Deck 21: Chemistry of the Main-Group Metals

Question 1

Which of the following exhibits the greatest metallic character?

A)Ge
B)Ga
C)Br
D)As
E)All are equally metallic.

Answer 1

Ga

Question 2

Roasting is an example of which step in the production of a metal?

A)reduction
B)alloying
C)smithing
D)refining
E)preliminary treatment

Answer 2

preliminary treatment

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the general properties of the main group nonmetals is incorrect?

A)The oxides of nonmetals tend to be acidic.
B)The ionization energies of the nonmetals increase down a group.
C)Nonmetals tend to be insulators.
D)Nonmetals tend to form monoatomic anions or oxoanions.
E)The highest possible oxidation state for all but the most electronegative nonmetals is equal to the group number of the element.

Answer 3

The ionization energies of the nonmetals increase down a group.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a normal characteristic of a metal?

A)ability to form cations
B)low ionization energy
C)conductor of electricity
D)high electron affinity
E)malleability

Question 5

A chemical method of isolating aluminum oxide from aluminum ore is called

A)the Hall-Héroult process.
B)the Solvay process.
C)the Goldschmidt process.
D)the Bayer process.
E)the Dow process.

Question 6

Which element is found in the ore galena?

A)aluminum
B)lead
C)silicon
D)germanium
E)tin

Question 7

Within a group,as the atomic numbers of the elements increase,the

A)ionization energies decrease.
B)atomic weights decrease.
C)elements become less metallic.
D)atomic radii decrease.
E)electronegativities increase.

Question 8

A solution may contain NaCl,MgCl₂,and/or AlCl₃.When sodium hydroxide is added,a white precipitate forms that dissolves as more NaOH is added.Therefore,

A)the solution definitely contains AlCl₃ and cannot contain MgCl₂.
B)the solution contains only NaCl.
C)the solution contains at least two of the compounds,but it cannot be determined which two are present.
D)the solution definitely contains AlCl₃ and probably contains MgCl₂.
E)the solution can contain only AlCl₃.

Question 9

Metals usually act as

A)oxidizing agents.
B)reducing agents.
C)conjugate bases.
D)conjugate acids.
E)ion exchange agents.

Question 10

All of the following elements have the oxidation states listed except

A)Sn²⁺.
B)Sn⁺.
C)Pb²⁺.
D)Tl⁺.
E)Tl³⁺.

Question 11

Which element in Group IVA has the strongest metallic character?

A)None of the elements in Group IVA is metallic.
B)Pb
C)Si
D)C
E)Ge

Question 12

Which of the following statements about the general properties of the main group metals is not correct?

A)Metallic character increases down a group.
B)Metallic character decreases left to right across a period.
C)The majority of main group metal oxides are acidic.
D)Main group metals tend to form cations (lose electrons)in their reactions.
E)Main group metal reactivity tends to increase down a group.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a property of metals?

A)ductile
B)heat conductor
C)malleable
D)luminous
E)electrical conductor

Question 14

What is the metallurgical process of roasting?

A)A heating process done in the presence of carbon to reduce a metal oxide mineral to the metal.
B)A heating process done in the presence of carbon to reduce a metal sulfide mineral to the metal.
C)A heating process done in the presence of air to oxidize a metal mineral to the metal oxide.
D)A heating process done in the presence of air to convert a metal sulfide mineral to the metal oxide mineral.
E)A heating process done in the presence of air to reduce a metal oxide mineral to the metal.

Question 15

Choose the most metallic element.

A)As
B)P
C)Bi
D)N
E)Sb

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true?

A)An alloy may also be an ore.
B)A metal may also be a mineral.
C)A mineral may also be an alloy.
D)A mineral may also be an ore.
E)All of these statements are true.

Question 17

Bauxite is the principal ore of which element(s)?

A)B
B)Tl
C)Al
D)Ga
E)all of these

Question 18

In the first stage of the Bayer process bauxite is mixed with a strong base.What is the purpose of the strong base?

A)Strong base dissolves the silicate constituents of the ore,leaving pure aluminum oxide as a precipitate to be collected by filtration.
B)Strong base favors the formation of a soluble anion of the aluminum,leaving the silicates and other impurities as precipitates to be removed by filtration.
C)Strong base dissolves the silicate constituents of the ore and precipitates the aluminum as Al(OH)₃ for collection by filtration.
D)Strong base dissolves the silicates and aluminum constituents of the ore,allowing for the removal of any insoluble impurities by filtration and eventual precipitation of the aluminum from the filtrate.
E)The strong base,along with HF,is used to extract the aluminum from the ore as cryolite,a compound used in the electrolytic reduction of aluminum.

