Important Questions for Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 8 The d- and f-

Block Elements
Question 1.
What is meant by ‘lanthanoid contraction’? (Delhi 2011)
Question 2.
Why do transition elements show variable oxidation states? (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Question 3.
Write the formula of an oxo-anion of Manganese (Mn) in which it shows the oxidation state equal to
its group number. (Delhi 2017)
Question 4.
What happens when (NH4)2Cr2O7 is heated? (Delhi 2017)
Question 5.
Write the formula of an oxo-anion of Chromium (Cr) in which it shows the oxidation state equal to its
group number. (Delhi 2017)
Question 6.
Explain the following observations :
(i) Generally there is an increase in density of elements from titanium (Z = 22) to copper (Z = 29) in
the first series of transition elements.
(ii) Transition elements and their compounds are generally found to be good catalysts in chemical
reactions. (Delhi 2010)
Question 7.
Explain the following observations :
(i) Transition elements generally form coloured compounds.
(ii) Zinc is not regarded as a transition element. (Delhi 2010)
Question 8.
Assign reasons for the following :
(i) Copper (I) ion is not known in aqueous solution.
(ii) Actinoids exhibit greater range of oxidation states than lanthanoids. (Delhi 2011)
Question 9.
Assign reasons for each of the following :
(i) Transition metals generally form coloured compounds.
(ii) Manganese exhibits the highest oxidation state of +7 among the 3d series of transition elements.
(Delhi 2011)
Question 10.
How would you account for the following :
(i) Cr2+ is reducing in nature while with the same d-orbital configuration (d4) Mn3+ is an oxidising
agent.
(ii) In a transition series of metals, the metal
which exhibits the greatest number of oxidation states occurs in the middle of the series. (All India
2011)
Question 11.
Complete the following chemical equations : (All India 2011)
(i) MnO4 (aq) + S2O32- (aq) + H2O (1) →
(ii) Cr2O72- (aq) + Fe2+ (aq) + H+ (aq) →
Question 12.
State reasons for the following :
(i) Cu (I) ion is not stable in an aqueous solution.
(ii) Unlike Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe3+ and the subsequent other M2+ ions of the 3d series of elements, the 4d and
the 5d series metals generally do not form stable cationic species. (All India 2011)
Question 13.
Explain giving a suitable reason for each of the following :
(i) Transition metals and their compounds are generally found to be good catalysts.
(ii) Metal-metal bonding is more frequent for the 4d and the 5d series of transition metals than that
for the 3d series. (All India 2011)
Question 14.
Explain giving reasons :
(i) Transition metals and their compounds generally exhibit a paramagnetic behaviour.
(ii) The chemistry of actinoids is not so smooth as that of lanthanoids. (All India 2011)
Question 15.
Complete the following chemical equations : (Delhi 2012)

Question 16.
Explain the following :
(a) The enthalpies of atomization of transition metals are quite high.
(b) The transition metals and many of their compounds act as good catalysts. (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Question 17.
Complete the following chemical reaction equations : (All India 2012)

