Edexcel International A Level Chemistry Topic 2 banner showing atomic orbitals including s orbital and p orbitals px py pz

Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table – Topic 2

£34.99

Associated Courses

Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table Topic 2

The Topic 2 course on Edexcel International A Level Chemistry provides approximately 21 hours of guided learning. Students work through five recorded video lessons, 155 marks of auto-marked MCQ practice, 270 marks of teacher-marked written questions, and a personalised spec-point progress report.

Guided Learning
21 Hours
total study time
Video Lessons
388 mins
5 recorded lessons
MCQ Assessments
155 Marks
8 quizzes
SAQ Assessments
270 Marks
9 quizzes

How the 21 guided learning hours are worked out

Guided learning hours are calculated from the actual contents of the course, not estimated. Video time is counted at its true running length, MCQs at 1.5 minutes per question, written answers at 1.5 minutes per mark, and time is allowed for reading the feedback returned on every quiz.

ComponentTime
Virtual lesson video388 min
MCQ practice (155 questions × 1.5 min)232 min
MCQ feedback review (8 quizzes × 10 min)80 min
SAQ practice (270 marks × 1.5 min)405 min
SAQ feedback review (9 quizzes × 15 min)135 min
Total1240 min ≈ 21 hours

The five recorded lessons

The virtual lesson is delivered as five recorded lessons totalling 388 minutes. Students pause during exam-practice sections, attempt questions independently, then review the worked explanations and the mark-scheme approach.

LessonRunning time
1. Atom & Mass Spectrometry137 min
2. Atomic Orbitals and Electronic Configuration69 min
3. Ionisation Energy Part 164 min
4. Ionisation Energy Part 240 min
5. Exam Practice78 min
Total video388 min

Course preview

A short walkthrough of how the course is taught and how the assessment fits together.

At a glance

What you get in this course

388 minutes of guided video

Five recorded lessons covering Topic 2 in full, with worked exam questions and mark-scheme strategy built into the teaching.

155 marks of MCQ practice

8 auto-marked quizzes of 19–20 questions each, with diagnostic feedback on every option. One attempt per quiz, so your scores track real progress.

270 marks of written practice

9 written-answer quizzes (133 questions) marked by a chemistry specialist, with per-mark feedback returned the following Monday.

Complete spec-point coverage

All 54 assessable Edexcel IAL spec points in Topic 2 carry questions in the bank.

Exam-technique baked in

The lessons teach the chemistry and the exam wording. You learn what Edexcel actually rewards, not just the content.

Personalised progress report

A one-click PDF report shows your level on every spec point in colour-coded form.

What is KASP Analytics?

KASP (Knowledge Analytics & Spec-point Platform) tracks your progress at the level of individual specification points, not just whole quizzes. Every question on this course is mapped to the Edexcel IAL spec point it assesses, so you always know exactly which parts of the specification you have mastered and which need another look.

Spec points tracked
54
Topic 2
54 spec points
Questions tagged
288
Every assessable spec point is covered

All 54 assessable Edexcel IAL spec points in Topic 2 carry at least one question in this course – there are no untested spec points. Across the 155 MCQ and 133 SAQ questions, most spec points are assessed several times over, in both question styles.

Your topic dashboard

Every topic you have worked through is summarised here. At a glance you see how many questions you have attempted, what is still waiting to be marked, your total marks scored, and an overall score percentage. The dashboard below is an example, filled with the real topic structure of this course.

Hello, Sara – here is how you are doing

Edexcel IAL Chemistry
TopicQuestions attemptedPendingMarks (scored / available)Score
Topic 2: Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table38 / 46658.00 / 80.0073%

Spec-point breakdown for a topic

Click into any topic and you see the full spec-point breakdown. Each row is a single Edexcel IAL spec point with its official wording, how many questions the bank holds against it, your score, and a colour that tells you immediately where to focus. The spec points and question counts below are the real ones from this course; the scores are an example.

