(12)1, 15

Adding concentrated HCl(aq) to CuSO

4
(aq) causes the colour of the solution to change from
blue to green.
Which row best explains this observation?

Number of
d-electrons
around copper
Energy gap between
the d-orbitals
A Changes Changes
B Changes Remains the same
C Remains the same Changes
D Remains the same Remains the same

(12)1, 17
The data below refers to a particular element.
Density 10.5gcm
-3

First ionisation energy 730kJmol
-1

Second ionisation energy 2070kJmol
-1

Third ionisation energy 3360kJmol
-1

Melting point 1235K
Where in the Periodic Table is this element most likely to be found?
A. Group I
B. Group II
C. Group VII
D. The transition elements
(12)1, 36
Which properties of transition elements are not shown by s-block elements such as calcium?
1. They have variable oxidation states.
2. Their ions can act as oxidising agents in aqueous solution.
3. Their ionic radii are less than their atomic radii.
(12)2, 3c [3 marks]
When concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to aqueous copper(II) chloride, the solution
eventually becomes yellow. When water is added to this yellow solution, it becomes blue.
Suggest by means of ionic equations, an explanation for these observations.

(11)1, 1
Use of the Data Booklet is relevant to this question.
The sunlight-induced photolysis of water is being investigated as a useful source of the
pollution-free fuel hydrogen.

It has been found that anatase, one of the three crystalline forms of the ionic compound TiO
2
,
is a good catalyst for this reaction.
How many electrons are associated with each titanium ion in the anatase lattice?
A. 18
B. 19
C. 20
D. 22

(11)3, 4c [6 marks]
The iron atoms in haemoglobin are in the oxidation state +2 and are in an octahedral
environment. Each iron atom is surrounded by five nitrogen-containing ligands, and one
oxygen-containing ligand, which is H
2
O in deoxyhaemoglobin and O
2
in oxyhaemoglobin.
The following diagram shows how the d-orbitals are split in an octahedral environment.

(i) Use this diagram to outline the origin of the red colour of haemoglobin.
When the H
2
O ligand in haemoglobin is changed to an O
2
ligand, the Fe
2+
ion changes its
electronic configuration from a high spin state to a low spin state.
In a high spin state, the electrons occupy all the d-orbitals singly, before starting to pair up
in the lower energy d-orbitals.
In a low spin state, the lower energy d-orbitals are filled first, by pairing up if necessary
before the higher energy d-orbitals are used.
(ii) Use diagrams like the one above to show the electronic distribution of a Fe
2+
ion in a high
spin state, and in a low spin state.
(iii) Suggest why electrons usually prefer to occupy orbitals singly, rather than in pairs.
(iv) Using this explanation, together with the information given above concerning the spin
states of deoxyhaemoglobin and the oxyhaemoglobin, state and explain which of the two
haemoglobins will contain the larger energy gap, E, between its d-orbitals.
(10)1, 18
Which statement correctly defines a transition element?
A. Transition elements exhibit more than one oxidation state in their compounds.
B. Transition elements form many coloured compounds.
C. Transition elements have partially filled d orbitals.
D. Transition elements or their compounds are widely used as catalysts.


(10)3, 5d [3 marks]
When concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to a solution containing Cu
2+
(aq), the colour
changes to a pale yellow-green. No gas is evolved.
No such colour change occurs when concentrated sulfuric acid is added to Cu
2+
(aq).
Dilution of the yellow-green solution with water produces the original pale blue colour.
Suggest an explanation of these observations.
(09)1, 17
Use of the Data Booklet is relevant to this question.
The bar chart gives some information about the first ionisation energies of elements,
numbered 1 to 4.
The elements are adjacent to each other in the Periodic Table with increasing proton number
either across from left to right, or down a group.

