4|P age
21) Chlorine gas is dissolved in water.
What can you observe if a piece of
blue litmus paper is immersed into
the solution formed? Explain why.
Frequently Asked Questions in SPM
22) State some physical properties of
ionic compounds.
23) State the physical properties of
covalent compounds.
24) Explain why sodium chloride can
conduct electricity in aqueous state • In solid state, sodium ions and chloride ions are held by strong
but cannot conduct electricity in
solid state.
25) Magnesium chloride and hydrogen
chloride are two compounds of
chlorine. At room condition,
magnesium chloride exists as a solid
but hydrogen chloride exists in
gaseous state. Explain why.
26) Explain the formation of ionic bond • Magnesium atom has electron arrangement of 2.8.2
between magnesium atom, 24 12 𝑀𝑔
16
and oxygen atom, 8𝑂
27) Explain the formation of covalent
12
bond between carbon atom, 6𝐶 and • Chlorine atom has electron arrangement of 2.8.7
chlorine atom, 35
17𝐶𝑙 .
nazmymo@yahoo.com : Frequently Asked Questions
Chemistry SPM – Quick Review F4
• Blue litmus paper turns red and then bleached.
• When chlorine gas dissolves in cold water, it forms hydrochloric
acid, HCI and hypochlorous acid, HOCl.
• Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid which turns blue litmus paper
red while hypochlorous acid is a strong bleaching agent which
decolourise the litmus paper.
Standard Answers
• High melting point and boiling point
• Conduct electricity in liquid - aqueous solution molten state.
• Generally soluble in water but do not dissolve in organic solvent.
• Low melting point and boiling point.
• Insulators of electricity in all state.
• Usually dissolves in organic solvents such as benzene but do not
dissolve in water.
• Sodium chloride is an ionic compound.
electrostatic forces of attraction in the lattice structure.
• Ions are in fixed positions and do not move freely. Hence, ionic
compounds in the solid state do not conduct electricity.
• In aqueous or molten state, ions are freely moved. Therefore
the compound can conduct electricity.
• Magnesium chloride is an ionic compound whereas hydrogen
chloride is a covalent compound.
• Magnesium ion and chloride ions are held together by strong
electrostatic forces of attraction. Therefore, it has very high
melting point and boiling point and exists as solid at room
condition.
• Hydrogen chloride consists of molecules.
• The intermolecular forces (van der Waals forces) between the
molecules is week. Therefore, it has low melting point and
boiling point and exist as gas at room condition.
• It donates 2 valence electrons to achieve the stable octet
electron arrangement, 2.8.
• A positive ion, Mg2+ is formed.
• Oxygen atom has electron arrangement of 2.6
• It receives 2 electrons from magnesium atom to achieve stable
octet electron arrangement, 2.8.
• A negative ion, O2- is formed
• Positive ion, Mg2+, and negative ion, O2-, are attracted together
by strong electrostatic forces to form an ionic compound with
the formula MgO.
• Carbon atom has electron arrangement of 2.4
• 1 carbon atom contributes 4 valence electrons to 4 Cl atoms.
• 4 chlorine atoms, contribute 1 valence electron each to C atom.
• 1 C atom shares 4 pairs of electrons with 4 Cl atoms to form 4
single covalent bonds.