solid material such as a glass that does not have a regular repeating component to its three-dimensional structure; a solid but not a crystal

compound containing boron-oxygen bonds, typically with clusters or chains as a part of the chemical structure

variation in crystalline structure that results in different physical properties for the resulting compound

compound containing silicon-oxygen bonds, with silicate tetrahedra connected in rings, sheets, or three-dimensional networks, depending on the other elements involved in the formation of the compounds

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Chemistry 2e · 18.3 Structure and General Properties of the Metalloids

Structure and General Properties of the Metalloids: practice problems

8 problems from the book, with its answers. Check your working, or have any of them explained to you on the whiteboard.

Exercises 29
Write a Lewis structure for each of the following molecules or ions. You may wish to review the chapter on chemical bonding.
(a) H₃BPH₃
(b) $BF_{4}^{-}$
(c) BBr₃
(d) B(CH₃)₃
(e) B(OH)₃
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Exercises 31
Using only the periodic table, write the complete electron configuration for silicon, including any empty orbitals in the valence shell. You may wish to review the chapter on electronic structure.
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Exercises 33
Describe the hybridization of silicon and the molecular structure of the following molecules and ions:
(a) (CH₃)₃SiH
(b) $SiO_{4}^{4 -}$
(c) Si₂H₆
(d) Si(OH)₄
(e) $SiF_{6}^{2 -}$
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Exercises 35
Classify each of the following molecules as polar or nonpolar. You may wish to review the chapter on chemical bonding.
(a) SiH₄
(b) Si₂H₆
(c) SiCl₃H
(d) SiF₄
(e) SiCl₂F₂
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Exercises 37
Name each of the following compounds:
(a) TeO₂
(b) Sb₂S₃
(c) GeF₄
(d) SiH₄
(e) GeH₄
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Exercises 39
Why is boron limited to a maximum coordination number of four in its compounds?
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Exercises 41
From the data given in Appendix G, determine the standard enthalpy change and the standard free energy change for each of the following reactions:
(a) $BF_{3} (g) + 3H_{2} O (l) ⟶ B (OH)_{3} (s) + 3HF (g)$
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Exercises 43
Suppose you discovered a diamond completely encased in a silicate rock. How would you chemically free the diamond without harming it?
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Key terms · 4

amorphous: solid material such as a glass that does not have a regular repeating component to its three-dimensional structure; a solid but not a crystal
borate: compound containing boron-oxygen bonds, typically with clusters or chains as a part of the chemical structure
polymorph: variation in crystalline structure that results in different physical properties for the resulting compound
silicate: compound containing silicon-oxygen bonds, with silicate tetrahedra connected in rings, sheets, or three-dimensional networks, depending on the other elements involved in the formation of the compounds

Learn 18.3 on the whiteboard

The tutor teaches the whole section, drawing it out step by step and answering your questions as you go.

Read 18.3 in the textbook · This section on openstax.org

Structure and General Properties of the Metalloids: practice problems

8 problems from the book, with its answers. Check your working, or have any of them explained to you on the whiteboard.

Exercises 29

Write a Lewis structure for each of the following molecules or ions. You may wish to review the chapter on chemical bonding.

(a) H₃BPH₃

(b) $BF_{4}^{-}$

(d) B(CH₃)₃

(e) B(OH)₃

Exercises 31

Using only the periodic table, write the complete electron configuration for silicon, including any empty orbitals in the valence shell. You may wish to review the chapter on electronic structure.

Exercises 33

Describe the hybridization of silicon and the molecular structure of the following molecules and ions:

(a) (CH₃)₃SiH

(b) $SiO_{4}^{4 -}$

(d) Si(OH)₄

(e) $SiF_{6}^{2 -}$

Exercises 35

Classify each of the following molecules as polar or nonpolar. You may wish to review the chapter on chemical bonding.

(a) SiH₄

(b) Si₂H₆

(d) SiF₄

(e) SiCl₂F₂

Exercises 37

Name each of the following compounds:

(a) TeO₂

(b) Sb₂S₃

(d) SiH₄

(e) GeH₄

Exercises 39

Why is boron limited to a maximum coordination number of four in its compounds?

Exercises 41

From the data given in Appendix G, determine the standard enthalpy change and the standard free energy change for each of the following reactions:

(a) $BF_{3} (g) + 3H_{2} O (l) ⟶ B (OH)_{3} (s) + 3HF (g)$

Exercises 43

Suppose you discovered a diamond completely encased in a silicate rock. How would you chemically free the diamond without harming it?

Key terms · 4

amorphous: solid material such as a glass that does not have a regular repeating component to its three-dimensional structure; a solid but not a crystal
borate: compound containing boron-oxygen bonds, typically with clusters or chains as a part of the chemical structure
polymorph: variation in crystalline structure that results in different physical properties for the resulting compound
silicate: compound containing silicon-oxygen bonds, with silicate tetrahedra connected in rings, sheets, or three-dimensional networks, depending on the other elements involved in the formation of the compounds

Learn 18.3 on the whiteboard

The tutor teaches the whole section, drawing it out step by step and answering your questions as you go.

Read 18.3 in the textbook · This section on openstax.org