CEM

 141  Exam  3  Mock  Short  Answer   Name:    

Fall  2018    
1. a. Draw a molecular level picture of the bonding in diamond. Show at least 8 atoms. What
do the components of your drawing represent?

The black circles represent carbon atoms and the lines

represent covalent bonds. Each atom uses sp3 hybrid
orbitals to form covalent bonds to four other carbon
atoms. The bond angles are about 109 degrees.

b. How does the model of bonding in diamond you have drawn explain each of these
properties of diamond?

i) does not conduct electricity

The model of bonding in diamond uses the idea that electrons are localized between the
two nuclei that participate in the bond. The electrons cannot move out of this area and
therefore are not mobile (as they are in metals). To conduct electricity, charged particles
(electrons) must be able to move freely in molecular orbitals that extend throughout the
whole structure.

ii) has a very high melting point

To melt diamond and allow the particles to move relative to one another, the strong C-C
covalent bonds must be broken, since the structure is a 3D network of these bonds.
Substances that exist as molecules tend to have lower melting points because it is the
intermolecular forces between the molecules that are overcome rather than the actual
covalent bonds.

c. How is the model of bonding you described for diamond different from that in metals
(draw molecular level picture of the bonding in metals to help explain differences)?

d.
e.
Positively charged core of neutral atom
(nucleus and core electrons)
f.
Electron “sea” (mobile electrons in
delocalized molecular orbitals)

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CEM  141  Exam  3  Mock  Short  Answer   Name:    
Fall  2018    
2. Use this table of data to support your argument about the nature of bonds and interactions
that are disrupted as each substance indicated below melts.

Your answer should include a claim about the relevant bonding and/or interactions that are
disrupted during melting for the following elements supported by evidence and the reasoning
that connects the claim and evidence.

a. Nitrogen (N2):
The boiling point and melting point of N2 are low. This means that when nitrogen
changes state the interactions between the particles that are overcome must be quite
weak. Nitrogen exists as diatomic molecules held together by covalent bonds. Clearly the
bonds are not breaking when nitrogen melts or boils (otherwise the temperature would be
much higher – ie more energy would be needed). The interactions that are being
overcome are London dispersion forces that exist between separate molecules making the
molecules stick together.

b. Carbon (diamond):
Diamond has a high melting point meaning that very strong interactions must be broken
when diamond melts. Diamond is made up of carbon atoms each covalently bonded to 4
other carbon atoms. To melt diamond, these covalent bonds must be broken which
requires a lot of energy (a high temperature).

c. Why is the melting point of diamond so much higher than nitrogen?

Melting diamond requires breaking strong covalent bonds and melting nitrogen requires
overcoming much weaker London dispersion forces between the nitrogen (N2) molecules.
The stronger the interaction, the more energy (and higher temperature) is needed to
overcome it.

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CEM  141  Exam  3  Mock  Short  Answer   Name:    
Fall  2018    
3. For the molecules HCN and CH3NH2

a. Draw the Lewis structure of each.

H
H

H C N H C N

H
H

b. Give the hybridization for each atom bonded to more than one other atom.

C (in HCN) is sp

C (in CH3NH2) is sp3

N (in CH3NH2) is sp3

c. What is the electron pair geometry for each atom bonded to more than one other atom?

C (in HCN) is linear

C (in CH3NH2) is tetrahedral

N (in CH3NH2) is tetrahedral

d. What is the molecular shape and bond angle for each atom bonded to more than one other
atom?

C (in HCN) is linear, 180 degrees

C (in CH3NH2) is tetrahedral, 109 degrees

N (in CH3NH2) is trigonal pyramidal, about 109 degrees

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CEM  141  Exam  3  Mock  Short  Answer   Name:    
Fall  2018    

4. a. Draw a Lewis structure for C3H8 and another for CH3CH2NH2.

H H H H H H

H C C C H H C C N

H H H H H H

b. What intermolecular forces exist between molecules of each compound?

C3H8: LDFs

CH3CH3NH2: LDFs, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding

c. Which one will have the higher boiling point? Why?

CH3CH3NH2 has the higher boiling point because stronger intermolecular forces will take
more energy to overcome. Boiling requires energy to separate one molecule from another
molecule (overcome intermolecular forces).

d. Draw three molecules of CH3CH2NH2 showing how the strongest type of intermolecular
forces act between the molecules.

H
H
H
H
C
C
N
H
H H H H
H is a hydrogen bond
H C C N
H H H
H H H
N C C H
H H H

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