Question 1 Question 6

An improper rotation axis, S, arises from which of the In symmetry terms, which of the following MUST be true for
following situations? an allowed transition?

a. A mirror plane combined with an inversion a. Both the electronic and vibrational representations
b. Two proper rotation axes combined must be symmetric.
c. Identity combined with a mirror plane b. Both the electronic and vibrational representations
d. A proper rotation axis combined with a mirror plane must be asymmetric.
e. The combination of two mirror planes c. Only the electronic representations must be
symmetric.
Question 2 d. Only the vibrational representations must be
Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks. Raman activity is symmetric.
dictated by a change in the _____________ of a molecule, e. Symmetry does not matter, as long as there is a
while IR activity is related to a change in the ____________. change in dipole or polarizability.

a. Polarizability, dipole moment Question 7

b. Magnetism, dipole moment Symmetry elements within a group must display which of the
c. Symmetry, magnetism following?
d. Dipole moment, polarizability
e. Magnetism, symmetry a. Closure (If A and B belong to the group, and A x B = C,
then C also belongs to the group.)
Question 3 b. Associativity (A(BC) = (AB)C )
Dodecaborate (B12H12) does NOT contain which of the c. Identity (The symmetry element times its identity, E,
following symmetry elements? remains unchanged.)
d. Inverses (There must be an inverse symmetry
a. E element that returns the molecule to its original
b. C5 state; A x A-1 = E.)
c. i e. Continuity (If a molecule contains an n axis, then it
d. S10 also contains axes of n-1, n-2...)
e. C6

Question 4
Fill in the blank. The character table for a C3v molecule, such
as PCl3, lists three symmetry labels: A1, A2, and E. The A1
mode transforms z, z2, and x2 + y2. This means that the A1
mode is ________________.

a. IR active only
b. Raman active only
c. Both IR and Raman active
d. Neither IR or Raman active
e. The only spectroscopically active mode in the
molecule

Question 5
Fill in the blank. The character table for a D 3h ion, such as
CO32-, lists six symmetry labels: A1', A2', E', A1'', A2'', and E''.
The A2' mode transforms Rz. This means that the A2' mode is
_________________.

a. IR active only
b. Raman active only
c. Both IR and Raman active
d. Neither IR or Raman active
e. The only spectroscopically active mode in the
molecule
Question 8 Question 11
Using the flow chart provided, determine which point group a Hydrogen and helium both have two electrons (completely
tennis ball would belong to. filled) bonding molecular orbitals. Hydrogen exists as a
diatomic molecule; helium does not. Why?

a. Helium also has electrons in antibonding orbitals,

resulting in a bond order of zero.
b. Helium also has electrons in non-bonding orbitals,
resulting in a bond order of zero.
c. Helium is a noble gas and never forms bonds.
d. Hydrogen also has electrons in nonbonding orbitals,
resulting in a bond order of two.
e. Hydrogen has no antibonding orbitals, resulting in a
bond order of two.

Question 12
The bond order of a molecule is given by the equation: ½
(bonding electrons - antibonding electrons). What accounts
for the ½?

a. The amount of magnetic character is reduced in

bonds.
b. The electrons are shared between two elements.
c. Nonbonding electrons decrease bond ability.
d. The antibonding electrons interfere with bonding.
e. None of the above

Question 13
What is the bond order for dinitrogen, N 2?

a. 5
b. 1
c. 1.5
d. 2
e. 3
a. D2d
b. Cs Question 14
c. C2h When drawing the MO diagram of a heteronuclear diatomic
d. S4 molecule, at what relative positions should the atomic
e. D4 orbitals appear?

Question 9 a. They should be at the same energy to indicate bond

Which of the following has C4v symmetry? formation.
b. They should be at the same energy to indicate
a. H2O allowed symmetry.
b. BrF5 c. They should be at different energies, relative to their
c. BH3 difference in electronegativities.
d. PCl6 d. They should be at different energies, relative to their
e. W(CO)6 atomic radii.
e. They should be at different energies, relative to the
Question 10 number of lone pairs of electrons.
Which of the following does NOT contain an inversion center?
Question 15
a. SF6 When filling molecular orbitals, which of the following is
b. O2 FALSE?
c. BF3
d. C2Cl4 a. A maximum of two electrons per orbital is allowed.
e. All of the above b. The orbitals with the lowest energy are filled first.
 c. Orbitals of the same energies are half-filled first;
then electrons are allowed to pair up.
d. Non-bonding orbitals are filled first.
e. All of the above

