CHEM1070B: Principles of Modern Chemistry

Assignment 2
Answer all the questions using the empty space provided. (85 marks in total)
PART A - Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)

1. The mass % of Al in aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) is ________.

A) 7.886
B) 15.77
C) 21.93
D) 45.70
E) 35.94

2. A sample of CH2F2 with a mass of 19 g contains ________ atoms of F.

A) 2.2 × 1023
B) 38
C) 3.3 × 1024
D) 4.4 × 1023
E) 9.5

3. Which combination will produce a precipitate?

A) Pb(NO3)2 (aq) and HCl (aq)

B) Cu(NO3)2 (aq) and KC2H3O2 (aq)
C) KOH (aq) and HNO3 (aq)
D) AgC2H3O2 (aq) and HC2H3O2 (aq)
E) NaOH (aq) and Sr(NO3)2 (aq)

4. Which two bonds are least similar in polarity?

A) Al﹣Cl and I﹣Br

B) O﹣F and Cl﹣F
C) B﹣F and Cl﹣F
D) I﹣Br and Si﹣Cl
E) C﹣Cl and Ge﹣Cl

5. The hybridisation of nitrogen in NF3 and NH3 are ________ and ________, respectively.

A) sp2, sp2
B) sp, sp3
C) sp3, sp
D) sp3, sp3
E) sp2, sp3

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6. The basis of the VSEPR model of molecular bonding is ________.

A) regions of electron density on an atom will organise themselves so as to maximise

s-character
B) regions of electron density in the valence shell of an atom will arrange themselves
so as to maximise overlap
C) atomic orbitals of the bonding atoms must overlap for a bond to form
D) electron domains in the valence shell of an atom will arrange themselves so as to
minimise repulsions
E) hybrid orbitals will form as necessary to, as closely as possible, achieve spherical
symmetry

7. The bond angles marked a, b, and c in the molecule below are about ________,
________, and ________, respectively.

O H O

H N C C C O H
a b c
H H

A) 90°, 90°, 90°

B) 120°, 120°, 90°
C) 120°, 120°, 109.5°
D) 109.5°, 120°, 109.5°
E) 109.5°, 90°, 120°

8. The electron-domain geometry and the molecular geometry of a molecule of the

general formula ABn will always be the same if ________.

A) there are no lone pairs on the central atom

B) there is more than one central atom
C) n is greater than four
D) n is less than four
E) the octet rule is obeyed

9. A typical double bond ________.

A) is stronger and shorter than a single bond

B) consists of one σ bond and one π bond
C) imparts rigidity to a molecule
D) consists of two shared electron pairs
E) All of the above answers are correct.

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10. According to MO theory, overlap of two p atomic orbitals produces ________.

A) one 𝜋 MO and one 𝜎* MO

B) one 𝜋 MO and one 𝜎 MO
C) one 𝜋 MO and one 𝜋* MO or one 𝜎 MO and one 𝜎* MO
D) one 𝜋+ MO and one 𝜎 MO
E) two 𝜋 MOs, two 𝜋+ MOs, one 𝜎 MO, and one 𝜎* MO

PART B - Short Questions (75 marks)

1. A compound contains 47.08% carbon, 6.59% hydrogen, and 46.33% chlorine by mass; the
molar mass of the compound is 153 g/mol. What are the empirical and molecular formulas of
the compound?

(5 marks)

Assume there are 100g of sample,

= mole of Carbon: mole of hydrogen: mole of Chlorine
= 47.08/12.01 : 6.59/1.004 : 46.33/35.45
= 3.92: 6.56: 1.31
= 3:5:1
∴ The empirical formula is C3H5Cl. (2 marks)

Let the molecular formula is n(C3H5Cl),

n(C3H5Cl) = 153
n(12.01 x 3 + 1.004 x 5 + 35.45) = 153
n(76.5)=153
n=2 (2 marks)

∴ The molecular formula is C6H10Cl2. (1 mark)

2. Acrylonitrile (C3H3N) is the starting material for many synthetic carpets and fabrics. It is
produced by the following reaction.

