Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Chemistry

1. What Is Static Electricity?

Static electricity is the imbalance of electric charge accumulated on an object’s surface.

It is commonly observed in daily life, resulting in phenomena such as:

• Hair rising
• A balloon sticking to a wall

2. Atomic Structure and Electric Charge

Electric charge is determined by the components of the atom:

• Proton: Positive (+) charge (located in the nucleus)
• Neutron: Neutral (0) charge (located in the nucleus)
• Electron: Negative (–) charge (orbits the nucleus)

Charge states are defined by the balance of protons and electrons:

• Neutral Atom: Equal number of protons and electrons
• Positive Charge: More protons than electrons (net loss of electrons)
• Negative Charge: More electrons than protons (net gain of electrons)

3. Methods

Transition Metal Valency and Electron Orbitals

In transition metals, the energy gap between the 4s orbital (outer shell) and the 3d orbital (inner shell) is extremely small. Because they are so close in energy, it does not take much additional energy to remove electrons from the 3d subshell after the 4s electrons have already been lost.

Electron Loss and Oxidation States

• First electrons lost: The two electrons in the 4s orbital are typically lost first, which is why almost all transition metals have a common valency of +2.
• Subsequent electrons lost: Because the 3d electrons are nearby in energy, one or more of them can also be involved in bonding, leading to higher valencies like +3, +4, or even +7 (in the case of manganese).

Moreover, the presence... Continue reading "Transition Metal Chemistry and Energy Source Analysis" »

Vernier Caliper

A Vernier caliper is an instrument for making very accurate linear measurements introduced in 1631 by Pierre Vernier of France. It uses two graduated scales: a main scale similar to that on a ruler and an auxiliary scale, the vernier, which slides parallel to the main scale and enables readings to be made to a fraction of a division on the main scale. Vernier calipers are widely used in scientific laboratories and in manufacturing for quality-control measurements.

Five Rules for Determining Significant Figures

1. Non-zero digits are significant. For example, in 6575 cm there are four significant figures; in 0.543 there are three significant figures.
2. Leading zeros are not significant. Zeros that precede the first non-zero digit indicate

Essential Chemistry Formulas and Reference

Miscellaneous Formulas

• Area of a Circle: 3.14r²
• Volume: Area × Height
• Density: Mass / Volume
• % Composition of Element: [(# of atoms of element) × (atomic weight of element)] / formula weight of substance × 100
• Molarity: (moles of solute) / (volume of solution in Liters)
• Bond Order: (# shared electrons) - (# nonbonding electrons) / 2
• Pressure: Force / Area
• Pressure × Volume: nRT
• Density of Gas: (Pressure × Molar Mass) / (R × Temperature)
• Molarity of Gas: (Density × R × Temperature) / Pressure

Temperature and Chemical Conversions

• Celsius to Kelvin: K = C + 273.15
• Kelvin to Celsius: C = K - 273.15
• Celsius to Fahrenheit: F = 9/5(C) + 32
• Fahrenheit to Celsius: C = 5/9(F - 32)
• 1 amu: 1.66054 × 10⁻²⁴ g
• Grams

🥪 Chemistry and Physics Fundamentals

Key Formulas

Density Triangle:

• Density (D) = Mass (m) ÷ Volume (V)

• Mass (m) = Density (D) × Volume (V)

• Volume (V) = Mass (m) ÷ Density (D)

Other Core Formulas & Rules:

• Neutrons = Mass Number − Atomic Number

• Valence Electrons = Outermost shell electrons

• Charge = Protons − Electrons (for ions)

• Stable Octet = 8 valence electrons (or 2 for small atoms like Helium)

Chemical Bonding

• Ionic Bond = Metal + Non-metal (electrons are transferred)

• Covalent Bond = Non-metal + Non-metal (electrons are shared)

• Diatomic molecules: H₂, N₂, O₂, F₂, Cl₂, Br₂, I₂

Power Formula:                   Energy Formula:
P = V × I                                E = P × t  

