Topic 12 Unit 42

Suggested answers to in-text activities and unit-end exercises

In-text activities
Everyday Chemistry (page 46)
1 Transition metals can form coloured compounds. These compounds can withstand high temperatures of
the kiln. Simple dyestuff cannot be used because they are organic compounds and will decompose at high
temperatures.
2 Manganese
Topic 12 Unit 42

Checkpoint (page 61)

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1 a)


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b) The absorbance is smaller in the green region of the visible spectrum. Radiation in this region is largely
transmitted.


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Hence the colour of solution is green.

c) Ni2+(aq) ion

2 a) +6

b) i) Orange

ii) 2CrO42(aq) + 2H+(aq)

iii) Not a redox reaction

Cr2O72(aq) + H2O(l)

The oxidation state of chromium remains unchanged.

c) Chromium(III) ion

3 Scandium and zinc form compounds (e.g. Sc2O3, ScCl3, ZnO, ZnCl2) in which they exhibit only one oxidation
state (+3 for scandium and +2 for zinc).
14

Both form colourless compounds.

 Checkpoint (page 66)

1 They demonstrate catalytic activity.

They exist in variable oxidation states.

e.g. vanadium(V) oxide is used as a catalyst in the Contact process.

e.g. the oxidation state of vanadium in VO2+ ion is +5, the oxidation state of vanadium in V3+ ion is
+3.

They form coloured compounds.

e.g. V3+(aq) ion is green in colour.

2 Similarities
Both alkali metals and transition metals are metals. They are both lustrous, good conductors of electricity
and heat, malleable and ductile.

Both alkali metals and transition metals form oxides upon standing in air.

For example, potassium forms potassium oxide and iron forms hydrated iron(III) oxide.

4K(s) + O2(g)

2Fe(s) +

2K2O(s)

3
O2(g) + xH2O(l)
2

Fe2O3xH2O(s)

Differences

Any two of the following:

Alkali metals exhibit only one oxidation state while transition metals exhibit variable oxidation states.

For example, potassium exhibits only one oxidation state (+1) while iron exhibits variable oxidation states
(e.g. +2 and +3).

Alkali metals form colourless compounds while transition metals form coloured compounds.

Topic 12 Unit 42

For example, potassium sulphate is colourless while iron(III) sulphate is yellow-brown in colour.

Alkali metals do not demonstrate catalytic activity while transition metals do.

For example, potassium is not used as a catalyst while iron is used as a catalyst in the Haber process.

3 a) O2(g) is a stronger oxidizing agent than VO2+(aq) ion. Hence it will oxidize V3+(aq) ion to VO2+(aq) ion.

The aqueous solution containing V3+(aq) ions turns from green to blue.

b)
goes backward
higher in

electrochemical series

VO2+(aq) + 2H+(aq) + e

O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e

V3+(aq) + H2O(l)
2H2O(l)

lower in
electrochemical series

goes as written

15

By combining the two ionic half-equations, we get the ionic equation for the oxidation of V3+(aq) ion.

4 x ( V3+(aq) + H2O(l)

VO2+(aq) + 2H+(aq) + e )

O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e

2H2O(l)

4V3+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + O2(g) + 4H+(aq)

2
4V3+(aq) + 2H2O(l) + O2(g)

i.e.

4VO2+(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 2H2O(l)

4
4VO2+(aq) + 4H+(aq)

STSE Connections (page 67)

1 A low red blood cell count decreases oxygen delivery to every tissue in the body.

Topic 12 Unit 42

2 Carbon monoxide also binds to the haem iron of haemoglobin in a manner similar to that of oxygen, producing
a compound known as carboxyhaemoglobin. However, the binding of carbon monoxide to the haem iron is
much stronger than that of oxygen. The preferential binding of carbon monoxide to the haem iron is largely
responsible for the asphyxiation that results from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hyperbaric oxygen (oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure) can be used in the treatment of carbon
monoxide poisoning. It may hasten dissociation of carbon monoxide from carboxyhaemoglobin to a greater
extent than normal oxygen.

Unit-end exercises (pages 70 75)

1 They have high melting points.

They have high densities.

They are good conductors of electricity.

They are hard and rigid.

