←CHM151Home page

Study Guide for Mid-term on-campus exam and information about the Phoenix College Testing Center
pc map

The Testing Center is in the center of the campus in building LC (shown in yellow).  It's on the second floor.  You can park in the northern parking lot or the west parking lot. 

Their hours are 8am to 6pm Monday through Thursday and then 8am to 4pm on Friday.  You should get there at least 2 hours before they close because you have a two hour time limit to do the mid-term.  You shouldn't need that much time.

There are some calculations on the exam.  The Testing Center will supply a calculator.

The Testing Center has some rules for using their center.   Below is part of their instructions.  Here is the link to that page.

All testing requires valid state issued Photo ID or PC Student ID
Please visit your Maricopa Student Account at my.maricopa.edu prior to testing.
(First and Last Name(s) on ID presented MUST Match Exactly the First and Last Name(s) in Student Account) before you can test.   Thank you

When you arrive at the Testing Center:

  • Pull a ticket number and have a seat in the hallway corridor.
  • When ticket number appears in display case, above lockers, enter Room 206.

Below is more information given for online students who take tests on-campus. To see more information and the specific page, visit this page.

Information for Students:

  • All tests are administered on a walk-in and first-seat available basis.  
  • No appointment is necessary, but plan adequate time to complete an exam.
  • Bring a current valid photo ID with your instructor's first and last name.
  • All course exams are administered precisely according to faculty instructions. Possible reasons for test denial are; arriving with less than 30 minutes prior to closing, no picture ID, test not here, and testing deadline has passed.
  • The Testing Center is located in the LC builiding, second floor.  When you arrive, please pull a number so that we can better serve you. Do not enter room LC-206 until your number is displayed on the screen.

It is your responsibility to read and understand the following test policies and procedures before you begin your test:

  • No children are allowed in the test room or left unattended elsewhere.
  • It is your responsibilty to communicate with your instructor regarding items allowed during the test such as a calculator, notes, textbook, restroom break, etc.
  • You may not begin the exam, then leave and come back at a later time to finish your test.
  • Ask the Test Proctor what your time limit is before you receive your test.
  • Once you sit down – it counts as you starting your test.
  • Do not leave the Testing Room without permission of the Test Proctor.
  • Lockers – All materials including Cell Phones and electronic devices must be secured in a locker.  We are not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
  • If you have a Cell Phone with you in the Testing Room or any unauthorized item or suspected of cheating by others-your test will be collected immediately, voided, and the matter will be referred to your Instructor and Dean of Academic Affairs. 

Below is the study guide for the mid-term exam.   You have a 3 week window to come into the Testing Center and take the mid-term.  Dates are from April 6 to April 27.

STATES OF MATTER
Classical states of matter are Gas, Liquid, Solid.   Some non-classical are supercooled liquid (also called glass), liquid crystal, superfluid, and plasma.
States of Matter
Examples
Properties of the State of Matter
Shape
Spacing
Movement of Atoms/Molecules
Compressible
Gas Air, helium in balloons, gasoline vapor, Expands to fill shape of its container
Large
Move at high speeds and random directions
Yes
Liquid Liquid water, molten metals, solvents, solutions, liquified gases. Levels itself to fill its container
Small
Move at low speeds and random directions
No
Solid (amorphous/crystalline) Metal, rocks, wood, sugar, bone, rubber Shape is fixed
Small
Vibrate but don't move
No
Supercooled liquid (Glass) Glass windows, ceramic glaze, quickly cooled metals, sugar glass (used in stunts), obsidian Hard but shape slowly changes over many years
Small
Vibrate but barely move
No
Liquid Crystal Molecules inside of liquid crystal displays (watches, computer screens, cell phones) Levels itself to fill its container
Small
Move in one direction but cannot rotate, so stay in semi-crystal formation.
No
Superfluid A fluid that flows with no friction, so it can climb the walls of its container. Liquid helium. Levels itself to fill its container but then climbs out.
Small
Move at low speeds and but direction is not always random
No
Supercritical fluid A liquid heated above a certain temperature and pressure acts like a gas and liquid. (supercritical CO2 decaffeinates coffee beans) Expands to fill shape of its container like gas but has solvent properties like liquids
Medium
Move at high speeds and random directions
Yes
Plasma Ionized gas. Electrons and ions moving independent of each other in a gas state (The Sun) Expands to fill shape of its container
Large
Move at high speeds and random directions
Yes

On the exam, some of the cells above will be empty. You will fill those in. In the "Examples" column, you will only need to give one.

Four classifications of matter can be determined by asking 3 questions. Those four classifications are heterogeneous mixture, homogeneous mixture, element, or compound.

Matter
No
Is it uniform throughout?
Yes
It's a heterogeneous mixture (like sand and water)
It's homogeneous matter. (well mixed) ↓
No
Does it have a variable composition?
(more than one formula?)
Yes
Then it is a pure substance.
Then it is a homogeneous mixture (like a solution or beverage, or any mixture of two or more substances that are thoroughly mixed)
No
Can this pure substance be separated into simpler substances?
Yes
Then it's an element
Then it's a compound (one or more elements chemically combined)

Using the questions in the above table, determine the classification of the following items: (Choices: heterogeneous mixture, homogeneous mixtures, element, or compound.)

