plumiAtomic structure: OCR A‑Level Chemistry B questions
Every OCR A-Level Chemistry B exam question on EL Atomic structure (specification points EL(e)–(h)), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q2(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2, question 2(a): How many neutrons are in an atom of 14N? [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h43302-jun25-02-a-qp.webp?v=3)
Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2, question 2(b)(i): Complete the electron configurations of: A Si atom: 1s2 A Mg2+ ion: 1s2 [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h43302-jun24-02-bi-qp.webp?v=3)
Q22(b)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 22(b): Later work led to the ideas of electron orbitals. Give the shape of an s-orbital. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03301-jun24-22-b-qp.webp?v=3)
Q22(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 22(c)(i): Complete the electron configuration of a calcium atom. 1s2 [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03301-jun24-22-ci-qp.webp?v=3)
![June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 1: What is the outer electron configuration of tellurium, Te? 4p6 A 4s2 4p4 B 5p6 C 5s2 5p4 D Your answer [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03301-jun23-01-qp.webp?v=3)
Q21(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 21(d)(i): Give the mass number of the isotope that has 22 neutrons in its nucleus. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03301-jun23-21-di-qp.webp?v=3)
Q1(g)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 2, question 1(g): Iron is formed in stars by fusion reactions. Complete the nuclear equation for one such reaction. 48 ..... ..... 24 + .....He .....Fe [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h43302-jun22-01-g-qp.webp?v=3)
![June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 1: Which ion has the same electron configuration as Ca2+? 1 Al 3+ A Br – B K+ C Mg2+ D Your answer [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03301-jun22-01-qp.webp?v=3)
Q1(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 1(a)(ii): What evidence for the structure of atoms is provided by atomic spectra? [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03302-jun22-01-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q1(d)
The whole paper ↗
Q1(h)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 1(h): Complete the electronic configuration for the magnesium ion, Mg2+. 1s2 [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h03302-jun22-01-h-qp.webp?v=3)
All 53 questions on Atomic structure, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): How many neutrons are in an atom of 14N? [1]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): The Geiger and Marsden experiment was an important step in discovering the structure of the atom. What could be deduced from this experiment? A Atoms consist of
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): What is correct about s orbitals? A Only elements in Group 1 or Group 2 have them. B They always contain 2 electrons. C They are spherical in shape. D They can
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which species have an electron configuration ending in s1? 3 A atoms of some d-block elements B atoms of Group 13 C ions of Group 2 D ions of Group 16 Your answ
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): What is correct about nuclear fusion reactions? A They are the way in which all elements are formed. B They join together atoms to make heavier atoms. C They on
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): Which option occurred first in the discovery of atomic structure? A the Geiger-Marsden experiment B the idea of an atom with electrons embedded in positive char
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the electron configurations of: A Si atom: 1s2 A Mg2+ ion: 1s2 [2]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): What is the missing product of the nuclear fusion reaction shown? 2 1H + 3 1 1H 0n + A a beryllium nucleus B a helium nucleus C a lithium nucleus D a proton You
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): What is correct for all the halogens (Group 17)? Their atoms have electronic configurations ending p5. A B They are gases. C They are readily soluble in water.
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q22(b) (1 mark): Later work led to the ideas of electron orbitals. Give the shape of an s-orbital. [1]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q22(c)(i) (1 mark): Complete the electron configuration of a calcium atom. 1s2 [1]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Helium-4 is formed by a nuclear fusion reaction. 2 3 4 2He 2He + What is needed to complete the equation? A 1 electron B 1 neutron C 1 proton D 2 protons Your a
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): What is the outer electron configuration of tellurium, Te? 4p6 A 4s2 4p4 B 5p6 C 5s2 5p4 D Your answer [1]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q21(d)(i) (1 mark): Give the mass number of the isotope that has 22 neutrons in its nucleus. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which feature of the structure of the atom was deduced from the Geiger and Marsden experiment? A Atoms consist of electrons, protons and neutrons. B The nucleus
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(g) (2 marks): Iron is formed in stars by fusion reactions. Complete the nuclear equation for one such reaction. 48 ..... ..... 24 + .....He .....Fe [2]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which ion has the same electron configuration as Ca2+? 1 Al 3+ A Br – B K+ C Mg2+ D Your answer [1]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): What evidence for the structure of atoms is provided by atomic spectra? [1]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q1(d) (1 mark): Magnesium-24 is formed in some stars by nuclear fusion of two identical carbon nuclei. Complete the nuclear equation for the formation of this isotope. 24 2 12
