HESI A2
Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test
1. 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.
2. What are the two types of chemical bonding?
- A. Covalent & hydrogen
- B. Ionic & covalent
- C. Ionic & hydrogen
- D. Covalent & metallic
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ionic & covalent. Ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons between atoms, resulting in the formation of positive and negative ions attracted to each other. Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons between atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration. Choice A is incorrect as hydrogen bonding is a type of intermolecular force, not a primary type of chemical bonding. Choice C is incorrect as hydrogen bonding is not a primary type of chemical bonding. Choice D is incorrect as metallic bonding involves the sharing of electrons in a 'sea of electrons' within a metal lattice, not covalent bonding.
3. What is the primary function of enzymes?
- A. To provide energy for reactions
- B. To speed up reactions
- C. To decrease activation energy
- D. To act as a catalyst
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Enzymes function to speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They act as biological catalysts, providing an alternative pathway for the reaction to proceed more rapidly without being consumed in the process. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because enzymes do not provide energy for reactions (they do not generate energy), their primary function is not to decrease activation energy (though they do lower it), and while they act as catalysts, the primary function is to speed up reactions by lowering activation energy.
4. Aluminum (Al) has 13 protons in its nucleus. What is the number of electrons in an Al3+ ion?
- A. 16
- B. 13
- C. 10
- D. 3
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Aluminum (Al) has an atomic number of 13, which indicates it normally has 13 electrons to balance the 13 protons in its nucleus. When Al forms an Al3+ ion, it loses 3 electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Therefore, the Al3+ ion will have 13 - 3 = 10 electrons. Choice A (16) is incorrect as it doesn't take into account the charge of the Al3+ ion. Choice B (13) is incorrect because the Al3+ ion has lost electrons. Choice D (3) is incorrect as it doesn't reflect the total number of electrons lost by the Al atom to form the Al3+ ion.
5. Which of the following compounds is ionic?
- A. NaCl
- B. H₂O
- C. HCl
- D. NH₃
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is NaCl (sodium chloride). Ionic compounds are formed by the transfer of electrons between a metal and a nonmetal. In NaCl, sodium (Na) is a metal, and chlorine (Cl) is a nonmetal. Sodium donates an electron to chlorine, leading to the formation of the ionic bond between them. This results in the formation of an ionic compound, where positively charged sodium ions are attracted to negatively charged chloride ions, creating a crystal lattice structure. Choices B, C, and D are not ionic compounds. H₂O (water) is a covalent compound formed by the sharing of electrons between two nonmetals (oxygen and hydrogen). HCl (hydrogen chloride) and NH₃ (ammonia) are also covalent compounds involving nonmetals sharing electrons, not transferring them.
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