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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Department of Chemistry
Chemistry 121 Midterm 2

Sample Midterm D Solutions Time Limit: 60 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Check that this examination paper consists of 8 pages total, 8. When handing in your exam, please place all loose pages
printed on both sides. inside the examination paper.
2. Answer all questions on the separate answer sheet provided. 9. Do NOT fold the answer sheet.
Any answers written on this examination 10. For bubble responses, completely fill in the bubble in
paper will NOT be graded. dark pencil or ink and leave the rest blank:

3. The last page of this examination paper is a sheet of

supplementary information and the Periodic Table. You may
detach this page. Selecting option “D”
4. One mark will be deducted if the top part of the answer 11. If you’ve written in pen and want to change your
sheet (student information) is incomplete or incorrect. response, then draw a neat “X” over the response you do
NOT want marked and fill in your new response.
5. The only calculators permitted are non-programmable
calculators. All other calculators will be confiscated by the
invigilators.
6. Unassembled model kits are allowed. Models cannot have Pen: Changing an answer from “A” to “C”
writing/marks on them. Instruction sheets are NOT permitted.
7. No electronic communication devices are permitted on writing
desks. Your electronics must be powered off and out of reach.

RULES GOVERNING FORMAL EXAMINATIONS

1. Each examination candidate must be prepared to produce, ii. purposely exposing written papers to the view of other
upon the request of the invigilator or examiner, their examination candidates or imaging devices;
UBCcard for identification. iii. purposely viewing the written papers of other
2. Examination candidates are not permitted to ask questions of
examination candidates;
the examiners or invigilators, except in cases of supposed iv. using or having visible at the place of writing any books,
errors or ambiguities in examination questions, illegible or papers or other memory aid devices other than those
missing material, or the like. authorized by the examiner(s); and,
v. using or operating electronic devices including but not
3. No examination candidate shall be permitted to enter the
limited to telephones, calculators, computers, or similar
examination room after the expiration of one-half hour from
devices other than those authorized by the examiner(s)—
the scheduled starting time, or to leave during the first half
(electronic devices other than those authorized by the
hour of the examination. Should the examination run forty-
examiner(s) must be completely powered down if present
five (45) minutes or less, no examination candidate shall be
at the place of writing).
permitted to enter the examination room once the examination
6. Examination candidates must not destroy or damage any
has begun.
examination material, must hand in all examination papers,
4. Examination candidates must conduct themselves honestly
and must not take any examination material from the
and in accordance with established rules for a given
examination room without permission of the examiner or
examination, which will be articulated by the examiner or
invigilator.
invigilator prior to the examination commencing. Should
7. Notwithstanding the above, for any mode of examination that
dishonest behaviour be observed by the examiner(s) or
invigilator(s), pleas of accident or forgetfulness shall not be does not fall into the traditional, paper-based method,
received. examination candidates shall adhere to any special rules for
conduct as established and articulated by the examiner.
5. Examination candidates suspected of any of the following, or
8. Examination candidates must follow any additional
any other similar practices, may be immediately dismissed
from the examination by the examiner/invigilator, and may be examination rules or directions communicated by the
subject to disciplinary action: examiner(s) or invigilator(s).

i. speaking or communicating with other examination

candidates, unless otherwise authorized;
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The space below was left intentionally blank.

Any writing on this exam booklet will NOT be graded.
Please input all your answers on the separate answer sheet.
You will NOT be given extra time to transfer your work.

The exam continues on the next page.

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 Page 3 of 8

PART I. Multiple Choice [10 marks total]

For each numbered statement below, identify the letter that corresponds to the best answer. There is only one
correct answer per question. Each correct answer is worth 2 marks. Record your responses on the separate
answer sheet. Only responses given on the answer sheet will be marked.

1. When an electron is added to the following gas phase atoms, which one is expected to release the most energy?

(a) Mg
(b) S
(c) P
(d) Se
(e) Kr

2. Which statement is true?

(a) The Pauli exclusion principle states than when orbitals have the same energy, electrons occupy them singly with the
same spin.
(b) Degenerate orbitals have different energies.
(c) The effective nuclear charge, Zeff, is equal to the number of shielding electrons.
(d) The spin quantum number, ms, can have values of –½, 0, and +½.
(e) The Aufbau principle mandates that electrons will occupy orbitals with the lowest available energy levels before
occupying orbitals with higher energy levels.

3. The cross-section of an orbital of a one-electron species is sketched to the right. Shading z

differences represent the relative phase of the wavefunction. What quantum numbers must the
orbital have?

