Group 12 metals-Andreas Stasch

Question 1

Why can group 12 metals be compared to the s -block?

Answer 1

All have a full d10 shell which acts as core-electrons, not directly involved in bonding so act only as 2 lone electrons. Forms mainly M2+

Question 2

What metals are toxic?

Answer 2

Cd and Hg

Question 3

True/false, group 12 are more noble

Answer 3

True

Question 4

2ZnS+3O2–>?

Answer 4

2ZnO + 2SO2

Question 5

ZnO(s)+C(s)+(conditions)–>Zn(g)+CO(g)

What are the conditions?

Answer 5

1200C

Question 6

HgS(s)+O2(g)–>?

Answer 6

Hg(g)+SO2(g)

Question 7

Why does Zn not react with air or water?

What conditions are needed for this to occur?

Answer 7

As it is passivated by a ZnO layer.

Must be molten.

Question 8

ZnO can act as both an acid and a base, therefore it is

Answer 8

Amphoteric

Question 9

ZnO+aq–>?

Is this ion acidic or basic?

Answer 9

[Zn(OH2)6]2+

Acidic

Question 10

ZnO/Zn(OH)2 + alkali –>?

Answer 10

Zincates [Zn(OH2)4]2-

Question 11

True/false, Zn2+ is a soft ion

Answer 11

False Zn2+ is both hard/soft, so can bond to both hard and soft ligands, useful in enzymes as lewis acid.

Question 12

Hg favours soft/soft interactions, why is this a problem when exposure occurs?

Answer 12

Allows it to accumulate in the body.

Question 13

R2Hg, toxic or harmless? What about in the case of Me2Hg?

Answer 13

Toxic asf! Me2Hg will kill you and can penetrate gloves as tiny.

Question 14

Hg2 2+ is stable, what is the Hg oxidation state? Why are other group 12 not stable?

Answer 14

+1

Sterically demanding that suppress disprop

Question 15

Hg2Cl2 and HgCl2 both show what kind of packing? How does that differ to CaCl2?

Answer 15

Linear packing.

CaCl2 is ionic.