Unit 1 Commonly Asked Questions

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Table of Contents

• Random Short Question/Answers

• Mass Spectrometer
• First Ionization Energy across a period
• First Ionization Energy down the group
• Atomic radius across the period
• Successive ionization energies
• Structure of metal
• Giant Covalent Structure
• Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon
• Why alkenes are more reactive than alkanes
• How electron affinities changes down the group
• Crystallization Method
• Covalent Bond
• Isotopes
• Type of force in ionic lattice
• Difference between hazard and risk
• Free radical substitution
• Mechanism for the reaction between propene and hydrogen
bromide
• Lattice Enthalpy
• Theoretical and experimental lattice enthalpy
• Ionic compound melting point
• Yield of salt preparation
• Finding enthalpy change
• Finding the enthalpy change of combustion using mean bond
enthalpy is inaccurate:
• Ionization energy comparison

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Random Short Question/Answers

1) Define the first ionization energy.

Answer: The enthalpy change when one electron is removed from one
mole of gaseous atoms to form one mole of +1 charged ions.

2) Define covalent bonds.

Answer: Electrostatic attraction between the two nuclei and the bond pair
electrons.

3) Define the term Relative Atomic Mass.

Answer: Average masses of all the isotopes of an element, the mass of
each isotope is found by comparing with the carbon-12 isotope.

4) Explain the term structural isomers.

Answer: Compounds have the same molecular formula but different
structural formulas.

5) Define the term Lattice Enthalpy.

Answer: The enthalpy change when one mole of an ionic compound is
formed from gaseous ions.

6) Define the term enthalpy change of reaction.

Answer: Enthalpy change when the number of moles of reactants reacts as
specified in the balanced equation.

7) What is meant by the term mean bond enthalpy?

Answer: Average amount of energy required to break one mole of covalent
bonds.

8) State in terms of the sub-atomic particles present, the meaning of the

term isotopes.
Answer: Atoms with the same number of protons but different number of
neutrons
9) Define the term standard enthalpy change of formation of a
compound.
Answer: Enthalpy change when one mole of a compound is formed from its
element under standard conditions of 298K and 1 atm pressure.

10) State what is meant by the term unsaturated as applied to a

hydrocarbon.
Answer: contains carbon to carbon double bond.

11) State what is meant by the term cracking when applied to processing
a reaction obtained from crude oil.
Answer: Breaking down large hydrocarbons to smaller hydrocarbons

12) Define the term relative isotopic mass.

Answer: Mass of an isotope of an element relative to 1/12th the mass of a
12C isotope.

13) State Hess’s law.

Answer: The enthalpy change for a reaction is independent of the route of
the reaction.

14) Define the term standard enthalpy change of formation, making clear
the meaning of standard in this context
Answer: Enthalpy change when one mole of a substance is formed from its
elements unde4 standard conditions of 298k and 1 atm pressure.

15) On the basis of comparing the relative sizes of fluorine and chlorine
atoms, it might be predicted that the F-F bond energy would be greater
than the Cl-Cl bond energy. Suggest an explanation for this prediction.
Answer: Fluorine atom is smaller than a Cl atom, bond pair closer to the
nuclei

16) Which element on the periodic table has the highest first ionization
energy? Justify your answer.
Answer: Helium, no shielding
17) State how you could find the molecular mass of a substance from a
mass spectrometer.
Answer: peak with the largest mass

18) Explain why the melting temperature of argon is the lowest of all the
elements of period 3
Answer: Argon contains only monoatomic atoms

Answer: Find out the abundance of the 14C in the cloth, use the half-life of
14C to find the age of cloth.

19) State and explain the main environmental problem arising from the
complete combustion of alkane fuels.
Answer: Global warming

Important: I have divided the following common questions below based on

their topics. Before you progress your concepts must be crystal clear.
Mass Spectrometer
In the mass spectrometer, the gaseous atoms are ionized by
bombardment with high-energy electrons, accelerated by the electric
field, positive ions are deflected by a magnetic field.

Common Question/Answers

Describe briefly how positive ions are formed from gaseous atoms in a
mass spectrometer
Answer: By bombarding with high energy electron

What is used to accelerate the positive ions in a mass spectrometer?

