67 worked answers · short steps first, explanations when you need them
Chapter 2 Exercises
Textbook pages 70–74
Question 1
NCERT Exercise 2.1: Find how many electrons have a combined mass of 1 g, and find the mass and total charge of one mole of electrons.
Steps only
Divide 1 g by electron mass; for one mole multiply electron mass and charge by Avogadro’s constant.
Answer
(i) 1.10×10²⁷ electrons.
(ii) Mass = 5.49×10⁻⁴ g; charge = −9.65×10⁴ C.
Question 2
NCERT Exercise 2.2: Find: (i) electrons in one mole of methane; (ii) neutron count and total neutron mass in 7 mg of ¹⁴C; (iii) proton count and total proton mass in 34 mg NH₃. Would temperature or pressure change the particle counts?
Steps only
Count particles in one molecule/formula unit, find moles, and multiply by Avogadro’s constant.
Answer
(i) 1.204×10²⁵ electrons.
(ii) 7 mg ¹⁴C contains 3.01×10²⁰ neutrons, mass 5.04×10⁻⁷ kg.
(iii) 34 mg NH₃ contains about 2.41×10²² protons, mass 4.03×10⁻⁵ kg. Changing T or P does not change counts for a fixed mass.
Question 3
NCERT Exercise 2.3: For ¹³C, ¹⁶O, ²⁴Mg, ⁵⁶Fe and ⁸⁸Sr, state the number of protons and neutrons in each nucleus.
Steps only
Protons = atomic number; neutrons = mass number − atomic number.
NCERT Exercise 2.6: Find the energy of one photon for (i) frequency 3×10¹⁵ Hz and (ii) wavelength 0.50 Å.
Steps only
Use E=hν or E=hc/λ; 0.50 Å = 5.0×10⁻¹¹ m.
Answer
(i) E=hν=1.99×10⁻¹⁸ J.
(ii) E=hc/λ=3.97×10⁻¹⁶ J.
Question 7
NCERT Exercise 2.7: A light wave has period 2.0×10⁻¹⁰ s. Find its wavelength, frequency and wavenumber.
Steps only
Frequency is reciprocal of period; use c=νλ and take reciprocal wavelength.
Answer
ν=1/T=5.0×10⁹ Hz; λ=cT=6.0×10⁻² m; wavenumber=1/λ=16.7 m⁻¹ (1.67×10² cm⁻¹).
Question 8
NCERT Exercise 2.8: How many 4000 pm photons together provide 1 J of energy?
Steps only
Convert 4000 pm to metres, calculate one photon’s energy, then divide 1 J by it.
Answer
Energy per photon=hc/λ=4.97×10⁻¹⁷ J. Number=1/(4.97×10⁻¹⁷)=2.01×10¹⁶ photons.
Question 9
NCERT Exercise 2.9: A 4×10⁻⁷ m photon strikes a metal with 2.13 eV work function. Find photon energy, emitted-electron kinetic energy and electron speed.
Steps only
Subtract work function from photon energy; convert kinetic energy to joules before finding speed.
Answer
(i) Photon energy=hc/λ=3.10 eV.
(ii) KE=3.10−2.13=0.97 eV.
(iii) v=√(2KE/mₑ)=5.84×10⁵ m s⁻¹.
Question 10
NCERT Exercise 2.10: Light of wavelength 242 nm just ionises sodium. Find the ionisation energy in kJ mol⁻¹.
Steps only
Find energy per photon, then multiply by Avogadro’s constant.
Answer
Per atom E=hc/λ=8.22×10⁻¹⁹ J. Per mole = 8.22×10⁻¹⁹×Nₐ = 495 kJ mol⁻¹.
Question 11
NCERT Exercise 2.11: A 25 W bulb emits 0.57 μm yellow light. Find photons emitted each second.
Steps only
Convert 0.57 μm to metres. Divide bulb energy each second by energy per photon.
Answer
Energy per photon=hc/λ=3.49×10⁻¹⁹ J. Rate=25 J s⁻¹/(3.49×10⁻¹⁹ J)=7.16×10¹⁹ photons s⁻¹.
Question 12
NCERT Exercise 2.12: Electrons leave a metal with zero speed under 6800 Å light. Find the threshold frequency and work function.
Steps only
Zero emitted speed means the incident light is at threshold; its photon energy equals work function.
Answer
ν₀=c/λ=4.41×10¹⁴ Hz. W₀=hν₀=2.92×10⁻¹⁹ J (1.82 eV).
Question 13
NCERT Exercise 2.13: Find the wavelength emitted when a hydrogen electron drops from n=4 to n=2.