Root beer float, sodium chloride (table salt), aluminum foil, grape juice, toothpaste, raisin bread, quartz, syrup, Pepsi on ice, filtered orange juice, orange juice with pulp, air, pure water, muddy water, ice made from pure water, plain paper, Christmas wrapping paper, 24 karat (carat) gold ring, 14 karat gold ring, iron nail, rusty iron nail, glass in a window, urine, NaHCO3 (baking soda).  (These are answered at bottom of this study guide. First see if you can figure them out).

More Classifications
Write the numbers from the list on the right under the category that best fits the statement. Hint: There are three numbers (statements) for each word.
Atom
Element
Compound
Molecule
     

 

 

 

SULFUR

1) A group of two or more atoms (same or different atoms)
2) A substance that cannot be divided into simpler substances.
3) A pure substance made from 2 or more different elements chemically bonded.
4) From a Greek word meaning indivisible.
5) The plural of the word means weather.
6) Consisting of two or more parts.
7) From two words meaning a small mass.
8) A structure made from protons, neutrons, and electrons.
9) Example would be NaCl
10) Example would be "copper"
11) Example would be a spherical object with nucleus and electrons.
12) Example would be the drawing on the left.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Physical properties are properties of the substance itself.  Physical properties do not mention how the element or compound reacts with another substance. That belongs to chemical properties.  

Some physical properties are color, form (gas/liquid/solid), odor, melting point, boiling point, malleable (easy to bend or reshape), crystalline, amorphous (no crystal structure), density, electrical conductivity (good conductor or insulator), index of refraction (how much it bends light), and more. Even without using equipment, you can identify the physical properties of substances such as color, form, taste, and odor.  However, taste is not a good idea for checking most chemicals.

Physical properties of a natural diamond:
Color: Can be most any color.
Density: 3.5-3.53 g/cm3
Index of Refraction: 2.418
Hardness:  10 on the Mohs scale

Chemical properties describe how a substance will react with other substances. For example, saying something is flammable is saying it will react with oxygen. So being flammable is a chemical property.

"Strong acids dissolve metals".  This is a general statement of a chemical property for strong acids.  Notice that it is mentioning a different substance (metals in this case).  Chemical properties tell you how a substance will react with another substance.

"Sodium bicarbonate neutralizes acids."   This is a chemical property statement for sodium bicarbonate.  

"Citric acid is incompatible with alkaline carbonates and bicarbonate."   A statement that uses the word "incompatible" is stating a chemical property.   In other words, it is saying that this substance will react with these other substances.  It's incompatible because citric acid will no longer stay citric acid if in contact with the other substances mentioned.

On the test, list 6 physical properties

On the test, match the chemical property with the correct substance (Below are the correct matches. On the midterm exam, they will be scrambled.  Some of the substances might be different, too.)

Substance Chemical Property
Sulfur flammable
Potassium chlorate (KClO3) Oxidizer
Lye (NaOH/sodium hydroxide) Alkaline/neutralizes acids
Powdered iron easily rusts
Gold inert
Sugar digestible
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES

A physical change is when the physical properties of a substance have changed, but the make up (formula) of the substance does not change. For example, water changing to ice is a physical change. The physical properties of ice (such as density, hardness, index of refraction) are different than those of water. However, the formula for ice (H2O) is the same as for water (H2O). So there was no chemical change only a physical change.

Physical changes are usually easily reversible.

A chemical change means the substance changes into another substance. In other words, its chemical formula changes. If a substance decomposes, that is a chemical change. If a substance reacts with another substance, that's a chemical change.  For example, when the Statue of Liberty was erected in 1886, the copper metal was copper in color.   However, by 1900, it had turned a turquoise color.   The copper underwent a chemical change, going from metallic copper to a mixture of copper oxides, copper carbonates, copper sulfates, and copper chlorides due to exposure to various chemicals in the air and rain.

Chemical changes are not as easily reversible as physical changes. That's why we worry more about unplanned chemical changes.

Physical Change Desired: Air Conditioning

The freon in air conditioners (home or car) changes from gas to a liquid and back to a gas, which then repeats. This is a physical change because the freon does not change its chemical makeup, just its state (liquid versus gas).

If freon leaks out, ultraviolet light in sunlight will decompose the freon. One decomposition product is chlorine gas. Is decomposition a chemical or physical change?

Chemical Change Desired: Combustion for engines and stoves.

Whether it is combustion in the engine of a car or on the stove, combustion requires a chemical change. In these cases, it is a hydrocarbon (compound made from carbon and hydrogen atoms) that is combining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. Energy is released and we get heat to build up pressure in the engine's cylinders or heat to cook our food. A chemical change is desired in this situation because that's what will produce heat.

If liquid gasoline enters the cylinder and simply turns to vapor but does not burn, is that a chemical or physical change?

Physical Change Desired: Lighting

Most lighting depends on a physical change. The traditional light bulb has a filament that heats up and glows. That is a physical change. When the electricity is off, the filament cools down to its original physical state. However, if the bulb is cracked and air is introduced, the oxygen in the air reacts with the tungsten filament which then undergoes a chemical change as it becomes tungsten oxide, which is brittle. So the filament breaks and the light bulb stops working. In this situation, we don't want a chemical change. So the bulbs are engineered to prevent chemical changes.

