Question 1

An improper rotation axis, S, arises from which of the Question 6

following situations? In symmetry terms, which of the following MUST be true for
an allowed transition?
a. A mirror plane combined with an inversion
b. Two proper rotation axes combined a. Both the electronic and vibrational representations
c. Identity combined with a mirror plane must be symmetric.
d. A proper rotation axis combined with a mirror plane b. Both the electronic and vibrational representations
must be asymmetric.
e. The combination of two mirror planes c. Only the electronic representations must be
symmetric.
Question 2 d. Only the vibrational representations must be
Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks. Raman activity is symmetric.
dictated by a change in the _____________ of a molecule, e. Symmetry does not matter, as long as there is a
while IR activity is related to a change in the ____________. change in dipole or polarizability.

a. Polarizability, dipole moment Question 7

b. Magnetism, dipole moment Symmetry elements within a group must display which of the
c. Symmetry, magnetism following?
d. Dipole moment, polarizability
e. Magnetism, symmetry a. Closure (If A and B belong to the group, and A x B =
C, then C also belongs to the group.)
Question 3 b. Associativity (A(BC) = (AB)C )
Dodecaborate (B12H12) does NOT contain which of the c. Identity (The symmetry element times its identity, E,
following symmetry elements? remains unchanged.)
d. Inverses (There must be an inverse symmetry
a. E element that returns the molecule to its original
b. C5 state; A x A-1 = E.)
c. i e. Continuity (If a molecule contains an n axis, then it
d. S10 also contains axes of n-1, n-2...)
e. C6

Question 4
Fill in the blank. The character table for a C 3v molecule, such
as PCl3, lists three symmetry labels: A 1, A2, and E. The A1
mode transforms z, z2, and x2 + y2. This means that the A1
mode is ________________.

a. IR active only
b. Raman active only
c. Both IR and Raman active
d. Neither IR or Raman active
e. The only spectroscopically active mode in the
molecule

Question 5
Fill in the blank. The character table for a D3h ion, such as
CO32-, lists six symmetry labels: A1', A2', E', A1'', A2'', and E''. The
A2' mode transforms Rz. This means that the A 2' mode is
_________________.

a. IR active only
b. Raman active only
c. Both IR and Raman active
d. Neither IR or Raman active
e. The only spectroscopically active mode in the
molecule
Question 8 Question 11
Using the flow chart provided, determine which point group a Hydrogen and helium both have two electrons (completely
tennis ball would belong to. filled) bonding molecular orbitals. Hydrogen exists as a
diatomic molecule; helium does not. Why?

a. Helium also has electrons in antibonding orbitals,

resulting in a bond order of zero.
b. Helium also has electrons in non-bonding orbitals,
resulting in a bond order of zero.
c. Helium is a noble gas and never forms bonds.

d. Hydrogen also has electrons in nonbonding orbitals,

resulting in a bond order of two.
e. Hydrogen has no antibonding orbitals, resulting in a
bond order of two.

Question 12
The bond order of a molecule is given by the equation: ½
(bonding electrons - antibonding electrons). What accounts
for the ½?

a. The amount of magnetic character is reduced in

bonds.
b. The electrons are shared between two elements.

c. Nonbonding electrons decrease bond ability.

d. The antibonding electrons interfere with bonding.

e. None of the above

Question 13
What is the bond order for dinitrogen, N 2?

a. D2d a. 5
b. Cs b. 1
c. C2h c. 1.5
d. S4 d. 2
e. D4 e. 3

Question 9 Question 14
Which of the following has C4v symmetry? When drawing the MO diagram of a heteronuclear diatomic
molecule, at what relative positions should the atomic
a. H2O orbitals appear?
b. BrF5
c. BH3 a. They should be at the same energy to indicate bond
d. PCl6 formation.
e. W(CO)6 b. They should be at the same energy to indicate
allowed symmetry.
Question 10 c. They should be at different energies, relative to their
Which of the following does NOT contain an inversion center? difference in electronegativities.
d. They should be at different energies, relative to their
a. SF6 atomic radii.
b. O2 e. They should be at different energies, relative to the
c. BF3 number of lone pairs of electrons.
d. C2Cl4
e. All of the above Question 15
When filling molecular orbitals, which of the following is c. They counteract bond formation in a molecule.
FALSE?
d. They help hold the molecule together, once it is
a. A maximum of two electrons per orbital is allowed. formed.
e. They are responsible for the formation of sigma
b. The orbitals with the lowest energy are filled first. bonds.

c. Orbitals of the same energies are half-filled first; Question 20

then electrons are allowed to pair up. What compound is represented by this MO diagram? (Pay
d. Non-bonding orbitals are filled first. attention to the number of electrons and their respective
e. All of the above energies.)