Ion

Colour

Ti3+(aq)

purple

3+

V (aq)
3+

Cr (aq)

green

2+

colourless / pale pink

2+

pink

Mn (aq)
Co (aq)
2+

Ni (aq)

purple

orange

Cr2O7 (aq)

16

b) +5

green

MnO4 (aq)

3 a) +4

green

c) +4

d) +5

e) +7

f) +6

4 A Option B Fe3+ ions are yellow-brown in colour.

Option C Mn2+ ions are colourless / pale pink in colour.

5 C Option A The maximum oxidation state of Co is +5.

Option B The maximum oxidation state of Mn is +7.

Option D The maximum oxidation state of V is +5.

Topic 12 Unit 42

6 C Option C Vanadium(V) oxide is used as a catalyst in the conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur
trioxide.
7 D Option A In PO3, the oxidation state of P is +5, which is not a possible oxidation state of P. Thus,
PO3 is unlikely to exist.

Option B In QO42, the oxidation state of Q is +6, which is not a possible oxidation state of Q. Thus,
QO42 is unlikely to exist.

Option C In RO4, the oxidation state of R is +7, which is not a possible oxidation state of R. Thus,
RO4 is unlikely to exist.

Option D In SO22+, the oxidation state of S is +6, which is a possible oxidation state of S. Thus, SO22+
is likely to exist.

8 B (1) Ca belongs to Group II of the periodic table. It has only one oxidation state, +2.

(4) Zn has only one oxidation state, +2.

9 The colour of the solution appears violet / blue

because the absorbance is greater in the yellow / orange / red region.

10 a)

VO2+

VO2+

V3+

V2+

Oxidation number of vanadium

+5

+4

+3

+2

Colour

yellow

blue

green

violet

b) i) (1)
goes backward
higher in

electrochemical series

Zn2+(aq) + 2e

VO2+(aq) + 2H+(aq) + e

Zn(s)
VO2+(aq) + H2O(l)

lower in

electrochemical series
goes as written

17

By combining the two ionic half-equations, we get the ionic equation for the reduction from
VO2+(aq) ion to VO2+(aq) ion.

2 x ( VO2+(aq) + 2H+(aq) + e

VO2+(aq) + H2O(l) )

Zn(s)

Zn2+(aq) + 2e

2VO2+(aq) + 4H+(aq) + Zn(s)

2VO2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) + Zn2+(aq)

(2)
goes backward
higher in

electrochemical series

Zn2+(aq) + 2e

VO2+(aq) + 2H+(aq) + e

Zn(s)
V3+(aq) + H2O(l)

Topic 12 Unit 42

lower in

electrochemical series
goes as written

By combining the two ionic half-equations, we get the ionic equation for the reduction of VO2+(aq)
ion to V3+(aq) ion.

2 x ( VO2+(aq) + 2H+(aq) + e

V3+(aq) + H2O(l) )

Zn(s)

Zn2+(aq) + 2e

2VO2+(aq) + 4H+(aq) + Zn(s)

2V3+(aq) + 2H2O(l) + Zn2+(aq)

(3)
goes backward
higher in

electrochemical series

Zn2+(aq) + 2e

V3+(aq) + e

Zn(s)
V2+(aq)

lower in

electrochemical series
goes as written

18

By combining the two ionic half-equations, we get the ionic equation for the reduction of V3+(aq)
ion to V2+(aq) ion.
3+

2 x ( V (aq) + e

Zn(s)

2V3+(aq) + Zn(s)

2+

V (aq) )
Zn2+(aq) + 2e
2V2+(aq) + Zn2+(aq)

 ii) Consider part of the electrochemical series:

higher in

electrochemical series

V2+(aq) + 2e

Zn2+(aq) + 2e

lower in
electrochemical series

V(s)

reducing
power
increasing

Zn(s)

V3+(aq) + e

V2+(aq)

Vanadium is a better reducing agent than zinc.

Thus, zinc cannot reduce V2+(aq) ion.

11 a)
Topic 12 Unit 42

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b) Cr2O72(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e

c) From orange to green

d) i) From orange to yellow

ii) Cr2O72(aq) + 2OH(aq)

iii) Not a redox reaction

2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

2CrO42(aq) + H2O(l)

The oxidation state of chromium remains unchanged.

