Chemistry, 6e (McMurry/Fay)
Chapter 19 The Main-Group Elements
19.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1) What are the three most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust?
A) H, O, C
B) O, Al, Si
C) O, Si, Fe
D) Al, Si, Fe
2) What are the three most abundant elements in the human body?
A) H, C, O
B) H, O, N
C) H, C, N
D) H, C, P
3) What is the top chemical compound produced in the United States?
A) N2
B) NH3
C) CaO
D) H2SO4
4) Which one of the following is not a main group element?
A) Na
B) Ba
C) Fe
D) Ga
5) As one traverses the periodic table from left to right, the effective nuclear charge Zeff increases. As a
result of this the periodic properties of ________.
A) atomic size increases, IE increases, EA increases and electronegativity increases
B) atomic size decreases, IE increases, EA increases and electronegativity increases
C) atomic size decreases, IE decreases, EA increases and electronegativity increases
D) atomic size decreases, IE increases, EA decreases and electronegativity increases
6) Metallic character for the main group elements generally ________.
A) increases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
B) increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
C) decreases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
D) decreases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
7) What is the most metallic element of group 4A?
A) Si
B) Ge
C) Sn
D) Pb
8) Which of the following elements exhibits the most metallic character?
A) Ga
B) Ge
C) As
D) Se
9) Among the main-group elements the number of semimetals is ________.
A) five
B) six
C) seven
D) eight
10) Ionization energy of main-group elements generally ________.
A) increases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
B) increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
C) decreases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
D) decreases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
11) Electronegativity of main-group elements generally ________.
A) increases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
B) increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
C) decreases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
D) decreases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
12) Atomic radius of main-group elements generally ________.
A) increases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
B) increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
C) decreases from left to right across a period and increases down a group
D) decreases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group
13) Which of the following elements forms the most ionic binary hydride?
A) Na
B) Be
C) O
D) F
14) What are the basic oxides of the following set Na2O, MgO, P4O10, SO3, and Cl2O7?
A) Na2O and MgO
B) Na2O, MgO, and P4O10
C) P4O10, SO3, and Cl2O7
D) SO3 and Cl2O7
15) Which one of the following elements forms the most acidic binary oxide?
A) Na
B) C
C) N
D) P
16) Second row elements differ from heavier elements in all of the following ways except:
A) Atoms of second row elements are smaller.
B) Atoms of second row elements have higher electronegativities.
C) Heavier elements commonly form multiple bonds while second row elements cannot.
D) Heavier elements have electrons in d orbitals while second row elements do not.
17) Which one of the following compounds that contains a Group 5A element is least likely to exist?
A) NCl3
B) NCl5
C) PCl3
D) PCl5
18) Which one of the following compounds exhibits the strongest hydrogen bonding between its
molecules?
A) HF
B) HCl
C) HBr
D) HI
19) What is not a true statement?
A) BeO is amphoteric but the oxides of the other group 2A elements are basic.
B) B differs from other elements of group 3A by forming mainly covalent molecular compounds.
C) BF3 is a gaseous molecular halide but AlF3 is a high melting ionic solid.
D) Compounds with C=C double bonds and Si=Si double bonds are quite common.
20) Which one of the following elements can form more than four bonds with other elements?
A) N
B) O
C) F
D) S
21) Which one of the following elements forms the strongest π-bonds?
A) C
B) Si
C) Ge
D) Sn
22) Which compound exhibits pi bonding?
A) F2
B) N2
C) P4
D) S8
23) What is the geometric structure of P4 molecules?
A) linear
B) rectangular
C) square planar
D) tetrahedral
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24) Which of the group 3A elements is the only one to readily form a +1 ion?
A) B
B) Al
C) In
D) Tl
25) What are the common oxidation states of the Group 3A elements Al and Tl?
A) both are +3
B) +3 for Al and +1 for Tl
C) +3 for Al and both +1 and +3 for Tl
D) +3 for Al and +1, +3, and -5 for Tl
26) Which group 3A element exhibits the most nonmetallic character?
A) B
B) Ga
C) In
D) Tl
27) Of the following elements, which has a melting point slightly above room temperature?
A) B
B) Ga
C) In
D) Tl
28) Which group 3A element has the largest liquid range of any known element?
A) Al
B) Ga
C) In
D) Tl
29) One of the group 3A elements is extremely toxic due to the similarities in chemistry of one of its
ions to alkali metal chemistry. Which element is it?