Question 16
Which of the following minimizes nucleus-nucleus repulsion
and promotes electron-nucleus interaction?

a. Nonbonding molecular orbitals

b. Antibonding molecular orbitals
c. Bonding molecular orbitals
d. All of the above
e. A and C only

Question 17
Which of the following must be true when atomic orbitals
combine to form molecular orbitals?

a. They must have constructive net interaction.

b. They must have the correct symmetry to overlap

c. They must be similar in energy

d. There will be the same number of resultant
molecular orbitals as atomic orbitals
e. All of the above

Question 18
Which of the following statements concerning sigma and pi
molecular orbitals is FALSE?

a. Sigma interactions occur along the internuclear axis.

b. Pi interactions occur above and below the a. CO2

internuclear axis. b. H2O
c. Sigma bonds form first, followed by the subsequent c. CN-
formation of pi bonds. d. Cl2
d. Two pi bonds are involved in a double bond. e. N2
1. e. All of the above
Question 21
Question 19 1s22s22p63s23p63d5 is the electron configuration for which
Which of the following statements is true of nonbonding element/ion?
molecular orbitals?
a. Mn2+
a. They are responsible for the formation of pi bonds. b. V
2. c. Fe3+
3. d. All of the above
b. They are similar in energy to the atomic orbitals.
4. e. A and C only

Question 22
According to valence bond theory (VBT), O 2 has no unpaired 7. d. They increase their transition state energy, making
electrons. MO theory shows two unpaired electrons in a 2π* them useful catalysts.
molecular orbital. Which of the following experiments 8. e. They decrease shielding, allowing
supports the correct electron configuration? spectroscopically forbidden transitions to occur.

a. An EPR spectrum shows that oxygen is paramagnetic;

MO theory is correct. Question 26
b. An EPR spectrum shows that oxygen is paramagnetic; Do high spin d5 octahedral complexes experience Jahn-Teller
VBT is correct. distortion? Why, or why not?
c. Infrared spectroscopy shows a double bond stretch;
MO theory is correct. a. Yes. The five electrons distribute themselves evenly
d. Infrared spectroscopy shows a double bond stretch; in the five molecular orbitals, causing them to be
VBT is correct. degenerate. Axial elongation reduces this
e. There is no way to know which theory is correct in degeneracy.
this matter. b. Yes. The five electrons distribute themselves evenly
in the five molecular orbitals, causing them to be
Question 23 degenerate. Axial compression reduces this
According to valence bond theory, what is the difference degeneracy.
between a complex with d2sp3 hybridization and sp3d2 c. No. The five electrons distribute themselves evenly
hybridization? in the five molecular orbitals; no degeneracy exists.

a. There is no actual difference; the orbitals involved
are the same, only listed in a different order.
b. The complex having d2sp3 hybridization is an "inner
shell" complex, while the complex with sp 3d2
hybridization is an "outer shell" complex.
c. The complex having d2sp3 hybridization is an "outer
shell" complex, while the complex with sp 3d2
hybridization is an "inner shell" complex.
d. The complex having sp3d2 hybridization does not
exist; the electrons must fill the lowest energy
orbitals first.
e. The complex having d2sp3d2 hybridization does not
exist; the electrons must fill the orbitals with the
same principle quantum number.
d. No. Four of the electrons are paired. Only one
electron is unpaired and can only fill the one
remaining orbital. No degeneracy exists.
e. Yes. Four electrons are paired in the lower energy
orbitals. The fifth electron can position itself into any
of the remaining three orbitals, making it triply
degenerate.
Question 27
Ferrocene consists of two cyclopentadienyl rings bound
through 5 carbons to an iron center. What is the IUPAC name
for ferrocene?

