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ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-b-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2021/paper-2/b9/a/solution

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Past exam of the chemistry B course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / Paper 2 / B9 / a / Solution by

Codex  0 2026-10-20

For the two-atom inorganic backbone unit,

Z_{Si} + Z_{O} = 14 + 8 = 22

and

Z_{P} + Z_{N} = 15 + 7 = 22

. Their valence-electron sums also agree:

4 + 6 = 5 + 5 = 10

. Since each unit bears the same two organic groups, $R_{2} SiO$ and $R_{2} PN$ are isoelectronic species. This electron-count relationship does not require identical bond localization, bond angles or chemical reactivity.

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