General Chemistry: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 14 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Stoichiometry

Moles
n = m/M
Concentration
c = n/V
Mole ratio
use the coefficients of the balanced equation
Limiting reactant
the one that runs out first
Percent yield
actual / theoretical × 100%

Method

  1. Write and balance the chemical equation.
  2. Convert the given mass to moles: n = m/M.
  3. Use the coefficients as the mole ratio to find the moles of the substance you want.
  4. Convert back to mass with m = n·M. With two reactants, find the limiting reactant first.

Molarity & dilution

Molarity
c = n/V (mol/L)
Moles
n = m/M
Dilution
c1V1 = c2V2
Mixing
c = (c1V1 + c2V2)/(V1 + V2)

Method

  1. Convert mass to moles with n = m/M.
  2. Convert the volume to litres.
  3. Molarity c = n/V in mol/L.
  4. For a dilution, the moles stay the same: c₁V₁ = c₂V₂.

Ideal gas law

Ideal gas law
pV = nRT
Gas constant
R = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
Combined gas law
p1V1/T1 = p2V2/T2
Moles
n = m/M
Temperature
T[K] = T[°C] + 273.15

Calorimetry & enthalpy

Heat
q = m·c·ΔT
Water
c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Calorimeter
heat lost = heat gained
Enthalpy of reaction
ΔH° = ΣΔH°f(products) − ΣΔH°f(reactants)

Chemical equilibrium

Equilibrium constant
Kc = [C]c[D]d/([A]a[B]b)
ICE table
Initial, Change (×coefficient), Equilibrium
Quadratic
x = (−b + √(b² − 4ac))/(2a)

Method

  1. Write Kc with products over reactants, each raised to the power of its coefficient.
  2. Set up an ICE table: Initial, Change (in steps of x times the coefficients), Equilibrium.
  3. Put the equilibrium expressions into Kc and solve for x.
  4. Check whether x is small enough for an approximation; otherwise solve the quadratic.

pH & buffers

pH
pH = −log[H⁺]
pOH
pOH = −log[OH⁻], pH + pOH = 14
Weak acid
[H⁺] ≈ √(Ka·c)
Buffer
pH = pKa + log([A⁻]/[HA])
Dilution
c1V1 = c2V2

Method

  1. Decide whether the acid or base is strong (fully dissociated) or weak.
  2. Strong acid: [H⁺] equals its concentration. Strong base: find [OH⁻] first.
  3. Weak acid: solve Ka = x²/(c − x) for x = [H⁺].
  4. pH = −log[H⁺], and pH + pOH = 14 at 25 °C.

Reaction kinetics

First order
ln(CA/CA0) = −kt
Half-life (first order)
t½ = ln 2/k
Second order
1/CA = 1/CA0 + kt
Arrhenius
k = A·e−Ea/(RT)
Two temperatures
ln(k2/k1) = (Ea/R)(1/T1 − 1/T2)

2Practice problems

1.StoichiometryMedium
m(X)n(X)n(CO2​)m(CO2​)÷ M(X)× 3/ν× M(CO2​)

30 g of C3H8 and 80 g of O2 react according to C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O. What mass m of CO2 can form?

M(C3H8) = 44.1M(O2) = 32M(CO2) = 44.01 g/mol
m = g
2.StoichiometryHard
m(Na)n(Na)n(NaCl)m(NaCl)÷ M(Na)× 2/2× M(NaCl)

In the reaction 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl, 30 g of Na reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 59.48 g of NaCl is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(Na) = 22.99 g/molM(NaCl) = 58.44 g/molactual: 59.48 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
2.5 mol/LV1​ = ?0.05 mol/L100 mL

You need 100 mL of 0.05 mol/L solution and have a 2.5 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 2.5 mol/Lc2 = 0.05 mol/LV2 = 100 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.8 mol/L100 mL0.05 mol/L400 mLc = ?500 mL

100 mL of a 0.8 mol/L solution is mixed with 400 mL of a 0.05 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.8 mol/LV1 = 100 mLc2 = 0.05 mol/LV2 = 400 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
120 g of CO₂V = 50 LT = 5 °CP = ?

A tank of 50 L contains 120 g of CO₂ at 5 °C. Treat it as an ideal gas and find the pressure P.

m = 120 gM = 44.01 g/molV = 50 LT = 5 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
P = kPa
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of N₂ goes from 100 kPa, 5 L, 15 °C to 500 kPa and 160 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 100 kPaV1 = 5 LT1 = 15 °CP2 = 500 kPaT2 = 160 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Ironm = 75 gT = 110 °Cc = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 100 gT = 18 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 75 g block of iron (c = 0.449 J/(g·°C)) at 110 °C is dropped into 100 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 18 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 75 gcmetal = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 110 °Cmwater = 100 gTwater = 18 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H2C2​H6​ + 7O₂reactants4CO₂ + 6H₂O(l)productsΔH° = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find ΔH° for the reaction 2C2H6 + 7O₂ → 4CO₂ + 6H₂O(l).