Question 24
Analysis of a high spin d6 complex reveals that it is
diamagnetic. What is the probable molecular geometry of the
complex?

a. Octahedral
b. Tetrahedral
c. Square planar
d. All of the above
e. Both A and C a. mer-bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
b. fac-bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
Question 25 c. bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
Compounds with octahedral molecular geometries d. µ-bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
sometimes elongate or compress through Jahn-Teller e. (η5-cyclopentadienyl)iron(II)
distortion. In doing so, which of the following occurs?
Question 28
a. They increase their ionization potential, rendering How would the complexes Λ-[Co(en)3]3+ and Δ-[Co(en)3]3+
them most useful electrochemically. differ?
5. b. They reduce degenerate molecular orbitals,
allowing a more stable molecule to exist. a. One would be a solid at room temperature, while the
6. c. They undergo a strong magnetic transition, other would be a liquid.
allowing easier detection by NMR and EPR.
 b. One would be highly colored, while the other would d. A d2 tetrahedral complex
be colorless. e. A d5 square planar complex
9. c. One would be paramagnetic, while the other
would be diamagnetic. Question 33
10. d. One would rotate plane-polarized light clockwise, Using the valence bond theory and the 18 electron rule,
while the other would rotate it counterclockwise. which of the following would you predict to be the most
stable?
11. e. All of the above
a. Fe(CO)5
12. b. Ni(CO)5
13. c. Mo(CO)6
14. d. Re(CO)6
15. e. Ir(CO)5

Question 29 Question 34
In chromium and copper, the 3d orbital fills before the 4s What happens when the electron pairing energy is larger than
orbital is filled. Why? the octahedral field splitting energy?

a. Because the stability gained from having a fully-filled a. The result is a low-spin complex, where electrons will
or evenly, half-filled set of d orbitals is greater than pair up and fill the lowest energy level.
the need to fill all lower energy orbitals first b. The result is a high-spin complex, where electrons
b. Because the 3d orbital is actually lower in energy will be promoted to the next energy level before
than the 4s, so it fills first pairing.
c. Because copper and chromium only exist as ions; c. The result is an unstable complex, where electrons
never as neutral elements can either pair or be promoted to the next energy
d. Because the atomic radii are so large that no effect is level.
felt by the nucleus d. The result is a high-spin complex, where electrons
e. None of the above will pair up and fill the lowest energy level.
e. The result is a low-spin complex, where electrons will
Question 30 be promoted to the next energy level before pairing.
Phosphines are often used as molecular bridges between two
metal centers. How should these phosphines be notated
according to IUPAC nomenclature? Question 35
Which of the following has T-shaped molecular geometry?
a. mu (µ)
b. eta (η) a. BF3
c. chi (χ) b. ClF3
d. xi (ξ) c. PF6
e. zeta (ζ) d. IF5
e. SbF5
Question 31
Transition metals exhibit all of the following general Question 36
characteristics, EXCEPT: Which of the following influences the amount of crystal field
splitting in a metal complex?
a. They are malleable and ductile.
b. They have high melting points. a. Charge of the metal ion
c. They conduct heat and electricity. b. Nature of the ligands
d. They are lustrous. c. Geometry of the complex
e. They undergo irreversible oxidation. d. Size of the ligands
e. All of the above
Question 32
Using ligand field theory, which of the following would you Question 37
predict to be the most paramagnetic? Which of the following sets of complexes represents a set of
stereoisomerism (not structural isomerism)?
a. A low spin, d5 octahedral complex
b. A high spin, d8 octahedral complex a. [PtCl(H2O)3]Br and [Pt(Br)(H2O)3]Cl
c. A low spin, d3 octahedral complex b. cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2]
 c. [CrCl2(H2O)4]Cl•2H2O and [CrCl3(H2O)3]•3H2O absorption at 654 nm. If equal quantities of the two solutions
d. [Co(NH3)6] [Cr(ac)3] and [Co(ac)3] [Cr(NH3)6] of metal complexes are mixed, what would the resulting UV
e. [Co(SCN)(NH3)5]- and [Co(NCS)(NH3)5]- spectrum look like?

Question 38 a. The spectrum would show one very broad

Which of the following would have the largest ionization absorption band at 533 nm.
energy? b. The spectrum would show two weak absorption
bands, one at 412 nm and the other at 654 nm.
a. Copper
b. Iron c. The spectrum would show two strong absorption
c. Gold bands, one at 412 nm and the other at 654 nm.
d. Titanium
e. Tungsten d. The spectrum would show two weak absorption
bands, one at 472 nm and the other at 594 nm.

