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(NaCl)m(NaCl)÷ M(X)× 2/ν× M(NaCl)

6 g of Na and 20 g of Cl2 react according to 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl. What mass m of NaCl can form?

M(Na) = 22.99M(Cl2) = 70.9M(NaCl) = 58.44 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, 20 g of Fe2O3 reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 11.47 g of Fe is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(Fe2O3) = 159.69 g/molM(Fe) = 55.85 g/molactual: 11.47 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
0.5 mol/LV1​0.1 mol/L500 mL

You need 500 mL of 0.1 mol/L solution and have a 0.5 mol/L stock solution. How much water Vwater do you add to the stock solution?

c1 = 0.5 mol/Lc2 = 0.1 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
Vwater = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
1 mol/L250 mL2.5 mol/L500 mLc = ?750 mL

250 mL of a 1 mol/L solution is mixed with 500 mL of a 2.5 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 1 mol/LV1 = 250 mLc2 = 2.5 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
460 g of CO₂P = 150 kPaT = 80 °CV = ?

What volume V does 460 g of CO₂ occupy at 150 kPa and 80 °C? Treat it as an ideal gas.

m = 460 gM = 44.01 g/molP = 150 kPaT = 80 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
V = L
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of CO₂ goes from 200 kPa, 20 L, 30 °C to 800 kPa and 190 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 200 kPaV1 = 20 LT1 = 30 °CP2 = 800 kPaT2 = 190 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Leadm = 75 gT = 110 °Cc = 0.129 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 200 gT = 15 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 75 g block of lead (c = 0.129 J/(g·°C)) at 110 °C is dropped into 200 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 15 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 75 gcmetal = 0.129 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 110 °Cmwater = 200 gTwater = 15 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H100 g C2​H5​OHC2​H5​OH + 3O₂reactants2CO₂ + 3H₂O(l)productsq = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find the heat q released when 100 g of C2H5OH (M = 46.07 g/mol) burns completely: C2H5OH + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O(l). Give q as a positive number.

ΔH°f(C2H5OH) = −277.7 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​HII0.20.20C−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 = 36. Find the equilibrium concentration [H2].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.2 mol/LKc = 36
[H2] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.400C−x+x+xE0.4 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.2 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.4 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [Cl2].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.4 mol/LKc = 0.2
[Cl2] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.5 mol/L solution of acetic acid (Ka = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵).

c = 0.5 mol/LKa = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A buffer contains 0.2 mol/L formic acid and 0.8 mol/L of its sodium salt. Ka = 0.00018. Find the pH pH of the buffer.

[HA] = 0.2[A⁻] = 0.8Ka = 0.00018
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)C (mol/L)t½​ = ?C0​/2

A second-order reaction (−rA = k·CA²) has k = 0.4 L/(mol·min) and an initial concentration of 1 mol/L. Find its first half-life t½.

k = 0.4 L/(mol·min)CA0 = 1 mol/L
t½ = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
1/Tln kT = 40 °Cln 0.01ln A = ?Ea​ = 80 kJ/mol

A first-order reaction has a rate constant of 0.01 s⁻¹ at 40 °C and an activation energy of 80 kJ/mol. Find the pre-exponential factor A in the Arrhenius equation.

k = 0.01 s⁻¹T = 40 °CEa = 80 kJ/molR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
A = s⁻¹

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 15.25 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(Na) = 6/22.99 = 0.261 mol
n(Cl2) = 20/70.9 = 0.2821 mol

Limiting reactant

0.261/2 = 0.1305, 0.2821/1 = 0.2821 → Na

Mass of product

n(NaCl) = 0.1305·2 = 0.261 mol
m = 0.261·58.44 = 15.25 g

Answer

m = 15.25 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 81.99 %

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) = 20/159.69 = 0.1252 mol
m = 0.1252·2/1·55.85 = 13.99 g

Percent yield

Y = 11.47/13.99·100 = 81.99%

Answer

Y = 81.99%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: Vwater = 400 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 = 0.1·500/0.5 = 100 mL

Water to add

Vwater = 500 − 100 = 400 mL

Answer

Vwater = 400 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 2 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 = 1·250 + 2.5·500 = 1500 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 1500/750 = 2 mol/L

Answer

c = 2 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: V = 204.6 L

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

Moles

n = 460/44.01 = 10.45 mol
T = 80 + 273.15 = 353.1 K

Volume

V = nRT/P = 10.45·8.314·353.1/150 = 204.6 L

Answer

V = 204.6 L
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 7.639 L

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

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 303.1 K, T2 = 463.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 20·(200/800)·(463.1/303.1) = 7.639 L

Answer

V2 = 7.639 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 16.09 °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

75·0.129·(110 − Tf) = 200·4.18·(Tf − 15)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (9.675·110 + 836·15)/(9.675 + 836) = 16.09 °C

Answer

Tf = 16.09 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: q = 2967 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) + 3·(−285.8)] − [1·(−277.7) + 3·0] = −1367 kJ

Heat for the given mass

n = 100/46.07 = 2.171 mol
q = n·|ΔH°/1| = 2.171·1367 = 2967 kJ

Answer

q = 2967 kJ
9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [H2] = 0.05 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

36 = (2x)²/(0.2 − x)²

Take the square root

6 = 2x/(0.2 − x) → x = 0.2·6/(2 + 6) = 0.15 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[H₂] = 0.2 − x = 0.05 mol/L

Answer

[H2] = 0.05 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [Cl2] = 0.2 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

0.2 = x²/(0.4 − x) → x² + 0.2·x − 0.08 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.2 + √(0.2² + 4·0.08))/2 = 0.2 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[Cl₂] = x = 0.2 mol/L

Answer

[Cl2] = 0.2 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 2.524

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/(0.5 − x) → x = 0.002991 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.002991) = 2.524

Answer

pH = 2.524
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 4.347

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 = 3.745

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.745 + log(0.8/0.2) = 4.347

Answer

pH = 4.347
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t½ = 2.5 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).

Second-order half-life

t½ = 1/(k·CA0) = 1/(0.4·1) = 2.5 min

Answer

t½ = 2.5 min

Each later half-life is twice as long, because C₀ has halved.

14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: A = 2.212 × 10¹¹ 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 = 40 + 273.15 = 313.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for A

Ea/(RT) = 80000/(8.314·313.1) = 30.73
A = k·e30.73 = 0.01·2.212 × 10¹³ = 2.212 × 10¹¹ s⁻¹

Answer

A = 2.212 × 10¹¹ s⁻¹

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