1.1. Amorphous, unorganised solid form, boron is used as a rocket fuel igniter and in pyrotechnic flares.

Write an equation, including state symbols to show the process that occurs when the first ionisation of boron, B, is measured. 

1.2. Suggest why the ionisation energy of boron is lower than that of beryllium going against the general trend in ionisation energies across the period.

1.3. Give the definition of relative isotopic mass.

1.4. A naturally occurring sample of the element boron, B, has two isotopes and a relative atomic mass of 10.8.

Calculate the relative abundances of both isotopes in the sample of boron, B.

1.5. Ions of boron, B, are deflected in a TOF mass spectrometer. Give one reason why isotopes of the same mass and velocity are deflected by different amounts in the same magnetic field.

1.6. A sample of another group three element Aluminum, Al, is analysed in a TOF mass spectrometer. The ²⁷Al⁺ ion travelled down a 5 m flight tube with a kinetic energy of 1.45 x 10^-13 J.

KE = $\frac{1}{2}$mv²     v = $\frac{d}{t}$     L = 6.02 x 10²³

Calculate the mass of 1 aluminium atom in kg.

1.7. Use the information in part (f) to calculate the velocity of the Al⁺ ion travelling through the flight tube.

1.8. Use the information in parts (f) and (g) to calculate its time of flight.