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(NH3​)m(NH3​)÷ M(X)× 2/ν× M(NH3​)

6 g of N2 and 8 g of H2 react according to N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3. What mass m of NH3 can form?

M(N2) = 28.02M(H2) = 2.016M(NH3) = 17.03 g/mol
m = g
2.StoichiometryHard
m(Mg)n(Mg)n(MgO)m(MgO)÷ M(Mg)× 2/2× M(MgO)

In the reaction 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO, 24 g of Mg reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 33.82 g of MgO is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(Mg) = 24.31 g/molM(MgO) = 40.3 g/molactual: 33.82 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
2.5 mol/LV1​ = ?0.4 mol/L250 mL

You need 250 mL of 0.4 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 = 0.4 mol/LV2 = 250 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.8 mol/L200 mL0.6 mol/L500 mLc = ?700 mL

200 mL of a 0.8 mol/L solution is mixed with 500 mL of a 0.6 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.8 mol/LV1 = 200 mLc2 = 0.6 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
460 g of CH₄P = 450 kPaT = 85 °CV = ?

What volume V does 460 g of CH₄ occupy at 450 kPa and 85 °C? Treat it as an ideal gas.

m = 460 gM = 16.04 g/molP = 450 kPaT = 85 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
V = L
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of CO₂ goes from 100 kPa, 10 L, 25 °C to 300 kPa and 50 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 100 kPaV1 = 10 LT1 = 25 °CP2 = 300 kPaT2 = 50 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Zincm = 75 gT = 200 °Cc = 0.388 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 300 gT = 15 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 75 g block of zinc (c = 0.388 J/(g·°C)) at 200 °C is dropped into 300 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 15 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 75 gcmetal = 0.388 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 200 °Cmwater = 300 gTwater = 15 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H20 g C6​H12​O6​C6​H12​O6​ + 6O₂reactants6CO₂ + 6H₂O(l)productsq = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find the heat q released when 20 g of C6H12O6 (M = 180.16 g/mol) burns completely: C6H12O6 + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O(l). Give q as a positive number.

ΔH°f(C6H12O6) = −1274 kJ/molΔH°f(CO₂) = −393.5 kJ/molΔH°f(H₂O, l) = −285.8 kJ/molΔH°f(O₂) = 0
q = 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 = 16. Find the equilibrium concentration [H2].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.2 mol/LKc = 16
[H2] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I1.500C−x+x+xE1.5 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.08 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 1.5 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [Cl2].

[PCl₅]₀ = 1.5 mol/LKc = 0.08
[Cl2] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.01 mol/L solution of benzoic acid (Ka = 6.3 × 10⁻⁵).

c = 0.01 mol/LKa = 6.3 × 10⁻⁵
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A buffer contains 0.4 mol/L hydrofluoric acid and 0.5 mol/L of its sodium salt. Ka = 0.00068. Find the pH pH of the buffer.

[HA] = 0.4[A⁻] = 0.5Ka = 0.00068
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)C (mol/L)10 min1.2

In a first-order reaction the concentration of A falls from 2 mol/L to 1.2 mol/L in 10 min. Find the rate constant k.

CA0 = 2 mol/LCA = 1.2 mol/Lt = 10 min
k = min⁻¹
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk40 °Ck1​?2·k1​

A reaction has an activation energy of 70 kJ/mol. At 40 °C it is too slow. To what temperature T2 (in °C) must it be heated to make it 2 times faster?

Ea = 70 kJ/molT1 = 40 °Ck2/k1 = 2R = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
T2 = °C

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 7.293 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(N2) = 6/28.02 = 0.2141 mol
n(H2) = 8/2.016 = 3.968 mol

Limiting reactant

0.2141/1 = 0.2141, 3.968/3 = 1.323 → N2

Mass of product

n(NH3) = 0.2141·2 = 0.4283 mol
m = 0.4283·17.03 = 7.293 g

Answer

m = 7.293 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 85 %

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(Mg) = 24/24.31 = 0.9872 mol
m = 0.9872·2/2·40.3 = 39.79 g

Percent yield

Y = 33.82/39.79·100 = 85%

Answer

Y = 85%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 40 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 = 0.4·250/2.5 = 40 mL

Answer

V1 = 40 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 0.6571 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 = 0.8·200 + 0.6·500 = 460 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 460/700 = 0.6571 mol/L

Answer

c = 0.6571 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: V = 189.8 L

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

Moles

n = 460/16.04 = 28.68 mol
T = 85 + 273.15 = 358.1 K

Volume

V = nRT/P = 28.68·8.314·358.1/450 = 189.8 L

Answer

V = 189.8 L
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 3.613 L

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

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 298.1 K, T2 = 323.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 10·(100/300)·(323.1/298.1) = 3.613 L

Answer

V2 = 3.613 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 19.2 °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

75·0.388·(200 − Tf) = 300·4.18·(Tf − 15)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (29.1·200 + 1254·15)/(29.1 + 1254) = 19.2 °C

Answer

Tf = 19.2 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: q = 311 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° = [6·(−393.5) + 6·(−285.8)] − [1·(−1274) + 6·0] = −2802 kJ

Heat for the given mass

n = 20/180.16 = 0.111 mol
q = n·|ΔH°/1| = 0.111·2802 = 311 kJ

Answer

q = 311 kJ
9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [H2] = 0.06667 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

16 = (2x)²/(0.2 − x)²

Take the square root

4 = 2x/(0.2 − x) → x = 0.2·4/(2 + 4) = 0.1333 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[H₂] = 0.2 − x = 0.06667 mol/L

Answer

[H2] = 0.06667 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [Cl2] = 0.3087 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/(1.5 − x) → x² + 0.08·x − 0.12 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.08 + √(0.08² + 4·0.12))/2 = 0.3087 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[Cl₂] = x = 0.3087 mol/L

Answer

[Cl2] = 0.3087 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 3.118

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/(0.01 − x) → x = 0.0007629 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.0007629) = 3.118

Answer

pH = 3.118
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 3.264

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]).

pKa

pKa = 3.167

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.167 + log(0.5/0.4) = 3.264

Answer

pH = 3.264
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: k = 0.05108 min⁻¹

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).

Integrated first-order law

k = ln(CA0/CA)/t = ln(2/1.2)/10 = 0.5108/10 = 0.05108 min⁻¹

Answer

k = 0.05108 min⁻¹
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: T2 = 48.29 °C

Reaction rates: for a first-order reaction −dC/dt = kC, so C = C₀·e−kt and the half-life ln 2/k does not depend on concentration. For a second-order reaction 1/C = 1/C₀ + kt. The rate constant rises with temperature following Arrhenius: k = A·e−Ea/(RT).

Absolute temperature

T1 = 313.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for T₂

1/T2 = 1/313.1 − 8.314·ln(2)/70000 = 3.193 × 10⁻³ − 8.233 × 10⁻⁵ = 3.111 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹
T2 = 321.4 K = 48.29 °C

Answer

T2 = 48.29 °C

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