Chapter 2, Problem 1TYU

Test Your Understanding

Know and Comprehend

1. Which of the following elements is mismatched with its properties or function? (a) carbon—forms the backbone of organic compounds (b) nitrogen—component of proteins (c) hydrogen—very electronegative (d) oxygen—can participate in hydrogen bonding (e) all of the above are correctly matched

Summary Introduction

Introduction: In the simplest level of organization, the human body consists of various chemical structures. The substances that are not able to break down to simpler substances by ordinary chemical reactions are called elements. Every element has its own chemical symbol.

Answer to Problem 1TYU

Correct answer: The element hydrogen is mismatched with its property that is very electronegative. Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

Explanation of Solution

Reason for the correct answer:

Electronegativity is a chemical property that describes the affinity of an atom to attract the shared pair of electron to itself. Oxygen, fluorine and nitrogen are the elements which are highly electronegative. Hydrogen having an atomic number of one has less affinity to attract the electrons towards it. The electronegativity of hydrogen atom is less compared to these elements. Hydrogen is not highly electronegative. Hydrogen is least electronegative.

Option (c) is given as “hydrogen-very electronegative”.

Hydrogen is not highly electronegative. Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

Reasons for incorrect answers:

Option (a) is given as, “carbon-forms the backbone of organic compounds”.

Carbon forms the backbone of the organic molecules. This is a correct match of their property. Hence, option (a) is incorrect.

Option (b) is given as, “nitrogen-component of proteins”.

Nitrogen is a component of the nucleic acids and proteins. Nitrogen is found in amine group of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. This is a correct match of their property. Hence, option (b) is incorrect.

Option (d) is given as, “oxygen-can participate in hydrogen bonding”.

The hydrogen bonding is formed by the highly electronegative elements like oxygen, fluorine and nitrogen. This is a correct match of their property. Hence, option (d) is incorrect.

Option (e) is given as, “all of the above are correctly matched”.

Carbon forms the backbone of the organic molecules, nitrogen is a component of the nucleic acids and proteins, and oxygen can participate in hydrogen bonding, but hydrogen is not very electronegative.

Hence, option (e) is incorrect.

Hence the options (a), (b), (d), and (e) are incorrect.

Conclusion

The electronegativity of hydrogen atom is not very high.