Question 18.
(a) Which metal in the first transition series (3d series) exhibits +1 oxidation state most frequency
and why?
(b) Which of the following cations are coloured in aqueous solutions and why?
SC3+, V3+, Ti4+, Mn2+.
(At. nos. Sc = 21, V = 23, Ti = 22, Mn = 25) (Delhi 2013)
Question 19.
What is Lanthanoid contraction? What are its two consequences? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Question 20.
Assign a reason for each of the following observations:
(i) The transition metals (with the exception of Zn, Cd and Hg) are hard and have high melting and
boiling points.
(ii) The ionization enthalpies (first and second) in the first series of the transition elements are found
to vary irregularly. (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Question 21.
What is lanthanoid contraction? Write a conse-quence of lanthanoid contraction. (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Question 22.
How would you account for the following?
(i) The highest oxidation state of a transition metal is usually exhibited in its oxide.
(ii) The oxidising power of the following three oxoions in the series follows the order: (Comptt. Delhi
2014)
vO+2<Cr2O2−7<MnO−4
Question 23.
Assign reason for each of the following :
(i) Transition elements exhibit paramagnetic behaviour.
(ii) Co2+. is easily oxidised in the presence of a strong ligand. (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Question 24.
Describe the general trends in the following properties of the first series (3d) of the transition
elements :
(i) Number of oxidation states exhibited
(ii) Formation of oxometal ions (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Question 25.
Assign reasons for the following :
(i) Copper(I) ion is not known to exist in aqueous solutions.
(ii) Both O2 and F2 stabilize high oxidation states of transition metals but the ability of oxygen to do so
exceeds that of fluorine. (Comptt. All India 2014)
Question 26.
Assign reasons for the following :
(i) Transition metals and many of their compounds act as good catalysts.
(ii) Transition metals generally form coloured compounds. (Comptt. All India 2014)
Question 27.
What are the transition elements? Write two characteristics of the transition elements. (Delhi 2015)
Question 28.
Write one similarity and one difference between the chemistry of lanthanoids and that of actinoids.
(All India 2015)
Question 29.
What is meant by ‘disproportionation’? Give an example of a disproportionation reaction in aqueous
solution. (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Question 30.
Suggest reasons for the following features of transition metal chemistry :
(i) The transition metals and their compounds are usually paramagnetic.
(ii) The transition metals exhibit variable oxidation states. (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Question 31.
Describe the preparation of potassium permanganate. How does the acidified permanganate solution
react with oxalic acid? Write the ionic equations for the reactions. (Comptt. All India 2015)
Question 32.
Describe the oxidising action of potassium dichromate and write the ionic equations for its reaction
with
(i) iodine (ii) H2S. (Comptt. All India 2015)
Question 33.
When chromite ore FeCr2O4 is fused with NaOH in presence of air, a yellow coloured compound (A) is
obtained which on acidification with dilute sulphuric acid gives a compound (B). Compound (B) on
reaction with KC1 forms an orange coloured crystalline compound (C).
(i) Write the formulae of the compounds (A), (B) and (C).
(ii) Write one use of compound (C). (Delhi 2016)
Question 34.
Complete the following chemical equations: (Delhi 2016)

