Why are potassium and cesium, rather than lithium used in photoelectric cells?
All the three, lithium, potassium, and cesium, are alkali metals. Still, K and Cs are used in the photoelectric cell and not Li.
This is because as compared to Cs and K, Li is smaller in size and therefore, requires high energy to lose an electron. While on the other hand, K and Cs have low ionization energy. Hence, they can easily lose electrons. This property of K and Cs is utilized in photoelectric cells.
Compare the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals with respect to
(i) ionization enthalpy
(ii) basicity of oxides and
(iii) solubility of hydroxides.
Compare the solubility and thermal stability of the following compounds of the alkali metals with those of the alkaline earth metals.
(a) Nitrates (b) Carbonates (c) Sulphates.
Discuss the various reactions that occur in the Solvay process.
Comment on each of the following observations:
(a) The mobilities of the alkali metal ions in aqueous solution are Li+ < Na+ < K+ < Rb+ < Cs+
(b) Lithium is the only alkali metal to form a nitride directly.
(c) E° for M2+(aq) (where M = Ca, Sr or Ba) is nearly constant.
Why are lithium salts commonly hydrated and those of the other alkali metal ions usually anhydrous?
State as to why
(a) a solution of Na2CO3 is alkaline ?
(b) alkali metals are prepared by electrolysis of their fused chlorides ?
(c) sodium is found to be more useful than potassium ?
When an alkali metal dissolves in liquid ammonia the solution can acquire different colours. Explain the reasons for this type of colour change.
In what ways lithium shows similarities to magnesium in its chemical behaviour?
Why is Li2CO3 decomposed at a lower temperature whereas Na2CO3 at higher temperature?
Find the oxidation state of sodium in Na2O2.
How do you account for the formation of ethane during chlorination of methane?
What are hybridisation states of each carbon atom in the following compounds ?
(i) CH2=C=O,
(ii) CH3CH=CH2,
(iii) (CH3)2CO,
(iv) CH2=CHCN,
(v) C6H6
What will be the minimum pressure required to compress 500 dm3 of air at 1 bar to 200 dm3 at 30°C?
Calculate the molecular mass of the following:
(i) H2O
(ii) CO2
(iii) CH4
Assign oxidation number to the underlined elements in each of the following species:
(a) NaH2PO4
(b) NaHSO4
(c) H4P2O7
(d) K2MnO4
(e) CaO2
(f) NaBH4
(g) H2S2O7
(h) KAl(SO4)2.12 H2O
What is the basic theme of organisation in the periodic table?
Explain the formation of a chemical bond.
Choose the correct answer. A thermodynamic state function is a quantity
(i) used to determine heat changes
(ii) whose value is independent of path
(iii) used to determine pressure volume work
(iv) whose value depends on temperature only.
A liquid is in equilibrium with its vapour in a sealed container at a fixed temperature. The volume of the container is suddenly increased.
a) What is the initial effect of the change on vapour pressure?
b) How do rates of evaporation and condensation change initially?
c) What happens when equilibrium is restored finally and what will be the final vapour pressure?
Justify the position of hydrogen in the periodic table on the basis of its electronic configuration.
Convert the following into basic units:
(i) 28.7 pm
(ii) 15.15 pm
(iii) 25365 mg
For the reaction
2 A(g) + B(g) → 2D(g)
ΔU0 = –10.5 kJ and ΔS0 = –44.1 JK–1.
Calculate ΔG0 for the reaction, and predict whether the reaction may occur spontaneously.
Choose the correct answer. A thermodynamic state function is a quantity
(i) used to determine heat changes
(ii) whose value is independent of path
(iii) used to determine pressure volume work
(iv) whose value depends on temperature only.
What do you understand by isoelectronic species? Name a species that will be isoelectronic with each of the following atoms or ions.
(i) F–
(ii) Ar
(iii) Mg2+
(iv) Rb+
Explain why alkyl groups act as electron donors when attached to a π system.
Which of the following reactions will get affected by increasing the pressure?
Also, mention whether change will cause the reaction to go into forward or backward direction.
(i) COCl2 (g) ↔ CO (g) + Cl2 (g)
(ii) CH4 (g) + 2S2 (g) ↔ CS2 (g) + 2H2S (g)
(iii) CO2 (g) + C (s) ↔ 2CO (g)
(iv) 2H2 (g) + CO (g) ↔ CH3OH (g)
(v) CaCO3 (s) ↔ CaO (s) + CO2 (g)
(vi) 4 NH3 (g) + 5O2 (g) ↔ 4NO (g) + 6H2O(g)
Why is Wurtz reaction not preferred for the preparation of alkanes containing odd number of carbon atoms? Illustrate your answer by taking one example.
Enthalpies of formation of CO(g), CO2(g), N2O(g) and N2O4(g) are –110, – 393, 81 and 9.7 kJ mol–1 respectively. Find the value of ΔrH for the reaction:
N2O4(g) + 3CO(g) → N2O(g) + 3CO2(g)
(a) How many sub-shells are associated with n = 4?
(b) How many electrons will be present in the sub-shells having ms value of –1/2 for n = 4?
What is the minimum volume of water required to dissolve 1g of calcium sulphate at 298 K? (For calcium sulphate, Ksp is 9.1 x 10-6).