Steps only
Apply the Rydberg equation for transition n=4 to n=2.
Answer
Using 1/λ=R(1/2²−1/4²), λ=4.86×10⁻⁷ m = 486 nm.
Question 14
NCERT Exercise 2.14: Find the energy needed to ionise hydrogen when its electron is in n=5, and compare with ground-state ionisation energy.
Steps only
The energy of level n is −2.18×10⁻¹⁸/n² J; ionisation raises it to zero.
Answer
Energy=2.18×10⁻¹⁸/5²=8.72×10⁻²⁰ J per atom (0.0525 MJ mol⁻¹). It is 1/25 of ground-state ionisation energy.
Question 15
NCERT Exercise 2.15: Find the maximum number of emission lines possible as an excited hydrogen electron at n=6 drops to the ground state.
Steps only
Count every possible pair of levels among n=6, including transitions between excited levels.
Answer
Maximum lines = n(n−1)/2 = 6×5/2 = 15.
Question 16
NCERT Exercise 2.16: For hydrogen, E₁=−2.18×10⁻¹⁸ J atom⁻¹. Find (i) E₅ and (ii) the radius of the fifth Bohr orbit.
Steps only
Energy varies as 1/n²; Bohr radius varies as n².
Answer
(i) E₅=−2.18×10⁻¹⁸/25=−8.72×10⁻²⁰ J atom⁻¹.
(ii) r₅=0.529×25 pm=132 pm.
Question 17
NCERT Exercise 2.17: Find the wavenumber of the longest-wavelength transition in hydrogen’s Balmer series.
Steps only
Within Balmer series, choose the transition closest to n=2 to give the least energy and longest wavelength.
Answer
Longest wavelength is the smallest energy drop ending at n=2: n=3→2. Wavenumber=R(1/4−1/9)=1.52×10⁶ m⁻¹ (1.52×10⁴ cm⁻¹).
Question 18
NCERT Exercise 2.18: Find the energy needed to excite hydrogen from n=1 to n=5 and the wavelength emitted when it returns to the ground state. Given ground-state energy −2.18×10⁻¹¹ erg.
Steps only
Use the level-energy difference for excitation and the Rydberg relation for the return transition.
Answer
Energy supplied=2.18×10⁻¹⁸(1−1/25)=2.09×10⁻¹⁸ J. Return wavelength for 5→1: λ=9.50×10⁻⁸ m (95.0 nm).
Question 19
NCERT Exercise 2.19: For hydrogen, Eₙ=−2.18×10⁻¹⁸/n² J. Find the energy to remove an electron from n=2 and the longest wavelength that can cause this transition.
Steps only
Remove the binding energy of the n=2 level; threshold wavelength has exactly that photon energy.
Answer
Energy=2.18×10⁻¹⁸/4=5.45×10⁻¹⁹ J. Longest wavelength=hc/E=3.65×10⁻⁷ m=3.65×10⁻⁵ cm.
Question 20
NCERT Exercise 2.20: Find the de Broglie wavelength of an electron moving at 2.05×10⁷ m s⁻¹.
Steps only
Substitute electron mass and speed into λ=h/mv.
Answer
λ=h/(mₑv)=3.55×10⁻¹¹ m.
Question 21
NCERT Exercise 2.21: An electron has mass 9.1×10⁻³¹ kg and kinetic energy 3.0×10⁻²⁵ J. Find its de Broglie wavelength.
Steps only
Find momentum from kinetic energy, then use de Broglie relation.
Answer
p=√(2mK)=7.39×10⁻²⁸ kg m s⁻¹. λ=h/p=8.96×10⁻⁷ m.
Question 22
NCERT Exercise 2.22: Which of Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, S²⁻ and Ar have the same number of electrons?
Steps only
Count electrons by adjusting atomic number for ionic charge.
Answer
Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ each have 10 electrons. K⁺, Ca²⁺, S²⁻ and Ar each have 18 electrons. These are the two isoelectronic groups.
Question 23
NCERT Exercise 2.23: Give configurations for H⁻, Na⁺, O²⁻ and F⁻; identify atomic numbers for outer configurations 3s¹, 2p³ and 3p⁵; name atoms with [He]2s¹, [Ne]3s²3p³ and [Ar]4s²3d¹.
Steps only
Add or remove electrons for ions. For neutral atoms, infer the element from the configuration and count electrons.
Answer
(i) H⁻: 1s²; Na⁺: 1s²2s²2p⁶; O²⁻ and F⁻: 1s²2s²2p⁶.
(ii) Z=11, 7, 17.
(iii) Li, P, Sc.
