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7.1Descriptive Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry — EST 2 Chemistry Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 7 parts Lesson 1 of 3 1 quiz

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Lesson summary

Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry notes: Describe properties of main groups.A more reactive halogen displaces a less reactive halide: Cl2 + 2KBr → 2KCl + Br2.Flame coloursLi red, Na yellow-orange, K lilac, Ca brick red, Cu blue-green.Metal oxides dissolve to form bases; nonmetal …

  • Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry: what to do next
  • Alkali metals
  • Alkaline earth metals
  • Noble gases
  • Transition metals
  • Allotropes

Part 1 of 7Key ideas

A more reactive halogen displaces a less reactive halide: Cl2 + 2KBr → 2KCl + Br2.
Flame colours
Li red, Na yellow-orange, K lilac, Ca brick red, Cu blue-green.
Metal oxides dissolve to form bases; nonmetal oxides form acids.
Diamond, graphite and fullerenes are carbon allotropes.
Transition metal ions are coloured because of partly filled d orbitals.

Part 2 of 7Learning objectives

Learning objectives
Describe properties of main groups.
Classify oxides.
Recall gas tests and flame colours.

Part 3 of 7Essential knowledge

1
Hydrogen is placed alone because it can form H+ or H−.
2
Nitrogen gas is unreactive due to its triple bond.
3
Ozone (O3) is an allotrope of oxygen.
4
Iron rusts in the presence of both water and oxygen.
5
Sulfuric acid is made by the Contact process.

Part 4 of 7Process & sequence

1
Locate the element on the periodic table.
2
Predict its common ion from its group.
3
Predict metallic or nonmetallic behaviour.
4
Decide whether its oxide is basic, acidic or amphoteric.
5
Use trends to predict reactivity.

Predicting behaviourwrite these steps in this order; each step is a marking point.

  1. Find group
  2. Common ion
  3. Metal or nonmetal
  4. Oxide type
  5. Reactivity trend

Part 5 of 7Summary

Summary
Group 1 reactivity increases down.
Halogen reactivity decreases down.
Metal oxides basic; nonmetal oxides acidic.

Part 6 of 7Keep going

Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry: what to do next

These Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry notes covered the key ideas, worked examples and exam technique for this topic. Check your Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry understanding with the practice questions below, then reread any Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry point you were unsure about before moving on.

1
Practice: Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry practice questions
2
Previous lesson: 6.2 Energy cycles and spontaneity
3
Next lesson: 7.2 Organic chemistry
4
Course: EST 2 Chemistry — all units
5
Official syllabus: OpenStax free science textbooks

Inorganic chemistry EST Chemistry revision notes

Part 7 of 7Compare: Compare

Group properties
GroupReaction with waterTrend down group
12M + 2H2O → 2MOH + H2 (vigorous)More reactive
2Slower; Mg reacts with steamMore reactive
17Cl2 + H2O → HCl + HOClLess reactive
18No reaction—
Oxides across Period 3
OxideBondingNature
Na2O, MgOIonicBasic
Al2O3Ionic/covalentAmphoteric
SiO2Giant covalentWeakly acidic
P4O10, SO3MolecularAcidic
Common gas tests
GasTestResult
H2Lighted splintSqueaky pop
O2Glowing splintRelights
CO2LimewaterTurns milky
NH3Damp red litmusTurns blue
Cl2Damp litmusBleached

Key terms

Command terms

Command terms
Identify / Describe (FRQ)
A short, specific statement; describing requires relevant characteristics, not a single word.
Explain / Justify (FRQ)
Give the cause-and-effect reasoning or evidence; a restated fact does not score.
Calculate
Show setup, substitution and the answer with units.
Predict
State the expected outcome; add a reason only if asked to justify.
MCQ technique
Read every option; eliminate distractors that are true statements but do not answer the question; watch for NOT/EXCEPT.

Exam technique

Keywords the mark scheme looks for in this lesson

Keywords the mark scheme looks for in this lesson
Alkali metals · Alkaline earth metals · Halogens · Noble gases · Transition metals · Allotropes · Amphoteric oxide
Learn each definition in the Key words tab exactly; a missing keyword in a definition usually loses the mark.

How to get full marks (examiner guidance)

1
Answer exactly what is asked; extra correct material does not earn credit, and contradictory statements can cancel credit (AP FRQ).
2
Use precise vocabulary (e.g. “active site”, “concentration gradient”, “allele”), never “it/stuff/things”.
3
Show units and working in calculations.
4
In MCQs, predict the answer before reading the options, then eliminate.

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