SCIENCE 9 – STUDY NOTES (Answer First Format)
Topic: Atomic Structure and Compounds
In this version, each item begins with the correct answer followed by the explanation for
better clarity and quick review.
Define what is an atom (Items 1–8)
1. A – Atom
📘 Explanation: Atom – The smallest particle of an element that retains its identity during a
chemical reaction.
2. C – Democritus
📘 Explanation: Democritus – First used the term 'atomos,' meaning indivisible, to describe
the smallest particle of matter.
3. B – Equal protons and electrons
📘 Explanation: Neutral Atom – An atom is neutral because it has equal numbers of protons
(positive) and electrons (negative).
4. D – Proton
📘 Explanation: Protons – Determine the identity of an atom; changing the number of protons
changes the element.
5. A – Atoms are smaller than molecules
📘 Explanation: Atoms vs. Molecules – Atoms are the basic building blocks; molecules are
made up of two or more atoms bonded together.
6. A – Nucleus with orbiting electrons
📘 Explanation: Structure of Atom – Atoms consist of a dense nucleus surrounded by
electrons in energy levels.
7. B – Dalton
📘 Explanation: Dalton’s Model – Described atoms as solid, indivisible spheres—an early
model of atomic theory.
8. B – Nucleus
📘 Explanation: Atomic Model – The nucleus should be placed at the center when designing a
model because it contains protons and neutrons.
Features of Bohr–Sommerfeld Atomic Model (Items 9–16)
9. A – Bohr
📘 Explanation: Niels Bohr – Proposed that electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed circular paths
called energy levels.
10. B – Energy level
📘 Explanation: Energy Levels – Determine how many electrons can occupy a particular orbit;
the farther the orbit, the higher the energy.
11. B – Energy is emitted
📘 Explanation: Emission of Energy – When electrons fall from higher to lower levels, they
release energy as light.
12. A – Energy level
📘 Explanation: Orbit = Energy Level – Each orbit in Bohr’s model represents a distinct energy
level for electrons.
13. A – Explained atomic spectra
📘 Explanation: Importance of Bohr’s Model – Explained atomic spectra and how light is
emitted by atoms.
14. B – Electron motion
📘 Explanation: Sommerfeld’s Elliptical Orbits – Added elliptical paths to explain electron
movement more accurately.
15. B – Quantum model
📘 Explanation: Quantum Model – Improved Bohr’s model by introducing orbitals instead of
fixed orbits.
16. B – Light at specific frequencies
📘 Explanation: Spectral Lines – Bohr concluded that atoms emit light at specific frequencies
corresponding to energy transitions.
Quantum Model of an Atom (Items 17–25)
17. C – Schrödinger
📘 Explanation: Schrödinger – Developed the quantum mechanical model using mathematical
equations to describe electron behavior.
18. B – Orbitals
📘 Explanation: Orbitals – Electrons do not move in fixed paths but exist in regions of
probability called orbitals.
19. B – Heisenberg
📘 Explanation: Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle – States it’s impossible to know both
position and momentum of an electron exactly.
20. B – Region of probability
📘 Explanation: Orbital Definition – A region around the nucleus where electrons are most
likely to be found.
21. B – Energy and position
📘 Explanation: Quantum Numbers – Describe the energy, shape, orientation, and spin of an
electron.
22. B – Predicts probabilities
📘 Explanation: Difference from Bohr’s Model – Quantum model predicts electron locations by
probability, not fixed orbits.
23. B – Quantized
📘 Explanation: Energy Levels – Are quantized; electrons occupy discrete energy levels, not
continuous ones.
24. C – Quantum model
📘 Explanation: Most Accurate Model – The quantum mechanical model is the most accurate
representation of atomic structure.
25. B – Probability clouds
📘 Explanation: Electron Cloud Model – Modern diagrams show probability clouds where
electrons may be found.
Quantum Mechanical Model & Electron Energies (Items 26–34)
26. B – Energy level
📘 Explanation: Principal Quantum Number (n) – Indicates the energy level or shell of an
electron.
27. B – Orbital orientation
📘 Explanation: Magnetic Quantum Number (m) – Describes the orientation of an orbital in
space.
28. A – Direction of spin
📘 Explanation: Spin Quantum Number – Refers to the direction in which an electron spins
(up or down).
29. C – Pauli exclusion principle
📘 Explanation: Pauli Exclusion Principle – No two electrons in an atom can have the same
four quantum numbers.
30. A – Aufbau principle
📘 Explanation: Aufbau Principle – Electrons fill lower energy levels before higher ones.
31. A – Minimize repulsion
📘 Explanation: Hund’s Rule – Electrons occupy orbitals singly before pairing to minimize
repulsion.
32. A – Distribution of electrons
📘 Explanation: Electron Configuration – Shows how electrons are distributed among orbitals.
33. A – Shows valence electrons
📘 Explanation: Valence Electrons – Electron configuration helps predict chemical behavior
by showing outermost electrons.
34. A – 1s² 2s² 2p⁴
⁴Explanation: Oxygen Configuration – Has 8 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴ .
Types of Compounds (Items 35–42)
35. C – Ionic
📘 Explanation: Ionic Bond – Formed between metal and nonmetal through transfer of
electrons.
36. A – Covalent
📘 Explanation: Covalent Bond – Involves sharing of electrons between two nonmetals.
37. B – Ionic
📘 Explanation: Ionic Compounds – Conduct electricity when dissolved in water because of
free-moving ions.
38. A – Covalent
📘 Explanation: Covalent Compounds – Usually have low melting points and poor
conductivity.
39. C – NaCl
📘 Explanation: Example of Ionic Compound – Sodium chloride (NaCl) is ionic, formed from
sodium and chlorine.
40. A – No free electrons or ions
📘 Explanation: Non-Conductivity of Covalent Compounds – They have no free electrons or
ions.
41. B – H₂O
₂Explanation: Example of Covalent Compound – Water (H₂ O) is covalent because atoms
share electrons.
42. A – Soluble and conductive
📘 Explanation: Ionic Properties – Ionic compounds are soluble in water and conduct
electricity in solution.
Formation of Ions (Items 43–50)
43. B – Charged atom
📘 Explanation: Ion – A charged atom formed when electrons are gained or lost.
44. B – Cation
📘 Explanation: Cation – Atom that loses electrons, resulting in a positive charge.
45. A – Anion
📘 Explanation: Anion – Atom that gains electrons, resulting in a negative charge.
46. A – Electron
📘 Explanation: Electron Transfer – Electrons are the subatomic particles gained or lost to
form ions.
47. A – To become stable
📘 Explanation: Stability – Atoms form ions to achieve a stable electron configuration, like
noble gases.
48. C – Sodium
⁺Explanation: Example of +1 Ion – Sodium (Na) loses one electron to form Na⁺ .
49. B – Oxygen
⁻Explanation: Example of -2 Ion – Oxygen gains two electrons to form O²⁻ .
50. B – 10 electrons
📘 Explanation: Sodium Ion Configuration – Sodium (atomic number 11) loses 1 electron → 10
electrons remain (Na⁺).