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(MgO)m(MgO)÷ M(X)× 2/ν× M(MgO)

10 g of Mg and 16 g of O2 react according to 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO. What mass m of MgO can form?

M(Mg) = 24.31M(O2) = 32M(MgO) = 40.3 g/mol
m = g
2.StoichiometryHard
m(H2​)n(H2​)n(H2​O)m(H2​O)÷ M(H2​)× 2/2× M(H2​O)

In the reaction 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O, 20 g of H2 reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 168 g of H2O is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(H2) = 2.016 g/molM(H2O) = 18.02 g/molactual: 168 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
1.5 mol/LV1​ = ?0.4 mol/L100 mL

You need 100 mL of 0.4 mol/L solution and have a 1.5 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 1.5 mol/Lc2 = 0.4 mol/LV2 = 100 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.2 mol/L100 mL0.1 mol/L200 mLc = ?300 mL

100 mL of a 0.2 mol/L solution is mixed with 200 mL of a 0.1 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.2 mol/LV1 = 100 mLc2 = 0.1 mol/LV2 = 200 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
380 g of HeV = 5 LT = 30 °CP = ?

A tank of 5 L contains 380 g of He at 30 °C. Treat it as an ideal gas and find the pressure P.

m = 380 gM = 4.003 g/molV = 5 LT = 30 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
P = kPa
6.Ideal gas lawHard
O₂, M = 32 g/molP = 650 kPaT = 190 °Cρ = ?

Find the density ρ of O₂ at 650 kPa and 190 °C, treating it as an ideal gas.

M = 32 g/molP = 650 kPaT = 190 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
ρ = kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Aluminiumm = 250 gT = 100 °Cc = 0.897 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 300 gT = 19 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 250 g block of aluminium (c = 0.897 J/(g·°C)) at 100 °C is dropped into 300 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 19 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 250 gcmetal = 0.897 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 100 °Cmwater = 300 gTwater = 19 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H25 g C2​H6​2C2​H6​ + 7O₂reactants4CO₂ + 6H₂O(l)productsq = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find the heat q released when 25 g of C2H6 (M = 30.07 g/mol) burns completely: 2C2H6 + 7O₂ → 4CO₂ + 6H₂O(l). Give q as a positive number.

ΔH°f(C2H6) = −84.7 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​HII110C−x−x+2xE1 − x1 − x2x

1 mol/L of H₂ and 1 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 4. Find the equilibrium concentration [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 1 mol/LKc = 4
[HI] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I1.500C−x+x+xE1.5 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.02 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 1.5 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].

[PCl₅]₀ = 1.5 mol/LKc = 0.02
[PCl5] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.1 mol/L solution of lactic acid (Ka = 0.00014).

c = 0.1 mol/LKa = 0.00014
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A 1.00 L buffer contains 0.3 mol acetic acid and 0.25 mol of its conjugate base (Ka = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵). 0.05 mol of NaOH is added. Find the new pH pH.

n(HA) = 0.3 moln(A⁻) = 0.25 moln(OH⁻) = 0.05 molKa = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)X (%)t = ?50%

A first-order reaction in a batch reactor has k = 0.05 min⁻¹. How long does it take to reach 50% conversion? Find t.

k = 0.05 min⁻¹X = 50 %
t = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk40 °Ck1​?3·k1​

A reaction has an activation energy of 75 kJ/mol. At 40 °C it is too slow. To what temperature T2 (in °C) must it be heated to make it 3 times faster?

Ea = 75 kJ/molT1 = 40 °Ck2/k1 = 3R = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
T2 = °C

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 16.58 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(Mg) = 10/24.31 = 0.4114 mol
n(O2) = 16/32 = 0.5 mol

Limiting reactant

0.4114/2 = 0.2057, 0.5/1 = 0.5 → Mg

Mass of product

n(MgO) = 0.2057·2 = 0.4114 mol
m = 0.4114·40.3 = 16.58 g

Answer

m = 16.58 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 94 %

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(H2) = 20/2.016 = 9.921 mol
m = 9.921·2/2·18.02 = 178.8 g

Percent yield

Y = 168/178.8·100 = 94%

Answer

Y = 94%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 26.67 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 = 0.4·100/1.5 = 26.67 mL

Answer

V1 = 26.67 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 0.1333 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 = 0.2·100 + 0.1·200 = 40 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 40/300 = 0.1333 mol/L

Answer

c = 0.1333 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: P = 47852 kPa

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

Moles

n = m/M = 380/4.003 = 94.93 mol
T = 30 + 273.15 = 303.1 K

Pressure

P = nRT/V = 94.93·8.314·303.1/0.005 = 47852 kPa

Answer

P = 47852 kPa
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: ρ = 5.402 kg/m³

Ideal gas density: ρ = PM/(RT).

Rearrange the gas law

PV = (m/M)RT → ρ = m/V = PM/(RT)
T = 190 + 273.15 = 463.1 K

Density

ρ = 650·32/(8.314·463.1) = 5.402 kg/m³

Answer

ρ = 5.402 kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 31.29 °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

250·0.897·(100 − Tf) = 300·4.18·(Tf − 19)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (224.3·100 + 1254·19)/(224.3 + 1254) = 31.29 °C

Answer

Tf = 31.29 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: q = 1297 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

Heat for the given mass

n = 25/30.07 = 0.8314 mol
q = n·|ΔH°/2| = 0.8314·1560 = 1297 kJ

Answer

q = 1297 kJ
9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 1 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

4 = (2x)²/(1 − x)²

Take the square root

2 = 2x/(1 − x) → x = 1·2/(2 + 2) = 0.5 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[HI] = 2x = 1 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 1 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 1.337 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

0.02 = x²/(1.5 − x) → x² + 0.02·x − 0.03 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.02 + √(0.02² + 4·0.03))/2 = 0.1635 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 1.5 − 0.1635 = 1.337 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 1.337 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 2.435

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/(0.1 − x) → x = 0.003672 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.003672) = 2.435

Answer

pH = 2.435
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 4.824

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) = 0.3 − 0.05 = 0.25 mol
n(A⁻) = 0.25 + 0.05 = 0.3 mol

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 4.745 + log(0.3/0.25) = 4.824

Answer

pH = 4.824
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t = 13.86 min

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).

Conversion and concentration

C/C0 = 1 − X = 0.5

Solve for the time

t = −ln(1 − X)/k = −ln(0.5)/0.05 = 13.86 min

Answer

t = 13.86 min
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: T2 = 52.42 °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(3)/75000 = 3.193 × 10⁻³ − 1.218 × 10⁻⁴ = 3.072 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹
T2 = 325.6 K = 52.42 °C

Answer

T2 = 52.42 °C

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