What could these four elements be?
A. B, C, N, O
B. Co, Ni, Cu, Zn
C. Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba
D. Si, P, S, Cl

(09)2, 2
Mazak is an alloy of magnesium, aluminium, zinc and copper which is widely used to make
die-cast toys.
Magnesium and aluminium are adjacent elements in the third Period of the Periodic Table;
zinc and copper are next to each other in the first set of transition elements.
The densities of the four metals present in Mazak, in ascending numerical order, are given
below.
Metal 1 Metal 2 Metal 3 Metal 4
Density
/gcm
-3

1.74 2.70 7.13 8.94

a) Suggest which two of the metals, Mg, Al, Zn, and Cu, which are present in Mazak,
are metals 3 and 4. [1 mark]
b) When finely powdered Mazak is shaken with cold dilute hydrochloric acid, three of
the metals dissolve and one remains as a solid residue.
Use the Data Booklet to identify this residue. Explain your answer. [2 marks]
c) Mazak can be completely dissolved in hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Sulfur dioxide is
also formed.
i. In what way does sulfuric acid behave in this reaction? [1 mark]
ii. Use the Data Booklet to construct an equation for the reaction of hot
concentrated sulfuric acid with zinc. [1 mark]
d) When NaOH(aq) is added to separate solutions containing Mg
2+
(aq) and Al
3+
(aq), a
white precipitate is formed in each case. When an excess of NaOH(aq) is added, one
of these precipitates dissolves.
i. Suggest the formula of the white precipitate that is soluble in an excess of
NaOH(aq) [1 mark]
ii. Construct ionic equations for
the formation of this precipitate, [1 mark]
and its subsequent dissolving. [1 mark]
Zinc has some properties that are similar to those of a Group II metal and some that are of
those of a transition element.
e) Suggest why zinc shows some properties of Group II elements. [1 mark]
f) Zinc nitrate and magnesium nitrate decompose when heated to give similar products.
i. Suggest an equation for the thermal decomposition of zinc nitrate. [1 mark]
ii. The radius of the Zn
2+
cation is 0.074nm. Use the Data Booklet to deduce
whether zinc nitrate will decompose at a higher or lower temperature than
magnesium nitrate. Explain your answer. [1 mark]

g) When NH
3
(aq) is added to a solution containing Zn
2+
(aq), a white precipitate is
formed which is soluble in an excess of the reagent.
In these reactions, zinc behaves like a transition element.
Suggest an ionic equation for each of these two reactions. [2 marks]
(08)2, 4
Copper is a typical transition element. It has more than one oxidation state and many of its
compounds have colours in the blue-green-yellow part of the visible spectrum.
a) Complete the electronic configuration of copper atoms and copper(II) ions. [2 marks]
Cu 1s
2
2s
2
2p
6

Cu
2+
1s
2
2s
2
2p
6


b) Aqueous copper(II) chloride, CuCl
2
, is a green-blue solution which gives the
following reactions. In each case the precipitate initially formed is separated before
being treated with NH
3
(aq).

i. State the formula of compound B. [1 mark]
ii. What is the formula of the cation present in CuCl
2
(aq) and of the cation
present in C? [2 marks]

c) Aqueous CuCl2 also undergoes the following reactions.


D and E contain complex ions of copper and chlorine. F is a compound of copper and
chlorine only.

When CuCl
2
(aq) is converted into D and into E, one mole of CuCl
2
reacts exactly
with two moles of HCl. In each case, no other compound is formed.

The oxidation number of copper in E is the same as in F.
i. Suggest balanced equations for the formation of D from CuCl
2
and for the
formation of E from CuCl
2
. [2 marks]
ii. Suggest the formula of the complex ion present in D and of the complex ion
present in E. [1 mark]
iii. Which type of reaction occurs when D is formed from CuCl
2
(aq)? [1 mark]
iv. Suggest the shape of the complex ion present in D? [1 mark]
v. What is the oxidation number of copper in the complex ion in E? [1 mark]

d) The oxidation number of copper in compound F is the same as that in complex ion E.
i. What type of reaction occurs when D is converted into F? [1 mark]
ii. Suggest a formula for compound F. [1 mark]

e) Under suitable conditions, CuCl
2
can be converted into G which is pale green in
colour. The composition of G by mass is Cu, 21.5%; F, 38.7%; K, 39.8%.
i. Use the data to calculate the empirical formula of G. [2 marks]
ii. Suggest the oxidation state of copper in G.

f) E and F are both colourless. All other copper compounds mentioned are coloured.
i. Explain why E and F are both colourless. [2 marks]
ii. Suggest an explanation for G being coloured. [2 marks]