AQA GCSE Chemistry Chemistry Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2023: Question 1

9 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Identify properties of subatomic particles, interpret a chemical formula, and draw the atomic structure of an element with given numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Practise this question

Question

Question text

01 This question is about atoms.

Atoms contain three types of particle:

• electrons

• neutrons

• protons.

01.1 Which particle has no electrical charge?

[1 mark]

Tick ( ) one box.

Electron

Neutron

Proton

01.2 Which particles have the same relative mass?

[1 mark]

Tick ( ) one box.

An electron and a neutron

An electron and a proton

A neutron and a proton

01.3 The formula of a compound is N2O

How many of each type of atom are in one molecule of N2O?

[2 marks]

Nitrogen

Oxygen

An atom of element Z contains:

• 3 electrons

• 4 neutrons

• 3 protons.

01.4 Give the name of element Z.

Use the periodic table.

[1 mark]

01.5 Complete Figure 1 to show the position of the particles in an atom of element Z.

Use the symbols:

= electron

= neutron

= proton

[4 marks]

Figure 1

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

01.1 neutron 1 AO1

4.1.1.4

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.2 a neutron and a proton 1 AO1

4.1.1.5

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.3 (nitrogen) 2 / two 1 AO2

4.1.1.1

(oxygen) 1 / one 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.4 lithium allow Li 1 AO2

– HEMISTRY – – 4.1.1.1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.5 3 x protons ( ) in the nucleus 1 AO1

4 x neutrons ( ) in the nucleus 1 AO1

3 x electrons ( ) in the shells 1 AO1

electrons ( ) arranged 2, 1 1 AO2

4.1.1.4

an answer of 4.1.1.7

scores 4 marks

– HEMISTRY – –

Total Question 1 9

Question 2

How to answer it

Atomic Structure and Chemical Formulas

📋 What this question tests

This question assesses foundational recall and understanding of subatomic particles (masses, charges, and locations), interpreting simple chemical formulas, using the periodic table to identify an element from its atomic number, and drawing the complete structure of an atom including energy levels (shells).

Parts (01.1) & (01.2): Properties of Subatomic Particles

Identifying electrical charge and relative mass

✅ Correct Answers

01.1: Neutron [1 mark]
01.2: A neutron and a proton [1 mark]

💡 Key Knowledge

Particle	Relative Charge	Relative Mass
Proton	+1 (positive)	1
Neutron	0 (neutral)	1
Electron	-1 (negative)	Very small (1/2000)

🧠 Exam Technique

Use easy memory hooks to avoid mix-ups:

Proton = Positive (+1)
Neutron = Neutral / No charge (0)
Heavy particles sit in the nucleus (both have a mass of 1).

❌ Common Errors

Confusing mass with charge (e.g. ticking electron and proton for mass because their charges are equal and opposite).
Ticking more than one box when instructed to "Tick (✓) one box".

Part (01.3): Counting Atoms in a Chemical Formula

Interpreting the formula N₂O

✅ Correct Answer

Number of atoms in one molecule of N₂O:

Nitrogen: 2 [1 mark]
Oxygen: 1 [1 mark]

💡 Understanding Subscripts

A small subscript number refers only to the element directly before it (here, ₂ belongs to N).
If there is no number written after an element symbol (like after O), there is exactly 1 atom of that element.

❌ Common Errors

Writing 0 for Oxygen because no number is shown. Remember: if an element's symbol is present in the formula, there must be at least 1 atom of it!

Part (01.4): Identifying Element Z

Using proton number and the periodic table

✅ Correct Answer

Name of element Z: lithium [1 mark]
(The symbol Li is also allowed).

🧠 How to Find the Element

Look at the number of protons: the question states element Z has 3 protons.
The atomic number is the number of protons, so atomic number = 3.
Find atomic number 3 on your Periodic Table → Lithium.

❌ Common Errors

Using the number of neutrons (4) to identify the element, which incorrectly leads to Beryllium (Be), or adding protons + neutrons (3 + 4 = 7) and looking for atomic number 7 (Nitrogen). Always identify an element strictly by its proton number.

Part (01.5): Completing the Atomic Structure Diagram

Placing protons, neutrons, and electrons in Element Z

✅ Mark Breakdown (4 Marks Total)

Mark 1: 3 protons drawn as open circles ( ○ ) inside the central nucleus circle.
Mark 2: 4 neutrons drawn as filled dots ( ● ) inside the central nucleus circle.
Mark 3: 3 electrons drawn as crosses ( × ) on the outer rings (shells).
Mark 4: Correct electronic configuration: exactly 2 crosses on the first (innermost) shell and 1 cross on the second (outer) shell.

📐 Visual Description of Full-Mark Drawing

Inside the small central circle (Nucleus):
Draw 3 open circles ( ○ ) and 4 solid dots ( ● ) clustered together.
On the first shell (inner ring):
Draw exactly 2 crosses ( × ).
On the second shell (outer ring):
Draw exactly 1 cross ( × ).

❌ Common Errors That Lost Marks

Wrong symbols: Drawing letters, solid dots for protons, or dots instead of crosses for electrons. You must use the key provided!
Overfilling the 1st shell: Putting all 3 electrons on the inner shell. The maximum capacity of the first shell is 2 electrons.
Wrong locations: Drawing protons or neutrons on the shells, or placing electrons inside the nucleus.

Examiner Tip: Check your final diagram by counting the items: do you have exactly 3 open circles, 4 solid dots, and 3 crosses? Taking 5 seconds to count avoids careless dropped marks.

Topics

Chemistry · C1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Chemistry examination, Chemistry Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2023. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.