Question 35.
Give reasons :
(i) Transition metals show variable oxidation, states.
(ii) Actinoids show wide range of oxidation states. (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Question 36.
Give reasons :
(i) Zn is not regarded as a transition element.
(ii) Cr2+ is a strong reducing agent. (Comptt All India 2016)
Question 37.
What happens when (NH4)2Cr2O7 is heated? (Delhi 2017)
Question 38.
Explain the following observations :
(i) Copper atom has completely filled d orbitals (3d10) in its ground state, yet it is regarded as a
transition element.
(ii) Cr2+ is a stronger reducing agent than Fe2+ in aqueous solutions. (Comptt. All India 2017)
Question 39.
Explain the following observations :
(a) Silver atom has completely filled d-orbitals (4d10) in its ground state, yet it is regarded as a
transition element.
(b) E0 value for Mn3+ /Mn2+ couple is much more positive than Cr3+/Cr2+. (Comptt. All India 2017)
Question 40.
Explain the following observations :
(i) Zn2+ salts are colourless.
(ii) Copper has exceptionally positive E0M2+/M value. (Comptt. All India 2017)
Question 41.
How would you account for the following :
(i) Many of the transition elements and their compounds can act as good catalysts.
(ii) The metallic radii of the third (5d) series of transition elements are virtually the same as those of
the corresponding members of the second series.
(iii) There is a greater range of oxidation states among the actinoids than among the lanthanoids. (All
India 2009)
Question 42.
How would you account for the following?
(i) The atomic radii of the metals of the third (5d) series of transition elements are virtually the same
as those of the corresponding members of the second (4d) series.
(ii) The E° value for the Mn3+/Mn2+ couple is much more positive than that for Cr3+/Cr2+ couple or
Fe2+/Fe2+ couple.
(iii) The highest oxidation state of a metal is exhibited in its oxide or fluoride. (Delhi 2010)
Question 43.
Complete the following chemical equations : (Delhi 2011)
Question 44.
How would you account for the following?
(i) Many of the transition elements are known to form interstitial compounds.
(ii) The metallic radii of the third (5d) series of transition metals are virtually the same as those of the
corresponding group members of the second (4d) series.
(iii) Lanthanoids form primarily +3 ions, while the actinoids usually have higher oxidation states in
their compounds, +4 or even +6 being typical. (Delhi 2012)
Question 45.
How would you account for the following?
(i) With the same d-orbital configuration (d4) Cr2+ is a reducing agent while Mn3+ is an oxidizing agent.
(ii) The actinoids exhibit a larger number of oxidation states than the corresponding members in the
lanthanoid series.
(iii) Most of the transition metal ions exhibit characteristic in colours in aqueous solutions. (Delhi
2012)
Question 46.
Explain the following observations giving an appropriate reason for each.
(i) The enthalpies of atomization of transition elements are quite high.
(ii) There occurs much more frequent metal- metal bonding in compounds of heavy transition metals
(i.e. 3rd series).
(iii) Mn2+ is much more resistant than Fe2+ towards oxidation. (Delhi 2012)
Question 47.
How would you account for the following :
(i) Among lanthanoids, Ln (III) compounds are predominant. However, occasionally in solutions or in
solid compounds, + 2 and + 4 ions are also obtained.
(ii) The E°M2+/M for copper is positive (0.34 V).
Copper is the only metal in the first series of transition elements showing this behaviour.
(iii) The metallic radii of the third (5d) series of transition metals are nearly the same as those of the
corresponding members of the second series. (All India 2012)
Question 48.
Explain the following observations :
(i) Many of the transition elements are known to form interstitial compounds
(ii) There is a general increase in density from titanium (Z = 22) to copper (Z = 29).
(iii) The members of the actinoid series exhibit a larger number of oxidation states than the
corresponding members of the lanthanoid series. (All India 2012)
Question 49.
Explain each of the following observations :
(i) With the same d-orbital configuration (d4), Cr2+ is a reducing agent while Mn3+ is an oxidising
agent.
(ii) Actinoids exhibit a much larger number of oxidation states than the lanthanoids.
(iii) There is hardly any increase in atomic size with increasing atomic numbers in a series of
transition metals. (All India 2012)
Question 50.
Give reasons :
(a) There is a gradual decrease in the size of atoms with increasing atomic number in the series of
lanthanoids.
(b) Sc (21) is a transition element but Ca (20) is not.
(c) The Fe2+ is much more easily oxidised to Fe2+ than Mn2+ to Mn3+. (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Question 51.
(a) What is lanthanoid contraction? Mention its main consequences.
(b) Write the balanced ionic equation for the reaction between ferrous sulphate and acidified
potassium permanganate solution. (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Question 52.
How would you account for the following?
(i) Transition metals exhibit variable oxidation states.
(ii) Zr (Z = 40) and Hf (Z = 72) have almost identical radii.
(iii) Transition metals and their compounds act as catalyst. (Delhi 2013)
Question 53.
Complete the following chemical equations: (Delhi 2013)