Question 16
Which of the following minimizes nucleus-nucleus repulsion
and promotes electron-nucleus interaction?

a. Nonbonding molecular orbitals

b. Antibonding molecular orbitals
c. Bonding molecular orbitals
d. All of the above
e. A and C only

Question 17
Which of the following must be true when atomic orbitals
combine to form molecular orbitals?

a. They must have constructive net interaction.

b. They must have the correct symmetry to overlap
c. They must be similar in energy
d. There will be the same number of resultant
molecular orbitals as atomic orbitals
e. All of the above

Question 18
Which of the following statements concerning sigma and pi
molecular orbitals is FALSE?

a. Sigma interactions occur along the internuclear axis. a. CO2

b. Pi interactions occur above and below the b. H2O
internuclear axis. c. CN-
c. Sigma bonds form first, followed by the subsequent d. Cl2
formation of pi bonds. e. N2
d. Two pi bonds are involved in a double bond.
1. e. All of the above Question 21
1s22s22p63s23p63d5 is the electron configuration for which
Question 19 element/ion?
Which of the following statements is true of nonbonding
molecular orbitals? a. Mn2+
b. V
a. They are responsible for the formation of pi bonds. 2. c. Fe3+
b. They are similar in energy to the atomic orbitals. 3. d. All of the above
c. They counteract bond formation in a molecule. 4. e. A and C only
d. They help hold the molecule together, once it is
formed. Question 22
e. They are responsible for the formation of sigma According to valence bond theory (VBT), O2 has no unpaired
bonds. electrons. MO theory shows two unpaired electrons in a 2π*
molecular orbital. Which of the following experiments
Question 20 supports the correct electron configuration?
What compound is represented by this MO diagram? (Pay
attention to the number of electrons and their respective a. An EPR spectrum shows that oxygen is paramagnetic;
energies.) MO theory is correct.
b. An EPR spectrum shows that oxygen is paramagnetic;
VBT is correct.
c. Infrared spectroscopy shows a double bond stretch;
MO theory is correct.
 d. Infrared spectroscopy shows a double bond stretch;
VBT is correct.
e. There is no way to know which theory is correct in
this matter.
Question 23
According to valence bond theory, what is the difference
between a complex with d2sp3 hybridization and sp3d2
hybridization?
a. There is no actual difference; the orbitals involved
are the same, only listed in a different order.
b. The complex having d2sp3 hybridization is an "inner
shell" complex, while the complex with sp3d2
hybridization is an "outer shell" complex.
c. The complex having d2sp3 hybridization is an "outer
shell" complex, while the complex with sp3d2
hybridization is an "inner shell" complex.
d. The complex having sp3d2 hybridization does not
exist; the electrons must fill the lowest energy
orbitals first.
e. The complex having d2sp3d2 hybridization does not
exist; the electrons must fill the orbitals with the
same principle quantum number.
degenerate. Axial elongation reduces this
degeneracy.
b. Yes. The five electrons distribute themselves evenly
in the five molecular orbitals, causing them to be
degenerate. Axial compression reduces this
degeneracy.
c. No. The five electrons distribute themselves evenly
in the five molecular orbitals; no degeneracy exists.
d. No. Four of the electrons are paired. Only one
electron is unpaired and can only fill the one
remaining orbital. No degeneracy exists.
e. Yes. Four electrons are paired in the lower energy
orbitals. The fifth electron can position itself into any
of the remaining three orbitals, making it triply
degenerate.
Question 27
Ferrocene consists of two cyclopentadienyl rings bound
through 5 carbons to an iron center. What is the IUPAC name
for ferrocene?

