Module 2

Specification
reference Checklist questions

Atoms, ions, and compounds

Can you describe isotopes as atoms of the same element with different
2.1.1a
numbers of neutrons and different masses?

Can you describe atomic structure in terms of the numbers of protons,

2.1.1 b neutrons and electrons for atoms and ions, given the atomic number,
mass number and any ionic charge?

Can you explain the terms relative isotopic mass (mass compared with
2.1.1 c 1/12th mass of carbon-12) and relative atomic mass (weighted mean
mass compared with 1/12th mass of carbon-12), based on the mass of a
12
C atom, the standard for atomic masses?

2.1.1 d Can you use mass spectrometry?

2.1.1 d i Can you use mass spectrometry to determine relative isotopic masses
and relative abundances of the isotope?

2.1.1 d ii Can you use mass spectrometry to calculate the relative atomic mass of
an element from the relative abundances of its isotopes?

2.1.2 a Can you write formulae of ionic compounds from ionic charges?

2.1.2 a i Can you predict ionic charge from the position of an element in the
periodic table?

2.1.2 a ii Can you recall the names and formulae for the following ions: NO3–, CO32,
SO42–, OH–, NH4+, Zn2+, and Ag+?

Can you construct balanced chemical equations (including ionic

2.1.2 b equations), including state symbols, for reactions studied and for
unfamiliar reactions given appropriate information?

Amount of substance

2.1.1 e Can you use the terms relative molecular mass, Mr, and relative formula
mass and their calculation from relative atomic masses?

2.1.3 a i Can you explain and use the term amount of substance?
Module 2
Specification
reference Checklist questions

2.1.3 a ii Can you explain and use the term mole (symbol ‘mol’), as the unit for
amount of substance?

2.1.3 a iii Can you explain and use the term the Avogadro constant, NA (the number
of particles per mole, 6.02 × 1023 mol–1)?

2.1.3 a iv Can you explain and use the term molar mass (mass per mole, units g
mol–1)

2.1.3 a v Can you explain and use the terms molar gas volume (gas volume per
mole, units dm3 mol–1)?

2.1.3 b i Can you use the terms: empirical formula (the simplest whole number ratio
of atoms of each element present in a compound)

2.1.3 b ii Can you use the terms: molecular formula (the number and type of atoms
of each element in a molecule)?

2.1.3 c Can you calculate empirical and molecular formulae, from composition by
mass or percentage compositions by mass and relative molecular mass?

2.1.3 d Can you explain the terms anhydrous, hydrated and water of
crystallisation?

2.1.3 d Can you calculate the formula of a hydrated salt from given percentage
composition, mass composition or based on experimental results?

2.1.3 e i Can you perform calculations, using amount of substance (in moles),
involving mass?

2.1.3 e ii Can you perform calculations, using amount of substance (in moles),
involving gas volume?

2.1.3 e iii Can you perform calculations, using amount of substance (in moles),
involving solution volume and concentration?

2.1.3 f Can you give the ideal gas equation: pV = nRT?

2.1.3 g Can you use stoichiometric relationships in calculations?

2.1.3 h i Can you use calculations to determine the percentage yield of a reaction
or related quantities?
Module 2
Specification
reference Checklist questions

2.1.3 h ii Can you use calculations to determine the atom economy of a reaction?

Can you describe the techniques and procedures required during

2.1.3 i experiments requiring the measurement of mass, volumes of solutions
and gas volumes?

2.1.3 j Can you describe the benefits for sustainability of developing chemical
processes with a high atom economy?

Acids and redox

2.1.4 a Can you give the formulae of the common acids (HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 and
CH3COOH)?

2.1.4 a Can you give the formulae of the common alkalis (NaOH, KOH and NH3)?

2.1.4 a Can you explain that acids release H+ ions in aqueous solution and alkalis
release OH– ions in aqueous solution?

2.1.4 b Can you explain strong and weak acids in terms of relative dissociations?

2.1.4 c i Can you describe neutralisation as the reaction of H+ and OH– to form
H2O?

Can you describe neutralisation as the reaction of acids with bases,

2.1.4 c ii including carbonates, metal oxides and alkalis (water-soluble bases),
to form salts, including full equations?

Can you describe the techniques and procedures used when

2.1.4 d preparing a standard solution of required concentration and carrying
out acid–base titrations?

Can you describe structured and non-structured titration

2.1.4 e calculations, based on experimental results of familiar and
non-familiar acids and bases?

2.1.5 a Can you give and explain the rules for assigning and calculating
oxidation number for atoms in elements, compounds and ions?

2.1.5 b Can you write formulae using oxidation numbers?

