Atomic Structure MCQs

  1. The smallest particle of an element that retains its identity is:
    A) Molecule
    B) Atom
    C) Ion
    D) Electron
    Answer: B) Atom
  2. Who discovered the electron?
    A) Rutherford
    B) Dalton
    C) J.J. Thomson
    D) Bohr
    Answer: C) J.J. Thomson
  3. The charge on an electron is:
    A) Positive
    B) Neutral
    C) Negative
    D) Variable
    Answer: C) Negative
  4. The nucleus of an atom contains:
    A) Electrons only
    B) Protons and neutrons
    C) Neutrons only
    D) Protons only
    Answer: B) Protons and neutrons
  5. Atomic number represents the number of:
    A) Neutrons
    B) Electrons
    C) Protons
    D) Nucleons
    Answer: C) Protons
  6. Mass number is the sum of:
    A) Electrons + Protons
    B) Protons + Neutrons
    C) Neutrons + Electrons
    D) Protons only
    Answer: B) Protons + Neutrons
  7. The model of atom proposed by Rutherford is:
    A) Plum pudding model
    B) Nuclear model
    C) Planetary model
    D) Quantum model
    Answer: B) Nuclear model
  8. Which particle has no charge?
    A) Proton
    B) Electron
    C) Neutron
    D) Positron
    Answer: C) Neutron
  9. The size of an atom is determined by:
    A) Nucleus
    B) Electron cloud
    C) Protons
    D) Neutrons
    Answer: B) Electron cloud
  10. Bohr’s model is applicable to:
    A) All atoms
    B) Hydrogen atom
    C) Heavy atoms
    D) Molecules
    Answer: B) Hydrogen atom
  11. The maximum number of electrons in K shell is:
    A) 2
    B) 8
    C) 18
    D) 32
    Answer: A) 2
  12. The maximum electrons in a shell is given by:
    A) n²
    B) 2n
    C) 2n²
    D) n³
    Answer: C) 2n²
  13. The principal quantum number is represented by:
    A) l
    B) n
    C) m
    D) s
    Answer: B) n
  14. The shape of orbital is determined by:
    A) n
    B) l
    C) m
    D) s
    Answer: B) l
  15. The s-orbital has shape:
    A) Dumbbell
    B) Spherical
    C) Elliptical
    D) Linear
    Answer: B) Spherical
  16. The p-orbital has shape:
    A) Spherical
    B) Dumbbell
    C) Circular
    D) Irregular
    Answer: B) Dumbbell
  17. The number of orbitals in p-subshell is:
    A) 1
    B) 2
    C) 3
    D) 5
    Answer: C) 3
  18. Maximum electrons in p-subshell:
    A) 2
    B) 4
    C) 6
    D) 8
    Answer: C) 6
  19. Pauli Exclusion Principle states:
    A) Electrons fill lowest energy first
    B) No two electrons have same set of quantum numbers
    C) Orbitals fill singly first
    D) Energy is quantized
    Answer: B) No two electrons have same set of quantum numbers
  20. Hund’s Rule deals with:
    A) Spin
    B) Orbital shape
    C) Electron pairing
    D) Energy levels
    Answer: C) Electron pairing
  21. Aufbau principle means:
    A) Electrons fill randomly
    B) Electrons fill higher energy first
    C) Electrons fill lower energy first
    D) No fixed order
    Answer: C) Electrons fill lower energy first
  22. Isotopes have same:
    A) Mass number
    B) Atomic number
    C) Neutrons
    D) Mass
    Answer: B) Atomic number
  23. Isobars have same:
    A) Atomic number
    B) Mass number
    C) Electrons
    D) Protons
    Answer: B) Mass number
  24. Isoelectronic species have same:
    A) Protons
    B) Electrons
    C) Neutrons
    D) Mass
    Answer: B) Electrons
  25. Energy of electron depends on:
    A) Shell
    B) Spin
    C) Proton
    D) Charge
    Answer: A) Shell
  26. The orbital where probability is highest is:
    A) Nucleus
    B) Shell
    C) Orbital
    D) Subshell
    Answer: C) Orbital
  27. Angular momentum is quantized in:
    A) Thomson model
    B) Rutherford model
    C) Bohr model
    D) Dalton model
    Answer: C) Bohr model
  28. The charge of proton is:
    A) Negative
    B) Positive
    C) Neutral
    D) Zero
    Answer: B) Positive
  29. Atomic mass unit is:
    A) 1/16 of oxygen
    B) 1/12 of carbon-12
    C) 1/10 of hydrogen
    D) 1/14 of nitrogen
    Answer: B) 1/12 of carbon-12
  30. Which is heavier?
    A) Electron
    B) Proton
    C) Neutron
    D) Same
    Answer: C) Neutron
  31. The number of subshells in n=3:
    A) 1
    B) 2
    C) 3
    D) 4
    Answer: C) 3
  32. Number of orbitals in d-subshell:
    A) 3
    B) 5
    C) 7