Question 24
Analysis of a high spin d6 complex reveals that it is
diamagnetic. What is the probable molecular geometry of the
complex?

a. Octahedral
b. Tetrahedral
c. Square planar a. mer-bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
d. All of the above b. fac-bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
e. Both A and C c. bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
d. µ-bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
Question 25 e. (η5-cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
Compounds with octahedral molecular geometries
sometimes elongate or compress through Jahn-Teller Question 28
distortion. In doing so, which of the following occurs? How would the complexes Λ-[Co(en)3]3+ and Δ-[Co(en)3]3+
differ?
a. They increase their ionization potential, rendering
them most useful electrochemically. a. One would be a solid at room temperature, while
5. b. They reduce degenerate molecular orbitals, the other would be a liquid.
allowing a more stable molecule to exist. b. One would be highly colored, while the other would
6. c. They undergo a strong magnetic transition, be colorless.
allowing easier detection by NMR and EPR. 9. c. One would be paramagnetic, while the other
7. d. They increase their transition state energy, would be diamagnetic.
making them useful catalysts. 10. d. One would rotate plane-polarized light clockwise,
8. e. They decrease shielding, allowing while the other would rotate it counterclockwise.
spectroscopically forbidden transitions to occur. 11. e. All of the above

Question 26
Do high spin d5 octahedral complexes experience Jahn-Teller
distortion? Why, or why not?

a. Yes. The five electrons distribute themselves evenly

in the five molecular orbitals, causing them to be
Question 29 Question 34
In chromium and copper, the 3d orbital fills before the 4s What happens when the electron pairing energy is larger than
orbital is filled. Why? the octahedral field splitting energy?

a. Because the stability gained from having a fully-filled a. The result is a low-spin complex, where electrons
or evenly, half-filled set of d orbitals is greater than will pair up and fill the lowest energy level.
the need to fill all lower energy orbitals first b. The result is a high-spin complex, where electrons
b. Because the 3d orbital is actually lower in energy will be promoted to the next energy level before
than the 4s, so it fills first pairing.
c. Because copper and chromium only exist as ions; c. The result is an unstable complex, where electrons
never as neutral elements can either pair or be promoted to the next energy
d. Because the atomic radii are so large that no effect is level.
felt by the nucleus d. The result is a high-spin complex, where electrons
e. None of the above will pair up and fill the lowest energy level.
e. The result is a low-spin complex, where electrons
Question 30 will be promoted to the next energy level before
Phosphines are often used as molecular bridges between two pairing.
metal centers. How should these phosphines be notated
according to IUPAC nomenclature? Question 35
Which of the following has T-shaped molecular geometry?
a. mu (µ)
b. eta (η) a. BF3
c. chi (χ) b. ClF3
d. xi (ξ) c. PF6
e. zeta (ζ) d. IF5
e. SbF5
Question 31
Transition metals exhibit all of the following general Question 36
characteristics, EXCEPT: Which of the following influences the amount of crystal field
splitting in a metal complex?
a. They are malleable and ductile.
b. They have high melting points. a. Charge of the metal ion
c. They conduct heat and electricity. b. Nature of the ligands
d. They are lustrous. c. Geometry of the complex
e. They undergo irreversible oxidation. d. Size of the ligands
e. All of the above
Question 32
Using ligand field theory, which of the following would you Question 37
predict to be the most paramagnetic? Which of the following sets of complexes represents a set of
stereoisomerism (not structural isomerism)?
a. A low spin, d5 octahedral complex
b. A high spin, d8 octahedral complex a. [PtCl(H2O)3]Br and [Pt(Br)(H2O)3]Cl
c. A low spin, d3 octahedral complex b. cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2]
d. A d2 tetrahedral complex c. [CrCl2(H2O)4]Cl•2H2O and [CrCl3(H2O)3]•3H2O
e. A d5 square planar complex d. [Co(NH3)6] [Cr(ac)3] and [Co(ac)3] [Cr(NH3)6]
e. [Co(SCN)(NH3)5]- and [Co(NCS)(NH3)5]-
Question 33
Using the valence bond theory and the 18 electron rule, Question 38
which of the following would you predict to be the most Which of the following would have the largest ionization
stable? energy?

a. Fe(CO)5 a. Copper
12. b. Ni(CO)5 b. Iron
13. c. Mo(CO)6 c. Gold
14. d. Re(CO)6 d. Titanium
15. e. Ir(CO)5 e. Tungsten
Question 39 Question 44
You discover a new metal complex that exhibits high spin The vertical line (located at Δ/B = 2 for a d6 system) in the
characteristics. What ligand properties can you predict? Tanabe-Sugano diagram corresponds to which of the
following?
a. It is highly polarizable.
b. The ligand is relatively large.
c. The ligand exhibits π donor ability.
d. The ligand is acidic.
e. All of the above

Question 40
Which of the following would have the highest melting point?

a. Silver
b. Rhodium
c. Cadmium
d. Molybdenum
e. The melting points would be equivalent, because
they are in the same period.

