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(CO2​)m(CO2​)÷ M(X)× 3/ν× M(CO2​)

20 g of Fe2O3 and 64 g of CO react according to Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2. What mass m of CO2 can form?

M(Fe2O3) = 159.69M(CO) = 28.01M(CO2) = 44.01 g/mol
m = g
2.StoichiometryHard
m(C6​H12​O6​)n(C6​H12​O6​)n(CO2​)m(CO2​)÷ M(C6​H12​O6​)× 2/1× M(CO2​)

In the reaction C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2, 24 g of C6H12O6 reacts completely (the other reactants are in excess) and 7.27 g of CO2 is collected. Find the percent yield Y.

M(C6H12O6) = 180.16 g/molM(CO2) = 44.01 g/molactual: 7.27 g
Y = %
3.Molarity & dilutionMedium
1 mol/LV1​ = ?0.05 mol/L500 mL

You need 500 mL of 0.05 mol/L solution and have a 1 mol/L stock solution. What volume V1 of stock solution do you need?

c1 = 1 mol/Lc2 = 0.05 mol/LV2 = 500 mL
V1 = mL
4.Molarity & dilutionHard
0.8 mol/L50 mL0.75 mol/L200 mLc = ?250 mL

50 mL of a 0.8 mol/L solution is mixed with 200 mL of a 0.75 mol/L solution of the same substance. Find the concentration c of the mixture (volumes are additive).

c1 = 0.8 mol/LV1 = 50 mLc2 = 0.75 mol/LV2 = 200 mL
c = mol/L
5.Ideal gas lawMedium
110 g of CO₂P = 750 kPaT = 100 °CV = ?

What volume V does 110 g of CO₂ occupy at 750 kPa and 100 °C? Treat it as an ideal gas.

m = 110 gM = 44.01 g/molP = 750 kPaT = 100 °CR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
V = L
6.Ideal gas lawHard
State 1State 2

A fixed amount of O₂ goes from 150 kPa, 2 L, 10 °C to 350 kPa and 120 °C. Find the new volume V2.

P1 = 150 kPaV1 = 2 LT1 = 10 °CP2 = 350 kPaT2 = 120 °C
V2 = L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpyMedium
Tf​ = ?Ironm = 200 gT = 170 °Cc = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Waterm = 400 gT = 24 °Cc = 4.18 J/(g·°C)

A 200 g block of iron (c = 0.449 J/(g·°C)) at 170 °C is dropped into 400 g of water (c = 4.18 J/(g·°C)) at 24 °C in an insulated cup. Find the final temperature Tf.

mmetal = 200 gcmetal = 0.449 J/(g·°C)Tmetal = 170 °Cmwater = 400 gTwater = 24 °Ccwater = 4.18 J/(g·°C)
Tf = °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpyHard
HCH4​ + 2O₂reactantsCO₂ + 2H₂O(l)productsΔH° = ?

Use the standard enthalpies of formation to find ΔH° for the reaction CH4 + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O(l).

ΔH°f(CH4) = −74.8 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​HII0.10.10C−x−x+2xE0.1 − x0.1 − x2x

0.1 mol/L of H₂ and 0.1 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 49. Find the equilibrium concentration [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.1 mol/LKc = 49
[HI] = mol/L
10.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.500C−x+x+xE0.5 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.04 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 = 0.04
[PCl5] = mol/L
11.pH & buffersMedium
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

Find the pH pH of a 0.25 mol/L solution of hydrofluoric acid (Ka = 0.00068).

c = 0.25 mol/LKa = 0.00068
pH =
12.pH & buffersHard
02468101214acidicneutralbasicpH = ?

A buffer contains 0.2 mol/L lactic acid and 0.1 mol/L of its sodium salt. Ka = 0.00014. Find the pH pH of the buffer.

[HA] = 0.2[A⁻] = 0.1Ka = 0.00014
pH =
13.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)X (%)t = ?80%

A zero-order reaction has k = 0.05 mol/(L·min) and starts at 0.5 mol/L. How long does it take to reach 80% conversion? Find t.

k = 0.05 mol/(L·min)CA0 = 0.5 mol/LX = 80 %
t = min
14.Reaction kineticsHard
Tk30 °C0.00240 °C?

