Inorganic Chemistry Study Guide - Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Inorganic Chemistry Study Guide, including Atomic Structure, pH, Water properties, and related vocabulary, prepared in a Question and Answer style for exam review.

What is the mass and charge of a proton?

A mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu) and a positive (+) charge.

What is the mass of a neutron?

A mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).

What is the charge of an electron?

A negative (-) charge.

What defines an element?

A substance consisting of atoms which all have the same number of protons.

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons, and therefore different atomic masses.

What is an ion?

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge.

What type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms?

A covalent bond.

What does the pH scale measure?

The concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution, indicating its acidity or alkalinity.

What do pH values of 0-6 indicate about a solution?

The solution is acidic.

What does a pH value of 7 indicate about a solution?

The solution is neutral.

What do pH values of 8-14 indicate about a solution?

The solution is basic (or alkaline).

If a solution has a pH of 4, what is its hydrogen ion (H+) concentration?

1 x 10^-4 H+ concentration.

How many times more H+ is in a solution with a pH of 3 compared to a solution with a pH of 5?

100 times more.

What makes something an acid?

It donates hydrogen ions (H+) to a solution.

What are some characteristics of a base?

It accepts hydrogen ions (H+) or donates hydroxide ions (OH-) to a solution; often feels slippery.

What color does Bromothymol Blue turn in an acidic solution?

Yellow.

What color does Phenolphthalein turn in a basic solution?

Pink/magenta.

What is the purpose of pHydrion paper as a pH indicator?

To accurately determine the pH of a solution over a wide range through a series of color changes.

What is the difference between intramolecular and intermolecular forces?

Intramolecular forces are bonds within a molecule, while intermolecular forces are attractions between molecules.

What does it mean for water to be a polar molecule?

Water has an uneven distribution of electron density, with the oxygen atom having a slight negative charge and the hydrogen atoms having slight positive charges, allowing it to form hydrogen bonds.

What are hydrogen bonds?

Weak attractions between a partially positive hydrogen atom of one molecule and a partially negative atom (like oxygen or nitrogen) of another molecule.

What type of covalent bond holds the atoms within a single water molecule together?

Polar covalent bonds.

What type of bonds hold multiple water molecules together?

Hydrogen bonds.

Define water's property of cohesion.

The attraction between water molecules themselves due to hydrogen bonding.

Define water's property of adhesion.

The attraction between water molecules and other surfaces.

What is capillary action, and what properties of water cause it?

The upward movement of water in a narrow tube, caused by the combined effects of cohesion and adhesion.

What does it mean for a substance to be hydrophobic?

"Water-fearing"; a substance that does not mix with or dissolve in water (typically nonpolar).

What does it mean for a substance to be hydrophilic?

"Water-loving"; a substance that readily mixes with or dissolves in water (typically polar or ionic).

In a solution, what is the solute?

The substance that is dissolved in the solvent.

In a solution, what is the solvent?

The substance that dissolves the solute; water is often referred to as the universal solvent.

According to the Bohr model, what is the fundamental reason atoms form chemical bonds, and what role do valence electrons play in this process?

Atoms form bonds to achieve a stable electron configuration, typically a full outer shell. Valence electrons are the outermost electrons that participate in forming these bonds to reach this stability.

Define a buffer in chemical terms, explain its typical composition, and describe its mechanism of action using the carbonic acid-bicarbonate system.

A buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH upon the addition of an acid or a base. It typically consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base. In the carbonic acid-bicarbonate system, carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) neutralizes added bases (OH-), forming bicarbonate (HCO₃-), while bicarbonate (HCO₃-) neutralizes added acids (H+), forming carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), thus maintaining a stable pH.