Periodicity (Topics 3 and 13) Practice Test IB Chemistry

Some clarifications to objectives:

SL : *You do not need to memorize all the reactions of the oxides with water, only Na2O, MgO, P4O10
and SO3 with water.

HL*Students should know that all transition elements can show an oxidation number of +2. In addition,
they should be familiar with the oxidation numbers of the following: Cr (+3, +6), Mn (+4, +7), Fe (+3)
and Cu (+1), but not the others.

Scandium is not considered a transition element because it is usually Sc3+ in compounds, and in the 3+
state it has no d electrons. Transition elements have a partially filled d-sublevel.

At room temperature the phases of period 3 chlorides and chlorine are:

Solid: NaCl, MgCl2, Al2Cl6, PCl5
Liquid: SiCl4, PCl3
Gas: Cl2
*PCl5 actually contains some ions, which is why it is so different from PCl3, which is a gas at
room temperature.
3.1- The Periodic table

1. 1) For which element are the group number and the period number the same?
A. Li B. Be C. B D. Mg

1. 2) Sulphur is found in period 3 and group 6 of the periodic table.

(i) Distinguish between the terms period and group.

(1)
(ii) State the electron arrangement of slphur and explain why it is found in period 3 and group 5 of
the periodic table.

3.2- Physical properties

1. 3) Which of the following properties of the halogens decrease from F to I?

I. Atomic radius

II. Melting point

III. Electronegativity

A. I only B. I and II only C. I and III only D. I, II and III

1. 4) Compared to Li, Cs is likely to

A. A. Have a higher boiling point and a smaller ionic radius.

 B. B. Have a lower boiling point and smaller ionic radius.

C. C. Have a higher boiling point and a larger ionic radius.

D. D. Have a lower boiling point and a larger ionic radius.

1. 5) Explain the following features of the melting points of the period 3 elements. Refer to
bonding and structure, and use information from Table 6 in the Data Booklet.

(i) The difference between the values for sodium and magnesium
(3)

(ii) The high value for silicon

(2)

(iii) The difference between the values for chlorine and argon
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

–12
Table 1 Covalent (atomic) radii / 10 m

N 0 F
70 66 58
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
186 160 143 117 110 104 99
–12
Table 2 Ionic radii/10 m
3– 2– –
N O F
171 146 133
+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 3– 2– –
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
98 65 45 42 212 190 181

1. 6) Explain why

(i) the aluminum ion is much smaller than the aluminum atom.
(2)

(ii) there is a large increase in ionic radius from silicon to phosphorus.

(2)

+ –
(iii) the ionic radius of Na is less than that of F .
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
1. 7)
(i) Explain how the first ionization energy of F compares with that of Cl and O.
 (3)

(ii) Explain the difference between the first ionization energies of O and F.
(4)

6+
(iii) Suggest why much more energy is needed to remove an electron from O than from
6+
F .
(1)
(Total 8 marks)
1. 8) Table 8 of the Data Booklet gives the
atomic and ionic radii of elements. State and explain the difference between

i. (i) the atomic radius of nitrogen and

oxygen (2 marks)

ii. (ii) the atomic radius of nitrogen and

phosphorus (1 mark)

iii. (iii) the atomic and ionic radius of nitrogen

(2 marks)

3.3- Chemical properties

1. 9) Which pair of elements reacts most

readily?

A. K + Br2 B. K + Cl2 C. Rb + Br2 D. Rb + Cl2

1. 10) The compounds Na2O, Al2O3 and SO2 respectively are

A. acidic, amphoteric and basic.

B. amphoteric, basic and acidic.

C. basic, acidic and amphoteric.

D. basic, amphoteric and acidic.

1. 11) Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of the period 3 elements Na to Ar. For
sodium oxide and tetraphosphorus decaoxide, write balanced equations to illustrate their acid-
base character.

1. 12) Table 6 of the Data Booklet lists melting points of the elements. Explain the trend in the
melting points of the alkali metals and halogens.

(12 ½)

(i) Describe three similarities and one difference in the reactions of lithium and
potassium with water.
(4)
 (ii) Give an equation for one of these reactions. Would this be acidic or basic and justify
your answer.

13.1 Trends across period 3

1. 13) Which properties of period 3 elements increase from sodium to argon?

I. Nuclear charge

II. Atomic radius

III. Electronegativity

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III

1. 14) Which general trends are correct for the oxides of the period 3 elements (Na 2O to Cl2O)?

I. Acid character increases.

II. Electrical conductivity (in the molten state) decreases.

III. Bonding changes from ionic to covalent.

A. I and II only B. I and III only C. II and III only D. I, II and III

1. 15) Which of the reactions below occur as written?

– –
I. Cl2 + 2Br → 2Cl + Br2

– –
II. Br2 + 2Cl → 2Br + Cl2

A. I only B. II only C. Both I and II D. Neither I nor II

1. 16) Which of the following chlorides is (are) gas(es) at room temperature?

I. SiCl4 II. PCl3 III. Cl2

A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only

1. 17) Outline the reasoning for the following in terms of electronic configuration:

(i) The first ionization energy of Al is lower than that of Mg.

(2)
4+ 2+
(ii) Mn (aq) is coloured and can behave as a reducing agent, whereas Zn (aq) is not coloured
 and does not behave as a reducing agent.
(6)
(Total 8 marks)

1. 18) Table 6 of the Data Booklet lists melting points of the elements. Explain the trend in the
melting points of the elements in period 3.

13.2 First row “d” block elements

1. 19) Which of the following salts form coloured solutions when dissolved in water?

I. ScCl3 II. CoCl3

III. CuCl2 IV. ZnCl2

A. I and II only B. II and III only

C. III and IV only D. I, II, III and IV

1. 20) Define the term ligand. Fe2+(aq) reacts with ammonia to form the complex ion
2+
[Fe(H2O)6] . Explain this reaction in terms of an acid-base theory, and outline the bonding in
2+
the complex ion formed between Fe and H2O.

1. 21) Elements with atomic number 21 to 30 are d-block elements.

(a) Identify which of these elements are not considered to be typical transition elements.
(1)

(b) Complex ions consist of a central metal ion surrounded by ligands. Define the term
ligand.
(2)

(c) Complete the table below to show the oxidation state of the transition element.
(3)
– 2−
ion MnO4 [CuCl4] [Ni(NH3)6]2+
oxidation state

(d) Identify two transition elements used as catalysts in industrial processes, stating the
process in each case.
(2)

(e) Apart from the formation of complex ions and apart from their use as catalysts, state
two other properties of transition elements.
(2)
(Total 10 marks)