Concepts

• Conductors let

Catalytic Reforming Process Fundamentals

• Converts low-octane naphtha into high-octane reformate, which is used for gasoline blending and aromatics production.
• Feed is mixed with hydrogen, heated, and passed over a catalyst in fixed-bed reactors.
• Major reactions include dehydrogenation to aromatics, isomerization to branched paraffins, and mild hydrocracking.
• Operating conditions are typically 450–520 °C temperature and 10–45 atm pressure.
• The catalyst used is platinum on alumina or bimetallic Pt–Re on alumina.
• Main products are reformate, hydrogen, LPG, and light hydrocarbons.

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Technology

1. FCC converts heavy gas oils into valuable products like high-octane gasoline, LPG, and olefins.
2. Preheated feed contacts hot,

Acid-Base Equilibrium Practice Problems

1. The conjugate acid of HAsO₄²⁻ is:
   Answer: C. H₂AsO₄⁻
2. Which of the following tests could be used to distinguish between 1.0 M HCl and 1.0 M NaOH?
   Answer: C. II and III only
3. Consider the following Brønsted-Lowry equilibrium:
   C₆H₅NH₂(aq) + H₂O(l) ⇌ C₆H₅NH₃⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq)
   The substances acting as acids and bases from left to right are:
   Answer: C. Base, acid, acid, base
4. Which of the following are amphiprotic?
   I. H₂O, II. NH₄⁺, III. HCO₃⁻
   Answer: B. I and III only
5. Which of the following represents the equilibrium expression for the ionization of water?
   Answer: A.
6. Which of the following will have the lowest electrical conductivity?
   Answer: D. 1.00 M H₃PO₄
7. Water acts as an acid when

Hybridization in Hydrocarbons

Ethane (C₂H₆)

Ethane is sp³ hybridized with a tetrahedral geometry and a bond angle of 109.5°. One sp³ orbital of each carbon atom undergoes internuclear axial overlapping to form a sigma (σ) bond. Three sp³ orbitals of each carbon atom undergo internuclear axial overlapping with the 1s orbital of hydrogen atoms to form three sigma bonds each.

Ethene (C₂H₄)

In C₂H₄, each carbon atom is sp² hybridized and lies in a trigonal planar geometry with a bond angle of 120°. Out of three sp² hybrid orbitals:

• One sp² orbital of one carbon atom undergoes internuclear axial overlapping with the sp² orbital of another carbon atom to form one sigma (σ) bond.
• Two sp² orbitals of each carbon atom undergo internuclear

Dynamic Equilibrium and System Properties

1. Dynamic Equilibrium (⇄): This is a dynamic, not static, state. Temperature relates to the speed of molecules. Concentration formulas include C = n/v, n = C * v, and v = n/C.

• Rate: The rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction.
• Concentration: Concentrations remain constant at equilibrium, though they are not necessarily equal.
• Molecules: Molecules are destroyed and created at the same speed.
• System Type: Must be a closed system where no matter flows in or out. It requires constant temperature (no phase change, color change, or pressure change).

Inert Gases and Catalysts

• Inert Gases: Adding an inert gas (e.g., Ar, He) results in no shift in equilibrium.
• Catalysts: Adding a catalyst

Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry Techniques

Analytical techniques are methods used to identify, quantify, and understand the chemical composition and structure of substances. These techniques are broadly classified into qualitative (what is present) and quantitative (how much is present) methods.

Major Analytical Methods

Common analytical techniques include:

• Gravimetric Analysis: Involves measuring the mass of a substance to determine the amount of analyte.
• Titrimetric (Volumetric) Analysis: Based on measuring the volume of a standard solution required to react with the analyte.
• Spectroscopic Methods: Measure the interaction between light and matter.
• Electrochemical Methods: Based on the measurement of electrical properties.

Preparation and Standardization