GRE Subject Test: Chemistry : General Chemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #111 : General Chemistry

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Based on the pH titration curve provided, how many acidic protons are in this acid?

Possible Answers:

One

Three

Four

It cannot be determined from the graph

Two

Correct answer:

Two

Explanation:

The equivalence point is the point in a titration at which the number of moles of titrant species equals the number of moles of analyte. For a polyprotic acid there are multiple equivalence points because there are more than one acidic proton in one molecule of the acid. A titration curve has as many equivalence points as the number of protons that may be neutralized by the interaction with a base. In this titration curve there are two equivalence points. The equivalence points occur when the graph has a very steep slope, and involve very large changes in pH with additions of small amounts of base. For this graph, the equivalence points occur at about pH 3.5 and 10. 

Example Question #9 : Titrations

What volume in liters of \(\displaystyle 0.1\textup{ M}\) \(\displaystyle NaOH\) is needed in the titration of \(\displaystyle 50.0\textup{ mL}\) of a \(\displaystyle 0.150\textup{ M}\) \(\displaystyle CH_{3}COOH\) (acetic acid) solution to reach the equivalence point?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.075\textup{ L}\)

\(\displaystyle 0.110\textup{ L}\)

\(\displaystyle 1.1\textup{ L}\)

\(\displaystyle 0.025\textup{ L}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.20\textup{ L}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.075\textup{ L}\)

Explanation:

The equivalence point in a titration is the point in which the number of moles of titrant equals to the number of moles of analyte:

\(\displaystyle number\ of\ moles\ of\ acetic\ acid=number\ of\ moles\ NaOH\)

We need to determine the number of moles of acetic acid we are dealing with:

\(\displaystyle 50.00\ mL=0.050\ L\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.150\ moles}{L}\times0.050L\ acetic\ acid=0.0075\ moles\ acetic\ acid\)

Therefore, at the equivalence point there are also 0.0075 moles of \(\displaystyle NaOH\) in the solution. In order to determine the number of moles of \(\displaystyle NaOH\) in solution, we must use the concentration of \(\displaystyle NaOH\) as a conversion factor to determine the volume added to the acetic acid solution.

\(\displaystyle 0.0075\ moles\ NaOH\times \frac{L}{0.100\ moles}=0.075\ L\ NaOH\)

Example Question #112 : Gre Subject Test: Chemistry

A \(\displaystyle 0.4000g\) sample of a monoprotic acid was titrated against a \(\displaystyle 0.05M\) solution of \(\displaystyle NaOH\). If the end point was reached after adding \(\displaystyle 30 mL\ NaOH\), what is the molar mass of the weak acid?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 162.11\frac{g}{mol}\)

\(\displaystyle 6.0\times10^{-4}\frac{g}{mol}\)

\(\displaystyle 0.0038\frac{g}{mol}\)

\(\displaystyle 266.67\frac{g}{mol}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 266.67\frac{g}{mol}\)

Explanation:

A pH indicator added to a solution causes a color change which is an indication that a reaction has reached the equivalence point. The equivalence point is when the number of moles of titrant equals the number of moles of analyte. The end point is an approximation of this in a titration.

At the equivalence point:

\(\displaystyle moles\ of\ NaOH=moles\ of\ acid\)

The number of moles of NaOH at equivalence point is calculated as follows:

\(\displaystyle 0.030\ L\times \frac{0.05\ moles}{L}=0.0015\ moles\ NaOH\)

\(\displaystyle moles\ of\ acid= 0.0015\ moles\)

Assuming we were trying to convert the number of grams of the monoprotic acid to moles, the equation would be set up as follows:

\(\displaystyle grams\ of\ acid\ (g) \times\ molecular\ weight\left ( \frac{moles}{g} \right )=number\ of\ moles\)

Let's plug the values we have into this equation and give the molar mass a value of \(\displaystyle X\):

\(\displaystyle 0.4000\ g\times \frac{1\ mole}{X}=0.0015\ moles\)

Rearranging this equation to solve for the molar mass \(\displaystyle X\) gives:

\(\displaystyle X=\frac{0.4000\ g\times\ 1\ mole}{0.0015\ moles}=266.67\ grams\)

Example Question #21 : Acid Base Chemistry

What is the molarity of a \(\displaystyle HCl\) solution that has a pH of \(\displaystyle 5.0\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.5M\)

\(\displaystyle 3.50 M\)

\(\displaystyle 5.5 * 10^{-1} M\)

\(\displaystyle 1.50 M\)

\(\displaystyle 1 * 10^{-5} M\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1 * 10^{-5} M\)

Explanation:

The pH of the solution is \(\displaystyle 5\), therefore the concentration would be \(\displaystyle 1 * 10^{-5} M\). This solution is based on the equation, \(\displaystyle [H^{+}] = 10^{-pH}\) and because hydrochloric is a strong acid, it can be assumed to completely dissociate in solution.

