Inorganic Chemistry Homework #1

Question 1: What is the ratio of the energy of a ground-state He+ ion to that of a Be3+ ion?

Since both He+ and Be3+ are hydrogen-like ions we can use the following formula to determine
their respective ground state energies.

1
λ
1 1
=R H Z 2 2 − 2
n1 n 2 ( )
However, since we are only interested in their relation to each other we don’t need to calculate
separately, because the only thing that changes is the value Z. So, we can solve the equation
given below to find the ratio between their energy of a ground-state ions. Values of both n1 and
n2 are the same since they have the same electron configuration.
+¿
e
H 2
¿
Z
Be
3+¿
=R H
He
+¿
( 1 1
2
− 2
n1 n2 ) ¿¿
2 Z2H e +¿

RH Z = ¿¿
Be
3+ ¿
( 1 1
2
− 2
n1 n2 ) Z
2
3+ ¿
2 4 1
= 2= = ¿
2

Be
4 16 4

Question 2: When 58.4 nm radiation from a helium discharge lamp is directed on a sample of
krypton, electrons are ejected with a velocity of 1.59 × 106 m s−1. The same radiation ejects
electrons from Rb atoms with a velocity of 2.45 × 106 m s−1. What are the ionization energies
(in electronvolts, eV) of the two elements?

In terms of frequency and velocity ionization energy can be calculated as follows:

c 1
I =h − me v 2
λ 2

For Kr:

2.998× 108 m s−1 1 2

I =6.626 ×10−34 Js − 9.109 ×10−31 kg × ( 1.59 ×106 m s−1)
−9
58.4 × 10 m 2

18
−18 −18 6.21 ×10 eV
I =2.25 ×10 J =2.25 × 10 J× =14.04 eV
1J
For Rb:
8 −1
2.998× 10 m s 1 −1 2
− 9.109 ×10 kg × ( 2.45 ×10 m s )
−34 −31 6
I =6.626 ×10 Js −9
58.4 × 10 m 2

6.21 ×1018 eV
I =6.68 ×10−19 J =6.68× 10−19 J × =4.17 eV
1J

Question 3: Predict how many nodes and how many nodal planes a 4p orbital will have.

Principal quantum number n of a 4p orbital is 4 and l is 1 since it is a p-orbital. Therefore, it will

have n-1 number of nodes which is 4-1=3; and since l=1, number of nodal planes is also 1.

Question 4: Determine the Coulombic and exchange energies for the following states, and
determine which state is favored (has lower energy):

a. The one on the left has one exchange (E=e) while the one on the right has coulombic
interactions since there is one pair in the same orbital (E=c). Since e stabilizes while
c destabilizes; the one on the left is favored.
b. The one on the left has three exchanges (E=3e) while the one on the right has
coulombic interactions since there is one pair in the same orbital as well as one
exchange (E=c+e). The one on the left is favored because it is stabilized 2e more
than the one on the right, which is also destabilized by c.

Question 5: Briefly explain the following on the basis of electron configurations.

a. Ag+ has the electron configuration of [Kr] 4d10. Since the 4d subshell is filled it is more
favorable than the other ions of silver.
b. The s2 d 1 f 7minimizes the coulombic interactions compared to f8 which is fully occupied
with electron pair.
c. Sn2+ has the electron configuration of [Kr] 5s2 4d10 which is much more stable than any
electron configuration its other ions can have.
Question 6: Using Slater’s rules, determine Z* for…

a. For P, 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p6 3 s 2 3 p3=¿ 15−(2 ×1+8 × 0.85+4 × 0.35)=4.8

For S, 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p6 3 s 2 3 p4 =¿ 16−(2× 1+8 ×0.85+5 × 0.35)=5.45
For Cl, 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p6 3 s 2 3 p5=¿ 17−(2 ×1+8 × 0.85+6 ×0.35)=6.1
For Ar, 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p6 3 s 2 3 p6=¿ 18−(2 ×1+8 × 0.85+7 ×0.35)=6.75

It is consistent because because Z* increases as the size of the atom decreases from P to Ar;
which is expected since there are more protons to draw electrons closer thus the higher
effective charge.

b. All of them have the electron configuration 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p6

For O2−¿: 8−(2 ×0.85 +7 ×0.35 )=3.85 ¿
For F−¿: 9−(2 ×0.85 +7 ×0.35)=4.85 ¿
For N a+¿ :11−(2 ×0.85 +7 ×0.35)=5.85 ¿
For M g 2+¿: 12−(2× 0.85+7 × 0.35)=6.85 ¿

It is consistent because they increase as the number of protons increase, which decreases the
relative ionic size.

c. Cu: 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p6 3 s 2 3 p6 3 d 10 4 s 1
4s electron 29−( 2× 1+ 8× 1+8 ×0.85+10 × 0.85 )=3.7
3d electron 29−( 2× 1+ 8× 1+8 ×1+9 × 0.35 )=7.85

The effective charge on the 3d electron is much bigger therefore 4s electron is more likely to be
removed when copper forms an ion.

Question 7: The second ionization of carbon (C+ => C2+ + e -) and the first ionization of boron (B
=> B+ + e-) both fit the reaction 1s2 2s22p1 => 1s2 2s2 + e -. Compare the two ionization
energies (24.383 eV and 8.298 eV, respectively) and the effective nuclear charge Z*. Is this an
adequate explanation of the difference in ionization energies? If not, suggest other factors.

They both fit the same electron configuration reaction but C+ has Z=6 while B has Z=5. Which
makes their respective effective nuclear charge Z* as below.

Z* for C ¿ 6−(2 ×0.85+ 2× 0.35)=3.6

Z* for B ¿ 5−(2 ×0.85+2 ×0.35)=2.6

It is expected that the higher effective charge on the valance electron would require higher
ionization energy, which is observable in these results as well.