Question 41
If a complex has a maximum absorption at 423 nm, what
color would the complex appear to the human eye?

a. Violet
b. Blue
c. Green
d. Yellow
e. Red

Question 42
Some tetrahedral metal complexes exhibit weak electronic
transitions even though they are symmetry forbidden. Why?
a. The ligand field stabilization energy (LFSE) is
insufficient to allow transitions to the left of the line.
a. Jahn-Teller distortion
b. The transitions to the left are symmetry allowed,
b. Mixing of the p and d orbitals
while the transitions to the right are spin allowed.
c. MLCT
c. The transitions to the left are spin allowed, while the
d. LMCT
transitions to the right are symmetry allowed.
e. All of the above
d. The transitions to the left are low-spin complexes,
while the transitions to the right are high-spin
Question 43
complexes.
The UV spectrum of metal complex A has a strong absorption
e. The transitions to the left are high-spin complexes,
at 412 nm. The UV spectrum of metal complex B has a strong
while the transitions to the right are low-spin
absorption at 654 nm. If equal quantities of the two solutions
complexes.
of metal complexes are mixed, what would the resulting UV
spectrum look like?

a. The spectrum would show one very broad

absorption band at 533 nm.
b. The spectrum would show two weak absorption
bands, one at 412 nm and the other at 654 nm.
c. The spectrum would show two strong absorption
bands, one at 412 nm and the other at 654 nm.
d. The spectrum would show two weak absorption
bands, one at 472 nm and the other at 594 nm.
e. The spectrum would show two strong absorption
bands, one at 472 nm and the other at 594 nm.
Question 45 Question 47
Using the spin selection rules and the Tanabe-Sugano Which of the following would be a spin allowed transition?
diagram provided, how many electronic transitions would you
3
expect to see in the spectrum of a d8 complex if Δ/B = 1.5? a. T1 → 1T1
5
b. E → 2E
3
c. T1 → 3A2
1
d. A2 → 3A2
4
e. T2 → 2T4

Question 48
Why are the hexaaqua complexes of Sc3+ and Zn2+ colorless,
while the hexaaqua complexes of Fe2+, Cr3+, Co2+, Ni2+, and
Cu2+ are intensely colored?

a. Zn2+ has a completely filled d orbital, and Sc3+ has a

completely empty d orbital.
b. Zn2+ and Sc3+ always form high spin octahedral
complexes.
c. Zn2+ and Sc3+ always form low spin octahedral
complexes.
d. Zn2+ and Sc3+ are diamagnetic; the others are
paramagnetic
e. Zn2+ and Sc3+ are paramagnetic; the others are
diamagnetic.

Question 49
Why does a high spin d5 octahedral complex exhibit a very
pale color, while a low spin d5 octahedral complex is more
highly colored?

a. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry

and spin forbidden. The transition in the low spin
complex is symmetry allowed.
b. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry
and spin forbidden. The transition in the low spin
a. Two
complex is spin allowed.
b. Three
c. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry
c. Nine
forbidden but spin allowed. The transition in the low
d. Six
spin complex is symmetry and spin allowed.
e. Zero
d. The transition in the high spin complex is spin
forbidden but symmetry allowed. The transition in
Question 46
the low spin complex is symmetry and spin allowed.
Which of the following is true with regard to charge transfer
e. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry
(ligand-to-metal or metal-to-ligand) absorption bands in
and spin forbidden. The transition in the low spin
relation to d-d transition bands?
complex is symmetry and spin allowed.
a. CT absorptions occur at higher wavelengths than d-d
Question 50
transitions.
You have two solutions of chromium ions. Your lab partner
b. CT absorptions are less intense than d-d transitions.
has added potassium thiocyanate to one and potassium
c. CT transitions are symmetry and spin allowed; d-d
cyanide to the other, but does NOT remember which one
transitions are symmetry forbidden.
contains which anion. Just by appearance, how can you tell
d. CT transitions are spin allowed; d-d transitions are
them apart?
spin forbidden.
e. CT transitions are symmetry and spin forbidden; d-d
a. The solution containing cyanide ion will give a larger
transitions are symmetry forbidden but spin allowed.
crystal field splitting, causing a blue shift in the color
of the complex. The complex with thiocyanate ion
will appear as more red shifted.
 b. The solution containing cyanide ion will give a Question 54
smaller crystal field splitting, causing a blue shift in The splitting of energy levels in the presence of a magnetic
the color of the complex. The complex with field is caused by which of the following?
thiocyanate ion will appear as more red shifted.
c. c. The solution containing cyanide ion will give a a. The Zeeman effect
larger crystal field splitting, causing a red shift in the b. Pauli exclusion principle
color of the complex. The complex with thiocyanate c. Symmetry degeneracy
ion will appear as more blue shifted. d. Fermi contact interaction
d. d. The solutions will both be similar in color; e. Bose-Einstein effect
however, the complex with thiocyanate will be more
intense. Question 55
e. e. You cannot tell them apart; the experiment would What is the most likely cause of fluxional behavior in the
need to be restarted. NMR spectrum of Fe(CO)5, iron pentacarbonyl?