Example Question #114 : Gre Subject Test: Chemistry

What is the pH of a \(\displaystyle 2.0*10^{-4} M\) solution of \(\displaystyle NaOH\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 10.3\)

\(\displaystyle 7.8\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10.3\)

Explanation:

We need to calculate the pH of a \(\displaystyle 2*10^{-4} M\) \(\displaystyle NaOH\) solution. There is one mole of \(\displaystyle OH^-\) in every mole of \(\displaystyle NaOH\), therefore:

\(\displaystyle [OH^{-}]=2*10^{-4}\ M\)

\(\displaystyle pOH=-log(OH^{-})=-log(2*10^{-4})=3.7\)

The equation with the relationship between pH and pOH is:

\(\displaystyle pH+pOH=14\)

We can calculate the pH by rearranging this equation: 

\(\displaystyle pH= 14.00-3.7=10.3\)

Another way of solving this problem is shown below. The equation with the relationship between \(\displaystyle H_{3}O^{+}\) and \(\displaystyle OH^{-}\) concentration is:

\(\displaystyle K_{w}=[H_{3}O^{+}][OH^{-}]=1.0*10^{-14}\)

Rearrange this equation:

\(\displaystyle [H_{3}O^{+}]=\frac{[K_{w}]}{[OH^{-}]}=\frac{1.0*10^{-14}}{2*10^{-4}}=5*10^{-11}\)

We can calculate the pH of this solution using the equation below:

\(\displaystyle pH=-log(H_{3}O^{+})=-log(5.0*10^{-11})=10.3\)

Example Question #115 : Gre Subject Test: Chemistry

What is the pH of a \(\displaystyle 5.0*10^{-4} M\) solution of \(\displaystyle Ca(OH)_{2}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 11\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 11\)

Explanation:

First we need to calculate the \(\displaystyle [OH^-]\) of the \(\displaystyle 5*10^{-4} M\) \(\displaystyle Ca(OH)_{2}\) solution. For every mole of \(\displaystyle Ca(OH)_{2}\) , there is double the number of moles of hydroxide ions:

\(\displaystyle [OH^{-}]=2*(5 *10^{-4} M)=0.001M\)

The pOH can be calculated using the below equation:

\(\displaystyle pOH=-log(OH^{-})=-log(0.001)=3\)

The equation with the relationship between pH and pOH is below:

\(\displaystyle pH+pOH=14\)

We can calculate the pH by rearranging this equation: 

\(\displaystyle pH= 14.00-3.00=11\)

Another way of solving this problem is shown below. The equation with the relationship between \(\displaystyle H_{3}O^{+}\) and \(\displaystyle OH^{-}\) concentration is:

\(\displaystyle K_{w}=[H_{3}O^{+}][OH^{-}]=1.0*10^{-14}\)

Rearrange this equation:

\(\displaystyle [H_{3}O^{+}]=\frac{[K_{w}]}{[OH^{-}]}=\frac{1.0*10^{-14}}{0.001}=1*10^{-11}\)

We can calculate the pH of this solution using the equation below:

\(\displaystyle pH=-log(H_{3}O^{+})=-log(1.0*10^{-11})=11\)

Example Question #1 : P H

Considering the \(\displaystyle K_a\) of \(\displaystyle HF\) (hydrofluoric acid) is \(\displaystyle 6.8\times10^{-4}\), what is the \(\displaystyle pK_b\) of the base \(\displaystyle F^-\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 8.4\)

\(\displaystyle 10.8\)

\(\displaystyle 7.5\)

\(\displaystyle 6.4\)

\(\displaystyle 5.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10.8\)

Explanation:

The relationship between \(\displaystyle K_a\) and \(\displaystyle K_b\) is:

\(\displaystyle K_{a}*\ K_{b}=K_{w}\) 

\(\displaystyle K_{w}=1.0\times10^{-14}\)

Rearranging this equation gives:

\(\displaystyle K_{b}=\frac{K_{w}}{K_{a}}=\frac{1.0\times 10^{-14}}{6.8\times 10^{-4}}=1.5\times10^{-11}\)

In order to calculate the \(\displaystyle pK_b\), we must use this relationship:

\(\displaystyle pK_{b}=-log(K_{b})=-log(1.5\times 10^{-11})=10.8\)

Example Question #31 : Acid Base Chemistry

What is the pH of a \(\displaystyle 0.05 \textup{ M}\) solution of \(\displaystyle HCl\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.3\)

\(\displaystyle 11.0\)

\(\displaystyle 5.5\)

\(\displaystyle 0.05\)

\(\displaystyle 4.1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.3\)

Explanation:

Below is the equilibria of \(\displaystyle HCl\) in an aqueous solution:

\(\displaystyle HCl(l) +H_{2}O(l)\rightleftharpoons\ Cl^{-}(aq)+H_{3}O^{+}(aq)\)

\(\displaystyle HCl\) is a strong acid so it completely ionizes in solution. It has a high \(\displaystyle K_{eq}\) of \(\displaystyle 1.6\times10^{6}\)

There is 100% dissociation of \(\displaystyle HCl\), therefore the resulting \(\displaystyle H_{3}O^+\) in solution equals to the concentration of original \(\displaystyle HCl\).

\(\displaystyle [H_{3}O^{+}]=0.05M\)

\(\displaystyle pH=-log[H_{3}O^{+}]=-log[0.05]=1.3\)

Example Question #118 : Gre Subject Test: Chemistry

What is the pH of a \(\displaystyle 0.10 \textup{ M}\) solution of \(\displaystyle NaOH\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5.0\)

\(\displaystyle 13\)

\(\displaystyle 1.0\)

\(\displaystyle 8.1\)

\(\displaystyle 0.1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 13\)

Explanation:

Below is the equilibria of \(\displaystyle NaOH\) in an aqueous solution:

\(\displaystyle NaOH(s)\rightleftharpoons\ Na^{+}(aq)+OH^{-}(aq)\)

\(\displaystyle NaOH\) is a strong base so it completely ionizes in solution. It has a high solubility product constant.

There is 100% dissociation of \(\displaystyle NaOH\) , therefore the resulting \(\displaystyle OH^{-}\) in solution equals to the concentration of original \(\displaystyle NaOH\).

\(\displaystyle [OH^{-}]=0.10M\)

\(\displaystyle pOH=-log[OH^{-}]=-log[0.10]=1\)

\(\displaystyle pH+pOH=14\)

\(\displaystyle pH=14-pOH=14-1=13\)

Example Question #119 : Gre Subject Test: Chemistry

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If \(\displaystyle 3.11\times10^{-4}\ moles\) of \(\displaystyle NaOH\) is reacted with \(\displaystyle 5.71\times10^{-4}\ moles\) of \(\displaystyle HCl\), what is the pH if the total volume of the solution is 1 liter ?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.6\)

\(\displaystyle 6.6\)

\(\displaystyle 2.1\)

\(\displaystyle 8.4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3.6\)

Explanation:

Based on the chemical equation, \(\displaystyle HCl\) and \(\displaystyle NaOH\) react in a 1:1 mole ratio. Therefore, in order to find the pH of this solution you must first determine the difference in moles of the two reactants and the limiting reactant. The reactant in excess will determine the pH of the solution.\(\displaystyle 5.71\times 10^{-4}\ moles\ HCl-3.11\times 10^{-4}\ moles\ NaOH=2.59\times 10^{-4}\ moles\ HCl\)

There \(\displaystyle HCl\) is in excess and the pH of the solution will be based on the moles of the excess \(\displaystyle HCl\).

\(\displaystyle moles\ of\ H^{+}=2.59\times 10^{-4}}\ moles\) 

\(\displaystyle Molarity\ [H^+]=\frac{moles\ of\ solute}{Liters\ of\ solution}=\frac{2.6\ moles}{1L}=2.6M\)

\(\displaystyle pH=-log[H^{+}]=-log[2.59\times 10^{-4}]=3.6\)

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