Candles produce light. Is that because of a physical change, chemical change or both?

LED lights don't have glass enclosures to keep out oxygen. So the material that makes up LED is resistant to oxygen. Is that a physical property or chemical property?

Chemical Change Not Desired: Food and Medicine Expiration dates

Why do food and medicine have expiration dates? It's because there is a slow chemical process going on. After the expiration date, a significant portion of the ingredients in medicine may have undergone chemical change and converted to some other chemical. Food has the same problem. Protein, fat, sugar, starches, and vitamins that make up food will chemically break down or react with other ingredients in the food or air. Bacteria will also alter the chemical makeup. So in these situations, spoilage or degradation is occurring because of chemical changes. Preservation of food and medicine is designed to slow down or prevent chemical change.

Chocolate is a food. If it melts, is that a physical change or chemical change?

Does cooking of food cause a physical change or chemical change?

A new bottle of Aspirin doesn't have much of a smell. However, over time it will smell like vinegar. Do you think a physical change or chemical change took place?

METRIC SYSTEM

The Metric system is based on the Earth, water, and 10 fingers. These items we all have access to, so the metric measurements can be recreated by anyone on Earth.

The meter is the distance from the north pole to the equator divided by 10 million. This distance is a little longer than a yard. So we now have a distance measurement
A box that is one tenth of a meter (a decimeter) on all sides is called the liter. So we now have a volume measurement.
A liter of water is assigned the mass of one kilogram (1000 grams). So we now have a mass measurement.
The prefixes of the metric system are based on ten (because we have 10 fingers).

Use the body to know these metric distances
One meter:  Distance from neck to tip of fingers.
One meter:  Distance between steps in a fast walk or when pacing out distances.
One decimeter=(0.1 meter):  Width of the hand.
One centimeter=(0.01 meter):  Width of a fingernail.
One millimeter=(0.001 meter):  Thickness of a fingernail.
100 micrometers=0.1 millimeters=(0.0001 meter):  The smallest object your eyes can see, which would be an object that is the width of a human hair.

Use these average volumes related to the body to know metric volumes.

One liter:  Volume of stomach when it feels full.
Half a liter:  Volume of cupped hands.
Half a liter:  Volume of air in normal breath.
5 liters:   Volume of human head
5 liters:  Volume of blood in body
5 milliliters (0.001 liters):  Volume of eyeball
90 femtoliters (10-15 liters):  Volume of one red blood cell
3 liters:  Volume of water ingested per day
1.5 liters:  Volume of urine output per day

Use these average masses related to the body to know metric masses.

8 grams:  Mass of eyeball
65 grams:  Mass of tongue
300 grams: Mass of heart
1.5 kilograms:  Mass of brain
5 kilograms:  Mass of head
100 kilograms (100,000 grams):   5% of American males are above this weight
87 kilograms (87,000 grams):   Average weight of American male
3 kilograms:  The mass one human hair can hold without breaking.
6,000 kilograms:  If the hair on your head was woven into a rope, it could support 6,000 kilograms (the mass of about 3 automobiles.)

Regarding these questions about metric sizes that relate to the human body, the test will show the size and you will match it to the part of the body that is approximately that size.
The easiest way to do get rid of metric prefixes is to replace the prefix with the amount that prefix represents.   For example, to change 54 milliliters to liters, change the "milli" to either 0.001 or 1/1000.    So that means 54 x 0.001 or do 54 x 1/1000.  Both get 0.054 liters.    An easy way to add a metric prefix is to divide by what the prefix represents.   For example, changing  5.5 liters to milliliters means divide by 0.001 to get 5,500 milliliters.  

Convert the following metric volumes: (On the test, the amounts will be somewhat different)

3000 milliliters to liters:
5 liters to milliliters:
half liter to milliliters:
1.5 liters to milliliters:
One trillion femtoliters to milliliters:

Convert the following metric distances:  (On the test, the amounts will be different)

2.35 meters into centimeters:
2.35 meters into millimeters:
1 centimeter into millimeters:
2 decimeters into meters:
0.35 meters into decimeter:
505 micrometers into meters:

Label-Factor Method (also called Dimensional Analysis) and Density problems.

This approach analyzes the dimensions (unit labels) of the problem and sets up a problem so that the starting dimension is changed to the answer by using a conversion fraction that cancels out the dimensions (units) we don't want and leaves (or introduces) the ones we want in the final answer.

10.0 mL x 19.3 g = 193 g
           1 mL

50.0 g x  1 mL   = 2.59 mL
         19.3 g

Here we see milliliters (mL) of gold being converted to grams (g) of gold by using the density of gold (19.3 grams per mL).   The mL cancel out leaving just grams.

In the second calculation, we see grams of gold being converted to milliliters of gold by using the density of gold inverted. grams is on the bottom so that they will cancel the starting grams.