Answer: Electric field

What is used to deflect positive ions in a mass spectrometer

Answer: Magnetic field

Explain how gaseous atoms of rubidium are ionized in a mass

spectrometer.
Answer: Bombardment with electrons
Describe briefly how positive ions are formed from gaseous atoms in a
mass spectrometer
Answer: By bombarding with high energy electron

What is used to accelerate the positive ions in a mass spectrometer?

Answer: Electric field

What is used to deflect positive ions in a mass spectrometer

Answer: Magnetic field

Explain how gaseous atoms of rubidium are ionized in a mass

spectrometer.
Answer: Bombardment with electrons
First Ionization Energy across a period
The first ionization energy increases across a period, the number of protons
increases but the number of shells remains the same, shielding remains
the same, so outer shell electron feels greater nuclear attraction.
Note: Please keep a periodic table beside you while studying this, the
question may be asked in different ways using different elements across
different periods but the answer remains the same.

The first ionization energy increases across a period, the number of protons
increases but the number of shells remains the same, shielding remains
the same, so outer shell electron feels greater nuclear attraction.

Common Question/Answers

Explain why the first ionization energies generally increase across the
period Sodium to argon (Na to Ar)?
Answer: Across the period the proton number increases but shielding
remains the same as the number of shells remains the same, so greater
attraction between the nucleus and outer electrons.

Explain why there is a general increase in the first ionization energies

from sodium to argon
Answer: Across the period proton number increases while shielding
remains the same as a number of shells remains the same, greater
attraction between the nucleus and outermost electrons.
Explain why the first ionization energy of krypton is higher than that of
selenium?
Answer: The number of protons increases while shielding remains the
same due to the same number of shells, greater nuclear attraction
between the nucleus and the outermost electrons.

Explain why, in moving from Na to Ar, the general trend is for the first
ionization energy is to increase?
Answer: The number of protons increases while shielding remains the
same due to the same number of shells, greater nuclear attraction
between the nucleus and the outermost electrons.

Explain why the first ionization energies generally increase across the
period Sodium to argon (Na to Ar)?
Answer: Across the period the proton number increases but shielding
remains the same as the number of shells remains the same, so greater
attraction between the nucleus and outer electrons.

Explain why there is a general increase in the first ionization energies

from sodium to argon
Answer: Across the period proton number increases while shielding
remains the same as a number of shells remains the same, greater
attraction between the nucleus and outermost electrons.

Explain why the first ionization energy of krypton is higher than that of
selenium?
Answer: The number of protons increases while shielding remains the
same due to the same number of shells, greater nuclear attraction
between the nucleus and the outermost electrons.

Explain why, in moving from Na to Ar, the general trend is for the first
ionization energy is to increase?
Answer: The number of protons increases while shielding remains the
same due to the same number of shells, greater nuclear attraction
between the nucleus and the outermost electrons.
First Ionization Energy down the group
The first ionization energy decreases down the group, though the number
of protons increases down the group, shell number increases, shielding
increases, outer electrons are further away from the nucleus, they feel less
attracted to the nucleus.

Note: The questions can be asked in different styles or manners, but the
answers remain the same. Please have a look at these questions from the
question paper. Please keep a periodic table while revising these questions.

Note: Please keep a periodic table beside you while studying this, the
question may be asked in different ways using different elements across
different periods but the answer remains the same.

Common Question/Answers

Explain why the first ionization energy of rubidium is lower than that of
krypton (2 marks)
Answer: Down the group number of shells increases, the outer electrons are
further away from the nucleus, more shielding, the outer shell electron feels
less attraction towards the nucleus.

Explain why the first ionization energy of the elements down Group 1
decreases even though the atomic number increases.
Answer: Down the group number of shells increases, the outer electrons are
further away from the nucleus, more shielding, the outer shell electron feels
less attraction towards the nucleus.

Suggest why the first ionization energies of group1 elements decrease

down the group.
Answer: Down the group number of shells increases, the outer electrons are
further away from the nucleus, more shielding, the outer shell electron feels
less attraction towards the nucleus.
Explain why the first ionization energy of rubidium is lower than that of
krypton (2 marks)
Answer: Down the group number of shells increases, the outer electrons are
further away from the nucleus, more shielding, the outer shell electron feels
less attraction towards the nucleus.

Explain why the first ionization energy of the elements down Group 1
decreases even though the atomic number increases.
Answer: Down the group number of shells increases, the outer electrons are
further away from the nucleus, more shielding, the outer shell electron feels
less attraction towards the nucleus.