Spec tagDescriptionAttemptedIn bankMarksScore
2.4-abe able to use atomic number and mass number to determine the number of electrons in an atom or ion5 / 51510.00 / 10.00100.0%
2.6i-aunderstand the basic principles of a mass spectrometer6 / 61511.00 / 13.0084.6%
2.6ii-bbe able to analyse and interpret mass spectra to: calculate the relative atomic mass of an element from relative abundances of isotopes and vice versa4 / 4247.00 / 9.0077.8%
2.11iknow that ideas about electronic structure developed from: an understanding that successive ionisation energies provide evidence for the existence of quantum shells and the group to which the element belongs5 / 5308.00 / 12.0066.7%
2.14-abe able to predict the electronic configuration of atoms of the elements from hydrogen to krypton inclusive using s, p, d notation4 / 4155.00 / 9.0055.6%
2.14-bbe able to predict the electronic configuration of ions of the elements from hydrogen to krypton inclusive using s, p, d notation3 / 4134.00 / 8.0050.0%
2.18ibe able to explain: the trends in melting and boiling temperatures of the elements of Periods 2 and 3 of the Periodic Table in terms of the structure of the element and the bonding between its atoms or molecules2 / 3152.00 / 7.0028.6%
2.18iibe able to explain: the general increase and the specific trends in ionisation energy of the elements across Periods 2 and 3 of the Periodic Table0 / 329–Not yet attempted
■ Green 70–100%: secure mastery■ Orange 40–69%: some gaps■ Red 0–39%: needs attention■ Grey: not yet assessed

Printable progress report

One click and you can download a clean, branded Progress Report PDF for the topic. Useful for your own revision folder, for parents to see at a glance, or for tutors to plan focused sessions. Every spec point in the topic appears with its code and full requirement text, and the level column is colour-coded green through red.

A Level Chemistry progress report for Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table showing student performance across specification points with colour coded levels for understanding
At a glance

What you get with KASP Analytics

Spec-point level tracking

Every question is tagged to the exact Edexcel IAL spec point it assesses, so your scores roll up cleanly to the specification.

Updates automatically

Submit a quiz and your dashboard updates right away. Short-answer questions appear as pending until they have been marked.

Built for Edexcel IAL

Wording, codes and topic structure follow the Edexcel International A Level Chemistry specification exactly, so your scores line up with the document you will be examined on.

Printable report

One-click PDF Progress Report per topic, in the same colour system, ready for your folder or for a tutor session.

Both question styles counted

MCQ and written answers feed the same spec point. With 155 MCQ and 133 SAQ questions tagged, a weak area shows up whether you miss it under multiple choice or in writing.

Progress over time

A simple line chart shows how your overall score has trended across the days you have been studying.

What is the MCQ Bank?

The MCQ Bank for Topic 2 is an auto-marked, instant-feedback practice engine built from past Edexcel IAL paper questions. It runs to 8 quizzes, 155 questions and 155 marks. Every question is tagged to a specific Edexcel IAL spec point, every option carries diagnostic feedback explaining the chemistry, and every quiz attempt feeds directly into your KASP Analytics dashboard.

Quizzes
8
Questions
155
Marks
155
Attempts
1 per quiz

Try a real Topic 2 MCQ

This is a genuine question from the bank, reproduced exactly as it appears in the course. Click any option to reveal the diagnostic feedback for that choice, then expand the panel at the bottom for the full walkthrough.

What all isotopes of an element share

2.5 (Edexcel IAL)1 mark

Two atoms are isotopes of the same element. They must have the same

Click an option to see feedback

Anumber of protons
Correct

Correct. Isotopes of the same element must contain the same number of protons. The proton number defines the element. They differ from one another in the number of neutrons, giving different mass numbers.

Bnumber of neutrons
Incorrect

Isotopes have different numbers of neutrons from one another. This is precisely what makes two atoms isotopes rather than identical atoms. What they share is the number of protons.

Cmass number
Incorrect

Isotopes have different mass numbers because they have different numbers of neutrons. The shared property that defines them as the same element is the proton number, not the mass number.

Dnumber of nucleons
Incorrect

Nucleons are protons and neutrons combined, so the number of nucleons equals the mass number. Isotopes differ in mass number because they differ in neutron count. They share the number of protons only.

