2nd Quarter Practice Midterm Answer Key

Multiple Choice: Circle the appropriate letter of the correct answer. You may not use a calculator on this portion
on the exam. (2 pts/qstn = 30 points possible)
Directions for Questions 1-8: Each set of lettered choices below refers to the numbered statements immediately
following it. Select the one lettered choice that best fits each statement and then mark the appropriate letter on your
Scantron. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all in each set.
Questions 1-4 refer to the following electron configurations.
(A) 1s22s22p63s23p5
(B) 1s22s22p63s23p6
(C) 1s22s22p62d103s23p6

(D) 1s22s22p63s23p63d5
(E) 1s22s22p63s23p63d34s2

1. An impossible electron configuration = C

2. The ground-state configuration for the atoms of a transition element = E
3. The ground-state configuration of a negative ion of a halogen = B
4. The ground-state configuration of a common ion of an alkaline earth element = B

Questions 5-8 refer to the following species.

(A) H2O

(D) CH4

(B) NH3

(E) SiH4

(C) BH3
5.

Has two lone pairs of electrons = A

6.

Has a central atom with less than an octet of electrons = C

7.

Is predicted to have the largest bond angle = C

8.

Has a trigonal-pyramidal molecular geometry = B

Directions: Each of the questions or incomplete sentences below is followed by five suggested answers or
compilations. Select the one that is best in each case and circle the appropriate answer.
9. Which of the following molecules meets the following criteria: sp hybridization, 2 sigma bonds, 2 pi bonds,
polar molecule and linear molecular geometry?
a)

CO

b) N2

c) SO2

d) HCN

e) CH4

10. All of the following apply to bonding in the PF5 molecule EXCEPT
a) sp3d2 hybridization
d) expanded octet of electrons
b) F-P-F bond angles of 90o
e) trigonal bipyramidal geometry
c) F-P-F bond angles of 120o
11. Which of the following elements has the largest first ionization energy?
a)
Li
b) Be
c) B
d) C

e) N

12. Which of the following molecules contains exactly three sigma ( ) bonds and two pi () bonds?

a)

C2H2

b) CO2

c) HCN

d) SO3

e) N2

13. Which statements about hydrogen is/are true?

I. H has a lower ionization energy than He.
II. H- is smaller than H.
III. H bonds with the halogens to form polar covalent compounds.
IV. H is always a metal.
V. H does not have a second ionization energy.
a) I, V

b) II, IV

c) I, III, V

d) II, IV, V

e) I, III, IV, V

14. Which of the following is the electron configuration of an excited atom that is likely to emit a quantum of
energy?
a.
b.
c.

1s2 2s22p6 3s23p1

2

1s 2s 2p 3s 3p
1s2 2s22p6 3s2

d.

1s2 2s22p6 3s1

e.

1s2 2s22p6 3s13p1

15. Resonance is most commonly used to describe the bonding in molecules of which of the following?
a.

CO2

b) O3

c) H2O

d) CH4

e) SF6

R = 0.0821 L atm/molK
= 8.31 J mol-1 K-1
c = 3.00 x 108 m/s

Name:
Date:

Per:

FREE RESPONSE SECTION

Answer the following questions. Your answers will be scored based on their accuracy, relevance of the details
chosen, and appropriateness of the descriptive material used. Be as specific as possible and use illustrative examples
and equations where helpful.
For calculation problems, the methods and steps used to solve a problem must be shown clearly. Partial credit will
be given if work is shown. Pay attention to significant figures.
ESSAY #1: 1996 (modified)
Explain each of the following observations in terms of the electronic structure and/or bonding of the compounds
involved. Your explanations for (a), (b), and (c) must include Lewis structures in order to earn full credit.
(a) XeF2 will not dissolve in water.
(b) Molecules of AsF3 have trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry, whereas molecules of BF 3 are trigonal planar.
(c) The N-O bonds in the NO2- ion are equal in length, whereas they are unequal in HNO2.
(d) For sulfur, the fluorides SF 2, SF4, and SF6 are known to exist, whereas for oxygen, only OF2 is known to exist.

Answer:
(a) XeF2 will not dissolve in water because it is a nonpolar molecule and water is polar. Nonpolar molecules
do not dissolve in polar molecules. XeF2 is nonpolar because the lone pairs on Xe are 120o apart and the F
atoms are symmetrically distributed so the dipole moments cancel out.

