CLASS XII CHEMISTRY

VIVA QUESTIONS

1. Define volumetric analysis.

A quantitative method of analysis dealing with the volumes of solutions and their measurement.

2. What is meant by titration?

It is the process of quantitative determination of the amount of a substance by measuring the
amount of suitable reagent, called titrant, required to bring about a definite reaction to just
completion is called titration.

3. What is meant by redox titration?

In redox titrations, both oxidation and reduction reactions take place simultaneously.

4. Can we use HCl instead of dilute H2S04 in the given KMnO4 titration?
No, KMnO4 oxidises HCl to Cl2.

5. Can KMnO4 vs Mohr’s Salt titration be carried out in the neutral solution?
No. Under neutral conditions, brown precipitate of MnO2 is formed.

6. Define the end-point of a titration.

The stage during the course of titrimetric reaction where the completion of a reaction is indicated
by a certain colour change in the solution is called end-point of a titration.

7. How do you determine the end point of a reaction?

The end point is determined with certain substances that change their color at the end point.

8. Name a few indicators.

Phenolphthalein, Methyl Orange.

9. What is a standard solution?

It is a solution of known concentration.

10. What is a primary standard?

The substance whose standard solution can be prepared by dissolving directly its known amount
in a definite volume of solvent or solution is called a primary standard.

11. What is a Secondary standard?

The substance whose standard solution cannot be prepared directly by weighing its definite
amount and then dissolving it in a definite volume of water is called a secondary standard.

12. Why are hot solutions not poured into the burette?
Heat makes the glass of the burette expand and introduce errors in volume measurements.

13. Why one should not force the last drop in the pipette by blowing?
The pipette is so calibrated that the last drop need not be forced out.

14. The Pipette should never be held from its bulb. Why?
The human body temperature may expand the glass and introduce measuring errors.

15. Why is heating required for Oxalic Acid vs KMnO4 titration.

At room temperature, the reaction is very slow due to slow liberation of Mn2+. Oxalic acid is
heated to speed up the liberation of Mn2+ ion which then auto-catalyses the reaction.

16. Will you heat Mohr’s salt solution before titration with KMnO4?
No, it is a fast reaction even at room temperature.

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17. Why are the few drops of dil.H2SO4 added while preparing a standard solution of Mohr’s salt?
To prevent hydrolysis of ferrous sulphate.

18. Why is Mohr’s Salt preferred as a primary standard over ferrous sulphate in volumetric analysis?
Mohr’s Salt is stable and is not readily oxidized [Fe2+ → Fe3+] by air.
Mohr’s Salt is readily soluble in salt water.

19. A burette used for KMnO4 titration becomes light brown. How will you clean it?
It should be washed with dil. Ferrous sulphate solution and then with water.

20. Why are sometimes brown ppt. or turbidity forms in KMnO4 titration with oxalic acid?
Brown turbidity is due to the precipitation of manganese dioxide.
2KMNO4 + 3MnSO4 + 7H2O → 5MnO2.H2O +K2SO4 +2H2SO4

21. Will you read upper or lower meniscus of KMnO4 solution in a burette?
Upper meniscus because KMnO4 is dark purple in colour.
[for dark coloured solution - upper meniscus; for light coloured / transparent - lower meniscus]

22. Which mineral acid is most suitable for carrying out KMnO4 titration?
Sulphuric acid
Nitric acid cannot be used because it itself is an oxidising agent and therefore reacts
with reducing agents.
Hydrochloric acid acts as a reducing agent and the following reaction takes place:
2MnO4 - + 10Cl- + 16H+ → 2Mn2+ + 5Cl2 + 8H2O

23. What is the reduction half reaction for KMnO4 in acid medium?
MnO4 - + 8H + 5e → Mn2+ +4 H2O

24. What is the equivalent mass of KMnO4 in acid medium?

Equivalent-mass of KMnO4= 158/5 =31.6 g equivalent

25. Why is it necessary to rinse the burette or pipette with the liquid it is filled with?
The water that may be sticking to the sides will alter the strength of the solution taken in it.

26. With what will you wash and rinse the conical flask in which you carry out the titration?
Conical Flask is to be washed with water only and is not to be rinsed with any other liquid. If
rinsed with the solution, the solution sticking to it adds to the volume.

27. What is the formula and basicity of oxalic acid?

Oxalic acid is (COOH)2.2H2O. The basicity of oxalic acid is 2. It is a dibasic acid.

28. What are the precautions that should be taken while performing the experiment?
• Clean all the apparatus with distilled water before starting the experiment and then rise
with the solution to be taken in them.
• Potassium permanganate is dark in colour, so always read the upper meniscus.
• Use dilute sulfuric acid for acidifying the potassium permanganate.
• Take accurate readings once it reaches the endpoint and don’t go with average readings.

29. What type of salt is Mohr’s salt?

Mohr’s salt, or ammonium iron(II) sulphate, is an inorganic compound with the formula
(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O. It is a double salt.

30. What are double salts?

A double salt is a mixture of two different salts taken together as a single substance in a specific
molecular proportion.
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31. What is the oxidation state of Fe in Mohr’s salt?
In Mohr’s salt, iron has an oxidation state of +2.

