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​)

4 g of Al and 80 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(C3​H8​)n(C3​H8​)n(H2​O)m(H2​O)÷ M(C3​H8​)× 4/1× M(H2​O)

In the reaction C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O, 12 g of C3H8 reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 17.85 g of H2O is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(C3H8) = 44.1 g/molM(H2O) = 18.02 g/molactual: 17.85 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
2 mol/LV1​ = ?0.3 mol/L1000 mL

You need 1000 mL of 0.3 mol/L solution and have a 2 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 2 mol/Lc2 = 0.3 mol/LV2 = 1000 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.8 mol/L250 mL0.3 mol/L400 mLc = ?650 mL

250 mL of a 0.8 mol/L solution is mixed with 400 mL of a 0.3 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.8 mol/LV1 = 250 mLc2 = 0.3 mol/LV2 = 400 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
350 g of HeP = 450 kPaT = 40 °CV = ?

What volume V does 350 g of He occupy at 450 kPa and 40 °C? Treat it as an ideal gas.

m = 350 gM = 4.003 g/molP = 450 kPaT = 40 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
V = L
6.Ideal gas lawHard
O₂, M = 32 g/molP = 100 kPaT = 80 °Cρ = ?

Find the density ρ of O₂ at 100 kPa and 80 °C, treating it as an ideal gas.

M = 32 g/molP = 100 kPaT = 80 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
ρ = kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Aluminiumm = 100 gT = 170 °Cc = 0.897 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 200 gT = 24 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 100 g block of aluminium (c = 0.897 J/(g·°C)) at 170 °C is dropped into 200 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 24 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 100 gcmetal = 0.897 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 170 °Cmwater = 200 gTwater = 24 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H2CH3​OH + 3O₂reactants2CO₂ + 4H₂O(l)productsΔH° = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find ΔH° for the reaction 2CH3OH + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 4H₂O(l).

ΔH°f(CH3OH) = −238.7 kJ/molΔH°f(CO₂) = −393.5 kJ/molΔH°f(H₂O, l) = −285.8 kJ/molΔH°f(O₂) = 0
ΔH° = 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 = 54. Find the equilibrium concentration [H2].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 1 mol/LKc = 54
[H2] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.200C−x+x+xE0.2 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.04 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.2 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.2 mol/LKc = 0.04
[PCl5] = 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 1.00 L buffer contains 0.3 mol formic acid and 0.15 mol of its conjugate base (Ka = 0.00018). 0.01 mol of NaOH is added. Find the new pH pH.

n(HA) = 0.3 moln(A⁻) = 0.15 moln(OH⁻) = 0.01 molKa = 0.00018
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)C (mol/L)2 minC = ?

A reaction with rate law −rA = k·CA² has k = 0.2 L/(mol·min) and starts at 0.5 mol/L. Find the concentration CA after 2 min.

k = 0.2 L/(mol·min)CA0 = 0.5 mol/Lt = 2 min
CA = mol/L
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk40 °C0.160 °C0.797

The rate constant of a reaction is 0.1 min⁻¹ at 40 °C and 0.797 min⁻¹ at 60 °C. Find the activation energy Ea.

k1 = 0.1 min⁻¹T1 = 40 °Ck2 = 0.797 min⁻¹T2 = 60 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
Ea = kJ/mol

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 19.77 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) = 4/26.98 = 0.1483 mol
n(Cl2) = 80/70.9 = 1.128 mol

Limiting reactant

0.1483/2 = 0.07413, 1.128/3 = 0.3761 → Al

Mass of product

n(AlCl3) = 0.07413·2 = 0.1483 mol
m = 0.1483·133.33 = 19.77 g

Answer

m = 19.77 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 91.01 %

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(C3H8) = 12/44.1 = 0.2721 mol
m = 0.2721·4/1·18.02 = 19.61 g

Percent yield

Y = 17.85/19.61·100 = 91.01%

Answer

Y = 91.01%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 150 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 = 0.3·1000/2 = 150 mL

Answer

V1 = 150 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 0.4923 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 = 0.8·250 + 0.3·400 = 320 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 320/650 = 0.4923 mol/L

Answer

c = 0.4923 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: V = 505.9 L

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

Moles

n = 350/4.003 = 87.43 mol
T = 40 + 273.15 = 313.1 K

Volume

V = nRT/P = 87.43·8.314·313.1/450 = 505.9 L

Answer

V = 505.9 L
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: ρ = 1.09 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 = 100·32/(8.314·353.1) = 1.09 kg/m³

Answer

ρ = 1.09 kg/m³
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 38.15 °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

100·0.897·(170 − Tf) = 200·4.18·(Tf − 24)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (89.7·170 + 836·24)/(89.7 + 836) = 38.15 °C

Answer

Tf = 38.15 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: ΔH° = −1453 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

Answer

ΔH° = −1453 kJ

Negative: the reaction gives off heat (exothermic).

9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [H2] = 0.2139 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

54 = (2x)²/(1 − x)²

Take the square root

7.348 = 2x/(1 − x) → x = 1·7.348/(2 + 7.348) = 0.7861 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[H₂] = 1 − x = 0.2139 mol/L

Answer

[H2] = 0.2139 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 0.1283 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/(0.2 − x) → x² + 0.04·x − 0.008 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.04 + √(0.04² + 4·0.008))/2 = 0.07165 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 0.2 − 0.07165 = 0.1283 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 0.1283 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 = 3.486

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 − 0.01 = 0.29 mol
n(A⁻) = 0.15 + 0.01 = 0.16 mol

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.745 + log(0.16/0.29) = 3.486

Answer

pH = 3.486
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: CA = 0.4167 mol/L

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).

Integrated second-order law

1/CA = 1/CA0 + kt = 2 + 0.2·2 = 2.4 L/mol
CA = 1/2.4 = 0.4167 mol/L

Answer

CA = 0.4167 mol/L
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: Ea = 90.02 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 = 333.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for Ea

Ea = −R·ln(k2/k1)/(1/T2 − 1/T1) = −8.314·2.076/(-1.917e-4) = 90019 J/mol
Ea = 90.02 kJ/mol

Answer

Ea = 90.02 kJ/mol

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