Question 51
A 19F NMR spectrum at room temperature reveals on well
defined peak. When cooled slightly, the peak becomes
broadened. At N2(l) temperatures, two well defined peaks are
apparent. What is responsible for these observations?

a. Dynamic fluxionality
b. Spin-spin coupling interactions
c. Integer quantum spin numbers (I = 1,2,3…)
d. Fractional quantum spin numbers (I = 1/2, 3/2, 5/2)
e. Low natural abundances of the 19F nucleus
a. Dissociation and recoordination of the carbonyl
Question 52
ligands
Carbon dioxide is a linear molecule with no dipole moment.
b. Rotation of a hindered carbonyl bond
Which of the following interactions is responsible for the
c. Opening and closing of bridging carbonyls
observed IR spectrum of CO2?
d. Isomerism between trigonal bipyramidal and square
pyramidal configurations
a. The asymmetric stretch of the C-O bonds creates a
e. Monmer-dimer formation with a bridging carbonyl
dipole moment that is IR active.
b. The symmetric stretch of the C-O bonds creates a
Question 56
dipole moment that is IR active.
What molecule most likely produced this EPR spectrum?
c. The non-linear bending mode crates a net dipole,
which is IR active.
a. NO2 radical
d. All of the above
b. CH3 radical
e. A and C only
c. CH2Cl radical
d. CH2CH2 radical
Question 53
e. OH radical
In NMR spectroscopy, what happens to the chemical shift and
resonance frequency of a compound when the spectrometer
Question 57
frequency changes?
Which of the following cannot be studied by EPR?
a. The chemical shift and resonance frequency also
a. Paramagnetic transition metal complexes
change.
b. Diamagnetic transition metal complexes
b. The chemical shift changes; the resonance frequency
c. Free radicals in the solid state
remains constant.
d. Free radicals in the liquid or gas state
c. The chemical shift remains constant; the resonance
e. Complexes containing more than one unpaired
frequency changes.
electron
d. The chemical shift and resonance frequency remain
constant.
Question 58
e. There is no way to predict the effect.
Which of the following conditions does NOT result in a
nonzero quantum spin number (I)?

a. An odd mass number and odd atomic number, such

as 1H
 b. An odd mass number and an even atomic number, Question 63
such as 13C How is it possible to form different transition metal
c. An even mass number and an even atomic number, complexes when mixed with the same two ligands?
such as 16O
d. An even mass number and an odd atomic number, a. It is dependent on which ligands are a part of the
such as 14N primary valence and which ones are a part of the
e. All of the above situations will result in a nonzero secondary valence.
quantum spin number. b. It depends on the charge of the metal ion present.
c. It depends on the number of empty d orbitals.
Question 59 d. It depends on the nature of the ligands involved and
Which of the following would be predicted to have a g-factor whether they are mono or multi-dentate.
value close to 2? f. All of the above

a. A free electron Question 64

b. An unpaired electron in an organic molecule Using the neutral (covalent) method of electron counting,
c. An unpaired electron in a transition metal complex how many electrons are donated to a metal center by a
d. All of the above cyclopentadiene ring?
e. A and B only
a. 2
Question 60 b. 5
Why does Re(CO)5Cl exhibit lower carbonyl stretching c. 6
frequencies (νco) than [Re(CO)5(py)]+? d. 8
e. 10
a. Cationic metal complexes experience less π
backbonding than their neutral or anionic analogs. Question 65
b. Pyridine is a good π acceptor and contributes to What is the coordination number of [Cu(NH 3)4][Cl-]2?
increased π backbonding.
c. The carbonyl to metal bond strength is increased in a. 2
the chloro complex. b. 3
d. All of the above c. 4
e. A and B only d. 5
e. 6
Question 61
EDTA4- is a polydentate ligand. How many coordination sites Question 66
does it contain and through what moieties? What is the oxidation state of chromium in [Cr(NH 3)2(C2O4)2]- ?

