CH205 Chemistry for Civil Engineers

Discipline of Biological and Chemical Sciences

School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences

Assignment 1
Semester 2 2021

     
 The assignment will be available on moodle from 27th of September
(Monday) at 7 pm to 3rd of October (Sundayday) at 11 pm. 
Prepare your detailed answer to each of the questions on your computer and
submit it as a word document on the designated drop box on moodle.  The
take home examination will not be opened again and students are required to
attempt and submit their work within the availability period.
-In case you want to provide a hand written answer for any of the questions, you can
do so. You can take the picture of your hand written work and paste the picture
under the question on this word document.

The assignment is worth 20% of your overall mark.

Name___________________________________ ID No________________________

Question 1: J. J. Thomson used different metal for his experiment and the result was consistently the
same in terms of the nature of the cathode ray produced when the metals are connected with a high
external voltage source.

i) What is the implication of above result towards developing his atomic model

1) Thomson repeated his experiment using different metals and found that the
properties of the cathode rays remains unchanged (cathode rays are Negatively
charged). Thomson knew that overall charge of the atoms is neutral.Therefore,he
thought that there must be a source of positive charge within the atom to
counterbalance the negative charge . This thought led him to propose the Plum
 Pudding Model that is the negatively charged electrons are embedded withing a
postively charged soup.
ii)
iii) 2) Modern model of an atom gives a clear picture and understanding of
arrangement in atoms .Thomson knew that the atoms consist of both positive and
negative charge but he didn’t know how they are arranged.This moderm model of
an atom conclude that there is a dense +ve charged in the centre of the atom
(Nucleus).This denser centre is made up of positively charged protons and neutrally
charged neutrons and electrons are arrange in pattern(like a ring) around the
nucleus .
(2 marks)
iv) Compare J. J. Thomson’s atomic model with the modern atomic model and briefly
explain the differences.

(2 marks)

Question 2: Atomic models were proposed in order to explain experimental results. Which atomic
model was developed to explain the emission line spectra of the hydrogen atom? Explain how the
line spectra were related to the developed atomic model.

Answer no 1.

Atomic models were proposed in order to experimental result so Bohr ‘s model proposed a
theoritical model for the hydrogen atom that explained its emission spectrum .

Explanation :-

There is an intimate connection between the atomic structure of an atom and its spectral
characteristics. Atoms of individual elements emit light at only specific wavelengths, producing a line
spectrum rather than the continuous spectrum of all wavelengths produced by a hot object. Niels
Bohr explained the line spectrum of the hydrogen atom by assuming that the electron moved in
circular orbits and that orbits with only certain radii were allowed. Lines in the spectrum were due to
transitions in which an electron moved from a higher-energy orbit with a larger radius to a lower-
energy orbit with smaller radius. The orbit closest to the nucleus represented the ground state of the
atom and was most stable; orbits farther away were higher-energy excited states. Transitions from
an excited state to a lower-energy state resulted in the emission of light with only a limited number
of wavelengths. Atoms can also absorb light of certain energies, resulting in a transition from the
ground state or a lower-energy excited state to a higher-energy excited state. This produces an
absorption spectrum, which has dark lines in the same position as the bright lines in the emission
spectrum of an element. Bohr’s model revolutionized the understanding of the atom but could not
explain the spectra of atoms heavier than hydrogen.

(2 marks)

Question 3: The energy needed to remove one electron from a gaseous potassium atom is only
about two thirds as much as that needed to remove one electron from a gaseous calcium atom, yet
nearly three times as much energy as that needed to remove one electron from K + as from Ca+. What
explanation can you give for this contrast? What do you expect to be the relation between the
ionization energy of Ca+ and that of neutral K?

(2 marks)

Question 4: Draw the Lewis structure of ClO2- and then describe the possible three dimensional
geometry of the ion that adopts around the central atom.

(2 marks)

Question 5: The y-axis shows the boiling point of the different hydrides shown in the graph. Answer
the following questions based on the experimental result shown in the graph
 i) Explain why hydrides of oxygen (H 2O) is usually having higher boiling point compared to
other hydrides in the study.
(2 marks)
ii) Compare the boiling point of H2S, H2Se and H2Te. Why is the boiling point order of H2Te>
H2Se> H2S

(2 marks)

Question 6: The graph shows the first and second ionization energies of the elements nitrogen to
Calcium. Answer the questions that follows the graph.
 i) Why is there a large decrease in the first ionization energy after neon (Ne) and after
Argon (Ar)?
(2 marks)
ii) Why is the first ionisation energy of magnesium (Mg) is greater than that for aluminium
(Al)?
(2 marks)

Question 7: Portland is a common type of cement produced in large quantities in the world. Briefly
comment on the following statements.

i) Portland cement is an example of hydraulic cement.

(2 marks)