which two elements are most alike in reactivity

HESI A2

HESI A2 Chemistry

1. Which two elements are most alike in reactivity?

A. He and H
B. K and Ar
C. Cl and P
D. Ba and Mg

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Chlorine (Cl) and Phosphorus (P) are most alike in reactivity among the given pairs. Both elements are nonmetals and belong to Group 7 (halogens) and Group 15 (nitrogen group), respectively. They have similar electronic configurations and can form compounds by gaining or sharing electrons. Chlorine is highly reactive and can easily form ionic compounds, while phosphorus also shows a range of reactivity in its compounds. Choice A (He and H) is incorrect because helium (He) is a noble gas and hydrogen (H) is a nonmetal, so they are not similar in reactivity. Choice B (K and Ar) is incorrect as potassium (K) is a metal and argon (Ar) is a noble gas, having different reactivities. Choice D (Ba and Mg) is incorrect because barium (Ba) and magnesium (Mg) are both metals, but their reactivities differ due to their positions in the periodic table.

2. What is the name of the compound CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-CH₃?

A. Cyclobutane
B. Butane
C. Butene
D. Butyne

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The compound CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-CH₃ is named butane. Butane is a straight-chain alkane comprising four carbon atoms connected by single bonds. The prefix 'but-' denotes the presence of four carbon atoms, while the suffix '-ane' indicates it is an alkane with single bonds between the carbon atoms. Choice A, Cyclobutane, is incorrect as it refers to a cyclic hydrocarbon with four carbon atoms in a ring structure. Choice C, Butene, is incorrect because it is an alkene with a double bond between two carbon atoms, not a saturated hydrocarbon like butane. Choice D, Butyne, is also incorrect as it is an alkyne with a triple bond between two carbon atoms, unlike the single bonds in butane.

3. Which elements are typically involved in hydrogen bonding?

A. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
B. Fluorine, chlorine, oxygen
C. Fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen
D. Fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Hydrogen bonding occurs between hydrogen and highly electronegative atoms such as fluorine, oxygen, and nitrogen. These atoms have a strong pull on the shared electrons, leading to a partial negative charge on them, which allows them to form hydrogen bonds with hydrogen or other electronegative atoms. Choice A is incorrect because carbon is not typically involved in hydrogen bonding. Choice B is incorrect because chlorine is not as electronegative as nitrogen, and choice C is incorrect because nitrogen is more electronegative than chlorine.

4. What charge do Group IIIA elements have?

A. +1
B. +2
C. +3
D. 0

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Group IIIA elements, also known as Group 13 elements, have a common oxidation state of +3. This is because they have three valence electrons and tend to lose these electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, resulting in a +3 charge. Choice A (+1) and Choice B (+2) are incorrect because Group IIIA elements typically lose all three valence electrons to attain a stable configuration, leading to a +3 charge. Choice D (0) is incorrect as these elements do not gain electrons but rather lose them, resulting in a positive charge.

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

A. 2 g/mol
B. 58 g/mol
C. 87 g/mol
D. 128 g/mol

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The molar mass of hydrogen iodide (HI) is the sum of the atomic masses of its constituent elements. Hydrogen (H) has a molar mass of approximately 1 g/mol, and iodine (I) has a molar mass of about 127 g/mol. Thus, the molar mass of hydrogen iodide (HI) is approximately 1 + 127 = 128 g/mol. Rounding to the nearest whole number, the molar mass of hydrogen iodide is 128 g/mol, which is closest to choice C. Choice A (2 g/mol) is too low and does not reflect the correct molar mass of hydrogen iodide. Choice B (58 g/mol) is significantly lower than the actual molar mass. Choice D (128 g/mol) matches the calculated molar mass but is not the nearest whole number as requested.