(a) n = 6, ℓ = 3 x
(b) n = 6, ℓ = 5
(c) n = 8, ℓ = 6
(d) n = 12, ℓ = 6
(e) n = 18, ℓ = 3
!
4. Using spherical polar coordinates, if Ψ(r, θ, f) = 0 when r ≥ 0 and θ = and f = 0 to 2p, the orbital must be:
"

(a) 4𝑑# !
(b) 3s
(c) 𝟐𝒑𝒛
(d) 4𝑝%
(e) 5𝑑& ! '% !

[Use this space for rough work]

[Only answers given on the answer sheet will be marked]

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5. Using the provided radial probability distribution graphs [x-axis = r/ao; y-axis = 4πr2R2(r)], determine which of the following
pairs of orbitals would experience the greatest electron-electron repulsion. Each solid line depicts the 4s orbital. The dashed
line depicts: 5s (a), 5p (b), 5d (c), 5f (d) and 5g (e).

PART II. Fill in the Blanks [10 marks total]

Write all answers in the appropriate box on the separate answer sheet.
Complete each numbered statement below by filling in the blank to make the statement correct. Only
answers given on the answer sheet will be marked.

6. 36 degenerate orbitals.
[2 marks] For B4+, when n = 6, there are ______

7. [2 marks] The sketches at right (each • represents a nucleus) correspond to the highest
occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) of the neutral homonuclear diatomic
B2
molecules ________ C2
and ________. Please note that shading indicates relative
phases. H2 is an example of a homonuclear diatomic molecule.

8. negative
[2 marks] Given initial and final electronic states of a neutral element (see below), the sign of ∆E will be __________
(write either “positive” or “negative”).

Initial State Final State

[Ne]3s13p6 [Ne]3s23p5

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 A. silicon and calcium
B. sulfur and iron Page 5 of 8
C. copper and magnesium
D. neon and cobalt
E. fluorine and zinc

Variations: easy to make

9. [2 marks] The absorption spectrum below shows the spectral lines that correspond to transitions from the first excited state
to higher
8. [TO energy states
DO--tidy] for a one-electron
[increasing species. watch
vs decreasing—NTS: The spectral line labelled
answer options “<” vs F is the
“>”] longest possible wavelength
Arrange
of light absorbed by the sample. The spectral
the following in order of increasing ionic radii: line that corresponds to the transition from the first excited state to
the fourth excited state is _____
D (select
3
A, B, C, D,
2+
E or F).
As ‾ Br‾ As As‾ Se‾
Correct: As2+ <AB C Br‾
D <E Se‾ < As‾ < F 3‾
As

As2+ < Br ̅ < Se ̅ < As ̅ < As3 ̅ correct increasing

As3 ̅ > As ̅ > Se ̅ > Br ̅ > As2+ correct decreasing
As3 ̅ < As ̅ < Se ̅ < Br ̅ < As2+ wrong, reversed
As2+ < As ̅ < As3 ̅ < Se ̅ < Br ̅ wrong, by Z
Se ̅ < Br ̅ < As2+ < As ̅ Increasing
< As3 ̅ Wavelength
wrong, reverse alphabetical

10. [2 marks] The9.graph

The graph
below below shows
shows the second
the second ionization
ionization energiesfor
energies foraaseries
series of
of elements
elementswith
with sequentially increasing atomic
sequentially increasing atomic numbers (from left to right). One
F of the
numbers (from left to right). The Generic Element Label ______ (select betweendata points corresponds
A to N) to
corresponds to Ne.
neon. What is the atomic number, Z, of the atom with the generic element label A?

Variations:
Generic
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
Element Label
Z 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

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PART III. Short Answer Questions [30 marks total]

Write all answers in the appropriate box on the separate answer sheet.
Only answers given on the answer sheet will be marked. You may use the space provided here for rough
work.

11. [10 marks] Complete the table on the answer sheet and draw the requested orbital cross-sectional diagrams on the axes
provided. Be sure to label the phases and axes.

Atomic n ℓ # radial # angular Cross sectional diagram

Orbital nodes nodes (Label axes (x, y and/or z) and phases (+ or –)

4𝑑& ! '% ! 4 2 1 2 y

3s 3 0 2 0 y

(axes can be labelled x, y or z)

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12. [10 marks] The table on your answer sheet is composed of columns for the chemical symbol for an atom or ion including
its charge when applicable (species), its atomic number (Z), its electron configuration and its associated orbital
diagram. Complete each row of the table in the answer sheet by entering the missing information in each column
and indicate whether the atom or ion is paramagnetic (P) or diamagnetic (D) and whether the atom or ion is in
the ground state (G) or in an excited state (E).

