Periodic Table and Energy | OCR A-Level Chemistry A (H432)

Periodic Table and Energy

  • 177 questions
  • 15 subtopics
  • Module 3: Periodic table and energy
  • Component 01 and Component 03

Periodicity and the trends that follow from electron configuration, the reactions of Group 2 and the halogens, the qualitative tests for the common ions, and the collision-theory account of reaction rate including catalysts and the Boltzmann distribution..

It covers periodicity and the electron configurations of periods 2 and 3, the blocks, and first and successive ionisation energies, metallic and giant covalent structures and their properties, group 2 reactions with oxygen, water and acids, ionisation energy down Group 2 and the alkalinity of the hydroxides, uses of Group 2 compounds in agriculture and medicine, the halogens: boiling points, London forces and reactivity, halogen displacement reactions and the colours seen, disproportionation and the chlorination of water, testing for halide ions with silver nitrate and ammonia, testing for carbonate, sulfate and halide ions, testing for ammonium ions and the order of the tests, concentration, pressure and measuring reaction rate, catalysts and their industrial importance and the Boltzmann distribution, temperature and catalysts.

Sample questions from Periodic Table and Energy

Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.

  1. Periodicity and the electron configurations of periods 2 and 3

    State the electron configuration of carbon.

    Show the answer
    1s² 2s² 2p²
  2. The blocks, and first and successive ionisation energies

    Explain the small decrease in first ionisation energy between magnesium and aluminium.

    Show the answer
    Aluminium's outer electron is in a 3p subshell, which is higher in energy than magnesium's 3s subshell, making it easier to remove.
  3. Group 2 reactions with oxygen, water and acids

    In terms of electron transfer, what type of change occurs when a Group 2 metal forms a 2+ ion?

    Show the answer
    Oxidation, because the metal loses electrons
  4. Ionisation energy down Group 2 and the alkalinity of the hydroxides

    What product is formed when a Group 2 oxide reacts with water?

    Show the answer
    A metal hydroxide, M(OH)₂
  5. The halogens: boiling points, London forces and reactivity

    What is the effect of having more electrons on the polarisability of halogen atoms?

    Show the answer
    More electrons means greater polarisability
  6. Halogen displacement reactions and the colours seen

    How does electron shielding change going down Group 7?

    Show the answer
    Electron shielding increases down the group
  7. Testing for halide ions with silver nitrate and ammonia

    Name the compound produced when silver ions are added to a solution containing bromide ions.

    Show the answer
    Silver bromide (AgBr)
  8. Testing for carbonate, sulfate and halide ions

    Write the ionic equation for the reaction between barium ions and sulfate ions.

    Show the answer
    Ba²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → BaSO₄(s)

The 15 subtopics

One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.

Subtopic What it covers Questions
Periodicity and the electron configurations of periods 2 and 3 Recall questions on what fixes the order of the elements, why a group shares properties, and the electron configurations of lithium through argon. 19
The blocks, and first and successive ionisation energies Recall questions on the s, p and d blocks, the definition of first ionisation energy, the trends across a period and down a group, and the dips at boron and at oxygen. 13
Metallic and giant covalent structures and their properties Recall questions on metallic bonding, the structures of diamond, graphite, graphene and silicon, and why each conducts, melts and dissolves as it does. 17
Group 2 reactions with oxygen, water and acids Recall questions on the outer configuration, the 2+ ion formed, and the products and the trend in vigour when Group 2 metals meet oxygen, water and dilute acid. 12
Ionisation energy down Group 2 and the alkalinity of the hydroxides Recall questions on atomic radius, shielding and nuclear attraction down the group, and why the hydroxide solutions become more alkaline. 9
Uses of Group 2 compounds in agriculture and medicine Recall questions on calcium hydroxide on acid soil, magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate as antacids, and why these compounds count as bases. 8
The halogens: boiling points, London forces and reactivity Recall questions on the diatomic molecules, why boiling point rises down the group through polarisability and London forces, and the outer configuration they share. 10
Halogen displacement reactions and the colours seen Recall questions on which halogen displaces which, the ionic equations, and the colours in aqueous solution and in an organic solvent. 9
Disproportionation and the chlorination of water Recall questions on the definition of disproportionation, chlorine with water and with cold dilute sodium hydroxide, and the benefits and risks of chlorinating water. 10
Testing for halide ions with silver nitrate and ammonia Recall questions on the silver nitrate test, the three precipitate colours, and how their solubility in dilute and concentrated ammonia separates them. 11
Testing for carbonate, sulfate and halide ions Recall questions on the acid test for carbonate, the barium chloride test for sulfate, and why nitric acid is added before the halide test. 11
Testing for ammonium ions and the order of the tests Recall questions on the hydroxide test for ammonium, and why carbonate must be tested before sulfate and sulfate before halide. 10
Concentration, pressure and measuring reaction rate Recall questions on why concentration and pressure raise the rate through collision frequency, and on measuring rate from the gradient of a graph. 13
Catalysts and their industrial importance Recall questions on the definition of a catalyst, the lowered activation energy, homogeneous against heterogeneous, and the economic and sustainability arguments. 12
The Boltzmann distribution, temperature and catalysts Recall questions on the shape of the distribution, what the area under it represents, and how raising the temperature or adding a catalyst changes the proportion of molecules able to react. 13
Periodic Table and Energy is 177 of the 1,913 questions in the guide.Get the guide, £8

How the guide is worked

Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.

  1. Step 1 · Closed book

    Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.

  2. Step 2 · Open book

    Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.

  3. Step 3 · Closed book again

    Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.

Nearby sections

All 17 sections Guide overview

OCR A-Level Chemistry A Active Recall Guide

Every section, not just this one. 1,913 questions with their answers.

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