General Chemistry Exam Review

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and calculations related to general chemistry to aid in exam preparation.

What is a mole in chemistry?

A mole is a unit used to measure the amount of a substance, equivalent to approximately 6.022 x 10^23 particles.

What is Avogadro's number?

Avogadro's number is approximately 6.022 x 10^23, representing the number of particles in one mole.

How do you calculate the number of moles from a given number of atoms?

Use the formula: number of moles = number of atoms / Avogadro's number.

What is a chemical equation?

A chemical equation is shorthand notation of a chemical reaction that describes reactants, products, physical states, and experimental conditions.

What does it mean if a chemical equation is balanced?

It means the total mass of the products equals the total mass of the reactants, obeying the law of conservation of mass.

What are the five signs of a chemical reaction?

Release of gas, formation of solid precipitate, heat production or absorption, color change, and behavior changes in an electrical/magnetic field.

What are the four types of chemical reactions?

Combination, decomposition, single-replacement, and double-replacement.

What is a limiting reagent?

The limiting reagent is the substance that is used up first in a chemical reaction, limiting the amount of product formed.

what are the patterns of chemical reactions

1. combination

2. decomposition

3. single replacement

4. double replacement

what is a combination reaction

A combination reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which two or more reactants combine to form a single product.

what is a decomposition reaction

A decomposition reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler products.

what is a single replacement reaction

A single replacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction where one element replaces another element in a compound, forming a new element and a new compound.

what is a double placement reaction

A double replacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction where two compounds exchange components to form two new compounds.

What is the theoretical yield?

The maximum amount of product that can be produced from a chemical reaction as calculated theoretically.

why do we balance chemical equations

Balancing chemical equations is necessary to obey the law of conservation of mass, ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation, reflecting that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

what is aqueous 

A solution in which water is the solvent, often used to describe substances dissolved in water.

What defines a precipitation reaction?

A precipitation reaction occurs when one or more insoluble products form a solid in a reaction.

What are oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions?

Reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from one reactant to another.

What are acid-base reactions characterized by?

The transfer of a hydrogen ion (H+) from an acid to a base.

What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

To ensure that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

How do you recognize a double-replacement reaction?

In a double-replacement reaction, two compounds exchange partners to produce two new compounds.

What is the molar mass of water (H2O)?

18.02 g/mol.

What is the significance of subscripts and coefficients in a chemical formula?

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms in a molecule, while coefficients indicate the number of molecules.

What reaction typically produces CO2 and H2O as products?

Combustion reactions.

What is required to predict if a precipitate will form in a reaction?

Knowledge of the solubility rules for ionic compounds.