(b) AsF3 has a lone electron pair on the central atom, whereas BF 3 doesnt. The lone electron pair pushes the
F atoms down to cause the trigonal pyramid structure.

vs.
(c) NO2- has two resonant structures so the actual structure is intermediate between the resonant structure s
with the N-O bond being the average of a single bond and double bond. HNO2 does not have resonance, so
one N-O bond is a single bond and the other is a double bond. You do not find the average when there is
no resonance.

vs
(d) Sulfur is located on Period 3, do there are d orbitals available to form expanded octets. Oxygen is on
the 2nd row and therefore only s and p orbitals are available for bonding.

ESSAY #2:
The shape of the carbonate ion, CO32- is known to be trigonal planar.
(a) Draw a Lewis structure for any one of the three equivalent contributing resonance structures of the carbonate ion,
CO32-.
(b) How many sigma and pi bonds are in the carbonate ion? Clearly identify them in your drawing in part (a).
(c) What type of hybridization accounts for the trigonal planar shape of the carbonate ion?
(d) Would the O-C-O bond angles in CO32- be larger or smaller than the O-I-O bond angles in IO3- ? Explain.

Answer:

(a)
(b) 3 sigma, 1 pi. (Note: No justification needed. Dont waste your time!). The single bond should be
identified as a sigma bond and the double bond identified as a sigma bond AND pi bond.
(c) sp2 (notice that no explanation is needed for this one either! It was only worth 1 point, so dont waste time
justifying when you dont have to you only have to justify if you are asked to do so)

(d) The O-C-O bond angles will be greater than the O-I-O bond angles. There is a lone electron pair on I that
pushes O atoms down in IO3- while CO32- has no lone pairs on C to push down the O atoms.

NOTE: Couldnt find Lewis

structure online with trigonal
pyramidal shape, but thats the
shape it would have due to lone
pair on I.

Since this midterm has more emphasis on concepts than calculations, I thought itd help to add a third essay
question and only do one calculation question.
ESSAY #3:
Explain each of the following observations using principles of atomic structure.
(a) Is Ti2+ paramagnetic or diamagnetic? Justify your answer.
(b) Which element has a higher ionization energy Mg or Al? Justify your answer.
(c) Which element has a higher electron affinity O or F? Justify your answer.
(d) An electron falls from the n = 6 level and emits IR light. What energy level did the electron end up on? Justify
your answer.
Answer:
(a) Paramagnetic. Ti2+ has unpaired electrons. (remember to remove the s electrons first!)
(b) Mg has a higher ionization energy than Al. The 3s-electrons shield the 3p electron in Al, making it easier to
remove the p-electron.

(c) F has a higher electron affinity (more negative affinity than O). The effective nuclear charge (ENC or Zeff) is
greater in F than in O because there are more protons in F (F = 9 protons, O = 8 protons) than in O pulling in the
valence electrons.

(d) The electron ended up on n = 3. Emitting IR light means it is part of the Paschen series and the Paschen Series
has electrons falling to n =3 OR correct calculations showing that the electron ended up in n = 3.

CALCULATION PROBLEM:
Answer each of the following questions regarding electrons in a Bohr atom.
(a) Calculate the change of energy (in J) of light when a hydrogen electron in the n=5 excited state falls to the
ground state.
(b) Is energy emitted or absorbed in this transition? Justify your answer.
(c) Calculate the wavelength (in nm) and frequency (in s-1) of light of the radiation associated with the electron
transition described in part (a).
(d) Sketch a PES graph for the boron atom. The y-axis is labeled Number of electrons and the x-axis is labeled
binding energy. Dont worry about exact values for binding energy.

Answer:
(a) E = -2.18 x 10-18 J

1 1
( 2 2 ) = -2.09 x 10-18J
1 5

(b) Energy is emitted. Possible reasons: Answer to part (a) has negative sign OR electron is emitted from
higher energy level to lower one.
(c) E = h, where = frequency

-2.09 x 10-18J = (6.626 x 10-34 Js)()

= 3.15 x 1015 s-1

109 nm
c 3.0 x108
-8
=
=
= 9.52 x 10 m x
= 95.2 nm
1m
3.0 x1015

(d)