A) B
B) Ga
C) In
D) Tl
30) Which elements of group 3A are commonly used in semiconductors?
A) B and Al
B) Al and Ga
C) Ga and In
D) In and Tl
31) Which group 3A element has the highest electronegativity?
A) B
B) Al
C) Ga
D) In
32) The first ionization energy of gallium is greater than that of aluminum and the first ionization energy
of thallium is greater than that of indium. A possible explanation for this is:
A) This is the normal trend in ionization energy.
B) Both Ga and Tl prefer to lose three electrons rather than one.
C) Both Ga and Tl follow transition elements which are excellent shielders of nuclear charge.
D) Ga follows a series of transition elements and Tl follows both a series of transition elements and
inner transition elements which are poor shielders of nuclear charge.
33) Which M3+ ion of group 3A elements is the easiest to reduce?
A) B
B) Al
C) Ga
D) In
34) The strongest reducing agent in the group 3A is
A) B.
B) Al.
C) Ga.
D) Tl.
35) What is not an appropriate method for the isolation of elemental boron?
A) refluxing borax with sodium peroxide
B) high temperature reduction of B2O3 with magnesium
C) high temperature reduction of BBr3 with hydrogen over a Ta wire
D) electrolytic reduction of aqueous B(OH)3
36) What is the geometric structure of BF3 and the hybridization of the B atom?
A) trigonal planar and sp2 hybridization
B) trigonal planar and sp3 hybridization
C) pyramidal and sp2 hybridization
D) tetrahedral and sp3 hybridization
37) Which one of the following compounds contains a three-center, two electron (3c-2e) bond?
A) B2H6
B) C2H4
C) N2H4
D) H2O2
38) Which compound contains hydrogen atoms that form two types of bonds?
A) B2H6
B) C2H2
C) C6H6
D) N2H4
39) Compared to the terminal B–H bonds the bridging H–B bonds in B2H6 are
A) longer and stronger.
B) longer and weaker.
C) shorter and stronger.
D) shorter and weaker.
40) What is the hybridization of boron in diborane B2H6?
A) sp
B) sp2
C) sp3
D) None of these
41) Which is not a facile reaction of aluminum?
A) 2 Al(s) + 3 Br2(g) → 2 AlBr3(s)
B) 4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) → 2 Al2O3(s)
C) 2 Al(s) + N2(g) → 2 AlN(s)
D) 2 Al(s) + 6 H2O(l) → 2 Al(OH)3 + 3 H2(g)
42) Some commercial drain cleaners contain aluminum chips and sodium hydroxide pellets. When water
is added to this mixture a vigorous reaction takes place which is best represented as:
A) 2 Al(s) + 6 H+(aq) → 2 Al3+(aq) + 3 H2(g).
B) 2 Al(s) + 2 OH–(aq) + 6 H2O(l) → 2 Al(OH)4–(aq) + 3 H2(g).
C) 2 Al(s) + 6 H2O(l) → 2 Al(OH)3 + 3 H2(g).
D) 2 Al(s) + 3 Cu2+(aq) → 2 Al3+(aq) + 2 Cu(s).
43) What is the ground state valence shell electron configuration of a group 4A element?
A) ns0 np4
B) ns1 np3
C) ns2 np2
D) ns2 np4
44) Which element of group 4A has the highest melting point?
A) C
B) Si
C) Sn
D) Pb
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45) Which element of group 4A is the most abundant in the earth’s crust?
A) C
B) Si
C) Sn
D) Pb
46) Which element of group 4A has the greatest density?
A) C
B) Ge
C) Sn
D) Pb
47) Which element of group 4A has the greatest electronegativity?
A) C
B) Si
C) Ge
D) Sn
48) Which statement is not consistent with the chemistry of group 4A elements?
A) Elements have the outer valence electron configuration of ns2np2.
B) The most common oxidation state for the elements of the group is +4.
C) The +4 oxidation state compounds are ionic and the +2 oxidation state compounds are covalent.
D) The +2 oxidation state for lead is the most stable.
49) Which of the following chlorides is the most ionic?
A) CH2Cl2
B) CCl4
C) PbCl2
D) PbCl4
50) What statement is not consistent with the chemistry of tin?
A) It is abstracted from the mineral cassiterite by reduction of the oxide with carbon.
