Reasoning questions

Q1 Why Zn,Cd and Hg are not regarded as transition elements ?

Ans Zn,Cd and Hg has completely filled the d-orbital either in ground state or in the most stable +2
oxidation state.
Q2.On what ground can you say that scandium (Z = 21) is a transition element but zinc (Z = 30) is not?
Ans. On the basis of incompletely filled 3d orbitals in case of scandium atom in its ground state (3d 1 ), it is
regarded as a transition element. On the other hand, a zinc atom has completely filled d orbitals (3d 10) in
its ground state as well as in its oxidised state, hence it is not regarded as a transition element.
Q3 Silver atom has completely filled d orbitals (4d10) in its ground state. How can you say that it is a
transition element?
Ans. Silver atoms have partially filled d orbitals in their +2 oxidation state hence …..
Q4 Why do the transition elements exhibit higher enthalpies of atomisation?
Ans. Because of the large number of unpaired electrons in their atoms they have stronger interatomic
interaction and hence stronger bonding between atoms resulting in higher enthalpies of atomisation.
Q5. In the series Sc (Z = 21) to Zn (Z = 30), the enthalpy of atomisation of zinc is the lowest, i.e., 126 kJ
mol–1. Why?
Ans. Zinc atoms have no unpaired electrons so their enthalpy of atomisation is the lowest in 3-d series.
Q6.Name a transition element which does not exhibit variable oxidation states.
Ans. Scandium (Z = 21) does not exhibit variable oxidation states
Q7. Which of the 3d series of the transition metals exhibits the largest number of oxidation states and why?
Ans. Mn exhibits the largest number of oxidation states because of highest no of unpaired electrons
Q8. Why is Cr2+ reducing and Mn3+ oxidising when both have d4 configuration?
Ans. Cr2+ is reducing as its configuration changes from d4 to d3 , the latter having a half-filled t2g level . On
the other hand, the change from Mn3+ to Mn2+ results in the half-filled (d5 ) configuration which has extra
stability.
Q9 The E0 (M2+/M) value for copper is positive (+0.34V). What is the possible reason for this?
Ans. Its high enthalpy of atomisation and high second ionisation enthalpy.
Q10. How would you account for the increasing oxidising power in the series VO2 + < Cr2O7 2– < MnO4 – ?
Ans. This is due to the increasing stability of the lower species to which they are reduced.
Q11.For the first row transition metals the E o values are: E o V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu (M2+/M) –1.18 – 0.91
–1.18 – 0.44 – 0.28 – 0.25 +0.34vrespectively Explain the irregularity in the above values.
Ans. The E0 (M2+/M) values are not regular which can be explained from the irregular variation of
ionisation enthalpies first and second and also the sublimation enthalpies which are relatively much less for
manganese and vanadium.
Q12.Why is the E0 V value for the Mn3+/Mn2+ couple much more positive than that for Cr3+/Cr2+ or
Fe3+/Fe2+? Explain.
Ans. Much larger third ionisation energy of Mn (where the required change is d5 to d4 ) is mainly
responsible for this. This also explains why the +3 state of Mn is of little importance.
Q13. Why is the highest oxidation state of a metal exhibited in its oxide or fluoride only?
Ans. Oxygen and fluorine have high electronegativity and small size helps to achieve the highest oxidation
state.
Q14.Which is a stronger reducing agent Cr2+ or Fe2+ and why ?
Ans. Cr2+ is a stronger reducing agent than Fe2+ because their E0 value is less negative
Q15. Calculate the magnetic moment of a divalent ion in aqueous solution if its atomic number is 25.
Ans. With atomic number 25, the divalent ion in aqueous solution will have d5 configuration (five unpaired
electrons). The magnetic moment, µ is µ= 𝑛(𝑛 + 2) 𝐵𝑀 = 5(5 + 2) = 5.92BM where n is the no of
unpaired electrons.
Q16. Calculate the ‘spin only’ magnetic moment of M2+ (aq) ion (Z = 27).
Ans. no unpaired electron is 3 so magnetic moments are 15 BM.
Q17. Why are transition metals and their compounds are coloured?
Ans. This is due to d-d transition.
Q18. Why transition metals form a large number of complex compounds.
Ans. This is due to the comparatively smaller sizes of the metal ions, their high ionic charges and the
availability of d orbitals for bond formation.
Q19. The transition metals and their compounds are known for their catalytic activity.
Ans. This activity is ascribed to their ability to adopt multiple oxidation states and to form complexes and
provide surfaces in heterogeneous catalysis.
Q20. Give reasons transition metals form large no. of alloys.
Ans. Such alloys are formed by atoms with
metallic radii that are within about 15 percent of each other. Because of similar radii and other
characteristics of transition metals, alloys are readily formed by these metals.
Q21. What is meant by ‘disproportionation’ of an oxidation state? Give an example.
Ans.When a particular oxidation state becomes less stable relative to other oxidation states, one lower, one
higher, it is said to undergo disproportionation. For example, manganese (VI) becomes unstable relative to
manganese(VII) and manganese (IV) in acidic solution.
3 MnO4 2– + 4H+ → 2MnO4- + MnO2 + 2H2O
Q22.Explain why Cu+ ion is not stable in aqueous solutions?
Ans. copper (I) compounds are unstable in aqueous solution and undergo disproportionation. 2Cu+ → Cu2+
+ Cu The stability of Cu2+ (aq) rather than Cu+ (aq) is due to the much more negative ∆hydH of Cu2+
(aq) than Cu+ , which more than compensates for the second ionisation enthalpy of Cu.
Q23 Name a member of the lanthanoid series which is well known to exhibit +4 oxidation state. Ans.
Cerium (Z = 58)
Q24.Actinoid contraction is greater from element to element than lanthanoid contraction. Why?
Ans. The contraction is, however, greater from element to element in this series resulting from poor
shielding by 5f electrons.
Q25. What is lanthanoid contraction? What are the consequences of lanthanoid contraction?
Ans. The gradual decrease in the size of lanthanoids across the series is called lanthanoid contraction.
Consequences (i) the size second and third transition series are equal
(ii) separation of lanthanides becomes difficult due to almost similar sizes.
Q26.Why are Mn2+ compounds more stable than Fe2+ towards oxidation to their +3 state?
Ans. Mn2+ has half filled orbital whereas Fe2 + has partially filled D orbitals Hence they have a tendency
to loss 1 electron and achieve their half filled configuration
Q27.Name the oxometal anions of the first series of the transition metals in which the metal exhibits the
oxidation state equal to its group number.
Ans.Mno4- and Cr2 O72-
Q28.Transition metals and many of their compounds show paramagnetic behaviour
Ans.Transition metal compounds have a large number of unpaired electrons and hence they show
paramagnetic behaviour.
Q29.Predict which of the following will be coloured in aqueous solution? Ti 3+, V3+ , Cu+ , Sc3+, Mn2+, Fe3+
and Co2+. Give reasons for each.
Ans V3+,Mn2+,Fe3+ and Co2+ are coloured because they have unpaired electrons.
Q30. Name the members of the lanthanoid series which exhibit +4 oxidation states and those which exhibit
+2 oxidation states. Try to correlate this type of behaviour with the electronic configurations of these
elements.
Ans. Cerium and terbium exhibit +4 oxidation state due to empty and half filled d-orbitals.
Euorepium and yetterbium exhibit +2 oxidation state because their half filled and full filled f- orbitals.