Show correct answer & full explanation →
General feedback

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

  • Same number of protons (atomic number) – this is what makes them the same element.
  • Different numbers of neutrons, which is what makes them isotopes of one another.
  • Different mass numbers as a consequence of different neutron counts.
  • The number of electrons can differ if one atom is an ion; what is always identical is the proton count.

The correct answer is number of protons.

8 quizzes, 155 marks of MCQ practice

The MCQ Bank runs as a single set of quizzes across the topic. Quizzes hold 19–20 questions worth one mark each, and each quiz is a single auto-marked attempt. Because every spec point is tested across several quizzes, your KASP scores reveal real improvement as you work through them.

Topic 2: Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table

8 quizzes · 155 marks
MCQ A
20
questions & marks
MCQ B
20
questions & marks
MCQ C
20
questions & marks
MCQ D
19
questions & marks
MCQ E
19
questions & marks
MCQ F
19
questions & marks
MCQ G
19
questions & marks
MCQ H
19
questions & marks
155 total marks155 questions in totalOne attempt per quizAuto-marked on submit
At a glance

What you get with the MCQ Bank

155 marks across 8 quizzes

Eight quizzes of 19–20 questions each, giving balanced coverage of every spec point in Topic 2.

Instant auto-marking

Submit and the result is back in your hands inside a second. No waiting, no manual checking.

Diagnostic feedback per option

Every wrong option carries a tailored explanation of the misconception, not just a generic ‘incorrect’, plus a full walkthrough on every question.

Spec-point tagged

Each question is mapped to the Edexcel IAL spec point it assesses, so your score flows straight into KASP Analytics.

Track improvement across quizzes

One attempt per quiz, but the same spec points appear across the set. Your scores from quiz to quiz show genuine progress, not repeat-attempt inflation.

Built from past papers

Every MCQ is sourced from genuine Edexcel IAL past papers, with the wording polished for clarity and the chemistry verified.

What is the SAQ Bank?

The SAQ Bank for Topic 2 is a written-answer practice engine marked by a real chemistry specialist. It runs to 9 quizzes, 133 questions and 270 marks. You attempt one quiz per week, submit your full written response, and your teacher returns mark-by-mark feedback the following Monday. Every comment is targeted at the exam wording you need to use.

Quizzes
9
Questions
133
Marks
270
Marks per quiz
30

A submitted SAQ and the feedback it gets

This is a genuine question from the bank with its real mark scheme. The submitted answer below is an example of a typical response at this standard. Expand the panel to see how it was marked.

Trend in first ionisation energies down Group 2

2.18iii (Edexcel IAL)4 marks

Explain the trend in first ionisation energies down Group 2.

Submitted answer

The first ionisation energy decreases as you go down Group 2. This is because the atomic radius gets bigger each time, so the outer electron is in a shell further from the nucleus, and there are more inner shells shielding it. Both of these make the outer electron easier to remove.

View returned feedback →
Returned by your chemistry specialist3 / 4 · 75%
Mark scheme
Criterion
✓The trend: first ionisation energy decreases down Group 2.
Awarded – the direction of the trend is stated clearly at the start.
✓Atomic radius increases (outer electron in a shell further from the nucleus).
Awarded – and you linked it to where the outer electron sits, which is what the mark wants.
✓Shielding by inner electron shells increases.
Awarded – more inner shells, correctly identified as shielding.
✗So the nuclear attraction on the outer electron is weaker, despite the increasing nuclear charge.
Not awarded. ‘Easier to remove’ restates the trend rather than explaining it, and you never mention nuclear charge. The mark needs the conclusion and the concession: the attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron is weaker, and this outweighs the increasing nuclear charge down the group.
Teacher comment

Three of four, Sara, and the three you have are the ones most students fumble – radius and shielding are both correctly stated and correctly directed. The missing mark is the one that ties it together. Examiners want the net effect named (weaker nuclear attraction on the outer electron) and they want you to acknowledge that nuclear charge is rising and is outweighed. Any trend question where two factors pull in opposite directions needs that concession sentence – write it every time and you will pick this mark up.

A predictable weekly rhythm over 9 weeks

One quiz per week across the 9 quizzes, so the SAQ Bank runs as a 9-week programme. Submit anywhere from Monday to Friday, marking happens over the weekend, and you receive your feedback by the following Monday. The rhythm is the same every week so you always know when to expect a return.

