Chemistry 121
Structure & equilibrium Exam 1
10 September 2008
NameSolutions
NOTE: For FULL CREDIT, you must show your work for any calculation.
1. (10 pts) Choose one of the following experiments (circle it) and summarize the specific
contribution of that experiment to our current knowledge of the structure of the atom.
Millikan Oil Drop
Established the charge on the electron (in combination with the charge-to-mass ratio
determined from CRT measurements).
Cathode Ray Tube
Discovery of the electron (a negatively charged particle found in all matter) and measured
the charge-to-mass ratio of the electron.
Rutherford Gold Foil
Helped to establish the nuclear model of the atom, in which the nucleus is the center of
mass and positive charge for the atom. The electrons circulate outside the nucleus. Most of
the atom is empty space.
Blackbody Radiation
Energy can be released or absorbed by atoms only in discrete amounts (quanta). The
energy of an atom is quantized.
Photoelectric Effect
Energy of light can also be quantized (the photon). Specifically, an atom absorbs or emits
light only as photons (quanta). The energy of the photon absorbed or emitted by an atom
relates to the energy of the electron in an atom.
2. (8 pts) A photon from the light in your room has energy 4.6 x10-19 J. What is the frequency of
this radiation?
E 4.6 10 19 J
34
6.94 1014 s 1
h 6.626 10 J s
What is the wavelength of this photon, in nanometers?
c 3.0 108 m /s
4.32 10 7 m
6.94 1014 s 1
109 nm
4.32 10 7 m 432nm
m
3. (10 pts) A mosquito has a mass of 1.0x10-6 kg and flies at a speed of 0.52 m/s. Calculate the
de Broglie wavelength (in m) of the mosquito.
h 6.626 10 34 J s
6
1.27 10 27 m
mv (1.0 10 m)(0.52m /s)
Will the wavelike behavior of the flying mosquito be noticeable? Why or why not?
No. The wavelength is extremely small compared to the size of the mosquito. In addition, it is
too small to detect by any currently available scientific instrumentation, nevermind the
naked eye!
4. (10 pts) Complete the following table:
No. ofelectrons that can be
Name of
n ℓ Possible mℓ values accommodated in this
orbital
subshell
4 0 4s 0 2
6 2 6d -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 10
5 3 5f -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 14
2 2 Does Not Exist
3 1 3p -1, 0, 1 6
5. (12 pts) Write an orbital diagram for the ground state of the tellurium atom. (Start from the
previous noble gas)
[Kr]5s24d105p4 = [Kr] ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑ ↑
5s 4d 5p
How many valence electrons does a Te atom have?
6
How many unpaired electronsdoes a Te atom have?
2
What is the most likely ion that tellurium will form?
Te2-
6. (9 pts) Verify the ground-stateelectron configurations for these atoms and ions. For the
configurations that are incorrect, explain what mistakes have been made and write the
correct electron configurations.
a. AgCu: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d9
For elements in group 11, the correct configuration has a full d subshell, using one
electron from the s subshell.
Cu: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s13d10
b. Ar: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
This is correct.
c. As: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p64s24p3
Arsenic should have 33 electrons and only 23 are given in the configuration
above. The d subshell is missing: As: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p64s23d104p3
7. (8 pts) In the space below, draw the boundary surface diagrams for a 3s orbital and a
2pzorbital. Use and label axes to indicate the proper orientation. Be sure to draw the orbitals
to the appropriate size for comparison and shade to indicate any angular node(s) in the
orbital(s).
8. (12 pts) Briefly describe the relationship between the size of an atom and its first ionization
energy.
As atomic radius decreases (right to left in a period and bottom to top in a group), first
ionization energy increases. The smaller the atom, the higher the ionization energy.
Which element in the second period has the largest first ionization energy?
Neon (Ne)
Which element in the second period has the largest radius?
Lithium (Li)
9. (9 pts) For the following questions, consider these ions: Sr2+, Se2-, Br-
These ions are isoelectronic with (circle one): He Ne Ar Kr Xe
How would the radius of Se2-compare to the radius of Se and why?
Because is has two additional electrons, but still on 34 protons, the selenide ion (S 2-) would be
larger than a selenium atom.
List the ions in order of increasing size.
Sr2+< Br- < Se2-
10. (12 pts) Arrange the elements Cs, Al, N, and Hein order of
a. Increasing atomic radius
He < N < Al < Cs
b. Increasing effective nuclear charge
Cs < Al < N< He
c. Increasing first ionization energy (IE 1)
Cs < Al < N < He
d. Increasing number of valence electrons
Cs < He < Al < N