what is the ph of acids

HESI A2

Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test

1. What is the pH of acids?

A. 7.5
B. < 7
C. > 7
D. 7

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: < 7. Acids have a pH lower than 7, indicating higher acidity. A pH below 7 signifies an acidic solution, with lower values indicating stronger acids. Choice A (7.5) is incorrect as it is greater than 7, which is alkaline. Choice C (> 7) is incorrect as values greater than 7 represent alkaline/basic solutions. Choice D (7) is incorrect because a pH of 7 is neutral, not acidic.

2. What is the charge of an alpha particle?

A. -1
B. +1
C. +2
D. No charge

Correct answer: C

Rationale: An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, resulting in a total charge of +2 due to the presence of two positively charged protons. Therefore, the correct answer is C, indicating a charge of +2. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because an alpha particle is positively charged due to the two protons it contains, resulting in a charge of +2.

3. Cobalt-60 has a half-life of 5 years. If you start with 20 g of cobalt-60, how much is left after 10 years?

A. 15 g
B. 10 g
C. 5 g
D. 2.5 g

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Cobalt-60's half-life of 5 years means that after 5 years, half of the initial amount remains. Therefore, after 10 years, a quarter (half of a half) of the initial amount will remain. Starting with 20 g, after 10 years, 5 g of cobalt-60 will be left. Choice A (15 g) is incorrect because it assumes a linear decrease, not considering the exponential decay characteristic of radioactive substances. Choice B (10 g) is incorrect as it overlooks that after 10 years, more decay has occurred. Choice D (2.5 g) is incorrect as it represents only an eighth of the initial amount after 10 years, not a quarter.

4. What are the three types of intermolecular forces?

A. Ionic, covalent, hydrogen
B. Hydrogen bonding, dipole interactions, dispersion forces
C. Van der Waals, ionic, covalent
D. Hydrogen, Van der Waals, dispersion forces

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The three types of intermolecular forces are hydrogen bonding, dipole interactions, and dispersion forces. Option A includes ionic and covalent bonds, which are intramolecular forces, not intermolecular. Option C includes van der Waals forces, which encompass dipole interactions and dispersion forces, but also includes ionic and covalent bonds. Option D is close but misses dipole interactions, which are distinct from hydrogen bonding and dispersion forces. Therefore, option B is the correct choice as it includes the three specific types of intermolecular forces.

5. Balance this equation: Fe + Cl2 â†’ FeCl3

A. 2Fe + 2Cl2 â†’ 2FeCl3
B. 2Fe + 3Cl2 â†’ 2FeCl3
C. 3Fe + 2Cl2 â†’ 3FeCl3
D. 3Fe + 3Cl2 â†’ 6FeCl3

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the given equation, Fe combines with Cl to form FeCl3. To balance the equation, we need to have the same number of each element on both sides. Since Cl is represented as Cl2 in the equation, we need 3 Cl2 molecules to balance Fe, resulting in 2Fe + 3Cl2 â†’ 2FeCl3. Choice A is incorrect because it only balances Fe but not Cl2. Choice C is incorrect as it balances Fe but not Cl2. Choice D is incorrect as it balances Fe but overbalances Cl2.