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Vidaara.orgClass 10 · Chemistry
CodeVID-C10-05-T1-01
Assignment — Early Attempts at Classification
Chapter: Periodic Classification of Elements
Topic: Early Attempts at Classification
Maximum Marks: 30
Time: 60 minutes
Name: ____________________ Roll No.: __________ Date: ____________

General Instructions

  • All questions are compulsory.
  • Section A carries 1 mark each, Section B 2 marks, Section C 3 marks and Section D 5 marks.
  • Show all working for Sections B, C and D. Only final answers are given at the end — for full solutions, raise your doubts with your teacher.
Section A — Multiple Choice Questions 5 × 1 = 5 marks
1.
Dobereiner arranged elements in groups of:
  • A.two
  • B.three
  • C.eight
  • D.ten
2.
The Law of Octaves was given by:
  • A.Dobereiner
  • B.Newlands
  • C.Mendeleev
  • D.Moseley
3.
Mendeleev arranged elements in increasing order of:
  • A.atomic number
  • B.atomic mass
  • C.valency
  • D.melting point
4.
Eka-aluminium predicted by Mendeleev was later discovered as:
  • A.scandium
  • B.gallium
  • C.germanium
  • D.argon
5.
The Law of Octaves was found to work well only up to:
  • A.calcium
  • B.iron
  • C.zinc
  • D.bromine
Section B — Short Answer (2 marks) 3 × 2 = 6 marks
6.
State Dobereiner's observation about the atomic masses in a triad, using one example.
7.
Why was Newlands' Law of Octaves rejected?
8.
Give any two limitations of Mendeleev's periodic table.
Section C — Short Answer (3 marks) 2 × 3 = 6 marks
9.
State Mendeleev's periodic law and explain how the discovery of the noble gases supported his table.
10.
How did Mendeleev's prediction of eka-silicon demonstrate the power of his classification?
Section D — Long Answer (5 marks) 1 × 5 = 5 marks
11.
Trace the development of element classification from Dobereiner to Mendeleev, mentioning the basis, one achievement and one limitation of each scheme.

Answer Key

Section A — Multiple Choice Questions
  1. (B) three
  2. (B) Newlands
  3. (B) atomic mass
  4. (B) gallium
  5. (A) calcium
Section B — Short Answer (2 marks)
  1. The atomic mass of the middle element is the average of the other two; e.g. in Li(7), Na(23), K(39), (7+39)/2 = 23 = mass of Na.
  2. It worked only up to calcium, assumed no new elements would be found, and forced unlike elements into the same slot, so it broke down for heavier elements.
  3. Hydrogen had no fixed position, and isotopes of an element had different masses but shared one position; also a few mass orders were reversed.
Section C — Short Answer (3 marks)
  1. Mendeleev's law: properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic masses. When He, Ne and Ar were discovered, they were placed in a new group (zero group) without disturbing the existing arrangement, supporting the table's strength.
  2. Mendeleev left a gap below silicon and predicted the properties of eka-silicon. When germanium was discovered later, its atomic mass, density and oxide formula matched the prediction closely, proving his periodic arrangement was sound.
Section D — Long Answer (5 marks)
  1. Dobereiner (triads): grouped three similar elements; achievement was spotting the average-mass pattern (Li, Na, K); limitation was that only three or four triads could be made. Newlands (octaves): arranged by increasing atomic mass and found every eighth element similar; achievement was the first periodic idea; limitation was failure beyond calcium and forcing unlike elements together. Mendeleev (periodic table): arranged 63 elements by atomic mass and similar chemical properties; achievement was leaving gaps and predicting eka-elements (Sc, Ga, Ge) and fitting noble gases; limitation was no fixed place for hydrogen, isotopes sharing a position and a few reversed mass orders.
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