General Chemistry Principles, Patterns, and Applications, 2011

1. The chemistry of the noble gases is largely dictated by a balance between two competing properties. What
are these properties? How do they affect the reactivity of these elements?
2. Of the group 18 elements, only krypton, xenon, and radon form stable compounds with other atoms and
then only with very electronegative elements. Why?
3. Give the type of hybrid orbitals used by xenon in each species.
a. XeF 2
b. XeF 4
c. XeO 3
d. XeOF 4
e. XeO 4
f. XeO 6
4−
4. Which element is the least metallic—B, Ga, Tl, Pb, Ne, or Ge?
5. Of Br, N, Ar, Bi, Se, He, and S, which would you expect to form positive ions most easily? negative ions most
easily?
6. Of BCl 3 , BCl 4 − , CH 4 , H 3 N·BF 3 , PCl 3 , PCl 5 , XeO 3 , H 2 O, and F − , which species do you expect to be
a. electron donors?
b. electron acceptors?
c. neither electron donors nor acceptors?
d. both electron donors and acceptors?
7. Of HCl, HClO 4 , HBr, H 2 S, HF, KrF 2 , and PH 3 , which is the strongest acid?
8. Of CF 4 , NH 3 , NF 3 , H 2 O, OF 2 , SiF 4 , H 2 S, XeF 4 , and SiH 4 , which is the strongest base?
S T R U C T U R E A N D R E A C T I V I T Y
1. Write a balanced chemical equation showing how you would prepare each compound from its elements and
other common compounds.
a. XeF 2
b. XeF 4
c. XeF 6
d. XeOF 4
e. XeO 3
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