Module 2
Specification
reference Checklist questions

Can you use Roman numerals to indicate the magnitude of the oxidation
2.1.5c number when an element may have compounds/ions with different
oxidation numbers?

2.1.5 d i Can you describe oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer?

2.1.5 d ii Can you describe oxidation and reduction in terms of changes in oxidation
number?

2.1.5 e Can you describe redox reactions of metals with acids to form salts,
including full equations?

2.1.5 f Can you interpret redox equations and unfamiliar redox reactions, to make
predictions in terms of oxidation numbers and electron loss/gain?

Electrons and bonding

2.2.1 a Can you give the number of electrons that can fill the first four shells?

2.2.1 b i Can you describe atomic orbitals as a region around the nucleus that can
hold up to two electrons, with opposite spins?

2.2.1 b ii Can you describe atomic orbitals the shapes of s- and p-orbitals?

Can you describe atomic orbitals the number of orbitals making up

2.2.1 b iii s-, p- and d-sub-shells, and the number of electrons that can fill
s-, p- and d-sub-shells?

2.2.1 c i Can you describe filling of orbitals for the first three shells and the 4s and
4p orbitals in order of increasing energy?

2.2.1 c ii Can you describe filling of orbitals for orbitals with the same energy,
occupation singly before pairing?

2.2.1 d i Can you deduct the electron configurations of atoms, given the atomic
number, up to Z = 36?

2.2.1 d ii Can you deduct the electron configurations of: ions, given the atomic
number and ionic charge, limited to s- and p- blocks up to Z = 36?
Module 2
Specification
reference Checklist questions

Can you describe ionic bonding as electrostatic attraction between

2.2.2 a positive and negative ions, and the construction of 'dot-and-cross'
diagrams?

2.2.2 b Can you explain the solid structures of giant ionic lattices, resulting from
oppositely charged ions strongly attracted in all directions (e.g. NaCl)?

Can you explain the effect of structure and bonding on the physical
2.2.2 c properties of ionic compounds, including melting and boiling points,
solubility and electrical conductivity in solid, liquid and aqueous states?

2.2.2 d Can you describe covalent bond as the strong electrostatic attraction
between a shared pair of electrons and the nuclei of the bonded atoms?

2.2.2 e Can you construct ‘dot-and-cross’ diagrams of molecules and ions?

2.2.2 e i Can you construct ‘dot-and-cross’ diagrams of molecules and ions to

describe single covalent bonding?

2.2.2 e ii Can you construct ‘dot-and-cross’ diagrams of molecules and ions to

describe multiple covalent bonding?

2.2.2 e iii Can you construct ‘dot-and-cross’ diagrams of molecules and ions to
describe dative covalent (coordinate) bonding?

2.2.2 f Can you use the term average bond enthalpy as a measurement of
covalent bond strength?

Shapes of molecules and intermolecular

forces
Can you describe the shapes of, and bond angles in, molecules and ions
2.2.2 g with up to six electron pairs (including lone pairs) surrounding the central
atom as predicted by electron pair repulsion, including the relative
repulsive strengths of bonded pairs and lone pairs of electrons?

Can you use electron pair repulsion to explain the following shapes of
2.2.2 h molecules and ions: linear, non-linear, trigonal planar, pyramidal,
tetrahedral and octahedral?

Can you describe electronegativity as the ability of an atom to

2.2.2 i attract the bonding electrons in a covalent bond; interpretation of
Pauling electronegativity values?
Module 2
Specification
reference Checklist questions

2.2.2 j i Can you explain a polar bond and permanent dipole within molecules
containing covalently- bonded atoms with different electronegativities?

2.2.2 j ii Can you explain a polar molecule and overall dipole in terms of permanent
dipole(s) and molecular shape?

2.2.2 k Can you describe intermolecular forces based on permanent dipole–dipole

interactions and induced dipole–dipole interactions?

2.2.2 l Can you describe hydrogen bonding as intermolecular bonding between

molecules containing N, O or F and the H atom of –NH, –OH or HF?

2.2.2 m Can you explain anomalous properties of H2O resulting from hydrogen
bonding?

2.2.2 m i Can you explain anomalous properties of H2O resulting from hydrogen
bonding, for example, the density of ice compared with water?

2.2.2 m ii Can you explain anomalous properties of H2O resulting from hydrogen
bonding, for example, its relatively high melting and boiling points?

Can you explain the solid structures of simple molecular lattices, as

2.2.2 n covalently bonded molecules attracted by intermolecular forces (e.g. I2,
ice)?

Can you explain the effect of structure and bonding on the physical
2.2.2 o properties of covalent compounds with simple molecular lattice structures
including melting and boiling points, solubility and electrical conductivity?