Term 2 · Class 8 Science · Chapter 4

Samacheer Class 8 Science - Atomic Structure

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Chapter-wise textbook exercise answers for Atomic Structure with validation-aware solutions.

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Sections in this chapter
I. Choose the best answer 5II. Fill in the blanks 1III. Match the following 1IV. Answer briefly 7V. Answer the following 3VI. Higher Order Thinking Questions 3Activity – 2 1
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1I. Choose the best answer5 questions
Q.1The same proportion of carbon and oxygen in the carbon dioxide obtained from different sources proves the law ofv
  1. A. reciprocal proportion
  2. B. definite proportion
  3. C. multiple proportion
  4. D. conservation of mass
Answer:

(b) definite proportion

Q.2Cathode rays are made up of –v
  1. A. neutral particles
  2. B. positively charged particles
  3. C. negatively charged particles
  4. D. None of the above
Answer:

(c) negatively charged particles

Q.3In water, hydrogen and oxygen are combined in the ratio of by mass.v
  1. A. 1 : 8
  2. B. 8 : 1
  3. C. 2 : 3
  4. D. 1 : 3
Answer:

(a) 1 : 8

Q.4Which of the following statements made by Dalton has not undergone any change?v
  1. A. Atoms cannot be broken.
  2. B. Atoms combine in small, whole numbers to form compounds.
  3. C. Elements are made up of atoms.
  4. D. All atoms of an elements are alike
Answer:

(d) All atoms of an elements are alike

Q.5In all atoms of an element –v
  1. A. the atomic and the mass number are same.
  2. B. the mass number is same and the atomic number is different.
  3. C. the atomic number is same and the mass number is different
  4. D. both atomic and mass numbers may vary.
Answer:

In all atoms of an element, the atomic number is the same, but the mass number may vary. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, and since all atoms of a particular element have the same number of protons, they all have the same atomic number. However, the mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, can differ between atoms of the same element. Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both carbon atoms with the same atomic number of 6, but they have different mass numbers because they contain different numbers of neutrons. Therefore, the statement that the atomic and mass numbers are the same in all atoms of an element is incorrect. What remains constant for all atoms of an element is the atomic number, not the mass number.

2II. Fill in the blanks1 questions
Q.G1…………….. is the smallest particle of an element. An element is composed of …………….. atoms. An atom is made up of …………….., …………….. and …………….. A negatively charged ion is called …………….. while positively charged ion is called …………….. is a negatively charged particle (Electron/Proton). Proton is deflected towards the …………….. charged plate (positively, negatively).v
Answer:

Atom
same kind of
proton, electron, neutron
anion, cation
Electron
negatively

3III. Match the following1 questions
Q.G2Law of Conservation of Mass – Sir William Crookes Law of Constant Proportion – James Chadwick Cathode rays – Joseph Proust Anode rays – Lavoisier Neutrons – Goldsteinv
Answer:

Law of Conservation of Mass – Lavoisier
Law of Constant Proportion – Joseph Proust
Cathode rays – Sir William Crookes
Anode rays – Goldstein
Neutrons – James Chadwick

4IV. Answer briefly7 questions
Q.1State the Law of Conservation of Mass.v
Answer:

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that during any chemical change, the total mass of the products is equal to the total mass of the reactants. This fundamental principle means that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, only rearranged. For example, when hydrogen burns in oxygen to form water, the mass of water produced equals the combined mass of hydrogen and oxygen that reacted. This law was established by Antoine Lavoisier and forms the basis for balancing chemical equations and understanding the nature of chemical reactions.

Q.2State the Law of Constant Proportions.v
Answer:

The Law of Constant Proportions states that in a pure chemical compound, the elements are always present in definite proportions by mass, regardless of the source or method of preparation. This means that any sample of a particular compound will always contain the same elements combined in the same mass ratio. For instance, water always contains hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 1:8 by mass, whether it is obtained from a well, river, or laboratory synthesis. This law demonstrates that compounds have a fixed composition and helps distinguish pure substances from mixtures.

Q.3Write the properties of anode rays.v
Answer:

Anode rays possess several important properties that distinguish them from cathode rays. Anode rays travel in straight lines in the absence of any external field. They are composed of material particles that carry mass and energy. Anode rays are deflected by both electric and magnetic fields, demonstrating their interaction with these fields. Since they are deflected towards the negatively charged plate in an electric field, they consist of positively charged particles. These positively charged particles are actually ions or atoms that have lost electrons. The discovery of anode rays provided evidence for the existence of positive charges in atoms and contributed significantly to the understanding of atomic structure.

Q.4Define valency of an element with respect to hydrogen.v
Answer:

The valency of an element with respect to hydrogen is defined as the number of hydrogen atoms that combine with one atom of that element. For example, in methane (CH₄), carbon has a valency of 4 because four hydrogen atoms combine with one carbon atom. In ammonia (NH₃), nitrogen has a valency of 3 because three hydrogen atoms combine with one nitrogen atom. Valency is a measure of the combining capacity of an element and helps in writing chemical formulas and understanding how atoms bond with each other.

