Student Name: Student ID:
CHEM 2210 Inorganic Chemistry I (Sample Midterm exam paper)
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Date:
Time: 2 hours
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Part I: Multiple Choice (2 points each, 50 points in total)
Note: one answer per question. Please circle your answers.
1. The drawing on the right represents an sp2 hybridized orbital. Which of the following linear
combinations corresponds to the sp2 hybridized orbital?
(a) √(⅓) s + √(⅔) [√(¾) py + ½ px] y
(b) √(⅓) s + √(⅔) [√(¾) py - ½ px]
(c) √(⅓) s + √(⅔) [-√(¾) px + ½ py]
(d) √(⅓) s + √(⅔) [-√(¾) px - ½ py]
x
2. Identify the false statement
(a) There is a relationship between the hybridization of a main group atom and its geometry
(b) The VSEPR model is used to predict geometry of main group molecules.
(c) The methane molecule adopts a tetrahedral structure because the carbon atom chooses
sp3 hybridization.
(d) A molecule can be described by multiple Lewis structures
3. We normally use the sp3d2 hybridization scheme to describe the bonding in an octahedral
compound such as SF6. What are the two d orbitals involved if we define the x, y and z axes
along the S-F bonds.
(a) dx2-y2 and dz2 (b) dxz and dyz (c) dxy and dx2-y2 (d) dx2-y2 and dxz
4. Which of the following statements regarding molecule orbital theory is/are not correct?
(1) The number of molecular orbitals formed is equal to the number of atomic orbitals
contributed by the atoms involved.
(2) The aufbau principle is obeyed.
(3) The Pauli Principle is obeyed.
(4) A bonding molecular orbital is always lower in energy than an anti-bonding molecular
orbital.
(a) (2) and (4) (b) (2) and (3) (c) (3) and (4) (d) (4) only
5. What is the label of the antibonding molecular orbital formed by a linear combination of the px
or py atomic orbitals in a homonuclear diatomic molecule whose internuclear axis lies along the
z axis?
(a) g (b) u (c) g (d) u
6. How many molecular orbitals may be constructed from the valence shell orbitals of the
constituent atoms in CH4?
(a) 8 (b) 7 (c) 4 (d) 6
7. Which statement is false? A sigma molecular orbital
(a) is a bonding orbital.
(b) may result from head-on overlap of p atomic orbitals.
(c) may result from overlap of an s atomic orbital with a p atomic orbital.
(d) appears spherical when viewed along its major axis (axis of overlap).
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8. Identify false statements from the following.
(1) A sigma molecular orbital may be either bonding or antibonding.
(2) One of the shortcomings of molecular orbital theory is its inability to account for a
triple bond in the nitrogen molecule, N2.
(3) The antibonding molecular orbital for [HeH]+ has more of the character of He than of
that of H.
(4) Molecular orbital theory can explain the magnetic property of O2.
(a) (2) and (4) (b) (2) and (3) (c) (3) and (4) (d) (4) only
9. Identify false statements from the following.
(1) Photoelectron spectroscopy gives information about the molecular-orbital energy
levels in a molecule.
(2) Photoelectron spectroscopy gives no direct information about the unoccupied
molecular-orbital energy levels in a molecule.
(3) Photoelectron spectroscopy gives information about the Lewis structures in a
molecule.
(4) Photoelectron spectroscopy gives information about Lewis structures and the
molecular-orbital energy levels in a molecule.
(a) (1) and (2) (b) (3) only (c) (2) only (d) (3) and (4)
10. Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for C2?
(a) 2s2 *2s2 2p2 2p2 (b) 2s2 *2s2 2p2 2p2
(c) 2 *2s2 4 (d) 2 *2s2 2 *2p2
2s 2p 2s 2p
11. Which of the following diagrams best represents a bonding orbital in the NO+ molecule?
Assume that the N atom is on the left hand side.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
12. Which one of the following combinations is not a correct ligand group orbital?
F F F F F F F F
Xe Xe Xe Xe
F F F F F F F F
(a) (b) (c) (d)
13. In the fcc crystal structure of copper, the atomic radius (r) and the unit cell parameter (a) are
related as
(a) r = a/√3 (b) r = 2a (c) r = a/√2 (d) r = a/√8
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14. Let’s consider a hypothetical molecule SH6. If the central atom S uses only 3s and 3p atomic
orbitals for bonding with the 1s orbitals of the six H atoms, how many non-bonding molecular
orbitals do you have? Are the non-bonding molecular orbitals localized on the central atom or
the H atoms?
(a) 1; the central atom (b) 2; the central atom (c) 3; the central atom
(d) 1; the H atoms (e) 2; the H atoms (f) 3; the H atoms
15. Identify false statements from the following.
(a) Each lattice point in a crystal does not have the same environment.
(b) No atom need lie at a lattice point.
(c) A crystal space lattice cannot have a positive ion at one lattice point and a negative ion at
another lattice point.
(d) The simple cubic system has a lattice point at each corner.
