Chemistry 1311 Problem Set 6

1. Which should be the most acidic ion and why? Ti 3+ , Ti 2+ , Fe3+ , Fe2+

2. Which is the strongest acid in aqueous solution and why? HOCl, HOBr, HOI

3. Describe the behavior of the oxides of the following elements in terms of their acid and/or base
properties. Al, S, Sr

4. Which of the following has the highest proton affinity (is the strongest base), NH21- or PH21- ? Analyze
the reason for the difference in proton affinity in terms of a thermochemical cycle assuming that the
relative differences and magnitudes in average N-H and P-H bond dissociation energies and electron
affinities of the elements apply to the anions.

5. Of the following anions, which has the strongest conjugate acid? Why? ClO1- , ClO21- , ClO31- , ClO41-

6. Which of the following anions is most basic, which is least basic? CH3&, C4–, F–, I–

7. Write a balanced chemical reaction that can account for the indicated observation, or that describes
the chemical reaction that will occur when the indicated operation is performed. Note that each of
these reactions involves the reaction of an acid with a base. Note THF (tetrahydrofuran, C4H8O) is an
inert solvent.
a) Reaction of gaseous HF and gaseous SO3 combine to give a liquid that is a strong Brf nsted acid.
b) Iodine, a nonpolar substance is insoluble in water, but dissolves in aqueous KI solution.
c) Carbon dioxide dissolves in a large excess of aqueous NaOH.
d) Addition of alumina, Al2O3, to a strongly basic aqueous solution results in a decrease in the hydroxide
concentration.
e) Calcium oxide is treated with aqueous HCl.
f) A gas is evolved when acetic acid is added to a stirred suspension of lithium deuteride (LiD) in THF.
g) NaH, which is insoluble in THF alone, dissolves in a solution of triethylboron in THF.
h) A gas is evolved when calcium phosphide (Ca3P2) is treated with water.
8. Define solvent leveling of acid and base strengths and give an example of the leveling of an acid or a
base.

9. The anion [H3B-H-BH3]1- has an electron deficient B-H-B interaction. Draw the energy level diagram for
the three molecular orbitals that would be formed assuming interaction of two B sp3 hybrid orbitals and
a hydrogen 1s orbital and indicate the electron occupancy of each molecular orbital. Make a drawing
of each molecular orbital and indicate whether it is bonding, nonbonding or antibonding.

10. Classify each of the following halides as (i) predominantly a Lewis acid, (ii) predominantly a Lewis
base, (iii) neither. CF4, AgI, KF, SiCl4, PF3, SF6, PCl5, (CH3)3N

11. Dissect the following molecules or ions into the acid and base that could have been used in their
formation; there may be more than one correct answer in some cases. H2CO3, BH41- , (CH3)3NSO2,
Ni(OH2)62+