THE p-BLOCK ELEMENTS

BOARD QUESTIONS

2010

1.Fluorine does not exhibit any positive oxidation state. Why?

2.Complete the following chemical equation:
(i) I2 + HNO3 (conc)
3.Draw the structural formulae of the following compounds:
(i) H4P2O5 (ii) XeF4
4.How would you account for the following:
(i) NCl3 is an endothermic compound while NF3 is an exothermic one.
(ii) XeF2 is a linear molecule without a bend.
(iii) The electron gain enthalpy with negative sign for fluorine is less than that for chlorine,
still fluorine is a stronger oxidizing agent than chlorine.

2011

5.How would you account for the following:

(i) The following order of increase in strength of acids:
PH3 < H2S < HCl
(ii) The oxidizing power of oxoacids of chlorine follows the order:
HClO4 < HClO3 < HClO2 < HClO
6.Complete the following chemical equations:
(i) NaOH( hot & conc) + Cl2
143K
(ii) XeF4 + O2F2
(iii) Br2 + F2(excess)
7.(a) Mention the optimum conditions for the industrial manufacture of ammonia by
Haber’s process.
(b) Explain the following giving appropriate reason:
(i) Sulphur vapour exhibits paramagnetic behavior.
8.Draw the structures of the following molecules:
(i) NF3 (ii) H2S2O8 (iii) H3PO3
9.Complete the following chemical equations:
(i) Fe3+ + SO2 + H2O
(ii) XeF6 + H2O (excess)
10.Explain giving a reason each for the following situation:
(i) In aqueous medium HCl is a stronger acid than HF.
11.Complete the following chemical equations:
(i) C + H2SO4 (conc)
(ii) Cl2 + F2(excess)

2012

12.Explain the following:

(i) The chemical reactivity of nitrogen is much less than that of phosphorus.
(ii) SF6 is kinetically inert.
13.Draw the molecular structures of the following species:
(i) H3PO3 (ii) BrF3
14.Although the hydrogen bonding in hydrogen fluoride is much stronger than that in
water, yet water has a much higher boiling point than hydrogen fluoride. Why?
15.Complete the following chemical equations:
(i) NH4Cl(aq) + NaNO2(aq)
673K, 1bar
(ii) Xe(g, excess) + F2(g)
16.Which is more acidic and why, H2O or H2S?
17.Draw the molecular structures of the following species:
(i) H2S2O8 (ii) XeF2
18.Complete the following chemical equations:
(i) NaOH(hot & conc) + Cl2
143K
(ii) XeF4 O2F2
19.Which is a stronger acid in aqueous solution, HF or HCl and why?
20.State a reason for each of the following statements:
(i) Fluorine never exhibits any positive oxidation state.
(ii) Helium does not form any real chemical compound.
21.Draw the molecular structures of the following species:
(i) H3PO3 (ii) BrF3
22.Complete the following chemical equations:
heating
(i) Sn + PCl5
(ii) Fe3+ + SO2 + H2O
(iii) XeF2(s) + H2O(l)

2013

23.Arrange the following in the order of property indicated for each set:
(i) HF, HCl, HBr, HI- Increasing acid strength
(ii) NH3, PH3, AsH3, SbH3, BiH3- Increasing reducing power
24.Draw the structures of the following molecules:
(i) N2O5 (ii) H3PO2 (iii) XeF6
25.Account for the following:
(i) SnCl4 is more covalent than SnCl2.
(ii) O3 is a powerful oxidizing agent.

26.Complete the following chemical equations:

(i) PCl3 + H2O
(ii) XeF2 + PF5
heat
(iii) NaN3
27.Draw the structures of the following molecules:
(i) PCl3 (ii) H4P2O7 (iii) ClF3
28.Draw the structures of the following:
(i) Solid PCl5 (ii) H2S2O8 (iii) XeO3
2014

29.Why is the single N-N bond weaker than the single P-P bond?
30.Name the two most important allotropes of Sulphur. Which one of the two is stable at
room temperature? What happens when the stable form is heated above 370K?
31.(i) Write the conditions to maximize the yield of H2SO4 by contact process.
(ii) Why is Ka2 << Ka1 for H2SO4 in water?
32.(a) Account for the following:
(i) Bi is a strong oxidizing agent in the +5 state.
(ii) PCl5 is known but NCl5 is not known.
(iii) Iron dissolves in HCl to form FeCl2 and not FeCl3.
(b) Draw the structures of the following:
(i) XeOF4 (ii) HClO4
33.(a) Draw the structure of the following:
(i) H2S2O8
(b) Account for the following:
(i) Sulphur in vapour state exhibits paramagnetism.
(ii) Unlike Xenon, no distinct chemical compound of Helium is known.
(iii) H3PO2 is a stronger reducing agent than H3PO3.
34.Arrange the following in the increasing order of their basic character:
NH3, PH3, AsH3, SbH3, BiH3

2015

35.Which allotrope of Sulphur is thermally stable at room temperature.

