Book4-Part10.docVIP

Part 10 Periodic Properties of the Elements in the Periodic Table (Book 4, p.33 – 34) 10. (a) Both Na2O and Al2O3 have giant ionic structures with strong ionic bonds. Thus, both have high melting points. SO3 has a simple molecular structure in which discrete molecules are held together by weak van der Waals’ forces. A very small amount of energy is required to separate the molecules apart and hence it has a much lower melting point. Al2O3 has a higher melting point than Na2O because the ionic bond between Al3+ and O2– is stronger than that between Na+ and O2–. This is because Al3+ has a higher charge and smaller size than Na+. (b) Na2O dissolves readily in water to give a strongly alkaline solution, sodium hydroxide, NaOH (pH ( 14). A lot of heat is evolved. Na2O(s) + H2O(l) (( 2Na+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) (H 0 Al2O3 is insoluble in water. SO3 dissolves readily in water to give a strongly acidic solution, sulphuric acid, H2SO4 (pH ( 14). A lot of heat is evolved. SO3(l) + H2O(l) (( H2SO4(aq) (H 0 11. (a) (i) Al2O3(s) + 2OH–(aq) + 3H2O(l) (( 2[Al(OH)4]–(aq) (ii) SO3(g) + 2OH–(aq) (( SO42–(aq) + H2O(l) (b) (i) Al2O3(s) + 6H+(aq) (( 2Al3+(aq) + 3H2O(l) (ii) SO3(g) + H2O(l) (( H2SO4(aq) (from aqueous acid) 12. (a) (i) From sodium to argon, the number of proton increases while the screening effect remains effectively the same (same number of shell of electrons). The atomic radius decreases and the attraction for valence electrons increases. Hence, the first ionization energy increases.  (ii) Discontinuity in the trend between magnesium and aluminium: The electron to be removed from aluminium is at a higher energy 3p orbital compared to a lower energy 2s orbital in magnesium. Less energy than expected is thus required to ionize aluminium atoms. Discontinuity in the trend between phosphorus and sulphur: The electron to be removed from sulphur is a paired 3p orbital. The electronic repulsion between the paired electrons makes its remo