The University of Sydney

SUPPLEMENTARY CHEMISTRY COURSE EXAMINATION - 2006/2007

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The following examination is OPEN BOOK - you may use any reference sources and materials that
you like, however, all the work presented must be your own. There is no time limit. When you
have completed the paper, sign and date the declaration below, then submit it to the First Year
Enquiry Office at the School of Chemistry between the hours of 10.00 am and 3.00 pm.

Marks
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1-3 13

4 8

5 9

6 6

7 9

8 5

Total 50

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I declare that all of the work contained within is my own and that I have received no
direct help from any person in the completion of this examination paper.

Signed………………………………………… Date………………………………….
Supplementary Course Examination Page 1 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007

The answers to the following 13 multiple choice questions should be indicated by Marks
clearly circling the letter next to the choice you make. Each question is worth 1 mark.
There is only one correct choice for each question.
Negative marks will not be awarded for any question.

1. Which one of the following sets of quantum numbers is valid? 1

n l ml s
A 2 3 –3 +½
B 4 3 4 –½
C 3 1 0 +½
D 1 –1 1 +½
E 2 1 2 –½

2. How many protons (p), neutrons (n) and electrons (e) are present in the 1
molybdenum isotope 99
42 Mo ?

A 42 p 99 n 42 e
B 42 p 57 n 42 e
C 99 p 42 n 42 e
D 57 p 42 n 57 e
E 42 p 57 n 99 e

3. Which one of the following best describes the term nuclide? 1

A An atomic species distinguished by the composition of its nucleus.

B A substituent particle of a nucleus.
C An energetic daughter product of a nuclear reaction.
D An atomic species distinguished only by the number of neutrons in its
nucleus.
E An atomic species distinguished only by the charge of the nucleus.

4. Which one of the following statements concerning radioactive decay is true? 1

A The half-life of a radioactive isotope depends on the amount of radioactive

material present.
B The activity of a radioactive isotope is inversely proportional to its decay
constant.
C The half-life increases as more of the isotope decays.
D The activity of a radioactive isotope decays hyperbolically with time.
E The half-life is inversely proportional to the decay constant.
Supplementary Course Examination Page 2 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007

5. Which one of the following nuclides, with their decay processes given, could not Marks
be used for medical imaging? 1

15 15 0
A 8 O → 7 N + +1 e
67 0 67
B 31 Ga + -1 e → 30 Zn + x-ray
99m 99
C 43 Tc → 43 Tc + γ

D 205
87 Fr → 201
85 At + α
4
2

18 18 0
E 9 F → 8 O + +1 e

6. Which of the following quantities is proportional to the electron density at a point? 1

A the wavefunction
B the square of the wave function
C the de Broglie wavelength
D the reciprocal of the de Broglie wavelength
E the Rydberg constant

7. Which one of the following best describes an electronic wavefunction? 1

A A function of time describing radioactive decay.

B The set of solutions to the Schrödinger equation.
C A function describing a wave in space that describes an electron.
D The function that describes molecular vibrations in time as a “waving
motion”.
E The function describing the classical planetary orbit of an electron.

8. Which of the following is a lobe representation of a σ-bonding molecular orbital? 1

A B C

D E
Supplementary Course Examination Page 3 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007

9. For which one of the following species is it possible to solve the wave equation Marks
analytically and obtain an equation for its electronic energy levels? 1

A He B Li2+ C H2 D H– E He–

10. Which of the following best describes Hund’s rule? 1

A When atomic orbitals of equal energy are filled, the ground state electronic
configuration is that with the most unoccupied orbitals.
B Atomic orbitals should be filled from the lowest energy to the highest energy.
C When atomic orbitals of equal energy are filled, the ground state electronic
configuration is that with the most unpaired electrons.
D Electrons in the same orbital must not have the same spin.
E Anti-bonding orbitals possess a node between nuclei.

11. Which of the following best describes a 3p atomic orbital? 1

A A function with 2 spherical nodes and 1 planar node.

B A function with 1 spherical node and 1 planar node.
C A function with 2 spherical nodes and 2 planar nodes.
D A function with 3 spherical nodes and 0 planar node.
E A function with 3 spherical nodes and 1 planar node.

12. Which one of the following diagrams best represents an n-type semi-conductor? 1
(Dark grey denotes filled electron energy levels, light grey denotes unfilled levels.)

A B C D E
Energy

13. Which of the following best describes a p-type semiconductor? 1

A A material with electrons in donor levels which may be thermally promoted

to the conduction band.
B A material with no band gap which conducts with little resistance.
C A material with a sizeable band gap.
D A material with empty acceptor levels to which electrons from the valence
band may be thermally promoted.
E A material with a very small intrinsic band gap.
Supplementary Course Examination Page 4 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007
Marks
• In the spaces provided, explain the meaning of the following terms. You may use an
6
example or diagram where appropriate.
(a) Pauli exclusion principle

(b) conductance band

(c) ionisation energy

2
• Calculate the atomic mass of silicon from the isotope information provided.

Isotope Mass of isotope (a.m.u.) Relative abundance

28
Si 27.97693 92.21%
29
Si 28.97649 4.70%
30
Si 29.97376 3.09%

Answer:
Supplementary Course Examination Page 5 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007
Marks
• Balance the following nuclear reactions by identifying the missing nuclear particle or
3
nuclide.

55 0
26 Fe + -1 e →

2 1 3
1 H + 1 H → 2 He +

15 15
7 N + 1
1 p → 8 O +

3
• Calculate the molar activity of 3H (in curie), given its half-life of 12.26 years.

Answer:
3
• The half life of 131I is 8.06 days. Calculate the activity, in Bq, of 12.0 g of pure 131I.
Calculate the specific activity of 131I in Ci mol–1.

Answer: Bq Answer: Ci mol–1

Supplementary Course Examination Page 6 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007
Marks
• The ground state electron configuration of a sodium atom is [Ne] 3s1 and that of its
4
first excited state is [Ne] 3s0 3p1. The intense yellow light (wavelength 590 nm) from
a sodium street lamp arises when an electron drops from the first excited state to the
ground state. Calculate the energy associated with one photon of this yellow light.

Answer:

The ionisation energy of ground state sodium is 8.34 × 10–19 J per atom. Calculate the
energy required to ionise the 3p electron of an excited sodium atom. Give your
answer in kJ mol–1.

Answer:
2
• Sketch the following wave functions as lobe representations.
(a) a 2p atomic orbital (b) a π* molecular orbital
Supplementary Course Examination Page 7 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007
Marks
• Describe how one of the following pieces of experimental evidence contributed to the
3
development of quantum mechanics.
photoelectric effect OR visible spectrum of hydrogen

2
• Write down the ground state electron configurations of the following elements.
Phosphorus is given as an example.

P 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3

Se

B
4
• K-shell x-ray emission (2p→1s) from an unknown element is of the same wavelength
as the shortest x-rays observed as Bremsstrahlung when electrons are accelerated by
52.9 keV into a copper target. What is the name of the unknown element?

Answer:
Supplementary Course Examination Page 8 of 8 pages December 2006 - February 2007
Marks
• C2 is a reaction intermediate observed in flames, comets and circumstellar shells.
5

How many valence electrons are there in C2?

Complete the calculated MO diagram 20

for the ground state of C2 by inserting
the appropriate number of valence σ∗
electrons into the appropriate orbitals. 10
π∗

energy (eV)
0
σ

-10
π
σ∗
-20

-30 σ

What is the bond order of C2?

What is the longest wavelength of light that the ground state C2+ ion will absorb?
Show working.

Answer:

THIS IS THE END OF THE EXAMINATION PAPER.