Question 39 e. The spectrum would show two strong absorption

You discover a new metal complex that exhibits high spin bands, one at 472 nm and the other at 594 nm.
characteristics. What ligand properties can you predict?

a. It is highly polarizable. Question 44

b. The ligand is relatively large. The vertical line (located at Δ/B = 2 for a d6 system) in the
c. The ligand exhibits π donor ability. Tanabe-Sugano diagram corresponds to which of the
d. The ligand is acidic. following?
e. All of the above

Question 40
Which of the following would have the highest melting point?

a. Silver
b. Rhodium
c. Cadmium
d. Molybdenum
e. The melting points would be equivalent, because
they are in the same period.

Question 41
If a complex has a maximum absorption at 423 nm, what
color would the complex appear to the human eye?

a. Violet
b. Blue
c. Green
d. Yellow
e. Red

Question 42
Some tetrahedral metal complexes exhibit weak electronic
transitions even though they are symmetry forbidden. Why?

a. Jahn-Teller distortion
b. Mixing of the p and d orbitals
c. MLCT
a. The ligand field stabilization energy (LFSE) is
d. LMCT
insufficient to allow transitions to the left of the line.
e. All of the above

b. The transitions to the left are symmetry allowed,

Question 43
while the transitions to the right are spin allowed.
The UV spectrum of metal complex A has a strong absorption
at 412 nm. The UV spectrum of metal complex B has a strong
 c. The transitions to the left are spin allowed, while the c. Nine
transitions to the right are symmetry allowed. d. Six
e. Zero
d. The transitions to the left are low-spin complexes,
while the transitions to the right are high-spin Question 46
complexes. Which of the following is true with regard to charge transfer
e. The transitions to the left are high-spin complexes, (ligand-to-metal or metal-to-ligand) absorption bands in
while the transitions to the right are low-spin relation to d-d transition bands?
complexes.
a. CT absorptions occur at higher wavelengths than d-d
transitions.
b. CT absorptions are less intense than d-d transitions.

c. CT transitions are symmetry and spin allowed; d-d

transitions are symmetry forbidden.
d. CT transitions are spin allowed; d-d transitions are
spin forbidden.
e. CT transitions are symmetry and spin forbidden; d-d
transitions are symmetry forbidden but spin allowed.

Question 45
Using the spin selection rules and the Tanabe-Sugano diagram Question 47
provided, how many electronic transitions would you expect Which of the following would be a spin allowed transition?
to see in the spectrum of a d8 complex if Δ/B = 1.5?
a. 3
T1 → 1T1
b. 5
E → 2E
c. 3
T1 → 3A2
d. 1
A2 → 3A2
e. 4
T2 → 2T4

Question 48
Why are the hexaaqua complexes of Sc3+ and Zn2+ colorless,
while the hexaaqua complexes of Fe 2+, Cr3+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+
are intensely colored?

a. Zn2+ has a completely filled d orbital, and Sc 3+ has a

completely empty d orbital.
b. Zn2+ and Sc3+ always form high spin octahedral
complexes.
c. Zn2+ and Sc3+ always form low spin octahedral
complexes.
d. Zn2+ and Sc3+ are diamagnetic; the others are
paramagnetic
e. Zn2+ and Sc3+ are paramagnetic; the others are
diamagnetic.

Question 49
Why does a high spin d5 octahedral complex exhibit a very
pale color, while a low spin d5 octahedral complex is more
highly colored?

a. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry

and spin forbidden. The transition in the low spin
a. Two complex is symmetry allowed.
b. Three
 b. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry a. The asymmetric stretch of the C-O bonds creates a
and spin forbidden. The transition in the low spin dipole moment that is IR active.
complex is spin allowed. b. The symmetric stretch of the C-O bonds creates a
c. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry dipole moment that is IR active.
forbidden but spin allowed. The transition in the low c. The non-linear bending mode crates a net dipole,
spin complex is symmetry and spin allowed. which is IR active.
d. The transition in the high spin complex is spin d. All of the above
forbidden but symmetry allowed. The transition in e. A and C only
the low spin complex is symmetry and spin allowed.
Question 53
e. The transition in the high spin complex is symmetry In NMR spectroscopy, what happens to the chemical shift and
and spin forbidden. The transition in the low spin resonance frequency of a compound when the spectrometer
complex is symmetry and spin allowed. frequency changes?

