W1-2-60-1-6

JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2013/2014

YEAR 2 SEMESTER II EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

SCH 2200: THE CHEMISTRY OF S AND P BLOCK ELEMENTS

DATE: December 2013 TIME: 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS:

ANSWER QUESTION ONE AND ANY OTHER TWO QUESTIONS.

QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)

a) With three examples briefly discuss how elements are classified in the periodic
table. (10marks)
b) Calculate the electronegativity value of carbon given the following data:
C-C bond energy=347kcal/mole; C-H bond energy = 414KJ/mole; H-H bond energy
=435 KJ/mole; electronegativity value of H=2.1 (8marks)
c) Explain the following observations:
i. Salts of group II elements (alkaline earth metals) are more hydrated
than those of group I elements (alkaline metals)
ii. Whereas PF5, PBrs, SbF5, SbCl5, AsF5 are known, pentahalides of
nitrogen are not known. (8marks)
d) Briefly discuss how the hydrides of group V are made. (4marks)

QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)

a) Using five similarities and five differences as examples compare and contrast the
chemistry of lithium and sodium. (12marks)
b) With the relevant chemical equations and examples briefly discuss the halides of
group V elements. (8marks)

QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)

a) i) Draw the simplest diagrams to explain the covalent bonding and the
chemical structures of diamond and graphite.

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 ii) Explain why diamond is a non-conductor while graphite is a conductor.

(12marks)
b) Briefly discuss the phenomenal “inert pair effect” and how it affects the physical and
chemical properties of group III elements. (8marks)

QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)

a) Hydrogen fluoride has a higher boiling point than that of HCl. Explain. (6marks)
b) Briefly discuss the chemistry of the halogens. In your discussion show the main
differences between fluorine and the rest of the elements of group VII (14marks)

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