FACULTY OF SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE AND ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
SEMESTER TEST 1
4CHM211 – INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
27 MARCH 2024
FULL MARKS: 50
Examiner
Dr. T Motsoeneng
INSTRUCTIONS:
(a) Answer all questions.
(b) Number the questions correctly.
(c) Write neatly and legibly.
1. Consider the following ligands:
SCNA
NO
N
C
N
B
a) Is ligand B an ambidentate or bidentate? Motivate your answer.
b) Which of the three ligands is monodentate?
c) Of all the ligands given above, indicate which atom is the donor atom(s) for
each.
(9)
2. Consider the following coordination compounds:
[NiBr2(PPh3)2]
A
[Pd(PMe3)4]
Cs[Co(CO)4]
C
Na4[Ni(NC)4]
D
B
a) Calculate the oxidation states of compounds A, B, C and D.
b) Draw the structures of all the above given complexes.
c) Use the IUPAC rules for nomenclature and name compounds A, B, C and
D.
(12)
3. Write the formula and draw the structures for each of the following
compounds; make use of brackets to indicate the coordination sphere
a)
Bis(ethylenediamine)hydroxonitroiron(II)
b)
Sodium hexanitritocobaltate(III)
c)
Tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(III) iodide
d)
Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(0)
(8)
4. Consider the following complexes:
[CoBr(en)2NO2]Br
[Co(NH3)4Cl2]NO2
A
a)
B
Use the compounds A and B to show all possible types of isomerism
that are displayed by transition metals of the respective complexes.
Indicate the type of isomerism involved before drawing the relevant
isomers.
b)
Name all the compounds drawn in a) as well as their isomers.
(8)
5. Show that B2O3 is an amphoteric oxide.
(4)
6. Write the balanced chemical reactions for the production of water gas.
(3)
7. Draw the structure of orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4).
(2)
8. Water can act as a reducing agent with fluorine but not with iodine. Explain
why.
(2)
9. Why noble gases have zero electron affinity?
(2)