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Ch.22 - The Main Group Elements
McMurry - Chemistry 8th Edition
McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMcMurry 8th EditionCh.22 - The Main Group ElementsProblem 23
Chapter 22, Problem 23

The following pictures represent structures of the hydrides of four second-row elements:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(c) Which compounds yield H2 gas when they are mixed together?

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1
Identify the second-row elements that form hydrides. These elements are lithium (Li), beryllium (Be), boron (B), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and fluorine (F).
Determine which of these hydrides can react with each other to produce hydrogen gas (H2).
Consider the typical reactions of these hydrides. For example, metal hydrides like lithium hydride (LiH) can react with water to produce hydrogen gas.
Evaluate the possible reactions between the given hydrides. For instance, a metal hydride reacting with an acid or water could yield H2 gas.
Conclude which specific pairs of hydrides, when mixed, would result in the production of H2 gas based on their chemical properties and typical reactions.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hydrides

Hydrides are compounds formed between hydrogen and another element. In the context of second-row elements, these hydrides can exhibit varying properties based on the electronegativity and atomic size of the elements involved. Understanding the nature of these hydrides is crucial for predicting their reactivity and the types of reactions they may undergo, including the production of hydrogen gas.
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Reaction Types

Chemical reactions can be classified into several types, including synthesis, decomposition, and displacement reactions. In the case of hydrides, certain combinations can lead to reactions that produce hydrogen gas (H2) as a byproduct. Recognizing the specific reaction type that occurs when mixing different hydrides is essential for determining which compounds will yield H2 gas.
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Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. It involves understanding the mole ratios of the substances involved, which is vital for predicting the amounts of products formed, such as H2 gas. By applying stoichiometric principles, one can determine whether the mixing of specific hydrides will result in the generation of hydrogen gas and in what quantities.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

In the following pictures of oxides, red spheres represent O atoms or ions, and green spheres represent atoms or ions of a second- or third-row element in its highest oxidation state.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(b) Identify each oxide as ionic or covalent.

Textbook Question

Consider the elements C, Se, B, Sn, and Cl. Identify which of these elements:

e. Forms a hydride with the empirical formula 

Textbook Question

Look at the location of elements A, B, C, and D in the following periodic table:

(e) Which of these oxides has the highest melting point? Which has the lowest melting point?

Textbook Question

Locate each of the following elements on the periodic table.

(f) Group 5A element that forms the strongest p bonds

Textbook Question

Look at the location of elements A, B, C, and D in the following periodic table:


(a) Write the formula of the oxide that has each of these elements in its highest oxidation state.

Textbook Question

The following models represent the structures of binary

oxides of second- and third-row elements in their highest

oxidation states:


(a) Identify the non-oxygen atom in each case, and write the molecular formula for each oxide.