Unit One Flashcards
Why do we say that electromagnetic radiation has a dual nature?
It can be considered as both a stream of photons and as waves with characteristic properties such as wavelength and frequency.
What is atomic emission spectrum?
An Atomic emission spectrum is a unique spectrum of light emitted by an element when electricity is run through it or when it is viewed through a prism.
What causes an atomic emission spectrum?
When energy is transferred to atoms the electrons within them may use the energy to move to a higher energy level. These electrons have become excited and can move back to lower energy levels by losing energy. The energy lost from atoms in this way is released in the form of photons (these are the lines that can be seen). These spectra provide evidence of quantised energy levels in atoms.
Definition of an atomic orbital
The volume in space where the probability of finding and electron is greater than 90%.
Define degenerate orbitals
Orbitals that have the same energy
What is the maximum number of electrons an orbital can hold?
2
What is the shape of the s and p orbitals?
S orbitals are spherical and p orbitals are dumb bell shaped.
What is the Aufbau Principle?
Electrons fill orbitals in order of increasing energy
What is Hund’s Rule?
When degenerate orbitals are available, electrons fill each singly, keeping their spins parallel before spin pairing starts
What is the Pauli Exclusion Rule?
No two electrons in the one atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers (basically the two electrons in the same orbital must spin in opposite directions)
Order of Orbitals and number in each shell
1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p
1 s orbital in each shell
3 p orbitals in each shell
5 d orbitals in each shell
What is VSEPR?
Valence shell electron pair repulsion and it is responsible for the shapes of molecules and polyatomic ions.
What are lone pairs of electrons?
Pairs of electrons occupying an orbital in an atom or molecule and not directly involved in bonding
What has greatest repulsion:
Lone-pair to lone pair
Lone-pair to bonding pair
Bonding pair to bonding pair
Lone pair to lone pair is strongest repulsion and Bonding to bonding is weakest.
What is a transition metal?
A transition metal forms one or more stable ions with incompletely filled d-orbitals.
Why is the electronic configuration of chromium and copper out with the aufbau principle?
There is a special stability associated with half-filled or completely filled d-orbitals.
Why are zinc and scandium not always considered to be transition metals?
They do not form stable ions with incompletely filled d orbitals.
What can oxidation and reduction be considered as?
Oxidation can be considered as an increase in oxidation number and reduction can be considered as a decrease in oxidation number.
What do compounds containing metals in high oxidation states tend to be?
Oxidising Agents.
What do compounds with metals in low oxidation states tend to be?
Reducing Agents.
What do transition metal complexes consist of?
A central metal ion surrounded by ligands.
What is a ligand?
Negative ions or molecules with non- bonding pairs of electrons which they donate to the central metal atom/ion forming dative covalent bonds.
What is a dative covalent bond?
They are like any other covalent bond but one atom has donated both electrons.
What are the definitions of monodentate and bidentate ligands?
Monodentate ligands donate one pair of electrons to the central metal ion e.g. Cl- and H2O.
Bidentate ligands donate two pairs of electrons to the central atom e.g.. 1,2-diaminoethane and ethanedioate ion.
What is the coordination number?
The total number of bonds from the ligand to the central metal ion.
What are the anion names for Iron, Copper, Tin and Lead?
Ferrate, Cuprate, Stannate and Plumbate.
What happens to the d orbitals of a transition metal when a ligand bonds and why?
The d orbitals lose their degeneracy and split and this is due to repulsion between the electrons in the metal and the electrons in the ligand.
When the d orbitals are split what affects how big the energy gap is?
The transition metal ion, the oxidation state and the ligand.
What is the spectrochemical series?
It puts in order the ability of ligands to ‘split’ the d orbitals
What are strong field and weak field ligands?
Strong field ligands create a large energy difference and weak field ligands create a small energy difference.
How would you identify strong and weak field ligands using spectroscopy?
Strong field ligands cause transitions with energy occurring in the UV region and weak field ligands cause transitions with energy occurring in the visible region
Why do transition metal complexes make good catalysts?
The unpaired d electrons and unfilled d orbitals allow intermediate complexes to form providing alternative pathways with lower activation energies compared to the uncatalysed reactions.
Define homogenous and heterogeneous catalysts
Homogeneous catalysts are in the same phase as the reacting species and heterogenous catalysts are in a different phase
How do heterogenous catalysts work?
Chemical adsorption of the reactants onto the surface increases the chance of favourable collisions taking place.