1. (i) Define the term first ionization energy.

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(2)

(ii) Explain why the first ionization energy of magnesium is higher than that of sodium.

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(2)
(Total 4 marks)

2. Samples of sodium oxide and sulfur trioxide are added to separate beakers of water.
Deduce the equation for each reaction and identify each oxide as acidic, basic or neutral.

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(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 1
3. Carbon and silicon belong to the same group of the periodic table.

(a) Distinguish between the terms group and period in terms of electron arrangement.

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(2)

(b) State the period numbers of both carbon and silicon.

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(1)
(Total 3 marks)

4. When concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to a solution containing hydrated copper(II)

ions, the colour of the solution changes from light blue to green. The equation for the reaction
is:

[Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 4Cl–(aq) → [CuCl4]2–(aq) + 6H2O(l)

(i) Explain what the square brackets around the copper containing species represent.

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(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 2
 (ii) Explain why the [Cu(H2O)6]2+ ion is coloured and why the [CuCl4]2– ion has a different
colour.

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(2)
(Total 3 marks)

5. State the equations for the reactions of sodium oxide, Na2O, and phosphorus(V) oxide, P4O10,
with water.

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(Total 2 marks)

6. (a) State a balanced equation for the reaction of sodium with water. Include state symbols.
(2)

(b) With reference to electronic arrangements, suggest why the reaction between rubidium
and water is more vigorous than that between sodium and water.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 3
7. Describe and explain what you will see if chlorine gas is bubbled through a solution of

(i) potassium iodide.

(2)

(ii) potassium fluoride.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

8. Explain why the melting points of the elements decrease down group 1 and increase down
group 7.
(Total 4 marks)

9. Explain why copper is considered a transition metal while scandium is not.

(Total 3 marks)

10. (i) Compare the structure and bonding in AlCl3 and Al2O3.
(2)

(ii) Describe the acid-base behaviour of AlCl3, Na2O and P4O10. Include suitable equations
in your answer.
(4)

(iii) Explain whether AlCl3 and Al2O3 will conduct in the solid or molten state.
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

11. The periodic table shows the relationship between electron arrangement and the properties of
elements and is a valuable tool for making predictions in chemistry.

(i) Identify the property used to arrange the elements in the periodic table.
(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 4
 (ii) Outline two reasons why electronegativity increases across period 3 in the periodic table
and one reason why noble gases are not assigned electronegativity values.
(3)
(Total 4 marks)

12. (i) Define the term first ionization energy of an atom.

(2)

(ii) Explain the general increasing trend in the first ionization energies of the period 3
elements, Na to Ar.
(2)

(iii) Explain why sodium conducts electricity but phosphorus does not.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

13. (i) Outline two reasons why a sodium ion has a smaller radius than a sodium atom.
(2)

(ii) Explain why the ionic radius of P3– is greater than the ionic radius of Si4+.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

14. (i) Explain why the first ionization energy of aluminium is lower than the first ionization
energy of magnesium.
(2)

(ii) Explain why the first ionization energy of sulfur is lower than the first ionization energy
of phosphorus.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 5
15. The ten elements in the first-row d-block have characteristic properties and many uses.

(i) State and explain the type of reaction that takes place between Fe3+ and H2O to form
[Fe(H2O)6]3+ in terms of acid-base theories.
(2)

(ii) Explain why [Fe(H2O)6]3+ is coloured.

(3)
(Total 5 marks)

16. Explain the origin of colour in transition metal complexes and use your explanation to suggest
why copper(II) sulfate, CuSO4(aq), is blue, but zinc sulfate, ZnSO4(aq), is colourless.

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(Total 4 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 6
17. Cu2+(aq) reacts with ammonia to form the complex ion [Cu(NH3)4]2+. Explain this reaction in
terms of an acid-base theory, and outline how the bond is formed between Cu2+ and NH3.

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(Total 3 marks)

18. (i) State whether aqueous solutions of magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride are acidic,
alkaline or neutral.
(1)

(ii) State an equation for the reaction between magnesium oxide and water.
(1)
(Total 2 marks)

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(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 7
19. The graph of the first ionization energy plotted against atomic number for the first twenty
elements shows periodicity.