Question 50 a. The chemical shift and resonance frequency also

You have two solutions of chromium ions. Your lab partner change.
has added potassium thiocyanate to one and potassium b. The chemical shift changes; the resonance frequency
cyanide to the other, but does NOT remember which one remains constant.
contains which anion. Just by appearance, how can you tell c. The chemical shift remains constant; the resonance
them apart? frequency changes.
d. The chemical shift and resonance frequency remain
a. The solution containing cyanide ion will give a larger constant.
crystal field splitting, causing a blue shift in the color e. There is no way to predict the effect.
of the complex. The complex with thiocyanate ion
will appear as more red shifted.
b. The solution containing cyanide ion will give a
smaller crystal field splitting, causing a blue shift in
the color of the complex. The complex with Question 54
thiocyanate ion will appear as more red shifted. The splitting of energy levels in the presence of a magnetic
field is caused by which of the following?
c. c. The solution containing cyanide ion will give a
larger crystal field splitting, causing a red shift in the a. The Zeeman effect
color of the complex. The complex with thiocyanate b. Pauli exclusion principle
ion will appear as more blue shifted. c. Symmetry degeneracy
d. d. The solutions will both be similar in color; d. Fermi contact interaction
however, the complex with thiocyanate will be more e. Bose-Einstein effect
intense.
e. e. You cannot tell them apart; the experiment would Question 55
need to be restarted. What is the most likely cause of fluxional behavior in the NMR
spectrum of Fe(CO)5, iron pentacarbonyl?
Question 51
A 19F NMR spectrum at room temperature reveals on well
defined peak. When cooled slightly, the peak becomes
broadened. At N2(l) temperatures, two well defined peaks are
apparent. What is responsible for these observations?

a. Dynamic fluxionality
b. Spin-spin coupling interactions
c. Integer quantum spin numbers (I = 1,2,3…)
d. Fractional quantum spin numbers (I = 1/2, 3/2, 5/2)

e. Low natural abundances of the 19F nucleus

a. Dissociation and recoordination of the carbonyl
Question 52
ligands
Carbon dioxide is a linear molecule with no dipole moment.
b. Rotation of a hindered carbonyl bond
Which of the following interactions is responsible for the
c. Opening and closing of bridging carbonyls
observed IR spectrum of CO2?
 d. Isomerism between trigonal bipyramidal and square b. Pyridine is a good π acceptor and contributes to
pyramidal configurations increased π backbonding.
e. Monmer-dimer formation with a bridging carbonyl c. The carbonyl to metal bond strength is increased in
the chloro complex.
d. All of the above
Question 56 e. A and B only
What molecule most likely produced this EPR spectrum?
Question 61
a. NO2 radical EDTA4- is a polydentate ligand. How many coordination sites
b. CH3 radical does it contain and through what moieties?
c. CH2Cl radical
d. CH2CH2 radical a. Two; through the lone pairs on the two nitrogen
e. OH radical atoms
b. Two; through the lone pairs on two of the oxygen
Question 57 atoms
Which of the following cannot be studied by EPR? c. Four; through the lone pairs on the four oxygen
atoms
a. Paramagnetic transition metal complexes d. Four; through the anion on the four oxygen atoms
b. Diamagnetic transition metal complexes
c. Free radicals in the solid state e. Six; two through the lone pairs on the two nitrogen
d. Free radicals in the liquid or gas state atoms and four through the lone pairs of the four
e. Complexes containing more than one unpaired oxygen atoms
electron
Question 62
Question 58 How do Cp complexes and derivatives of metal ions undergo
Which of the following conditions does NOT result in a ligand substitution reaction?
nonzero quantum spin number (I)?
a. Associative mechanism, aided by a ring slip
a. An odd mass number and odd atomic number, such b. Dissociative mechanism, in which the Cp ring is lost
as 1H
b. An odd mass number and an even atomic number, c. Inversion of stereochemistry and loss of the Cp ring
such as 13C
c. An even mass number and an even atomic number, d. Dissociation of the Cp ligand, followed by re-
such as 16O association of Cp
d. An even mass number and an odd atomic number, e. All of the above
such as 14N
e. All of the above situations will result in a nonzero Question 63
quantum spin number. How is it possible to form different transition metal complexes
when mixed with the same two ligands?
Question 59
Which of the following would be predicted to have a g-factor a. It is dependent on which ligands are a part of the
value close to 2? primary valence and which ones are a part of the
secondary valence.
a. A free electron b. It depends on the charge of the metal ion present.
b. An unpaired electron in an organic molecule
c. An unpaired electron in a transition metal complex c. It depends on the number of empty d orbitals.