Question 54.
Write balanced chemical equations for the two reactions showing oxidizing nature of potassium
permanganate. (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Question 55.
Give reasons for the following :
(i) Transition metals exhibit a wide range of oxidation states.
(ii) Cobalt(II) is very stable in aqueous solutions but gets easily oxidised in the presence of strong
ligands.
(iii) Actinoids exhibit a greater range of oxidation states than lanthanoids. (Comptt. All India 2014)
Question 56.
Assign reasons for the following :
(i) Cu(I) ion is not known to exist in aqueous solutions.
(ii) Transition metals are much harder than the alkali metals.
(iii) From element to element actinoid contraction is greater than the lanthanoid contraction. (Comptt.
All India 2014)
Question 57.
(a) How would you account for the following :
(i) Actinoid contraction is greater than lanthanoid contraction.
(ii) Transition metals form coloured compounds.
Complete the following equation :
2MnO4– + 6H+ + 5NO2– → (Delhi 2015)
Question 58.
(a) Account for the following :
(i) Cu+ is unstable in an aqueous solution.
(ii) Transition metals form complex compounds.
(b) Complete the following equation :
Cr2O72- + 8H+ + 3NO–2 → (All India 2015)
Question 59.
What is lanthanoid contraction? What are the consequences of lanthanoid contraction? (Comptt. Delhi
2015)
Question 60.
What is meant by ‘’disproportionation’? Give one example of disproportionation reaction in aqueous
solutions. (Comptt. All India 2015)
Question 61.
Give reasons:
(i) Mn shows the highest oxidation state of +7 with oxygen but with fluorine it shows the highest
oxidation state of +4.
(ii) Transition metals show variable oxidation states.
(iii) Actinoids show irregularities in their electronic configurations. (Delhi 2016)
Question 62.
In the 3d series (Sc = 21 to Zn = 30) :
(i) Which element shows maximum number of oxidation states?
(ii) Which element shows only +3 oxidation state?
(iii) Which element has the lowest enthalpy of atomization? (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Question 63.
Describe the preparation of potassium permangnate. How does the acidified permanganate solution
react with oxalic acid? (Comptt. All India 2016)
Question 64.
Define lanthanoid contraction. Write its two consequences. (Comptt. All India 2016)
Question 65.
A mixed oxide of iron and chromium is fused with sodium carbonate in free access of air to form a
yellow coloured compound (A). On acidification the compound (A) forms an orange coloured
compound (B), which is a strong oxidizing agent. Identify compound (A) and (B). Write chemical
reactions involved. (Comptt. All India 2017)
Question 66.
(a) Give reasons for the following:
(i) Compounds of transition elements are generally coloured.
(ii) MnO is basic while Mn2O7 is acidic.
(iii) Calculate the magnetic moment of a divalent ion in aqueous medium if its atomic number is 26.
(Comptt. All India 2017)
Question 67.
(a) Complete the following chemical reaction equations :

(b) Explain the following observations about the transition/inner transition elements :
(i) There is in general an increase in density of element from titanium (Z = 22) to copper (Z = 29).
(ii) There occurs much more frequent metal-metal bonding in compounds of heavy transition
elements (3rd series).
(iii) The members in the actinoid series exhibit a larger number of oxidation states than the
corresponding members in the lanthanoid series. (Delhi & All India 2009)
Question 68.
(a) Complete the following chemical equations for reactions :

(b) Give an explanation for each of the following observations :

(i) The gradual decrease ‘n’ size (actinoid contraction) from element to element is greater among the
actinoids than that among the lanthanoids (lanthanoid contraction).
(ii) The greatest number of oxidation states are exhibited by the members in the middle of a transition
series.
(iii) With the same d-orbital configuration d4, Cr2+ ion is a reducing agent but Mn3+ ion is an oxidising
agent. (Delhi 2009)
Question 69.
(a) Complete the following chemical reaction equations :
(i) Fe2+(aq) + MnO−4(aq) + H+(aq) →
(ii) Cr2O2−7(aq) + I–(aq) +H+(aq) →
(b) Explain the following observations :
(i) Transition elements are known to form many interstitial compounds.
(ii) With the same d4 d-orbital configuration Cr2+ ion is reducing while Mn3+ ion is oxidizing.
(iii) The enthalpies of atomization of the transition elements are quite high. (Delhi 2009)
Question 70.
(a) Complete the following chemical reaction equations :
(i) Cr2O2−7 (aq) + H2 S(g) + H+(aq) →
(ii) MnO2(s) + KOH(aq) + O2 →
(b) Explain the following observations :
(i) Transition metals form compounds which are usually coloured.
(ii) Transition metals exhibit variable oxidation states.
(iii) The actinoids exhibit a greater range of oxidation states than the lanthanoids. (Delhi 2009)
Question 71.
(a) Complete the following chemical reaction equations :

(b) Explain the following observations :

