AQA A-level Chemistry — Physical Chemistry 1 flashcards
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AS physical chemistry for AQA 7404/7405: atomic structure and mass spectrometry, the mole and gas calculations, bonding and shapes, energetics, kinetics, equilibria and Kc, and redox.
Learn deck · part of AQA A-level Chemistry · written against: AQA AS and A-level Chemistry (7404/7405) specification, version 1.2, July 2026 (physical, inorganic and organic). Updated 2026-10-10.
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What are the relative charge and relative mass of a proton, a neutron and an electron?Proton +1 and 1; neutron 0 and 1; electron −1 and about 1/1840.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
Almost all of an atom's mass is in the nucleus, which is why the mass number counts only protons and neutrons. -
How many protons, neutrons and electrons are in one ⁵⁶Fe³⁺ ion (iron has atomic number 26)?26 protons, 30 neutrons and 23 electrons.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
Neutrons = 56 − 26 = 30; the 3+ charge means three electrons fewer than the 26 in the atom. -
Why do isotopes of the same element have identical chemical properties but slightly different physical properties?They have the same electron configuration but different numbers of neutrons.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
Chemical reactions involve electrons, so they are unaffected; mass-dependent properties such as density and rate of diffusion differ slightly. -
In electrospray ionisation, how are sample molecules turned into ions, and what ion forms from a molecule M?The sample is dissolved in a volatile solvent and sprayed through a fine needle held at a high positive voltage, so each molecule gains a proton to form MH⁺.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
Watch out: the molecular ion peak therefore appears at m/z = Mr + 1 in an electrospray spectrum. -
In electron impact ionisation, what happens to a vaporised atom X and why is the method suited to elements and small molecules?High-energy electrons from an electron gun knock one electron off, forming X⁺.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
The bombardment is harsh enough to break larger molecules into fragments, so electrospray is preferred for big molecules. -
In a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, why do lighter ions reach the detector before heavier ones?All ions are accelerated to the same kinetic energy, so lighter ions travel faster along the flight tube.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
Why: from , a smaller m at the same KE gives a larger v and a shorter flight time. -
What happens at the detector of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to produce a signal?Each positive ion gains an electron from the detector plate, producing a small current.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
The size of the current is proportional to the number of ions arriving, which gives the relative abundance. -
A gallium sample gives peaks at m/z 69 (60.1 %) and m/z 71 (39.9 %). Using the m/z values as isotopic masses, what is the relative atomic mass?69.8Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
, nearer 69 because that isotope is more abundant.
Watch out: the accepted value is 69.72 (69.7 in the AQA data booklet), because the true isotopic masses (68.93 and 70.92) are not whole numbers. -
Which two elements up to krypton do not fill 4s fully before 3d, and what are their configurations?Chromium, [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹, and copper, [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹.Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
A half-filled or completely filled 3d sub-shell gives a more stable arrangement. -
What is the full electron configuration of the Fe²⁺ ion?1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁶Physical Chemistry › Atomic Structure
Watch out: transition metals lose their 4s electrons before their 3d electrons when they form ions.
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Topic outline follows the AQA AS and A-level Chemistry (7404/7405) specification, version 1.2 (July 2026) (outline only; no specification text reproduced).
- OpenStax Chemistry 2e and OpenStax Organic Chemistry: A Tenth Edition, consulted as references; no text copied.
- Also checked against the AQA Chemistry data booklet (June 2025), the AQA AS and A-level Chemistry practical handbook, version 2.2 (February 2025), CIAAW atomic weights and the NIST Atomic Spectra Database and Chemistry WebBook (reference only; no text copied).
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