Cagayan State University

Andrews Campus, Tuguegarao City

QUIZ IN SYSTEMATIC INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

1. The use of H2 as a fuel (an energy carrier) has been investigated seriously since the
1970s when oil prices first rose dramatically; interest has increased greatly in more
recent times owing to environmental pressures on further use of fossil fuels. Assuming
that you are the Secretary of the Department of Energy, after reading various reports
on the feasibility of H2 as a fuel, what do you see as advantages of H2 over the other
energy sources that we use today which may convince you to recommend its use in
the Philippines? Moreover, considering the structure, properties and reactivity of H2,
what are the possible disadvantages of H2 as a fuel?

2. Almost all of the building structures that we see today are made from cement and
concrete. The raw materials for cement manufacture often contain traces of sodium
and potassium sulfates (alkali metals). We often observed the cracking, swelling, and
distortion of many ageing concrete structures and become a serious problem of
humanity. What could be an explanation of these phenomena? What adjustment
could the cement manufacturing industry could do to minimize these problems on
building structures?

3. In his paper ‘Covalent and ionic molecules: why are BeF2 and AlF3 high melting point
solids whereas BF3 and SiF4 are gases?’ (J. Chem. Educ., 1998, 75, 923), R.J. Gillespie
makes a case for the classification of the bonding in BF3 and SiF4 as predominantly
ionic. Summarize his arguments and describe how these differ from the conventional
view of bonding in gaseous molecules.

4. Asbestos (from the Greek words for ‘not quenchable’, in contrast to quicklime) is a
generic term that applies to six types of naturally occurring mineral fibres. It is a
compound of I – A, II – A, IV – A and VI – A elements. All the fibres have properties that
have made them very attractive in a range of industrial and domestic applications. As
a Science student, make a reflection on the properties and chemical reactivity of
asbestos.

5. Of all the toxic elements in the environment, lead is perhaps the most pervasive. It
poisons thousands of people yearly, most of them children in urban areas. Make a
presentation on the different compounds of lead and create a narrative of its effects to
the environment (focus on plants and animals).

Prepared by:

PEDRO P. SUYU, Ph. D.

Professor