a. Two; through the lone pairs on the two nitrogen a. +3

atoms b. +2
b. Two; through the lone pairs on two of the oxygen c. +4
atoms d. +7
c. Four; through the lone pairs on the four oxygen e. +6
atoms
d. Four; through the anion on the four oxygen atoms Question 67
e. Six; two through the lone pairs on the two nitrogen What is true about coordinative unsaturation?
atoms and four through the lone pairs of the four
oxygen atoms a. It plays an important role in insertion,
polymerization, and metathesis reactions.
Question 62 b. It describes a complex with a coordination number
How do Cp complexes and derivatives of metal ions undergo less than 4.
ligand substitution reaction? c. It generally means another ligand can be
accommodated.
a. Associative mechanism, aided by a ring slip d. All of the above
b. Dissociative mechanism, in which the Cp ring is lost e. A and C only
c. Inversion of stereochemistry and loss of the Cp ring
d. Dissociation of the Cp ligand, followed by re-
association of Cp
e. All of the above
Question 68 a. Fe(s)
Which compound will react with Ag+ ion in water: b. Fe3+(aq)
[Co(NH3)6]Cl3 or [Co(Cl3)](NH3)6? What is formed? c. Fe(OH)2(s)
d. Fe2+(aq)
a. [Co(Cl3)](NH3)6; AgCl is formed. e. Fe(OH)3(s)
b. [Co(Cl3)](NH3)6; NH4Cl is formed.
c. [Co(NH3)6]Cl3; AgCl is formed. Question 72
d. [Co(NH3)6]Cl3; NH4Cl is formed. In Latimer diagrams, what does a large positive standard
e. Both will react with silver in water; AgCl and NH4Cl reduction potential indicate?
are formed.
a. The species on the left is readily reduced to the
Question 69 species on the right side of the arrow.
Which of the following is an ambidentate ligand? b. The species on the lef tis a good reducing agent.
c. The species under goes diproportionation.
a. EDTA d. All of the above.
c. SCN- e. None of the above.
d. NH3
e. Hemoglobin Question 73
f. Cl- Marcus theory is used to approximate which of the following?

Question 70 a. The heat of formation of the precursor complex

The interaction between the metal and ligands in b. The heat of fission of the successor complex
coordination complexes can best be described as which of c. The solvation energy of the transition complex
the following? d. The free energy of electron transfer
e. All of the above
a. Hydrophilic interactions
b. Hydrophobic interactions Question 74
c. Van der Waals interactions What happens to an outer sphere redox reaction, if the spin
d. Lewis acid-base interactions multiplicity is different?
e. Hydrogen bonding interactions
a. The reaction does not proceed.
Question 71 b. The reaction is drastically slowed, requiring a spin
A natural spring containing manganese is found to be highly flip to occur.
acidic. Using the diagram below, what form of iron would you c. The reaction proceeds quicker, because different
predict to be most abundant? spin states allow faster electron transfer.
d. The reaction will proceed as inner sphere instead,
because electrons with different spin will pair and
form a bond.
e. None of the above

Question 75
What implication does overpotential have on a redox
reaction?

a. Even though a reaction is thermodynamically

favorable, the reaction may be slow kinetically.
b. All redox reactions are favorable at in alkaline media.
c. All thermodynamically favorable reactions occur
quickly on a kinetic scale.
d. If a reaction is kinetically favorable, it will proceed
even if it is thermodynamically unfavorable.
e. No redox reactions occur in highly acidic media.