Question 19

At which step in the production of a metal would a blast furnace be used?

A)preliminary treatment
B)refining
C)reduction
D)smithing
E)extruding

Question 20

Which element commonly has both +1 and +3 oxidation states?

A)Tl
B)Pb
C)Ba
D)Al
E)Cu

Question 21

The valence electrons in a metal crystal are

A)delocalized between every two atoms.
B)localized between every two atoms.
C)found only on the surface of the crystal.
D)delocalized only by an applied potential.
E)free to travel throughout the crystal.

Question 22

Which of the following is initially obtained commercially by electrolytic reduction?

A)magnesium
B)fluorine
C)copper
D)iodine
E)bromine

Question 23

In the production of aluminum by the Hall-Héroult process,what is the product produced at the cathode?

A)CO
B)F₂
C)Al
D)Na
E)O₂

Question 24

Which of the following processes is used commercially in the production of aluminum?

A)Goldschmidt process
B)Hall-Héroult process
C)Dow process
D)Frasch process
E)Ostwald process

Question 25

Which of the following properties of the alkali metals does not increase with increasing atomic number?

A)ionic radius
B)reactivity with water
C)atomic radius
D)atomic weight
E)ionization energy

Question 26

Aluminum is obtained from a Al₂O₃-Na₃AlF₆ mixture by

A)reduction with hydrogen.
B)reduction with carbon monoxide.
C)flotation.
D)reduction with carbon.
E)electrolysis.

Question 27

The commercial method of isolating magnesium from seawater is called

A)the Solvay process.
B)the Goldschmidt process.
C)the Dow process.
D)the Hall-Héroult process.
E)the Bayer process.

Question 28

Which of the following equations represents the roasting of lead(II)sulfide ore?

A)PbS(s)+ 4H₂O(l)→ Pb(OH)₃^-(aq)+ H₂S(aq)+ H₃O⁺(aq)
B)PbS(s)+ H₂(g)→ Pb(s)+ H₂S(g)
C)2PbS(s)+ C(s)→ 2Pb(s)+ CS₂(l)
D)PbS(s)+ 2H₂O(l)→ Pb(OH)₂(s)+ H₂S(aq)
E)2PbS(s)+ 3O₂(g)→ 2PbO(s)+ 2SO₂(g)

Question 29

Cryolite,Na₃AlF₆,is used in the production of

A)HF.
B)NaF.
C)Na.
D)Al.
E)F₂.

Question 30

Which one of the following metals reacts least vigorously with water?

A)Li
B)Ca
C)Na
D)Mg
E)K

Question 31

Which is the most fundamental reason why cesium is more reactive than rubidium?

A)The effective nuclear charge on the valence electrons of cesium is less than the effective nuclear charge on the valence electrons of rubidium.
B)The electronegativity of cesium is less than the electronegativity of rubidium.
C)The atomic radius of cesium is larger than the atomic radius of rubidium.
D)The ionization energy of cesium is larger than the ionization energy of rubidium.
E)The ionic radius of cesium is larger than the ionic radius of rubidium.

Question 32

Which of the following is not a property of the alkali metals?

A)They form +1 cations in ionic compounds.
B)Their hydroxides tend to be amphoteric.
C)They do not occur as free metals in nature.
D)They are the most reactive of all metals.
E)They are soft and silvery.

Question 33

Which element reacts most vigorously with water?

A)Al
B)Li
C)Ba
D)Mg
E)Cs

Question 34

Which of the following alkali metals has the highest melting point?

A)Li
B)Na
C)Rb
D)Cs
E)K

Question 35

An alkali metal (designated M)reacts with water with the formation of

A)MOH + H₂.
B)M₂O + H₂.
C)M(OH)₂ + H₂.
D)MO + H₂.
E)MOH + O₂.

Question 36

Which of Figures I-V best represents the band theory description of metallic magnesium?

A)Figure I
B)Figure II
C)Figure V
D)Figure IV
E)Figure III

Question 37

Which of the following elements is obtained commercially from seawater and salt brine?

