Structure and bonding

1. Ethanol is a liquid at room temperature but does not conduct electricity. Explain.
2. a) Distinguish between a covalent bond and a co-ordinate bond.
b) Draw a diagram to show bonding in an ammonium ion. (N = 7, H = 1)
3. a) Explain why the metals magnesium and aluminium are good conductors of electricity.
b) Other than cost, give two reasons why aluminium is used for making electric cables while
magnesium is not.
4. Explain why the boiling point of ethanol is higher than that of hexane.
(Relative molecular mass of ethanol is 46 while that of hexane is 86).
5. a) What is meant by dative covalent bond?

6. Sodium and Magnesium belong to the same period on the periodic table and both are metals.
Explain why magnesium is a better conductor of electricity than sodium.
7. Using dots and crosses to represent electrons, draw the structures of the following:
(a) Phosphorous chloride (PCl3)
(b) Hydroxonium ion (H3O+)
8. Between aluminium and copper which one is a better conductor? Explain
9. Water has a boiling point of 100oC while hydrogen chloride has a boiling point of -115oC. Explain

10. Explain why luminous flame is capable of giving out light and soot
11. When blue litmus paper is dipped in a solution of aluminium chloride it turns red. Explain
12. Carbon and Silicon are in the same group of the periodic table. Silicon (IV) Oxide melts
at 2440oC while solid Carbon (IV) Oxide sublimes at -70oC. In terms of structure and
bonding, explain this difference

13. Element A has an atomic number of 6 and b has an atomic number of 9:

(i) Write the electron arrangements for elements A and B
(ii) Using dot (•) and cross (X )diagram, show how A and B combine to form a compound

14. (a) Explain why aluminium is a better conductor of electricity than magnesium
(b) Other than cost and ability to conduct, give a reason why aluminium is used for making
cables while magnesium is not
15. Explain how electrical conductivity can be used to distinguish between magnesium oxide and
silicon (IV) oxide
16. a) The diagram below represents part of the structure of sodium chloride crystal

The position of one of the sodium ions in the crystal is shown as;
i) On the diagram, mark the positions of the other three sodium ions
ii) The melting and boiling points of sodium chloride are 801C and 1413C respectively. Explain
why sodium chloride does not conduct electricity at 25C, but does not at temperatures
between 801C and 1413C
b) Give a reason why ammonia gas is highly soluble in water
c) The structure of ammonium ion is shown below;
 H +

H H
H
Name the type of bond represented in the diagram by N H
d) Carbon exists in different crystalline forms. Some of these forms were recently discovered
in soot and are called fullerenes
i) What name is given to different crystalline forms of the same element
ii) Fullerenes dissolve in methylbenzene while the other forms of carbon do not. Given that soot is
a mixture of fullerenes and other solid forms of carbon, describe how crystals of fullerenes can
be obtained from soot
iii) The relative molecular mass of one of the fullerenes is 720. What is the molecular mass of
this fullerene
17. (a) Explain the following observations:-
(i) NaCl allows electric current to pass through them in molten state
(ii) Graphite is a non-metal yet it is a conductor of electricity
18. Study the table below and answer the questions that follow:-

Substance A B C D E F
Melting Point (oC ) 801 113 -39 5 -101 1356
119
Boiling point (oC) 1410 445 457 54 -36 2860
Electrical Solid Poor Poor Good Poor Poor Poor
Conductivity liquid Good Poor Good Poor Poor Poor

I Identify with reasons the substances that:

(i) Have a metallic structure (1½mk)
(ii) Have a molecular structure and exist in the liquid state at room temperature and pressure(
(iii) Suggest a reason why substance B has two melting points
(iv) Substances A and C conduct electric current in the liquid state. State how the two substances
differ as conductors of electric current *

19. (I) Sodium metal tarnishes when exposed to the air where a white powder is formed on its
surface. A small piece of this sodium metal was dropped into 25g of ethanol and 1200cm3
of hydrogen gas was evolved at r.t.p. The unreacted ethanol was evaporated and a white
solid remained. (Na=23, molar gas volume at r.t.p = 24dm3, C=12, O =16, H=1)
(a) Write a chemical equation for the reaction between ethanol and sodium metal
(b) Determine the mass of sodium that reacted with ethanol
(c) What mass of ethanol evaporated?
(d) The ethanol was evaporated at 80oC, while the white solid remained unaffected at this
temperature. What is the difference in structure of ethanol and the white solid?
(II) (a) Name an inorganic liquid which liberates hydrogen gas with sodium metal
(b) What two differences would you observe if similar pieces of sodium were dropped
separately into small beakers containing equal amount of ethanol and the liquid
named in (II)(a) above respectively
(III) (a) Give the name of the white powder formed on the original piece of sodium metal
(b) Explain how the white powder named in (III)(a) is formed
20. The grid below represents part of the periodic table. The letters do not represent actual
symbols of the elements. Study it and answer the questions that follow:-
 F P G N I
Q J K L M
N X-Z

