Eduqas GCSE Chemistry
Eduqas GCSE Chemistry 2 Particles and Atomic Structure Exam Questions
Free Eduqas GCSE Chemistry revision for 2 Particles and Atomic Structure: what you need to know, common mistakes and exam-style questions with answers. Covers the particle model, changes of state, atomic models, protons, neutrons and electrons, electronic structure, isotopes and relative atomic mass.
Practise 2 Particles and Atomic Structure with past papers
Once you have learnt this topic, find the 2 Particles and Atomic Structure questions in real Eduqas GCSE Chemistry past papers and mark them with the mark scheme. Doing lots of real questions is the quickest way to learn how examiners ask about each idea.
StemUp mark scheme flashcards
GCSE Chemistry Triple Science Flashcards for 2027 Onwards
Every answer is written in mark scheme wording, so you learn exactly what examiners give marks for. Then test yourself with the questions on this page.
From £7.99View flashcards
About Eduqas GCSE Chemistry 2 Particles and Atomic Structure
Particles and atomic structure is the second topic in Eduqas GCSE Chemistry. It covers the particle model of solids, liquids and gases and changes of state, then the nuclear atom and how models of the atom developed. You need the relative mass and charge of protons, neutrons and electrons, how to work out numbers of each from atomic and mass numbers, electronic structures for the first 20 elements, isotopes and relative atomic mass. Everything later in the course, especially the Periodic Table, bonding and moles, depends on this content. Examiners commonly ask for subatomic particle counts, electronic structures and relative atomic mass calculations from isotope abundances.
What you need to know
- Particle model In solids particles vibrate in fixed positions; in liquids they are close together but move past each other; in gases they are far apart and move randomly. Melting, boiling, condensing and freezing involve energy transfer and changes in the forces between particles. The model is limited because particles are not solid spheres and forces are not shown.
- Development of the atom Dalton described atoms as solid spheres; Thomson's plum pudding model had electrons in a ball of positive charge; Rutherford's gold foil experiment showed a small, dense, positive nucleus; Bohr placed electrons in shells; Chadwick discovered the neutron.
- Subatomic particles Proton: relative mass 1, charge +1. Neutron: relative mass 1, charge 0. Electron: very small relative mass, charge -1. Atomic number = number of protons; mass number = protons + neutrons. Atoms are neutral because protons equal electrons.
- Electronic structure Shells fill in the order 2, 8, 8, 2 for the first 20 elements, for example sodium is 2,8,1 and calcium is 2,8,8,2. The number of outer electrons gives the group number and the number of shells gives the period.
- Isotopes and relative atomic mass Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Relative atomic mass is the mean mass of the atoms compared with 1/12 of carbon-12, calculated from isotope masses and abundances.
- Mendeleev Mendeleev arranged elements by atomic mass but swapped some to keep elements with similar properties together, and left gaps for undiscovered elements whose properties he predicted. The discovery of isotopes and protons explained why ordering by atomic number works.
Common mistakes in 2 Particles and Atomic Structure
- Saying the mass number is the number of neutrons. Neutrons = mass number - atomic number.
- Saying isotopes have different numbers of protons. They have the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons.
- Giving electronic structure with 8 electrons in the first shell. The first shell holds a maximum of 2 electrons.
- Writing that in the plum pudding model electrons orbit the nucleus. There was no nucleus in the plum pudding model; electrons were embedded in a ball of positive charge.
- Stating that particles expand when a substance is heated. The particles move faster and further apart; the particles themselves do not get bigger.
Try three 2 Particles and Atomic Structure exam-style questions
1. Copper has two isotopes: 69% copper-63 and 31% copper-65. Calculate the relative atomic mass of copper to 1 decimal place. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
(63 x 69) + (65 x 31) = 4347 + 2015 = 6362; 6362 / 100 = 63.6.
2. An atom of potassium has atomic number 19 and mass number 39. State the number of protons, neutrons and electrons and write its electronic structure. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
19 protons and 19 electrons; 20 neutrons; electronic structure 2,8,8,1.
3. Explain how the results of the alpha particle scattering experiment led to the nuclear model of the atom. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Most alpha particles passed straight through, so most of the atom is empty space; a few were deflected, so the centre is positively charged; a very small number bounced back, so the mass is concentrated in a tiny nucleus.
2 Particles and Atomic Structure FAQs
What does Eduqas GCSE Chemistry 2 Particles and Atomic Structure cover?
It covers the particle model and changes of state, the development of atomic models, subatomic particles, electronic structure, isotopes and relative atomic mass, and Mendeleev's Periodic Table.
Which paper is 2 Particles and Atomic Structure examined in?
It is examined in Component 1: Concepts in Chemistry (2 hours 15 minutes, 120 marks). Component 2: Applications in Chemistry can also test it through practical contexts and an unseen article.
What must I memorise for Eduqas GCSE Chemistry 2 Particles and Atomic Structure?
Learn the relative masses and charges of the three subatomic particles, electronic structures for elements 1 to 20, the order of atomic models and the evidence for each, and the method for calculating relative atomic mass from abundances.
