Question 1 Report
(a) State three characteristic properties of
(i) electrovalent compounds;
(ii) alpha particles
(iii) catalysts
(b)(i) Write the electronic configuration of silicon (atomic number 14) and state the group to which it belongs in the Periodic Table.
(ii) State the type of chemical bonding between silicon and oxygen in SiO\(_2\)
(iii) A chip used in a microcomputer contains 5.72 x 10\(^{-3}\)g of silicon, calculate the number of silicon atoms in the chip.
[Si = 28; Avogadro constant = 6.02 x 10\(^{23}\) mol\(^{-1}\)]
(c) An element X belongs to the same group as sodium but is more reactive.
(i) Suggest with reason whether X would be a reducing or oxidizing agent.
(ii) What would be a suitable method of storing X in the laboratory?
(iii) Describe briefly what would be observed if a small piece of X were dropped into a trough of cold water which had been coloured with red litmus.
(iv) Write an equation to show how the oxide of X would react with dilute HCI.
(v) Suggest the likely colour of the salts of X