FRQ — d- and f-Block Elements

Case study·Standard multi-step (3/5)·No calculator

Difficulty guide

The label describes the problem, not your ability.

1/5 - Foundational

Warm-up setup; checks one basic idea.

2/5 - Routine exam skill

Normal syllabus skill; usually one main rule or interpretation.

3/5 - Standard multi-step

Exam-style problem with multiple steps or a common trap.

4/5 - Hard exam skill

High-end exam problem; combines methods carefully.

5/5 - Challenge

Stretch problem beyond normal exam pressure.

Question

A lab handout lists three ions:

\mathrm{Sc^{3+}}

\mathrm{Ti^{3+}}

and

\mathrm{Zn^{2+}}

. Their

3d

electron counts are

0

1

and

10

respectively.

Total: 3 marks

(a) Which ion is most likely to show colour due to a $\mathrm{d-d}$ transition? (1 mark)

(b) Which two ions are usually colourless by the simple $d^0/d^{10}$ criterion? (1 mark)

Your response (optional — you can also work on paper)

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