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)× 2/ν× M(H2​O)

10 g of H2 and 32 g of O2 react according to 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O. What mass m of H2O can form?

M(H2) = 2.016M(O2) = 32M(H2O) = 18.02 g/mol
m = g
2.StoichiometryHard
m(C3​H8​)n(C3​H8​)n(CO2​)m(CO2​)÷ M(C3​H8​)× 3/1× M(CO2​)

In the reaction C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O, 8 g of C3H8 reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 19.64 g of CO2 is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(C3H8) = 44.1 g/molM(CO2) = 44.01 g/molactual: 19.64 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
4 mol/LV1​ = ?0.25 mol/L250 mL

You need 250 mL of 0.25 mol/L solution and have a 4 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 4 mol/Lc2 = 0.25 mol/LV2 = 250 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.25 mol/L250 mL3 mol/L500 mLc = ?750 mL

250 mL of a 0.25 mol/L solution is mixed with 500 mL of a 3 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.25 mol/LV1 = 250 mLc2 = 3 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
200 g of CH₄V = 20 LT = 85 °CP = ?

A tank of 20 L contains 200 g of CH₄ at 85 °C. Treat it as an ideal gas and find the pressure P.

m = 200 gM = 16.04 g/molV = 20 LT = 85 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
P = kPa
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of He goes from 300 kPa, 5 L, 25 °C to 300 kPa and 140 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 300 kPaV1 = 5 LT1 = 25 °CP2 = 300 kPaT2 = 140 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Ironm = 75 gT = 200 °Cc = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 400 gT = 20 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 75 g block of iron (c = 0.449 J/(g·°C)) at 200 °C is dropped into 400 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 20 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 75 gcmetal = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 200 °Cmwater = 400 gTwater = 20 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
H2C2​H6​ + 7O₂reactants4CO₂ + 6H₂O(l)productsΔH° = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find ΔH° for the reaction 2C2H6 + 7O₂ → 4CO₂ + 6H₂O(l).

ΔH°f(C2H6) = −84.7 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​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 = 4. Find the equilibrium concentration [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.2 mol/LKc = 4
[HI] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I100C−x+x+xE1 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.04 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 1 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [Cl2].

[PCl₅]₀ = 1 mol/LKc = 0.04
[Cl2] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.05 mol/L solution of formic acid (Ka = 0.00018).

c = 0.05 mol/LKa = 0.00018
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A 1.00 L buffer contains 0.1 mol hydrofluoric acid and 0.25 mol of its conjugate base (Ka = 0.00068). 0.01 mol of NaOH is added. Find the new pH pH.

n(HA) = 0.1 moln(A⁻) = 0.25 moln(OH⁻) = 0.01 molKa = 0.00068
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)X (%)t = ?50%

A first-order reaction in a batch reactor has k = 0.3 min⁻¹. How long does it take to reach 50% conversion? Find t.

k = 0.3 min⁻¹X = 50 %
t = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk25 °C0.0145 °C?

A reaction has a rate constant of 0.01 min⁻¹ at 25 °C and an activation energy of 55 kJ/mol. Find the rate constant k2 at 45 °C.

k1 = 0.01 min⁻¹T1 = 25 °CT2 = 45 °CEa = 55 kJ/molR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
k2 = min⁻¹

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 36.04 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(H2) = 10/2.016 = 4.96 mol
n(O2) = 32/32 = 1 mol

Limiting reactant

4.96/2 = 2.48, 1/1 = 1 → O2

Mass of product

n(H2O) = 1·2 = 2 mol
m = 2·18.02 = 36.04 g

Answer

m = 36.04 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(C3H8) = 8/44.1 = 0.1814 mol
m = 0.1814·3/1·44.01 = 23.95 g

Percent yield

Y = 19.64/23.95·100 = 82%

Answer

Y = 82%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 15.63 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 = 0.25·250/4 = 15.63 mL

Answer

V1 = 15.63 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 2.083 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 + 3·500 = 1563 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 1563/750 = 2.083 mol/L

Answer

c = 2.083 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: P = 1856 kPa

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

Moles

n = m/M = 200/16.04 = 12.47 mol
T = 85 + 273.15 = 358.1 K

Pressure

P = nRT/V = 12.47·8.314·358.1/0.02 = 1856 kPa

Answer

P = 1856 kPa
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 6.929 L

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

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 298.1 K, T2 = 413.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 5·(300/300)·(413.1/298.1) = 6.929 L

Answer

V2 = 6.929 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 23.55 °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

75·0.449·(200 − Tf) = 400·4.18·(Tf − 20)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (33.68·200 + 1672·20)/(33.68 + 1672) = 23.55 °C

Answer

Tf = 23.55 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: ΔH° = −3119 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° = [4·(−393.5) + 6·(−285.8)] − [2·(−84.7) + 7·0] = −3119 kJ

Answer

ΔH° = −3119 kJ

Negative: the reaction gives off heat (exothermic).

9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 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

4 = (2x)²/(0.2 − x)²

Take the square root

2 = 2x/(0.2 − x) → x = 0.2·2/(2 + 2) = 0.1 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[HI] = 2x = 0.2 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 0.2 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [Cl2] = 0.181 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/(1 − x) → x² + 0.04·x − 0.04 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.04 + √(0.04² + 4·0.04))/2 = 0.181 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[Cl₂] = x = 0.181 mol/L

Answer

[Cl2] = 0.181 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 2.536

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/(0.05 − x) → x = 0.002911 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.002911) = 2.536

Answer

pH = 2.536
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 3.628

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 − 0.01 = 0.09 mol
n(A⁻) = 0.25 + 0.01 = 0.26 mol

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.167 + log(0.26/0.09) = 3.628

Answer

pH = 3.628
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t = 2.31 min

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).

Conversion and concentration

C/C0 = 1 − X = 0.5

Solve for the time

t = −ln(1 − X)/k = −ln(0.5)/0.3 = 2.31 min

Answer

t = 2.31 min
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: k2 = 0.04034 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 = 298.1 K, T2 = 318.1 K

Arrhenius ratio

ln(k2/k1) = −(55000/8.314)·(1/318.1 − 1/298.1) = 1.395
k2 = 0.01·e1.395 = 0.04034 min⁻¹

Answer

k2 = 0.04034 min⁻¹

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