbe
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q21(c)(i) (3 marks): Plot the following first ionisation energies of the elements in Period 2 on the grid below. (3) Element Li Be B C N O F Ne 1st ionisation energy / kJ mol–1 520
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q21(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the difference in first ionisation energies between beryllium and boron. (2)
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q21(c)(iii) (2 marks): Explain the difference in first ionisation energies between carbon and nitrogen. (2)
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): The first four ionisation energies of the elements gallium (Ga), indium (In), germanium (Ge) and tin (Sn) are shown. Which values are the first four ionisation
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q20(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain which one of the elements from lithium to nitrogen deviates from this general trend. (3)
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q20(b) (1 mark): Identify the Period 3 element that has the following successive ionisation energies. Ionisation energy / kJ mol–1 First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q16(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain the trend in the first ionisation energies of Al, Si and P. (3)
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q16(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why sulfur does not follow this trend. (2)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which element has atoms with a full outer shell of electrons? A element P B element Q C element R D element S
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which element could be X in a gaseous covalent compound with the formula HX? A element P B element Q C element R D element S
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q1(c) (1 mark): Which element could be Y in an ionic compound with the formula YF2? A element P B element Q C element R D element S
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q1(d) (1 mark): Which element has atoms with the largest atomic radius? A element P B element Q C element R D element S
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6 (1 mark): The electronic configurations of the atoms of four elements are shown. What is the electronic configuration of the atom of element which has the lowest first io
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(a)(ii) (3 marks): Predict a value for the first ionisation energy of oxygen. Justify your answer. (3)
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the large difference between the first and second ionisation energies of lithium. (2)
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q11(a) (1 mark): Which element has only one p orbital containing a pair of electrons? (1) A element U B element V C element W D element X
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q11(b) (1 mark): Which element is the least reactive? (1) A element S B element X C element Y D element Z
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q11(c) (1 mark): Which element has the greatest second ionisation energy? (1) A element S B element T C element X D element Y
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q14(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how the graph confirms that barium is in Group 2 in the Periodic Table. (1)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q23(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the first ionisation energy of oxygen is lower than that of nitrogen. (2)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q23(b) (2 marks): All the successive ionisation energies of nitrogen are shown in the table. Ionisation number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ionisation energy 1402 2856 4578 7475 9445 53 267 64
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q14(a) (2 marks): The first four ionisation energies of aluminium are shown. Energy / kJ mol−1 Ionisation number 1 578 2 1820 3 2750 4 11 600 Explain how this information shows t
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q14(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the first ionisation energy of aluminium is less than the first ionisation energy of magnesium. (2)
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q5 (1 mark): The graph shows log (ionisation energy) against ionisation number for the successive ionisations of an element. 6 5 4 log (ionisation 3 energy) 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(c) (3 marks): Explain why the first ionisation energy of sulfur is less than the first ionisation energies of both phosphorus and chlorine. (3) . .
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q18(c) (3 marks): Describe what can be deduced about the electronic structure of sodium from its successive ionisation energies. (3)
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q18(d)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest why the fourth ionisation energies of neon and sodium are similar in magnitude even though the elements are in different periods of the Periodic Table.
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q5 (1 mark): The first five ionisation energies of an element, in kJ mol–1, are 578 1 817 2 745 11 578 14 831 This element could be A sodium B magnesium C aluminium D silico
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5 (1 mark): The first six ionisation energies of an element, in kJ mol−1, are shown. 578 1817 2745 11 578 14 831 18 378 Which group of the Periodic Table includes this elem
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q22(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the table. (1)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q22(a)(ii) (3 marks): Plot a graph of log (ionisation energy) against ionisation number. (3)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q22(a)(iv) (3 marks): Explain what can be deduced from the graph about the electronic structure of nitrogen. (3)
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