Tutorial 1A: Basic chemistry concepts

1.

A compound X contains 63.3% Mn and 36.7% O by mass. When X is heated, oxygen gas is evolved and
a new compound Y containing 72.0% Mn and 28.0% O is formed.
(a) Determine the empirical formulas of X and Y.
(b) Write a balanced equation for the conversion of X to Y.

2.

2.4 g of a compound of C, H and O gave on combustion, 3.52g of CO2 and 1.44g of H2O. The relative
molecular mass of the compound was found to be 60.
(a) What are the masses of C, H and O in 2.4g of the compound?
(b) What are the empirical and molecular formulae of the compounds?

3.

A method for eliminating oxides of nitrogen (e.g., NO2) automobile exhaust gases is to pass the exhaust
gases over solid cyanuric acid, C3N3(OH)3. When the hot exhaust gases come in contact with cyanuric
acid, solid C3N3(OH)3 decomposes into isocyanic acid vapor, HNCO(g), which then reacts with NO2 in
the exhaust gases to give N2, CO2 and H2O. How many grams of C3N3(OH)3 are needed per gram of NO2
in this method?

4.

(2014-2015 SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION QUESTION)

Al2(CO3)3 can be produced by reacting AlCl3 with Na2CO3 according to the reaction:
2 AlCl3 (aq) + 3 Na2CO3 (aq) Al2(CO3)3 (s) + 6 NaCl (aq)
If you mix 100.0 mL of 0.40 M AlCl3(aq.) solution with 200.0 mL of 0.33 M Na2CO3(aq.) solution, what is
the maximum mass of precipitate that you would expect to produce?

5.

Calculate the final concentration after 1.50 L of 4.00 M NaCl is added to 2.25 L of 2.50 M NaCl, and the
resulting solution is diluted to 5.00 L.

There is an additional calculation question to be solved in this session. Please bring your calculators.

Tutorial 2A: Electronic Structures of Atoms and Ions, and Periodic Relationships
1. The set of quantum numbers that correctly describes an electron in a 3s orbital is:
(a) n = 3; l = 0; ml = 0; ms = 0
(b) n = 3; l = 2; ml = -2, -1, 0, 1, or 2; ms = +1/2 or -1/2
(c) n = 3; l = 1; ml = -1, 0, or 1; ms = +1/2 or - 1/2
(d) n = 4; l = 0; ml = -1, 0, or 1; ms = +1/2 or -1/2
(e) None of the above.
2. (a) Draw a picture of an orbital designated by the quantum numbers n=3, l=1, ml=-1.
(b) Explain with the aid of a drawing, how the orbital you drew in part (a) would differ if n =2 and other
quantum numbers remained the same.
3. Consider the atom Ti (Z = 22). Give the ground state electronic configurations for Ti and Ti+.
4. Circle the correct answer in each group below. Explain briefly.
(a) The largest atom:
Na
Al
P
Cl
(b) The smallest ion:
Se2- Sr2+
Br Rb+
(c) The atom with the least endothermic (lowest) first ionization energy: Mg Ba
(d) The element with the most exothermic electron affinity: Mg Ar Cl P

Sr Be

5. Predict the group in the periodic table in which an element with the following ionization energies would
most likely be found. If this element has no d electron, are you able to identify this element? Explain.
1st IE = 786 kJ/mol
2nd IE = 1577
3rd IE = 3232
4th IE = 4355
5th IE = 16,091
6th IE = 19,784
6. (2012-2013 SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION QUESTION)
List the bonds in CaH2, CsH, H2 and SiH4 in order of increasing ionic character. Give reasons for the order.

Tutorial 3A: Metals and nonmetallic compounds

1. Which one of the following metals would not be obtained by chemical reduction?
(a) Fe
(b) Ti
(c) Zn
(d) Mg
(e) Ag
2. (2012-2013 SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION QUESTION)
Analysis shows that the formula of a metal chloride is MCl4, and that 102.5 g of MCl4 contains 1.28 mol of Cl
atoms.
(a) What are the molecular mass of the compound (MCl4) and the name of the metal (M)?
(b) Suggest an industrial method for the extraction of the metal M from MCl4. Justify your suggestion. Explain
how the byproduct produced in the extraction process can be reused in the extraction of M with the aid
of reaction equations.
3. The main reducing agent in a blast furnace is
(a) CaO(s)
(b) CaSiO3(l)
(c) CO(g)
(d) O2(g)
(e) CO2(g)
Indicate which of the above choices is correct and give reasons.
4. (2012-2013 SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION QUESTION)

The reaction of calcium hydride (CaH2) and water produces calcium hydroxide and hydrogen as
products. Unlike CaH2, some other binary hydrides can release hydrogen by adjusting temperature and
pressure only without reacting with any chemical. Give two examples of such hydrides and indicate the nature
of the hydride bonds in these hydrides.
5. Silicon (Si) forms
(a) ionic nitrides
(b) covalent nitrides
(c) Interstitial nitrides
(d) none of the above
Indicate which of the above choices is correct and give reason(s).
6. Which one of the following is an example of a basic oxide? Explain your answer briefly.
(a) SO3(g)
(b) BaO(s)
(c) Al2O3(s)
(d) SiO2(s)
3

Tutorial 4A: Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds

1. Why is +3 the most stable oxidation state for Fe, while it is +2 for Co and Ni?
2. What is the coordination number and the oxidation number of cobalt in [Co(NH3)6]Cl3?
3. Write the formula of a coordination compound comprising two types of complex ions: one a complex of Cr(III)
with ethylenediamine (en), having a coordination number of 6; the other, a complex of Ni(II) with CN-, having
a coordination number of 4.
4. Zinc is an element in the d block which forms colourless complex ions in aqueous solutions.
(a) Give the formula of the ion of another metal in the d-block which forms colourless complex ions in
aqueous solutions. Explain.
(b) State with reason whether you would expect Ruthenium (Ru) coordination compounds to be coloured or
colourless in solution.
5. The complex ion (a) [Co(H2O)6]3+ is violet and (b) [Fe(H2O)5NCS]2+ is red. Which one has the larger crystal
field splitting? Explain.
6. (2012-2013 SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION QUESTION)
(a) Aqueous solutions in three unlabeled bottles are red (1), orange (2) and green (3), respectively. Each
solution contains one of the following M3+ complex ions: [MF6]3-, [M(en)2F2]+ and [M(en)3]3+. Match the
colors to the three complexes. Justify your answers.
(b) Name the shape(s) of the above transition metal complexes and state their bond angle(s).