CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK
Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.
Coursebook answers
Chapter 24
Science in context
An internet search engine will produce results that
learners can use to explain how cis-platin interacts
with DNA when treating cancerous tumours.
Working together with a biology student could be
beneficial when discussing the effect of cis-platin
on DNA. Here is the basic mechanism:
• The cis-platin can be taken by patients in solution
and can pass through cell membranes and into
the nucleus of the cell. One of the chloride ion
ligands is first replaced by a water molecule,
forming the complex [PtCl(H2O)(NH3)2]+.
• On contact with a DNA molecule, the water
ligand is itself replaced by a guanine base as
one of its nitrogen atoms forms a dative bond
with the platinum ion.
• Then the remaining chloride ion is ideally
positioned to interact with another adjacent
guanine base. The chloride ion is replaced and
the new platinum complex has formed a bridge
2 a Fe2+(aq) → Fe3+(aq) + e−
in a DNA strand.
• This ‘bridging’ can also take place to a lesser
extent between the two strands in DNA, as well
as with the base adenine.
Discuss the use of drugs that can have harmful
side-effects in small groups so that learners get the
chance to voice their opinions. Ask each group
to write four bullet points to summarise their
discussion. Pin the summaries up to share with the
whole class.
Self-assessment questions
1 a i Ti 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d2 4s2
ii Cr 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p63d5 4s1
iii Co 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d7 4s2
iv Fe3+ 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s0
v Ni2+ 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d8 4s0
vi Cu+ 1s22s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s0
1 Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry © Cambridge University Press 2020
b For scandium the only observed
oxidation state is +3, so the electronic
configuration of Sc3+ is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
3p6 4s0. This ion has no d electrons,
so does not satisfy the definition of
a transition element. The only ion
of zinc is Zn2+, with the electronic
configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10
4s0. This ion has a completely filled,
not a partially filled, d subshell − so
zinc is not a transition element.
c The + 7 oxidation state involves all of
the 3d and 4s electrons in manganese.
d Oxidation state of vanadium in a =
(VO2+) = +5; b (VO2+) = +4;
c (V3+) = +3; d (V2+) = +2.
e i +4 as this involves all the 4d and
5s electrons, leaving the noble gas
electronic configuration of krypton.
ii ZrO2
Cr2O72−(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e− →
2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
b 6Fe2+(aq) → 6Fe3+(aq) + 6e−
Cr2O72−(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e− →
2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
Cr2O72−(aq) + 6Fe2+(aq) + 14H+(aq) →
2Cr3+(aq) + 6Fe3+ + 7H2O(l)
c E⦵ = +1.33 V + (−0.77 V) = +0.56 V
The positive value indicates that the
reaction as written is feasible and its
relatively large value suggests that the
reaction is likely to occur (although
values of E⦵ tell us nothing about the
rate of a reaction).
d 6
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK

iii  Ni ( NH3 )4 ( H2O)2 

2+

e i 0.0153 × 0.001 = 0.000 015 3 mol (aq)

 Ni ( H2O ) 2+ (aq)   NH3 ( aq )  4
ii 0.000 015 3 × 6 = 0.000 091 8 mol  6 

0.000 0918
iii = 0.003 67 mol dm−3 b i [Fe(H2O)6]3+(aq)]:
0.025
3 a i +3 H2O
ii +2
H2O OH2
iii +3
iv +3 Fe

v +2
H2O OH2
b [Ni(EDTA)]2−
H2O
c ethanedioate ion (ox) and
ethane-1,2-diamine (en) ii SCN− has a higher value of Kstab
4 a i 6 than H2O. So the position of
equilibrium is shifted to the right.
ii H2N
iii [Fe(H2O)5SCN]2+(aq)
Cl NH2 iv Yes; a colour change is likely /
possible. F− has a higher value
Co
of Kstab than SCN−. So F
substitutes for SCN (and for
Cl NH2 water) because the position of
H2N
equilibrium is shifted to the right.
7 a orbitals at the same energy level
iii They are mirror images, which are
not superimposable. b The ligands in a complex cause
the d orbitals to split, forming two
b i 2– 2–
sets of non-degenerate orbitals.
NC Cl NC Cl

Ni
NC
cis-isomer
ii Non-polar, as the charge
is distributed perfectly
symmetrically around the central
nickel (with both cyanide ligands
diagonally opposite each other in
the square planar structure, and
similarly with the two chloride ions).
5 a +2
b [CoCl4] (aq) + 6H2O(l) →
2−
Ni
The difference in the energy (ΔE)
between the non-degenerate d orbitals
Cl Cl CN corresponds to the energy of part
of the visible spectrum of light. So
trans-isomer
when light travels through a solution
or a solid containing the complex, an
electron from one of the three lower
non-degenerate orbitals absorbs that
amount of energy (ΔE) and jumps into
one of the two higher non-degenerate
orbitals. This leaves the transmitted
light coloured.
c

[Co(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 4Cl−(aq) 3d
c A
Ni2+ ...3d8

[ PtCl (NH ) (aq)] Cl (aq)  − 2

2 3 2
6 a i  PtCl (aq)  NH (aq)
[ ] [ ]
2− 2
4 3

 Cr ( H O ) Cl + (aq) 
ii   2 4 2

 Cr ( H O ) 3+ (aq)  Cl – ( aq ) 2
  2 6   

2 Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry © Cambridge University Press 2020

