which ion would you expect to dominate in water solutions of bases

HESI A2

Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test

1. Which ion would you expect to dominate in water solutions of bases?

A. MgCl₂
B. 2HCl
C. H⁺
D. OH⁻

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In water solutions of bases, the dominant ion would be OH⁻ (hydroxide ion). Bases release OH⁻ ions when dissolved in water, increasing the concentration of hydroxide ions and leading to a higher pH. This is in contrast to acids, which release H⁺ ions. Therefore, in water solutions of bases, the presence of OH⁻ ions signifies the basic nature of the solution. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because MgCl₂ is a salt, 2HCl is a compound consisting of two hydrogen ions and one chloride ion, and H⁺ represents a hydrogen ion typically associated with acids, not bases.

2. Which is a property of an ionic compound?

A. Low melting point
B. Poor conductivity
C. Shared electrons
D. Crystalline shape

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Ionic compounds are composed of positively and negatively charged ions that are held together by strong electrostatic forces. These ions arrange themselves in a repeating pattern to form a stable and orderly structure known as a crystalline shape. This is a characteristic property of ionic compounds, making choice D the correct answer. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because ionic compounds typically have high melting points, good conductivity in the molten or dissolved state, and do not involve shared electrons but rather the transfer of electrons between atoms.

3. What is the oxidation state of the nitrogen atom in the compound NH3?

A. -3
B. -1
C. +1
D. +3

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the compound NH3, nitrogen is bonded to three hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen is always assigned an oxidation state of +1. Since the overall charge of NH3 is zero, the oxidation state of nitrogen must be -1 to balance out the hydrogen's +1 oxidation state. Therefore, the correct oxidation state of the nitrogen atom in NH3 is -1. Choice A (-3) is incorrect because it does not account for the electronegativity of hydrogen. Choice C (+1) and Choice D (+3) are incorrect as the nitrogen atom in NH3 needs to balance the +1 oxidation state of each hydrogen atom, resulting in a total of -3 to maintain the compound's charge neutrality.

4. What is the name of the process by which a gas turns into a liquid?

A. Sublimation
B. Condensation
C. Evaporation
D. Deposition

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Condensation. Condensation is the process where gas transforms into a liquid. When gas cools down, it loses energy and its particles come closer, leading to the formation of liquid droplets. Sublimation is the direct transition from solid to gas without passing through the liquid state. Evaporation is the process of liquid turning into a gas, and deposition is the transition of gas directly into a solid. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they describe different phase transitions.

5. If 5 g of NaCl (1 mole of NaCl) is dissolved in enough water to make 500 L of solution, what is the molarity of the solution?

A. 1.0 M
B. 2.0 M
C. 11.7 M
D. The answer cannot be determined from the information given.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Molarity is defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. In this case, 5 g of NaCl represents 1 mole of NaCl. Given that this 1 mole is dissolved in 500 L of solution, the molarity of the solution can be calculated as follows: Molarity = moles of solute / liters of solution = 1 mole / 500 L = 0.002 M. However, the molarity is usually expressed in moles per liter, so to convert to M, you divide by 0.085 L (which is 500 L in liters) to get 11.7 M. Choice A is incorrect because the molarity is not 1.0 M. Choice B is incorrect because the molarity is not 2.0 M. Choice D is incorrect because the molarity can be determined from the information provided.