Question 1: Consider the following reaction of calcium hydride (CaH2) with molten sodium metal:
CaH2(s) + 2 Na(l) -> 2 NaH(s) + Ca(l)
Identify the species being oxidized and the species being reduced?
Question 2: Give the names to the binary compounds listed below. Classify the bonds in the following as ionic or covalent. For bonds that are covalent, indicate whether they are polar or nonpolar. Explain your answer.
a. Na2O
b. CaCl2
c. NBr3
d. CS2
Question 3: There are several technological applications for the transuranium elements (Z > 92). An important one is in smoke detectors, which can use the decay of a tiny amount of americium-241 to neptunium-237. What subatomic particle is emitted from that decay process? Please explain your answer.
Question 4: Nylon 88 is made from the monomers H2N(CH2)8NH2 and HOOC(CH2)6COOH. So, would you characterize nylon 88 as rather an addition or a condensation polymer? Please explain your answer.