Mon
Submit
Tue
Submit
Wed
Submit
Thu
Submit
Fri
Submit
Sat
Marking
Sun
Marking
Mon
Returned

One attempt per quiz, one quiz submitted per week. Because the same spec points reappear across the 9 quizzes, your scores over the programme show genuine improvement – not repeat-attempt inflation. The weekly cap also keeps the marking load manageable so your feedback stays genuinely thorough.

9 quizzes, 270 marks of written practice

The SAQ Bank holds 133 questions and 270 marks between its 9 quizzes. Every quiz is worth 30 marks, and runs to between 12 and 18 questions depending on how the marks fall, with the parts of any one original exam question kept together in the same quiz. They draw from past Edexcel IAL written-paper questions across Topic 2.

Topic 2: Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table

9 quizzes · 270 marks
SAQ A
30
marks · 14 questions
SAQ B
30
marks · 12 questions
SAQ C
30
marks · 14 questions
SAQ D
30
marks · 14 questions
SAQ E
30
marks · 17 questions
SAQ F
30
marks · 16 questions
SAQ G
30
marks · 14 questions
SAQ H
30
marks · 14 questions
SAQ I
30
marks · 18 questions
270 total marks133 questions1 quiz per week, over 9 weeksReturned the following Monday

What the written questions ask you to do

The bank is not all prose. Alongside written explanations you are asked to draw structures and mechanisms and to work through calculations, all marked by hand against the same mark scheme.

Question styleQuestionsWhat it asks for
Written answer104Explanations, descriptions, equations and definitions, marked against the exam mark scheme point by point.
Drawing15Structural and displayed formulae, skeletal structures and mechanism steps, drawn on screen and marked by the specialist.
Calculation14Quantitative work shown in full, so method marks can be awarded even when the final answer is wrong.
Total133
At a glance

What you get with the SAQ Bank

270 marks across 9 quizzes

Nine quizzes, SAQ A through SAQ I, holding 133 questions between them at 30 marks per quiz.

Marked by a chemistry specialist

Not auto-graded, not AI-scored. A subject specialist reads your answer end-to-end and writes the comments by hand.

Per-mark feedback

Every mark in the scheme is checked off explicitly. You see exactly which marks you earned and what wording the missed ones needed.

Predictable weekly turnaround

Submit by Friday, marked over the weekend, feedback returned by Monday. One quiz per week; one attempt per quiz; 9 weeks end to end.

Exam-board wording focus

Feedback teaches the precise language the Edexcel mark scheme rewards, so the next time the topic appears you write to score.

Feeds your KASP dashboard

Every SAQ is spec-point tagged. Once marked, your scores flow into KASP Analytics alongside your MCQ results.

Exam Board Alignment

Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table Topic 2 Edexcel International

The Atomic Structure and The Periodic Table Topic 2 Edexcel International course covers the following Edexcel International A Level Chemistry specification points:

2.1
know the structure of an atom in terms of electrons, protons and neutrons
2.2
know the relative mass and charge of protons, neutrons and electrons
2.3
know what is meant by the terms 'atomic (proton) number' and 'mass number'
2.4
be able to use the atomic number and the mass number to determine the number of each type of subatomic particle in an atom or ion
2.5
understand the term 'isotope'
2.6
understand the basic principles of a mass spectrometer and be able to analyse and interpret mass spectra to:
i
deduce the isotopic composition of a sample of an element
ii
calculate the relative atomic mass of an element from relative abundances of isotopes and vice versa
iii
determine the relative molecular mass of a molecule, and hence identify molecules in a sample
iv
understand that ions in a mass spectrometer may have a 2+ charge
2.7
be able to predict mass spectra, including relative peak heights, for diatomic molecules, including chlorine, given the isotopic abundances
2.8
be able to define first, second and third ionisation energies and understand that all ionisation energies are endothermic
2.9
know that an orbital is a region within an atom that can hold up to two electrons with opposite spins
2.10
understand how ionisation energies are influenced by the number of protons in the nucleus, the electron shielding and the sub-shell from which the electron is removed
2.11
know that ideas about electronic structure developed from:
i
an understanding that successive ionisation energies provide evidence for the existence of quantum shells and the group to which the element belongs
ii
an understanding that the first ionisation energy of successive elements provides evidence for electron sub-shells
2.12
be able to describe the shapes of s and p orbitals
2.13
know that orbitals in sub-shells:
i
each take a single electron before pairing up
ii
pair up with two electrons of opposite spin
2.14
be able to predict the electronic configuration of atoms of the elements from hydrogen to krypton inclusive and their ions, using s, p, d notation and electron-in-boxes notation
2.15
understand that electronic configuration determines the chemical properties of an element
2.16
know that the Periodic Table is divided into blocks, such as s, p and d, and know the number of electrons that can occupy s, p and d sub-shells in the first four quantum shells
2.17
be able to represent data, in a graphical form (including the use of logarithms of first ionisation energies on a graph) for elements 1 to 36 and hence explain the meaning of the term 'periodic property'
2.18
be able to explain:
i
the trends in melting and boiling temperatures of the elements of Periods 2 and 3 of the Periodic Table in terms of the structure of the element and the bonding between its atoms or molecules
ii
the general increase and the specific trends in ionisation energy of the elements across Periods 2 and 3 of the Periodic Table
iii
the decrease in first ionisation energy down a group
Specification Coverage

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate.

2.1
know the structure of an atom in terms of electrons, protons and neutrons
2.2
know the relative mass and charge of protons, neutrons and electrons
2.3
know what is meant by the terms ‘atomic (proton) number’ and ‘mass number’
2.4
be able to use the atomic number and the mass number to determine the number of each type of subatomic particle in an atom or ion
2.5
understand the term ‘isotope’
2.6
understand the basic principles of a mass spectrometer and be able to analyse and interpret mass spectra to:
i
deduce the isotopic composition of a sample of an element
ii
calculate the relative atomic mass of an element from relative abundances of isotopes and vice versa
iii
determine the relative molecular mass of a molecule, and hence identify molecules in a sample
iv
understand that ions in a mass spectrometer may have a 2+ charge
2.7
be able to predict mass spectra, including relative peak heights, for diatomic molecules, including chlorine, given the isotopic abundances
2.8
be able to define first, second and third ionisation energies and understand that all ionisation energies are endothermic
2.9
know that an orbital is a region within an atom that can hold up to two electrons with opposite spins
2.10
understand how ionisation energies are influenced by the number of protons in the nucleus, the electron shielding and the sub-shell from which the electron is removed
2.11
know that ideas about electronic structure developed from:
i
an understanding that successive ionisation energies provide evidence for the existence of quantum shells and the group to which the element belongs
ii
an understanding that the first ionisation energy of successive elements provides evidence for electron sub-shells
2.12
be able to describe the shapes of s and p orbitals
2.13
know that orbitals in sub-shells:
i
each take a single electron before pairing up
ii
pair up with two electrons of opposite spin
2.14
be able to predict the electronic configuration of atoms of the elements from hydrogen to krypton inclusive and their ions, using s, p, d notation and electron-in boxes notation
2.15
understand that electronic configuration determines the chemical properties of an element
2.16
know that the Periodic Table is divided into blocks, such as s, p and d, and know the number of electrons that can occupy s, p and d sub-shells in the first four quantum shells
2.17
be able to represent data, in a graphical form (including the use of logarithms of first ionisation energies on a graph) for elements 1 to 36 and hence explain the meaning of the term ‘periodic property’
2.18
be able to explain:
i
the trends in melting and boiling temperatures of the elements of Periods 2 and 3 of the Periodic Table in terms of the structure of the element and the bonding between its atoms or molecules
ii
the general increase and the specific trends in ionisation energy of the elements across Periods 2 and 3 of the Periodic Table
iii
the decrease in first ionisation energy down a group
Complete Topic Package

Learn the content, practise exam questions, and identify exactly where marks are being lost.

This course combines guided video teaching, diagnostic MCQs, teacher-marked written assessment, and detailed specification reporting for Edexcel International A Level Chemistry.

Exam-focused learning with clear performance feedback

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