d. All of the above d. It depends on the nature of the ligands involved and
e. A and B only whether they are mono or multi-dentate.
f. All of the above
Question 60
Why does Re(CO)5Cl exhibit lower carbonyl stretching Question 64
frequencies (νco) than [Re(CO)5(py)]+? Using the neutral (covalent) method of electron counting,
how many electrons are donated to a metal center by a
a. Cationic metal complexes experience less π cyclopentadiene ring?
backbonding than their neutral or anionic analogs.
a. 2
 b. 5
c. 6 Question 70
d. 8 The interaction between the metal and ligands in
e. 10 coordination complexes can best be described as which of the
following?
Question 65
What is the coordination number of [Cu(NH 3)4][Cl-]2? a. Hydrophilic interactions
b. Hydrophobic interactions
a. 2 c. Van der Waals interactions
b. 3 d. Lewis acid-base interactions
c. 4 e. Hydrogen bonding interactions
d. 5
e. 6 Question 71
A natural spring containing manganese is found to be highly
Question 66 acidic. Using the diagram below, what form of iron would you
What is the oxidation state of chromium in [Cr(NH3)2(C2O4)2]- ? predict to be most abundant?

a. +3
b. +2
c. +4
d. +7
e. +6

Question 67
What is true about coordinative unsaturation?

a. It plays an important role in insertion,

polymerization, and metathesis reactions.
b. It describes a complex with a coordination number
less than 4.
c. It generally means another ligand can be
accommodated.
d. All of the above
e. A and C only

Question 68 a. Fe(s)
Which compound will react with Ag + ion in water: b. Fe3+(aq)
[Co(NH3)6]Cl3 or [Co(Cl3)](NH3)6? What is formed? c. Fe(OH)2(s)
d. Fe2+(aq)
a. [Co(Cl3)](NH3)6; AgCl is formed. e. Fe(OH)3(s)
b. [Co(Cl3)](NH3)6; NH4Cl is formed.
c. [Co(NH3)6]Cl3; AgCl is formed. Question 72
d. [Co(NH3)6]Cl3; NH4Cl is formed. In Latimer diagrams, what does a large positive standard
e. Both will react with silver in water; AgCl and NH 4Cl reduction potential indicate?
are formed.
a. The species on the left is readily reduced to the
Question 69 species on the right side of the arrow.
Which of the following is an ambidentate ligand? b. The species on the lef tis a good reducing agent.

a. EDTA c. The species under goes diproportionation.

c. SCN- d. All of the above.
d. NH3 e. None of the above.
e. Hemoglobin
f. Cl- Question 73
Marcus theory is used to approximate which of the following? d. Solvent entering the coordination sphere
e. Both B and C
a. The heat of formation of the precursor complex
Question 78
b. The heat of fission of the successor complex Which of the following is a properly balanced half reaction in
c. The solvation energy of the transition complex acidic media?

d. The free energy of electron transfer a. Cr2O72- + 8 H+ + 3 H2C2O4 → 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O + 6 CO2
e. All of the above
b. 12 H+ + 5 I- + IO3- → 3 I2 + 6H2O
Question 74 c. 2 Fe(OH)2 + H2O2 → 2 Fe(OH)3
What happens to an outer sphere redox reaction, if the spin d. 3 Cd + 8 H+ + 2 NO3- → 3 Cd2+ + 2 NO + 8 H2O
multiplicity is different?
e. 2 Au3+ + 6I- → 2 Au + 3 I2
a. The reaction does not proceed.
b. The reaction is drastically slowed, requiring a spin flip Question 79
to occur. Which of the following is a properly balanced half reaction in
c. The reaction proceeds quicker, because different spin basic media?
states allow faster electron transfer.
d. The reaction will proceed as inner sphere instead, a. Cr2O72- + 8 H+ + 3 H2C2O4 → 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O + 6 CO2
because electrons with different spin will pair and
form a bond. b. 12 OH- + 5 I- + IO3- → 3 I2 + 6H2O
e. None of the above c. Fe(OH)2 + OH- → Fe(OH)3
d. 2 Cr(OH)3 + ClO3− + 4 OH− → 2 CrO42− + Cl− + 5 H2O
Question 75
What implication does overpotential have on a redox e. 2 Au3+ + 6I− → 2 Au + 3 I2
reaction?
Question 80
a. Even though a reaction is thermodynamically Given the Frost diagram for phosphorus and nitrogen in acidic
favorable, the reaction may be slow kinetically. conditions, which of the following species is the most
thermodynamically favored?
b. All redox reactions are favorable at in alkaline media.

