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Use of the Data Booklet is relevant to this question - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 14 - 2014 - Paper 1
Question 14
Use of the Data Booklet is relevant to this question. Sir Humphrey Davy discovered boron, calcium, magnesium and sodium. Which of these elements has the second sma... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Use of the Data Booklet is relevant to this question - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 14 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which of these elements has the second smallest atomic radius in its group?
Answer
To determine the second smallest atomic radius in its group, we consider the group containing calcium and magnesium, which is Group 2. Typically, atomic radius increases as you move down the group due to the addition of electron shells. Therefore, magnesium, being higher up in the group than calcium, will have the smaller atomic radius. Thus, the second smallest atomic radius would refer to calcium.
Step 2
Which of these elements has the third lowest first ionisation energy in its period?
Answer
To find the third lowest first ionisation energy in the period containing sodium and magnesium (Period 3), we use the trend that ionisation energy generally increases across a period due to increasing nuclear charge. The sequence of first ionisation energies for these elements in Period 3 is typically: aluminium < magnesium < sodium, meaning sodium has the lowest, magnesium has the second lowest, and the next one would be aluminium, confirming that magnesium has the third lowest first ionisation energy.
Step 3