QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. If the O3 contains only oxygen atoms, would it be polar? Explain your answer.
2. Write complete balanced equations for the following processes.
(a) The reaction of magnesium boride with water
(b) The combustion of B2H6
(c) The reaction of BCl3 with C2H5OH
(d) The preparation of borazine
(e) The reaction of H3BO3 with CH3COCl
3. Explain why the electron afnity of the O2 molecule is 0.451 eV, whereas that of C2 is 3.269 eV.
4. Describe the bonding in the BO molecule.
5. Would FB(OH)2 be a stronger or weaker acid than boric acid? Explain your answer.
6. On the basis of its structure, explain why boric acid is a weak acid that functions by complexing with OH. Draw the
structure for the product.
7. If BF3 and B(CH3)3 were to react with the molecule
:N

P:

What would you expect the products to be? Why?

8. Pyridine cannot be used as the solvent when producing the adduct of ether with B(CH3)3, but when producing the
pyridine adduct, ether can be used as the solvent. Explain this difference.
9. Write equations to show the amphoteric behavior of Zn2 in aqueous solutions.
10. Explain why a solution containing ferric chloride in water is acidic.
11. In this chapter, the reaction between O2 and PtF6 was described. Would you expect N2 to react in a similar way? Why
or why not?
12. The ionization potential for O2 is 12.06 eV and that for O3 is 12.3 eV. If you were trying to obtain the O
3 species,
what strategy would you follow?
13. Determine the spectroscopic state for each of the following.
(a) B2; (b) O
2 ; (c) C2

14. Consider the BF3 and BH3 molecules even though the latter is not stable alone. One of these forms a stronger bond to
(C2H5)2S and the other to (C2H5)2O. Explain how the molecules would preferentially bond.
15. Draw structures for the following. List all symmetry elements and determine the point group for each species.
(a) ONF; (b) NCN2; (c) OCN; (d) C3O2
16. Under certain conditions (such as in interstellar space), the OH radical has been observed. Construct the molecular
orbital diagram for this species. Determine the bond order and determine what type of orbital contains the unpaired
electron.
17. Construct a molecular orbital energy-level diagram for the SO molecule and speculate on the nature of the bond and
other characteristics of the molecule.
18. In BF3, the BeF bond length is 130 pm, but in BF
4 , it is approximately 145 pm. Explain this difference in the BeF
bond lengths.
19. Would (C2H5)3N or (C2H5)3P react more energetically with BCl3 if the reactants are dissolved in an inert solvent?
Why?
20. Complete and balance the following.
(a) C2H5OH CaH2 /
(b) Al NaOH (in water) /
(c) SiCl4 LiAlH4 /
(d) BCl3 C2H5MgBr /
(e) Fe2O3 Al /
21. Describe the major industrial use of oxygen, including equations if necessary.
22. The process of adding two electrons to an oxygen atom,
Og 2 e / O2 g
absorbs 652 kJ mol1. Why are there so many ionic oxides?

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Write balanced equations to show the difference between methanides and acetylides in reacting with water.
When CO bonds to BH3, how does it bond?
Explain why BF3 is a weaker acid than BCl3.
Write balanced equations for each of the following processes:
(a) preparation of B3N3H6
(b) preparation of (C2H5)BH2
(c) preparation of NaBH4
(d) combustion of diborane
(e) preparation of (C6H5)3B
Describe the process by which H2O2 is prepared.
Heating many solid carbonates leads to decomposition. What products are obtained? Suppose CaCS3 were heated
strongly. What would happen?
Consider a 1 ion that contains one atom each of C, S, and P. Draw the correct structure and explain why any other
arrangements of atoms are unlikely.
Write complete balanced equations to show the following processes.
(a) the reaction of BaO with SO3
(b) the preparation of calcium cyanamide
(c) the oxidation of potassium cyanide with H2O2
(d) the preparation of hydrogen selenide
The H
3 ion has a trigonal planar structure. Rationalize this structure in terms of electron density within the structure.
If one, two, or three H2 molecules add to the H
3 ion, where and how would they bond? Sketch these structures.