Question 24
NCERT Exercise 2.24: What is the smallest principal quantum number n that can contain a g orbital?
Steps only
For a g subshell l=4; allowed l values are 0 to n−1, so n must be at least 5.
Answer
Lowest n=5.
Question 25
NCERT Exercise 2.25: For an electron in a 3d orbital, state all possible n, l and mₗ values.
Steps only
The “3” gives n; d means l=2; mₗ ranges from −l to +l.
Answer
n=3, l=2, and mₗ=−2,−1,0,+1,+2.
Question 26
NCERT Exercise 2.26: A neutral atom has 29 electrons and 35 neutrons. Find its proton number and electronic configuration.
Steps only
A neutral atom has equal proton and electron counts; 29 electrons identify copper.
Answer
(i) 29 protons.
(ii) Configuration: 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d¹⁰4s¹ ([Ar]3d¹⁰4s¹).
Question 27
NCERT Exercise 2.27: Find the number of electrons in H₂⁺, H₂ and O₂⁺.
Steps only
Add atomic numbers of the atoms, then subtract one for a positive charge.
NCERT Exercise 2.38: A particle has charge magnitude 2.5×10⁻¹⁶ C. Estimate how many excess electrons it carries.
Steps only
Divide charge magnitude by the elementary charge.
Answer
Number=|q|/e=(2.5×10⁻¹⁶)/(1.602×10⁻¹⁹)=1.56×10³, about 1,560 electrons.
Question 39
NCERT Exercise 2.39: An oil drop carries −1.282×10⁻¹⁸ C. How many excess electrons does it have?
Steps only
Divide charge magnitude by one electron’s charge.
Answer
n=1.282×10⁻¹⁸/1.602×10⁻¹⁹=8 electrons. The negative sign shows excess electrons.
Question 40
NCERT Exercise 2.40: In Rutherford scattering, what would change if a light-element foil such as aluminium were used instead of gold or platinum?
Steps only
The nuclear charge is smaller in light elements, so the repulsive force on alpha particles is weaker.
Answer
Light nuclei repel alpha particles less strongly than heavy nuclei, so deflections would generally be smaller and fewer particles would bounce back.
Question 41
NCERT Exercise 2.41: Why are ⁷⁹₃₅Br and ⁷⁹Br acceptable symbols, while ³⁵₇₉Br and ³⁵Br are not acceptable for bromine-79?
Steps only
For bromine-79, 79 is the mass number and 35 is bromine’s atomic number.
Answer
⁷⁹₃₅Br and ⁷⁹Br both identify bromine-79. ³⁵₇₉Br gives bromine the impossible atomic number 79, while ³⁵Br names bromine-35, not bromine-79.
Question 42
NCERT Exercise 2.42: An element has mass number 81 and 31.7% more neutrons than protons. Identify its nuclide.
Steps only
Solve N=1.317Z together with N+Z=81, then identify element by Z.
Answer
N=1.317Z and N+Z=81, so Z≈35 and N=46. Symbol: ⁸¹₃₅Br.
Question 43
NCERT Exercise 2.43: A mass-37 ion has charge −1 and 11.1% more neutrons than electrons. Identify the ion.
Steps only
Use the mass-number sum and the charge relation to solve for Z.
Answer
Charge −1 means electrons=Z+1. Neutrons are 1.111 times electron count. Solving N+Z=37 gives Z≈17, N=20, e=18. Symbol: ³⁷₁₇Cl⁻.
Question 44
NCERT Exercise 2.44: A mass-56 ion has charge +3 and 30.4% more neutrons than electrons. Identify it.
Steps only
Write electron count from the +3 charge, then solve the neutron percentage and mass-number equations.
Answer
Electrons=Z−3; neutrons=1.304(Z−3); and N+Z=56. This gives Z≈26, N=30, e=23. Symbol: ⁵⁶₂₆Fe³⁺.
Question 45
NCERT Exercise 2.45: Arrange microwave, amber light, FM radio, cosmic rays and X-rays in increasing frequency.
Steps only
Radio waves have the lowest frequency; cosmic rays have the highest energy and frequency.
Answer
FM radio < microwave < amber light < X-rays < cosmic rays.
Question 46
NCERT Exercise 2.46: A nitrogen laser emits 337.1 nm photons; 5.6×10²⁴ photons are emitted. Find total energy and power if this count is emitted each second.
Steps only
Multiply photon energy by photon count. Power is energy per time; the question does not specify duration, so only energy (or a per-second assumption) can be stated.