A)beryllium
B)sulfur
C)potassium
D)magnesium
E)aluminum

Question 38

Aluminum is produced commercially by electrolysis in a cell that contains

A)AlCl₃(aq).
B)aluminum anodes and cathodes.
C)Al₂O₃(l)+ Na₃AlF₆(l).
D)AlCl₃(aq)+ Na₃AlF₆(aq).
E)aluminum anodes.

Question 39

Which of the following metals will have the most vigorous reaction with water?

A)Ga
B)Li
C)K
D)Ca
E)Ba

Question 40

Which of the following metals is expected to have the fastest reaction with water?

A)Li
B)K
C)Cs
D)Na
E)Rb

Question 41

Which of the following statements about compounds of lithium is false?

A)Lithium hydroxide is a strong base.
B)Lithium carbonate is much more soluble in water than is sodium carbonate.
C)Lithium carbonate is a medication used to treat bipolar disorder.
D)Lithium hydroxide is used to remove carbon dioxide from the air in spacecraft.
E)Lithium hydroxide is produced by the reaction of calcium hydroxide with lithium carbonate.

Question 42

Which of the following is not a reaction used in the Solvay process?

A)2NaCl(aq)+ 2H₂O(l)→ H₂(g)+ Cl₂(g)+ 2NaOH(aq)
B)CaCO₃(s)→ CaO(s)+ CO₂(g)
C)NH₃(g)+ H₂O(l)+ CO₂(g)+ NaCl(aq)→ NaHCO₃(s)+ NH₄Cl(aq)
D)2NaHCO₃(s)→ Na₂CO₃(s)+ CO₂(g)+ H₂O(g)
E)CaO(s)+ 2NH₄Cl(aq)→ 2NH₃(g)+ CaCl₂(aq)+ H₂O(l)

Question 43

Which of the following hydroxides has amphoteric character?

A)Al(OH)₃
B)CsOH
C)Ba(OH)₂
D)KOH
E)B(OH)₃

Question 44

Which of the following statements concerning aluminum is false?

A)Sapphires and rubies are composed principally of aluminum oxide.
B)Aluminum hydroxide is amphoteric.
C)Aluminum can have both +1 and +3 oxidation states.
D)The main industrial source of aluminum is bauxite ore.
E)Corundum is a hard mineral of aluminum oxide.

Question 45

Which of the following equations describes the application of the Goldschmidt process to manganese(III)oxide?

A)2Mn₂O₃(s)+ 6H₂(g)→ 4MnH₃(s)+ 3O₂(g)
B)Mn₂O₃(s)+ 3H₂SO₄(aq)→ Mn₂(SO₄)₃(aq)+ 3H₂O(l)
C)Mn₂O₃(s)+ 3H₂O(l)→ 2Mn(OH)₃(aq)
D)Mn₂O₃(s)+ 2Al(s)→ 2Mn(l)+ Al₂O₃(l)
E)2Mn₂O₃(s)→ 4Mn(l)+ 3O₂(g)

Question 46

Which of the following statements about sodium is false?

A)Sodium reacts with oxygen to produce sodium peroxide.
B)Sodium ions are a significant component of seawater.
C)Sodium reacts with water to produce sodium hydride and oxygen gas.
D)Sodium metal is produced by electrolysis of sodium chloride.
E)Sodium metal is a strong reducing agent.

Question 47

Which of the following statements concerning magnesium is false?

A)Magnesium ion is the third most abundant dissolved ion in the oceans.
B)Magnesium reacts with oxygen to produce magnesium oxide.
C)Magnesium has a low density compared to most metals.
D)Magnesium is the least reactive alkaline earth metal.
E)Magnesium is used as a reducing agent in the production of zirconium.

Question 48

Which of the following statements is true?

A)The Solvay process is used to produce lead from galena ore.
B)The Solvay process is used to produce magnesium from seawater.
C)The Solvay process is used to produce sodium carbonate from sodium chloride and limestone.
D)The Solvay process is used to separate aluminum oxide from bauxite ore.
E)The Solvay process is used to produce aluminum metal from the electrolysis of aluminum oxide in cryolite.

Question 49

Which of the following statements concerning calcium is false?

A)Calcium metal is produced by the reduction of calcium oxide by aluminum.
B)Coral reefs are composed mainly of calcium hydroxide.
C)The mineral gypsum is composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate.
D)Calcium reacts with hydrogen to produce calcium hydride.
E)Seashells are composed principally of calcium carbonate.

Question 50

Almost all the potassium metal produced is used in the preparation of what compound?

