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(H2​O)m(H2​O)÷ M(X)× 4/ν× M(H2​O)

16 g of C3H8 and 64 g of O2 react according to C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O. What mass m of H2O can form?

M(C3H8) = 44.1M(O2) = 32M(H2O) = 18.02 g/mol
m = g
2.StoichiometryHard
m(Al)n(Al)n(AlCl3​)m(AlCl3​)÷ M(Al)× 2/2× M(AlCl3​)

In the reaction 2Al + 3Cl2 → 2AlCl3, 12 g of Al reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 48.63 g of AlCl3 is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(Al) = 26.98 g/molM(AlCl3) = 133.33 g/molactual: 48.63 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
4 mol/LV1​ = ?0.05 mol/L1000 mL

You need 1000 mL of 0.05 mol/L solution and have a 4 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 4 mol/Lc2 = 0.05 mol/LV2 = 1000 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.25 mol/L250 mL0.75 mol/L500 mLc = ?750 mL

250 mL of a 0.25 mol/L solution is mixed with 500 mL of a 0.75 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.25 mol/LV1 = 250 mLc2 = 0.75 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
220 g of N₂P = 300 kPaT = 60 °CV = ?

What volume V does 220 g of N₂ occupy at 300 kPa and 60 °C? Treat it as an ideal gas.

m = 220 gM = 28.01 g/molP = 300 kPaT = 60 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
V = L
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of CH₄ goes from 250 kPa, 2 L, 25 °C to 400 kPa and 250 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 250 kPaV1 = 2 LT1 = 25 °CP2 = 400 kPaT2 = 250 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Ironm = 100 gT = 170 °Cc = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 150 gT = 22 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 100 g block of iron (c = 0.449 J/(g·°C)) at 170 °C is dropped into 150 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 22 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 100 gcmetal = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 170 °Cmwater = 150 gTwater = 22 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H250 g C4​H10​2C4​H10​ + 13O₂reactants8CO₂ + 10H₂O(l)productsq = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find the heat q released when 250 g of C4H10 (M = 58.12 g/mol) burns completely: 2C4H10 + 13O₂ → 8CO₂ + 10H₂O(l). Give q as a positive number.

ΔH°f(C4H10) = −125.6 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 [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.8 mol/LKc = 4
[HI] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.500C−x+x+xE0.5 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.1 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.5 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.5 mol/LKc = 0.1
[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 hypochlorous acid and 0.2 mol of its conjugate base (Ka = 3 × 10⁻⁸). 0.025 mol of NaOH is added. Find the new pH pH.

n(HA) = 0.3 moln(A⁻) = 0.2 moln(OH⁻) = 0.025 molKa = 3 × 10⁻⁸
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)C (mol/L)20 min0.72

In a first-order reaction the concentration of A falls from 1.2 mol/L to 0.72 mol/L in 20 min. Find the rate constant k.

CA0 = 1.2 mol/LCA = 0.72 mol/Lt = 20 min
k = min⁻¹
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk40 °C0.00270 °C0.0294

The rate constant of a reaction is 0.002 min⁻¹ at 40 °C and 0.0294 min⁻¹ at 70 °C. Find the activation energy Ea.

k1 = 0.002 min⁻¹T1 = 40 °Ck2 = 0.0294 min⁻¹T2 = 70 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
Ea = kJ/mol

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 26.15 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(C3H8) = 16/44.1 = 0.3628 mol
n(O2) = 64/32 = 2 mol

Limiting reactant

0.3628/1 = 0.3628, 2/5 = 0.4 → C3H8

Mass of product

n(H2O) = 0.3628·4 = 1.451 mol
m = 1.451·18.02 = 26.15 g

Answer

m = 26.15 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 82 %

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(Al) = 12/26.98 = 0.4448 mol
m = 0.4448·2/2·133.33 = 59.3 g

Percent yield

Y = 48.63/59.3·100 = 82%

Answer

Y = 82%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 12.5 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 = 0.05·1000/4 = 12.5 mL

Answer

V1 = 12.5 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 0.5833 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 = 0.25·250 + 0.75·500 = 437.5 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 437.5/750 = 0.5833 mol/L

Answer

c = 0.5833 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: V = 72.52 L

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

Moles

n = 220/28.01 = 7.854 mol
T = 60 + 273.15 = 333.1 K

Volume

V = nRT/P = 7.854·8.314·333.1/300 = 72.52 L

Answer

V = 72.52 L
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 2.193 L

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

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 298.1 K, T2 = 523.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 2·(250/400)·(523.1/298.1) = 2.193 L

Answer

V2 = 2.193 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 31.89 °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

100·0.449·(170 − Tf) = 150·4.18·(Tf − 22)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (44.9·170 + 627·22)/(44.9 + 627) = 31.89 °C

Answer

Tf = 31.89 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: q = 12377 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° = [8·(−393.5) + 10·(−285.8)] − [2·(−125.6) + 13·0] = −5755 kJ

Heat for the given mass

n = 250/58.12 = 4.301 mol
q = n·|ΔH°/2| = 4.301·2877 = 12377 kJ

Answer

q = 12377 kJ
9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 0.8 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

[HI] = 2x = 0.8 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 0.8 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 0.3209 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

0.1 = x²/(0.5 − x) → x² + 0.1·x − 0.05 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.1 + √(0.1² + 4·0.05))/2 = 0.1791 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 0.5 − 0.1791 = 0.3209 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 0.3209 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 = 7.436

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 − 0.025 = 0.275 mol
n(A⁻) = 0.2 + 0.025 = 0.225 mol

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 7.523 + log(0.225/0.275) = 7.436

Answer

pH = 7.436
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: k = 0.02554 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(1.2/0.72)/20 = 0.5108/20 = 0.02554 min⁻¹

Answer

k = 0.02554 min⁻¹
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: Ea = 80.04 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 = 343.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for Ea

Ea = −R·ln(k2/k1)/(1/T2 − 1/T1) = −8.314·2.688/(-2.792e-4) = 80044 J/mol
Ea = 80.04 kJ/mol

Answer

Ea = 80.04 kJ/mol

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