Chemistry of the P-block Flashcards
What do aluminium and lead form?
Amphoteric oxides and hydroxides. This means they react with acids and bases.
How are we able to prove something is amphoteric?
Sodium hydroxide containing metal compounds. If it forms a precipitate on addition of hydroxide, which is then able to redissolve in excess hydroxide, the compound in amphoteric.
What does the inert pair effect tend to lead to?
A lower oxidation state
What is an electron deficient atom?
One that does not have a full outer shell.
What do group 3 elements form when they are electron deficient?
They form co-ordinate bonds to gain extra electron pairs e.g. aluminium chloride forms a dimer.
Give another example of a co-ordinate bond.
BF3 and NH3. This gives rise to BF3NH3 as the electron deficient BF3 accepts a lone pair from the NH3
What does isoelectronic mean?
When two elements joined together have the same number.
e.g. boron and nitrogen and carbon and carbon.
Why do both diamonds and cubic BN have high melting and boiling points?
They have strong covalent bonding between the atoms.
Why cant BN be used as an electrical conductor?
No delocalised electrons in the structure.
How can BN be used as a lubricant?
Forces between the layers on B-N are so weak they can slide over one another.
What are the two oxidation states in group 4?
+2 and +4
Why does the stability of the +2 state increase as you go down the group?
The inert pair effect becomes more significant.
Why is CO used as a reducing agent?
It’s easily oxidised.