Question 76
What is considered the rate determining step in an outer
sphere redox reaction?

a. Formation of the bridging ligand complex

 b. Formation of the precursor (cage) complex b. NH4+
c. Electron transfer c. HNO3
d. Solvent entering the coordination sphere d. PH3
e. Fission of the successor ligand complex e. P & N (elemental)

Question 77 Question 81
What is considered the rate determining step in an outer Cr2+ (d4 system) and Cu2+ (d9 system) are kinetically labile with
sphere redox reaction? respect to substitution reactions. Why?

a. Formation of the bridging ligand complex a. They experience Jahn-Teller distortion, making their
b. Fission of the successor ligand complex axial bonds longer and easier to break.
c. Electron transfer b. Their ground state structure resembles their
d. Solvent entering the coordination sphere transition state structure.
e. Both B and C c. Their electrons are distributed equally among the d-
orbitals.
Question 78 d. Their large radii can accommodate a larger
Which of the following is a properly balanced half reaction in coordination sphere.
acidic media? g. Both A and B

a. Cr2O72- + 8 H+ + 3 H2C2O4 → 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O + 6 CO2 Question 82

b. 12 H+ + 5 I- + IO3- → 3 I2 + 6H2O In D or Id mechanisms for substitution in octahedral metal
c. 2 Fe(OH)2 + H2O2 → 2 Fe(OH)3 complexes, stereochemistry is retained when the
d. 3 Cd + 8 H+ + 2 NO3- → 3 Cd2+ + 2 NO + 8 H2O intermediate's molecular geometry is which of the following?
e. 2 Au3+ + 6I- → 2 Au + 3 I2
a. Tetragonal
Question 79 b. Trigonal bipyramidal
Which of the following is a properly balanced half reaction in c. Square pyramidal
basic media? d. Both A and C
e. All of the above
a. Cr2O72- + 8 H+ + 3 H2C2O4 → 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O + 6 CO2
b. 12 OH- + 5 I- + IO3- → 3 I2 + 6H2O Question 83
c. Fe(OH)2 + OH- → Fe(OH)3 The effect of a coordinated ligand upon the rate of
d. 2 Cr(OH)3 + ClO3− + 4 OH− → 2 CrO42− + Cl− + 5 H2O substitution of ligands opposite it is referred to as which of
e. 2 Au3+ + 6I− → 2 Au + 3 I2 the following?

Question 80 a. The trans influence

Given the Frost diagram for phosphorus and nitrogen in acidic b. The trans effect
conditions, which of the following species is the most c. The biphilic effect
thermodynamically favored? d. The solvolysis effect
e. The anation effect

Question 84
What is responsible for the increased stability of formation of
a complex containing two chelating ligands as compared to
four monodentate ligands?

a. Enthalpy of reaction
b. Decreased activation energy
c. Formation of dimeric species (bridging ligands)
d. Entropy of reaction
e. Outer sphere electron transfer

a. H3PO4
Question 85 c. k = [A]2[B]
When hexaaqua complexes of cobalt react with chloride ion, d. Both A and C
they undergo a change in the coordination chemistry. Why is e. The mechanism cannot be determined from the rate
this NOT the case when they react with ammonia? law.

a. The chloride ions are larger than the water Question 90

molecules, only allowing four to coordinate around Fill in the blank to complete the following analogy.
the central metal ion; ammonia is similar in size to Thermodynamics : free energy :: kinetics : ________________.
water, so six will coordinate.
b. The chloride ions are anionic, and the metal centers a. Activation energy
cannot accommodate a larger negative charge; b. Thermal energy
ammonia is a neutral species. c. Electron transfer
c. Chloride ions precipitate the metals out of solution; d. Entropy
ammonia complexes do not. e. Enthalpy
d. The addition of excess chloride ions will actually
result in hexa-chloro compounds. Question 91
e. Chloride additions occur in acidic media; ammonia is Fill in the blank. The Haber process is used for the production
alkaline. of _______________.

