P Bhattacharya

Periodic Table

BRM - 1

The electronic configuration of an element is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1. Indicate its position in the periodic table. Explain whether the element is metal or non metal. Find its valency.

Ans Since the principal quantum number (n) of the outermost orbit of the atom is 3, the element belongs to the third period. Again it contains 3 electrons in the outermost orbit, hence the element occupies group IIIA (as no d electron is present in the atom). Since it belongs to group IIIA, in the 3 rd period, it is a metal and its normal valency is 3.

The atomic numbers of the two elements A and B are 9 and 17 respectively. Write down the electronic configurations and explain which one is stronger oxidizing agent?

2 2 6 2 2 2 1 Ans 9A = 1s2 2s2 2px2 2py2 2pz1 17B = 1s 2s 2p 3s 3px 3py 3pz The electronic configurations of the elements indicate that the atomic radius of A is less than that of B. Hence the electronegativity of A is more than that of B. We know, higher the electronegativity of an element stronger is its oxidising power. Hence A is stronger oxidizing agent than B.

The atomic numbers of three elements are 11, 18 and 26. Indicate what type of elements are they?

Ans The electronic configuration of the elements are (i) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 (ii) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 (iii) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d6 4s2 The first element belongs to third period and in Group IA. It is a metal, s-block element, highly active with low ionization potential. It is a member of Representative type element and is paramagnetic. (ii) The second element also belongs to third period but in zero group. It is an inert element as it contains 8 electrons in its outermost orbit. All electrons are paired and hence it is diamagnetic. (iii) The third one in a member of fourth period but belongs to group VIII, since its d shell is incomplete. It is a member of transitional elements and is paramagnetic.

The atomic number of the three elements A, B and C are 17, 18 and 20 respectively. (a) Write down their electronic configurations. (b) Which one is metal and which one is non-metal? (c) Write down the molecular formula of the compound obtained from A and C. (d) State the type of valency of the above compound.

Ans (a) Electronic configuration of A, B and C are : 2 2 6 2 2 2 1 2 2 6 2 2 2 2 2 2 6 2 6 2 17A = 1s 2s 2p 3s 3px 3py 3pz 18B = 1s 2s 2p 3s 3px 3py 3pz 20C = 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s (b) A occurs in third period and in Group VII (17). Hence it is a non-metal with high electronegativity. B contains 8 electrons in the outer shell so it is an inert gas and belongs to 0 or (18) group in the 3 rd period of the periodic table. It is an inert non-metal in gaseous state. C contains 2 electrons in the outermost shell. It occurs in fourth period and Group IIA (2). It is and electropositive element and hence metal. (c) Since A belongs to Group VII (17) and contains 1 unpaired electron, its valency is 1. C is a metal having 2 electrons in the outermost shell. It is bivalent. Therefore the molecular formula is CA2. (d) A is a strong electronegative element with high ionization potential and high electron affinity. C, on the otherhand, is an electropositive metal with low ionization potential. Therefore combination of A and C will lead to ionic bonding.

Explain why the first ionization energy of carbon is greater than that of boron atom whereas the reverse is true for the second ionization energy.

Ans The electronic configuration of B is 1s2 2s2 2p1 and that of C is 1s2 2s2 2p2. The effective nuclear charge of C (Zeff) is more than that of B. Again size of C is less than that of B. Hence higher energy is required to remove one electron from C than from B. Hence first I.E. of C is more than that of B. But after 1 electron is lost from both B and C their electronic configurations become B + = 1s2 2s2 and C+ = 1s2 2s2 2p1.

P Bhattacharya

Periodic Table

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Now B+ attains stable electronic configuration. Again degree of penetration of s electron is more than that of p electron. Hence larger energy will now be required to knock out 2s electron from B + than 2p electron from C+. Therefore second I.E. of B is higher than that of C. Explain why Sulphur has more negative electron gain enthalpy than oxygen.

Ans The atomic size of O atom is much less than that of S atom. As a result, the electron density in O atom becomes much greater than that of S atom. As a result, the repulsions among electrons in the smaller 2p subshell of O atom are much larger than those present in comparatively much bigger 3p subshell of S atom. So sulphur atom has got greater tendency to gain an additional electron i.e. electron gain enthalpy than O atom. Arrange the following in increasing order of ionic size N 3-, Na+, F-, O2-, Mg2+.

