Hi everyone,
Today i will be sharing with you one question that i have included in the GCE O-Level Pure Chemistry Topical Ten Years Series (2002 – 2011) book (by FBP publisher) that i have authored 2 years ago.
The question is related to the topic Chemical Bonding and i have included into the book as an additional question for students to build on their fundamental concepts.
Question:
Elements X and Y are elements found in the second period of the Periodic Table.
Element X combines with carbon to form a covalent compound with structural formula of X=C=X.
Element Y reacts with sodium metal to form an ionic compound with chemical formula NaY.
What is the most likely structural formula for the covalent compound X2Y2?
A) X-Y-Y-X
B) X=Y-Y=X
C) Y-X-X-Y
D Y-X-Y-X
Do attempt the question before your scroll down to see my suggested solution below.
Suggested Solution:
Based on the ionic compound NaY, we can decipher that the anion is Y–.
Thus, Y can either be hydrogen (exits as hydride, H– in NaY) or a Group VII element such as fluorine or chlorine (exists as halide such as F– and Cl–).
Based on the covalent compound X=C=X, we can decipher that X is a Group VI element such as oxygen, since each oxygen atom will form double covalent bond with carbon atom to achieve stable electronic configuration.
Hence, compound X2Y2 will have a structure Y-X-X-Y. e.g. Cl-O-O-Cl if X = oxygen and Y = chlorine.
Hope you find the above explanation and sharing useful.
Let me know your thoughts on it. Drop me a note.
PS: If you find the above useful, feel free to forward the link to you friends and share with them
Keep Learning, Keep Clarifying, Keep Sharing
Sean Chua
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