SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1) Complete the following table.

Redox reaction Specie Specie Oxidizing Reducing

oxidized reduced agent agent
2Al + Cr2O3 → Al2O3 + 2Cr Al Cr2O3 Cr2O3 Al
2Al0 + Cr2(+3x2) O3(-2x3) → Al2(+3x2) O3(-2x3) + 2Cr0
Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2 CO Fe2O3 Fe2O3 CO
Fe2(+3x2) O3(-2x3) + 3C+2O-2 → 2Fe0 + 3C+4O2(-2x2)
S + 2H2SO4 → 3SO2 + 2H2O S H2SO4 H2SO4 S
S0 + 2H2(+1x2)S+6O4(-2x4) → 3S+4O2(-2x2) + 2H2(+1x2) O-2
4H2O2 + PbS → PbSO4 + 4H2O PbS H2O2 H2O2 PbS
4H2(+1x2)O2(-1x2) + Pb+2S-2 → Pb+2S+6O4(-2x4) +
4H2(+1x2) O-2
N2 +3H2 → 2NH3 H2 N2 N2 H2
N20 +3H20 → 2N-3H3(+1x3)
4HCl + MnO2 → MnCl2 + Cl2 + 2H2O HCl MnO2 MnO2 HCl
4H+1Cl-1 + Mn+4O2(-2x2) → Mn+2Cl2(-1x2) + Cl20 +
2H2(+1x2)O-2
WO3 + 3H2 → W + 3H2O H2 WO3 WO3 H2
W+6O3(-2x3) + 3H20 → W0 + 3H2(+1x2)O-2
H2O2 + Ag2O → 2Ag + H2O + O2 H2O2 Ag2O Ag2O H2O2
H2(+1x2)O2(-1x2) + Ag2(+1x2)O-2 → 2Ag0 + H2(+1x2)O-2 +
O20
Cl2 + 2NaOH → NaCl + NaClO + H2O Cl2 Cl2 Cl2 Cl2
Cl20 + 2Na+1O-2H+1 → Na+1Cl-1 + Na+1Cl+1O-2 +
H2(+1x2)O-2
SO2 + 2NaOH → Na2SO3 + H2O None None None None
S+4O2(-2x2) + 2Na+1O-2H+1 → Na2(+1x2)S+4O3(-2x3) +
H2(+1x2)O-2
2FeCl3 + H2S → 2FeCl2 + 2HCl + S H 2S FeCl3 FeCl3 H 2S
2Fe+3Cl3(-1x3) + H2(+1x2)S-2 → 2Fe+2Cl2(-1x2) + 2H+1Cl-
1
+ S0
2S + Cl2 → S2Cl2 S Cl2 Cl2 S
2S0 + Cl20 → S2(+1x2)Cl2(-1x2)
2NH3 + CuO → 3Cu + N2+ 3H2O NH3 CuO CuO NH3
2N-3H3(+1x3) + Cu+2O-2 → 3Cu0 + N20 + 3H2(+1x2)O-2
2SO2 + O2 → 2SO3 SO2 O2 O2 SO2
2S+4O2(-2x2) + O20 → 2S+6O3(-2x3)
Q2) Airbags save thousands of lives during car accidents. When a car fitted with air
bags brakes suddenly and rapidly, sodium azide NaN3 in the air bags decomposes to
form N2 gas which inflates the air bags. The equation for decomposition is
2NaN3 → 2Na + 3N2 (Hint azide is N3-1)
State with a reason what has been reduced in this reaction?
2Na+1N3-1 → 2Na0 + 3N20
In this reaction, the oxidation state of Na changes from +1 to 0. This decrease in oxidation
state shows gain of electrons by Na, therefore Na is being reduced.
Na+1 + 1e- → Na
Q3) The torch cell discharges electricity because of an oxidation-reduction reaction
taking place between zinc and manganese dioxide. The equation for the reaction is
shown below
Zn + 2MnO2 + H2O → Mn2O3 + Zn(OH)2
Identify the oxidizing agent in this reaction and give a reason for your answer.
Zn0 + 2Mn+4O2(-2x2) + H2(+1x2)O-2 → Mn2(+3x2)O3(-2x3) + Zn+2(OH)2(-1x2)
In this reaction, the oxidation state of Mn in MnO2 changes from +4 to +3. This decrease in
oxidation state shows gain of electrons by Mn, therefore MnO2 is being reduced, and acts
as an oxidizing agent.
Mn+4 +1e- → Mn+3
Q4) Give the oxidation number of Nitrogen in each of the following species.
(i) HNO3 = +5 (ii) NO2 = +4 (iii) N2 = 0
(iv) NH2Cl = -1 (v) NH4+1 = -3 (vi) N2H4 = +2
(vii) N2O = +1 (viii) NaNO2 = +3