The below tables show the same calculations setup above.  It simply shows it in a spreadsheet layout.    The advantage of setting up problems in a spreadsheet is that the computer will recalculate the answer whenever you change any of the values.  In other words, if the 50.0 g was changed to 144.6 g, the spreadsheet would display the new mL instantly.  This of course depends on the formula placed in cell G1 having the formula "=A1*D1/D2".  Notice the units in red get canceled, and the units in blue remain. Note: Sometimes column "C" with the "x" is left out, but it is still understood that multiplication of the fractions is taking place.  Spreadsheets also let us use the row number and column letter to identify a particular cell.  For example, A1 and B1 show the starting quantity.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
1
10.0
mL
x
19.3
g
=
193
grams
2
     
1
mL      

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
1
50.0
g
x
1
mL
=
2.59
mL
2
     
19.3
g      

The below table is the same as the above without the times "x" column.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
1
50.0
g
1
mL
=
2.59
mL
2
   
19.3
g      
The below dimensional analysis setup (label-factor method) is similar to a problem in the tutorial.   This setup converts 2 miles per hour into centimeters per second.  Each conversion fraction have numerators and denominators that are equal to each other.  These are written to cancel out the units we don't want (miles and hours) and get us to the units we do want (centimeters and seconds).   Just like multiplying fractions, you multiply all of the numerators and divide by each of the denominators.   You can skip any values of "1" because that doesn't change the quantity.   So multiply 2 x 440 x 36 x 2.54 to get the numerator.  Then divide by 0.25 followed by division by 60, then divide by the other 60.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
1
2
miles
440
yards
36
inches
2.54
cm
1
hr
1
min
=
?
cm
2
  hr
0.25
mile
1
yard
1
inch
60
min
60
sec     sec

On the midterm exam, there will be some dimensional analysis problems that are set up that you solve.  Some will be fully setup (like above) and some will be partially set up like below. 

Driving 424 miles in a car that gets 22.0 miles per gallon will take how many liters of gas? The dimensional analysis is set up below to solve that, but you need to write the correct dimensions (measurement units) in their proper place.   B1 shows that miles is the starting units.  The information of 22.0 miles per gallon is inverted so that miles is in the denominator and cancels the miles in B1.   At column E we have volume in gallons, but the question wants it in liters.  So columns G and H convert the gallons to liters.    So you would write "miles" in E2, "liters" in H1, and "gallons" in H2.   Do the arithmetic to find the quantity of liters that is written in S1. On the exam, some units will be left out for you to insert into the proper cell.

A
B
C
D

E

F
G
H
I
1
424
miles
1
gallon
3.785
liters
=
______
liters
2
   
22.0
miles
1
gallon      
Ethanol is a common laboratory solvent and has a density of 0.789 g/mL. What is the mass, in grams, of 125 mL of ethanol?  (Below is the partial setup to solve this problem.  You will need to write the correct value and units in C1 and D1.   Also, calculate F1.
A
B
C
D

E

F
G
1
125
mL
________
_______
=
______
grams
2
   
1
mL      
Let's say you want to know the volume (in liters) of the iron in a car that gets crushed and melted down. The iron in the car weighs 3,155 lbs.  Iron's density is 7.874 g/mL.   The below dimensional analysis spreadsheet is setup.  On the exam, some data will be left out.   You should memorize how many lbs equal a kilogram.  Do the arithmetic to find the quantity of liters (J2).  Notice how D3 cancels B2.  Notice E3 cancels the "k" in "kg" in D2.   The strategy of dimensional analysis (label-factor method) is to let the units guide how you set up and solve these kind of problems.  Notice that the density is inverted so that grams is on the bottom so that it cancels the "g" in "kg" in D2.  "mL" is on the top because we want the answer in "Liters".    On the midterm exam, you will have to decide where to place the measurements of density to get the answer.  For example, the red text will not be there.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
1
Mass of iron
convert lbs to kg
cancel k
Use density to convert grams to mL
cancel milli
     
2
3155
lbs
1
kg
1000
1
mL
0.001
=
______
liters
3
   
2.205
lbs
kilo
7.874
grams
milli
     
It's a sad fact but the United States is about the last country not to convert completely to metrics. This always adds some extra conversions in chemistry. For example, in a brewery the recipe calls for a concentration of malt of 2.5 grams malt per 100mL of brew in a vat that holds 1,500 gallons of brew.  How many 25-lb bags of malt is needed? (equalities: 1 gallon=3785 milliliters, 1 lb=454g) Note the dimensional analysis below.  It begins with the concentration, which is mass per volume. That it multiplied by the volume of the vat. Normally, that is all that is needed to find mass because the volume cancels.  However, that only works if volumes have the same units and the mass is the unit you want. Unfortunately, our units for volume don't match (mL vs. gallons).  Also grams is not the weight we want.  We want the weight in the number of 25-pound bags.  See below dimensional analysis that shows how to solve this.   On the test, you will fill in columns G and H and solve for L2 (number of bags).
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
1
concentration of malt
Concentration x vol=mass
Convert gal to mL
convert g to lb
         
2
2.5
g
1500.
gallon
3785
mL
1
lb
1
bag (25lb)
=
______
25-lb bags
3
100
mL    
1
gallon
454
grams
25
lbs      

The grams in B2 is canceled by what cell?
The mL in B3 is canceled by what cell?
TEMPERATURE SCALES

The top temperature is the boiling point of water. 50°C (122°F) is the hottest day on record in Phoenix, Arizona. 98.6°F (37°C) is the temperature of the body. 68°F (20°C) is considered room temperature.  Most glassware for labs are calibrated to be most accurate at 20°C.    32°F (0°C) is where water coexists as liquid water and ice (freezing point). 0°F (-18°C) is temperature of a mixture of snow (or ice) and salt.