36.(a) Account for the following:
(i) Bond angle in NH4+ is higher than NH3.
(ii) H2S has lower boiling point than H2O.
(iii) Reducing character decreasing from SO2 to TeO2.
(b) Draw the structures of the following:
(i) H4P2O7(pyrophosphoric acid) (ii) XeF2
37.(a) Draw the structures of the following:
(i) H2S2O7 (ii) XeF4
(b) Account for the following:
(i) Iron on reaction with HCl forms FeCl2 and not FeCl3.
(ii) HClO4 is a stronger acid than HClO.
(iii) BiH3 is the strongest reducing agent amongst all the hydrides of group-15.

2016

38.On heating Cu turnings with conc.HNO3, a brown coloured gas is evolved which on
cooling dimerizes. Identify the gas.
39.Write the structures of the following:
(i) H2SO3 (ii) XeF4
40.Give reasons:
(i) PCl5 is more covalent than PCl3.
(ii) O-O bond has lower bond dissociation enthalpy than S-S bond.
(iii) F2 is a stronger oxidizing agent than Cl2.
2017

41.Arrange the following hydrides of group-16 elements in the increasing order of their
thermal stability:
H2O, H2S, H2Se, H2Te
42.(a) Account for the following:
(i) BiH3 is the strongest reducing agent in group-15 elements hydrides.
(ii) Cl2 acts as a bleaching agent.
(iii) Noble gases have very low boiling points.
(b) Draw the structures of the following:
(i) H4P2O7 (ii) XeOF4
43.(a) Although nitrogen and chlorine have nearly same electronegativity, yet nitrogen
forms hydrogen bonding while chlorine does not. Why?
(b) What happens when fluorine reacts with water?
(c) Write the formula of a noble gas species which is isostructural with IBr2-.
(d) Complete the equation:
[Fe(H2O)6]2+ + NO

2018

44.Among the hydrides of group-15 elements, which have the

(a) Lowest boiling point.
(b) Maximum basic character.
(c) Highest bond angle.
(d) Maximum reducing character.
45.(a) Give reasons:
(i) H3PO3 undergoes disproportionation reaction but H3PO4 does not.
(ii) When Cl2 reacts with excess of F2, ClF3 is formed and not FCl3.
(iii) Dioxygen is a gas while Sulphur is a solid at room temperature.
(b) Draw the structures of the following:
(i) XeF4 (ii) HClO3
46.(a) When concentrated sulphuric acid was added to an unknown salt present in a test
tube a brown gas (A) was evolved. This gas intensified when copper turnings were
added to this test tube. On cooling, the gas (A) changed into a colourless solid (B).
(i) Identify (A) & (B)
(ii) Write the structures of (A) & (B)
(iii) Why does gas (A) change to solid on cooling?
(b) Arrange the following in the decreasing order of their reducing character:
HF, HCl, HBr, HI
(c) Complete the following reaction:
XeF4 + SbF5
2019

47.When dilute ferrous sulphate solution is added to an aqueous solution containing

nitrate ion followed by careful addition of concentrated sulphuric acid along the sides of
the test tube, a brown ring is formed at the interface between the solution and
sulphuric acid layers. Which anion is confirmed by the appearance of brown ring?
What is the composition of the brown ring?
48.How can you prepare Cl2 from HCl and HCl from Cl2? Write reactions only.
49.(a) Draw the structures of the following:
(i) HClO3 (ii) H2S2O8
(b) Give reasons for the following:
(i) Above 1000K Sulphur shows paramagnetism.
(ii) Although electron gain enthalpy of fluorine is less negative than that of chlorine,
yet fluorine is a better oxidizing agent than chlorine.
(iii) In solid state PCl5 exists as an ionic compound.
50.(a) Complete the following equations:
(i) PbS(s) + O3
(ii) XeF6 + NaF
(b) Arrange the following in increasing order of property indicated, giving reason:
(i) Hydrides of group-15 - Boiling points
(ii) Hydrides of group-17 - Acidic character
(iii) Hydrides of group-16 - Reducing character

2020

51.An amorphous solid ‘A’ which has a crown shaped structure, burns in air to form a gas
‘B’ which turns lime water milky. ‘B’ is also produced by roasting of sulphide ores.
‘B’ undergoes oxidation in the presence of V2O5 to give ‘C’ and to carry out this
oxidation low temperature and high pressure is mandatory to get a good yield of ‘C’.
‘C’ is then absorbed in H2SO4 to give ‘D’. ‘D’ is then diluted to give a very important
compound ‘E’. ‘E’ is largely responsible for the manufacture of variety of compounds in
industry . ‘E’ in concentrated form, when combined with Cu metal, gives compound ‘F’.
From this description,
(a) Elucidate the structure of ‘A’ to ‘F’.
(b) Give a balanced chemical equation for the conversion of ‘E’ to ‘F’.
(c) Give two important functions of ‘E’ in the chemical industry.
52.(a) Give reasons for the following observations:
(i) Halogens are strong oxidizing agents.
(ii) Noble gases have very low boiling points.
(iii) Oxygen and chlorine have nearly same electronegativity, yet oxygen forms
hydrogen bond while chlorine doesn’t.
(b) Complete and balance the following chemical equations:
(i) NaOH(cold & dil) + Cl2
(ii) I-(aq) + H2O(l) + O3(g)