ΔH°f(C2H6) = −84.7 kJ/molΔH°f(CO₂) = −393.5 kJ/molΔH°f(H₂O, l) = −285.8 kJ/molΔH°f(O₂) = 0
ΔH° = kJ
9.Chemical equilibriumMedium
H2​I2​HII0.20.20C−x−x+2xE0.2 − x0.2 − x2x

0.2 mol/L of H₂ and 0.2 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 49. Find the equilibrium concentration [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.2 mol/LKc = 49
[HI] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.100C−x+x+xE0.1 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.08 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.1 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [Cl2].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.1 mol/LKc = 0.08
[Cl2] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.5 mol/L solution of lactic acid (Ka = 0.00014).

c = 0.5 mol/LKa = 0.00014
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A 1.00 L buffer contains 0.2 mol formic acid and 0.1 mol of its conjugate base (Ka = 0.00018). 0.025 mol of NaOH is added. Find the new pH pH.

n(HA) = 0.2 moln(A⁻) = 0.1 moln(OH⁻) = 0.025 molKa = 0.00018
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)X (%)t = ?75%

A zero-order reaction has k = 0.025 mol/(L·min) and starts at 2 mol/L. How long does it take to reach 75% conversion? Find t.

k = 0.025 mol/(L·min)CA0 = 2 mol/LX = 75 %
t = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
CA0​ (mol/L)r (mol/(L·s))run 10.20.005run 20.40.04n = ?

Two experiments measure the initial rate of A → products. With CA0 = 0.2 mol/L the rate is 0.005 mol/(L·s); with CA0 = 0.4 mol/L it is 0.04 mol/(L·s). Find the reaction order n with respect to A.

CA0,1 = 0.2 mol/Lr1 = 0.005 mol/(L·s)CA0,2 = 0.4 mol/Lr2 = 0.04 mol/(L·s)
n =

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 66.02 g

Stoichiometry: a balanced equation counts particles, not grams. Convert mass to moles with n = m/M, use the coefficients of the equation as the mole ratio, then convert back with m = n·M. With two reactants, the limiting reactant is the one that runs out first and fixes how much product forms.

Moles of each reactant

n(C3H8) = 30/44.1 = 0.6803 mol
n(O2) = 80/32 = 2.5 mol

Limiting reactant

0.6803/1 = 0.6803, 2.5/5 = 0.5 → O2

Mass of product

n(CO2) = 0.5·3 = 1.5 mol
m = 1.5·44.01 = 66.02 g

Answer

m = 66.02 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 78 %

Stoichiometry: a balanced equation counts particles, not grams. Convert mass to moles with n = m/M, use the coefficients of the equation as the mole ratio, then convert back with m = n·M. With two reactants, the limiting reactant is the one that runs out first and fixes how much product forms.

Theoretical yield

n(Na) = 30/22.99 = 1.305 mol
m = 1.305·2/2·58.44 = 76.26 g

Percent yield

Y = 59.48/76.26·100 = 78%

Answer

Y = 78%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 2 mL

Molarity: concentration c = n/V in mol/L, with n = m/M. Diluting adds solvent but not solute, so the number of moles stays the same: c₁·V₁ = c₂·V₂. When two solutions of the same solute are mixed, the moles add up and so do the volumes.

Volume of stock solution

V1 = c2·V2/c1 = 0.05·100/2.5 = 2 mL

Answer

V1 = 2 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 0.2 mol/L

Molarity: concentration c = n/V in mol/L, with n = m/M. Diluting adds solvent but not solute, so the number of moles stays the same: c₁·V₁ = c₂·V₂. When two solutions of the same solute are mixed, the moles add up and so do the volumes.

Total amount

n = 0.8·100 + 0.05·400 = 100 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 100/500 = 0.2 mol/L

Answer

c = 0.2 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: P = 126.1 kPa

Ideal gas law: PV = nRT, with n = m/M.

Moles

n = m/M = 120/44.01 = 2.727 mol
T = 5 + 273.15 = 278.1 K

Pressure

P = nRT/V = 2.727·8.314·278.1/0.05 = 126.1 kPa

Answer

P = 126.1 kPa
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 1.503 L

Combined gas law: for a fixed amount of ideal gas, P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2.

