MCAT Physical : Physical Chemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

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Example Questions

Example Question #1181 : Mcat Physical Sciences

A student conducts an experiment for a chemistry class. The student wishes to explore power generation from different types of voltaic cells. He sets up three different cells, and then compares the amount of energy generated from each one.

One of his cells is shown below as an example. Both remaining cells follow the same layout.

Untitled

Which of the following compounds could be used to construct the structure labeled "X"?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Structure "X" corresponds to the slat bridge. Its main function is balancing the ionic charge that builds up as a voltaic cell functions; therefore, there needs to be an ability for the salt bridge to ionize and send appropriate ions to each half cell. KOH is the only ionizable salt among the answer choices.

Example Question #1181 : Mcat Physical Sciences

When a galvanic cell contains two different solutions, a salt bridge is often required. The salt bridge allows the two solutions to remain isolated by providing ionic interactions for both solutions, without severely reducing the potential difference. The salt bridge is commonly composed of a potassium chloride solution.

In what direction would you expect the potassium ions to travel in a galvanic cell?

Possible Answers:

Toward the cathode

The potassium will remain bound to chlorine, and will not ionize

Toward the anode

The ions will distribute evenly in the salt bridge

Correct answer:

Toward the cathode

Explanation:

Potassium ions (K+) will be positively charged, which means they will travel towards the side of the cell that is more negative. Reduction takes place at the cathode, because electrons flow from the anode to the cathode. Since negative charge accumulates at the cathode, the cations will travel in that direction, while the anions will travel towards the anode.

Example Question #1 : Batteries

Imagine a galvanic cell which uses solid zinc and aqueous iron ions to produce a voltage.

 

    

     

The cell above resulted in a transfer of 0.05mol of electrons. The cell ran for four minutes at a constant voltage. What is the current of the cell?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This problem requires us to use dimensional analysis in order to compare what we know, and arrive at the current of the cell. First, we start by noting that the unit for current is Coulombs per second, or . Next, we combine the details of the galvanic cell in order to arrive at the appropriate units, and determine the current.

Example Question #2 : Batteries

You are charging your cell phone battery with your cell phone charger. What can you conclude about this process?

Possible Answers:

The cell phone battery is acting as a galvanic cell because it is releasing voltage

The cell phone battery is acting as an electrolytic cell because it is acquiring voltage

The cell phone battery is acting as a galvanic cell because it is acquiring voltage

The cell phone battery is acting as an electrolytic cell because it is releasing voltage

Correct answer:

The cell phone battery is acting as an electrolytic cell because it is acquiring voltage

Explanation:

A single battery can act as both a galvanic and an electrolytic cell. When a battery is discharging it is considered to be a galvanic cell because it is undergoing a spontaneous redox reaction and is losing voltage. On the other hand, when a battery is charging, it is acquiring voltage (from the phone charger that is connected to an outlet) and is considered an electrolytic cell.

Recall that electrolytic cells facilitate nonspontaneous reactions and require energy to carry out these unfavorable reactions. Charging a battery is a nonspontaneous process (because the reaction involved is the reverse of the reaction that occurs when the battery is discharging) and requires energy in the form of voltage input.

Example Question #1 : Other Electrochemical Principles

A researcher is analyzing an electrolytic cell. In trial 1, he applies  of current for two hours to the cell and observes that the cathode produces  of zinc metal. In trial 2, he applies the same amount of current but only for one hour. What will the researcher observe in the cathode during trial 2?

Possible Answers:

Same amount of zinc as trial 1 because the current stays the same

Larger amount of zinc than trial 1 because the charge decreases

Smaller amount of zinc than trial 1 because the applied charge decreases

Same amount of zinc as trial 1 because the applied charge stays the same

Correct answer:

Smaller amount of zinc than trial 1 because the applied charge decreases

Explanation:

Faraday’s Law states that the amount of substance produced in a half-cell is dependent on the charge applied to the system; therefore, the more charge applied the more substance produced. The question states that the researcher applies the same amount of current, but for a shorter time, in trial 2. Recall the definition of current:

This means that charge equals:

Trial 1 and Trial 2 have the same current; however, trial 2 has a smaller time. This means that the charge applied in trial 2 is smaller than the charge applied in trial 1; therefore, according to Faraday’s law, the researcher must observe a smaller mass of zinc metal in trial 2.

