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​)

4 g of N2 and 80 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(Fe2​O3​)n(Fe2​O3​)n(Fe)m(Fe)÷ M(Fe2​O3​)× 2/1× M(Fe)

In the reaction Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2, 16 g of Fe2O3 reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 9.18 g of Fe is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(Fe2O3) = 159.69 g/molM(Fe) = 55.85 g/molactual: 9.18 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
0.5 mol/LV1​ = ?0.25 mol/L500 mL

You need 500 mL of 0.25 mol/L solution and have a 0.5 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 0.5 mol/Lc2 = 0.25 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
1 mol/L150 mL1.2 mol/L500 mLc = ?650 mL

150 mL of a 1 mol/L solution is mixed with 500 mL of a 1.2 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 1 mol/LV1 = 150 mLc2 = 1.2 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
390 g of ArP = 700 kPaT = 35 °CV = ?

What volume V does 390 g of Ar occupy at 700 kPa and 35 °C? Treat it as an ideal gas.

m = 390 gM = 39.95 g/molP = 700 kPaT = 35 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
V = L
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of CH₄ goes from 150 kPa, 20 L, 40 °C to 600 kPa and 150 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 150 kPaV1 = 20 LT1 = 40 °CP2 = 600 kPaT2 = 150 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Ironm = 150 gT = 150 °Cc = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 150 gT = 25 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 150 g block of iron (c = 0.449 J/(g·°C)) at 150 °C is dropped into 150 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 25 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 150 gcmetal = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 150 °Cmwater = 150 gTwater = 25 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H10 g CH3​OH2CH3​OH + 3O₂reactants2CO₂ + 4H₂O(l)productsq = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find the heat q released when 10 g of CH3OH (M = 32.04 g/mol) burns completely: 2CH3OH + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 4H₂O(l). Give q as a positive number.

ΔH°f(CH3OH) = −238.7 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​HII0.80.80C−x−x+2xE0.8 − x0.8 − x2x

0.8 mol/L of H₂ and 0.8 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 4. Find the equilibrium concentration [H2].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.8 mol/LKc = 4
[H2] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.100C−x+x+xE0.1 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.04 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.1 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.1 mol/LKc = 0.04
[PCl5] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.1 mol/L solution of hypochlorous acid (Ka = 3 × 10⁻⁸).

c = 0.1 mol/LKa = 3 × 10⁻⁸
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A buffer contains 0.25 mol/L lactic acid and 0.8 mol/L of its sodium salt. Ka = 0.00014. Find the pH pH of the buffer.

[HA] = 0.25[A⁻] = 0.8Ka = 0.00014
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)X (%)t = ?60%

A zero-order reaction has k = 0.02 mol/(L·min) and starts at 1.5 mol/L. How long does it take to reach 60% conversion? Find t.

k = 0.02 mol/(L·min)CA0 = 1.5 mol/LX = 60 %
t = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
1/Tln kT = 100 °Cln 0.001ln A = ?Ea​ = 80 kJ/mol

A first-order reaction has a rate constant of 0.001 s⁻¹ at 100 °C and an activation energy of 80 kJ/mol. Find the pre-exponential factor A in the Arrhenius equation.

k = 0.001 s⁻¹T = 100 °CEa = 80 kJ/molR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
A = s⁻¹

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 4.862 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) = 4/28.02 = 0.1428 mol
n(H2) = 80/2.016 = 39.68 mol

Limiting reactant

0.1428/1 = 0.1428, 39.68/3 = 13.23 → N2

Mass of product

n(NH3) = 0.1428·2 = 0.2855 mol
m = 0.2855·17.03 = 4.862 g

Answer

m = 4.862 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 82.03 %

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(Fe2O3) = 16/159.69 = 0.1002 mol
m = 0.1002·2/1·55.85 = 11.19 g

Percent yield

Y = 9.18/11.19·100 = 82.03%

Answer

Y = 82.03%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 250 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 = 0.25·500/0.5 = 250 mL

Answer

V1 = 250 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 1.154 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 = 1·150 + 1.2·500 = 750 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 750/650 = 1.154 mol/L

Answer

c = 1.154 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: V = 35.73 L

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

Moles

n = 390/39.95 = 9.762 mol
T = 35 + 273.15 = 308.1 K

Volume

V = nRT/P = 9.762·8.314·308.1/700 = 35.73 L

Answer

V = 35.73 L
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 6.756 L

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

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 313.1 K, T2 = 423.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 20·(150/600)·(423.1/313.1) = 6.756 L

Answer

V2 = 6.756 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 37.12 °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

150·0.449·(150 − Tf) = 150·4.18·(Tf − 25)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (67.35·150 + 627·25)/(67.35 + 627) = 37.12 °C

Answer

Tf = 37.12 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: q = 226.7 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° = [2·(−393.5) + 4·(−285.8)] − [2·(−238.7) + 3·0] = −1453 kJ

Heat for the given mass

n = 10/32.04 = 0.3121 mol
q = n·|ΔH°/2| = 0.3121·726.4 = 226.7 kJ

Answer

q = 226.7 kJ
9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [H2] = 0.4 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/(0.8 − x)²

Take the square root

2 = 2x/(0.8 − x) → x = 0.8·2/(2 + 2) = 0.4 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[H₂] = 0.8 − x = 0.4 mol/L

Answer

[H2] = 0.4 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 0.05367 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

0.04 = x²/(0.1 − x) → x² + 0.04·x − 0.004 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.04 + √(0.04² + 4·0.004))/2 = 0.04633 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 0.1 − 0.04633 = 0.05367 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 0.05367 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 4.262

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 = 5.476 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L

pH

pH = −log(5.476 × 10⁻⁵) = 4.262

Answer

pH = 4.262
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 4.359

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 = 3.854

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.854 + log(0.8/0.25) = 4.359

Answer

pH = 4.359
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t = 45 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 = 1.5·0.6 = 0.9 mol/L

Time

t = CA0·X/k = 0.9/0.02 = 45 min

Answer

t = 45 min
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: A = 1.581 × 10⁸ 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 = 100 + 273.15 = 373.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for A

Ea/(RT) = 80000/(8.314·373.1) = 25.79
A = k·e25.79 = 0.001·1.581 × 10¹¹ = 1.581 × 10⁸ s⁻¹

Answer

A = 1.581 × 10⁸ s⁻¹

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