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q1(h) (1 mark): Complete the electronic configuration for the magnesium ion, Mg2+. 1s2 [1]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which of these provides evidence that electrons are arranged in shells within atoms? A atomic spectra B electrolysis C the discovery of the neutron D the Geiger
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): Which of these electron distributions is correct for an oxygen atom? 1s 2s 2p A B C D Your answer [1]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): Element W is in Group 17 of the Periodic Table and element X is in Group 2. What is correct? The outer sub-shell electron configuration of W is p5. A The outer
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Boron has electron configuration 1s22s22p1. Which statement is correct for a boron atom? A Each s-orbital contains 1 electron. B It has three sub-shells that co
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q23(c) (2 marks): Complete Table 23.1 for atoms of the isotopes of helium. 3He 4He atomic number number of electrons number of neutrons mass number [2] Table 23.1
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q23(d)(ii) (1 mark): Complete the electron configuration of titanium. 1s22s22p63s2 [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): What provided evidence of the atomic nucleus? A Thomson’s discovery that all elements contain electrons. B Geiger and Marsden firing α-particles at gold leaf. C
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): Which equation could represent a fusion reaction in the Sun? 1H + 1H 2H A 2H + 1H 3H B 3H + 2H 4He + 1H C 3He + 3He 4He + 2 1H D Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): Complete the electronic configuration, using sub-shells, of an atom of sodium and the magnesium ion in magnesium carbonate. 1s2 sodium atom 1s2 magnesium ion [2
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which particles join in a fusion reaction? A Atoms B Electrons C Elements D Nuclei Your answer [1]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): What is the shape of an s-orbital? A Circle B Dumbbell C Oval D Sphere Your answer [1]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): What is the outer-shell electron configuration of antimony, Sb? 4d10 A 4p3 B 5p3 C 6s2 D Your answer [1]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q22(a) (1 mark): Give the number of protons and neutrons in an atom of carbon-13. protons neutrons [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q34(a) (2 marks): Helium is formed in the Sun by fusion reactions. Complete the nuclear equations below to show how helium is formed. 2 1 3 .....H + .....H .....He + χ 3 3 4 ....
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q34(d) (1 mark): Analysis of water from a hot vent showed a variety of other minerals dissolved from the Earth’s crust, such as copper chloride. Give the electronic configuratio
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): What is the outer subshell electron configuration of an element in Group 16 of the Periodic Table? p4 A p5 B p6 C p16 D Your answer [1]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Geiger and Marsden fired α-particles at a gold foil. What happened in their experiment? A The α-particles were scattered randomly. B Most α-particles passed thr
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q3(a) (1 mark): Write a nuclear equation to show the fusion of the nuclei of two hydrogen-2 atoms to give a single atom. [1]
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): Complete the electronic configuration of indium. 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which equation represents a possible fusion reaction? A 1H + 1H 2H B 1H + 3H 4He C 1H + 1H 2He D 1H + 2He 3Na Your answer [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Which statement about p-orbitals is correct? A A p-orbital is spherical in shape. B A p-orbital can contain two electrons. C There are six p-orbitals in a p-sub
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): Which row is correct? Species Protons Neutrons in Electrons isotope F– A 9 10 11 B Ne 10 10 10 Na+ C 11 10 11 D Mg2+ 14 10 12 Your answer [1]
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q22(b)(i) (1 mark): Complete the electron configuration of gallium, Ga. 1s22s22p63s23p6 [1]
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q22(b)(ii) (1 mark): Describe the shape of an s-orbital. [1]
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): Write the electron configuration for the highest energy sub-shell for an iodide ion. [1]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): An element forms ions with a charge of 3+. What could be the electron configuration of the atoms of the element? 1s22s22p3 A 1s22s22p63s23p63d14s2 B 1s22s22p63p
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Some models of the structure of the atom are described below. 1 Atoms are spheres. 2 Atoms have a dense nucleus. 3 The electrons are arranged in shells. 4 Atoms
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q21(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom of 35Cl. protons neutrons electrons [1]
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q21(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the electron configuration, using sub-shells and atomic orbitals, of an atom of 37Cl. [1]
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q21(a)(iii) (1 mark): Draw a diagram to show the shape of a p-orbital and indicate how many electrons it can hold. number of electrons: [1]
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): How many protons are in a hydroxide ion, OH−? 1 A 1 B 8 C 9 D 10 Your answer [1]
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Which of the following is the correct electronic configuration for a potassium ion, K+ ? 2 1s22s22p63s1 A 1s22s22p63s23p6 B 1s22s22p63s23p64s1 C 1s22s22p63s23p6
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q21(a) (1 mark): Give the mass number of the nickel isotope produced and the number of protons and neutrons it contains. mass number protons neutrons [1]
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