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Chemistry 101 (SEAS): Practice Exam 3 time allowed was 70 minutes.

1. [19 points].
Two chemistry students engage in a discussion about the structure of nitrous oxide N2O
(laughing gas). Isomer A is NNO, with oxygen at the end; and isomer B is NON,
with oxygen in the middle.
Complete the following (you do not have to indicate/determine the geometry of any structure):
Draw all possible Lewis (resonance) structures for each isomer, A and B, showing
all formal charges.
Based on careful formal charge analysis of all resonance structures for both isomers,
determine the best overall structure for nitrous oxide.
(Note: your analysis should involve a brief but careful discussion - not merely
a numerical listing of the formal charges.)
Determine all bond orders in your best structure.

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2. [15 points].
Consider lithium biselenate (LiHSeO4) with the following arrangement of atoms:

Consider the possible Lewis structures (octet & expanded octet, as appropriate) and complete
the following - showing all non-zero formal charges and all lone pair electrons.. You are not
expected to indicate or determine the geometry of any of the structures.
(i) Draw only the best Lewis octet structure(s) - based on formal charge considerations.
(ii) Draw only the best Lewis expanded octet structure(s) - based on formal charge
considerations.
Note: For (i) and for (ii): if more than one resonance structure contributes equally to a best
structure, be sure to clearly indicate this - with brief explanation.
(iii) Considering all of the structures that you drew in (i) and (ii) together, determine
the best structure of all - briefly explaining why it is.
(iv) Is electron delocalization predicted for the best structure in (iii)? Briefly
explain the basis of your prediction.

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3. [17 points total].
This question has six independent parts.
(a)

In their senior design project, a group of MSE majors prepared a new intermetallic alloy.
After determining the structure, Lithium atoms were found to be located on all the corners
and all of the edges of the cubic unit cell, while Aluminum atoms occupied all of the faces
and the body center of the unit cell. What is the empirical formula of the new alloy?

(b)

During lecture we mentioned that some transition metal structures such as Ti could be
used in energy storage technologies. In one sentence describe what changes are made to
the structure of Ti to accomplish this application.

(c)

What aspects of the structure and bonding are responsible for the expansion of H2O when it
freezes (no more than 2 sentences)?

(d)

In lecture which type of structure was jokingly referred to as the structure of choice for a
secret agent?

(e)

In lecture we discussed the properties of ionically bonded piezoelectric crystals. In one

sentence describe why the cation promoted this effect.

(f) The following compounds all have the same crystal structure.
Which has the highest melting point? Which has the lowest melting point?
For full credit provide a one-sentence explanation.
BaS

MgS

Highest melting point:

Lowest melting point:
Explanation:

CaS

SrS

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4. [15 points].
For each of the following species complete the following:
(i) Draw the best Lewis structure (the central atom is the first atom in each case). Disobey
the octet rule only if necessary and then only when warranted. Show all lone pair electrons.
(ii) Display all bond dipoles on your best structure.
(iii) Write down the name of the observed geometry. You do not have to redraw the structure.
(iv) Determine whether the species is polar or non-polar and circle your choice below.
No explanations required.
(v) Write down the hybridization of the central atom.
(a) BiI3

-2
(b) TeCl4

(c) SeBr4

Name of
Observed Geometry

Hybridization of
Central Atom

Polar or Non-Polar (Circle One)

BiI3

Polar

or

Non-Polar

-2
TeCl4

Polar

or

Non-Polar

SeBr4

Polar

or

Non-Polar

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5. [13 points].
A materials engineer was able to stabilize Manganese metal (atomic weight 54.94 g/mol) in
three different crystal structures. She determined the lattice parameter of the simple cubic
form was 2.80 (280pm)
(a) Calculate the density (in g/cm3) of the body centered cubic form.

(b) Calculate the lattice parameter of the face centered cubic form.

(c) Compare and comment on the Mn-Mn bond length in all 3 forms.

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6. [21 points total] This question has 2 separate parts.
(a) Arrange each of the following species in increasing order of the property indicated.
Show your direction of increase clearly (A< B< C< D). No reasons are required.
(i) Ionic Radius :

Br-

(ii) Paramagnetism :

Fe+2

(iii) 1st Ionization Energy :

As-3

Rb+

O-

Gd+

Cr+

Al

Mg

Si

Sr+2

(b) Consider the molecule below where all lone pair electrons are shown and all atoms
are numbered as indicated:

(i)

Indicate by the listed atom number, which - if any - of the numbered atoms
have the following hybridizations. If no atoms exhibit the listed hybridization,
please write none. No explanations required.

sp

(if none - write none)

sp2

(if none - write none)

sp3

(if none - write none)

(ii) Describe clearly how each of the four bonds to C (#13) are formed. Be sure to indicate
the orbitals involved, how the bond forms, and the correct symbol for the resultant
molecular orbital formed. . If you draw a picture of the bonding, it must be explained.

Bond: atoms involved (use listed #) :

& C (#13)

Describe bonding:

Bond: atoms involved (use listed #) :

& C (#13)

Describe bonding:

Bond: atoms involved (use listed #) :

& C (#13)

Describe bonding:

Bond: atoms involved (use listed #) :

& C (#13)

Describe bonding:

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Possibly Useful Information

Atomic masses (g/mol)

Mn
=
54.94

1 joule (J) = 1 kg m2 s-2

h = 6.63 x 10-34 J s
c = 3.00 x 108 m/s
1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J
Avogadros number = 6.022 x1023 mol-1
1 = 1x10-10 meter = 1x10-8 centimeters (cm) = 0.10 nanometers (nm)
= 0.01 picometers (pm)