Species Z # e– Electron configuration Orbital diagram P/D G/E

[Ne]
P3– 15 18 [Ne] 3s2 3p6 D G
3s 3p

Ni 28 28 [Ar] 4s2 3d8 [Ar] D E

4s 3d

Co2+ 27 25 [Ar] 4s2 3d5 [Ar] P E

4s 3d

13. [5 marks] A sample of a one-electron ion initially in the ground state was selectively excited to an excited state with n = 9.
As the excited state ions relaxed to the ground state by undergoing transitions to lower energy states, photons were
emitted from the sample. The lowest energy photons were selectively reflected onto a metal foil.
When the metal foil was lithium, electrons were ejected. No electrons were ejected when a calcium foil was
used. (The binding energy of Li is 2.4 eV; the binding energy of Ca is 2.9 eV).

(a) Which transition(s) correspond to the lowest energy photons emitted from the one-electron ion (e.g., 4→1)?

9→8

(b) Identify and give the charge of the one-electron ion present in the sample.

2.4 eV < DEphoton < 2.9 eV

3.84´10–19 J < DEphoton < 4.64´10–19 J

𝟏 𝟏
𝜟𝑬𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐧 = – 𝟐. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎'𝟏𝟖 𝐉 𝒁𝟐 5 𝟐
− 𝟐8
𝟖 𝟗

Solving for Z when (DE = 3.84´10–19 J or 4.64´10–19 J) and inserting into inequality above:

7<Z<9

\ Z=8 This is O7+

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(c) If the number of one-electron ions selectively excited to n = 9 increases, will the velocity of the ejected
electrons from the lithium foil increase, decrease or stay the same? Circle the correct answer on the answer
sheet.

Stay the same

14. [5 marks] For the homonuclear diatomic molecule, B2, the bond dissociation energy corresponds to the energy difference
between the ground state and the lowest energy excited state that results in a bond order of zero. In other words,
irradiation of B2 with the appropriate wavelength of light can break the B–B bond.
Given on your answer sheet are the molecular orbital energy level diagrams needed to answer parts (a-c). Only
the molecular orbitals derived from 2s and 2p atomic orbitals are shown. Those derived from the 1s orbitals are
not shown.

(a) Complete the Ground State energy level diagram on your answer sheet by placing the appropriate number
of electrons in the molecular orbitals to show the ground state electronic configuration of B2.
(b) Complete the Excited State energy level diagram on your answer sheet by placing the appropriate number
of electrons in the molecular orbitals to show the lowest energy electronic configuration of B2 that results
in a B–B bond order of zero.
(c) Add a double headed arrow labelled BDE (shown at right) to either diagram (a) or (b) on your
answer sheet to clearly indicate the energy difference that corresponds to the bond dissociation BDE
energy of B2.

(a) (b)
0
Energy (Joules)

BDE

Ground State Excited State

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(d) Given that B2 has a bond dissociation energy of 293 kJ mol–1, what wavelength of light (in nm) is required
to break the B–B bond?

𝟐𝟗𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝐉/𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝒉𝒄

∆𝑬 = 𝟐𝟑
= 𝟒. 𝟖𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎'𝟏𝟗 𝐉 =
𝟔. 𝟎𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎 /𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝝀

𝒉𝒄 𝟔. 𝟔𝟐𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎–𝟑𝟒 𝐉 · 𝐬 (𝟑. 𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐦/𝐬)

𝝀= = = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎'𝟕 𝐦
∆𝑬 𝟒. 𝟖𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎'𝟏𝟗 𝐉

𝝀 = 𝟒𝟎𝟖 𝐧𝐦

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Supplementary Information

Potentially useful constants and conversion factors

1 Hertz = 1 Hz = 1 s-1 = 10-6 MHz

1 m = 106 μm = 109 nm = 1010 Å = 1012 pm
1 J = 1 kg m2 s-2
h = Planck's constant = 6.626 × 10-34 J s
NA = Avogadro's number = 6.022 × 1023 mol-1
c = speed of light = 3.00 × 108 m s-1
1 amu = 1 u = atomic mass unit = 1.66 × 10-27 kg
electron mass = 9.11 × 10-31 kg
proton mass = 1.67 × 10-27 kg
1 eV = 1.60 × 10-19 J
ao = Bohr radius = 0.53 Å
RH = Rydberg constant = 2.18 × 10-18 J

Potentially useful formulae

v = λf f(x) = Asin(2πx/λ)

λ = h/p = h/mv E = mc2

EK = mv2/2 E = hf

ψn(x) = (2/L)1/2 sin(nπx/L) (n = 1, 2, 3...) EK = Elight - Ebinding = h(f - fo)

En = h2n2/8mL2

En = -(2.18 x 10-18 J) Z2/n2

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