c. All thermodynamically favorable reactions occur

quickly on a kinetic scale.
d. If a reaction is kinetically favorable, it will proceed
even if it is thermodynamically unfavorable.
e. No redox reactions occur in highly acidic media.

Question 76
What is considered the rate determining step in an outer
sphere redox reaction?

a. Formation of the bridging ligand complex

b. Formation of the precursor (cage) complex
c. Electron transfer
d. Solvent entering the coordination sphere
e. Fission of the successor ligand complex
a. H3PO4
b. NH4+
Question 77
c. HNO3
What is considered the rate determining step in an outer
d. PH3
sphere redox reaction?
e. P & N (elemental)
a. Formation of the bridging ligand complex
Question 81
b. Fission of the successor ligand complex
Cr2+ (d4 system) and Cu2+ (d9 system) are kinetically labile with
c. Electron transfer
respect to substitution reactions. Why?
 the central metal ion; ammonia is similar in size to
a. They experience Jahn-Teller distortion, making their water, so six will coordinate.
axial bonds longer and easier to break. b. The chloride ions are anionic, and the metal centers
b. Their ground state structure resembles their cannot accommodate a larger negative charge;
transition state structure. ammonia is a neutral species.
c. Their electrons are distributed equally among the d- c. Chloride ions precipitate the metals out of solution;
orbitals. ammonia complexes do not.
d. Their large radii can accommodate a larger d. The addition of excess chloride ions will actually
coordination sphere. result in hexa-chloro compounds.
g. Both A and B e. Chloride additions occur in acidic media; ammonia is
alkaline.
Question 82
In D or Id mechanisms for substitution in octahedral metal Question 86
complexes, stereochemistry is retained when the Which of the following affects substitution at square planar
intermediate's molecular geometry is which of the following? metal centers?

a. Tetragonal a. The entering group

b. Trigonal bipyramidal b. The leaving group
c. Square pyramidal c. Other ligands in the coordination sphere
d. Both A and C d. The metal center itself
e. All of the above e. All of the above

Question 83 Question 87
The effect of a coordinated ligand upon the rate of Which of the following is about the trans influence is FALSE?
substitution of ligands opposite it is referred to as which of
the following? a. It is a kinetic phenomenon.
b. It can influence M-L bond lengths.
a. The trans influence c. It can result in changes in NMR coupling constants.
b. The trans effect
c. The biphilic effect d. It can affect the vibrational frequency.
d. The solvolysis effect e. It is purely thermodynamic.
e. The anation effect
Question 88
Question 84 Which of the following is true of substitutions at square
What is responsible for the increased stability of formation of planar metal centers?
a complex containing two chelating ligands as compared to
four monodentate ligands? a. They occur via an associative mechanism with a five
coordinate intermediate.
a. Enthalpy of reaction b. They only proceed when bond formation is the rate
b. Decreased activation energy determining step.
c. Formation of dimeric species (bridging ligands) c. They only proceed when bond breaking is the rate
determining step.
d. Entropy of reaction d. They only proceed when the transition energies of
e. Outer sphere electron transfer bond formation and bond breaking are similar.

e. They occur via a dissociative mechanism with a three

coordinate intermediate.