B) It is an important component of alloys such as bronze, pewter, and some solders.
C) It is a relatively abundant ore within the earth’s crust.
D) It is used as a protective coating over steel in making tin cans.
51) What is the structure of the “gray” allotropic form of tin that is used as a semiconductor?
A) body centered
B) diamond-like
C) graphite-like
D) simple cubic
52) What statement is not consistent with the chemistry of lead?
A) It has the highest density of the group 4A elements.
B) It is commonly used as a fuel additive in gasoline to boost the octane rating.
C) It is obtained from its ore galena (PbS) by roasting in air and then by reduction with carbon
monoxide.
D) It is used in making pipes, cables, paint pigments and electrodes for storage batteries.
53) White tin is the high temperature form of the metal. Given that the density of gray tin is 5.769 g/cm3
and that of white tin is 7.28 g/cm3 raising the pressure will favor the
A) more dense allotrope and lower the transition temperature of 13.2°C.
B) more dense allotrope and raise the transition temperature of 13.2°C.
C) less dense allotrope and lower the transition temperature of 13.2°C.
D) less dense allotrope and raise the transition temperature of 13.2°C.
54) What element was one of the “holes” in Mendeleev’s periodic table?
A) Si
B) Ge
C) Sn
D) Pb
55) What is the molecular structure of germanium that is used in semiconductors?
A) body centered
B) diamond-like
C) graphite-like
D) simple cubic
56) Which allotrope of carbon has the atoms arranged in a spherical array?
A) coke
B) diamond
C) fullerene
D) graphite
57) Carbon is the ________ most abundant element by mass in living organisms.
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
58) What statement is inconsistent about diamond?
A) A covalent network structure in which each C atom uses sp3 hybrid orbitals.
B) A tetrahedral array of σ bonds with bond lengths of 154 pm.
C) The hardest known substance with the highest melting point for an element.
D) When an electrical potential is applied diamond becomes a valuable semiconductor.
59) What statement is inconsistent about graphite?
A) Carbon sheets are separated by a distance of 335 pm and are held together by weak London
dispersion forces.
B) Electrical conductivity parallel to the planar sheets is 1020 times greater than the conductivity of
diamond.
C) Pi electrons are delocalized and free to move perpendicular to the plane of the hexagonal sheets.
D) A two-dimensional sheetlike structure in which each C atom uses sp2 hybrid orbitals.
60) Electrical conductivity in graphite is maximized ________.
A) parallel to the pi framework and parallel to the planar C atom framework.
B) perpendicular to the pi framework and parallel to the planar C atom framework.
C) parallel to the pi framework and perpendicular to the planar C atom framework.
D) perpendicular to the pi framework and perpendicular to the planar C atom framework.
61) What statement is inconsistent about fullerene?
A) It is an allotrope of carbon and the C60 form has soccer ball shape.
B) The C60 form of fullerene is a good oxidizing agent.
C) The C60 fullerene is a molecular substance.
D) The C60 form of fullerene is soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.
62) Which one of the following is the best electrical conductor?
A) C (diamond)
B) C (graphite)
C) P4
D) S8
63) Which carbon containing compound is an inorganic compound?
A) C7H7NO2
B) CO2
C) CH3CO2H
D) C6H5CN
64) What statement is inconsistent about carbon monoxide?
A) It is a colorless, odorless and toxic gas.
B) It is formed by burning carbon or hydrocarbon in excess oxygen.
C) One of its main industrial uses is in the synthesis of methanol, CH3OH.
D) Toxicity of CO results from its ability to bond strongly to iron(II) atom in hemoglobin.
65) What is not a reaction commonly associated with carbon dioxide?
A) Oxyhemoglobin + CO2 ⇌ Carboxyhemoglobin + O2
B) C6H12O6(aq) + 6 O2(g) ⇌ 6 CO2(g) + 6 H2O(l)
C) CaCO3(s) + heat → CaO(s) + CO2(g)
D) CO2(g) + H2O(l) ⇌ H+(aq) + HCO3–(aq)
66) What is not a reaction commonly associated with cyanide ion?
A) H+(aq) + CN–(aq) → HCN(aq)
B) Ag+(aq) + CN–(aq) → AgCN(s)
C) 4 Au(s) + 8 CN–(aq) + O2(g) + 2 H2O(l) → 4 Au(CN)2–(aq) + 4 OH–(aq)
D) CN–(aq) + H2(g) → HCN(aq) + H–(aq)
67) Which one of the following is a pseudohalide?