(i) Define the term first ionization energy and state what is meant by the term periodicity.
(2)

(ii) State the electron arrangement of argon and explain why the noble gases, helium, neon
and argon show the highest first ionization energies for their respective periods.
(3)

(iii) A graph of atomic radius plotted against atomic number shows that the atomic radius
decreases across a period. Explain why chlorine has a smaller atomic radius than sodium.
(1)

(iv) Explain why a sulfide ion, S2–, is larger than a chloride ion, Cl–.
(1)

(v) Explain why the melting points of the Group 1 metals (Li → Cs) decrease down the
group whereas the melting points of the Group 7 elements (F → I) increase down the
group.
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 8
20. Deduce the oxidation number of cobalt in the following species.

(i) [Co(H2O)6]2+
(1)

(ii) Co2(SO4)3
(1)

(iii) [CoCl4]2–
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

21. (i) State the full electronic configurations of copper, Cu, and the copper(I) ion, Cu+.
(2)

(ii) Explain why copper(II) compounds in aqueous solution are coloured whereas
scandium(III) compounds in aqueous solution are colourless.
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

22. Nitrogen and silicon belong to different groups in the periodic table.

(i) Distinguish in terms of electronic structure, between the terms group and period.
(2)

(ii) State the maximum number of orbitals in the n = 2 energy level.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

23. Transition elements form complexes such as [Fe(CN)6]4– and [FeCl4]–. Deduce the oxidation
number of iron in each of these complex ions.

[Fe(CN)6]4– ............................................................................................................................

[FeCl4]– ..................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 9
24. Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of the period 3 elements Na to Ar. For sodium
oxide and sulfur trioxide, write balanced equations to illustrate their acid-base character.
(Total 3 marks)

25. Consider the transition metal complex, K3[Fe(CN)6].

(i) Define the term ligand, and identify the ligand in this complex.
(1)

(ii) Write the full electron configuration and draw the orbital box diagram of iron in its
oxidation state in this complex, and hence, determine the number of unpaired electrons in
this state.
(3)

(iii) Explain why many transition metal d-block complexes are coloured.
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

26. By reference to the structure and bonding in NaCl and SiCl4:

(i) State and explain the differences in electrical conductivity in the liquid state.
(3)

(ii) Predict an approximate pH value for the solutions formed by adding each compound
separately to water. Explain your answer.
(4)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 10
27. Consider the bonding and structure of the period 3 elements.

(a) Explain the increase in the melting point from sodium to aluminium.

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(2)

(b) Explain why sulfur, S8, has a higher melting point than phosphorus, P4.

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(2)

(c) Explain why silicon has the highest melting point and argon has the lowest melting point.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

28. Sodium oxide, Na2O, is a white solid with a high melting point.

(a) Explain why solid sodium oxide is a non-conductor of electricity.

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(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 11
 (b) Molten sodium oxide is a good conductor of electricity. State the half-equation for the
reaction occurring at the positive electrode during the electrolysis of molten sodium
oxide.

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(1)

(c) (i) State the acid-base nature of sodium oxide.

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(1)

(ii) State the equation for the reaction of sodium oxide with water.

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(1)
(Total 4 marks)

29. Some of the most important processes in chemistry involve acid-base reactions.

(a) Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of each of the period 3 elements, Na to Cl.

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(3)

(b) State one example of an acidic gas, produced by an industrial process or the internal
combustion engine, which can cause large-scale pollution to lakes and forests.

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(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 12
 (c) Suggest one method, other than measuring pH, which could be used to distinguish
between solutions of a strong acid and a weak acid of the same molar concentration.
State the expected results.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

30. (a) (i) Draw the shape of the pz orbital using the coordinates shown.

(1)

(ii) State the electron configuration of Fe3+.

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(1)

(iii) Define the term ligand.

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(1)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 13
 (iv) Explain why the complex [Fe(H2O)6]3+ is coloured.

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(3)

(v) The element selenium (Z = 34) has electrons in the 4s, 3d and 4p orbitals. Draw an
orbital box diagram (arrow-in-box notation) to represent these electrons.

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(1)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Chemistry 14