UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

FACULTY: SCIENCE AND SPORT

SCHOOL: NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES

Final Examination, Semester I

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Module Name: General Chemistry I

Module Code: CHY2021

Date: December 2009

Theory/Practical: Theory

Groups: AS-1/MT-1/DN-1/EH-1/SE-2/BENG-1/BUILT-1

Duration: 2 HOURS
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Instructions: This paper consists of a cover page and 3 printed pages with six (6)
questions.
ANSWER ANY FOUR (4) QUESTIONS

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Constants : 1atm = 760 mmHg = 760 torr = 101.3 kPa
Avogadro’s number (NA) = 6.022  1023
Universal gas constant, R = 8.314 J mol-1 K-1 = 0.08206 L.atm K-1 mol-1
Planck’s constant (h) = 6.626  10-34 Js
Speed of light (c) = 3.00  108 m s-1
Rydberg constant, RH = 2.18  10-18 J
1 Faraday = 96,500 C/mol e-
1 mol any gas at stp = 22.4 dm3, at room temperature = 24 dm3
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DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

QUESTION 1

a. Use the kinetic particle theory to account for the different states of matter. [4]

b. Differentiate between the following:

(i) chemical and physical properties
(ii) homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures [2 + 2]

c. Discuss Rutherford’s Gold Foil Experiment and the conclusions made from this
experiment in the early elucidation of the atomic structure.
{NB: the use of suitable and clearly labelled diagrams are expected} [6]

d. Calculate the principal quantum number energy level (nf) reached when an electron is
excited from the n = 2 quantum level by absorbing 4.088  10-19 J in a hydrogen atom.
[3]

e. Draw representatives of the three, 2 p orbitals. How do they differ? [3]

[Total = 20 marks]

QUESTION 2

a. The characteristic odour of pineapples is due to ethylbutyrate, a compound containing

carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Combustion of 1.41 g of ethylbutyrate produces 3.21 g of
CO2 and 1.32 g of H2O.
(i) What is the empirical formula of this compound?
(ii) If the substance has a molar mass of 116 g mol-1, what is its molecular formula?
[5 + 2]

b. Describe how you would prepare 250 mL of a 0.250 M sucrose solution using solid
sucrose, C12H22O11. [4]

c. Red lead (Lead II, IV oxide) is made by heating metallic lead at very high temperatures
in the presence of oxygen according to the equation:
3 Pb (s) + 2 O2 (g)  Pb3O4 (s) (Red lead)

20.72 g of lead was made to react with 2.98 g of oxygen gas:

(i) Briefly describe what is meant by the “Limiting Reactant” in a chemical reaction.
(ii) For the reaction described above, determine the limiting reactant. (show working).
(iii) What is the percentage yield of the reaction if 17.54 grams of red lead (Pb3O4) were
obtained? [2 + 4 + 3]

[Total = 20 marks]

1
QUESTION 3

a. Briefly explain the following:

(i) Going from left to right across the second period, the first ionisation energy of N
is 1402 kJ/mol whilst the first ionisation energy of O is 1314 kJ/mol.
(ii) The atomic radius of the Al atom is 1.18 pm and Al3+ cationic radius is 0.68 pm.
[4 + 3]

b. With the aid of suitable examples and clearly labelled chemical structures, explain the
occurrence of the following intermolecular forces:
(i) Dipole-dipole forces
(ii) London (dispersion) forces [3 + 4]

c. Deduce and name the VSEPR predicted shape and actual molecular geometry for:
(i) ClF5
(ii) PCl4- [3 + 3]

[Total = 20 marks]

QUESTION 4

a. When 1.50 atm of N2O4 and 1.00 atm NO2 are placed in a flask and sealed at 298 K, the
following equilibrium is achieved:
N2O4 (g)  2 NO2 (g)

After equilibrium is reached, the partial pressure of NO2 is 0.512 atm.

(i) What is the equilibrium partial pressure of N2O4?
(ii) Calculate the value of Kp for the reaction. [4 + 3]

b. For the reaction given below, how will each of the following changes affect the yield of
sulfur trioxide?
2 SO2 (g) + O2 (g)  2 SO3 (g) H = –200 kJ

(i) Increased oxygen concentration.

(ii) Decreased pressure of the system.
(iii) Increased temperature of the system.
(iv) Addition of a catalyst. [4  1]

c. The rate of the following reaction in aqueous solution is monitored by measuring the rate
of formation of I3-. Data obtained are listed in the table below.
S2O82- + 3 I-  2 SO42- + I3-

Experiment [S2O82-] (mol L-1) [I-] (mol L-1) Initial rate (mol L-1 s-1)
1 0.038 0.060 1.4  10-5
2 0.076 0.060 2.8  10-5
3 0.076 0.120 5.6  10-5

(i) Determine the order of the reaction with respect to S2O82-, with respect to I-, and
overall.
(ii) What is the value (including units) of the rate constant k? [5 + 2]

d. The rate constant of a second order reaction is 2.5 × 10 -3 M-1 s-1 at 25 C. Given that the
initial concentration [A]o is 0.10 M, calculate the half-life of the reaction. [2]

[Total = 20 marks]

2
QUESTION 5

a. Nitrogen and hydrogen gases react to form ammonia gas as follows:

N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g)  2 NH3 (g)
At a certain temperature and pressure, 1.2 L of N2 reacts with 3.6 L of H2. If both gases
are completely consumed, what volume of NH3 will be produced at the same temperature
and pressure? [6]

b. (i) What two properties or characteristics of gas molecules cause them to behave
non-ideally?
(ii) Under what experimental conditions of temperature and pressure do gases usually
behave non-ideally? [1 + 2]

c. A deep-sea diver uses a gas cylinder with a volume of 10.0 L and a content of 51.2 g of
O2 and 32.6 g of He. Calculate the partial pressure of each gas and the total pressure if
the temperature of the gas mixture is 19 C. [7]

d. Briefly explain the following:

(i) surface tension of liquids
(ii) viscosity of gases increases as temperature increases [2 + 2]

[Total = 20 marks]

QUESTION 6

a. Describe exothermic and endothermic heat changes, using well-labelled enthalpy

diagrams to support your answer. [6]

b. Using the thermochemical equations given below:

N2 (g) + O2 (g)  2 NO (g) H = 180.5 kJ
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g)  2 NH3 (g) H = 91.8 kJ
2 H2 (g) + O2 (g)  2 H2O (g) H = 483.6 kJ

Calculate the enthalpy change for the reaction:

4 NH3 (g) + 5 O2 (g)  4 NO (g) + 6 H2O (g) [5]

c. Define the following:

(i) Electrolysis
(ii) Standard reduction potential
(iii) Salt bridge
(iv) Galvanic cell [4  1]

d. Given the half-cell reduction potentials of Pb2+, Eo = 0.13 V and Zn2+, Eo = 0.76 V.
(i) Write equations for the half reactions at each electrode.
(ii) Write a balanced overall equation for the spontaneous reaction.
(iii) Calculate the cell potential (E°cell) of the reaction.
[2 + 1 + 2]

[Total = 20 marks]

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