General Physical & Chemical Properties of the First Row of Transition Elements, Titanium to Copper (Cambridge (CIE) A Level Chemistry): Exam Questions

Copper, vanadium and iron are all transition elements.

i) Give the full electronic configuration of a Cu atom and a Cu²⁺ ion. 

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 ii) State four characteristic features of the chemistry of copper and its compounds. 

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The chloride ion is a monodentate ligand. When concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ (aq) ions the water ligands are replaced.  

i) Define the term monodentate ligand. 

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 ii) Write an equation for the reaction that occurs when concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ (aq). 

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iii) Draw the structure of the complex ion formed and name the shape it takes.

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 iv) State the change in coordination number.  

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Vanadium (V) oxide is the catalyst used in the contact process as shown by the reactions:

SO₂ + V₂O₅ → SO₃ + V₂O₄
V₂O₄ + ½O₂ → V₂O₅

i) Using the equations, write an overall equation for the reaction. 

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 ii) Using the equations, explain why V₂O₅ is a catalyst. 

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 iii) Explain why V₂O₅ is able to act as a catalyst in this reaction. 

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When iron(II) compounds dissolve in water they form [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺, the hexaaquairon(II) complex.

i) State the full electronic configuration of an iron(II) ion. 

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 ii) Predict the shape and bond angle of the hexaaquairon(II) complex. 

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Explain why transition metals exhibit variable oxidation numbers compared to the elements in Group 1.

Transition metal compounds and ions are often coloured. For example, [Cr(H₂O)₆]³⁺ is green. 

Complete Table 2.1 below to show the oxidation numbers of the transition element.

Table 2.1

Water acts as a ligand when it reacts with zinc and cobalt ions, forming the complexes [Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and [Co(H₂O)₆]²⁺ .

i) Write the full electronic configuration for the metal ions in the following complexes.

   [Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ : ..................................................................................................

   [Co(H₂O)₆]²⁺ : ...................................................................................................

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ii) Explain why zinc is not classed as a transition element

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Complete Table 3.1 below to show the oxidation numbers of the transition element.

Table 3.1

EUK-134 is a complex ion of manganese(III) used in skin care products to protect against UV damage as it has antioxidant properties.

i) State the electron configuration of the manganese(III) ion in the complex shown above.

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ii) State the name given to species that bond to a central metal ion, and identify the type of bond present.

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Transition metals have certain characteristic properties.

State two properties that are involved in EUK-134 rapidly decreasing the concentration of oxidising agents.