    D) 9
    Answer: B) 5
  33. Maximum electrons in d-subshell:
    A) 6
    B) 8
    C) 10
    D) 12
    Answer: C) 10
  34. f-subshell has orbitals:
    A) 5
    B) 7
    C) 9
    D) 11
    Answer: B) 7
  35. Maximum electrons in f-subshell:
    A) 10
    B) 12
    C) 14
    D) 16
    Answer: C) 14
  36. Spin quantum number values are:
    A) 0,1
    B) +½, -½
    C) 1,2
    D) -1,0
    Answer: B) +½, -½
  37. Magnetic quantum number determines:
    A) Size
    B) Shape
    C) Orientation
    D) Energy
    Answer: C) Orientation
  38. Principal quantum number determines:
    A) Shape
    B) Size
    C) Orientation
    D) Spin
    Answer: B) Size
  39. Subshell is defined by:
    A) n
    B) l
    C) m
    D) s
    Answer: B) l
  40. Maximum orbitals in shell n=2:
    A) 2
    B) 4
    C) 6
    D) 8
    Answer: B) 4
  41. Total electrons in n=2 shell:
    A) 2
    B) 4
    C) 6
    D) 8
    Answer: D) 8
  42. The region of space with high electron probability is:
    A) Shell
    B) Orbital
    C) Nucleus
    D) Subshell
    Answer: B) Orbital
  43. Quantum theory was proposed by:
    A) Bohr
    B) Planck
    C) Rutherford
    D) Dalton
    Answer: B) Planck
  44. Energy is emitted in form of:
    A) Waves
    B) Photons
    C) Electrons
    D) Protons
    Answer: B) Photons
  45. The energy of photon is:
    A) hv
    B) mc²
    C) mv²
    D) h/m
    Answer: A) hv
  46. Frequency is denoted by:
    A) c
    B) v
    C) λ
    D) h
    Answer: B) v
  47. Speed of light is:
    A) 3×10⁶ m/s
    B) 3×10⁸ m/s
    C) 3×10¹⁰ m/s
    D) 3×10⁴ m/s
    Answer: B) 3×10⁸ m/s
  48. Relation between frequency and wavelength:
    A) v = cλ
    B) c = vλ
    C) λ = v/c
    D) v = λ/c
    Answer: B) c = vλ
  49. Electron transition releases:
    A) Proton
    B) Photon
    C) Neutron
    D) Ion
    Answer: B) Photon
  50. Ground state means:
    A) Highest energy
    B) Lowest energy
    C) Excited state
    D) Ionized state
    Answer: B) Lowest energy

  1. Excited state of atom means:
    A) Lowest energy
    B) Highest energy
    C) Electron in higher energy level
    D) No electrons
    Answer: C) Electron in higher energy level
  2. Emission spectrum is produced when:
    A) Electron absorbs energy
    B) Electron falls to lower level
    C) Proton moves
    D) Neutron decays
    Answer: B) Electron falls to lower level
  3. Absorption spectrum occurs when:
    A) Electron emits energy
    B) Electron gains energy
    C) Proton loses energy
    D) Nucleus splits
    Answer: B) Electron gains energy
  4. Number of orbitals in n=4 shell:
    A) 4
    B) 8
    C) 16
    D) 32
    Answer: C) 16
  5. Maximum electrons in n=4 shell:
    A) 16
    B) 24
    C) 32
    D) 64
    Answer: C) 32
  6. Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states:
    A) Exact position known
    B) Exact momentum known
    C) Both position and momentum cannot be known simultaneously
    D) Energy constant
    Answer: C) Both position and momentum cannot be known simultaneously
  7. Wave nature of electron was proposed by:
    A) Bohr
    B) de Broglie
    C) Rutherford
    D) Dalton
    Answer: B) de Broglie
  8. de Broglie wavelength is given by:
    A) λ = h/mv
    B) λ = mv/h
    C) λ = hmv
    D) λ = v/h
    Answer: A) λ = h/mv
  9. Quantum mechanical model is based on:
    A) Classical theory
    B) Probability
    C) Fixed paths
    D) Newton laws
    Answer: B) Probability
  10. Orbital is:
    A) Path
    B) Region of probability
    C) Shell
    D) Energy level
    Answer: B) Region of probability
  11. Electron cloud represents:
    A) Nucleus
    B) Electron density
    C) Proton area
    D) Neutron space
    Answer: B) Electron density
  12. The first shell is also called:
    A) L
    B) M
    C) K
    D) N
    Answer: C) K
  13. L shell corresponds to:
    A) n=1
    B) n=2
    C) n=3
    D) n=4
    Answer: B) n=2
  14. Energy levels are also called:
    A) Orbitals
    B) Shells
    C) Subshells
    D) Nucleus
    Answer: B) Shells
  15. Subshells are denoted by:
    A) Numbers
    B) Letters
    C) Symbols
    D) Codes
    Answer: B) Letters
  16. Sequence of subshell filling follows:
    A) Increasing mass
    B) Increasing energy
    C) Decreasing energy
