Atoms and the Periodic Table Quiz

Grade 8 · Science · Quiz

10 questions on atomic structure, subatomic particles, isotopes, and periodic table organization.

Questions

1. Which subatomic particle has a negative charge?

   1. Proton
   2. Neutron
   3. Electron
   4. Nucleus
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   Answer: Electron

   Electrons carry a negative charge and orbit the nucleus in energy levels called shells.

2. Carbon has an atomic number of 6. How many protons does a carbon atom have?

   1. 6
   2. 12
   3. 3
   4. 2
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   Answer: 6

   The atomic number equals the number of protons. Carbon's atomic number is 6, so it has 6 protons.

3. Metals are found on the right side of the periodic table.

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   Metals are on the left and center of the periodic table. Nonmetals are on the right side.

4. What are isotopes?

   1. Atoms of different elements with the same mass
   2. Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
   3. Atoms with equal protons and electrons
   4. Different forms of the same compound
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   Answer: Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

   Isotopes have the same atomic number (same element) but different mass numbers due to varying neutron counts.

5. Elements in the same period (row) of the periodic table have the same:

   1. Number of valence electrons
   2. Chemical properties
   3. Number of electron shells
   4. Atomic mass
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   Answer: Number of electron shells

   All elements in the same period have electrons in the same number of shells (energy levels).

6. The center of an atom, containing protons and neutrons, is called the ___.

   Show answer

   The dense nucleus contains protons and neutrons and makes up almost all the mass of the atom.

7. An atom of sodium has 11 protons and 12 neutrons. What is its mass number?

   1. 11
   2. 12
   3. 23
   4. 1
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   Answer: 23

   Mass number = protons + neutrons = 11 + 12 = 23.

8. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons.

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   A neutral atom has no overall charge, meaning the negative electrons exactly balance the positive protons.

9. Metalloids are found along the ___ of the periodic table.

   1. Top row
   2. Bottom two rows
   3. Staircase line between metals and nonmetals
   4. Left column
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   Answer: Staircase line between metals and nonmetals

   Metalloids like silicon and germanium lie along the diagonal staircase, showing properties of both metals and nonmetals.

10. Which group of elements is known as the noble gases?

    1. Group 1
    2. Group 2
    3. Group 17
    4. Group 18
    Show answer

    Answer: Group 18

    Group 18 (the last column) contains the noble gases — helium, neon, argon, etc. — which are very stable and rarely react.

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