CH202

BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

COURSE: CH202 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY II

2 HOURS NOV/DEC 2011

ANSWER QUESTIONS ONE AND FOUR OTHERS. EACH QUESTION

CARRIES 20 MARKS
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1. a) Give three biological roles of K+.

[3 marks]

b) Discuss the anomalous behavior of lithium as compared to the rest

of the elements in group 1. [ 5 marks]

c) Explain why SF6 is stable to hydrolysis but SF4 is not. [ 4 marks]

d) Describe the factors that favour complex formation. [5 marks]

e) Explain why chelated complexes are more stable than similar

complexes with unidentate ligands. [3 marks]

SECTION A: ANSWER ANY TWO QUESTIONS

2. a) What is a crown ether and what is cryptate? Discuss their respective

uses. [10marks]

b) Compare and contrast bonding in polymeric ( BeH2)n and (BeCl2)

[10marks]

3. a) Al and B both react with chlorine . Al forms Al2Cl6 but B forms BCl3.
Explain. [6 marks]
.
b) Briefly explain why B2O3 is macromolecular solid not an ionic solid
. [3 marks]

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c) Explain why catenating ability is in the following order.

C >> Si ≈ Ge > Sn ≈ Pb [3 marks]

d) Explain why Fluorine is the most reactive element in the periodic table.
[4 marks]

f) Explain why IF7 exists but BrF7 does not.

[4 marks]

4. a) Xenon reacts directly with fluorine when the gases are heated at
400o C in a sealed nickel vessel and the products depend on the
F2/Xe ratio. Write the three reactions that can take place.
[4marks]

b) Alkyl substitution in NH3 decreases the tendency towards complex

formation in the order, NH3 > RNH2 > R2NH > R3N. The order for
the phosphines is the opposite way around. Explain.
[5 marks]

c) Describe the structure and bonding in S4N4. [8 marks]

d) Briefly describe the structure of XeF6 [3 marks]

SECTION B: ANSWER ANY TWO QUESTIONS FROM THIS SECTION.

5. a) Describe the factors that affect crystal field stabilization energy

[10 marks]
b) Comment on the following magnetic moments.

Compound Magnetic moment (BM)

[CoF6]3- 4.9
[RhF6]3- 0.0
NiCl2(PPh3)2 3.3
NiCl2(PEt3)2 0.0 [10 marks]

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6. a) Briefly describe the two types of electron transfer processes.

[4 marks]
b) Account for the following reactions:

i) [CoCl(NH3)5]2+ + [Cr(OH2)62+ → [CrCl(OH2)5]2+ + [Co(H2O)]2+

+
5NH3(aq)

ii) [Co(NH3)6]3+ + [Cr(OH2)6]2+ → [Cr(OH2)6]3+ + [ Co(H2O)]2+ +

6NH3(aq)
[10 marks]
b) Describe the three factors that determine whether a complex adopts
a tetrahedral or an octahedral geometry.
[6 marks]

7. a) Using a relevant example distinguish between trans effect and

trans Influence. [6 marks]

b) [Ni(CN)4]2- is square planar but [Ni(CN)4]4- and [NiCl4]2- are

tetrahedral; explain. [14 marks]

END OF PAPER

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