(i) In general the atomic radii of transition elements decrease with atomic number in a given series.
(ii) The E°M2+/M, for copper is positive (+ 0.34 V). It is the only metal in the first series of transition
elements showing this type of behaviour.
(iii) The E° value for Mn3+ | Mn2+ couple is much more positive than for Cr3+ | Cr2+ or Fe3+ | Fe2+ couple.
(Delhi 2009)
Question 72.
(a) What is meant by the term lanthanoid contraction? What is it due to and what consequences does
it have on the chemistry of elements following lanthanoids in the periodic table?
(b) Explain the following observations :
(i) Cu+ ion is unstable in aqueous solutions.
(ii) Although Co2+ ion appears to be stable, it is easily oxidised to Co3+ ion in the presence of a strong
ligand.
(in) The E°Mn2+/Mn value for manganese is much more than expected from the trend for other
elements in the series. (Delhi 2009)
Question 73.
(a) Complete the following chemical equations :
(i) Cr2O2−7 (aq) + H2S (g) + H+ (aq) →
(ii) Cu2+ (aq) + I–(aq) →
(b) How would you account for the following :
(i) The oxidising power of oxoanions are in the order VO+2<Cr2O2−7<MnO−4
(ii) The third ionization enthalpy of manganese (Z = 25) is exceptionally high.
(iii) Cr2+ is a stronger reducing agent than Fe2+. (All India 2010)
Question 74.
(a) Complete the following chemical equations :

(b) Explain the following observations :

(i) La3+ (Z = 57) and Lu3+ (Z = 71) do not show any colour in solutions.
(ii) Among the divalent cations in the first series of transition elements, manganese exhibits the
maximum paramagnetism.
(iii) Cu+ ion is not known in aqueous solutions. (All India 2010)
Question 75.
(a) Describe the preparation of potassium dichromate from chromite ore. What is the effect of change
of pH on dichromate ion?
(b) How is the variability in oxidation states of transition elements different from that of non-
transition elements? Illustrate with examples. (Comptt. All India 2012)
Question 76.
(a) Describe the preparation of potassium permanganate from pyrolusite ore. What happens when
acidified potassium permanganate solution reacts with ferrous sulphate solution? Write balanced
chemical equations.
(b) Account for the following :
(i) Mn2+compounds are more stable than Fe2+ compounds towards oxidation to their +3 state.
(ii) Cr2+ is reducing and Mn3+ oxidizing when both have d4 configuration. (Comptt. All India 2012)
Question 77.
(a) Give reasons for the following :
(i) Mn3+ is a good oxidising agent.
(ii) E°M2+/M values are not regular for first row transition metals (3d series).
(iii) Although ‘F is more electronegative than ‘O’, the highest Mn fluoride is MnF4, whereas the highest
oxide is Mn2O7.
(b) Complete the following equations : (All India 2013)

Question 78.
(a) Why do transition elements show variable oxidation states?
(i) Name the element showing maximum number of oxidation states among the first series of
transition metals from Se (Z = 21) to Zn (Z = 30).
(ii) Name the element which shows only +3 oxidation state.
(b) What is lanthanoid contraction? Name an important alloy which contains some of the lanthanoid
metals. (All India 2013)
Question 79.
Give reasons :
(i) Zirconium (Z = 40) and Hafnium (Z = 72) have almost similar atomic radii.
(ii) d-block elements exhibit more oxidation states than f-block elements.
(iii) The enthalpies of atomization of the transition metals are high.
(iv) The variation in oxidation states of transition metals is of different type from that of the non-
transition metals.
(v) Orange solution of potassium dichromate
turns yellow on adding sodium hydroxide to it. (Comptt. All India 2013)
Question 80.
(a) Describe the preparation of potassium permanganate from pyrolusite ore. Write balanced
chemical equation for one reaction to show the oxidizing nature of potassium permanganate.
(b) What is lanthanoid contraction and what is it due to? Write two consequences of lanthanoid
contraction. (Comptt. All India 2013)
Question 81.
(a) How do you prepare :
(i) K2MnO4 from MnO2?
(ii) Na2Cr2O7 from Na2CrO4?
(b) Account for the following :
(i) Mn2+ is more stable than Fe2+ towards oxidation to +3 state.
(ii) The enthalpy of atomization is lowest for Zn in 3d series of the transition elements.
(iii) Actinoid elements show wide range of oxidation states. (Delhi 2014)
Question 82.
(i) Name the element of 3d transition series which shows maximum number of oxidation states. Why
does it show so?
(ii) Which transition metal of 3d series has positive E0(M2+/M) value and why?
(iii) Out of Cr3+ and Mn3+, which is a stronger oxidizing agent and why?
(iv) Name a member of the lanthanoid series which is well known to exhibit +2 oxidation state.
(v) Complete the following equation :
MnO4– + 8H+ + 5e– → (Delhi 2014)
Question 83.
(a) Complete the following equations :
(i) Cr2O72- + 2OH– →
(ii) MnO4– + 4H+ + 3e– →
(b) Account for the following :
(i) Zn is not considered as a transition element.
(ii) Transition metals form a large number of complexes.
(iii) The E0 value for the Mn3+/Mn2+ couple is much more positive than that for Cr3+/Cr2+ couple. (All
India 2014)
Question 84.
(i) With reference to structural variability and chemical reactivity, write the difference between
lanthanoids and actinoids.
(ii) Name a member of the lanthanoid series which is well known to exhibit +4 oxidation state.
(iii) Complete the following equation :
MnO4– + 8H+ + 5e– →
(iv) Out of Mn3+ and Cr3+, which is more paramagnetic and why? (Atomic nos. : Mn = 25, Cr = 24)(All
India 2014)
Question 85.
(a) Account for the following:
(i) Mn shows the highest oxidation state of +7 with oxygen but with fluorine it shows the highest
oxidation state of +4.
(ii) Cr2+ is a strong reducing agent.
(iii) Cu2+ salts are coloured while Zn2+ salts are white.
(b) Complete the following equations: (All India 2016)

