Contest 1
Round 1A
To which Group and Period of the Periodic Table do the following elements belong?
1) An element with the electronic configuration: [Ne]3s23p5
Ans: Group 17(or 7A or 7); Period 3
2) An element with the electronic configuration: [Ar]4s1
Ans: Group 1 (or 1A); Period 4
3) An element with the electronic configuration: [Ar]3d14s2
Ans: Group 3 (or 3B); Period 4
Round 1B
1) Upon heating, 10 g of CaCO3 decomposes to give 4.2 g of CaO. Calculate the percentage
yield of CaO in this reaction. Molecular mass of CaCO3 and CaO are 100 and 56 g/mol
respectively.
Ans: 75%
Moles of CaCO3 = 10/100 = 0.10 mole
Expected yield of CaO = 0.10 x 56 = 5.6 g
Percentage yield = actual yield/ theoretical yield x 100% = 4.2/5.6 x 100 = 75%
2) 8.0 g of methanol reacts with excess propanoic acid to produce 5.5 g of methyl
propanoate. Calculate the percentage yield of methyl propanoate in this reaction.
Molecular mass of methanol and methyl propanoate are 32 and 88 g/mol respectively.
Ans: 25 %
Moles of methanol = 8.0/32 = 0.25 moles = moles of methyl propanoate
Mass of methyl propanoate = 0.25 x 88 = 22 g
Percentage yield = actual yield/ theoretical yield x 100% = 5.5 / 22 x 100% = 25 %
3) 8.0 g of NaOH reacts with excess H2SO4to produce 28.4 g of Na2SO4. Calculate the
percentage yield of this reaction, given that mole ratio of NaOH: Na2SO4is 1:2.
Molecular mass of NaOH and Na2SO4 are 40.0 and 142 g/mol respectively.
Ans: 50%
Moles of NaOH = 8/40 = 0.20 moles
Mole ratio is 1:2 Hence moles of Na2SO4 expected = 0.2 x 2 = 0.4 moles
Mass of Na2SO4 expected = 0.40 x 142 = 56.8 g
Percentage yield = actual yield/ theoretical yield x 100% = 28.4 / 56.8 x 100% = 50%
Contest 1
Round 2
1) How many neutrons will be produced from the bombardment of Uranium-235 with a
neutron if the daughter nuclides formed are Krypton-91 and Barium-140
Ans: 5 neutrons
2) Given HF, HCl, HBr and HI, arrange in order of increasing boiling point
Ans: HCl < HBr < HI < HF
Down the group, atomic size and atomic mass increase leading to increased
intermolecular forces. However, HF has H-bonding which is far stronger than the dipole-
dipole forces present in the other molecules leading to far higher boiling point
3) Calculate the standard enthalpy for the combustion of propane (C3H8) in air, given that the
standard enthalpy of formation of propane (C3H8) is −100.0 kJ/mole; standard enthalpy of
formation of CO2 is −400.0 kJ/mole; and standard enthalpy of formation of H2O is −300.0
kJ/mole. The equation of combustion is given as:
C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
Ans: −2300.0 kJ/mole
Using Hess’ law: ΔHrxn = ∑ ΔHf (products) – ∑ ΔHf (reactants)
ΔH∘rxn = [3(−400.0) + 4(−300.0)] – [5(0) + ( −100.0)]
ΔH∘rxn = −2400.0.0 + 100 = −2300.0kJ/mole
Round 4A (True or False)
Under standard atmospheric conditions;
1) Seawater is expected to have a higher boiling point than freshwater Ans: T
2) Seawater will freeze at a higher temperature than freshwater Ans: F
3) Seawater is expected to be more dense than freshwater Ans: T
Contest 1
Round 4A (True or False)
1) Glucose is sweeter than sucrose Ans: F
2) Fructose is sweater than sucrose Ans: T
3) Sucrose is a disaccharide consisting of fructose and glucose units Ans: T
Round 5 (Riddle)
1. On the outward I appear to be only one.
2. In reality, I always have two or more present.
3. I am highly sought after when there is a problem
4. For some reason, the word homogenous is always used in describing me
5. I have two main parts: solute and solvent
Who am I?
Ans: solution