Suggest why the first ionization energies of group1 elements decrease

down the group.
Answer: Down the group number of shells increases, the outer electrons are
further away from the nucleus, more shielding, the outer shell electron feels
less attraction towards the nucleus.
Atomic radius across the period
Atomic radius across the period: The atomic radius decreases across the
period, because across the period proton number increases, but the
number of shells remains the same, shielding remains the same, hence
outer shell electrons feel higher attraction towards the nucleus.

Note: Questions may use different periods and different elements.

Common Question/Answers

Suggest why the atomic radius decreases going across the period from
sodium to argon.
Answer: Across the period proton number increases, but the number of
shells remains the same, shielding remains the same, hence outer shell
electrons feel higher attraction towards the nucleus.

Which of the elements Arsenic to Rubidium, is likely to have atoms with

the smallest atomic radius.
Answer: Krypton
Successive ionization energies
Successive ionization energies mean one ionization after the other, for
example, the first ionization energy, second ionization energy, and third
ionization energy, and so on.

Note: The asking style may be different, but the answer is the same.

Note: Questions may use different periods and different elements.

Common Questions/Answers:

Give two reasons why the second ionization energy of magnesium is

greater than the first ionization energy of magnesium.
Answer: Electron is being removed from a positive ion, the greater force of
attraction between the nucleus and outermost electron.

Explain why the successive ionization energies increase

Answer: Electron is being removed from a positive ion, the greater force of
attraction between the nucleus and outermost electron.
 Structure of metal

Common Question/Answers

Describe the structure of a metal

Answer: Closely packed lattice, positive ions surrounded by delocalized
electrons
Note: this question also can be asked by naming a metal, for example,
describe the structure of sodium

Describe the bonding in a metal

Answer: Electrostatic attraction between cations and delocalized electrons.
Note: this question also can be asked by naming a metal, for example,
describe the bonding in sodium
Explain how metals conduct electricity
Answer: The delocalized electrons flow when voltage is applied.

Metals structure that contains high charged cations has high melting
points. These are the following questions which may be asked, answer
them properly to obtain full marks.

Explain fully why the melting temperature of magnesium is higher than

that of sodium. (3 marks)
Answer: Mg2+ has a larger charge than Na+, Mg2+ is smaller than Na+ ion,
therefore more energy is required to overcome the attractive forces
between cations and sea of delocalized electrons.

Explain why the melting temperature increases from sodium to

aluminum.
Answer: Charge of cation increases, the force of attraction between
cations and delocalized electrons increases.

Metals are good conductors of electricity while simple molecular

substances are bad conductors of electricity:

Explain why magnesium is a good conductor of electricity whereas sulfur

is a non-conductor.
Answer: Magnesium has delocalized electrons whereas sulfur’s electrons
are fixed in a covalent bond

Describe the structure of a metal

Answer: Closely packed lattice, positive ions surrounded by delocalized
electrons
Note: this question also can be asked by naming a metal, for example,
describe the structure of sodium

Describe the bonding in a metal

Answer: Electrostatic attraction between cations and delocalized electrons.
Note: this question also can be asked by naming a metal, for example,
describe the bonding in sodium
Explain how metals conduct electricity
Answer: The delocalized electrons flow when voltage is applied.

Metals structure that contains high charged cations has high melting
points. These are the following questions which may be asked, answer
them properly to obtain full marks.

Explain fully why the melting temperature of magnesium is higher than

that of sodium. (3 marks)
Answer: Mg2+ has a larger charge than Na+, Mg2+ is smaller than Na+ ion,
therefore more energy is required to overcome the attractive forces
between cations and sea of delocalized electrons.

Explain why the melting temperature increases from sodium to

aluminum.
Answer: Charge of cation increases, the force of attraction between
cations and delocalized electrons increases.

Metals are good conductors of electricity while simple molecular

substances are bad conductors of electricity:

Explain why magnesium is a good conductor of electricity whereas sulfur

is a non-conductor.
Answer: Magnesium has delocalized electrons whereas sulfur’s electrons
are fixed in a covalent bond
Giant Covalent Structure
Giant Covalent Structure has greater melting point than simple
molecular structure

Common Question/Answers

Explain the following referring to differences in structure and bonding

Silicon has a higher melting temperature than phosphorous.