Question 86.
The elements of 3d transition series are given as:
Se Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn
Answer the following:
(i) Write the element which shows maximum number of oxidation states. Give reason.
(ii) Which element has the highest m.p.?
(iii) Which element shows only +3 oxidation state?
(iv) Which element is a strong oxidizing agent in +3 oxidation state and why? (All India)
Question 87.
(a) Account for the following:
(i) Transition metals form large number of complex compounds.
(ii) The lowest oxide of transition metal is basic whereas the highest oxide is amphoteric or acidic.
(iii) E° value for the Mn3+/Mn2+ couple is highly positive (+1.57 V) as compared to Cr3+/Cr2+.
(b) Write one similarity and one difference between the chemistry of lanthanoid and actinoid
elements. (Delhi 2017)
Question 88.
(a) (i) How is the variability in oxidation
states of transition metals different from that of the p-block elements?
(ii) Out of Cu+ and Cu2+, which ion is unstable in aqueous solution and why?
(iii) Orange colour of Cr2O72- ion changes to yellow when treated with an alkali. Why?
(b) Chemistry of actinoids is complicated as compared to lanthanoids. Give two reasons. (Delhi 2017)
Question 89.
(a) Account for the following:
(i) Transition metals show variable oxidation states.
(ii) Zn, Cd and Hg are soft metals.
(iii) E° value for the Mn3+/Mn2+ couple is highly positive (+1.57 V) as compared to Cr3+/Cr2+.
(b) Write one similarity and one difference between the chemistry of lanthanoid and actinoid
elements. (All India 2017)
Question 90.
(a) Following are the transition metal ions of 3d series:
Ti4+, V2+, Mn3+, Cr3+
(Atomic numbers: Ti = 22, V= 23, Mn = 25, Cr = 24)
Answer the following:
(i) Which ion is most stable in an aqueous solution and why?
(ii) Which ion is a strong oxidising agent and why?
(iii) Which ion is colourless and why?
(b) Complete the following equations: (All India 2017)

Question 91.
When chromite ore is fused with sodium carbonate in free excess of air and the product is dissolved in
water, a yellow solution of compound (A) is obtained. On acidifying the yellow solution with sulphuric
acid, compound (B) is crystallised out. When compound (B) is treated with KC1, orange crystals of
compound (C) crystallise out. Identify (A), (B) and (C) and write the reactions involved. (Comptt. Delhi
2017)
Question 92.
(a) (i) Which transition element in 3d series has positive E0M2+/M and why?
(ii) Name a member of lanthanoid series which is well know to exhibit +4 oxidation state and why?
(b) Account for the following :
(i) The highest oxidation state is exhibited in oxoanions of transition metals.
(ii) HCl is not used to acidify KMnO4 solution.
(iii) Transition metals have high enthalpy of atomisation. (Comptt. Delhi 2017)