The Shri Ram School Moulsari Campus
Class XII –CHEMISTRY
Inorganic Chemistry
Important Questions & Answers
d & f – block elements
1. Zn, Cd and Hg are not regarded as transition metals.
Because they have fully filled d-orbitals in ground state and the most common oxidation
state.
2. Transition metals and their compounds act as catalysts.
Transition elements have variable oxidation state giving unstable intermediates, thus act
as catalyst.
3. Zn2+ salts are white but Cu2+ salts are blue in colour.
Zn2+ has 3d10 configuration and no unpaired electrons, hence its salts colourless.
Whereas in Cu2+ state which has 3d9 configuration there is one unpaired electron and it
undergoes d-d transitions emitting colour so Cu2+ salts are blue in colour.
Or
Zn2+ does not have any unpaired electron while Cu2+ has unpaired electron and can
undergo d-d transitions emitting colour.
4. Colour of K2Cr2O7 changes in basic medium.
In acidic medium, K2Cr2O7 exists as Cr2O2−7 (orange) while in basic medium it is
converted to CrO42−(yellow).
5. Transition metals and their compounds generally exhibit a paramagnetic behaviour.
because the metals and their contain unpaired electrons in the (n-1) d-orbitals.
6. K2Cr2O7 acts as a powerful oxidising agent in acidic medium.
In acidic medium K2Cr2O7 liberates nascent oxygen which oxidises the other substances
hence, it acts as a strong oxidising agent.
7. Zr and Hf exhibit similar properties.
Due to Lanthanoid contraction they have same atomic and ionic size.
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8. Transition metals form interstitial compounds.
The lattice of transition metals contains open spaces that can be filled with atoms such
as H, C, and N.
9. Transition metals possess a great tendency to form complexes.
Due to small size, high nuclear charge, availability of vacant d- orbitals of suitable
energy to accommodate lone pairs of electrons donated by the ligands.
10. Cu2+ is paramagnetic while Cu+ is diamagnetic.
Cu2+ has 3d9 configuration and one unpaired electron, therefore paramagnetic. Whereas
Cu+ has 3d10 configuration and no unpaired electron.
11. Transition elements form alloys.
Transition metals have very similar atomic sizes. One metal can easily replace the other
metal from its lattice to form solid solution (alloy).
12. In case of transition elements, ions of the same charge in a given series show progressive
decrease in radius with increasing atomic number.
Due to poor shielding effect of d-orbitals, the effective nuclear charge increases, size
decreases.
13. Melting and boiling points of Zn, Cd and Hg are low.
In Zn, Cd and Hg, all the electrons in d-subshell are paired. Hence, the metallic bonds
present in them are weak. Therefore, they have low melting and boiling points.
14. Lanthanoids and actinoids are called rare earths.
As they are found in earth's crust in very less percentage.
15. Orange solution of potassium dichromate turns yellow on adding sodium hydroxide to it.
When Potassium dichromate is treated with NaOH, it forms chromate ions. This
chromate ions are reason for the yellow colour solution.
Cr2O72- + 2OH- ⇌ H2O + 2CrO42-
16. The oxidising power in the series increases in the order VO2+ < Cr2O72- <MnO4-.
In the given ions, the oxidation states of V, Cr and Mn are +4, +6 and +7 respectively.
The tendency to get reduced is higher with higher O.S hence their oxidising power is also
in the same order.
17. Zr and Hf have similar atomic size.
Due to Lanthanoid contraction.
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18. Atomic radii of Lanthanoids and actinoids decrease along the series.
Due to Lanthanoid and actinoid contraction.
19. Sc3+ is diamagnetic in nature.
Sc3+ has [Ar] 18 3d0 4s0 configuration. It has no unpaired electron and is diamagnetic.
20. La (OH)3 is the strongest base while Lu(OH)3 is the weakest.
As the size of the lanthanoid ion decrease from La3+→Lu3+ the ionization energy
increases and therefore, metallic character decrease. Hence, the basic strength decreases
from La(OH)3 to Lu(OH)3.
21. Actinoids exhibit greater range of oxidation states than Lanthanoids.
Because of the very small energy gap between 5f, 6d and 7s subshells.
22. +3 oxidation state is more common in lanthanoids.
The +3 O.S is achieved by removing outermost two electrons of 6s and one electron from
4f orbitals. It is tough to remove additional electrons from the 4f subshell due to the
significant energy difference between 4f and 6s.
23. Mn2+ is more stable than Fe2+ towards oxidation to +3 state.
Electronic configuration of Mn+2 is 3d5, which is half filled and hence stable. Hence, it
cannot lose third electron easily. In case of Fe+2 electronic configuration is 3d6. Hence,
it can lose one electron easily to give stable configuration 3d5.
24. Cr2+ is reducing while Mn3+ is oxidising, though both have d4 configuration.
Cr2+ is reducing as its configuration changes from d4 to d3, Cr3+ has exactly have
filled t2g level. On the other hand, the change from Mn3+ to Mn2+ results in the half-
filled (d5) configuration which has extra stability. That is why Cr2+ is reducing
and Mn3+ is oxidising when both have d4 configuration.
25. The paramagnetic character in 3d-transition series elements increases up to Mn and then
decreases.
On moving from Sc to Mn, the number of unpaired electrons increases and hence
Paramagnetic character increases. But after Mn, the pairing of electrons in the d-
subshell starts and the number of unpaired electrons and hence paramagnetic character
decreases.