2C3H6(g) + 2NH3(g) + 3O2(g) → 2C3H3N(g) + 6H2O(g)

If 15.0 g C3H6, 10.0 g O2, and 5.00 g NH3 are reacted, what mass of acrylonitrile can be produced,
assuming 100% yield?

(5 marks)

Mole of C3H6: 15.0 / (12.01 x 3 + 1.004 x 6) = 0.357 mol (1 mark)

Mole of NH3: 5.0 / (14.001 + 1.004 x 3) = 0.294 mol (1 mark)
Mole of O2: 10.0 / 16.00 x 2 = 0.313 mol (1 mark)

According to this chemical equation, the molar ratio is 2 mol C3H6 ≡2 mol NH3≡3 mol O2.
By conversing mole of O2 to be comparable to mole of C3H6 and NH3, we get
0.313/3 x 2 = 0.209 mol.
∴ O2 is the limiting reagent , since it gives a smaller amount of mole. (1 mark)
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∴ 3 mol O2 ≡ 2 mol C3H3N
Mole of C3H3N = 0.209 mol
Mass of C3H3N = 0.209 x (12.01 x 3 + 1.004 x 3 + 14.001) = 11.1 g (1 mark)

3. A standard solution is prepared for the analysis of fluoxymesterone (C20H29FO3), an anabolic

steroid. A stock solution is first prepared by dissolving 10.0 mg of fluoxymesterone in enough
water to give a total volume of 500.0 mL. A 100.0-µL portion of this solution is diluted to a final
volume of 100.0 mL. Calculate the concentration of the final solution in terms of molarity.

(5 marks)

Mole of fluoxymesterone: 10.0 x 10-3 / (12.01 x 20 + 1.004 x 29 + 19.00 + 16.00 x 3)

= 2.973 x 10-5 mol (2 marks)
Molarity of the stock solution (500mL) = 2.973 x 10-5 / 0.500 = 5.947 x 10-5 M (1 marks)
Molarity of the final solution: M1V1 = M2V2 (1 mark)
5.947x10-5 x 0.0001 = M2 x 0.1
M2 = 5.95 x 10-8 M (1 mark)

4. A caesium hydroxide solution is prepared by dissolving 3.20 g of CsOH in water to make

25.00 mL of solution.

a) What is the molarity of this solution?

b) The caesium hydroxide solution prepared in part (a) is used to titrate a hydroiodic acid
solution of unknown concentration. Write a balanced chemical equation to represent the
reaction between the caesium hydroxide and hydroiodic acid solutions.
c) If 18.65 mL of the caesium hydroxide solution was needed to neutralise a 42.3 mL aliquot
of the hydroiodic acid solution, what is the concentration of the acid?

(10 marks)
a)
No. of mole of CsOH: 3.20 / (132.91 + 16.00 + 1.01) = 0.021345 = 0.0213 mol (2 mark)
Molarity: 0.021345 / 0.02500 = 0.85378 = 0.854 M (2 mark)

b)
CsOH(aq) + HI(aq)  CsI(aq) + H2O(𝓁) (2 marks)

c)
No. of mole of CsOH(aq): 0.854 x 0.01865 = 0.0159271=0.0159mol (1 mark)
From the chemical equation, 1 mole of CsOH(aq) requires 1 mole of HI(aq) to react. (1 mark)
Concentration of acid: 0.0159271 / 0.0423 = 0.37653 = 0.377 M (2 marks)

5. A sample of 8.69 g of Zn(OH)2 is added to 155.0 mL of 0.75 M H2SO4.

a) Write the chemical equation for the reaction that occurs.

b) Which is the limiting reactant in the reaction?
c) How many moles of Zn(OH)2, H2SO4, and ZnSO4 are present after the reaction is
competed?