Example Question #1182 : Mcat Physical Sciences

Faraday’s Law states that the amount of product in a cell __________ as the __________ increases.

Possible Answers:

decreases . . . time

increases . . . time

increases . . . charge

decreases . . . charge

Correct answer:

increases . . . charge

Explanation:

Faraday’s Law states that the amount of product in a half cell is proportional to the charge applied to the cell; therefore, the amount of product in a cell increases as the charge increases. Faraday’s Law states nothing about the relationship between the amount of product and time.

Example Question #1183 : Mcat Physical Sciences

Which of the following substances cannot conduct electricity in water?

I. Sodium chloride

II. Iron (II) carbonate

III. Glucose

Possible Answers:

II and III

I and II

I only

II only

Correct answer:

II and III

Explanation:

The question asks you to pick substances that cannot conduct electricity. Recall that molecules that conduct electricity in solution are called electrolytes. In a chemical solution, a substance will conduct electricity if it can dissociate into ions; therefore, you are looking for molecules that will not dissociate into ions in water.

Sodium chloride, or , is an ionic compound that will dissociate into sodium ions and chlorine ions; therefore, sodium chloride will conduct electricity in water.

Iron (II) carbonate  is an insoluble compound in water. This means that it will not dissociate into ions and will not conduct electricity. Remember that most carbonates are insoluble in water.

Glucose is soluble in water because of its polar hydroxyl groups; however, it does not dissociate into ions. This means that glucose does not conduct electricity.

Example Question #1184 : Mcat Physical Sciences

Listed below are three substances that dissolve in water.

I. Acetic acid

II. Acetone

III. Hydrochloric acid

Which of the following correctly lists the substances in decreasing order of electrical conductivity?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Electrical conductivity is a measure of the ability of a substance to conduct electricity. A substance with a high electrical conductivity will easily conduct electricity, and a substance with low electrical conductivity will not conduct electricity.

In solution, a substance can conduct electricity if it can dissociate into ions. Of the three substances listed, hydrochloric acid is likely to have the highest electrical conductivity. Recall that hydrochloric acid () is a strong acid; therefore, it will completely dissociate into hydrogen and chlorine ions in water.

The substance with the second highest electrical conductivity is acetic acid. Although acetic acid is an acid, it is a weak acid. This means that the acetic acid will not completely dissociate into ions in water. If you have the same concentration of hydrochloric acid and acetic acid, hydrochloric acid will produce more ions in water and will be able to conduct more electricity; therefore, hydrochloric acid has a higher electrical conductivity than acetic acid.

Acetone is soluble in water; however, it does not dissociate into ions and will have the lowest electrical conductivity.

The correct order of electrical conductivity is: .

Example Question #1 : States Of Matter

A brass disk with an outer diameter of  has a  diameter hole cut through its center. If the disk is initially at  and is then placed into a freezer at , what is the final area of the hole?

The linear expansion coefficient for brass is: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, find the original area of the hole, in square meters: 

We will also convert the temperatures to Kelvin.

The linear thermal expansion equation is:

Similarly, the thermal expansion of an area is given by the equation:

We are given the value of the constant, we know the original area, and we have the change in temperature. Using these values, we can solve for the change in area.

Find the final area of the hole by adding the change in area to the original area.

 

Example Question #1 : States Of Matter

Which of the following describes a transition from gas to solid?

Possible Answers:

Crystallization

Deposition

Sublimation

Fusion

Vaporization

Correct answer:

Deposition

Explanation:

There are six possible phase changes between the three phases of matter. Deposition describes the change from gas to solid, while sublimation describes the transition from solid to gas. Freezing (crystallization) is the transition from liquid to solid, while fusion (melting) is the transition from solid to liquid. Condensation is the transition from gas to liquid, while vaporization (boiling) is the transition from liquid to gas.

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