PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 1

ANSWER: 2PbS + 3O2 2PbO + 2SO2

This question is testing your ability to balance a stoichiometric chemical

equation, or in other words, have the same number of each atomic species
on the left and right hand sides. In the balanced equation there are 2x Pb,
2x S and 6x O on each side.
To obtain lead metal there is a second step where the lead oxide (PbO) is
reduced using coke (a form of carbon) as follows.

PbO + C Pb + CO

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 2

ANSWER: U6+

The oxidation state or valence of cadmium (Cd) and oxygen (O) are fixed
as positive 2 (Cd2+ ) and negative 2 (O2-).
So in CdUO4 there are a total of two positive charges (from Cd) and eight
negative charges (from oxygen).
To achieve charge balance the oxidation state of uranium must be
hexavalent of (U6+).

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 3

ANSWER: M1(Ca), M2(Sc), M3(Cr), M4(Co), M5(Ni), M6(Zn)

So, moving from left to right their size will

decrease due to higher positive charge on
the nuclei that draw the negatively electrons
inwards.
As the metals become smaller the distance
between them in a cubic structure must also
be reduced so the cell edge decreases.
For zinc, the cell edge increases slightly
towards the right of the periodic table
because the number electrons increases, the
repulsion between them grows stronger, and
the metal dilates slightly.

Cell Edge (Angstroms)

Inspection of the elements shows they all

come from the first transition element row.

6.0

5.5

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5
Ca

Sc

Cr

Co

Metal

Ni

Zn

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 4

ANSWER: nickel
For each row in the Periodic Table, smaller metals will appear in the upper right part.
This is because the positive nuclear charge is greatest for each row and draws
electrons inwards.
For each column in the Periodic Table, larger ions are on the bottom left as the
number of electrons are larger.
On this basis, nickel being to upper right of the periodic table compared to all other
metals must be smallest.
Therefore the Ni to Ni bond distance must be smallest, and so the unit cell volume is
least.

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 5

ANSWER: 2Mg2+ + Si4+ 2Tm3+ + Be2+
To answer this question first consider the size of the ions and second consider the charge.
From the tables of ionic radii it can be found that the ionic
Be2+, but not Tm3+, can be in tetrahedral co-ordination to
oxygen (CN = 4). As the size of Be2+ (0.27 ) is very close
to Si4+ (0.26 ) but much smaller than Al3+ (0.39 ) Be2+
may replace Si 4+ .
Tm3+ in octahedral co-ordination (CN = 6) has a radius
similar to Mg2+ and so may be replaced by Tm3+.

Ion

Size CN =4
()

Size CN=6
()

Mg2+

0.89

Al3+

0.39

0.54

Si4+

0.26

0.40

Tm3+

0.88

Be2+

0.27

0.45

Once the replacements based on size are settled, then for every Be2+ introduced in place of
Si4+, there must be two Tm3+ replacing Mg2+.

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 6

ANSWER: [Ca2+1-2xLa3+2x][W6+1-xGe4+x]O4

As the charge different between Ca2+ / La3+ = 1, and that between W6+ /
Ge4+ = 2, it follows that for every Ge4+ introduced, there must be twice
as many La3+ introduced for charge balance.

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 7

ANSWER: None of the above

As temperature increases the atoms vibrate more strongly and occupy a

larger volume.

Therefore the unit cell volume must be largest at the highest temperature.
This correlation is shown in the table.
None of the answers offered is in accord with the table.

This simple analysis only holds true if there is no change in symmetry. For
calcite R-3c (No. 167) symmetry is maintained across the whole
temperature range.
Temp (K)
Increasing
temperature

Volume (3)

RT

367.6

473

371.0

673

373.3

873

375.0

Increasing
volume

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 8

ANSWER: C

The ellipsoids are drawn to show a 99% probability that the tin and
oxygen will lie within their volumes.
As the temperature increases the atomic vibrations grow larger and the
thermal ellipsoids expand.
Evidentially, the size of the ellipsoids increase from left to right and the
temperatures correspond to (A) room temperature, (B) 470K, (C) 930K
and (D) 1100K.
Notice that the connectivity of the SnO6 octahedron stays the same and
space group symmetry is maintained as P42/mnm (No. 136) over the
entire temperature range.

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 9

ANSWER: Na (SOF=1/2); Ca (1/2); Nb (1)
To answer this question it is necessary use the multiplicities of the Wyckoff symbols.
Begin by setting the SOFs niobium, oxygen and fluorine equal to 1. Then the ratio of Nb:O:F =
16:48:8. This is the same ratio as found in the formula NaCaNb2O6F.
Calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) share the same Wyckoff position (16d). The total unit cell
contents must be Na8Ca8Nb16O48F8 to keep the proportions of Ca and Na equal.
Therefore, the 16d site is occupied by Na and occupied by Ca.
Atom

Site

SOF

Na

16 d

5/8

5/8

5/8

Ca

16 d

5/8

5/8

5/8

Nb

16 c

1/8

1/8

1/8

48 f

0.20

8b

1/2

1/2

1/2

PART IV MCQ Practice : Answer 10

ANSWER: B
In an incommensurate structure the distance between reflections along a row will not be the same
distance apart.

For example in diffraction pattern A, the separation in the vertical , horizontal and diagonal
reflections are fixed distances (d1, d2, d3). This regular separation is a property of the 3D space
groups.
But in diffraction pattern B, the separations (d1, d2) in the diagonal direction are not the same. This
is the primary indication of an incommensurate structure that can only be fully described in 4D, 5D
or 6D.