Notice from freezing to boiling is 180 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale and 100 degree on the Celsius scale.   That's why the fraction 180/100 or 9/5 shows up in the formulas to convert these temperatures.    Also, notice the freezing point of water is 0°C but 32° on the Fahrenheit scale.  So they don't both start at zero.  That's why 32 degrees is subtracted from Fahrenheit temperatures before they are converted to Celsius.  

To go Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 first, then multiply by 5/9 to make the number of degrees fewer.  That's because the scale of Celsius uses fewer degrees (steps) to go from freezing to boiling.    To go from Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9/5 to get a higher number.  Then add 32 because Fahrenheit is 32 degrees when Celsius is 0 degrees.  

On the test, this chart will be there, but you will have different degrees to convert. No formula for conversion will be given.  Just use the logic given above.

Absolute Zero: 

The Kelvin scale, named after Lord Kelvin who proposed it, sets zero at absolute zero, which is the temperature where all atoms stop moving, spinning, or vibrating. Electrons & nuclei, however, continue to move. 

Notice these low temperature markers. Dry ice is at -108°F (-78°C/195K). Other gases in the air (oxygen, nitrogen) start turning to liquid around 300°F below zero.  Everything is solid at Absolute Zero.

Conversion to Kelvin is fairly straightforward.  Add 273.15 degrees to the Celsius temperature.  It's OK to add just "273"  if your Celsius degrees have no decimal places.

Atomic theory, Atomic mass, Molar mass

Using the portion of the Periodic Table on the left, answer the below questions:

One mole of helium atoms weighs how many grams?
One mole of oxygen atoms weighs how many grams?
One mole of oxygen molecules (O2) weighs many grams?
One mole of CO2 (carbon dioxide) molecules weighs many grams?
What element has the atomic number of 33?
How many protons does an atom of aluminum have?
How many electrons does a neutral atom of boron have?
Why are some of these elements shown with a pinkish background?
What two elements are most chemically similar to chlorine?
Above fluorine (F) are the letters "VIIB".  What is significance of the Roman numeral VII?
Fluorine atoms have the average atomic mass of 18.99840.  Therefore, how many neutrons do most fluorine atoms have?
If the nucleus of a silicon atom were to gain a proton, what element would it become?
If the nucleus of a carbon atom were to fuse with the nucleus of helium, what element would they become?
A mole of krypton gas is how many krypton atoms?
20.1797 grams of neon gas is how many moles of neon gas?
50 grams of carbon is how many moles of carbon?

NOMENCLATURE

Write the formula for these binary & polyatomic ionic compounds.

a) Potassium chloride
b) Titanium (II) oxide
c) Calcium carbonate
d) Sodium bicarbonate
e) Iron (II) sulfate
f) Calcium sulfate
g) Ammonium chloride 

Write the formula for these acids:

Carbonic acid:
Sulfurous acid
Acetic acid

Give the written name of these binary & polyatomic ionic compounds.

a) NaCl
b) TiO2
c) NaNO3
d) KNO3
e) NaCN
f) NaClO
g) KClO4
h) Na2CO3

At one time it was legal to spray salad bar items with a sulfite solution. This helped preserve the vegetables and fruit and kept them from turning brown. However, after a few patrons died and others were hospitalized, restaurants are banned from using sulfites or sulfur dioxide on salad bar items. What is the health problem with sulfite?
The below image shows images of items that contain or relate to certain polyatomic ions.    Many of these items were discussed in the "Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds for Health Related Fields" tutorial and quiz.  On the midterm test you will see the images. You will need to match the correct polyatomic ion with the correct image. Some images have two right answers.  Either answer is fine. In the right column are the answers.  You will need to memorize which polyatomic ion goes with which image.   Reviewing the tutorial will help. Here's the link:  Nomenclature Tutorial
A) Sulfite
B) Nitrate or Ammonium
C) Sulfate
D) Acetate
E) Hypochlorite
F) Sulfate
G) Nitrate or phosphate
H) Nitrate
I) Nitrate or Ammonium
J) Sulfate
K) Sulfite
L) Perchlorate or chlorate
M) Perchlorate or chlorate
N) Nitrite or Nitrate
O) Acetate
P) Acetate
Q) Acetate
R) Nitrates or Chlorates
S) Acetate or ammonium
T) Cyanide
U) Ammonium
V) Cyanide
W) Acetate
X) Sulfite
Y) Nitrate or Ammonium
Z) Cyanide
ENERGY
In the tutorial on energy, I said we can think of just two types of energy: Energy doing work, and energy waiting to do work.  When it's doing work, we see it moving something, giving off some form of light, or changing the temperature of something like this train is doing. Work energy is also defined as a force applied to something which moves it across a distance.  Like the force of lifting a brick from one height to a higher height.  Or the force of a car pushing against the air as it moves down the highway.     
Energy that is waiting to do work (has to the potential for work) is called potential energy and is recognized in 3 ways:
1) It sits above ground level (like a lake behind a dam that sits higher than the land below the dam.) 2) Something is compressed or stretched in someway (like compressed air or a compressed or stretched spring). 3) Crowding of like charges or a separation of unlike charges (like a battery, capacitor, or electrons and protons on the same or different atoms.
dam


 

 

Kinetic energy is the energy of something that moving.  However, if that moving object is not pushing anything (like a spinning flywheel, a swinging hammer, or meteor flying through space), then this energy is just waiting to do work.  So this energy is similar to potential energy yet it's not normally classified as potential energy.   When these moving objects start to push on something, then they do work.   Again, when that object moves freely, then the kinetic energy is waiting to do work.  It's like potential energy in that sense that it has the potential to do work but hasn't done it yet.   Again, when the moving object pushes on something and gets it to move. Then it becomes work energy, which is a force times the distance that force is applied.

