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​)

24 g of C3H8 and 40 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, 10 g of Na reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 17.79 g of NaCl is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(Na) = 22.99 g/molM(NaCl) = 58.44 g/molactual: 17.79 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
3 mol/LV1​ = ?0.1 mol/L500 mL

You need 500 mL of 0.1 mol/L solution and have a 3 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 3 mol/Lc2 = 0.1 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.5 mol/L50 mL2.5 mol/L200 mLc = ?250 mL

50 mL of a 0.5 mol/L solution is mixed with 200 mL of a 2.5 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.5 mol/LV1 = 50 mLc2 = 2.5 mol/LV2 = 200 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
50 g of CH₄V = 50 LT = 35 °CP = ?

A tank of 50 L contains 50 g of CH₄ at 35 °C. Treat it as an ideal gas and find the pressure P.

m = 50 gM = 16.04 g/molV = 50 LT = 35 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
P = kPa
6.Ideal gas lawHard
He, M = 4.003 g/molP = 200 kPaT = 180 °Cρ = ?

Find the density ρ of He at 200 kPa and 180 °C, treating it as an ideal gas.

M = 4.003 g/molP = 200 kPaT = 180 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
ρ = kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Aluminiumm = 50 gT = 190 °Cc = 0.897 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 200 gT = 19 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 50 g block of aluminium (c = 0.897 J/(g·°C)) at 190 °C is dropped into 200 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 19 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 50 gcmetal = 0.897 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 190 °Cmwater = 200 gTwater = 19 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H25 g C4​H10​2C4​H10​ + 13O₂reactants8CO₂ + 10H₂O(l)productsq = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find the heat q released when 25 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​HII0.10.10C−x−x+2xE0.1 − x0.1 − x2x

0.1 mol/L of H₂ and 0.1 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 64. Find the equilibrium concentration [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.1 mol/LKc = 64
[HI] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I100C−x+x+xE1 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.5 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 1 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].

[PCl₅]₀ = 1 mol/LKc = 0.5
[PCl5] = 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 hypochlorous acid and 0.3 mol/L of its sodium salt. Ka = 3 × 10⁻⁸. Find the pH pH of the buffer.

[HA] = 0.4[A⁻] = 0.3Ka = 3 × 10⁻⁸
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)X (%)t = ?80%

A second-order reaction (−rA = k·CA²) in a batch reactor has k = 0.5 L/(mol·min) and starts at 0.5 mol/L. How long does it take to reach 80% conversion? Find t.

k = 0.5 L/(mol·min)CA0 = 0.5 mol/LX = 80 %
t = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk40 °C0.165 °C0.97

The rate constant of a reaction is 0.1 min⁻¹ at 40 °C and 0.97 min⁻¹ at 65 °C. Find the activation energy Ea.

k1 = 0.1 min⁻¹T1 = 40 °Ck2 = 0.97 min⁻¹T2 = 65 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
Ea = kJ/mol

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 33.01 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) = 24/44.1 = 0.5442 mol
n(O2) = 40/32 = 1.25 mol

Limiting reactant

0.5442/1 = 0.5442, 1.25/5 = 0.25 → O2

Mass of product

n(CO2) = 0.25·3 = 0.75 mol
m = 0.75·44.01 = 33.01 g

Answer

m = 33.01 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 69.98 %

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) = 10/22.99 = 0.435 mol
m = 0.435·2/2·58.44 = 25.42 g

Percent yield

Y = 17.79/25.42·100 = 69.98%

Answer

Y = 69.98%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 16.67 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 = 0.1·500/3 = 16.67 mL

Answer

V1 = 16.67 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 2.1 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 = 0.5·50 + 2.5·200 = 525 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 525/250 = 2.1 mol/L

Answer

c = 2.1 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: P = 159.7 kPa

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

Moles

n = m/M = 50/16.04 = 3.117 mol
T = 35 + 273.15 = 308.1 K

Pressure

P = nRT/V = 3.117·8.314·308.1/0.05 = 159.7 kPa

Answer

P = 159.7 kPa
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: ρ = 0.2125 kg/m³

Ideal gas density: ρ = PM/(RT).

Rearrange the gas law

PV = (m/M)RT → ρ = m/V = PM/(RT)
T = 180 + 273.15 = 453.1 K

Density

ρ = 200·4.003/(8.314·453.1) = 0.2125 kg/m³

Answer

ρ = 0.2125 kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 27.71 °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

50·0.897·(190 − Tf) = 200·4.18·(Tf − 19)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (44.85·190 + 836·19)/(44.85 + 836) = 27.71 °C

Answer

Tf = 27.71 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: q = 1238 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 = 25/58.12 = 0.4301 mol
q = n·|ΔH°/2| = 0.4301·2877 = 1238 kJ

Answer

q = 1238 kJ
9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 0.16 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

64 = (2x)²/(0.1 − x)²

Take the square root

8 = 2x/(0.1 − x) → x = 0.1·8/(2 + 8) = 0.08 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[HI] = 2x = 0.16 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 0.16 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 0.5 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

0.5 = x²/(1 − x) → x² + 0.5·x − 0.5 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.5 + √(0.5² + 4·0.5))/2 = 0.5 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 1 − 0.5 = 0.5 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 0.5 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 = 7.398

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 = 7.523

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 7.523 + log(0.3/0.4) = 7.398

Answer

pH = 7.398
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t = 16 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 = 0.5·(1 − 0.8) = 0.1 mol/L

Integrated second-order law

t = (1/CA − 1/CA0)/k = (10 − 2)/0.5 = 16 min

Answer

t = 16 min
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: Ea = 80.01 kJ/mol

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 temperatures

T1 = 313.1 K, T2 = 338.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for Ea

Ea = −R·ln(k2/k1)/(1/T2 − 1/T1) = −8.314·2.272/(-2.361e-4) = 80014 J/mol
Ea = 80.01 kJ/mol

Answer

Ea = 80.01 kJ/mol

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