(5 marks)

a)
Zn(OH)2(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  ZnSO4(aq) + 2H2O(𝓁) (1 mark)

b)
No. of moles of Zn(OH)2(aq): 8.69 / (65.38 + (16.00 + 1.01) x 2) = 0.087425 = 0.0874 mol (1 mark)

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No. of moles of H2SO4(aq): 0.75 x (155.0 / 1000) = 0.11625 = 0.12 mol (1 mark)
According to the equation, 1 mole of Zn(OH)2(aq) reacts with 1 mole of H2SO4(aq). So, Zn(OH)2(aq)
is the limiting reactant. (1 mark)

c)
As Zn(OH)2(aq) is the limiting reactant, no Zn(OH)2(aq) left after reaction.
No. of mole of H2SO4(aq) after reaction: 0.11625 – 0.087425 = 0.028825 = 0.03mol.
As 1 mole of Zn(OH)2(aq) is converted to 1 mole of ZnSO4(aq), there is 0.0874mol
ZnSO4(aq) after the reaction is completed. (1 mark)

6. Consider the formate ion, HCO2¯, which is the anion formed when formic acid loses an H+ ion.
The H and the two O atoms are bonded to the central C atom.

a) Draw the best Lewis structure (s) for this ion.

b) Are resonance structures needed to describe the structure?
c) Would you predict that the C−O bond lengths in the formate ion would be longer or shorter
relative to those in CO2? Explain with your reasons.

(10 marks)

a) (4 marks)

b) Yes. (1 mark)
c) The Lewis structure of CO2: (2 marks for correct structure + 3 marks for the explanation)

7. Draw all the reasonable resonance structures for (a) N2O5 and (b) Borazine, B3N3H6 (Borazine
has a structure consisting of a six-membraned ring with alternating BH and NH groups).

(10 marks)

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a) (8 marks, 2 marks each)

**note: no charge also ok, no curve arrow also ok

b) (2 marks, 1 mark each)

8. The following three Lewis structures can be drawn for N2O:

a) Using formal charges, which of these three resonance forms is likely to be the most
important?
b) The N-N bond length in N2O is 112 pm, slightly longer than a typical N≡N bond; and the
N-O bond length is 119 pm, slightly shorter than a typical N=O bond. Based on these
data, which resonance structure best represents N2O?

(10 marks)

a)

In the leftmost structure, the more electronegative O atom has the negative formal charge, so this
structure is likely to be most important. (4 marks)

b)
No single resonance structure rationalised both observed bond lengths. In general, the more
shared pairs of electrons between 2 atoms, the shorter the bond, and vice versa. (1 mark) That the
N-N bond length in N2O is slightly longer than the typical N≡N indicated that the middle and right
resonance structures where the N atoms share less then 3 electron pairs are contributors to the
true structure. (2 marks) That the N-O bond length is slightly shorter than a typical N=O indicates
that the middle structure, where N and O share more than 2 electron pairs, does contribute to the
true structure. (2 marks) This physical data indicates that although formal charge can be used to
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predict which resonance form will be more important to the observed structure, the influence of
minor contributors on the true structure cannot be ignored. (1 mark)

9. Draw the Lewis structures for SO2, PCl3, NNO, COS, and PF3. Which of the compounds are
polar?

(10 marks)

O C S O C S O C S

S S
O O O O

(5 marks)
Polar: SO2, PCl3, NNO, PF3 ,OCS (5 marks)

10. Consider the following bond lengths:

C−O 143 pm C=O 123 pm. C≡O 109 pm

In the CO32-ion, all three C−O bonds have identical bond lengths of 136 pm. Why?

(5 marks)

(3 marks)

The structure shown above is the main contributor to the structure of CO32-. Because there are 3
equivalent resonance structures for CO32-, the actual C–O lengths are approximately an average
of C–O single and double bond lengths. (1 mark) And each resonant structure weights equally
with 33.3%. (1 mark) These are longer than the full C=O double bond or full C–O single bond in
CO32-. Therefore, the bond lengths are identical and in equal magnitude.

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