Answer
Energy per photon=hc/λ=5.90×10⁻¹⁹ J. Total energy=3.30×10⁶ J. A time interval is needed for power; if emission is over one second, power=3.30 MW.
Question 47
NCERT Exercise 2.47: Neon emits at 616 nm. Find (a) frequency (b) distance travelled in 30 s (c) one-photon energy (d) photon count in 2 J.
Steps only
Use c=λν and E=hν; divide total energy by energy per photon for the count.
Answer
(a) ν=4.87×10¹⁴ Hz. (b) Distance in 30 s=9.0×10⁹ m. (c) E=3.23×10⁻¹⁹ J. (d) 2/E=6.19×10¹⁸ quanta.
Question 48
NCERT Exercise 2.48: A detector receives 3.15×10⁻¹⁸ J of 600 nm light. Estimate the number of photons received.
Steps only
Calculate energy of one 600 nm photon, then divide detected energy by it.
Answer
E per photon=hc/λ=3.31×10⁻¹⁹ J. Count=3.15×10⁻¹⁸/3.31×10⁻¹⁹≈9.51 photons, about 10 photons.
Question 49
NCERT Exercise 2.49: A 2 ns pulse contains 2.5×10¹⁵ photons. Find its energy; state what extra information is needed if the photon wavelength is unspecified.
Steps only
Energy per photon depends on wavelength; multiply by photon count once wavelength is known.
Answer
The question does not give the wavelength, so the energy is not uniquely determined. For wavelength λ, E(total)=2.5×10¹⁵hc/λ. A numerical answer needs λ.
Question 50
NCERT Exercise 2.50: Sodium’s two absorption lines are 589 nm and 589.6 nm. Find each frequency and the energy gap between the excited states.
Steps only
Use ν=c/λ for each line; the energy spacing is h times their frequency difference.
Answer
ν₁=c/(589 nm)=5.09×10¹⁴ Hz; ν₂=c/(589.6 nm)=5.09×10¹⁴ Hz. ΔE=hc(1/589 nm−1/589.6 nm)=3.45×10⁻²² J.
Question 51
NCERT Exercise 2.51: Caesium work function is 1.9 eV. Find threshold wavelength and frequency; for 500 nm light find emitted-electron kinetic energy and speed.
Steps only
Use hc≈1240 eV·nm; subtract work function from photon energy, then use KE=½mv².
Answer
Threshold λ=hc/W=653 nm; ν₀=W/h=4.59×10¹⁴ Hz. At 500 nm, KE=2.48−1.9=0.58 eV=9.29×10⁻²⁰ J; v=4.52×10⁵ m s⁻¹.
Question 52
NCERT Exercise 2.52: Sodium is irradiated with 500, 450 and 400 nm light. The table lists photoelectron speeds as v×10⁻⁵ (cm s⁻¹) = 2.55, 4.35 and 5.35. Estimate the threshold wavelength and Planck’s constant.
Steps only
The printed speed unit is inconsistent. With the likely intended scale, v=(2.55, 4.35, 5.35)×10⁵ m/s, the 500 nm and 400 nm readings give λ₀≈540 nm and h≈6.7×10⁻³⁴ J s.
Answer
Assuming the intended speed scale is ×10⁵ m/s: λ₀≈540 nm and h≈6.7×10⁻³⁴ J s.
Question 53
NCERT Exercise 2.53: Silver photoelectrons from 256.7 nm light are stopped by 0.35 V. Find silver’s work function.
Steps only
Subtract maximum electron kinetic energy eVₛ from incident photon energy.
Answer
Photon energy=hc/λ=4.83 eV. Stopping energy=0.35 eV. Work function=4.83−0.35=4.48 eV.
Question 54
NCERT Exercise 2.54: A 150 pm photon ejects an inner electron at 1.5×10⁷ m s⁻¹. Find the electron’s binding energy.
Steps only
The photon energy supplies both binding energy and kinetic energy: Eγ=Eb+KE.
Answer
Photon energy=hc/λ=8.27×10⁻¹⁶ J. Electron KE=½mₑv²=1.02×10⁻¹⁶ J. Binding energy≈7.25×10⁻¹⁶ J.
Question 55
NCERT Exercise 2.55: A Paschen transition at 1285 nm follows ν=3.29×10¹⁵[1/3²−1/n²] Hz. Find n and the spectral region.
Steps only
Substitute observed frequency in the given equation and solve for n. Paschen lines end at n=3.
Answer
ν=c/λ=2.33×10¹⁴ Hz. Solving ν=3.29×10¹⁵(1/9−1/n²) gives n≈5. The transition is 5→3, in the infrared.
