Question 1

Which of the following best describes a periodic property of elements?

Accepted Answer

A property that is predictable based on an element’s position on the periodic table.

Question 2

According to Coulomb’s Law, what happens to the potential energy of two oppositely charged particles as they get closer together?

Accepted Answer

The potential energy decreases.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about Mendeleev’s periodic table is correct?

Accepted Answer

He arranged elements in order of increasing mass and left gaps for undiscovered elements.

Question 4

Which element is a transition metal?

Accepted Answer

Cr

Question 5

Which of the following electron configurations represents a noble gas?

Accepted Answer

$$1s^2$$ $$2s^2$$ $$2p^6$$

Question 6

Which statement about orbital penetration and shielding is correct?

Accepted Answer

An orbital that penetrates into the region occupied by core electrons is less shielded from nuclear charge and therefore has a lower energy.

Question 7

Which of the following elements has the greatest effective nuclear charge experienced by its valence electrons?

Accepted Answer

S

Question 8

Which of the following ions is expected to be paramagnetic?

Accepted Answer

An ion with one or more unpaired electrons

Question 9

Which of the following best explains why sodium commonly forms a $$1+$$ ion and not a $$2+$$ ion?

Accepted Answer

Sodium has only one valence electron that is easily removed; removing a second electron would be more difficult because it would be a core electron.

Question 10

Which of the following elements has the highest first ionization energy?

Accepted Answer

S

Question 11

Which of the following statements about atomic radius is correct?

Accepted Answer

Atomic radius increases down a group and decreases across a period.

Question 12

Which of the following elements is expected to have the most metallic character?

Accepted Answer

Sn

Question 13

Which of the following ions is larger: $$S^{2-} or$$ $$S$$?

Accepted Answer

$$S^{2-}$$

Question 14

Which of the following electron configurations represents a halogen?

Accepted Answer

$$1s^2$$ $$2s^2$$ $$2p^5$$

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the trend in electron affinity across a period for main-group elements?

Accepted Answer

Electron affinity becomes more negative (more exothermic) from left to right.

Question 16

A second-row element has a large jump between its third and fourth ionization energies. What is the element?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why valence electrons are more important than core electrons in determining the reactivity and bonding in atoms?

Accepted Answer

Since bonding involves the transfer or sharing of electrons, valence electrons are most important because they are held most loosely.

Question 18

Which of the following is the correct order of filling for atomic orbitals according to the aufbau principle?

Accepted Answer

$$1s \rightarrow 2s \rightarrow 2p \rightarrow 3s \rightarrow 3p \rightarrow 4s \rightarrow 3d$$

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the periodic law is correct?

Accepted Answer

When elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, certain sets of properties recur periodically.

Periodic Properties of the Elements: Structure, Electron Configuration, and Periodic Trends

Study Guide - Practice Questions