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. Which elements are typically involved in hydrogen bonding?

A. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
B. Fluorine, chlorine, oxygen
C. Fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen
D. Fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Hydrogen bonding occurs between hydrogen and highly electronegative atoms such as fluorine, oxygen, and nitrogen. These atoms have a strong pull on the shared electrons, leading to a partial negative charge on them, which allows them to form hydrogen bonds with hydrogen or other electronegative atoms. Choice A is incorrect because carbon is not typically involved in hydrogen bonding. Choice B is incorrect because chlorine is not as electronegative as nitrogen, and choice C is incorrect because nitrogen is more electronegative than chlorine.

3. 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.

4. What is the oxidation state of the potassium ion in the compound KCl?

A. +1
B. -1
C. +2
D. -2

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In the compound KCl (potassium chloride), potassium is in Group 1 of the periodic table, which means it has a valence electron of 1. Chlorine is in Group 17 and gains one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration by forming an ionic bond with potassium. As a result, the potassium ion in KCl has a +1 oxidation state. Therefore, the correct answer is +1. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not reflect the oxidation state of the potassium ion in KCl.

5. How many neutrons are in an atom of helium-4?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The atomic number of helium is 2, indicating it has 2 protons. Helium-4, the most common isotope of helium, has 2 neutrons in addition to its 2 protons. Therefore, the correct answer is 2 neutrons in an atom of helium-4. Choice B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not match the correct composition of helium-4, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.