NATIONAL CONTEST NC 35
ROUND 1A
Preamble to all schools:
HCl and ammonia are made to react in benzene resulting in the precipitation of solid ammonium
chloride.
1. Which acid-base concept can best explain the reaction?
Ans: Lowry–Bronsted Concept or Lewis Concept
2. Why is it that the reaction cannot be identified as an acid–base reaction according to the Arrhenius
Theory?
Ans: The Arrhenius concept of acids and bases limits reactions in aqueous medium only
3. Why does the ammonium chloride precipitate in benzene?
Ans: Ammonium chloride is an ionic compound, but benzene is non-polar and so cannot solvate the
ammonium and chloride ions. The ions therefore come together to form a precipitate.
ROUND 1B
Preamble to all schools:
The Kinetic Molecular Theory of gases is a simple theoretical model to explain the behaviour of gases. The
Theory is based on a number of postulates.
1. State the postulate that best explains the observation that gases can easily be compressed.
Ans: The size of the particles of the gas is negligible compared to the average distances between them;
hence most of the volume of a gas is empty space.
2. State the postulates that explain the observation that the pressure of a gas in a container is uniform
throughout its container.
Ans: a) Gases are composed of particles (or atoms or molecules) in a state of constant motion.
b) These particles move in straight lines in all directions until they collide with one another or
the walls of the container
3. State the postulates that predict that a given amount of a gas in a sealed, well-lagged container would
not lose pressure.
Ans: a)There are no forces of attraction (or repulsion) between the gas particles and the walls of the
container.
b) Collisions between the gas particles or collisions with the walls of the container are elastic.
ROUND 1C
Preamble to all schools:
Each school will be given two half-cells together with their electrode potentials. Give a balanced equation for
the cell reaction of a viable voltaic cell that can made from the two half-cells and find its initial emf.
1. H3PO4, H3PO3, H+/Pt -0.276V; PbO, OH-/Pb -0.576V.
Ans: Oxid: Pb + 2OH- - 2e → PbO + H2O. +0.576V
Redu: H3PO4 + 2H+ + 2e → H3PO3 + H2O. -0.276V
Cell Rxn: H3PO4 + Pb → H3PO3 + PbO
Initial emf: 0.576 – 0.276 = 0.300V
2. ClO3-, ClO2-, OH-/Pt 0.350V; NO3-, NO2-, OH-/Pt 0.0100V.
Ans: Oxid: NO2- + 2OH- - 2e → NO3- + H2O. -0.0100V
Red: ClO3- + H2O + 2e → ClO2- + 2OH.- 0.350V
Cell Rxn: ClO3- + NO2- → ClO2- + NO3-.
Initial emf: 0.350 - 0.0100 = 0.340V
3. MnO2, Mn2+,H+/Pt 1.21V; ClO4-, ClO3-,OH-/Pt 0.170V
Ans: Oxid: ClO3- + 2HO- - 2e → ClO4- + H2O. -0.170V.
Red: MnO2 + 4H+ + 2e → Mn2+ + 2H2O 1.21V.
Cell Rxn: MnO2 + ClO3- + 2H+ → Mn2+ + ClO4- + H2O
Initial emf: 1.21 - 0.170 = 1.04V
ROUND 4A
TRUE OR FALSE
1. CO2 gas is more soluble in cold water than in hot water.
Ans: T.
2. Electrons in the higher energy levels of atoms require higher energy to ionize them.
Ans: F.
3. Water vapour is a Greenhouse gas.
Ans: T.
ROUND 2
1. What property does an element possess if it has atoms of different mass numbers.
Ans: Isotopy (Do not accept ‘isotopes’)
2. What is the main difference chemically between soaps and detergents?
Ans: Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids whereas detergents are salts of alkylsulphonic
acids (sulphonates) and alkylsulphuric acids (sulphates).
3. Calculate the concentration of Mg2+ ions in moldm-3 if 12.3g of MgSO4•7H2O are dissolved in 200 cm3
of de-ionized water. MgSO4 = 120; H2O = 18.0
Ans: Formula mass of MgSO4•7H2O = 120 + 126 = 246
Mass of salt in 1 dm3 = 5*12.3g = 61.5
Moles of Mg2+ per 1 dm3 = 61.5/246 = 0.250
Concentration of Mg2+ = 0.250 moldm-3
ROUND 4B
TRUE OR FALSE
1. Whereas the SnF2 molecule is V-shaped, BeF2 molecule is linear.
Ans: T.
2. The hybridisation of the bonding orbitals of gallium in GaCl3 and arsenic in AsCl3 is the same.
Ans: F.
3. The H – C – O bond angle of the methanal molecule is nearly 120o.
Ans: T
ROUND 5
RIDDLE NC 35
1. To some we appear not to exist.
2. But we do, just that we are actually found in small quantities in the earth’s crust or atmosphere.
3. Amazingly our electron configurations may want to tell the world that we were around before all the
popular elements.
4. We were all discovered after Mendeleev had constructed his table.
5. Since Group I had already been named it was agreed that we should form Group 0 (zero)
Who are we?
Ans: The Inert Gases