 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK

d Sc3+ ions have electronic configuration 4 a [Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 2OH−(aq) →

[Ar]3d04s0. If d-orbital splitting were Cu(OH)2(H2O)4(s) + 2H2O(l)  [1]
to occur in a complex ion containing pale blue precipitate [1]
Sc3+, there would be no electrons in
the three 3d orbitals of lower energy, b Cu(OH)2(H2O)4(s) + 4NH3(aq) →
so visible light would not be absorbed  Cu(H2O)2(NH3)4]2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) +
in promoting an electron from a lower 2OH−(aq) [1]
energy 3d orbital to a higher energy the precipitate dissolves [1]
3d orbital. giving a deep blue solution [1]
e Zn2+ ions have electronic configuration [Total: 5]
[Ar]3d104s0. If d-orbital splitting were
to occur in a complex ion containing 5 a The electrode potential for the Cl2 / Cl−
Zn2+, each of the 3d orbitals would redox system is more negative than the
contain two electrons, and would one for MnO4−/Mn2+; [1]
therefore be fully occupied. Visible this means that
light could not be absorbed in MnO4− + 8H+ + 5e− ⇌ Mn2+ + 4H2O can
promoting an electron from a lower gain electrons, proceeding to the right,
energy 3d orbital to a higher energy 3d and the reaction Cl2 + 2e− ⇌ 2Cl−
orbital. can proceed to the left, forming Cl2.
Chlorine is toxic, and this also gives
an inaccurate titration result as the
Exam-style questions MnO4− reacts with the Cl− as well
1 a an element forming one or more as the Fe2+. [1]
compounds that contain an ion which
The electrode potential for the SO42− /
has a partly filled 3d subshell [1]
SO2 redox system is more negative
b a molecule or ion capable of bonding than the one for MnO4−/Mn2+; [1]
to a positive ion by donating a
this means that the reaction
lone-pair of electrons and forming a
SO42− + 4H+ + 2e− → SO2 + 2H2O can
co-ordinate bond [1]
proceed to the left but not to the right
c a positive ion [1] and the acid is unchanged. [1]
joined to one or more ligands [1] b Mr of FeSO4·7H2O = 55.8 + 32.1 + 64.0
[Total: 4] + 126.0 = 277·9 [1]
2 a [Ar] 3d 4s or 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d6 4s2[1]
6 2 2 2 6 2 6 amount (in mol) of FeSO4·7H2O
b [Ar] 3d7 or 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d7 4s0 [1] =
5.56
= 0.0200 mol [1]
277.9
c [Ar] 3d1 or 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1 4s0 [1]
0.02
[Total: 3] [FeSO4] = = 0.0800 mol dm−3 [1]
0.250
3 a e.g. FeCl3 [1] c i 5Fe + 8H + MnO4 →
2+ + −

5Fe3+ + 4H2O + Mn2+  [2]

oxidation state +3 [1]
[1 mark for formulae; 1 mark for
e.g. FeCl2 [1] balancing]
oxidation state +2 [1] ii when a permanent pink colour is
b d orbitals split / form two sets of non- obtained [1]
degenerate orbitals; [1]
d amount in mol of Fe2+ (FeSO4) in
an electron from one of the lower 25 cm3 = V × C = 0.025 × 0.0800
orbitals absorbs energy from visible = 0.00200 mol
light; [1] 1
amount in mol of MnO4− = × amount
5
and is promoted to one of the higher in mol of Fe2+
orbitals. [1]
= 4.00 × 10−4 mol [1]
[Total: 7]

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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK

n iii correct drawing of one isomer; [1]

[MnO4−] =
V (in dm3 ) correct drawing of mirror image; [1]
4.00 × 10 −4 [ignore charge]
= = 0.0189 mol dm−3 [1]
0.0212
en    en
e 5SO2 + 2H2O + 2MnO4 → −

2Mn2+ + 5SO42− + 4H+  [2] en

Ni en Ni
[1 mark for formulae; 1 mark for balancing]
amount in mol of MnO4− = 0.0189 ×
0.025 = 4.73 × 10−4 mol [1] en en
amount in mol of SO2
5
recognition of a single ligand
= × 4.73 × 10−4 mol = 1.18 × 10−3 mol [1] attached to two points in the
2
volume of SO2 at r.t.p. structure in either of the isomers; [1]
= 1.18 × 10−3 × 24 dm3 = 0.0283 dm3 [1] octahedral structure in either of
[Total: 17] the isomers [1]
To make question 5e easier to answer, [Total: 14]
break it up:
1 How many moles of MnO4− are we given?
2 How many moles of SO2 will this react
with? (the reaction equation is needed
here)
3 What is the volume of this number of
moles of SO2?
6 a i 4Cl−(aq) in gap on left [1]
6H2O(l) in gap on right [1]
ii Yellow-green colour turns to
light blue; [1]
excess water shifts position of
equilibrium to the left; [1]
some of the Cl in the complex −

replaced by water molecules. [1]

iii One or more Cl replaced by −

ammonia [1]
because ammonia has greater
value of Kstab (than Cl−). [1]
b i bidentate ligands [1]
Ligands have two N lone pairs
per ligand molecule available for
complex formation. [1]
ii diaminoethane because it has a
higher value of Kstab [1]

4 Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry © Cambridge University Press 2020