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Metallic bonding

Metallic bonding

Medium
123
Question 1

Iron is an important transition metal.

a.

Three of the stages in the extraction and purification of iron using the carbonyl process are:

  • Stage 1: iron(III) oxide is reduced by heating with H2\text{H}_2H2​ to produce impure iron:

    Fe2O3(s)+3H2(g)→2Fe(s)+3H2O(g) \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3(\text{s}) + 3\text{H}_2(\text{g)} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe}(\text{s}) + 3\text{H}_2\text{O}(\text{g)} Fe2​O3​(s)+3H2​(g)→2Fe(s)+3H2​O(g)

  • Stage 2: the impure iron is reacted with CO\text{CO}CO to produce iron pentacarbonyl:

    Fe(s)+5CO(g)⇌Fe(CO)5(g) \text{Fe}(\text{s}) + 5\text{CO}(\text{g)} \rightleftharpoons \text{Fe(CO)}_5(\text{g)} Fe(s)+5CO(g)⇌Fe(CO)5​(g)

  • Stage 3: Fe(CO)5\text{Fe(CO)}_5Fe(CO)5​ is decomposed by heating to produce pure iron:

    Fe(CO)5(g)→Fe(s)+5CO(g) \text{Fe(CO)}_5(\text{g)} \rightarrow \text{Fe}(\text{s}) + 5\text{CO}(\text{g)} Fe(CO)5​(g)→Fe(s)+5CO(g)

State why the reaction in Stage 1 is described as reduction.

[1]
b.

Suggest why a low temperature produces a high yield of Fe(CO)5\text{Fe(CO)}_5Fe(CO)5​ in Stage 2.

[2]
c.

Iron has a melting point of 1538∘C1538^{\circ}\text{C}1538∘C and is a good conductor of electricity.

Describe the arrangement and charges of the particles in metallic iron.

[2]
d.

Explain, in terms of its structure, why iron is malleable and is a good conductor of electricity.

[2]
Markscheme

Metallic bonding Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Chemistry
  3. /Metallic bonding

3 exam-style questions on Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry Metallic bonding. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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