UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA
CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
CHE 221 TUTORIAL II Date: 14/04/2023
1. Explain why the group II element form divalent species despite the low first ionization
energy.
The higher lattice energy offsets the first and second ionization energies for the group
two elements
2. Compare and contrast the structures of BeCl2 and CaCl2
BeCl2 is polymeric and covalently bonded whilst CaCl2 is monomeric and ionic.
3. State the uses of the following:
(i) NaCl
Used as seasoning material, added to food to add taste
Used as preservatives e.g preparation of biltong
Added to drip solutions together with glucose to balance the electrolytes during
dehydration
(ii) NaOH: Used in water treatments plants to displace the the unwanted anions like
F,- and phosphate ions which causes water hardening
Saponifies fats
Acid neutralizer
(iii) Ca: As supplement for strong bones, Plaster of Paris for supporting broken bones
(iv) Al: Cooking utensils, aluminum foil for wrapping foods when roasting, Trelli doors
etc
4. State the two sources of Boron: Borax (Na2B4O7.7H2O) and Kernite (Na2B4O7.4H2O)
5. Explain the existence of monovalency and trivalency in group three elements.
Monovalency exists because of the Inert pair effect which only result in loss of 1 electron
in the valence p-orbital and trivalency exists because of loss of all the three electrons in
the valence shell
6. Discuss the irregular trends in atomic sizes on moving from aluminium to gallium and
Indium to thallium. On moving from aluminium to gallium, there is reduction in atomic
size due to poor shielding of the valence shell by the d-orbital electrons against the
nuclear charge(d-contraction). From Indium to Thallium, the sizes are almost similar wit,
due to the lanthanide contraction brought about by the poor shielding of the f-orbitals
against the nuclear charge.
7. Discuss the bonding in Boron-trifluoride and explain why the B-F bond is shorter than the
normal single bond for B-F
Boron valence electron configuration : 2s22p1. It is sp2 hybridised to form 3 sp2 hybrid
orbitals which are all singly filled, and these are used to form three bonds with 3 fluorine
atoms which each have 1 electron which is not paired. The B-atom is a sextet, The
remaining empty orbital on the B atom accepts electron pair from Fluorine forming a Pi-
bond which is delocalized over 3 Fluorine atoms (Pπ-Pπ interaction) and this causes the
shortening of the B-F bond
8. Show how BF3 is prepared.
Prepared in two ways:
9. What is inert pair effect and which groups are affected by this.
The ability of the s-electrons in the valence shell to remain paired and not participate in
bonding. This is witnessed for groups 13, 14 and 15, this explains the existence of
monovalency, divalency and trivalency in the respective groups.
10. Describe the bonding in diborane.
There are two types of B-H bonds The normal 2c-2e bonds from interaction of singly filled
Sp3 hybrid orbitals and 1s orbital of the hydrogen. The second type is B-H-B bond which is
formed from Singly filled sp3 hybrid orbital of Boron, 1s singly filled orbital of H(bridging)
and empty Sp3 orbital of second boron atom. All together there are 4- terminal(2c-2e)
bonds, 2 bridging bonds(bananan-shaped) and are 3c-2e bonds.
(Can present this in the form of diagram but make sure the orbitals are labelled properly
and the electron distribution also doen properly)