16. In the case of cubic crystals, the density of the material of the crystal is:
(N: the Avogadro constant; n: number of molecules in the unit cell;
A: molecular weight; a: length of the unit cell)
(a) NAa3 (b) nA/Na3 (c) 3nA2/Na2 (d) Na3/A
17. In a solid “AB” having the NaCl structure, “A” atoms occupy the corners of the cubic unit cell. If
all the face-centred atoms are removed, then the resultant stoichiometry of the solid is:
(a) A2B (b) A3B (c) AB4 (d) AB3
18. The structure of CsCl crystal is:
(a) body centred cubic lattice
(b) simple cubic lattice
(c) face centred cubic lattice
(d) tetragonal lattice
19. Which one of the following statements is true?
(a) In the typical unit cells of both the HCP and CCP arrangements, the layering of spheres is
along the z axis.
(b) In the typical unit cells of both the HCP and CCP arrangements, the layering of spheres is
along the body diagonal.
(c) In the typical unit cells of a CCP lattice, the layering of spheres is along the z axis, whereas in
an HCP lattice is along the body diagonal.
(d) In the typical unit cells of a CCP lattice, the layering of the spheres is along the body
diagonal, whereas in a HCP lattice is along the z axis.
20. A mineral having the formula AB2 crystalizes in a face centred close packed lattice with A toms
occupying the lattice points. The coordination number of A atoms, the coordination number of
B atoms, fraction of tetrahedral holes occupied by B atoms, and fraction of octahedral holes
occupied by B atoms are respectively
(a) 8, 4, 100%, 0% (b) 4, 8, 75%, 25%
(c) 4, 8, 25%, 75% (d) 8, 4, 50%, 50%
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21. Magnetic oxide of cobalt (used in recording tapes) crystalizes with cobalt ions occupying 1/8 th
of tetrahedral holes and half of octahedral holes of cubic close packed array of oxide ions. The
simplest formulae of the compound is:
(a) CoO (b) CoO2 (c) Co3O4 (d) Co4O3
22. What is wrong about the unit cell of rock
(a) Coordination numbers of Na+ and Cl- are the same.
(b) It is fcc type of crystal.
(c) It is cubic type cystal.
(d) Cl- ions occupy the corners of the cube and also it body center.
23. Choose the correct statement.
(a) Different ionic solid compounds have different Madelung constants.
(b) For any types of ionic solids, the Madelung constants are same.
(c) Madelung constants can be same for different types of ionic solids.
(d) Different types of ionic solids have different Madelung constants.
24. Which of the following four band structure diagrams corresponds to a p-type semiconductor?
(a) (b) (c) (d)
25. Which of the following element(s) can be used to dope a silicon crystal to provide a p-type
semiconductor?
(1) B (2) Ga (3) P
(a) (1) only (b) (2) only (c) (3) only (d) (1) and (2) only (e) (2) and (3) only
Part II: Medium and Long Questions
1. Please sketch the ligand groups, which would have orbital interactions with the d orbitals
located at the centers of the cubic boxes, by shading the open circles. (6 pts)
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2. Calcium carbide, CaC2, is a reactive salt used in a number of industrial processes including the
production of acetylene. Use molecular orbital theory to describe the bonding of the carbide
anion (C22-). (6 pts)
Please Complete the valence molecular orbital diagram below by:
(a) drawing and naming the atomic orbitals,
(b) drawing and naming the molecular orbitals, and
(c) adding electrons to the appropriate molecular orbitals
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3. XeF4 is a stable compound and adopts a square planar structure. (13 points)
Assuming that each F uses only one 2p orbital for sigma-bonding with the central atom and
that the 5s orbital of Xe is too low in energy to participate in the bonding. In other words, Xe
uses only three 5p orbitals in the bonding.
(a) Sketch the 4 ligand group orbitals.
(b) Consider the orbital interactions between the three Xe p orbitals and the four ligand group
orbitals, and then construct the molecular orbital (MO) diagram for XeF4.
(c) Give the electron occupancy for each level.
(d) Describe the character of the HOMO. (e.g. Is it bonding, antibonding, or nonbonding? Is it
localized on Xe or F?)
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4. Determine the chemical formulae for the unit cell and a piece of crystal structure given below.
(6 pts)
Nb
M
A
O
O
5. Zn1-xO, ZnO and ZnO1-x have the following band structures. Please fill in the blanks. (6 pts)
(a) Compound has the band structure (a).
(b) Compound has the band structure (b).
(c) Compound has the band structure (c).
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6. True or False? (3 pts)
(a) An n-type semiconductor is produced when silicon is doped with phosphorus, and a p-type
semiconductor when silicon is doped with boron.
(b) A p-type semiconductor is produced when silicon is doped with phosphorus, and an n-type
semiconductor when silicon is doped with boron.
(c) The addition of phosphorus atoms turns silicon into a conductor but the addition of boron
atoms turns silicon into an insulator.
7. Consider salt composed of copper and chloride ions with a density of 4.14 g/cm 3 at 25ºC. The
salt forms a crystal at this temperature where the chloride ions form an expanded fcc array and
the copper ions occupy one-half of the tetrahedral holes. (10 pts)
a. Sketch the unit cell for this salt (a very accurate drawing is not required).
b. How many molecules are in the unit cell?
c. What is the empirical formula of the salt? What is the charge on copper?
d. Calculate the lattice parameter, a, in Å for the unit cell. ( 1 Å = 10-8 cm)
(Avogadro’s number is 6.0221023. The molar masses of Cu and Cl are 63.5 and 35.5, respectively)
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