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(AlCl3​)m(AlCl3​)÷ M(X)× 2/ν× M(AlCl3​)

12 g of Al and 40 g of Cl2 react according to 2Al + 3Cl2 → 2AlCl3. What mass m of AlCl3 can form?

M(Al) = 26.98M(Cl2) = 70.9M(AlCl3) = 133.33 g/mol
m = g
2.StoichiometryHard
m(C6​H12​O6​)n(C6​H12​O6​)n(CO2​)m(CO2​)÷ M(C6​H12​O6​)× 2/1× M(CO2​)

In the reaction C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2, 12 g of C6H12O6 reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 4.1 g of CO2 is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(C6H12O6) = 180.16 g/molM(CO2) = 44.01 g/molactual: 4.1 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
2.5 mol/LV1​0.3 mol/L200 mL

You need 200 mL of 0.3 mol/L solution and have a 2.5 mol/L stock solution. How much water Vwater do you add to the stock solution?

c1 = 2.5 mol/Lc2 = 0.3 mol/LV2 = 200 mL
Vwater = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
2 mol/L200 mL0.6 mol/L400 mLc = ?600 mL

200 mL of a 2 mol/L solution is mixed with 400 mL of a 0.6 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 2 mol/LV1 = 200 mLc2 = 0.6 mol/LV2 = 400 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
180 g of N₂P = 200 kPaT = 10 °CV = ?

What volume V does 180 g of N₂ occupy at 200 kPa and 10 °C? Treat it as an ideal gas.

m = 180 gM = 28.01 g/molP = 200 kPaT = 10 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
V = L
6.Ideal gas lawHard
CO₂, M = 44.01 g/molP = 900 kPaT = 80 °Cρ = ?

Find the density ρ of CO₂ at 900 kPa and 80 °C, treating it as an ideal gas.

M = 44.01 g/molP = 900 kPaT = 80 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
ρ = kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Zincm = 100 gT = 150 °Cc = 0.388 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 400 gT = 20 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 100 g block of zinc (c = 0.388 J/(g·°C)) at 150 °C is dropped into 400 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 20 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 100 gcmetal = 0.388 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 150 °Cmwater = 400 gTwater = 20 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H100 g C4​H10​2C4​H10​ + 13O₂reactants8CO₂ + 10H₂O(l)productsq = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find the heat q released when 100 g of C4H10 (M = 58.12 g/mol) burns completely: 2C4H10 + 13O₂ → 8CO₂ + 10H₂O(l). Give q as a positive number.

ΔH°f(C4H10) = −125.6 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​HII0.250.250C−x−x+2xE0.25 − x0.25 − x2x

0.25 mol/L of H₂ and 0.25 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 50. Find the equilibrium concentration [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.25 mol/LKc = 50
[HI] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.500C−x+x+xE0.5 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.01 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.5 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [Cl2].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.5 mol/LKc = 0.01
[Cl2] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.25 mol/L solution of acetic acid (Ka = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵).

c = 0.25 mol/LKa = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A buffer contains 0.25 mol/L hydrofluoric acid and 0.2 mol/L of its sodium salt. Ka = 0.00068. Find the pH pH of the buffer.

[HA] = 0.25[A⁻] = 0.2Ka = 0.00068
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)X (%)t = ?50%

A second-order reaction (−rA = k·CA²) in a batch reactor has k = 0.5 L/(mol·min) and starts at 1.5 mol/L. How long does it take to reach 50% conversion? Find t.

k = 0.5 L/(mol·min)CA0 = 1.5 mol/LX = 50 %
t = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
1/Tln kT = 50 °Cln 0.001ln A = ?Ea​ = 60 kJ/mol

A first-order reaction has a rate constant of 0.001 s⁻¹ at 50 °C and an activation energy of 60 kJ/mol. Find the pre-exponential factor A in the Arrhenius equation.

k = 0.001 s⁻¹T = 50 °CEa = 60 kJ/molR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
A = s⁻¹

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 50.15 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(Al) = 12/26.98 = 0.4448 mol
n(Cl2) = 40/70.9 = 0.5642 mol

Limiting reactant

0.4448/2 = 0.2224, 0.5642/3 = 0.1881 → Cl2

Mass of product

n(AlCl3) = 0.1881·2 = 0.3761 mol
m = 0.3761·133.33 = 50.15 g

Answer

m = 50.15 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 69.93 %

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(C6H12O6) = 12/180.16 = 0.06661 mol
m = 0.06661·2/1·44.01 = 5.863 g

Percent yield

Y = 4.1/5.863·100 = 69.93%

Answer

Y = 69.93%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: Vwater = 176 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 = 0.3·200/2.5 = 24 mL

Water to add

Vwater = 200 − 24 = 176 mL

Answer

Vwater = 176 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 1.067 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 = 2·200 + 0.6·400 = 640 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 640/600 = 1.067 mol/L

Answer

c = 1.067 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: V = 75.64 L

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

Moles

n = 180/28.01 = 6.426 mol
T = 10 + 273.15 = 283.1 K

Volume

V = nRT/P = 6.426·8.314·283.1/200 = 75.64 L

Answer

V = 75.64 L
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: ρ = 13.49 kg/m³

Ideal gas density: ρ = PM/(RT).

Rearrange the gas law

PV = (m/M)RT → ρ = m/V = PM/(RT)
T = 80 + 273.15 = 353.1 K

Density

ρ = 900·44.01/(8.314·353.1) = 13.49 kg/m³

Answer

ρ = 13.49 kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 22.95 °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

100·0.388·(150 − Tf) = 400·4.18·(Tf − 20)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (38.8·150 + 1672·20)/(38.8 + 1672) = 22.95 °C

Answer

Tf = 22.95 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: q = 4951 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° = [8·(−393.5) + 10·(−285.8)] − [2·(−125.6) + 13·0] = −5755 kJ

Heat for the given mass

n = 100/58.12 = 1.721 mol
q = n·|ΔH°/2| = 1.721·2877 = 4951 kJ

Answer

q = 4951 kJ
9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 0.3898 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

50 = (2x)²/(0.25 − x)²

Take the square root

7.071 = 2x/(0.25 − x) → x = 0.25·7.071/(2 + 7.071) = 0.1949 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[HI] = 2x = 0.3898 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 0.3898 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [Cl2] = 0.06589 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

0.01 = x²/(0.5 − x) → x² + 0.01·x − 0.005 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.01 + √(0.01² + 4·0.005))/2 = 0.06589 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[Cl₂] = x = 0.06589 mol/L

Answer

[Cl2] = 0.06589 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 2.675

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/(0.25 − x) → x = 0.002112 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.002112) = 2.675

Answer

pH = 2.675
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 3.071

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(0.2/0.25) = 3.071

Answer

pH = 3.071
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t = 1.333 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).

Concentration at the end

CA = 1.5·(1 − 0.5) = 0.75 mol/L

Integrated second-order law

t = (1/CA − 1/CA0)/k = (1.333 − 0.6667)/0.5 = 1.333 min

Answer

t = 1.333 min
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: A = 4.999 × 10⁶ s⁻¹

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

T = 50 + 273.15 = 323.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for A

Ea/(RT) = 60000/(8.314·323.1) = 22.33
A = k·e22.33 = 0.001·4.999 × 10⁹ = 4.999 × 10⁶ s⁻¹

Answer

A = 4.999 × 10⁶ s⁻¹

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