CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
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Coursebook answers
Chapter 24
Self-assessment questions
1 a i Ti 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d2 4s2 The positive value indicates that the
ii Cr 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s
2 2 6 2 6 5 1 reaction as written is feasible and its
relatively large value suggests that the
iii Co 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d7 4s2 reaction is likely to occur (although
iv Fe3+ 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s0 values of E⦵ tell us nothing about the
rate of a reaction).
v Ni2+ 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d8 4s0
d 6
vi Cu+ 1s22s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s0
e i 0.0153 × 0.001 = 0.000 015 3 mol
b For scandium the only observed
oxidation state is +3, so the electronic ii 0.000 015 3 × 6 = 0.000 091 8 mol
configuration of Sc3+ is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 0.000 0918
3p6 4s0. This ion has no d electrons, iii = 0.003 67 mol dm−3
0.025
so does not satisfy the definition of 3 a i +3
a transition element. The only ion
of zinc is Zn2+, with the electronic ii +2
configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 iii +3
4s0. This ion has a completely filled,
iv +3
not a partially filled, d subshell − so
zinc is not a transition element. v +2
c The + 7 oxidation state involves all of b [Ni(EDTA)]2−
the 3d and 4s electrons in manganese. c ethanedioate ion (ox) and
d Oxidation state of vanadium in a = ethane-1,2-diamine (en)
(VO2+) = +5; b (VO2+) = +4; 4 a i 6
c (V3+) = +3; d (V2+) = +2.
ii H2N
e i +4 as this involves all the 4d and
5s electrons, leaving the noble gas Cl NH2
electronic configuration of krypton.
Co
ii ZrO2
2 a Fe2+(aq) → Fe3+(aq) + e− Cl NH2
Cr2O72−(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e− →
2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) H2N

b 6Fe2+(aq) → 6Fe3+(aq) + 6e− iii They are mirror images, which are
Cr2O7 (aq) + 14H (aq) + 6e →
2− + − not superimposable.
2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) b i 2– 2–
NC Cl NC Cl
Cr2O72−(aq) + 6Fe2+(aq) + 14H+(aq) → Ni Ni
2Cr3+(aq) + 6Fe3+ + 7H2O(l)
NC Cl Cl CN
c E⦵ = +1.33 V + (−0.77 V) = +0.56 V
cis-isomer trans-isomer

1 Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry © Cambridge University Press 2020

 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL CHEMISTRY: COURSEBOOK

ii Non-polar, as the charge electron from one of the three lower

is distributed perfectly non-degenerate orbitals absorbs that
symmetrically around the central amount of energy (ΔE) and jumps into
nickel (with both cyanide ligands one of the two higher non-degenerate
diagonally opposite each other in orbitals. This leaves the transmitted
the square planar structure, and light coloured.
similarly with the two chloride ions). c
5 a +2
b [CoCl4]2−(aq) + 6H2O(l) → 3d
[Co(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 4Cl−(aq)
Ni2+ ...3d8
c A

[ PtCl (NH ) (aq)] Cl (aq)  − 2

2 3 2
6 a i [ PtCl ] (aq)  [ NH (aq) ]
2− 2 d Sc3+ ions have electronic configuration
 4  3
[Ar]3d04s0. If d-orbital splitting were
 Cr ( H O ) Cl + (aq)  to occur in a complex ion containing
ii   2 4 2

Sc3+, there would be no electrons in
 Cr ( H O )  (aq)  Cl – ( aq ) 2
3+

  2 6    the three 3d orbitals of lower energy,

so visible light would not be absorbed
 Ni ( NH3 )4 ( H2O )2  (aq)
2+

iii in promoting an electron from a lower

 Ni ( H2O ) 2+ (aq)   NH3 ( aq )  4 energy 3d orbital to a higher energy
 6 
3d orbital.
b i [Fe(H2O)6]3+(aq)]: e Zn2+ ions have electronic configuration
[Ar]3d104s0. If d-orbital splitting were
H2O
to occur in a complex ion containing
Zn2+, each of the 3d orbitals would
H2O OH2 contain two electrons, and would
Fe therefore be fully occupied. Visible
light could not be absorbed in
H2O OH2 promoting an electron from a lower
energy 3d orbital to a higher energy 3d
H2O orbital.

ii SCN− has a higher value of Kstab

than H2O. So the position of
equilibrium is shifted to the right.
iii [Fe(H2O)5SCN]2+(aq)
iv Yes; a colour change is likely /
possible. F− has a higher value
of Kstab than SCN−. So F
substitutes for SCN (and for
water) because the position of
equilibrium is shifted to the right.
7 a orbitals at the same energy level
b The ligands in a complex cause
the d orbitals to split, forming two
sets of non-degenerate orbitals.
The difference in the energy (ΔE)
between the non-degenerate d orbitals
corresponds to the energy of part
of the visible spectrum of light. So
when light travels through a solution
or a solid containing the complex, an

2 Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry © Cambridge University Press 2020