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 288.1 K, T2 = 433.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 5·(100/500)·(433.1/288.1) = 1.503 L

Answer

V2 = 1.503 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 24.86 °C

Heat and enthalpy: heating a substance takes q = m·c·ΔT. In a calorimeter the heat lost by the hot object equals the heat gained by the cold one. The enthalpy change of a reaction follows from enthalpies of formation: ΔH° = ΣΔH°f(products) − ΣΔH°f(reactants), each multiplied by its coefficient.

Heat balance

75·0.449·(110 − Tf) = 100·4.18·(Tf − 18)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (33.68·110 + 418·18)/(33.68 + 418) = 24.86 °C

Answer

Tf = 24.86 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: ΔH° = −3119 kJ

Heat and enthalpy: heating a substance takes q = m·c·ΔT. In a calorimeter the heat lost by the hot object equals the heat gained by the cold one. The enthalpy change of a reaction follows from enthalpies of formation: ΔH° = ΣΔH°f(products) − ΣΔH°f(reactants), each multiplied by its coefficient.

Enthalpy of reaction

ΔH° = [4·(−393.5) + 6·(−285.8)] − [2·(−84.7) + 7·0] = −3119 kJ

Answer

ΔH° = −3119 kJ

Negative: the reaction gives off heat (exothermic).

9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 0.3111 mol/L

Chemical equilibrium: for aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD, the equilibrium constant is Kc = [C]c[D]d/([A]a[B]b), using concentrations at equilibrium. An ICE table (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) links the starting amounts to the equilibrium amounts through one unknown x, scaled by the coefficients.

Equilibrium expression

49 = (2x)²/(0.2 − x)²

Take the square root

7 = 2x/(0.2 − x) → x = 0.2·7/(2 + 7) = 0.1556 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[HI] = 2x = 0.3111 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 0.3111 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [Cl2] = 0.05798 mol/L

Chemical equilibrium: for aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD, the equilibrium constant is Kc = [C]c[D]d/([A]a[B]b), using concentrations at equilibrium. An ICE table (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) links the starting amounts to the equilibrium amounts through one unknown x, scaled by the coefficients.

Equilibrium expression

0.08 = x²/(0.1 − x) → x² + 0.08·x − 0.008 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.08 + √(0.08² + 4·0.008))/2 = 0.05798 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[Cl₂] = x = 0.05798 mol/L

Answer

[Cl2] = 0.05798 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 2.081

pH: pH = −log₁₀[H₃O⁺] and pOH = −log₁₀[OH⁻], with pH + pOH = 14 at 25 °C. Strong acids and bases ionise completely. A weak acid only partly: Ka = x²/(c − x), where x = [H₃O⁺]. A buffer of a weak acid and its conjugate base follows Henderson–Hasselbalch: pH = pKa + log([A⁻]/[HA]).

Equilibrium

HA ⇌ H⁺ + A⁻: x mol/L of acid ionises.

Ka = x²/(0.5 − x) → x = 0.008297 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.008297) = 2.081

Answer

pH = 2.081
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 3.599

pH: pH = −log₁₀[H₃O⁺] and pOH = −log₁₀[OH⁻], with pH + pOH = 14 at 25 °C. Strong acids and bases ionise completely. A weak acid only partly: Ka = x²/(c − x), where x = [H₃O⁺]. A buffer of a weak acid and its conjugate base follows Henderson–Hasselbalch: pH = pKa + log([A⁻]/[HA]).

Neutralisation

n(HA) = 0.2 − 0.025 = 0.175 mol
n(A⁻) = 0.1 + 0.025 = 0.125 mol

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.745 + log(0.125/0.175) = 3.599

Answer

pH = 3.599
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t = 60 min

Integrated rate laws: zero order: C = C₀ − kt (straight line, t½ = C₀/(2k)); first order: ln(C₀/C) = kt (t½ = ln 2/k); second order: 1/C − 1/C₀ = kt (t½ = 1/(kC₀)). Conversion X means C = C₀(1 − X).

Amount converted

CA0·X = 2·0.75 = 1.5 mol/L

Time

t = CA0·X/k = 1.5/0.025 = 60 min

Answer

t = 60 min
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: n = 3

Method of initial rates: for r = k·Cⁿ, comparing two runs that differ only in the starting concentration removes k: r₂/r₁ = (C₂/C₁)ⁿ. Doubling C doubles the rate for first order and quadruples it for second order.

Ratios

r2/r1 = 0.04/0.005 = 8
C2/C1 = 0.4/0.2 = 2

Order

n = ln(8)/ln(2) = 3

Answer

n = 3

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