Question detail

What is the significance of the outer-shell electrons in an electron-shell diagram?

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

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At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes

Question

A. They influence the chemical reactivity of the element
B. They determine the mass of the atom
C. They are always the same for all elements
D. They are located in the nucleus

Answer

The correct option is They influence the chemical reactivity of the element.

Explanation

The correct option is They influence the chemical reactivity of the element. They influence the chemical reactivity of the element is correct because it directly supports the approved learning objective to interpret electron-shell diagrams for atoms of the first 20 elements. This is tested in the subtopic Electronic structure within A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes, so the reasoning must stay within AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.1. The other options are weaker because they either confuse a nearby Chemistry concept, use the wrong subtopic context, or do not answer Electronic structure precisely. Repair marker 220d4c18 keeps this question distinct from adjacent atom, ion, isotope, group, period, and electronic-structure questions.

Common mistake

Misinterpreting Electron Shells

Students often confuse the number of electrons in each shell with the total number of electrons in the atom.

To fix this, remember that each shell can hold a specific number of electrons: the first shell holds 2, the second holds 8, and so on. Always check the electron configuration to ensure you are interpreting the diagram correctly. Keep the correction anchored to Electronic structure and avoid mixing it with nearby Unit 4.1 ideas.

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