Answer: Silicon is a giant covalent structure while phosphorous is simple

molecular, strong covalent bonds throughout the whole structure but weak
intermolecular forces in phosphorous which takes lower energy to
overcome.
Explain why silicon has a much higher melting temperature than sulfur.
Answer: Silicon is a giant covalent structure while sulfur is simple
molecular, strong covalent bonds throughout the whole structure but weak
intermolecular forces in sulfur which takes lower energy to overcome.

Giant covalent structures have high melting points: Examples of giant

covalent structures are diamond, graphite, silicon dioxide, and silicon, no
matter which one you are asked about, the explanation is going to be the
same.

Explain the high melting temperature of silicon in terms of the bonding.

Answer: Silicon is a giant covalent structure, strong covalent bonds
throughout the whole structure, which takes a lot of energy to break.

Giant covalent structures such as diamond, silicon dioxide, and silicon

have low electrical conductivity, please note graphite is not among them
as graphite is a good conductor of electricity:

The electrical conductivity of pure silicon is very low. Explain why this is
so in terms of the bonding.
Answer: Silicon’s outer electrons are fixed in a covalent bond, therefore
silicon’s electrons are not free to move.

Note: same explanation can be used for diamond and silicon dioxide.
Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon

Identify two other products that could form if the combustion was
incomplete.
Answer: soot/carbon/C, Carbon Monoxide (CO)

State two problems that result from the incomplete combustion of

alkane fuels.
Answer: poisonous CO formed, unburned hydrocarbons are toxic

Why alkenes are more reactive than alkanes

Common Question/Answers

By considering the strength and structure of the ?-bond, explain why

alkanes are more reactive than the alkanes.
Answer: ?-bond is weaker than the σ-bond, because of higher electron
density in the ?-bond, so alkenes are more susceptible to attack by
electrophiles.

How electron affinities changes down the group

State and explain how electron affinity values change as you go down
group 7 from chlorine to iodine.
Answer: Electron affinities become less negative as an added electron is
further away from the nucleus
Crystallization Method
How to do crystallization method to obtain pure dry crystals from a salt
solution

Common Question/Answers

State and explain the steps necessary to obtain pure dry crystals from
the mixture (from a salt solution) (4 marks)
Answer: Heat the solution of remove water, cool to let crystals form,
separate crystals using filtration method, dry crystals using filter paper.

Answer: Add MgO to acid, heat to remove water, filter, leave to cool, filter to
remove crystals, leave crystals to dry.

Covalent Bond
How atoms are held together in a covalent bond: The nuclei of the two
atoms are attracted towards the shared electron pair.
Note: the question may be asked in different ways, but the answer is the
same.

Common Question/Answers

Explain how the atoms are held together by the covalent bond in a
molecule of hydrogen
Answer: Electrostatic attraction between the bond pair electrons and nuclei
Isotopes
Isotopes have similar chemical properties: because they have the same
electronic configuration.

Common Question/Answers

Explain why four isotopes of chromium behave identically in chemical

reactions
Answer: Same electronic structure or configuration

Type of force in ionic lattice

Common Question/Answers

Describe the forces of attraction in an ionic lattice

Answer: Forces of attraction between oppositely charged ion

Suggest two forces of repulsion that exist in an ionic lattice

Answer: Between ions of the same charge, nuclei of ions

Difference between hazard and risk

Common Question/Answers

Explain the difference between hazard and risk.

Answer: Hazard means a substance that has the potential to do harm,
whereas risk means the chance of causing harm.
Free radical substitution
Mechanism for the reaction between propene and
hydrogen bromide

Give the mechanisms for the reaction of propene with hydrogen bromide
(HBr) to form the major product.
Lattice Enthalpy
The lattice enthalpy for an ionic compound becomes more negative or
exothermic if the ions are smaller, or the ions have a higher charge.

Common Question/Answers

Explain, in terms of sizes and charges of the ions involved, why the lattice
energy of MgF2 is more negative than the NaF
Answer: Mg2+ is smaller than Na+, Mg2+ has a higher charge than Na+, so
greater attraction between MgF2 and NaF so more energy released.

