CHEM1070B: Principles of Modern Chemistry (AY2021-22)

Assignment 1
Deadline of Submission: 11 Feb 2022 1730
Submission: Hardcopy – drop-box outside room 157, Science Center South
or Softcopy – Blackboard submission (only for pdf file type)
Name: ______________________________
Student id: ______________________________
Answer all the questions using the empty space provided. (80 marks in total)
PART A (19 marks)
1. Which one of the following is an intensive property?

a) Mass
b) Temperature
c) Length
d) Volume
e) Amount
Ans: B

2. The volume of a regular cylinder is V = $r2h. When $ = 3.1416, the volume (cm3) of
the cylinder of radius 2.34 cm and height 19.91 cm expressed to the correct number
of significant figures is ___________.

a) 342.49471
b) 342.495
c) 342.49
d) 343
e) 342
Ans: E

3. The correct answer to the following is ___________. (reported to the proper number
of significant figures)
(12.67 + 19.2) x 3.99 / (1.36 + 11.366) = ___________
a) 9.99851
b) 9.9985
c) 9.999
d) x 101
e) None of the above
Ans: E

Page 1
4. An atom of the most common isotope of gold, 197Au, has ___________ protons,
___________ neutrons, and ___________ electrons.

a) 197, 79, 118

b) 118, 79, 39
c) 79, 197, 197
d) 79, 118, 118
e) 79, 118, 79
Ans: E

5. The average atomic weight of copper, which has two naturally occurring isotopes, is
63.5 amu. One of the isotopes has an atomic weight of 62.9 amu and constitutes
69.1% of the copper isotopes. The other isotope has an abundance of 30.9%. The
atomic weight of the second isotope is ___________ amu.

a) 63.2
b) 63.8
c) 64.1
d) 64.8
e) 28.1
Ans: D

6. Which pair of the compounds do not have the same empirical formula?

a) C2H2, C6H6
b) CO, CO2
c) C2H4, C3H6
d) C2H4O2, C6H12O6
e) C2H5COOCH3, CH3CHO
Ans: B

7. Aluminum reacts with a certain nonmetallic element to form a compound with the
general formula Al2X3. Element X must be from Group ___________ of the Periodic
Table of Elements.

a) 3A
b) 4A
c) 5A
d) 6A
e) 7A
Ans: D

Page 2
8. The mass % of Al in aluminum sulfate, Al2(SO4)3 is ___________.

a) 7.88
b) 15.77
c) 21.93
d) 45.70
e) 35.94
Ans: B

9. A sample of CH2F2 with a mass of 19 g contains ___________ atoms of F.

a) 2.2 x 1023
b) 38
c) 3.3 x 1024
d) 4.4 x 1023
e) 9.5
Ans: D

10. The net ionic equation for formation of an aqueous solution of Al(NO3)3 via mixing
solid Al(OH)3 and aqueous nitric acid is ___________.

a) Al(OH)3(s) + 3HNO3(aq) ⟶ 3H2O(l) + Al(NO3)3(aq)

b) Al(OH)3(s) + 3NO3¯(aq) ⟶ 3OH¯(aq) + Al(NO3)3(aq)
c) Al(OH)3(s) + 3NO3¯(aq) ⟶ 3OH¯(aq) + Al(NO3)3(s)
d) Al(OH)3(s) + 3H+(aq) ⟶ 3H2O(l) + Al3+ (aq)
e) Al(OH)3(s) + 3HNO3(aq) ⟶ 3H2O(l) + Al3+ (aq) + 3NO3¯(aq)
Ans: D
11. In the Bohr model of the atom, ___________.

a) electrons travel in circular paths called orbitals

b) electrons can have any energy
c) electron energies are quantized v
d) electron paths are controlled by probability
e) both A and C
Ans: C

Page 3
12. Which of the following is a valid set of four quantum numbers? (n, l, ml, ms)

a) 2, 1, 0, +1/2
b) 2, 2, 1, -1/2
c) 1, 0, 1, +1/2
d) 2, 1, +2, +1/2
e) 1, 1, 0, -1/2
Ans: A

13. The uncertainty principle states that ___________.

a) matter and energy are really the same thing

b) it is impossible to know anything with certainty
c) it is impossible to know the exact position and momentum of an electron
d) there can only be one uncertain digit in a reported number
e) it is impossible to know how many electrons there are in an atom
Ans: C

14. An electron cannot have the quantum numbers n = ______, l = ______, ml = ______.

a) 2, 0, 0
b) 2, 1, -1
c) 3, 1, -1
d) 1, 1, 1
e) 3, 2, 1
Ans: D

15. Which of the following is not a valid set of four quantum numbers? (n, l, ml, ms)

a) 2, 0, 0, +1/2
b) 2, 1, 0, -1/2
c) 3, 1, -1, -1/2
d) 1, 0, 0, +1/2
e) 1, 1, 0, +1/2
Ans: E

