which of the following substances is a base

HESI A2

HESI A2 Chemistry Questions

1. Which of the following substances is a base?

A. Water
B. Sodium chloride
C. Ammonia
D. Salt

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Ammonia' (Choice C) as it is a common example of a base. Bases are substances that release hydroxide ions (OH-) in aqueous solutions, helping to increase the pH level. Ammonia is a weak base that can accept a proton (H+) to form ammonium hydroxide. In contrast, water (Choice A), sodium chloride (Choice B), and salt (Choice D) are not bases; water is neutral, while sodium chloride and salt are neutral compounds composed of a cation and an anion.

2. What type of bond is present in sodium chloride?

A. Covalent
B. Ionic
C. Metallic
D. Hydrogen

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Ionic bonds are found in sodium chloride. In an ionic bond, one atom donates an electron to another atom, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions that are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction. Sodium chloride is a classic example of an ionic compound, where sodium (Na) donates an electron to chlorine (Cl), forming Na+ and Cl- ions that are attracted to each other, creating a crystal lattice structure. Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, which is not the case in sodium chloride. Metallic bonds occur in metals where electrons are delocalized and shared across a lattice, unlike the specific transfer seen in ionic bonds. Hydrogen bonds are a type of intermolecular force, not the primary bond type present in sodium chloride.

3. A chemist takes 100 mL of a 40 g NaCl solution and dilutes it to 1L. What is the concentration (molarity) of the new solution?

A. 0.04 M NaCl
B. 0.25 M NaCl
C. 0.40 M NaCl
D. 2.5 M NaCl

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Initially, the chemist has 40 g of NaCl in 100 mL of solution. To find the initial molarity, we need to calculate the number of moles of NaCl using the molar mass of NaCl (58.44 g/mol). After dilution to 1 L, the molarity of the new solution can be calculated by dividing the moles of NaCl by the total volume in liters. Therefore, the concentration (molarity) of the new solution is 0.40 M NaCl. Choice A (0.04 M NaCl) is incorrect because it doesn't consider the correct molar concentration after dilution. Choice B (0.25 M NaCl) is incorrect as it also doesn't account for the correct molar concentration post-dilution. Choice D (2.5 M NaCl) is incorrect as it is too concentrated given the initial amount of NaCl and the dilution factor.

4. Which statement is true of a saturated solution?

A. It has more solute than can dissolve in the solvent.
B. It has less solute that can dissolve in the solvent.
C. It has the maximum concentration of the solute dissolved in the solvent.
D. It contains a precipitate that lowers the concentration of the solute in the solvent.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A saturated solution contains the maximum concentration of solute that can be dissolved in a specific amount of solvent at a particular temperature. Once a solution is saturated, adding more solute will not increase its concentration since the excess solute will not dissolve and will instead form a precipitate, indicating that the solution is at its maximum capacity. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because a saturated solution has reached its limit in dissolving solute, so it cannot contain more solute than it can dissolve (choice A), less solute than it can dissolve (choice B), or a precipitate that lowers the concentration of the solute in the solvent (choice D).

5. To the nearest whole number, what is the mass of one mole of hydrogen chloride?

A. 36 g/mol
B. 38 g/mol
C. 71 g/mol
D. 74 g/mol

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The molar mass of hydrogen chloride (HCl) is calculated by adding the atomic masses of hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl) together. The atomic mass of hydrogen is approximately 1 g/mol, and the atomic mass of chlorine is approximately 35.5 g/mol. Therefore, the molar mass of hydrogen chloride (HCl) is approximately 1 + 35.5 = 36.5 g/mol. When rounded to the nearest whole number, it is 36 g/mol. Therefore, the correct answer is 36 g/mol. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not reflect the accurate molar mass of hydrogen chloride.