A reaction has a rate constant of 0.002 min⁻¹ at 30 °C and an activation energy of 100 kJ/mol. Find the rate constant k2 at 40 °C.

k1 = 0.002 min⁻¹T1 = 30 °CT2 = 40 °CEa = 100 kJ/molR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
k2 = min⁻¹

3Solutions

1.Stoichiometry

Answer: m = 16.54 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(Fe2O3) = 20/159.69 = 0.1252 mol
n(CO) = 64/28.01 = 2.285 mol

Limiting reactant

0.1252/1 = 0.1252, 2.285/3 = 0.7616 → Fe2O3

Mass of product

n(CO2) = 0.1252·3 = 0.3757 mol
m = 0.3757·44.01 = 16.54 g

Answer

m = 16.54 g
2.Stoichiometry

Answer: Y = 62 %

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(C6H12O6) = 24/180.16 = 0.1332 mol
m = 0.1332·2/1·44.01 = 11.73 g

Percent yield

Y = 7.27/11.73·100 = 62%

Answer

Y = 62%
3.Molarity & dilution

Answer: V1 = 25 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 = 0.05·500/1 = 25 mL

Answer

V1 = 25 mL
4.Molarity & dilution

Answer: c = 0.76 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 = 0.8·50 + 0.75·200 = 190 mmol

Concentration of the mixture

c = 190/250 = 0.76 mol/L

Answer

c = 0.76 mol/L
5.Ideal gas law

Answer: V = 10.34 L

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

Moles

n = 110/44.01 = 2.499 mol
T = 100 + 273.15 = 373.1 K

Volume

V = nRT/P = 2.499·8.314·373.1/750 = 10.34 L

Answer

V = 10.34 L
6.Ideal gas law

Answer: V2 = 1.19 L

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

Absolute temperatures

T1 = 283.1 K, T2 = 393.1 K

Combined gas law

V2 = V1·(P1/P2)·(T2/T1) = 2·(150/350)·(393.1/283.1) = 1.19 L

Answer

V2 = 1.19 L
7.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: Tf = 31.44 °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

200·0.449·(170 − Tf) = 400·4.18·(Tf − 24)

Solve for the final temperature

Tf = (89.8·170 + 1672·24)/(89.8 + 1672) = 31.44 °C

Answer

Tf = 31.44 °C
8.Calorimetry & enthalpy

Answer: ΔH° = −890.3 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° = [1·(−393.5) + 2·(−285.8)] − [1·(−74.8) + 2·0] = −890.3 kJ

Answer

ΔH° = −890.3 kJ

Negative: the reaction gives off heat (exothermic).

9.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 0.1556 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

49 = (2x)²/(0.1 − x)²

Take the square root

7 = 2x/(0.1 − x) → x = 0.1·7/(2 + 7) = 0.07778 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[HI] = 2x = 0.1556 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 0.1556 mol/L
10.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 0.3772 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/(0.5 − x) → x² + 0.04·x − 0.02 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.04 + √(0.04² + 4·0.02))/2 = 0.1228 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 0.5 − 0.1228 = 0.3772 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 0.3772 mol/L
11.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 1.896

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/(0.25 − x) → x = 0.0127 mol/L

pH

pH = −log(0.0127) = 1.896

Answer

pH = 1.896
12.pH & buffers

Answer: pH = 3.553

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 = 3.854

Henderson–Hasselbalch

pH = 3.854 + log(0.1/0.2) = 3.553

Answer

pH = 3.553
13.Reaction kinetics

Answer: t = 8 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).

Amount converted

CA0·X = 0.5·0.8 = 0.4 mol/L

Time

t = CA0·X/k = 0.4/0.05 = 8 min

Answer

t = 8 min
14.Reaction kinetics

Answer: k2 = 0.0071 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 = 303.1 K, T2 = 313.1 K

Arrhenius ratio

ln(k2/k1) = −(100000/8.314)·(1/313.1 − 1/303.1) = 1.267
k2 = 0.002·e1.267 = 0.0071 min⁻¹

Answer

k2 = 0.0071 min⁻¹

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