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)

8 g of Mg and 8 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(Na)n(Na)n(NaCl)m(NaCl)÷ M(Na)× 2/2× M(NaCl)

In the reaction 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl, 16 g of Na reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 22.37 g of NaCl is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(Na) = 22.99 g/molM(NaCl) = 58.44 g/molactual: 22.37 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
2 mol/LV1​0.4 mol/L1000 mL

You need 1000 mL of 0.4 mol/L solution and have a 2 mol/L stock solution. How much water Vwater do you add to the stock solution?

c1 = 2 mol/Lc2 = 0.4 mol/LV2 = 1000 mL
Vwater = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
2 mol/L100 mL0.1 mol/L250 mLc = ?350 mL

100 mL of a 2 mol/L solution is mixed with 250 mL of a 0.1 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 2 mol/LV1 = 100 mLc2 = 0.1 mol/LV2 = 250 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
330 g of HeV = 5 LT = 0 °CP = ?

A tank of 5 L contains 330 g of He at 0 °C. Treat it as an ideal gas and find the pressure P.

m = 330 gM = 4.003 g/molV = 5 LT = 0 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
P = kPa
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of CO₂ goes from 150 kPa, 20 L, 15 °C to 350 kPa and 220 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 150 kPaV1 = 20 LT1 = 15 °CP2 = 350 kPaT2 = 220 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Ironm = 50 gT = 90 °Cc = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 250 gT = 15 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 50 g block of iron (c = 0.449 J/(g·°C)) at 90 °C is dropped into 250 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 15 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 50 gcmetal = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 90 °Cmwater = 250 gTwater = 15 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
HC6​H12​O6​ + 6O₂reactants6CO₂ + 6H₂O(l)productsΔH° = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find ΔH° for the reaction C6H12O6 + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O(l).

ΔH°f(C6H12O6) = −1274 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​HII0.250.250C−x−x+2xE0.25 − x0.25 − x2x

0.25 mol/L of H₂ and 0.25 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 9. Find the equilibrium concentration [H2].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.25 mol/LKc = 9
[H2] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.400C−x+x+xE0.4 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.01 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.4 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.4 mol/LKc = 0.01
[PCl5] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.01 mol/L solution of lactic acid (Ka = 0.00014).

c = 0.01 mol/LKa = 0.00014
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A 1.00 L buffer contains 0.1 mol hydrofluoric acid and 0.1 mol of its conjugate base (Ka = 0.00068). 0.05 mol of NaOH is added. Find the new pH pH.

n(HA) = 0.1 moln(A⁻) = 0.1 moln(OH⁻) = 0.05 molKa = 0.00068
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)C (mol/L)30 min0.8

In a first-order reaction the concentration of A falls from 2 mol/L to 0.8 mol/L in 30 min. Find the rate constant k.

CA0 = 2 mol/LCA = 0.8 mol/Lt = 30 min
k = min⁻¹
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk40 °C0.00565 °C?

A reaction has a rate constant of 0.005 min⁻¹ at 40 °C and an activation energy of 120 kJ/mol. Find the rate constant k2 at 65 °C.

k1 = 0.005 min⁻¹T1 = 40 °CT2 = 65 °CEa = 120 kJ/molR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
k2 = min⁻¹

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 13.26 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) = 8/24.31 = 0.3291 mol
n(O2) = 8/32 = 0.25 mol

Limiting reactant

0.3291/2 = 0.1645, 0.25/1 = 0.25 → Mg

Mass of product

n(MgO) = 0.1645·2 = 0.3291 mol
m = 0.3291·40.3 = 13.26 g

Answer

m = 13.26 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 55 %

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) = 16/22.99 = 0.696 mol
m = 0.696·2/2·58.44 = 40.67 g

Percent yield

Y = 22.37/40.67·100 = 55%

Answer

Y = 55%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: Vwater = 800 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 = 0.4·1000/2 = 200 mL

Water to add

Vwater = 1000 − 200 = 800 mL

Answer

Vwater = 800 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 0.6429 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 = 2·100 + 0.1·250 = 225 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 225/350 = 0.6429 mol/L

Answer

c = 0.6429 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: P = 37443 kPa

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

Moles

n = m/M = 330/4.003 = 82.44 mol
T = 0 + 273.15 = 273.1 K

Pressure

P = nRT/V = 82.44·8.314·273.1/0.005 = 37443 kPa

Answer

P = 37443 kPa
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 14.67 L

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

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 288.1 K, T2 = 493.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 20·(150/350)·(493.1/288.1) = 14.67 L

Answer

V2 = 14.67 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 16.58 °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

50·0.449·(90 − Tf) = 250·4.18·(Tf − 15)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (22.45·90 + 1045·15)/(22.45 + 1045) = 16.58 °C

Answer

Tf = 16.58 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: ΔH° = −2802 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° = [6·(−393.5) + 6·(−285.8)] − [1·(−1274) + 6·0] = −2802 kJ

Answer

ΔH° = −2802 kJ

Negative: the reaction gives off heat (exothermic).

9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [H2] = 0.1 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

9 = (2x)²/(0.25 − x)²

Take the square root

3 = 2x/(0.25 − x) → x = 0.25·3/(2 + 3) = 0.15 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[H₂] = 0.25 − x = 0.1 mol/L

Answer

[H2] = 0.1 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 0.3416 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

0.01 = x²/(0.4 − x) → x² + 0.01·x − 0.004 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.01 + √(0.01² + 4·0.004))/2 = 0.05844 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 0.4 − 0.05844 = 0.3416 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 0.3416 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 2.953

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 = 0.001115 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.001115) = 2.953

Answer

pH = 2.953
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 3.645

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) = 0.1 − 0.05 = 0.05 mol
n(A⁻) = 0.1 + 0.05 = 0.15 mol

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.167 + log(0.15/0.05) = 3.645

Answer

pH = 3.645
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: k = 0.03054 min⁻¹

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).

Integrated first-order law

k = ln(CA0/CA)/t = ln(2/0.8)/30 = 0.9163/30 = 0.03054 min⁻¹

Answer

k = 0.03054 min⁻¹
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: k2 = 0.151 min⁻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 temperatures

T1 = 313.1 K, T2 = 338.1 K

Arrhenius ratio

ln(k2/k1) = −(120000/8.314)·(1/338.1 − 1/313.1) = 3.408
k2 = 0.005·e3.408 = 0.151 min⁻¹

Answer

k2 = 0.151 min⁻¹

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