which element would you expect to be least reactive

HESI A2

Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test

1. Which element would you expect to be least reactive?

A. Li
B. Cr
C. Nd
D. Xe

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas located in Group 18 of the periodic table. Noble gases are known for their stable and unreactive nature due to having a full outer shell of electrons. Therefore, xenon would be expected to be the least reactive among the given elements. Choice A (Li) is a metal in Group 1 of the periodic table, which tends to be reactive, especially with water. Choice B (Cr) is a transition metal known for its reactivity in some forms. Choice C (Nd) is a rare earth element, which can exhibit varying reactivity depending on the compound or environment.

2. What is a benefit of water's ability to make hydrogen bonds?

A. Lack of cohesiveness
B. Low surface tension
C. Use as a nonpolar solvent
D. High specific heat

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, high specific heat. Water's ability to form hydrogen bonds results in a high specific heat capacity, allowing it to absorb and release a large amount of heat energy with minimal temperature change. This property is essential for moderating temperature changes in organisms and maintaining stable environmental conditions for life processes. Choices A, lack of cohesiveness, and C, use as a nonpolar solvent, are incorrect. Water actually has high cohesiveness due to its ability to form hydrogen bonds, and it is a polar solvent, not nonpolar. Choice B, low surface tension, is also incorrect as water's hydrogen bonding contributes to its relatively high surface tension.

3. What creates a dipole in a covalent bond?

A. Unequal sharing of electrons
B. Equal sharing of electrons
C. Exchange of electrons
D. Transfer of electrons

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A dipole is created in a covalent bond when there is an unequal sharing of electrons between the atoms involved. This results in a partial positive charge on one atom and a partial negative charge on the other, leading to a separation of charges and the formation of a dipole. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because a dipole is specifically formed due to unequal sharing of electrons, not equal sharing, exchange, or transfer of electrons in a covalent bond.

4. What type of reaction involves atoms attempting to achieve stable electron configurations?

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

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a chemical reaction, atoms interact to achieve stable electron configurations through the formation of new chemical bonds or the breaking of existing ones. This process aims to reach a more stable state by filling or emptying electron orbitals, leading to the formation of new substances with more stable configurations. Choice B, nuclear reactions, involve changes in the atomic nucleus rather than electron configurations. Choice C, physical reactions, involve changes in physical state or appearance without changing the chemical makeup. Choice D, mechanical reactions, do not involve the rearrangement of electrons to achieve stable configurations.

5. What is the charge of noble gases?

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

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 0. Noble gases have a charge of 0 because they have full valence shells and are inert. This makes them stable and unreactive, resulting in a charge of 0 as they do not readily gain or lose electrons. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because noble gases do not typically form ions by gaining or losing electrons, so they do not carry a charge of -1, 1, or 2.