A) CO32-
B) OH–
C) CN–
D) SO42-
68) Which one of the following carbides is most likely to be nonstoichiometric?
A) CaC2
B) Fe3C
C) SiC
D) None of these
69) Which compound has carbon with a negative oxidation number?
A) CO2
B) CaC2
C) HCN
D) Na2CO3
70) What is the oxidation number of carbon in CaC2?
A) + 4
B) + 1
C) – 1
D) – 2
71) Which statement is most inconsistent with the chemistry of silicon?
A) In nature, it is generally found combined with oxygen in SiO2 and in various silicate minerals.
B) It crystallizes in a diamond-like structure and does not form the graphite-like allotrope.
C) It is a hard, gray, semiconducting solid that melts at 1410°C.
D) It is obtained by oxidation of silica sand with coke.
72) Approximately 90% of the Earth’s crust is composed of what type of compounds?
A) carbonates
B) oxides
C) silicates
D) sulfides
73) What is the basic building block of all silicates?
A) Si2O64-
B) Si
C) SiO2
D) SiO44-
74) SiO2 can be classified as a(n)
A) amorphous solid.
B) covalent network solid.
C) ionic solid.
D) molecular solid.
75) Which one of the following has a two-dimensional layer structure?
A) silica, SiO2
B) zircon, ZrSiO4
C) talc, Mg3(OH)2(Si4O10)
D) tremolite asbestos, Ca2Mg5(Si4O11)(OH)2
76) What is the charge, n, in the ion Si4O10n that is found in talc?
A) 2 –
B) 4 –
C) 8 –
D) 10 –
77) Mica cleaves into thin sheets because at the molecular level its structure is ________.
A) one dimensional
B) two dimensional
C) three dimensional
D) None of these
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78) What is the range of oxidation states that are exhibited by P?
A) from -3 to 0
B) from -3 to +3
C) from -3 to +5
D) from 0 to +5
79) Which of the following species has its N atom or atoms in the -1 oxidation state?
A) N2H4
B) NH2OH
C) N2O
D) HONO
80) Which element of group 5A has the highest melting point?
A) nitrogen
B) white phosphorus
C) antimony
D) bismuth
81) Which element of group 5A has the most basic oxide?
A) N
B) P
C) As
D) Bi
82) What is the most stable oxidation state for Bi in bismuth compounds?
A) -3
B) 0
C) +3
D) +5
83) What statement about nitrogen is not consistent with its chemistry?
A) It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas.
B) It makes up 78% of the earth’s atmosphere by volume.
C) It is the most volatile component of liquid air with a boiling point of -196°C.
D) It readily reacts with hydrogen to form NH3 that is used in fertilizers.
84) In which compound is nitrogen in its highest possible oxidation state?
A) NH3
B) N2H4
C) HNO2
D) HNO3
85) In which compound is nitrogen in its lowest possible oxidation state?
A) NH3
B) N2H4
C) HNO2
D) HNO3
86) What is the Haber process?
A) the isolation of N2 from the atmosphere
B) the synthesis of ammonia, NH3
C) the synthesis of nitric acid, HNO3
D) the synthesis of hydrazine, N2H4
87) What is the chemical equation for the production of hydrazine?
A) N2(g) + 3 H2(g) → 2 NH3(g)
B) 2 NH3(aq) + OCl–(aq) → N2H4(aq) + H2O(l) + Cl–(aq)
C) 4 NH3(g) + 5 O2(g) → 4 NO(g) + 6 H2O(l)
D) Au(s) + 3 NO3–(aq) + 6 H+(aq) + 4 Cl–(aq) → AuCl4–(aq) + 3 NO2(g) + H2O(l)
88) What is one method of making “laughing gas”?
A) NH4NO3(s) + heat → N2O(g) + 2 H2O(l)
B) 3 Cu(s) + 2 NO3–(aq) + 8 H+(aq) → 3 Cu2+(aq) + 2 NO(g) + 4 H2O(l)
C) Cu(s) + 2 NO3–(aq) + 4 H+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + 2 NO2(g) + 2 H2O(l)
D) 2 NO(g) + O2(g) → 2 NO2(g)
89) If the anhydride of nitrous acid (HNO2) is N2O3 then what is the anhydride of nitric acid (HNO3)?