Page 4
16. The effective nuclear charge of an atom is primarily affected by ___________.

a) inner electrons
b) outer electrons
c) nuclear charge
d) electron distribution
e) orbital radial probability
Ans: A

17. Which of the following correctly represents the third ionization of aluminum?

a) Al2+ (g) + e¯ ⟶ Al+ (g)

b) Al (g) ⟶ Al+ (g) + e¯
c) Al2- (g) + e¯ ⟶ Al3- (g)
d) Al2+ (g) + e¯ ⟶ Al3+ (g)
e) Al2+ (g) ⟶ Al3+ (g) + e¯
Ans: E

18. Which of the following correctly represents the electron affinity of bromine?

a) Br (g) → Br+ (g) + e¯

b) Br (g) + e¯ → Br¯ (g)
c) Br2 (g) + e¯ → Br¯ (g) + Br (g)
d) Br2 (g) + 2e¯ → 2Br¯ (g)
e) Br+ (g) + e¯ → Br (g)
Ans: B

19. Which of the following correctly lists the five atoms in order of increasing size
(smallest to largest)?

a) Ge < Si < S < O < Ne

b) Ne < O < S < Si < Ge
c) Ne < S < O < Si < Ge
d) Ne < Si < O < S < Ge
e) Ne < Ge < Si < S < O
Ans: B

Page 5
PART B (61%)
1. Chlorine has only two isotopes, one with mass 35 and the other with mass 37. One is
present at roughly 75% abundance and the atomic mass of chlorine on a periodic
table is 35.45. Which must be the correct mass spectrum for chlorine? Explain your
answer.
(3%)

B. (1 mark)
One of the isotopes is having an abundance of about 75%, which is about three times to
another isotope. (1 mark) While the atomic mass of chlorine is 35.45, which is much closer
to 35 than 37, indicating there are more :; :9
89Cl than 89Cl existing in nature. (1 mark) Only B
matches the description above

2. Give the name, atomic symbol, and group number of the element with the following
Z value, and classify it as a metal, metalloid, or non-metal:
(a) Z = 32 (b) Z = 16 (c) Z = 2 (d) Z = 3 (e) Z = 42
(5%)
a) Gemanium, Ge, 14 (or 4A / IVA), metalloid
b) Sulfur, S, 16 (or 6A), nonmetal
c) Helium, He, 18 (or 8A), nonmetal
d) Lithium, Li, 1 (or 1A), metal
e) Molybdenum, Mo, 6 (or 6B), metal
(1 mark each)

3. An organic compound was found to contain only C, H, and Cl. When a 1.50-g sample
of the compound was completely combusted in air, 3.52 g of CO2 was formed. In a
separate experiment, the chlorine in a 1.00-g sample of the compound was
converted to 1.27 g of AgCl. Determine the empirical formula of the compound.
(4%)

8<.=8>
Mass of Carbon: 3.52g CO2 x ??.=8 > = 0.961 g
=.@A8>
Percentage by mass of Carbon: 8.;=>
x 100% = 64% ( 1 mark)

Page 6
 :;.?;>
Mass of Chlorine: 1.27g AgCl x 8?:.: > = 0.314 g
=.:8?>
Percentage by mass of Chlorine: 8.==>
x 100% = 31.4% ( 1 mark)
Percentage by mass of hydrogen: 100%-64.04%-31.42%=4.5%

Assume there are 100g of sample,

= mole of Carbon: mole of hydrogen : mole of Chlorine
A?.=? ?.;? :8.?<
= 8<.=8 : 8.==? : :;.?;
= 5.33: 4.50: 0.886
= 6: 5: 1 ( 1 mark)
∴ The empirical formula is C6H5Cl. ( 1 mark)

4. Consider the three electronic transitions in a hydrogen atom shown here, labeled A,
B, and C.
(a) Three electromagnetic waves, all drawn on the same scale, are also known. Each
corresponds to one of the transitions. Which electromagnetic wave (i), (ii), or
(iii), is associated with electronic transition C?
(b) Calculate the energy of the photon emitted for each transition.
(c) Calculate the wavelength of the photon emitted for each transition. Do any of
these transitions lead to the emission of visible light?

(5%)

a) Wave (iii) corresponds to transition C. Transition C represents the smallest energy

change, which will emit a photon with the longest wavelength. (1 mark)

b)

B: ni = 3, nf = 2; DE = -2.18 ´ 10 -18 J (1/4 - 1/9) = -3.028 ´ 10 -19 = -3.03 ´ 10 -19 J

Page 7
 C: ni = 4, nf = 3; DE = -2.18 ´ 10 -18 J (1/9 - 1/16) = -1.0597 ´ 10 -19 = -1.06 ´ 10 -19 J
(2 marks)
c)

Visible light has wavelengths from 4 ´ 10 –7 m to 7.5 ´ 10 –7 m (400–750 nm).Transition B

emits photons of visible light. (2 marks)

5. Which of the following represent valid sets of quantum numbers? For a set that is
invalid, explain briefly why it is not correct.

