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CH103 Mid-Semester Examination, Sept. 14, 2009

Inorganic Chemistry Part (Weightage 10 Marks) MODEL ANSWERS
Answer All Questions in the Space (BOX) Provided
Atomic numbers: Si 14: V 23; Cr 24

1. Write the electronic configuration of vanadium ion in [V(CO)6]- and chromium ion in CrCl3. (2 Marks)

V— (24 e−) = [Ar] 3d4 4s2 or [Ar] 3d5 4s1 or [Ar] 3d6 (1 Mark)

Cr3+ (21 e-) = [Ar] 3d3 (1 Mark)

2. Write three different metal cations that have 18 electrons (total electrons)? (1.5 Marks)

K+, Ca2+, Sc3+ (Ti4+, V5+, Cr6+, Mn7+ are also acceptable) (0.5 Marks each)

3. Calculate the Z* (effective nuclear charge) for 2s electron in silicon. (1.5 Marks)

At No. 14; 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2 (0.5 Marks)

σ = (7 x 0.35) + (2 x 0.85) = 4.15 (0.5 Marks)
Z* = Z – σ = 14 – 4.15 = 9.85 (0.5 Marks)

4. Between P and S which element has higher 1st ionization energy? Why? (2 Marks)

Although IE increases across the PT, phosphorus has higher 1st IE (1 Mark)

This is because of [Ne]3s2 3p3 half -filled configuration of P , whereas the [Ne]3s2 3p4
configuration of S can lead to easier removal of the 1st electron (1 Mark)

5. Which of these has the smallest electron affinity? Why? B, C, N, O, or F. (2 Marks)

Nitrogen (1 Mark)

This is because of half filled configuration,

leading to high reluctance to the incoming electron (1 Mark)

6. Why are the noble gases excluded from electronegativity discussions? (1 Mark)

They do not normally bond to other elements (or an equivalent answer such as ‘they do not have
tendency to attract electrons / electron pairs towards themselves due to noble config.’) 1 Mark

(Filled shells, High IE, no electron sea, no metallic bonding – these all can qualify only for half
credit because rare gases do have electronegativity, in fact the highest in each period!)