Ans As all the ions given are iso-electronic, consequently greater the nuclear charge the smaller will be the ionic size. Thus the increasing order of ionic size will be Mg2+ < Na+ < F- < O2- < N3-. Arrange the following ions in order of their increasing ionic radii Li+, Mg2+, K+, Al3+.

Ans We know that the ionic radius of any cation increases with increase of the number of energy shells and decreases with the increase of the positive charge. Mg2+ (1s22s22p6) and Al3+ (1s22s22p6) are iso-electronic ions and each of the ions has got only two energy shells. Of these two ions Al3+ has got higher positive charge, consequently the ionic radius of Al3+ less than that of Mg2+ ion. Again since K+ (1s22s22p63s23p6) has three shells, Mg2+ and Al3+ have only 2 shells each, consequently the ionic radius of K+ ion will be the largest among these three ions. Li+ (1s2) has only one shell and the charge is only +1, but Al3+ inspite of having 2 shells, as its +ve charge (+3) is much greater than that of Li+ (+1) and this is counterbalanced by the decrease in size of Al 3+ ion. In fact the ionic radius of Al3+ is lower than that of Li+. Consequently the ionic radii of these 4 ions increase in the following order Al3+ < Li+ < Mg2+ < K+

Which element has the highest electronegativity and which one has the lowest?

Ans Flourine has the highest electronegativity and Cesium and Francium have the least electronegativity.

Which periodic group consists of all types of elements viz. solid, liquid and gas at room temperature? Name those elements stating their physical state of aggregation.

Ans Group VIIA (17). Chlorine is a gas, bromine is liquid and iodine is solid at room temperature.

Name two properties of elements which are not periodic properties.

Ans Density and radioactive are two properties of elements which are not periodic properties.

Which elements are called transitional elements? Can Cu (at. no. 29) and Zn (at. no. 30) be called transitional elements? Explain.

Ans The elements in which the last electron goes to (n-1)d orbital are called transitional elements. The electronic configuration of Cu and Zn are as follows. Cu (29) = 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s1 Zn (30) = 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s2 Both Cu and Zn have completed 3d subshell yet Cu is transition element but Zn is not. From the definition of

P Bhattacharya

Periodic Table

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transitional elements, the presence of incomplete d subshell either in the ground state or in the most stable oxidation state is the primary criterion of a transitional element. From ground state electronic configuration neither should be included in the transitional series. Yet Cu is a transitional element whereas Zn is not. This is because of the fact that, the most stable valency state of these two elements is +2 and the electronic configurations of these 2 elements in the +2 state show that Cu has 3d9 (incomplete d subshell) but Zn has still 3d10 (completed d subshell) configuration. Thus Cu is transitional element whereas Zn is not.

Which one is more alkaline, MgO or Al2O3? Why?

Ans MgO will be more alkaline than Al2O3. This is because of the fact that as the elements move from left to right along a period the electronegativity gradually rises and the basic character i.e. electropositive character decreases gradually.

Which of the oxides Al2O3, SO2, SO3, P4O10 and CO is most acidic?

Ans SO3 # Mention the factors on which the ionization potential of an element depends.

Ans The ionization energy of an atom depends on the following factors 1. Magnitude of the nuclear charge: The I.P. increases with the increase in nuclear charge. 2. Stability of the electronic configuration: Half filled or full filled orbitals have high ionization enthalpy. 3. Screening effect: Greater the screening effect of the inner electrons, the lesser will be the ionization enthalpy of the atom. 4. Atomic radius: With the increase of atomic radius the attractive force between the nucleus and the valence electrons decreases. So ionization enthalpy decreases with the increase of atomic radius. Penetration of the orbital electrons: Electrons of the s orbitals can penetrate more towards the nucleus than the electrons of the p orbitals. Therefore greater energy will be required to remove the electrons of the s orbitals than that of the p orbitals.

Why is the first ionization energy of the transitional elements almost the same?

Ans As we move from left to right in a transitional series, very little change in their I.P. values are observed. After Ca electrons are added one by one in the 3d orbital having poor screening effect. So the atomic radius remains relatively constant since the increased nuclear charge is counterbalanced by increased screening power by the additional electron entering the lower-lying 3d subshell.