when an acid is added to a base water and a salt form what kinds of bonds form in these two compounds

HESI A2

Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test

1. When an acid is added to a base, water and a salt form. What kinds of bonds form in these two compounds?

A. Liquid and metallic
B. Polar and nonpolar covalent
C. Polar covalent and ionic
D. Ionic only

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In water, the bond formed between the oxygen atom and the hydrogen atoms is a polar covalent bond. The oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons more strongly, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms. In the salt formed, the bond between the metal cation and the nonmetal anion is predominantly an ionic bond. The metal cation donates electrons to the nonmetal anion, resulting in the formation of oppositely charged ions that are held together by electrostatic attractions. Choices A and B are incorrect because water and salts do not form bonds that are liquid and metallic, or polar and nonpolar covalent. Choice D is incorrect as it oversimplifies the types of bonds present in water and salts, failing to differentiate between the covalent bond in water and the ionic bond in the salt.

2. Which factor does not affect the reaction rate of a chemical reaction?

A. Temperature
B. Surface area
C. Concentration of reactants
D. Color of the reactants

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The color of reactants is not a factor that affects the rate of a chemical reaction. Temperature, surface area, and concentration of reactants are known factors that influence the reaction rate. Temperature plays a significant role in altering the reaction rate by affecting the kinetic energy of molecules. Surface area impacts the rate by providing more area for collisions to occur. Concentration affects the frequency of effective collisions. On the other hand, the color of reactants is a physical property that does not directly affect the speed of a chemical reaction.

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 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.

5. How many protons does Potassium have?

A. 18
B. 19
C. 20
D. 21

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Potassium, with the atomic symbol K, has 19 protons, which is equal to its atomic number. The number of protons determines the element's identity, and in the case of Potassium, it is 19. Choice A (18) is incorrect as it does not correspond to Potassium's proton number. Choice C (20) and Choice D (21) are also incorrect as they do not match the actual number of protons in Potassium.