SCH 2100

W1-2-60-1-6
JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
OF
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
University Examinations 2014/2015
FIRST YEAR FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION
FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
SCH 2100: ATOMIC STRUCTURE
DATE: AUGUST 2015 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: ANSWER QUESTION ONE (COMPULSORY) AND ANY OTHER
TWO QUESTIONS

Question One (30 Marks)

a) (i) What do you understand by Pauli’s exclusion principle? (2 Marks)

(ii) What is Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity? (2 Marks)

(iii) By the help of a diagram, show the sequence of electron filling in orbitals from 1s
through to 7s. (4 Marks)

(iv) Write electronic configurations of the following elements using, noble gas
notations: Zinc, Vanadium and Ribidium. (3 Marks)

(v) Identify the elements with the following electronic configurations:

[4r] 3d10 4s1

[Kr] 4d2 5s2

[Ne] 3s2 3p4

(3 Marks)

b) (i) Define periodicity and ionic radius (4 Marks)

(ii) The increasing order of size in case of the iron species is as follows:

Fe3+ < Fe2+ < Fe

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Explain this sequence. (4 Marks)

c) Caustic soda (NaOH) can be prepared commercially by the reaction of Na 2CO3 with
slaked lime (Ca(OH)2). How many grams of NaOH can be obtained by treating 1.00kg of
Na2CO3 with Ca (OH)2? (Apply the mole method RAM: Na = 23, O = 16, C = 12,
H = 1). (8 Marks)

Question Two (20 Marks)

Give a brief description of the contribution to the present theory of atomic structure made by
each of the following individuals:

a) Bohr

b) De Broglie

c) Heisenberg

d) Pauli

e) Schrodinger

Question Three (20 Marks)

a) A 5.00g sample of an unstable hydrated salt (Na2SO4.xH2O) was found to contain 7.05g
water. Determine the empirical formula of the salt. (5 Marks)

b) Consider a sample containing 0.400molH2S. How many?

(i) g of H2S

(ii) mol of H and S

(iii) g of H and of S

(iv) molecules of H2S

(v) atoms of H and of S

are contained in the sample. (10 Marks)

c) A 5.82g silver coin is dissolved in nitric acid. When sodium chloride is added to the
solution, all the silver is precipitated as AgCl.
The AgCl precipitate weighs 7.20g. Determine the percentage of silver in the coin.

(Atomic weights: H = 1.01, Ag = 32.06) (5 Marks)

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Question Four (20 Marks)

a) In what ways do the spatial distributions of the orbitals in each pair differ from each
other? (6 Marks)

(i) 1s and 2s

(ii) 2s and 2p

(iii) 2Px and 2Pz

b) The nucleus of an atom is located at x = y = z = 0.

(i) If the probability of finding an s – orbital electron in a tiny volume around x = a,

y = z = 0; is 1.0 x 10-5, what is the probability of finding the electron in the same
sized volume around x = z = 0, y = a? (2 Marks)

(ii) What would be the probability at the second site if the electron were in a Pz
orbital? Explain. (2 Marks)

c) (i) Draw a representation of a 3p orbital, including in your sketch the information

that it has the planar node characteristic of p orbitals but in addition has a
spherical node. (4 Marks)

(ii) Which shell would be the first to have a g subshell? ( ½ Mark)

d) Write electronic configurations for the following:

(i) Ar and S2-

(ii) Fe and Ni2+

(4
Marks)

e) Which pair in (iv) is isoelectric. Explain. (1 ½ Marks)