NEW PRACTICE EXAM 2022 UPDATE FOR CHEM 162 QUIZ 5 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Which transition metals have unexpected electron configurations? - Cr: 4s1 3d5
Cu: 4s1 3d10
What characterizes transition metals (TMs) ? - Occupied s and d (or f) orbitals
How do s, d, and f orbitals compare in willingness to bond? - d and f orbitals do not participate in
bonding as easily as s orbitals
What is ionization energy? - The energy required to remove an electron in the gas phase
Why does ionization energy increase as you move right across a period? - The d-orbitals are more
stable as you move right
In general, how does reducing ability change when going from left to right across the first row of the
d-block? Name the exceptions. - Reducing ability generally decreases moving from left to right. Cr
and Zn.
What is odd about the reducing ability of Cr? - Cr is ( 4s1 3d5 ). Cr2+ is 3d4. The half-full d-obital set is
disrupted and accounts for LOWER THAN EXPECTED reducing ability.
What is reducing ability? - The ability to give away an electron; the act of becoming oxidized
What is odd about the reducing ability of Zn? - Zn2+ still has a full 3d shell, which is very stable.
What are complex ions? - Formed when a certain number of ligands bond to a transition metal cation.
What is a ligand? - A neutral molecule or an ion having a lone pair that can be used to form a bond to
a TM cation.
Which transition metals have unexpected electron configurations? - Cr: 4s1 3d5
Cu: 4s1 3d10
What characterizes transition metals (TMs) ? - Occupied s and d (or f) orbitals
How do s, d, and f orbitals compare in willingness to bond? - d and f orbitals do not participate in
bonding as easily as s orbitals
What is ionization energy? - The energy required to remove an electron in the gas phase
Why does ionization energy increase as you move right across a period? - The d-orbitals are more
stable as you move right
In general, how does reducing ability change when going from left to right across the first row of the
d-block? Name the exceptions. - Reducing ability generally decreases moving from left to right. Cr
and Zn.
What is odd about the reducing ability of Cr? - Cr is ( 4s1 3d5 ). Cr2+ is 3d4. The half-full d-obital set is
disrupted and accounts for LOWER THAN EXPECTED reducing ability.
What is reducing ability? - The ability to give away an electron; the act of becoming oxidized
What is odd about the reducing ability of Zn? - Zn2+ still has a full 3d shell, which is very stable.
What are complex ions? - Formed when a certain number of ligands bond to a transition metal cation.
What is a ligand? - A neutral molecule or an ion having a lone pair that can be used to form a bond to
a TM cation.