Question 56
NCERT Exercise 2.56: An emission begins at orbit radius 1.3225 nm and ends at 211.6 pm. Find its wavelength, series and spectral region.
Steps only
Convert radii to Bohr orbit numbers using rₙ=a₀n²; use the Rydberg equation for 5→2.
Answer
rₙ=0.0529n² nm. The radii give nᵢ=5 and n_f=2; transition 5→2 is Balmer. λ≈434 nm, visible light.
Question 57
NCERT Exercise 2.57: An electron microscope electron travels at 1.6×10⁶ m s⁻¹. Find its de Broglie wavelength.
Steps only
Use de Broglie relation with electron mass and the given speed.
Answer
λ=h/(mₑv)=4.55×10⁻¹⁰ m=455 pm.
Question 58
NCERT Exercise 2.58: A neutron has wavelength 800 pm. Find its speed.
Steps only
Rearrange λ=h/(mₙv) and substitute λ=800 pm.
Answer
v=h/(mₙλ)=4.95×10² m s⁻¹.
Question 59
NCERT Exercise 2.59: An electron in hydrogen’s first Bohr orbit travels at 2.19×10⁶ m s⁻¹. Find its de Broglie wavelength.
Steps only
Substitute the electron’s orbital speed into λ=h/mv.
Answer
λ=h/(mₑv)=3.32×10⁻¹⁰ m=332 pm.
Question 60
NCERT Exercise 2.60: A hockey ball of mass 0.1 kg moves at 4.37×10⁵ m s⁻¹. Find its de Broglie wavelength.
Steps only
Use the hockey ball’s mass and speed in de Broglie’s equation.
Answer
λ=h/(mv)=6.63×10⁻³⁴/(0.1×4.37×10⁵)=1.52×10⁻³⁸ m.
Question 61
NCERT Exercise 2.61: If electron position uncertainty is 0.002 nm, find minimum momentum uncertainty. Can its momentum also be specified as h/(4π×0.05 nm)?
Steps only
Use ΔxΔp≥h/(4π), then compare the minimum momentum uncertainty with the proposed momentum.
Answer
Δp≥2.64×10⁻²³ kg m s⁻¹. The proposed momentum is about 1.05×10⁻²⁴ kg m s⁻¹, smaller than this uncertainty, so it cannot be specified that precisely.
Question 62
NCERT Exercise 2.62: Arrange the six listed electron states by increasing orbital energy using the n+l rule; identify equal-energy states.
Steps only
For multi-electron atoms, lower n+l means lower energy; for ties, lower n has lower energy. Spin and magnetic quantum numbers do not change orbital energy here.
Answer
Increasing energy: 5 (3p) < 2 and 4 (3d, equal energy) < 3 and 6 (4p, identical quantum sets) < 1 (4d). For equal n+l, the smaller n has lower energy.
Question 63
NCERT Exercise 2.63: For bromine, which electrons in 2p, 3p and 4p experience the lowest effective nuclear charge?
Steps only
Outer 4p electrons are farther from the nucleus and more shielded than 2p and 3p electrons.
Answer
The 2p electron experiences the greatest effective nuclear charge; 4p experiences the least.
Question 64
NCERT Exercise 2.64: In each pair, identify the orbital with greater effective nuclear charge: (i) 2s/3s (ii) 4d/4f (iii) 3d/3p.
Steps only
Within a subshell, lower n is less shielded; within one shell, penetration generally follows s>p>d>f.
Answer
(i) 2s > 3s
(ii) 4d > 4f
(iii) 3p > 3d.
Question 65
NCERT Exercise 2.65: Which has greater effective nuclear charge: the unpaired 3p electron in Al or the unpaired 3p electron in Si?
Steps only
Si has one more proton than Al, while shielding changes little across the same subshell.
Answer
The 3p electron in Si experiences greater effective nuclear charge.
Question 66
NCERT Exercise 2.66: Find unpaired-electron counts in P, Si, Cr, Fe and Kr.
Steps only
Write ground-state configurations and apply Hund’s rule; Cr is [Ar]3d⁵4s¹.
Answer
(a) P: 3 (b) Si: 2 (c) Cr: 6 (d) Fe: 4 (e) Kr: 0.
Question 67
NCERT Exercise 2.67: For n=4, find (a) number of subshells and (b) maximum number of electrons with mₛ=−½.
Steps only
The shell has l=0,1,2,3 and 1+3+5+7=16 orbitals; one spin-down electron can occupy each.
Answer
(a) Four subshells: 4s, 4p, 4d, 4f. (b) There are 16 orbitals, so 16 electrons can have mₛ=−½.