HESI A2
Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test
1. How many times more acidic is a substance with a pH of 3 compared to a substance with a pH of 5?
- A. 8
- B. 2
- C. 100
- D. 1,000
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The pH scale is logarithmic, indicating that each pH unit change reflects a 10-fold difference in acidity level. Going from pH 5 to pH 3 involves a difference of 2 units, which translates to a 100-fold increase in acidity level (10^2 = 100 for each unit). Therefore, a substance with a pH of 3 is 1,000 times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 5 (100 * 10 = 1,000). Choice A (8) is incorrect as it does not consider the logarithmic nature of the pH scale. Choice B (2) is incorrect because it represents the difference in pH units, not the increase in acidity level. Choice C (100) is incorrect as it miscalculates the increase in acidity level, which is 1,000 times and not 100 times.
2. Where would you expect tap water to fall on the pH scale?
- A. Between 1 and 3
- B. Between 4 and 6
- C. Between 6 and 8
- D. Between 8 and 10
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Tap water typically falls within the pH range of 6 to 8, making it slightly acidic to neutral. Most municipal water systems aim to provide water that is safe for consumption and falls within this pH range. A pH level of 7 is considered neutral, so tap water may vary slightly on either side of this number but typically remains within the 6 to 8 range to ensure it is safe for consumption. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because tap water is not expected to have a pH as low as 1-3 (highly acidic) or as high as 8-10 (alkaline); it usually falls within the slightly acidic to neutral range, hence falling between 6 and 8 on the pH scale.
3. What type of bond is present in sodium chloride?
- A. Covalent
- B. Ionic
- C. Metallic
- D. Hydrogen
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Ionic bonds are found in sodium chloride. In an ionic bond, one atom donates an electron to another atom, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions that are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction. Sodium chloride is a classic example of an ionic compound, where sodium (Na) donates an electron to chlorine (Cl), forming Na+ and Cl- ions that are attracted to each other, creating a crystal lattice structure. Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, which is not the case in sodium chloride. Metallic bonds occur in metals where electrons are delocalized and shared across a lattice, unlike the specific transfer seen in ionic bonds. Hydrogen bonds are a type of intermolecular force, not the primary bond type present in sodium chloride.
4. Which element has an atomic mass greater than that of sodium?
- A. Boron
- B. Oxygen
- C. Fluorine
- D. Silicon
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Silicon has an atomic mass greater than that of sodium. The atomic mass of silicon is approximately 28.0855 u, whereas the atomic mass of sodium is approximately 22.9898 u. Therefore, silicon has a greater atomic mass compared to sodium. Boron, Oxygen, and Fluorine have atomic masses lower than sodium, making them incorrect choices in this context.
5. What is the energy required to remove the outermost electron from an atom called?
- A. covalent bonding
- B. electronegativity
- C. atomic radius
- D. ionization energy
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Ionization energy is the energy needed to remove the outermost electron from an atom, resulting in the formation of a positively charged ion. The higher the ionization energy, the more difficult it is to extract an electron. Electronegativity, however, measures an atom's ability to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. Atomic radius refers to the distance from the nucleus to the outermost electron. Covalent bonding involves sharing electron pairs between atoms to create a stable bond. Therefore, the correct answer is ionization energy as it specifically relates to the energy needed to remove an electron from an atom.
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