32. What is the distinction between double and complex salt?

A simple salt that dissociates in aqueous solutions is referred to as double salt. Complex salts
can be simple or complex, but they do not dissociate in an aqueous solution.

33. Why is dilute H2SO4 added while preparing a standard solution of ferrous ammonium sulphate?
To prevent ferrous sulphate hydrolysis, dilute H2SO4is added. Excessive heating is avoided when
dissolving the salt mixture in water. This prevents conversion of Fe2+ (light green) to Fe3+ (yellow).

34. Which of the following is an oxidising agent and which is a reducing agent in the reaction of
KMnO4 and FeSO4?
The oxidising agent is KMnO4, and the reducing agent is FeSO4.

35. Why is platinum metal preferred to other metals for the flame test?
Platinum is chemically inert, which means it does not react with other elements to form oxides
or other compounds.

36. Which colour of the flame is observed through the naked eye for Ca2+ / Ba2+ / Sr2+ ?
Ca2+ Brick Red / Ba2+ Apple Green / Sr2+ Crimson

37. Analysis of which group cation gives white fumes in the confirmatory test?
Zero group cation NH4+.
Ammonia gas produced by the action of sodium hydroxide on ammonium salts reacts with
hydrochloric acid to produce ammonium chloride, which appears as a dense white fume.

38. What is Nessler’s reagent?

Nessler’s reagent is a solution of mercury (II) iodide (HgI2) in potassium iodide (KI) and potassium
hydroxide (KOH). The presence of NH4+ ion is confirmed by the brown or yellow precipitate.

39. What is the observation for confirmatory tests for Group I cation Pb2+?
Add potassium iodide solution to the salt solution. A yellow precipitate forms to confirm Pb2+.

40. What is the group reagent of Group I?

Dilute HCl.

41. What is the group reagent of Group II?

H2S gas in the presence of dil. HCl

42. What is the group reagent of Group III?

Group III cations are precipitated as hydroxides by adding NH4OH in the presence of NH4Cl.
Thus, in the presence of NH4Cl, the group reagent for this group is NH4OH.

43. What is the group reagent of Group IV?

The group’s reagent is H2S gas in the presence of NH4Cl and NH4OH.

44. What is aqua regia?

Aqua regia is a 3:1 by volume mixture of concentrated HCl and concentrated HNO3.

45. Name a cation, which is not obtained from a metal.

Ammonium ion (NH4+).

46. What is a radical?

An atom or group of atoms that carries charge and behaves as a single unit in chemical reactions.

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47. What are acidic and basic radicals?
Acidic radicals are negatively charged anions. For example, SO42–, NO3–, and so on. Positively
charged cations are basic radicals. For example, Na+, Fe2+, and so on.

48. How will you test the presence of carbonate ions?

Add dil. H2SO4 to the salt. CO2 gas is produced. The gas turns after lime water milky.

49. What is lime water?

Lime water is a solution of Ca(OH)2 in water.

50. What happens if too much CO2 is passed through lime water?
The white ppt. of CaCO3 dissolves into soluble calcium bicarbonate, the milkiness disappears.
CaCO3 + CO2 +H2O → Ca(HCO3)2

51. How is the ring test for nitrates carried out?

Freshly prepared FeSO4 solution is added to the salt solution, followed by concentrated sulphuric
acid along the tube walls. At the intersection of the two solutions, a dark brown ring forms.

52. What is the chromyl chloride test?

In a dry test tube, combine the salt, H2SO4 and solid K2Cr2O7. Chromyl chloride vapours of a
deep brownish-red colour are formed. Pass these vapours through NaOH solution. When acetic
acid and lead acetate are added to this solution, a yellow ppt. confirms the presence of chloride.

53. What is Baeyer’s reagent?

Baeyer’s reagent is alkaline KMnO4 solution used to detect unsaturation in organic compounds.

54. Name a test useful in determining the presence of the carbonyl group?
2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine test or 2, 4- DNP test determines the presence of the carbonyl group.

55. What is Tollen’s reagent?

Tollen’s reagent is an ammonical silver nitrate solution. It determines the presence of aldehyde.

56. Name tests used to distinguish the aldehydic and ketonic groups.
Tollen’s and Fehling’s tests help determine aldehydic and ketonic groups.

57. What is Fehling’s solution?

Fehling’s solution is a mixture of copper sulphate and sodium hydroxide containing sodium
potassium tartrate (Rochelle’s salt).

58. How will you distinguish between phenol and carboxylic acid?
Carboxylic acid reacts with NaHCO3 to liberate carbon dioxide gas, whereas phenols don’t.

59. What causes a brisk effervescence in the sodium bicarbonate test?

Liberation of carbon dioxide gives a brisk effervescence in the sodium bicarbonate test.

60. How can you synthesise nitrous acid?

HNO2 is synthesised by reacting sodium nitrite with dilute hydrochloric acid below 5°C.

61. What is the theory behind the Flame Test?

When the atoms are excited by heating in a flame, their electrons move from their ground state
to higher energy levels to produce a signature line emission spectrum for an element.

62. Why is HCl used in Flame Test?

In a flame test, concentrated HCl is used to convert the compounds into their metallic chlorides.
This is because the metallic chlorides are volatile and can easily impart colour to the flame.

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