Explain, in terms of the size and charges of the ions involved, the
differences between the lattice energy values of:

i) NaF and NaCl

Answer: NaF is more negative than NaCl because F- is smaller than Cl-, so
higher attraction with Na+, hence releases more energy.

ii) NaF and MgF2

Answer: MgF2 is more negative/exothermic because Mg2+ is smaller than
the Na+ ion, also Mg2+ has a greater charge than Na+, so higher attraction
and more energy are released.

Answer: Mg2+ and O2- have higher charges, Mg2+ is smaller, and therefore
lattice energy of Mg2+ and O2- is more exothermic
Theoretical and experimental lattice enthalpy
The theoretical lattice enthalpy is the one that is found by coulombs law,
and the experimental lattice enthalpy is which is found from the born-
Haber cycle. The experimental lattice enthalpy is always more exothermic
than the theoretical lattice enthalpy because in theory it is assumed that
no polarization occurs/ distortion of anion by the cation, but in actual
polarization does occur. Polarization gives rise to covalent character,
meaning higher attraction leading to more energy released. A smaller and
higher charged cation means it has more polarizing power, the higher
charged anion, and big means that it is more polarizable. The more the
polarization the more exothermic the experimental lattice enthalpy than
the theoretical lattice enthalpy. If little or no polarization then the
theoretical and experimental lattice enthalpy would be very close.

Common Question/Answers

Lattice energies can be calculated from electrostatic theory (theoretical

values) as well as Born-Haber cycles (experimental values)

What can you deduce from the fact that the experimental and
theoretical calues for the lattice energy of barium chloride are very
close?
Answer: Bonding is 100% ionic/no covalent character/chloride ions not
polarized

The experimental lattice energy for lithium iodide is -759 KJmol-1. The
theoretical lattice energy is different from this value, will the
experimental lattice energy be more negative than the theoretical lattice
energy? Justify your answer.
Answer: Experimental lattice enthalpy is more negative, due to the degree
of covalence, because of the polarization of iodide ions.

Explain why there is a greater difference between the experimental

(Born-Haber cycle) and theoretical lattice energies for Magnesium
Iodide, MgI2 compared with magnesium chloride.
Answer: I- is larger than Cl-, easier to polarize

Ionic compound melting point

An ionic compound will have a higher melting point if it consists of ions
with higher charges, then there would be a greater attraction between the
ions, and would require more energy to overcome.

Common Question/Answers

Suggest why the melting temperature of magnesium oxide is higher than

that of magnesium chloride, even though both are almost 100% ionic.
Answer: O2- ions have a higher charge than Cl-, the force of attraction is
greater in MgO, and more energy is required to separate the ions in MgO.

Yield of salt preparation

The crystals of a salt being produced always have a yield of less than 100%.

Common Question/Answers

Give one reason why the yield of crystals is less than 100%, even when
pure compounds are used in the preparation.
Answers: Transfer losses, crystals left behind, loss on filtering
Finding enthalpy change
Finding enthalpy change of alcohol by cup calorimetry method :

List three ways in which the design of the experiment causes the results
to be so different from the databook value.

Answer: Heat loss, incomplete combustion of alcohol, evaporation of

alcohol
Finding the enthalpy change of combustion using mean
bond enthalpy is inaccurate:
Ionization energy comparison
The first ionization energies generally increase from left to right across the
period

Common Question/Answers

i) Explain why the first ionization energy of sulfur is lower than that of
phosphorous
Answer: There are two electrons in the same (3p) orbital, repulsion allows
electrons to be removed easily.
ii) Explain why the first ionization energy of nitrogen is greater than the
first ionization energies of phosphorous
Answer: The outer shell electrons are in a shell closer to the nucleus in N,
less shielding, greater attraction between the nucleus and the outer
electron.
Explain why the first ionization energy of selenium is lower than that of
arsenic.
Answer: In Se electron removed from orbital containing two electrons,
increase n repulsion so electron lost more easily.

Explain why the first ionization energy decreases from P to S

Answer: Two electrons occupy the same orbital, repulsion between paired
electrons

Explain why the first ionization energy of Aluminium (z=13) is less than
that of Magnesium (z=12)
Answer: Electron lost from 3p subshell in Al, which is at higher energy
further from the nucleus

Explain why the first ionization energy of sulfur (z=16) is less than that of
phosphorous (z=15)
Answer: Electron lost from a pair of electrons, increase in repulsion, electron
lost more easily.