if gas a has four times the molar mass of gas b you would expect it to diffuse through a plug

HESI A2

Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test

1. If gas A has four times the molar mass of gas B, you would expect it to diffuse through a plug ___________.

A. at half the rate of gas B
B. at twice the rate of gas B
C. at a quarter the rate of gas B
D. at four times the rate of gas B

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When comparing the diffusion rates of two gases, according to Graham's law of diffusion, the rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the square root of the molar mass. If gas A has four times the molar mass of gas B, the square root of the molar masses ratio (4:1) is 2. This means that gas A would diffuse through a plug at half the rate of gas B. Therefore, the correct answer is A, at half the rate of gas B. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not reflect the correct relationship between the molar masses and the rates of diffusion according to Graham's law.

2. What charge do Group VA elements typically have?

A. -1
B. -2
C. -3
D. 0

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Group VA elements, also known as Group 15 elements, typically have a charge of -3. This is because they have five valence electrons and tend to gain three electrons to achieve a stable octet configuration, resulting in a -3 charge. Choice A (-1) and Choice B (-2) are incorrect because Group VA elements need to gain three electrons to reach a stable electron configuration, not just one or two. Choice D (0) is also incorrect because Group VA elements do not lose electrons to form a charge of 0.

3. What effect does increasing the surface area of a reactant have?

A. Decreases the reaction rate
B. Has no effect
C. Increases the reaction rate
D. Stops the reaction

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Increasing the surface area of a reactant leads to more particles being exposed to the reaction, which in turn increases the reaction rate. This is because a larger surface area provides more sites for collisions between reacting particles, resulting in a higher frequency of successful collisions and thus accelerating the reaction. Choice A, 'Decreases the reaction rate,' is incorrect because increasing surface area actually accelerates the reaction. Choice B, 'Has no effect,' is incorrect as increasing surface area does have a significant effect on the reaction rate. Choice D, 'Stops the reaction,' is incorrect as increasing surface area does not stop the reaction but rather enhances it.

4. 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.

5. Which type of change occurs when no change is made to the chemical composition of a substance?

A. Chemical
B. Physical
C. Nuclear
D. Mechanical

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A physical change refers to alterations in the state of matter without modifying the chemical composition of the substance. Examples of physical changes include changes in state (solid, liquid, gas), shape, size, or phase. In a physical change, the substance may look different or behave differently, but its chemical structure remains the same. On the other hand, chemical changes involve the breaking and forming of chemical bonds, resulting in the creation of entirely new substances with different chemical properties. Nuclear changes involve alterations in the nucleus of an atom, such as radioactive decay. Mechanical changes refer to changes in the position or motion of an object caused by applied forces, like pushing, pulling, or twisting.