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

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ii) State three characteristic properties 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) Construct 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 3D structure of the complex ion formed in this reaction.

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iv) State the shape of the complex ion.

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v) 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) Construct the overall equation for this reaction.

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ii) Use the equations to explain how V₂O₅ acts 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 states 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 to deduce the oxidation state of the transition element in each species.

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) State the full electronic configuration for the metal ion in each of the following complexes.

[Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺:

[Co(H₂O)₆]²⁺:

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ii) Explain why zinc is not classified as a transition element.

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Complete Table 3.1 to deduce the oxidation state of the transition element in each species.

Table 3.1

EUK-134 is a complex ion of manganese(III) that acts as an antioxidant.

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

[1]

ii) Define the term ligand.

[2]

EUK-134 acts as a catalyst to decrease the concentration of oxidising agents.

State two characteristic properties of transition elements that allow EUK-134 to act in this way.