A) NO2
B) NO3
C) N2O3
D) N2O5
90) What is not a key step in the production of nitric acid by the Ostwald process?
A) 4 NH3(g) + 5 O2(g) → 4 NO(g) + 6 H2O(l)
B) 2 NO(g) + O2(g) → 2 NO2(g)
C) 3 NO2(g) + H2O(l) → 2 HNO3(aq) + NO(g)
D) N2(g) + O2(g) → 2 NO(g)
91) Why does Cu dissolve in concentrated nitric acid but not in concentrated hydrochloric acid?
A) The chloride ion is a stronger oxidizing agent than the nitrate ion.
B) The hydrochloric acid is not as strong as nitric acid.
C) The hydrochloric acid produces insufficient hydronium ion to react with the copper.
D) The nitrate ion is a stronger oxidizing agent than the hydronium ion.
92) What is responsible for the brownish colored gas when copper dissolves in nitric acid?
A) 2 NO(g) + O2(g) → 2 NO2(g)
B) 2 N2(g) + O2(g) → 2 NO(g)
C) NH4NO3(l) → N2O(g) + 2 H2O(g)
D) 2 NO2(g) → N2O4(g)
93) What statement about nitric acid is not true?
A) It is a strong oxidizing agent.
B) It is one of the more common strong acids and is essentially 100% dissociated in water.
C) It often has a yellow color due to the formation of NO2.
D) Its anhydride is N2O3.
94) What are the signs are expected for the entropy change ΔS and free energy change ΔG for the
reaction below?
N2H4(l) + N2O4(l) → 3 N2(g) + 4 H2O(g) ΔH = -1049 kJ
A) ΔS = + and ΔG = +
B) ΔS = + and ΔG = –
C) ΔS = – and ΔG = +
D) ΔS = – and ΔG = –
95) A 0.010 M solution of which of the following would have the lowest pH?
A) CH3NH2 (Kb = 3.7 × 10-4)
B) NH2OH (Kb = 9.1 × 10-9)
C) NH3 (Kb = 1.8 × 10-5)
D) N2H4 (Kb = 8.0 × 10-7)
96) A 0.010 M solution of which of the following would have the highest pH?
A) CH3NH2 (Kb = 3.7 × 10-4)
B) (CH3)2NH (Kb = 5.4 × 10-4)
C) (CH3)3N (Kb = 1.8 × 10-5)
D) NH3 (Kb = 6.5 × 10-5)
97) What is the structure of white phosphorus?
A) cage system of Px molecules
B) discrete P atoms
C) discrete P4 molecules
D) polymeric chain-like structure
98) What is not a characteristic of white phosphorus?
A) At temperatures less than 0°C it is converted to red phosphorus.
B) It bursts into flames when exposed to air, thus it is stored under water.
C) It has a low melting point (44°C).
D) It is soluble in nonpolar solvent such as carbon disulfide CS2.
99) In which compound is phosphorus in its lowest oxidation state?
A) P4O6
B) PCl3
C) PH3
D) PCl5
100) What is not an appropriate method of making phosphoric acid?
A) PH3(g) + 2 O2(g) → H3PO4(l)
B) PCl5(s) + 4 H2O(l) → H3PO4(aq) + 5 HCl(aq)
C) P4O10(s) + 6 H2O(l) → 4 H3PO4(aq)
D) P4(s) + 16 H2O(l) → 4 H3PO4(aq) + 2 H2(g)
101) What is an appropriate method for the synthesis of phosphorus?
A) 2 Ca3(PO4)2(s) + 10 C(s) + 6 SiO2(s) + heat → P4(g) + 10 CO(g) + 6 CaSiO3(l)
B) 4 PCl5(s) + heat → P4(g) + 10 Cl2(g)
C) 4 PH3(g) + heat → P4(g) + 6 H2(g)
D) P4O6(s) + heat → P4(g) + 3 O2(g)
102) What is the most acidic oxide of phosphorus?
A) PO2
B) PO3
C) P4O6
D) P4O10
103) What is the molecular structure of phosphorous acid?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
104) What are the molecular structures of orthophosphoric acid and pyrophosphoric acid?
A) 1 and 2
B) 1 and 3
C) 2 and 3
D) 3 and 4
105) Which group 6A element has the most negative electron affinity?
A) O
B) S
C) Se
D) Te