12 a) O2(g) is a stronger oxidizing agent than Cr3+(aq) ion. Hence it will oxidize Cr2+(aq) ion to Cr3+(aq) ion.

goes backward
higher in

electrochemical series

Cr3+(aq) + e

Cr2+(aq)

O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e

2H2O(l)

lower in

electrochemical series
goes as written

By combining the two ionic equations, we get the ionic equation for the oxidation of Cr2+(aq) ion to
Cr3+(aq) ion by O2(g).

4 x ( Cr2+(aq)

O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e

4Cr2+(aq) + O2(g) + 4H+(aq)

Cr3+(aq) + e )
2H2O(l)
4Cr3+(aq) + 2H2O(l)

19

b) Cr3+(aq) ion is a stronger oxidizing agent than Zn2+(aq) ion. Hence it will oxidize Zn(s) to Zn2+(aq) ion, and
itself will be reduced to Cr2+(aq) ion.

goes backward
higher in

electrochemical series

Zn2+(aq) + 2e

Cr3+(aq) + e

Zn(s)
Cr2+(aq)

lower in

electrochemical series
goes as written

By combining the two ionic equations, we get the ionic equation for the reduction of Cr3+(aq) ion to
Cr2+(aq) ion.

Topic 12 Unit 42

2 x ( Cr3+(aq) + e

Zn(s)

2Cr3+(aq) + Zn(s)

Cr2+(aq) )
Zn2+(aq) + 2e
2Cr2+(aq) + Zn2+(aq)

13 a)

MnO4

MnO42

MnO2

Mn(OH)3

Mn2+

Oxidation number of manganese

+7

+6

+4

+3

+2

Colour

purple

dark green

black

brown

colourless /
pale pink

b) i) MnO4(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e

Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l)

ii) By combining the two ionic half-equations, we get the ionic equation for the reaction.

2 x ( MnO4(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e
5 x ( 2Cl(aq)

2MnO4(aq) + 16H+(aq) + 10Cl(aq)

c)

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20

Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) )
Cl2(g) + 2e )
2Mn2+(aq) + 8H2O(l) + 5Cl2(g)

14 a) Iron(III) ion

b) When dilute sodium hydroxide solution is added to iron(II) sulphate solution, a green precipitate forms.

Fe2+(aq) + 2OH(aq)

When dilute sodium hydroxide solution is added to iron(III) sulphate solution, a reddish brown precipitate
forms.

Fe3+(aq) + 3OH(aq)

Fe(OH)2(s)

Fe(OH)3(s)

c) i) Potassium dichromate solution

ii) A green solution would be observed.

Cr2O72(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e

6 x ( Fe2+(aq)

Cr2O72(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6Fe2+(aq)

Topic 12 Unit 42

By combining the two ionic equations, we get the ionic equation for the reaction between acidified
potassium dichromate solution and iron(II) sulphate solution.
2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
Fe3+(aq) + e )
2Cr3+(aq) + 6Fe3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

15 a) i) Iron as a catalyst in the Haber process

ii) Nickel as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils

iii) Vanadium(V) oxide as a catalyst in the Contact process

b) i) N2 + 3H2

2NH3

ii) CH=CH + H2

iii) 2SO2 + O2

CH2CH2
2SO3

c) Having variable oxidation states

16 a) Cobalt60 / copper67

b) It is of reasonably low toxicity.

17 Similarities

Both main group metals and transition metals are metals. They are both lustrous, good conductors of
electricity and heat, malleable and ductile.

Both main group metals and transition metals form oxides upon standing in air.

For example, sodium forms sodium oxide and iron forms hydrated iron(III) oxide.

4Na(s) + O2(g)

2Fe(s) +

2Na2O(s)

3
O2(g) + xH2O(l)
2

Fe2O3xH2O(s)

21

Differences

Main group metals exhibit only one oxidation state while transition metals exhibit variable oxidation
states.

Main group metals form colourless compounds while transition metals form coloured compounds.

For example, sodium sulphate is colourless while iron(III) sulphate is yellow-brown in colour.

Main group metals do not demonstrate catalytic activity while transition metals do.

Topic 12 Unit 42

22

For example, sodium exhibits only one oxidation state (+1) while iron exhibits variable oxidation states
(e.g. +2 and +3).

For example, sodium is not used as a catalyst while iron is used as a catalyst in the Haber process.