Physical Chemistry : Phases and Properties of Matter

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Physical Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Phase Interfaces And Surfaces

Which of the follow are false?

I. Three phases can coexist at the triple point.

II. It is not possible for ice to transition directly to water vapor without become a liquid first.

III. The slope of the ice/water phase curve is positive

IV. Distinct phases are not achievable above the critical point

Possible Answers:

IV only

III and IV

I only

II and III

II and IV

Correct answer:

II and III

Explanation:

Condition I is true. The only place three phases can coexist is at the triple point.

Condition II is false. Water in fact can undergo deposition and move from the solid phase to the gas phase directly. This occurs at pressures below 0.006atm.

Condition III is false. A peculiar fact of the water phase diagram is the slope of the solid/liquid line. For most phase diagrams, the slope is sharply positive, but that of water is negative.

Condition IV is true. No distinct phases exist above the critical point. 

Example Question #1 : Solubility Rules

Which of the following salts is insoluble?

Possible Answers:

Barium hydroxide

Magnesium carbonate

Sodium phosphate

Potassium nitrate

Correct answer:

Magnesium carbonate

Explanation:

Generally speaking, carbonate salts are insoluble, unless the carbonate is paired with an alkali metal. Magnesium carbonate, as a result, is considered an insoluble salt.

Example Question #2 : Solubility Rules

Which of the following solubility rules is incorrect?

Possible Answers:

Salts containing a nitrate ion are considered soluble

Ionic compounds with halogens are generally soluble

Ammonium salts are considered soluble

Phosphate salts are generally considered soluble

Correct answer:

Phosphate salts are generally considered soluble

Explanation:

Salts containing alkali metals, ammonium, or nitrate ions are considered soluble. Phosphates, on the other hand, are generally considered insoluble, unless paired with an alkali metal or ammonium ion.

Example Question #12 : Phases And Properties Of Matter

A researcher is analyzing two bases. He puts both bases in a solution of water and notices that base A precipitates at the bottom of the solution whereas base B doesn’t. What can you conclude from the given information?

Possible Answers:

Base B could be barium hydroxide

Base A produces more hydroxide ions than base B in solution

Base A could be calcium hydroxide

Base B likely has the higher dissociation constant

Correct answer:

Base A could be calcium hydroxide

Explanation:

The question states that base A precipitates in a solution of water. We can conclude from this information that base A must be water insoluble. Recall that compounds that are hydrophobic tend to aggregate together when placed water, forming solid precipitates in the solution; therefore, base A must be a hydrophobic base. Base B, on the other hand, is soluble in water and doesn’t precipitate; therefore, base B must be a hydrophilic base.

Solubility rules state that all hydroxide compounds are insoluble in water, except sodium and potassium hydroxide. Calcium hydroxide is water insoluble and could possibly be the identity of base A.

Example Question #1 : Solubility Rules

Which of the following is a property of an atom that always makes a hydrophilic molecule?

Possible Answers:

It is an alkali earth metal

Both of these are true

None of these are true

It has one valence electron

Correct answer:

It has one valence electron

Explanation:

Hydrophilic molecules, by definition, are soluble in water. A compound’s solubility in water can be determined qualitatively using the solubility rules. If we look at the solubility rules, we will notice that there are three main cations that are always soluble in water. This means that a compound containing one of these three cations will always be soluble in water. The three cations are sodium, potassium and ammonium ions. Recall that sodium and potassium are alkali metals (column I of periodic table); therefore, these elements have one electron in its outermost shell (valence electron).

Alkali earth metals are on the second column of periodic table and have two valence electrons. Not all alkali earth metal containing compounds are water soluble (for example, calcium hydroxide).

Example Question #3 : Solubility Rules

Which of the following compounds will readily pass through the interior of a lipophilic membrane?

I. Potassium nitrate

II. Sodium chloride

III. Calcium carbonate

Possible Answers:

III only

I and II

None of these can pass through the membrane

I only

Correct answer:

None of these can pass through the membrane

Explanation:

Recall that interior of a cell membrane is highly nonpolar (due to the nonpolar tails of the cell membrane). Compounds that traverse the interior of a lipophilic membrane must be nonpolar. To solve this question, we need to figure out which compounds are nonpolar. Remember that all nitrates are soluble in water and, therefore, are polar. All alkali metal containing compounds (column I of periodic table) are soluble in water. This means that sodium chloride is water soluble because it contains sodium. Most carbonate salts are insoluble in water, including calcium carbonate; however, note that the calcium carbonate has polar groups with different electronegativities. This means that even though calcium carbonate is insoluble in water it contains polarity and therefore is not lipophilic. None of the compounds listed can traverse through a lipophilic membrane.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Intermolecular Forces

Which of the following forces is considered the weakest?

Possible Answers:

London dispersion forces

Hydrogen bonding

Dipole-dipole interactions

Ionic bonding

Correct answer:

London dispersion forces

Explanation:

The intermolecular forces from strongest to weakest are ionic, hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, then London dispersion forces. All compounds experience some form of London dispersion force, but the force only becomes relevant if no other forces are contributing to the attraction of molecules or atoms.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Intermolecular Forces

Which intermolecular force will be the most powerful in a sample of ethanol 

Possible Answers:

Hydrogen bonding

Dipole-dipole interactions

Ionic bonding

London dispersion forces

Correct answer:

Hydrogen bonding

Explanation:

Ethanol will not form ions in solution, so we are left with the other three options as plausible answers. Of the three, the strongest force is hydrogen bonding, which only occurs if a hydrogen is directly attached to a nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine in the molecule. Ethanol has a hydrogen attached to an oxygen, and is thus capable of hydrogen bonding.

Example Question #1 : Density

When placing common household liquids in a single tube, the liquids will not mix, but instead form distinct layers. Imagine a beaker with corn syrup on the bottom, followed by milk, water, and vegetable oil on top. All liquids have equal volumes.

Based on this information, which of the following statements is true?

Possible Answers:

Water is less dense than vegetable oil

All liquids have equal densities, which means they will not mix

Milk is more dense than water

Vegetable oil is the most dense liquid

Correct answer:

Milk is more dense than water

Explanation:

Since we were told that all the liquids have equal volumes, the masses of the liquids for those volumes will determine which liquid is the most dense. The most dense liquid will sink to the bottom, and the least dense liquid will rise to the top. We know that the milk was underneath the water in the beaker, so we can conclude that milk has a greater density than water.

Example Question #1 : Gas Laws

A researcher places a closed piston container at room temperature. He places a Bunsen burner at the bottom of the container and observes that the piston moves up. What can best explain this phenomenon?

Possible Answers:

The pressure of the gas decreased because of Charles’ Law

The volume of the gas increased because of Charles’ Law

The pressure of the gas decreased because of Boyle’s Law

The volume of the gas increased because of Boyle’s Law

Correct answer:

The volume of the gas increased because of Charles’ Law

Explanation:

There are three main gas laws. Avogadro’s law states that the moles of a gas is directly proportional to the volume (under constant pressure and temperature). Boyle’s law states that the pressure of the gas is inversely proportional to the volume (under constant moles and temperature). This means that the pressure decreases proportionally when the volume increases. Charles’ law states that the temperature is directly proportional to the volume (under constant moles and pressure). The question states that the piston moves up. This means that the volume of the gas is expanding inside and pushing the piston up to make room for the expanding gas. The gas expansion occurs due to increased temperature (Charles’ law).

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