(a) What type of bond would you expect in the compound formed between H and F. Explain
(b) (i) Which of the elements J and M will have a greater atomic radius? Explain
(ii) Elements F and N are in the same group of periodic table. How do their atomic
radius compare? Explain
(c) An element W has atomic number 15. Indicate the position it would occupy in the table above
(d) What is the name given to elements X – Z?
(e) Why is J used in electric cables where Q is not
(f) P and J are termed as metalloids. What does the term metalloid mean?
(g) How would you expect the reactivity of H and M to compare? Explain
21. (a) Part of the periodic table is given below study it and answer the questions that follow.
The letters do not represent the actual elements

Y Z

A B

(i) What type of bond is formed when Y reacts with Z. Explain

(ii) Explain the difference in the atomic radii of element A and B
(iii) Explain the difference in the reactivity of Z and B
 (b) Study the information in the table below and answer the questions that follow:
(The letters do not represent the actual symbols of the elements)

Element Electronic configuration Ionization energy KJmol-1

P 2:1 519
Q 2:8:1 494
R 2:8:8:1 418
(i) What is meant by ionization energy?
(ii) Element R has the lowest ionization energy. Explain
(iii) When a piece of element Q is placed on water it melts and a hissing sound is produced
as it moves on the water surface. Explain these observations
(iv) Write the equation for the reaction between element Q and water

22. The table below shows the elements in the third period, the oxides of the third period and their
properties. The letters are not the actual symbols of the elements. Study the information and answer
the questions that follow:

Element Atomic Atomic Oxide State at oxide melting point

number radius(nm) RT ºC
M 11 0.191 M2O Solid 1132
N ……… 0.160 NO Solid 2852
……
P 13 0.130 ……… Solid 2072
Q 14 0.118 QO2 ………. 1610
R ……… 0.110 ……… Solid 580
S 16 0.102 SO2 ……… -75
T 17 0.099 TO2 Gas -60
V 18 0.095 X X X
a) i) Complete the table above
ii) Explain the trend in the atomic radius across the period
iii) Explain why the oxide of element V does not exist
b) Name the type of structure and bond in the following oxide
Oxide Structure Bond type
NO

TO2

ii) Using dots and crosses to represent electrons. Show the bonding in the oxide, QO2
c) i)Explain why elements P conducts electricity but T does not
ii) The oxide of P reacts both acids and alkalis. Give the name of this kind of oxide

23. The table below gives information about elements A1, A2, A3 and A4

Element Atomic number Atomic radius (nm) Ionic radius (nm)

A1 3 0.134 0.74
A2 5 0.090 0.012
A3 13 0.143 0.050
A4 17 0.099 0.181

(i) In which period of the periodic table is element A2? Give a reason
(ii) Explain why the atomic radius of:
 I. A1 is greater than that of A2
II. A4 is smaller than its ionic radius
III. Select the element which is in the same group as A 3
IV. Using dots () and cross (x) to represent outermost electrons, draw a diagram to show
the bonding in the compound formed when A1 reacts with A4
24. The atomic number of element P is 11 and that of Q is 8
a) Write down the possible formula of the compound formed between P and Q
b) Using dots (·) and crosses(x) to represent electrons draw a diagram to represent the
bonding in the compound in (a) above
25. Name the type of bonding and structure found in: -
(a) Ice
(b) Magnesium chloride
26. Name the type of bonding and structure found in: -
(a) Ice
(b) Magnesium chloride

27. Use the scheme to answer the questions that follow:

Solid N changes Solution Q
H2SO4(aq)
from yellow to white
on standing

HCl (aq)

Solution L

(a) Identify solid N ……………………………………………………………….

(b) Write a balanced equation for the formation of Q
(c) Write the formula of the complex ion formed when sodium hydroxide is added to
solution L in excess
28. (a) Using dots (•) and crosses (x) to represent electrons show bonding in:
NH-2 ( N=7, H=1) S8 (S = 16)

(b) Show bonding in Carbon (II) Oxide by use of (__) or ( ) to represent bonds.
29. In terms of structure and bonding, explain why diamond is the hardest naturally occurring
Substance

30. Identify the bond types in the diagram

31. Elements A, B, C, and D are not actual symbols, have atomic numbers 19, 9, 12 and 10 respectively.
(a) Which two elements represent non-metals
(b) Write the formula of the compound formed between elements B and C and identity the
bond present in the compound

32. (a) Distinguish between a covalent and dative bond

(b) Explain why nitrogen gas reacts with oxygen at very high temperature
33. Draw a dot ( ) and cross (x) diagram to show bonding in:-
(i) Ammonium ion (NH4+
(N = 7.0, H= 1)
 (ii) Silane (SiH4)

(Si= 14, H = 1)
34. Below is a table oxides of some period three elements

Oxides Na2O P4O6 SO2 Cl2O

State at room temp Solid Solid Gas Gas

(a) Give the systematic name of Cl2O

(b) Explain why Na2O exists as a solid whereas SO2 is a gas at room temperature

35. The table below shows properties of period three chlorides

Formular of compound NaCl MgCl2 AlCl3 SiCl4
o o
Bp Co 1470 C 1420 C 180 C 60oC
o

Explain why AlCl3 solid has a much lower boiling point than MgCl2 solid