AP Chemistry : Bonding and Forces

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #132 : Compounds And Molecules

What is the maximum number of outer shell electrons in the n=2 energy level?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Remember, the energy level is equal to the row number on the periodic table. Looking at row two, the subshells present are s and p. The subshell can hold a maximum of two electrons since it only has one orbital, while the p subshell can hold a maximum of six electrons since it has three orbitals. Since all of these electrons are in the n=2 energy level, we add them up to get our answer.

Example Question #133 : Compounds And Molecules

What is the maximum number of electrons possible in the n=3 energy level?

Possible Answers:

8

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The energy level is equal to the row number on the periodic table. The n=3 energy level has an s, p, and d orbital. Since there are one, three, and five orbitals, respectively within each of these subshells, there will be a maximum of 18 electrons in the third energy level.

Example Question #134 : Compounds And Molecules

What is the maximum number of electrons possible in the n=4 energy level?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The energy level is equal to the row number on the periodic table. The n=4 energy level has s, p, d, and f subshells. Since there are one, three, five, and seven orbitals, respectively within each of these subshells, there will be a maximum of 32 electrons in the third energy level. Also, we can use the general formula to find the number of electrons in an energy level: . Thus in the fourth energy level there are  electrons.

Example Question #135 : Compounds And Molecules

What is the maximum number of electrons a single orbital can hold?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Each orbital can only hold a maximum of two electrons, going in opposite directions. Don't confuse this with the number of electrons that can be held within a particular energy level, which is given by the following formula:  where  is the energy level.

Example Question #136 : Compounds And Molecules

What are the shapes of the following compounds:

  • (a) SF6
  • (b) XeF4
  • (c) NH3
  • (d) CH4
  • (e) PCl5
Possible Answers:

Square planar, octahedral, trigonal pyramidal, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal

Square planar, trigonal bipyramidal, trigonal pyramidal, tetrahedral, octahedral

Octahedral, square planar, trigonal pyramidal, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal

Trigonal bipyramidal, square planar, tetrahedral, octahedral, trigonal pyramidal

Correct answer:

Octahedral, square planar, trigonal pyramidal, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal

Explanation:

(a) Octahedral: six charge clouds and six atoms (b) Square planar: six charge clouds and four atoms (c) Trigonal pyramidal: four charge clouds and three atoms (d) Tetrahedral: four charge clouds and four atoms (e) Trigonal bipyramidal: five charge clouds and five atoms

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