A)KNO₃
B)K₂O₂
C)KOH
D)KO₂
E)KCl

Question 51

Which of the following is not an important use of sodium compounds?

A)NaCl as a food preservative
B)Na₂CO₃ in the manufacture of glass
C)NaOH in the extraction of Al₂O₃ from ore
D)NaI in the production of iodine
E)NaOH in the manufacture of soap

Question 52

Which alkali metal is capable of forming a stable nitride?

A)Cs
B)Na
C)Rb
D)K
E)Li

Question 53

Which of the following statements concerning magnesium is false?

A)Milk of magnesia is composed of a slurry of magnesium hydroxide.
B)Combustion of magnesium produces an intense white light.
C)Carbon dioxide may be used to put out magnesium fires.
D)Magnesium hydroxide is relatively insoluble in water.
E)Firebricks are a hardened form of magnesium oxide.

Question 54

Which of the following statements concerning lead is false?

A)Lead is predominantly used to make electrodes in batteries.
B)Lead ions exist only in the +4 oxidation state.
C)Lead reacts with hydrochloric acid,but because lead(II)chloride is insoluble in water,the reaction soon stops.
D)Lead is commercially prepared by reducing lead(II)oxide with carbon monoxide.
E)Lead is commonly found in galena,a lead(II)sulfide mineral.

Question 55

Which of the following statements about lithium is false?

A)Lithium reacts with oxygen to produce lithium peroxide.
B)The commercial source of lithium is the ore spodumene.
C)Lithium metal is obtained by electrolysis of lithium chloride.
D)Lithium reacts with water to produce lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
E)Lithium is commonly used as the anode in batteries.

Question 56

Which of the following statements concerning tin is false?

A)Tin(IV)chloride is a molecular liquid.
B)Tin metal is obtained from the mineral cassiterite.
C)Tin(II)compounds are strong oxidizing agents.
D)Solder and bronze are both alloys of tin.
E)One allotrope of tin is a metal,and the other allotrope is a nonmetal.

Question 57

Which of the following combinations of common name and formula is incorrect?

A)plaster of Paris,CaHCO₃
B)slaked lime,Ca(OH)₂
C)quicklime,CaO
D)limestone,CaCO₃
E)slag,CaSiO₃

Question 58

Which of the following statements concerning potassium and its compounds is false?

A)Potash consists mostly of potassium carbonate.
B)Potassium is so soft that it can be cut with a butter knife.
C)Potassium reacts with oxygen to produce potassium superoxide.
D)Potassium superoxide is used in self-contained breathing apparatuses.
E)Potassium metal is prepared by electrolysis of potassium chloride.

Question 59

The Goldschmidt process is a method to

A)produce lead from galena ore.
B)prepare aluminum metal from electrolysis of aluminum hydroxide and cryolite.
C)prepare sodium carbonate from sodium chloride and calcium carbonate.
D)produce magnesium from seawater.
E)prepare a metal by reduction of its oxide with aluminum metal.

Question 60

The Solvay process is an industrial method for the production of what compound?

A)Li₂CO₃
B)Na₂CO₃
C)NaOH
D)KO₂
E)KNO₃

Question 61

What small molecule is the eliminated as part of a condensation reaction?

A)H₂O
B)CO₂
C)O₂
D)H₂
E)HCl

Question 62

Which of the following is not a form of silicon dioxide?

A)sand
B)quartz
C)amethyst
D)glass
E)silicone

Question 63

The oxidation state of nitrogen (given in parentheses)is correct in all the following cases except

A)HN₃ (-1).
B)N₂O₃ (+3).
C)HNO₃ (+5).
D)NH₄⁺ (-3).
E)N₂O (+1).

Question 64

Which of the following reactions does not represent a commercial method for preparing hydrogen gas?

A)C₃H₈(g)+ 3H₂O(g)→ 3CO(g)+ 7H₂(g)
B)C(s)+ H₂O(g)→ CO(g)+ H₂(g)
C)2NH₃(g)→ N₂(g)+ 3H₂(g)
D)2H₂O(l)→ 2H₂(g)+ O₂(g)
E)CO(g)+ H₂O(g)→ CO₂(g)+ H₂(g)

Question 65

A sample of pure deuterium oxide,D₂O,is mixed with a sample of pure water,H₂O.After a period of time,the mixture will be

A)mostly H₂O.
B)mostly D₃O⁺.
C)mostly D₂O.
D)an equilibrium mixture of D₂O,H₂O,and DOH.
E)mostly OD^-.