Question 86 a. Ammonia
Which of the following affects substitution at square planar b. Sulfur trioxide
metal centers? c. Sulfuric acid
d. Margarine
a. The entering group e. Nitric acid
b. The leaving group
c. Other ligands in the coordination sphere Question 92
d. The metal center itself What is the end product of the Contact Process?
e. All of the above
a. Ammonia
Question 87 b. Sulfur trioxide
Which of the following is about the trans influence is FALSE? c. Sulfuric acid
d. Margarine
a. It is a kinetic phenomenon. e. Nitric acid
b. It can influence M-L bond lengths.
c. It can result in changes in NMR coupling constants. Question 93
d. It can affect the vibrational frequency. What is the role of a catalyst in a reaction?
e. It is purely thermodynamic.
a. It shifts the equilibrium toward the products based
Question 88 on LeChatlier's principle.
Which of the following is true of substitutions at square b. It provides an alternate route with a lower activation
planar metal centers? energy for the reaction to proceed.
c. It donates electrons to break or form bonds as
a. They occur via an associative mechanism with a five needed until it is entirely consumed.
coordinate intermediate. d. It forms bridging complexes which align the
b. They only proceed when bond formation is the rate molecular orbitals of the reactants.
determining step. e. All of the above
c. They only proceed when bond breaking is the rate
determining step. Question 94
d. They only proceed when the transition energies of Which of the following is an example of a homogeneous
bond formation and bond breaking are similar. catalysis?
e. They occur via a dissociative mechanism with a three
coordinate intermediate. a. The hydrogenation of vegetable oil in the presence
of nickel to make margarine
Question 89 b. The use of Pt, Pd or Rh in catalytic converters
Which of the following rate laws indicates a dissociative c. The destruction of ozone in the atmosphere
mechanism? d. The use of vanadium(V)oxide in the conversion of
sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide
a. k = [A][B] e. All of the above
b. k = [A]
 c. The organometallic complexes are less expensive to
Question 95 synthesize and cost less on the market.
The anticancer drug cisplatin is a platinum based complex, d. The effect of the inorganic salts was discovered after
which works by destroying the DNA within cancer cells. the organometallic complexes had established a
Which of the following transition metals have anticancer successful history.
applications? e. The FDA will not approve medicinal use of purely
inorganic compounds for biological applications.
a. Ru
b. Ti Question 100
c. V Which of the following is true of organometallic
d. Fe pharmaceuticals as antimicrobials?
e. All of the above
a. Metals are nontoxic to humans.
Question 96 b. Harmful stereoisomers do not exist.
What advantage does doping an LED with a transition metal c. They are soluble in water and easily administered.
have? d. They counteract drug resistance that has been built
to purely organic molecules.
a. Doping allows the LED to harvest light from triplet e. There are no current organometallic applications to
states, increasing quantum efficiency. antimicrobials.
b. Doping increases the overall number of singlet to
singlet emission pathways.
c. It reduces the overall cost of producing an LED; the
inorganic dopants are inexpensive.
d. All of the above
1. None of the above

Question 97
Which of the following describes a challenge in the
production of effective metal-based dye-sensitized solar cell?

a. Metal ion complexes are unable to harvest light

energy.
b. The cost of the metal ion complexes is prohibitive.
c. The storage of energy occurs by thermal or chemical
means.
d. The energy produced can only be utilized in
electrical grids.
e. All of the above

Question 98
Which of the following is NOT an application of a secondary
cell battery?

a. Nickel-cadmium in portable electronics and toys

b. Lead acid batteries in automobiles
c. Silver-zinc button cells in hearing aides
d. Silver-cadmium batteries in satellites
e. Zinc-carbon dry cell batteries in flashlights

Question 99
Why are organometallic vanadium complexes being used to
treat diabetes instead of the inorganic vanadium salts?

a. The organometallic complexes are easier to

synthesize than the inorganic salts.
b. The organometallic complexes are less toxic and
more effective in lowering blood glucose levels.
ANSWER KEY 57. B
58. C
1. D 59. E
2. A 60. E
3. E 61. E
4. C 62. A
5. D 63. A
6. A 64. B
7. E 65. C
8. A 66. A
9. B 67. D
10. C 68. C
11. A 69. B
12. B 70. D
13. E 71. D
14. C 72. A
15. D 73. D
16. C 74. B
17. E 75. A
18. D 76. C
19. B 77. E
20. A 78. A
21. E 79. D
22. A 80. A
23. B 81. E
24. C 82. D
25. B 83. B
26. C 84. D
27. C 85. A
28. D 86. E
29. A 87. A
30. A 88. A
31. E 89. E
32. C 90. A
33. C 91. A
34. B 92. C
35. E 93. B
36. E 94. C
37. B 95. E
38. A 96. A
39. E 97. C
40. D 98. E
41. D 99. B
42. B 100. D
43. A
44. E
45. B
46. C
47. C
48. A
49. B
50. A
51. A
52. E
53. C
54. A
55. D
56. B