dic-table/questions","formulaUrl":null,"initialIndex":21,"initialQuestionWindow":[{"id":"44cf6aa4-1a35-4ec3-94ae-66577dd43454","revisionId":"8eedfb88-66aa-4a8f-b86e-b610774ac81e","questionNumber":null,"questionType":"LA","specification":"The electronic configurations of beryllium and magnesium are:\n\n* beryllium: 2.2\n* magnesium: 2.8.2\n\nWhen beryllium and magnesium react, they lose electrons to form positive ions with a $2+$ charge.","difficulty":5,"difficultyBand":"medium","totalMarks":2,"sourceTitle":null,"calculatorUse":null,"parts":[{"id":"56e29156-136c-453d-80c5-be178890a02d","label":null,"content":"Suggest an explanation, in terms of their electronic configurations, why magnesium is more reactive than beryllium.","markscheme":"- Magnesium has more electron shells (three shells compared to beryllium's two) OR outer electrons in magnesium are further from the nucleus (and experience more shielding) M1\n- (This results in) weaker electrostatic attraction between the positive nucleus and the outer electrons, making them easier to lose A1","marks":2,"order":0,"markingRubric":null,"explanation":{"methods":[{"id":"compare_shells","label":"Compare electron shells","steps":[{"type":"text","order":0,"title":"Compare the shells","content":"Both atoms have two outer electrons. However, magnesium has three occupied electron shells, whereas beryllium has two, so magnesium’s outer electrons are further from its nucleus. This comparison earns **M1**.","highlights":[{"text":"beryllium: 2.2","location":"specification"},{"text":"magnesium: 2.8.2","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":1,"title":"Link attraction to reactivity","content":"Magnesium has more inner-shell electrons, so its outer electrons experience more shielding than beryllium’s. Together with their greater distance from the nucleus, this gives a weaker electrostatic attraction between magnesium’s positive nucleus and its outer electrons.\n\nThe outer electrons are therefore easier to lose, forming $\text{Mg}^{2+}$. This earns **A1**. Therefore, magnesium is more reactive than beryllium.","highlights":[{"text":"they lose electrons to form positive ions with a $2+$ charge","location":"specification"}]}]}],"generatedAt":"2026-07-21T04:53:40.591Z","modelVersion":"gpt-5.6-terra","explanationVersion":"v3"},"options":[]}],"options":[],"explanation":null,"firstAttemptFullMarks":null},{"id":"6b9c7d18-faae-475d-ac0d-dd79a5c4ca3c","revisionId":"8c37a12a-93e9-4672-be4a-9ce74b00ffea","questionNumber":null,"questionType":"LA","specification":"","difficulty":4,"difficultyBand":"medium","totalMarks":4,"sourceTitle":null,"calculatorUse":null,"parts":[{"id":"47cc1f82-32c8-4396-bf5f-3ee1acf8d792","label":null,"content":"Describe **two** differences between the way elements are arranged in the modern periodic table and how they were arranged in Mendeleev's periodic table.","markscheme":"- Modern table is arranged by increasing atomic number (proton number) whereas Mendeleev arranged them by atomic mass (weight) B1\n- Modern table contains noble gases (Group 0) whereas Mendeleev's table did not B1\n- [OR] Mendeleev left gaps for undiscovered elements which are now filled in the modern table B1\n- [OR] Transition metals are placed in a separate block in the modern table whereas Mendeleev placed them in groups alongside main-group elements B1","marks":4,"order":0,"markingRubric":null,"explanation":null,"options":[]}],"options":[],"explanation":null,"firstAttemptFullMarks":null},{"id":"eb439f99-e945-4a38-a635-e131050ccbf2","revisionId":"9c4a5d6c-1c98-412e-a5ed-6febf4d897b0","questionNumber":null,"questionType":"MC","specification":"An outline of the periodic table showing the s-, d-, and p-blocks is shown below, with four elements represented by the placeholders $W$, $X$, $Y$, and $Z$.\n\n![Periodic Table Outline](https://assets.mathsgenie.co.uk/aqa-qb/1703d5c4-ba92-4ce7-a35c-13f8e5471c6b.png)\n\nBased on the positions of these elements, which statement is correct?","difficulty":1

The periodic table

Question 5

The periodic table Questions

The periodic table

Question 5

The periodic table Questions