Q.5Define the term ions or radicals.v
Answer:

An ion or radical is formed when an atom or a group of atoms either loses or gains electrons. When an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged and is called a cation. When an atom gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged and is called an anion. A radical is a group of atoms that behaves as a single unit and carries a charge. For example, the hydroxide radical (OH⁻) consists of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom bonded together, carrying a negative charge. Ions and radicals are important in chemical reactions and the formation of ionic compounds.

Q.6What is a chemical equation?v
Answer:

A chemical equation is a shorthand representation of a chemical reaction using chemical symbols and formulas of the reactants and products. It shows which substances react together (reactants) and what new substances are formed (products). For example, the equation 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O represents the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to form water. Chemical equations must be balanced so that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides, obeying the Law of Conservation of Mass. They provide a concise way to communicate chemical information and are essential for understanding and predicting the outcomes of chemical reactions.

Q.7Write the names of the following compounds. CO N 2 O NO 2 PCl 5v
Answer:

Carbon monoxide.
Nitrous oxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Phosphorous pentachloride

5V. Answer the following3 questions
Q.1Find the valency of the element which is underlined in the following formula. Na Cl C O 2 Al (PO 2 ) Ba (NO 3 ) 2 Ca Cl 2v
Answer:

Na Cl = 1
C O 2 = 4
Al (PO 4 ) = 3
Ba (NO 3 ) 2 = 2
Ca Cl 2 = 2

Q.2Write the chemical formula for the following compounds Aluminium sulphate Silver nitrate Magnesium oxide Barium chloridev
Answer:

Aluminium sulphate = Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3
Silver nitrate = AgNO 3
Magnesium oxide = MgO
Barium chloride = BaCl 2

Q.3Write the skeleton equation for the following word equation and then balance them. Carbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide Phosphorus + Chlorine → Phosphorus pentachloride. Sulphur + Oxygen → Sulphur dioxide Magnesium + hydrogen chloride → Magnesium chloride + Hydrogenv
Answer:

Balanced equation:
C + O 2 → CO 2
P 4 + 10 Cl 2 → 4PCl 5
S + O 2 → SO 2
Mg + 2HCl → MgCl 2 + H 2
Skeleton equation:
C + O 2 → CO 2
P + Cl 2 → PCl 5
S + O 2 → SO 2
Mg + 2HCl → MgCl 2 + H 2

6VI. Higher Order Thinking Questions3 questions
Q.1Why does a light paddle wheel placed in the path of cathode rays begin to rotate, when cathode rays fall on it?v
Answer:

A light paddle wheel placed in the path of cathode rays begins to rotate when cathode rays fall on it because the cathode rays consist of small particles called electrons that possess both mass and energy. When these electrons strike the paddle wheel, they transfer their kinetic energy to it, causing it to rotate. This demonstrates that cathode rays are not merely waves but are composed of material particles with momentum. The impact of these energetic particles on the paddle wheel provides mechanical energy that overcomes friction and sets the wheel in motion, providing experimental evidence for the particle nature of cathode rays.

Q.2How can we prove that the electrons carry negative charge?v
Answer:

J.J. Thomson found that cathode rays were attracted by the positively charged plate and repelled by the negatively charged plate. This led him to the conclusion that the cathode rays (electrons) were made of negatively charged particles.

Q.3Ruthresh, Hari, Kanishka and Thahera collected different samples of water from a well, a pond, a river and underground water. All these samples were sent to a testing laboratory. The test result showed the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen as 1:8. What conclusion would you draw from the above experiment? Which law of chemical combination does it obey?v
Answer:

From this experiment, we can draw the important conclusion that water obtained from different sources such as a well, a pond, a river, and underground water always consists of the same two elements, hydrogen and oxygen, in the same ratio of 1:8 by mass. This consistency in composition regardless of the source demonstrates that water is a pure chemical compound with a fixed composition. The experiment obeys the Law of Constant Proportions, which states that in a pure chemical compound, the elements are always present in definite proportions by mass. This law was established by Joseph Proust and is fundamental to understanding the nature of chemical compounds. The fact that all water samples, regardless of their origin, maintain the same hydrogen to oxygen mass ratio confirms that the composition of a pure substance is invariant and independent of its source or method of preparation.

7Activity – 21 questions
Q.1Classify the following ions into monovalent, divalent and trivalent. Ni 2+ , Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cs + , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ , Mn 2+ , Fe 2+ , CO 2+ , Sr 2+ , Cr 3+ , Li + , Ca 2+ , Al 3+v
Answer:

Monovalent ions – Li + , Cs +
Divalent ions – Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Ba 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ , Mn 2+ , Fe 2+ , CO 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+
Trivalent ions – Fe 3+ , Cr 3+ , Al 3+