Unit – VIII The d and f-Block Elements

Board Question Papers

Model Questions Paper 2008

1. Write balanced chemical equation involving the following reactions [3]
(1) Preparation of sodium chromate from chromite ore.
(2) Laboratory method for the preparation of potassium permanganate
(3) Action of acidified KMnO4 on oxalic acid.
2. Explain why transition elements and their compounds show paramagnetic behavior. [1]
3. Write the electronic configuration of Gd (Z = 64). [1]

March 2008
1. Write a chemical equation to show the action of acidified permanganate solution on iodide. [1]
2. What are transition elements? [3]
Mention the d-block elements which are not considered as transition elements giving a reason.
3. Name the last element in the series of lanthanoids and write its electronic configuration.
[1]

July 2008
1. Write reasons for the following [3]
(i) Transition metals have high enthalpy of atomization
(ii) Actinoid contraction is greater from element to element than lanthaniod contraction.
(iii) Transition elements form coloured compounds.
2. Write chemical equations to show the preparation of potassium permanganate from MnO2. [1]
3. Name the element of the lanthanoid series which preferably shows +4 oxidation state. [1]
March 2009
1. Write a balanced chemical equation involving the action of acidified KMnO4 on ferric ions. [1]
2. Explain the following properties of transition elements: [3]
(a) Paramagnetic character (b) Oxidation states (c) Alloy formation
3. Write the electronic configuration of Pm. (Z = 61). [1]

July 2009
1. Explain giving reasons [3]
(i) Transition metals form interstitial compounds.
(ii) Formation of complexes by transition metals.
(iii) Catalytic properties shown by transition metals.
2. Write the balanced chemical reaction for the action of KMnO4 on hot oxalic acid. Give a reason why HCl
cannot be used in permanganate titrations. [2]

March 2010
1. With the help of the electronic configuration of the two transition elements Mn and V, explain giving
reasons which one of them is more paramagnetic. [2]
2. With respect to transition elements explain the following properties [3]
(i) Formation of complex compounds

(ii) Formation of alloys

(iii) Formation of interstitial compounds

July 2010
1. With respect to transition elements, answer the following [3]
(i) State why scandium is considered to be a transition element while zinc is not.
(ii) Explain why transition metals form a large number of complex compounds.
(iii) Write a balanced chemical equation for the preparation of sodium chromate form chromite ore.
2. Compare the chemistry of actinoids with that of the lanthanoids with respect to [2]
(i) Electronic configuration (ii) Oxidation states

March 2011
1. What is lanthanoid contraction? Write the electronic configuration of Lu+2 ion. (Atomic mass of Lu = 71).
[2]
2. Answer the following [3]
Std. XII 13 Mr. Sameer Devidas
Unit – VIII The d and f-Block Elements

(i) State why the transition metals exhibit high melting points?
(ii) How is sodium chromate converted to potassium dichromate? Write its chemical equation.
(iii) Why chromium and iron can be readily mixed to produce stainless steel?

Model Questions Paper 2012

1. (i) Write the electronic configuration of Ge (Z = 64). [2]
(ii) Name the starting and ending element of the actinoid series.
2. Write appropriate reasons for the following [2]
(i) K2Cr2O7 is orange in colour in an acidic medium and it changes to yellow in an alkaline medium.
(ii) Transition elements and many of their compounds act as good catalysts.

March 2012
1. With respect to transition/inner transition elements, answer the following [2]
(i) Reasons for the catalytic properties of transition elements.
(ii) What is lanthanoid contraction?

2. Write balanced chemical equations for the following reactions [2]

(i) Sodium chromate is acidified with sulphuric acid.
(ii) Oxidation of thiosulphate ions with KMnO4 in an alkaline medium.

October 2012
1. Name the following [2]
(i) an alloy which contain 95% lanthanoids.
(ii) any on ‘d’ block element which is not considered as a transition metal.
(iii) the ore from which potassium dichromate is prepared.
(iv) a 3d transition metal which exhibits maximum number of oxidation states.
2. Give reasons [2]
(i) Many transition metals and their compounds exhibit paramagnetic behavior.
(ii) Actinoid contraction is larger in magnitude than Lanthanoid contraction.
March 2013
1. Write complete chemical equations for the following [2]
(i) Oxidation of Fe2+ by Cr2O72+ in an acidic medium.
(ii) Oxidation of S2O32- by MnO4- in a neutral aqueous medium.
2. Explain giving reasons [2]
(i) Transition metals and their compounds are generally found to be good catalysts.
(ii) The actinoids exhibit a larger number of oxidation states than the corresponding lanthanoids.