Question 66

Which of the following is not an example of "fixing" nitrogen?

A)Scientists combine dinitrogen and hydrogen gases to form ammonia.
B)Bacteria convert dinitrogen from the atmosphere into ammonium ion and nitrate ion containing compounds.
C)Denitrifying bacteria decompose organic compounds into dinitrogen gas.
D)When magnesium combusts in air,some magnesium also reacts with dinitrogen to produce magnesium nitride.
E)Lightning strikes in the atmosphere produce nitrogen monoxide from dinitrogen and dioxygen gases.

Question 67

Highly pure silicon for the manufacture of solid state electronic devices is made on an industrial scale by

A)reduction of SiCl₄(g)with hydrogen gas.
B)reduction of SiO₂(s)with coke (amorphous carbon).
C)thermal decomposition of SiH₄(g).
D)reduction of SiCl₄(g)with an alkali metal.
E)reduction of SiO₂(s)with aluminum.

Question 68

Which of the following statements concerning oxides of carbon is false?

A)Both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are produced when an organic substance is burned in an oxygen-lean environment.
B)Both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are toxic in large quantities.
C)Both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are colorless.
D)Both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide support most combustion reactions.
E)Both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are odorless.

Question 69

The major industrial source of hydrogen gas is the reaction of methane and water at high temperatures (800-1000°C)and high pressures (10-15 atm)with nickel as a catalyst. If 150.0 g of CH₄ and 150.0 g of H₂O are reacted at 915°C and 11.0 atm,how much hydrogen should be available for industrial use?

A)171 L
B)1330 L
C)249 L
D)25.0 L
E)222 L

Question 70

Catenation is

A)the ability of a compound to form more than one type of unit-cell structure.
B)the transformation of minerals to gems.
C)the formation of more than one type of cation,such as Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺.
D)the covalent bonding of two or more atoms of the same element to one another.
E)the ability of an element to form more than one oxide.

Question 71

Dinitrogen gas is prepared commercially

A)from the decomposition of ammonia.
B)from the decomposition of magnesium nitride.
C)from the electrolytic reduction of ammonium salts.
D)from the distillation of air.
E)from the electrolytic reduction of nitrate salts.

Question 72

Which property of carbon distinguishes it from the other elements in its group?

A)the existence of more than one allotrope of carbon
B)its four valence electrons
C)its nonmetallic character
D)the ability of carbon to catenate to a high degree
E)the ability of carbon to form more than one oxide

Question 73

Which of the following metals tends to form compounds where the metal has a +2 or +4 oxidation number?

A)Al
B)Ba
C)Pb
D)Na
E)​In

Question 74

Nitric acid can be obtained directly by the reaction of _____________with water.

A)N₂O
B)NO
C)N₂
D)N₂O₃
E)N₂O₅

Question 75

Which of the following is not a possible formula for a silicate anion?

A)SiO₃^-
B)Si₄O₁₃^10-
C)Si₂O₇^6-
D)Si₆O₁₈^12-
E)SiO₄^4-

Question 76

What is the general formula for an alkali metal hydride? (M = metal)

A)MH
B)M(OH)₂
C)MH₂
D)MH₃
E)MOH

Question 77

Which of the following reactions describes the formation of an ionic hydride?

A)2H₂(g)+ O₂(g)→ 2H₂O(l)
B)H₂(g)+ Cl₂(g)→ 2HCl(g)
C)2K(s)+ H₂(g)→ 2KH(s)
D)H₂(g)+ C₂H₄(g)→ C₂H₆(g)
E)N₂(g)+ 3H₂(g)→ 2NH₃(g)

Question 78

What is the gas obtained by gently heating NH₄NO₃?

A)N₂
B)NO₂
C)N₂O
D)NO₃
E)N₂O₃

Question 79

Which of the following reactions describes the formation of a covalent hydride?

A)2Cs(s)+ H₂(g)→ 2CsH(s)
B)2Li(s)+ H₂(g)→ 2LiH(s)
C)Ba(s)+ H₂(g)→ BaH₂(s)
D)S₈(s)+ 8H₂(g)→ 8H₂S(g)
E)2Al(s)+ 3H₂(g)→ 2AlH₃(s)

Question 80

Which of the following compounds is not an allotrope of carbon?

A)diamond
B)All are allotropes of carbon.
C)methane
D)graphite
E)buckminsterfullerene