Isotopes: past paper questions

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which symbol represents an isotope of the main element present in stainless steel?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is defined as different atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The symbols represent four atoms. The letters used are not the usual atomic symbols. $${}_{20}^{40}\text{W}{}_{19}^{40}\text{X}{}_{20}^{46}\text{Y}{}_{22}^{46}\text{Z}$$ Which atoms are isotopes of the same element?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement describes isotopes of the same element?

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  An atom of element X has 20 protons and 20 neutrons. An atom of element Y has 19 electrons and a nucleon number of 40. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Rubidium has two isotopes, ${}_{37}^{85}\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}$ and ${}_{37}^{87}\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}$. Which statement explains why both isotopes have the same chemical properties?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  X and Y are atoms. - X and Y have the same number of electron shells. - X and Y have the same number of outer electrons.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Symbols representing four particles are shown. $${}_{20}^{40}\text{W}{}_{20}^{41}{\text{X}}^{2+}{}_{18}^{37}\text{Y}{}_{17}^{37}\text{Z}$$ The letters are not the chemical symbols. Which particles have the same number of neutrons?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The percentage abundances of three isotopes in a sample of neon are shown.

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in four different particles.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which two values are used to calculate the relative atomic mass of a sample of boron?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured14 marks

  This question is about atomic structure and the Periodic Table. Define the term nucleon number.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement explains why isotopes of an element have the same chemical reactions?

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 41Structured10 marks

  This question is about elements. Identify the element that: is used in the manufacture of overhead electrical cables because of its low density

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  The symbols of four atoms are listed. 1 ${}_6^{12}\text{C}$ 2 ${}_6^{14}\text{C}$ 3 ${}_7^{14}\text{N}$ 4 ${}_{14}^{29}\text{Si}$ Which atoms have more neutrons than protons?

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• Question 6May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Isotopes of the same element have some features that are the same and some that are different. Which row shows the features that are the same and those that are different?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured21 marksHas a diagram

  Boron and aluminium are Group III elements. Boron has only two naturally occurring isotopes, ${}^{10}\mathrm{B}$ and ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}$. Complete Table 2.1 to show the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom of ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}$.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 43Structured9 marks

  This question is about elements. Identify an element that: is approximately 21% of clean, dry air

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• Question 6May/June 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement explains why isotopes of the same element have the same chemical properties?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured14 marks

  Cobalt and copper are transition elements. Copper has two naturally occurring isotopes, ${}^{63}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}$ and ${}^{65}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}$. Cobalt has only one naturally occurring isotope, ${}^{59}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{o}$.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 33Structured6 marks

  The symbol for an atom of xenon is shown. ${}_{54}^{131}\mathrm{X}\mathrm{e}$ Complete Table 2.1 to show the number of neutrons and nucleons in one atom of ${}_{54}^{131}\mathrm{X}\mathrm{e}$.

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• Question 3May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which statements about isotopes are correct?

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The atomic structures of four particles, W, X, Y and Z, are shown. Which particles are isotopes of the same element?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured13 marks

  Protons, neutrons and electrons are particles found in atoms. Complete Table 1.1 to show the relative mass and relative charge of a proton, a neutron and an electron.

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• Question 5May/June 2024, paper 42Structured17 marksHas a diagram

  Sulfur is a Group VI element. A sample of sulfur contains two isotopes, ${}^{32}\mathrm{S}$ and ${}^{34}\mathrm{S}$. Complete Table 5.1 to show the number of protons and neutrons in one atom of each isotope of sulfur.

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The symbols for two different isotopes of element S are shown. $${}_{\mathrm{n}}^{\mathrm{m}}\mathrm{S}{}_{\mathrm{q}}^{\mathrm{p}}\mathrm{S}$$ The letters m, n, p and q represent whole numbers. Which statements about the values of m, n, p and q are correct?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured19 marks

  Iron is extracted from iron ore in a blast furnace. The iron compound in the main iron ore used in the blast furnace is iron(III) oxide. State the name of the main iron ore used in the blast furnace.

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The atomic structures of four particles, W, X, Y and Z, are shown. W: 2 electrons, 2 neutrons, 2 protons X: 2 electrons, 2 neutrons, 3 protons Y: 2 electrons, 3 neutrons, 2 protons Z: 3 electrons, 2 neutrons, 3 protons Which particles are isotopes of the same element?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 43Structured9 marks

  Atoms and ions are made from particles called electrons, neutrons and protons. Complete Table 1.1.

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• Question 5May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row identifies the number of electrons, neutrons and protons in a particle which is an isotope of ${}_5^{11}\text{B}$?

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