4.14 Describe the preparation of potassium dichromate from iron chromite ore. What is the effect of increasing pH on a solution of potassium dichromate?

4.15 Describe the oxidising action of potassium dichromate and write the ionic equations for its reaction with: (i) iodide (ii) iron(II) solution and (iii) H2S 115 The d- and f- Block Elements Reprint 2025-26

4.16 Describe the preparation of potassium permanganate. How does the acidified permanganate solution react with (i) iron(II) ions (ii) SO2 and (iii) oxalic acid? Write the ionic equations for the reactions. 4.17 For M2+/M and M3+/M 2+ systems the E o values for some metals are as follows: Cr2+/Cr -0.9V Cr3/Cr2+ -0.4 V Mn 2+/Mn -1.2V Mn3+/Mn2+ +1.5 V Fe2+/Fe -0.4V Fe3+/Fe2+ +0.8 V Use this data to comment upon: (i) the stability of Fe3+ in acid solution as compared to that of Cr3+ or Mn3+ and (ii) the ease with which iron can be oxidised as compared to a similar process for either chromium or manganese metal. 4.18 Predict which of the following will be coloured in aqueous solution? Ti 3+, V3+, Cu+, Sc3+, Mn 2+, Fe3+ and Co 2+. Give reasons for each. 4.19 Compare the stability of +2 oxidation state for the elements of the first transition series. 4.20 Compare the chemistry of actinoids with that of the lanthanoids with special reference to: (i) electronic configuration (iii) oxidation state (ii) atomic and ionic sizes and (iv) chemical reactivity. 4.21 How would you account for the following: (i) Of the d4 species, Cr2+ is strongly reducing while manganese(III) is strongly oxidising. (ii) Cobalt(II) is stable in aqueous solution but in the presence of complexing reagents it is easily oxidised. (iii) The d1 configuration is very unstable in ions. 4.22 What is meant by ‘disproportionation’? Give two examples of disproportionation reaction in aqueous solution. 4.23 Which metal in the first series of transition metals exhibits +1 oxidation state most frequently and why? 4.24 Calculate the number of unpaired electrons in the following gaseous ions: Mn3+, Cr3+, V3+ and Ti3+. Which one of these is the most stable in aqueous solution? 4.25 Give examples and suggest reasons for the following features of the transition metal chemistry: (i) The lowest oxide of transition metal is basic, the highest is amphoteric/acidic. (ii) A transition metal exhibits highest oxidation state in oxides and fluorides. (iii) The highest oxidation state is exhibited in oxoanions of a metal. 4.26 Indicate the steps in the preparation of: (i) K2Cr2O7 from chromite ore. (ii) KMnO4 from pyrolusite ore. 4.27 What are alloys? Name an important alloy which contains some of the lanthanoid metals. Mention its uses. 4.28 What are inner transition elements? Decide which of the following atomic numbers are the atomic numbers of the inner transition elements : 29, 59, 74, 95, 102, 104. 4.29 The chemistry of the actinoid elements is not so smooth as that of the lanthanoids. Justify this statement by giving some examples from the oxidation state of these elements. 4.30 Which is the last element in the series of the actinoids? Write the electronic configuration of this element. Comment on the possible oxidation state of this element. Chemistry 116 Reprint 2025-26 4.31 Use Hund’s rule to derive the electronic configuration of Ce3+ ion, and calculate its magnetic moment on the basis of ‘spin-only’ formula. 4.32 Name the members of the lanthanoid series which exhibit +4 oxidation states and those which exhibit +2 oxidation states. Try to correlate this type of behaviour with the electronic configurations of these elements. 4.33 Compare the chemistry of the actinoids with that of lanthanoids with reference to: (i) electronic configuration (ii) oxidation states and (iii) chemical reactivity. 4.34 Write the electronic configurations of the elements with the atomic numbers 61, 91, 101, and 109. 4.35 Compare the general characteristics of the first series of the transition metals with those of the second and third series metals in the respective vertical columns. Give special emphasis on the following points: (i) electronic configurations (ii) oxidation states (iii) ionisation enthalpies and (iv) atomic sizes. 4.36 Write down the number of 3d electrons in each of the following ions: Ti 2+, V 2+, Cr3+, Mn 2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+. Indicate how would you expect the five 3d orbitals to be occupied for these hydrated ions (octahedral). 4.37 Comment on the statement that elements of the first transition series possess many properties different from those of heavier transition elements. 4.38 What can be inferred from the magnetic moment values of the following complex species ? Example Magnetic Moment (BM) K4[Mn(CN)6) 2.2 [Fe(H2O)6]2+ 5.3 K2[MnCl4] 5.9 Answers to Some Intext Questions 4.1 Silver (Z = 47) can exhibit +2 oxidation state wherein it will have incompletely filled d-orbitals (4d), hence a transition element. 4.2 In the formation of metallic bonds, no eletrons from 3d-orbitals are involved in case of zinc, while in all other metals of the 3d series, electrons from the d-orbitals are always involved in the formation of metallic bonds. 4.3 Manganese (Z = 25), as its atom has the maximum number of unpaired electrons. 4.5 Irregular variation of ionisation enthalpies is mainly attributed to varying degree of stability of different 3d-configurations (e.g., d 0, d 5, d 10 are exceptionally stable). 4.6 Because of small size and high electronegativity oxygen or fluorine can oxidise the metal to its highest oxidation state. 4.7 Cr 2+ is stronger reducing agent than Fe 2+ Reason: d 4  d 3 occurs in case of Cr 2+ to Cr 3+ But d 6  d 5 occurs in case of Fe2+ to Fe 3+ In a medium (like water) d 3 is more stable as compared to d 5 (see CFSE) 4.9 Cu + in aqueous solution underoes disproportionation, i.e., 2Cu +(aq) ® Cu 2+(aq) + Cu(s) The E0 value for this is favourable.