Q5) Give the oxidation number of Chlorine in each of the following species.
(i) ClF = +1 (ii) HClO4 = +7 (iii) KClO3 = +5
(iv) Cl2 = 0 (v) ZnCl2 = -1 (vi) Cl2O7 = +7
(vii) NaClO = +1 (viii) HClO2 = +3
Q6) What is the chemical formula of rust? How is it formed?

Q7) Explain how rusting is prevented on food cans, kitchen sinks and underground
pipes.
Rusting on food cans is prevented by “Tinning” and on kitchen sinks and underground
pipes, it is prevented by galvanizing.

Q8) How corrosion in aluminium is different from rusting of iron?

Aluminium corrodes to form Al2O3, a hard material that protects the Aluminium metal from
further corrosion. Al2O3 is non-porous and protective and looks a lot like the metal itself.
When iron undergoes rusting, its color changes and large red flakes of rust are formed. The
rust is porous and non-protective. The expanding and flaking of rust exposes iron for further
corrosion.
Q9) Corrosion occurs more rapidly in a rainforest than in a desert. Justify.
High humidity and moisture content in rainforests facilitates electrochemical reactions and
accelerated corrosion, as opposed to deserts which have a low moisture content.
Q10) Calculate the oxidation number of elements marked in bold in the given
compounds.

N2O3 MnO42- Na2S2O3

2xN + 3xO = 0 Mn + 4xO = -2 2xNa + 2xS + 3xO = 0
2N + (3x-2) = 0 Mn + (4x-2) = - (2x+1) + 2S + (3x-2) = 0
2N -6 = 0 2 +2 + 2S -6 = 0
2N = +6 Mn -8 = -2 2S -4 = 0
N = +6/2 = +3 Mn = -2+8 S = +4/2 = +2
Mn = +6
H3BO3 H2CrO4 VO3-1
3xH + B + 3xO = 0 2xH + Cr + V + 3xO = -1
(3x+1) + B + (3x-2) = 0 4xO = 0 V + (3x-2) = -1
+3 + B -6 = 0 (2x+1) + Cr + V -6 = -1
B -3 =0 (4x-2) = 0 V= -1+6
B= +3 +2 + Cr -8 = 0 V= +5
Cr -6 =0
Cr= +6

Ba3(PO4)2 F2O
3xBa + 2xP + 8xO = 0 2xF + O = 0
(3x+2) + 2P + (8x-2) = (2x-1) +O = 0
0 -2 + O = 0
+6 + 2P -16 = 0 O = +2
2P -10 = 0
2P = +10
P= +10/2 = +5

Q11) Complete the following table.

Properties Sodium chloride Sand

Type of solid Ionic compound Giant covalent
compounds
Particles in unit cell Cation (Na+1) and anion (Cl-1) Atoms (Si and O)
Electrical conductivity Non-conductor in solid state, Non-conductor
good conductors in aqueous
and molten state
Melting points High melting point Very high melting point
Solubility in water Soluble in water Insoluble in water
Q12) Justify the following statements by giving reasons.
i) Aqueous solution of a polar covalent compound conducts electricity.
Covalent compounds have no free charged particles, so they do not conduct
electricity. However, some covalent compounds conduct electricity when
dissolved in water. For instance, acids like HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 etc. When these
acids are dissolved in water they ionize and form high concentrations of H+ ions
and negatively charged ions. These ions can move freely in aqueous solution
therefore aqueous solutions of acids conduct electricity.
HCl → H+ + Cl-
H2SO4 → 2H+ + SO4-2
ii) Ionic compounds dissolve easily in water.
Ionic compounds dissolve easily in water due to high dielectric constant of
water. Water has high ability to separate the charged particles in ionic
compounds. It separates and surrounds the positively and negatively charged
ions. Positive end of water molecules develops ion-dipole interactions with
anions of ionic compound and the negative end of water molecules develop ion-
dipole interactions with cations of ionic compound.
iii) Giant covalent compounds are very stable and hard.
Covalent compounds with giant structures such as diamond, quartz, silica etc.
are usually very strong and hard due to a strong three dimensional network of
covalently bonded atoms throughout the structure of the compound.