UNIT-7 [The p- Block Elements] Revision

Intext Questions with Solution

Intext 7.1
Why are pentahalides more covalent than trihalides?

Higher the +ve oxidation state of central atom, more will be its polarizing power which in turn
increase the covalent character as in pentahalide the central atom is +5 oxidation state and
trihalide in +3 oxidation state. So pentahalide are more covalent than trihalide.

Intext 7.2
Why is the strongest reducing agent amongst all the hydrides of Group 15 elements?

> > > >

Down the Group

Size ↑ , Bond Length ↑ , Bond Energy ↓ , Stability ↓

On moving down the group, the atomic size increase and the stability of E-H bond decrease due to
decrease bond enthalpy therefore E-H bond can break easily to liberate hydrogen. So is the
strongest reducing agent.

Intext 7.3
Why is less reactive at room temperature?
N2 is less reactive at room temperature because of strong − overlap resulting in (≡) bond. So
high bond dissociation enthalpy.

Intext 7.4
Mention the conditions required to maximize the yield of ammonia.
On a large scale, is manufactured by Haber’s Process.

ѳ
∆ = −46.1

According to Le-Chaterlier’s, favorable condition are for higher yield of

i. Low Temperature [≃ 773 K]
ii. High Pressure [200 ]
iii. High concentration of reactant
iv. Use of catalyst [Iron oxide with small amount of and ]

Intext 7.5
How does ammonia react with a solution of ?

( ) + 4 ( ) [ [ ] ] ( )
Deep blue colour
Intext 7.6
What is the covalence of nitrogen in ?

Covalency Nitrogen is 4.

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Intext 7.7
Bond angle in is higher than that in . Why?

Both are sp3 hybridised. In all the four orbital are bonded where as in there is one lone pair
of electron on P, so bond pair – lone pair repulsion take place in and bond angle reduce in case
of .

Intext 7.8
What happens when white phosphorus is heated with concentrated solution in an inert
atmosphere of ?

+ 3 + 3 + 3

Sodium Hypophosphite

Intext 7.9
What happens when is heated?

ℎ
PCl5 PCl3 + Cl2

Intext 7.10
Write a balanced equation for the hydrolytic reaction of in heavy water.

PCl5 + D2O POCl3 + 2DCl

Duterium chloride

Intext 7.11
What is the basicity of ?

(3P –OH gp present)

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Intext 7.12
What happens when is heated?

Intext 7.13
List the important sources of sulphur.

Sulphur mainly occurs in the earth crust in the combined state primarily in the form of sulphate
and sulphides.

i. Sulphate → Gypsum → CaSO4.2H2O

Epsom salt MgSO4 ,7H2O)

ii. Sulphides → a) galena (PbS)

b) Zinc Blende (Zns)
c) Copper Pyrites (CuFeS2)

Intext 7.14
Write the order of thermal stability of the hydrides of Group 16 elements.

Since the size of the element increases down the group, the E─H bond dissociation enthalpy
decreases and hence E─H bond breaks more easily. Therefore, the thermal stability of the hydrides
group 16 elements decreases down the group.

H2O > H2S > H2Se > H2Te > H2Po

Intext 7.15
Why is a liquid and a gas ?

Due to smaller size and high electro negativity of oxygen, molecules 0f water are associated through
hydrogen bonding, resulting in its liquid state. On the other hand, H 2S molecules are not associated
through H ─ bonding. Hence, it is a gas.

Intext 7.16
Which of the following does not react with oxygen directly? Zn, Ti, Pt, Fe
Pt is a noble metal and the sum of its four I.E. is very high. Than it does not react with O 2 directly.

Intext 7.17
Complete the following reactions:
i. +
ii. +
4 + 3 2

+ 3 2 + 2

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Intext 7.18
Why does act as a powerful oxidizing agent?
It act as a powerful oxidizing agent due to its nascent oxygen.

+[ ]
Nascent Oxygen
Intext 7.19
How is estimated quantitatively?
When O3 is treated with an excess of KI (Potassium iodide) solution buffered with a borate buffer
(pH 9.2), I2 is liberated quantitatively.

2 ( ) + () + ( ) 2 ( )+ ( )+ ( )

I2 is liberated which can be titrated against a standard solution of sodium thiosulphate using starch
as an indicator.
+ + 2

Intext 7.20
What happens when sulphur dioxide is passed through an aqueous solution of Fe(III) salt?

SO2 acts as a reducing agent (oxidation → electron lose )and reduces aqueous solution of Fe (III)salt
to Fe (II) salt.

Intext 7.21
Comment on the nature of two S–O bonds formed in molecule. Are the two S–O bonds in
this molecule equal?

Both S-O bonds in SO2 molecule are covalent and have equal bond length due to the resonance.

Intext 7.22
How is the presence of detected?
SO2 is a pungent smelling gas. It can be detected by the following two tests:

I. SO2 turn acidified K2Cr2O7 green due to the reduction of to

+ + 4 + 2 ]×3
+ 14 + 6 2 + 7
+ + + +

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II. SO2 turns the pink violet colour of KMnO4 colourless due to reduction of to ions.
+ 2 + 4 + 2 ]×5
+ 8 + 5 + 4 ]×2
+ + + +

Orange Green

→
pink violet Colourless

Intext 7.23
Mention three areas in which plays an important role.

1. In lead storage batteries.

2. In detergent industries.
3. Manufacture of fertilizer.

Intext 7.24
Write the conditions to maximize the yield of by Contact process.

⇌
2 + 2 1. Temperature = Low (~ 720)
720
2
3 Moles 2 Moles 2. Pressure = High (2 bar)

3. Concentration of reactant increase

4. Catalyst →

Intext 7.25
Why is ≪ for in water?

i. + +
= 100

ii. + +
= 1.2 × 10

⇒ After the removal of one proton the electrostatics force of attraction work and second proton not
released easily.

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Intext 7.26
Considering the parameters such as bond dissociation enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy and
hydration enthalpy, compare the oxidizing power of and .

Intext 7.27
Give two examples to show the anomalous behavior of fluorine.

The anomalous behavior of fluorine is due to its

i. Small size
ii. High E.N.
iii. No availability of d- orbital.
iv. Low bond dissociation of F-F bond.

E.g:. i. F form only one oxyacid such as HOF while other halogen form a number of oxyacid.

F2 + HOH (ice) HOF + HF

E.g:. ii. HF is a liquid due to strong H bond while other HX are gas.

Intext 7.28
Sea is the greatest source of some halogens. Comment.
Sea water contains chlorides, bromides and iodides of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium
(Mainly NaCl → 2.5% by mass) and certain form of marine life contain iodine in their system. So Sea
is the greatest source of some halogens.

Intext 7.29
Give the reason for bleaching action of .

+ 2 + [ ]
[ ]+

Due to libration of nascent oxygen, Bleaching action take place.

Intext 7.30
Name two poisonous gases which can be prepared from chlorine gas.

phosgene [ ] , tear gas ( ), Mustard Gas ,

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Intext 7.31
Why is more reactive than ?

ICl is more reactive than I2 because I-CI bond in ICl is weaker than I-I bond in I2 .
(Low bond dissociation enthalpy)

Intext 7.32
Why is helium used in diving apparatus?

Helium is used as a diluents for O2 in modern diving apparatus because of its very low solubility in
blood.

Intext 7.33
Balance the following equation:
+ +

+2 +4
Xenon
Dioxy difluoride

Intext 7.34
Why has it been difficult to study the chemistry of radon?

Radon is radioactive with very short half-life (3.82 days )which makes the study of chemistry of
radon difficult.

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