(a) n = 3, l = 3, ml = 0
(b) n = 2, l = 1, ml = 0
(c) n = 6, l = 5, ml = −1
(d) n = 4, l = 3, ml = −4
(4%)

(b) and (c) . For (a), invalid on  value which  can only be 2,1,0. For (d), invalid on m value
which m can only be -3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3.
(1 mark each)

6. Write the electronic configuration for each of the following atoms or ions. State the
number of unpaired electrons contained in each: (a) Cu2+, (b) Zn
(4%)

Cu2+: 1s22s22p63s23p63d9 or [Ar]3d9

Zn: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d10 or [Ar] 4s23d10
(2 marks each)

7. Identify the following elements:

(a) An excited state of this element has the electron configuration 1s22s22p53s1.
(b) The ground state electron configuration is [Ne]3s23p4
(2%)
a) Ne
b) S
(1 mark each)

Page 8
8. Write the detailed electronic configurations for
(a) Ar and S2-,
(b) Fe and Ni2+,
(c) Which pair(s) is/are isoelectronic? Explain.
(d) How many unpaired electrons are there in the Ni2+ ion?
(7%)
a) Ar: 1s22s22p63s23p6
S2-: 1s22s22p63s23p6

b) Fe: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d6
Ni2+: 1s22s22p63s23p63d8

c) Ar and S2- are isoelectronic.

d) 2

(1 mark each)

9. Explain the following variations in atomic or ionic radii:

(a) I¯ > I > I+
(b) Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Be2+
(c) Fe > Fe2+ > Fe3+
(3%)
(1 mark each)
a) As the number of protons stays constant and the number of electrons increases, the
electron-electron repulsions increase, the electrons spread apart, and the anion
becomes larger than neutral. For the cation, which becomes smaller than the neutral
atom.

b) For cations with the same charge, ionic radii increase going down a column because
there is an increase in the principal quantum number and the average distance from
the nucleus of the outermost shell electrons.

c) Fe: [Ar]4s23d6;
Fe2+: [Ar]3d6
Fe3+: [Ar]3d5.
The 4s valence electrons in Fe are on average farther from the nucleus than the 3d
electrons, so Fe is larger than Fe2+. Because there are only five 3d orbitals, in Fe2+ at least
one orbital must contain a pair of electrons. Removing one electron to form Fe3+
significantly reduces repulsion, increasing the nuclear charge experienced by each of the
other d electrons and decreasing the size of the ion.

Page 9
10. The following shows the first ionization energies of the halogen gases.

Halogen Gas
Element
F Cl Br I At

First ionization
energy (kJ/mol)
1681 1251 1140 1008 899

(a) Explain the decrease in the first ionization energy from F, Cl, Br, I to At.
(b) Explain the increase in successive ionization energies of Mg.
Mg (g) ® Mg +(g) + e- First ionization energy = + 738 kJ mol-1
Mg +(g) ® Mg 2+(g) + e- Second ionization energy = + 1451 kJ mol-1
Mg 2+(g) ® Mg 3+(g) + e- Third ionization energy = + 7733 kJ mol-1
(6%)

a) Moving from F to At in group 7A, first ionization energies decrease, and the atomic radii
increase. (1 mark) The greater the atomic radius, the smaller the electrostatic attraction of
an outer electron for the nucleus and the smaller the ionization energy of the element. (1
mark)
b) The process for the first ionization energy of Mg requires the least amount of energy. (1
mark) This is because the second and third ionization energies require energy to overcome
the electrostatic attraction between the cation and the negatively charged electron. (2
mark) For the third ionization energy, it jumps abruptly as all valence electrons are
removed, it requires the removal of core shell electrons. (1 mark)

11. Arrange the following H atom electron transitions in order of increasing frequency of
the photon absorbed or emitted:
(a) n = 2 to n = 4
(b) n = 2 to n = 1
(c) n = 2 to n = 5
(d) n = 4 to n = 3
(10%)

a) 6.17 x 1014 b) 2.47 x 1015 c) 6.91 x 1014 d) 1.60 x 1014

(d) < (a) < (c) < (b)
(1 marks each for each correct calculation, 1 mark for correct answer; 2 marks for the correct
order)

Page 10
12. For each of the following sublevels, give the n and l values and the number of
orbitals:
(a) 5s (b) 3p (c) 4d (d) 4p
(8%)
a) n = 5; l = 0; ml = 0; no. of orbital = 1
b) n = 3; l = 1; ml = -1, 0, 1; no. of orbital = 3
c) n = 4; l = 2; ml = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2; no. of orbital = 5
d) n = 4; l = 1; ml = -1, 0, 1; no. of orbital = 3
(2 marks for each correct answer)

Page 11