Nuclear Structure and Isotopes Practice Test

Elements are identified by the number of protons in their nucleus. The number of neutrons in an atom's nucleus identifies the particular isotope of an element. The charge of an ion is the difference between the number of protons and electrons in an atom. Ions with more protons than electrons are positively charged and ions with more electrons than protons are negatively charged.

This ten question practice test will test your knowledge of the structure of atoms, isotopes and monatomic ions. You should be able to assign the correct number of protons, neutrons and electrons to an atom and determine the element associated with these numbers.

This test makes frequent use of the notation format ^ZX^Q_Awhere:
Z = total number of neucleons (sum of number of protons and number of neutrons)
X = element symbol
Q = charge of ion. The charges are expressed as multiples of the charge of an electron. Ions with no net charge are left blank.
A = number of protons.

You may wish to review this subject by reading the following articles.

Basic Model of the Atom
Isotopes and Nuclear Symbols Worked Example Problem #1
Isotopes and Nuclear Symbols Worked Example Problem #2
Isotopes and Nuclear Symbols Worked Example Problem #3
Protons and Electrons in Ions Example Problem

A periodic table with atomic numbers listed will be useful to answer these questions. Answers to each question appear at the end of the test.

01

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Question 1

If you are given a nuclear symbol, you can find the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom or ion. alengo / Getty Images

The element X in the atom ³³X₁₆ is:

(a) O - Oxygen
(b) S - Sulfur
(c) As - Arsenic
(d) In - Indium

02

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Question 2

The element X in the atom ¹⁰⁸X₄₇ is:

(a) V - Vanadium
(b) Cu - Copper
(c) Ag - Silver
(d) Hs - Hassium

03

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Question 3

What is the total number of protons and neutrons in the element ⁷³Ge?

(a) 73
(b) 32
(c) 41
(d) 105

04

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Question 4

What is the total number of protons and neutrons in the element ³⁵Cl^-?

(a) 17
(b) 22
(c) 34
(d) 35

05

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Question 5

How many neutrons are in the isotope of zinc: ⁶⁵Zn₃₀?

(a) 30 neutrons
(b) 35 neutrons
(c) 65 neutrons
(d) 95 neutrons

06

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Question 6

How many neutrons are in the isotope of barium: ¹³⁷Ba₅₆?

(a) 56 neutrons
(b) 81 neutrons
(c) 137 neutrons
(d) 193 neutrons

07

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Question 7

How many electrons are in an atom of ⁸⁵Rb₃₇?

(a) 37 electrons
(b) 48 electrons
(c) 85 electrons
(d) 122 electrons

08

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Question 8

How many electrons in the ion ²⁷Al³⁺₁₃?

(a) 3 electrons
(b) 13 electrons
(c) 27 electrons
(d) 10 electrons

09

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Question 9

An ion of ³²S₁₆ is found to have a charge of -2. How many electrons does this ion have?

(a) 32 electrons
(b) 30 electrons
(c) 18 electrons
(d) 16 electrons

10

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Question 10

An ion of ⁸⁰Br₃₅ is found to have a charge of 5+. How many electrons does this ion have?

(a) 30 electrons
(b) 35 electrons
(c) 40 electrons
(d) 75 electrons

11

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Answers

1. (b) S - Sulfur
2. (c) Ag - Silver
3. (a) 73
4. (d) 35
5. (b) 35 neutrons
6. (b) 81 neutrons
7. (a) 37 electrons
8. (d) 10 electrons
9. (c) 18 electrons
10. (a) 30 electrons