Chemical energy is a type of potential energy. It's similar to raising objects against gravity except instead of moving objects against the attraction of gravity, it is moving objects against the attraction of plus and minus charges. To illustrate this, let's look at the simplest of elements, hydrogen....

The hydrogen atom consists of one proton (+) and one electron (-). The proton sits in the center (nucleus) of the atom. The diagram shows the electron as a particle orbiting the nucleus. If an electron is moved farther away from the proton, it takes energy because they are attracted to each other (like gravity). The farther away the electron has been moved away from the proton, the more energy it takes, and the more potential energy stored in the electron. When the electron drops back closer to the proton, it will convert that potential energy to light energy. The light energy can be in the form of infrared, visible, ultraviolet, or even X-ray light.

Helium has two protons.  Would you think it takes more or less energy to pull an electron away from the helium nucleus compared to a hydrogen nucleus?

Would an electron that has been pulled away from a helium nucleus have more or less potential energy than an electron that was pulled away from an hydrogen nucleus?

Check which items below possess kinetic energy Check which situations below are exhibiting energy doing work.
[ ] Roller coaster stopped at the top of a hill.
[ ] A stretched rubber band
[ ] A candy bar
[ ] Water behind a dam
[ ] Wind
[ ] A car coasting down a hill
[ ] A car going up a hill
[ ] Blowing up a balloon.
[ ] A car just sitting in the driveway.
[ ] A stick of dynamite.
[ ] Dynamite exploding.
[ ] Earth going around the sun.
[ ] Wind pushing on wind generators.
[ ] Talking

Horsepower is work energy per minute.  It came from the fact that one horse using a pulley could lift 330 lbs 100 feet in one minute. So that's 330lbs x 100 ft / 1 min. Or 33,000 ft·lbs/min. In other words, the pounds (lbs) times the feet divided by the minutes will come out to 33000 if one horsepower. We need an elevator to lift 1550 lbs. If this elevator gets 1550 lbs up to the 20th floor (200. feet) within half a minute, what horsepower motor is it using?  Dimensional analysis uses the trick of letting the dimensions guide how to do the problem.  Since horsepower has the units of ft·lbs/min, then it says to multiply the feet by the pounds, then divide by the minutes.  On the exam, the values will be different and the problem won't be totally set up.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
1
Distance lifted
force to lift
Divide by minutes
convert to horsepower
  Answer in horsepower
2
200.
ft
1550
lbs
 
1
horsepower
=
______
horsepower
3
       
0.50
min
33000
ft·lbs/min
     

ANSWERS:
Heterogeneous mixtures: Root beer float, , raisin bread, muddy water, Pepsi on ice, orange juice with pulp, Christmas wrapping paper, rusty iron nail
Homogeneous mixtures: Grape juice, toothpaste, syrup, filtered orange juice, plain paper, 14 karat gold ring, glass in a window, urine, air
Compounds: Sodium chloride (table salt), ice made from pure water, NaHCO3 (baking soda), quartz, pure water
Elements: Aluminum foil, 24 karat (carat) gold ring, iron nail  

BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

You will be asked to balance the following equations: I will give the type of reaction just for additional information.  At the end of these equations, I will go through the steps of balancing some of them.

(a) H2 + O2 --> H2O
Combustion reaction because of oxygen. It also qualifies as a combination or synthesis reaction.
(b) C + Fe2O3 --> Fe + CO
This is a single replacement (displacement) reaction. The carbon atom(s) replaces the iron. This is reaction shows how to turn iron ore into metallic iron.
(c) H2SO4 + NaOH --> H2O + Na2SO4
                                --> HOH + Na2SO4
This is a double replacement reaction and also called a neutralization reaction. It's a bit hard to see the double-replacement. If water is written as HOH, you can tell that the first H in water is the one that came from sulfuric acid and replaced the sodium (Na).
(d) Al2(CO3)3 --> Al2O3 + CO2
This is a decomposition reaction. Most carbonates (CO3) will decompose to CO2.
(e) NH4I + Cl2 --> NH4Cl + I2
This is a single replacement reaction. The more reactive chlorine takes iodine's place.

Balance the following equations: (I will comment on the reaction)
(f) MnO2 + CO --> Mn2O3 + CO2
Carbon monoxide is commonly used to strip off oxygen atoms from metals. This above reaction shows the first step. If more CO is present, eventually all oxygen atoms will be grabbed by CO and manganese (Mn) metal will be left. This is how many metal ores get converted to metals.


(g) Mg3N2 + H2O --> Mg(OH)2 + NH3

The burning of magnesium metal ribbons in chemistry labs is a common demonstration (2Mg + O2 --> MgO). After burning, they point out the white powder residue, and say that is magnesium oxide (MgO). Because air is mostly nitrogen, there's also some magnesium nitride produced (Mg3N2). If some water is added to the white powder, you will smell ammonia. That can't happen if the powder is only magnesium oxide (MgO). You might stump your lab instructor with that observation.