    D) Random
    Answer: B) Increasing energy
  17. 1s orbital has electrons:
    A) 1
    B) 2
    C) 3
    D) 4
    Answer: B) 2
  18. Electron configuration of Hydrogen:
    A) 1s²
    B) 1s¹
    C) 2s¹
    D) 2p¹
    Answer: B) 1s¹
  19. Atomic number of hydrogen:
    A) 2
    B) 1
    C) 3
    D) 4
    Answer: B) 1
  20. Number of neutrons =
    A) Atomic number – mass number
    B) Mass number – atomic number
    C) Protons + electrons
    D) Protons only
    Answer: B) Mass number – atomic number
  21. Charge of neutron:
    A) +1
    B) -1
    C) 0
    D) +2
    Answer: C) 0
  22. Cathode rays consist of:
    A) Protons
    B) Electrons
    C) Neutrons
    D) Ions
    Answer: B) Electrons
  23. Canal rays are:
    A) Electrons
    B) Protons
    C) Neutrons
    D) Photons
    Answer: B) Protons
  24. Rutherford experiment used:
    A) Alpha particles
    B) Beta particles
    C) Gamma rays
    D) Electrons
    Answer: A) Alpha particles
  25. Most of the atom is:
    A) Solid
    B) Empty space
    C) Liquid
    D) Gas
    Answer: B) Empty space
  26. Nucleus is:
    A) Large
    B) Small and dense
    C) Neutral
    D) Empty
    Answer: B) Small and dense
  27. Atomic radius depends on:
    A) Nucleus
    B) Electron distribution
    C) Neutrons
    D) Mass
    Answer: B) Electron distribution
  28. Ion is formed by:
    A) Losing/gaining electrons
    B) Losing protons
    C) Losing neutrons
    D) Splitting nucleus
    Answer: A) Losing/gaining electrons
  29. Cation is:
    A) Negative ion
    B) Positive ion
    C) Neutral atom
    D) Molecule
    Answer: B) Positive ion
  30. Anion is:
    A) Positive ion
    B) Negative ion
    C) Neutral
    D) Proton
    Answer: B) Negative ion
  31. Atomic spectrum is:
    A) Continuous
    B) Line spectrum
    C) Band spectrum
    D) Mixed
    Answer: B) Line spectrum
  32. Quantum number ‘l’ ranges from:
    A) 0 to n
    B) 0 to n-1
    C) 1 to n
    D) 1 to n-1
    Answer: B) 0 to n-1
  33. Value of l for s-orbital:
    A) 1
    B) 0
    C) 2
    D) 3
    Answer: B) 0
  34. Value of l for p-orbital:
    A) 0
    B) 1
    C) 2
    D) 3
    Answer: B) 1
  35. Maximum value of m is:
    A) +l
    B) -l
    C) ±l
    D) 0
    Answer: C) ±l
  36. Total orbitals in a shell =
    A) n²
    B) 2n²
    C) n
    D) 2n
    Answer: A) n²
  37. Electron spin explains:
    A) Charge
    B) Magnetic property
    C) Mass
    D) Size
    Answer: B) Magnetic property
  38. Bohr radius refers to:
    A) Nuclear size
    B) Electron orbit radius
    C) Proton size
    D) Neutron size
    Answer: B) Electron orbit radius
  39. The energy of orbit increases with:
    A) n decreases
    B) n increases
    C) mass increases
    D) charge decreases
    Answer: B) n increases
  40. Ground state hydrogen has energy:
    A) Maximum
    B) Minimum
    C) Zero
    D) Infinite
    Answer: B) Minimum
  41. Transition from higher to lower level emits:
    A) Electron
    B) Photon
    C) Proton
    D) Ion
    Answer: B) Photon
  42. Transition from lower to higher level requires:
    A) Emission
    B) Absorption
    C) Neutralization
    D) Ionization
    Answer: B) Absorption
  43. The spectral lines are:
    A) Continuous
    B) Discrete
    C) Random
    D) Mixed
    Answer: B) Discrete
  44. Orbit and orbital differ in:
    A) Shape
    B) Concept
    C) Energy
    D) Size
    Answer: B) Concept
  45. Orbital can hold maximum:
    A) 1 electron
    B) 2 electrons
    C) 3 electrons
    D) 4 electrons
    Answer: B) 2 electrons
  46. Electron configuration follows:
    A) Random order
    B) Aufbau principle
    C) Only Pauli principle
    D) Only Hund rule
    Answer: B) Aufbau principle
  47. Degenerate orbitals have:
    A) Same shape
    B) Same energy
    C) Same size
    D) Same spin
    Answer: B) Same energy
  48. Which subshell fills after 3p?
    A) 4s
    B) 3d
    C) 4p
    D) 2d
    Answer: A) 4s
  49. Which has lowest energy?
    A) 2p
    B) 3s
    C) 2s
    D) 3p
    Answer: C) 2s
  50. Modern atomic theory is based on:
    A) Classical physics
    B) Quantum mechanics
    C) Dalton theory
    D) Rutherford theory
    Answer: B) Quantum mechanics

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