October 2013
1. Give reasons for the following: [2]
(i) Niobium and Tantalum have similar atomic sizes.
(ii) Transition elements act as good catalysts.
2. Write balanced chemical equations for the following [2]
(i) Preparation of sodium chromate from chromite ore.
(ii) Oxidation of Fe2+ by Cr2O72+ in an acidic medium.

March 2014
1. Gives reasons [2]
(i) In the transition series enthalpy of atomization increases to maximum in the middle of each series.
(ii) Regular decrease in ionic sizes of lanthanides from La3+ to Lu3+.
OR
Give reasons [2]
(i) d-block elements form a large number of complex compounds.
(ii) Actionoid contraction is greater from element to element than lanthanoid contraction.
2. Draw the structure of MnO4- ion, represent its oxidizing property with the help of its reaction with oxalic
acid in an acidic medium. [2]

October 2014
1. List any two consequencyes of Lanthanoid Contraction. Write the electronic configuration of Eu+2 ion
(Atomic number of Eu = 63) [2]
Std. XII 14 Mr. Sameer Devidas
Unit – VIII The d and f-Block Elements

2. Account for the following [2]

(i) Transition metals exhibit catalytic property.
(ii) The dark green coloured Potassium Manganate turns purple in an acidic medium. Write the ionic
equation.
OR
2. Account for the following. [2]
(i) Transition metals form coloured complexes.
(ii) Write the ionic equation for the precipitation of Sulphur when acidified Potassium Permanaganate is
heated with Hydrogen Sulphide.

March 2015
1. Define Lanthanoid Contraction. Write the electronic configuration of Gd (z = 64) and Lu (z = 71). [2]

2. Give reasons for each of the following. [2]

(i) Transition metals form a large number of complex compounds.

(ii) Manganese exhibits largest number of oxidation states.

July 2015
1. Write balanced ionic equations for the action of acidified KMnO4 on Oxalate ion. [1]
2. With respect to transition elements account for the following giving suitable reasons [3]
(i) The transition metals and their compounds are known for their catalytic activity.
(ii) Transition metals form alloys
(iii) Transition metals exhibit variable oxidation states.

March 2016
1. The electronic configurations for Samarium atom and Samarium (III) ion are ____ respectively. [1]
(Atomic no. of Samarium = 62)
(a) [Xe] 4f6 6s2 and [Xe] 4f3 6s2 (b) [Xe] 4f6 6s2 and [Xe] 4f5
(c) [Xe] 4f 6s and [Xe] 4f
67 1 5
(d) [Xe] 4f5 and [Xe] 4f6 6s2
2. Write balanced ionic equation for the oxidation of sulphide ion due to the action of acidified K2Cr2O7. [1]
3. Answer the following [2]
(i) Transition elements form interstitial compounds. Explain.
(ii) Write the variable oxidation states exhibited by the transition element chromium, Cr, in its
compounds.

March 2017
1. Account for the following : [3]
i) Write the ionic equation to show the disproportionation of K2MnO4 in acidic solution.
ii) Transition metals form coloured complexes.
iii) Transition metals exhibit catalytic properties.
2. The electronic configuration for Terbium atom and Terbium (IV) ion are__________. [1]
a) [Xe] 4f7 5d2 6s2 and [Xe]4f7 b) [Xe]4f9 6s2 and [Xe] 4f5 6s2
c) [Xe] 4f and [Xe] 4f 6s2
7 9
d) [Xe] 4f9 6s2 and [Xe] 4f7

March 2018
1. Draw the structure of the manganate iron. Give reason for the following : [3]
a) transition metals form a large number of complexes.
b) Zirconium and Hafnium are difficult to separate.
2. The metal which has the lowest melting point_________________. [1]
a) cesium b) mercury c) manganese d) copper

Std. XII 15 Mr. Sameer Devidas