(h) C3H5(NO3)3 --> CO2+H2O+N2+O2


Whenever you see NO3 in a formula, watch out. It's often explosive or at least creates oxygen to make something explosive. Also, whenever a reaction produces a lot of gases like here, then it's usually an explosive. Explosive power comes from a lot of gases being produced in a closed area at a fast rate. The starting material here is nitroglycerin. Interestly, nitroglycerin (diluted) is also used for medical purposes.
Extra Question: Go to this link and report on the medical use of nitroglycerin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitroglycerin

(i) FeS + O2 --> Fe2O3 + SO2
Hint: When balancing this equation, balance the irons first, then the sulfur. In equations with O2, alway save the O2 for last.

(j) Cu(NO3)2 --> CuO + NO2 + O2


Like mentioned on (c), nitrates are often a source of oxygen and belong to a class of compounds called oxidizers. They are often used in fireworks. Copper compounds are often blue and flames in contact with copper are also blue.

(k) NO2 + H2O --> HNO3 + NO
Your automobile produces nitrogen dioxide because combustion in the cylinders convert some nitrogen in the air to various nitrogen oxides. In contact with water, nitrogen dioxide turns into nitric acid and nitrogen monoxide. Both are unhealthy.

(l) Al + H2SO4 --> Al2(SO4)3 + H2
Many metals are dissolved by sulfuric acid. Acids have an "H+" ion, which is short one electron. Many metals have their outer electrons pulled off by the "H+" ion. When that happens, the metal dissolves. This equation is somewhat simplified because it doesn't show these as ions dissolved in water. Here is the full balanced equation with the ions. You might use it to solve for the above equation:
2Al(s) + 6H+(aq) + 3SO42-(aq) --> 2Al3+(aq) + 3SO42-(aq) + 3H2(g)

(m) HCN + O2 --> N2 + CO2 + H2O
This equation is ironic. HCN is hydrogen cyanide, the poison used in the gas chambers in World War II. If burned, the hydrogen cyanide is made completely harmless.


(n) B5H9 + O2 --> B2O3 + H2O
This is where symbolic equations are very misleading. You can't appreciate the real chemistry.  B5H9 is called pentaborane and is one of the most dangerous compounds around. It's a powerful rocket fuel that the military nicknamed the Green Dragon because of the green flame. Low doses can cause kidney failure and nervous system damage. Exposure to the air can make it explode as well as any hard bumps. Therefore, when balancing this equation, be extra careful not to shake the table.

How to balance some of the above chemical equations:

(b) C + Fe2O3 --> Fe + CO
Here's how to balance this one.  Look at the "C" and see that there is one on the left side.  On the right side we see "CO" that also has just one carbon.  So as far as carbon atoms are concerned, the starting equation is balanced.  We now turn our attention to Fe2O3.  Here we see two iron atoms (Fe2); however on the right side, there's only one iron "Fe". To fix that we write:
C + Fe2O3 --> 2Fe + CO
Right now, the carbon atoms and the iron (Fe) atoms are balanced. We now look at the third element, oxygen.  On the left side there are 3 oxygen atoms, but the right side only has one inside of "CO".  To fix that we write "3CO".
C + Fe2O3 --> 2Fe + 3CO
This equation is balanced for Fe and for oxygen, but by writing "3CO", we put the carbon atoms out of balance, so we now write "3C" on the left side so that carbon atoms balance.
3
C + Fe2O3 --> 2Fe + 3CO
This is the balanced equation because all atoms started with are accounted for when the reaction is over with.
3C, 2Fe, 3O --> 2Fe, 3C, 3O     They balance.

(c) H2SO4 + NaOH --> H2O + Na2SO4
                                --> HOH + Na2SO4
This is a double replacement reaction and also called a neutralization reaction. It's a bit hard to see the double-replacement. If water is written as HOH, you can tell that the first H is the one that came from sulfuric acid and replaced the sodium (Na).

H2SO4 + NaOH -->  HOH + Na2SO4
Here's how to balance this one.   Start with the left compound and look at the hydrogen.  H2 means 2 hydrogen atoms. This balancing is a little tricky because these hydrogen atoms are what makes H2SO4 acidic.  It's best not to mix these hydrogen atoms up with the one on NaOH.
On the right side there's only one "
H" atom. So we balance it by putting a two in front of HOH

H
2SO4 + NaOH -->  2HOH + Na2SO4
Right now, the acidic hydrogen atoms balance.  So let's go on to the SO4 group (sulfate) in H2SO4   The left side only has one SO4 and the right side only has one.  So the SO4 group is balanced.  We then move on to "Na" in NaOH.  There's only one sodium (Na) in NaOH, but on the right  side Na2SO4 has two Na atoms.  To fix this we need 2NaOH.
H2SO4 + 2NaOH -->  2HOH + Na2SO4

What's left is the OH (hydroxide) group.  There's two on the left and two on the right, so those are balanced.  So here's the before and after count:
2H, 1 SO4, 2Na, 2OH --> 2H, 2OH, 2Na, 1 SO4  They all balance. So the above equation is the balanced equation.