Question 89
Which of the following rate laws indicates a dissociative
mechanism?
Question 85
When hexaaqua complexes of cobalt react with chloride ion, a. k = [A][B]
they undergo a change in the coordination chemistry. Why is b. k = [A]
this NOT the case when they react with ammonia? c. k = [A]2[B]
d. Both A and C
a. The chloride ions are larger than the water e. The mechanism cannot be determined from the rate
molecules, only allowing four to coordinate around law.
 The anticancer drug cisplatin is a platinum based complex,
Question 90 which works by destroying the DNA within cancer cells. Which
Fill in the blank to complete the following analogy. of the following transition metals have anticancer
Thermodynamics : free energy :: kinetics : applications?
________________.
a. Ru
a. Activation energy b. Ti
b. Thermal energy c. V
c. Electron transfer d. Fe
d. Entropy e. All of the above
e. Enthalpy
Question 96
Question 91 What advantage does doping an LED with a transition metal
Fill in the blank. The Haber process is used for the production have?
of _______________.
a. Doping allows the LED to harvest light from triplet
a. Ammonia states, increasing quantum efficiency.
b. Sulfur trioxide b. Doping increases the overall number of singlet to
c. Sulfuric acid singlet emission pathways.
d. Margarine c. It reduces the overall cost of producing an LED; the
e. Nitric acid inorganic dopants are inexpensive.
d. All of the above
Question 92 1. None of the above
What is the end product of the Contact Process?
Question 97
a. Ammonia Which of the following describes a challenge in the
b. Sulfur trioxide production of effective metal-based dye-sensitized solar cell?
c. Sulfuric acid
d. Margarine a. Metal ion complexes are unable to harvest light
e. Nitric acid energy.
b. The cost of the metal ion complexes is prohibitive.
Question 93
What is the role of a catalyst in a reaction? c. The storage of energy occurs by thermal or chemical
means.
a. It shifts the equilibrium toward the products based d. The energy produced can only be utilized in electrical
on LeChatlier's principle. grids.
b. It provides an alternate route with a lower activation e. All of the above
energy for the reaction to proceed.
c. It donates electrons to break or form bonds as Question 98
needed until it is entirely consumed. Which of the following is NOT an application of a secondary
d. It forms bridging complexes which align the cell battery?
molecular orbitals of the reactants.
e. All of the above a. Nickel-cadmium in portable electronics and toys

Question 94 b. Lead acid batteries in automobiles

Which of the following is an example of a homogeneous c. Silver-zinc button cells in hearing aides
catalysis? d. Silver-cadmium batteries in satellites
e. Zinc-carbon dry cell batteries in flashlights
a. The hydrogenation of vegetable oil in the presence
of nickel to make margarine Question 99
b. The use of Pt, Pd or Rh in catalytic converters Why are organometallic vanadium complexes being used to
treat diabetes instead of the inorganic vanadium salts?
c. The destruction of ozone in the atmosphere
d. The use of vanadium(V)oxide in the conversion of a. The organometallic complexes are easier to
sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide synthesize than the inorganic salts.
e. All of the above

Question 95
 b. The organometallic complexes are less toxic and
more effective in lowering blood glucose levels.

c. The organometallic complexes are less expensive to

synthesize and cost less on the market.
d. The effect of the inorganic salts was discovered after
the organometallic complexes had established a
successful history.
e. The FDA will not approve medicinal use of purely
inorganic compounds for biological applications.

Question 100
Which of the following is true of organometallic
pharmaceuticals as antimicrobials?

a. Metals are nontoxic to humans.

b. Harmful stereoisomers do not exist.
c. They are soluble in water and easily administered.

d. They counteract drug resistance that has been built

to purely organic molecules.
e. There are no current organometallic applications to
antimicrobials.
ANSWER KEY 58. C
59. E
1. D 60. E
2. A 61. E
3. E 62. A
4. C 63. A
5. D 64. B
6. A 65. C
7. E 66. A
8. A 67. D
9. B 68. C
10. C 69. B
11. A 70. D
12. B 71. D
13. E 72. A
14. C 73. D
15. D 74. B
16. C 75. A
17. E 76. C
18. D 77. E
19. B 78. A
20. A 79. D
21. E 80. A
22. A 81. E
23. B 82. D
24. C 83. B
25. B 84. D
26. C 85. A
27. C 86. E
28. D 87. A
29. A 88. A
30. A 89. E
31. E 90. A
32. C 91. A
33. C 92. C
34. B 93. B
35. E 94. C
36. E 95. E
37. B 96. A
38. A 97. C
39. E 98. E
40. D 99. B
41. D 100.D
42. B
43. A
44. E
45. B
46. C
47. C
48. A
49. B
50. A
51. A
52. E
53. C
54. A
55. D
56. B
57. B