plumiShapes of orbitals and how they fill: Edexcel International A Level Chemistry questions
Edexcel International A Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 2.2.3 Shapes of orbitals and how they fill, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q22(a)
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All 12 questions on Shapes of orbitals and how they fill, as a list
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q22(a) (1 mark): Give the reason why the two electrons in the n = 1 energy level are represented by arrows pointing in opposite directions. (1)
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q22(b) (2 marks): Explain whether or not all of the electrons in the n = 2 energy level have the same energy. (2)
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q22(c) (1 mark): Name the shape of the orbital occupied by the electron in the n = 3 energy level. (1)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): Which diagram represents the electronic structure of a nitrogen atom? 1s 2s 2p A ↑↓ ↑ ↑↓ ↑ ↑ B ↑↓ ↑ ↑↓ ↑↓ C ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ D ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): What is the shape of a p orbital and the maximum number of electrons it can hold? shape maximum number of electrons A 2 B 6 C 2 D 6
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q10 (1 mark): Which is the electronic configuration of chromium? 3d 4s A [Ar] B [Ar] C [Ar] D [Ar] Use this space for any rough working. Anything you write in this space will
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4 (1 mark): What is the total number of orbitals in a sulfur atom which contain at least one electron? A 3 B 5 C 8 D 9
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): Complete the diagram to show the electronic configuration for a sulfur atom in the ground state. Include labels for each subshell. (2) Energy 1s
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term orbital. (2)
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (1 mark): State the shape of an s orbital and the shape of a p orbital. (1)
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q3 (1 mark): How many orbitals are there, in total, in the first three quantum shells of an atom? A 3 B 6 C 9 D 14
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q4 (1 mark): What is the maximum number of electrons in the 3p subshell, and in the third quantum shell of an atom? Maximum number of Maximum number electrons in the of elec
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