(h)
C3H5(NO3)3   -> CO2 + H2O + N2 + O2
You start with the most complex compound, which is the one of the left.  Let’s start with balancing carbon atoms. We see there is 3 carbon atoms in C3H5(NO3)3, so we need 3CO2 to have 3 carbon atoms on the right side.
C3H5(NO3)3   -> 3CO2 + H2O + N2 + O2
When we try to balance hydrogen atoms we see that we have five on the left, but hydrogen in water on the right is in pairs (H2O).  So we have to double everything in order to balance 2x5 hydrogens on left and 5x2 hydrogens on right.  That gives us 10 hydrogen atoms on both sides.  We will also have to double the carbon atoms on left and right because we put a "2" out front of C3H5(NO3)3 in order to make 10 hydrogen atoms.
2C3H5(NO3)3   -> 6CO2 + 5H2O + N2 + O2
Now let’s balance the nitrogen atoms (Always balance oxygen last because it is in more than one compound on the right).  In (NO3)3, there are 3 nitrogen atoms, but that is doubled because of the 2 in front of nitroglycerin.  So there are 6 nitrogen atoms on the left, which we can balance with 3 N2 molecules on the right.
2C3H5(NO3)3   -> 6CO2 + 5H2O + 3N2 + O2
All that is left to balance are the oxygen atoms.  The left side has 9 oxygen atoms in (NO3)3, but since there are two nitroglycerin molecules, that is doubled to make 18 oxygen atoms currently on the left side.  On the right side we have
 6CO2 + 5H2O + 3N2 + O2.  The 6CO2 gives us 12 oxygen atoms, the 5H2O gives us 5 more, and then O2 is 2 more.  That adds up to 19 oxygen atoms.  So we are not balanced.  It would be balanced if we just took ½ of O2 to get a single oxygen.  Then the right side would have 18 oxygen atoms.  Sometimes an equation might write ½O2 but that’s not normally wanted.  So to get rid of ½O2, we just double everything.
4C3H5(NO3)3   -> 12CO2 + 10H2O + 6N2 + O2
Now we have 36 oxygen atoms on the left and 36 on the right.  The other elements should still be balanced because they all got doubled equally.

(i) FeS + O2 --> Fe2O3 + SO2
Hint: When balancing this equation, balance the irons first, then the sulfur. In equations with O2, alway save the O2 for last.
    The number of oxygen atoms don't match.  When solving these save oxygen for last because on the right side it is in two different compounds.  Also start with the most complex looking molecule,which would be Fe2O3
FeS + O2 --> Fe2O3 + SO2
  The  Fe2O3 has 2 iron (Fe) atoms, so we need to put a 2 in front of FeS on the left side so that the iron atoms balance.  We don't bother with the oxygen atoms just yet.
2FeS + O2 --> Fe2O3 + SO2
Now we look at the sulfur in "2FeS" and realize we need 2 sulfur atoms on the right side, so we put a 2 in front of SO2.
2FeS + O2 --> Fe2O3 + 2SO2
At this point iron and sulfur atoms balance, so we have oxygen left to balance.  On the right side there are 3 oxygen atoms in Fe2O3, and there are 4 oxygen atoms in 2SO2.  That's a total of 7 oxygen atoms on the right side.  On the left side we just have O2.  We would have to have 3 and 1/2 O2 molecules to get 7 oxygen atoms.  3 1/2 O2 doesn't look that good, so we simply double it to get 7O2.  Because we doubled the oxygen atoms, we need to double all of the other compounds.  So we end up with. Now everything is balanced.
4FeS + 7O2 --> 2Fe2O3 + 4SO2

(j) Cu(NO3)2 --> CuO + NO2 + O2
The hint is to do the oxygens last.  Another hint is to start with the most complicated compound in the formula, which is Cu(NO3)2.  Let's start with copper (Cu).  We have one on the left and one on the right, so as far as copper is concerned, it is balanced.  Now lets go to the "N" inside of Cu(NO3)2.  There are two nitrogen atoms because of the parenthesis around the (NO3).  So we have two N on the left side but only one in the NO2 on the right.  So we make it 2NO2, so that the right side has two nitrogen atoms.  So far we have this:
Cu(NO3)2 --> CuO + 2NO2 + O2
So far the Cu and the N balance. Now we tackle the oxygen at the end. The left side has 6 oxygen atoms in (NO3)2.   The right side has 7 (CuO=1, 2NO2=4, and O2=2).  So now our oxygen atoms on the left side are too few.  The only way to increase them on the left side is to double the Cu(NO3)2 to 2Cu(NO3)2.  Well, now we have to start over again.  We have two copper atoms on the left so we have turn CuO into 2CuO, to get 2 Cu on the right.
The same for "N".  We now have 4 "N" on the left from "2Cu(NO3)2".  So we make the "2NO2" to "4NO2" in order to have 4 "N" also on the right. Our equation now is:
2Cu(NO3)2 --> 2CuO + 4NO2 + O2
 Then we count the oxygen atoms again on the left.  "2Cu(NO3)2" has 12 oxygen atoms. On the right side our "2CuO" gives us 2 oxygen atoms, the "4NO2" gives us 8. So that totals 10.  The O2 makes 12 oxygen atoms, so we are now done. 


CHM151Home page