26. d- block elements exhibit more oxidation states than f-block elements.
In case of d - block elements, the ns and (n -1)d electrons take part in bond formation.
Hence, d - block elements show variable oxidation states. In case of f - block elements,
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due to decrease in the screening effect of f - subshell, the influence of nucleus on the outer
electrons increases and hence, these electrons are not involved in bonding. Moreover,
the f - electrons are located in the anti - penultimate (n - 2) - orbitals and are greatly
attracted by the nucleus. So, f - electrons are reluctant to take part in bonding. Therefore,
the f - block elements do not exhibit greater number of oxidation states.
27. The purple colour of KMnO₄ disappears when it reacts with a reducing agent in acidic
medium.
Mn⁷⁺ is reduced to nearly colourless Mn²⁺ ions.
28. Enthalpy of atomization is low for Zn.
Fully filled d orbitals cause weak metallic bonding.
29. During oxidation with K₂Cr₂O₇ in acidic medium, the orange colour changes to green.
Cr⁶⁺ (orange) is reduced to Cr³⁺ (green).
30. In neutral or alkaline medium, KMnO₄ is reduced to MnO₂ (brown precipitate).
Oxidation potential decreases in non-acidic media and Mn⁴⁺ in MnO₂ is more stable
than Mn²⁺ in these conditions.
Complete the following equations:
(a) 2 KMnO4 + 10 KI + 8 H2SO4 → 6 K2SO4 + 2 MnSO4 + 8 H2O + 5 I2
(b) K2Cr2O7 +4 H2SO4 + 3 H2S → K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 3 S + 7 H2O
(c) 2 KMnO4 + 8 H2SO4 + 10 FeSO4 → K2SO4 + 2 MnSO4 + 5 Fe (SO4)3 + 8 H2O
(d) 2 KMnO4 + 3 H2SO4 + 5 H2C2O4 → K2SO4 + 2 MnSO4 + 8 H2O + 10 CO2
(e) K2Cr2O7 +7 H2SO4 + 6 KI → 4 K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 7 H2O+ 3 I2
(f) K2Cr2O7 + 7 H2SO4 + 6 FeSO4→ K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 3 Fe2(SO4)3 + 7 H2O
(g) 2 MnO2 + 4 KOH + O2 → 2 KMnO4 + 2 H2O
(h) 2 KMnO4 + 3 MnSO4 + 2 H2O → K2SO4 + 5 MnO2 + 2 H2SO4
(i) K2Cr2O7 + 4H2SO4 + 3Na2SO3 → Cr2(SO4)3 + K2SO4 + 3 Na2SO4 + 4 H2O
(j) K2Cr2O7 + 2 KOH → 2 K2CrO4 (aq) + H2O (l)
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(k) 2 KMnO4 + 5 SO2 + 2 H2O → K2SO4 + 2 MnSO4 + 2 H2SO4
(l) 2 KMnO4 + KI + H2O → 2 MnO2 + 2 KOH + KIO3
(m) 2 KMnO4 + 3 H2S → 2 KOH + 2 MnO2 + 2 H2O + 3 S
(n) 2 KMnO4 + 10 HCl + 3 H2SO4 → 5 Cl2+2 MnSO4+8 H2O
How will you obtain pure potassium permanganate (KMnO4) crystals from its ore,
pyrolusite? Give the steps involved and the reactions.
a. Conversion of pyrolusite (MnO2) to potassium manganate
∆
2 MnO2 + 4 KOH + O2 → 2K2MnO4 + 2 H2O
∆
Or 2 MnO2 + 2 K2CO3 + O2 → 2 K2MnO4+ 2 CO2
b. Oxidation of potassium manganate to potassium permanganate.
3K2MnO4 + 2CO2→2 KMnO4 + MnO2 + 2K2CO3
Or 2K2MnO4 +Cl2→2 KMnO4 + 2KCl
How is potassium dichromate prepared from a sample of chromite ore? Give balanced
equations for the chemical reactions involved.
a. Finely powdered Chromite ore is mixed with soda ash and quick lime. The mixture is then
roasted in a reverberatory furnace in presence of excess of air, a yellow mass containing
sodium chromate is obtained.
4 FeCr2O4 + 8 Na2CO3 + 7 O2 → 2Fe2O3 + 8 Na2CrO4 + 8CO2 (Sodium chromate)
b. Conversion of sodium chromate to sodium dichromate Sodium chromate is treated with
concentrated sulphuric acid to form sodium chromate.
2 Na2CrO4 + H2SO4 → Na2Cr2O7 + Na2SO4 + H2O
c. Conversion of sodium dichromate to potassium dichromate Sodium dichromate solution is
heated to concentrate. Now add a calculated quantity of potassium chloride is added. On
cooling, the least soluble potassium dichromate separate out as crystals.
Na2Cr2O7 + 2 KCl → K2Cr2O7 + 2 NaCl
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The magnetic moments of few transition metal ions are given below:
Metal ion Magnetic Moment (B.M)
Sc3+ 0.0
Cr2+ 4.9
Ni2+ 2.84
Ti3+ 1.73
(at no. Sc = 21, Ti =22, Cr = 24, Ni = 28)
Which of the given metal ions:
(i) has the maximum number of unpaired electrons? Cr2+
(ii) exhibits the most stable +3 oxidation state? Sc3+ with noble gas configuration
Draw the structures of chromate and dichromate ions.
Draw the structures of manganate and permanganate ions.
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