Intro Chemistry: Does this look ok?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a chemistry exam preparation, specifically focusing on questions related to atomic size, enthalpy changes in chemical reactions, and characteristics of alkali metals. Participants seek feedback on their answers and explanations of concepts related to Hess's law and enthalpy calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant claims that among the isoelectric species S2-, Cl-, Ca2+, and Ar, S2- has the largest atomic size due to having the smallest atomic number.
  • Another participant confirms that the answers provided seem correct but points out a mislabeling of isotopes instead of ions.
  • For the enthalpy question, one participant explains that the enthalpy change for the reaction N2 + O2 → 2NO can be calculated by reversing a given reaction and changing the sign of its enthalpy.
  • A participant expresses confusion about the explanation provided and requests further clarification on the reasoning behind the method used in the enthalpy calculation.
  • Another participant describes a method involving Hess's law, explaining how to manipulate chemical equations and enthalpy values algebraically.
  • Some participants discuss alternative methods and resources for understanding Hess's law, with one suggesting a simpler approach found on Wikipedia.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

While some participants agree that the answers to the exam questions appear correct, there is no consensus on the clarity of the explanations regarding Hess's law and the reasoning behind the methods used. Multiple views on the approach to solving the enthalpy question are present, indicating ongoing discussion and uncertainty.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding Hess's law and the manipulation of enthalpy values, indicating potential gaps in foundational knowledge or differing interpretations of the concepts involved.

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Our professor gave us three questions for our exam tomorrow, I was wondering if anyone would check my work for me. I just want to make sure I am doing this correctly. Thanks in advance.

15) Which of the following species has the largest atomic size:
(a) [tex]S^{2-}[/tex]
(b) [tex]Cl^{-}[/tex]
(c) [tex]Ca^{2+}[/tex]
(d) [tex]Ar[/tex]

15.A: They are an isoelectric series since they have the same number of electrons, thus the largest radius is determined by the isotope with the smallest atomic number, which is:
(a) [tex]S^{2-}[/tex]

----------------------------------------------------
16) Given the following reactions:
[tex]N_{2(g)} + 2O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{2(g)} \,\,\, \Delta H_1 = 66.4kJ[/tex]
[tex]2NO_{(g)} + O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{2(g)} \,\,\,\Delta H_2 = -114.2kJ[/tex]

What is [itex]\Delta H_{rxn}[/itex] for the following process?
[tex]N_{2(g)} + O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO(g)[/tex]

(a) 180.6kJ
(b) -47.8kJ
(c) 47.8kJ
(d) 90.3kJ
(e) -180.6kJ

16.A:
[tex]N_{2(g)} + 2O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{2(g)} + \Delta H_1 = 66.4kJ[/tex]
[tex]2NO_{(g)} + O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{2(g)} + \Delta H_2 = -114.2kJ[/tex]
---
[tex]O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow -2NO_{(g)} + 2NO_{2(g)} + \Delta H_2 = -114.2kJ[/tex]
[tex]-O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{(g)} - 2NO_{2(g)} - \Delta H_2 = -114.2kJ[/tex]

[tex]N_{2(g)} + O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{(g)} + \Delta H_1 - \Delta H_2[/tex]

Thus: [itex]\Delta H_1 - \Delta H_2 = (66.4+114.2)kJ = 180.6kJ[/itex]

----------------------------------------------------
19) All of the following are characteristics of Alkali metals except
(a) They are very reactive.
(b) They have low densities and low melting points
(c) They have high thermal and electrical conductivities
(d) They have a fully filled VE shell of electrons
(e) They react w/ [itex]O_2[/itex] to form oxides, peroxides, and superoxides.

19.A:
a, b, c, e are all true.
Thus the answer is (d)
 
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Great going ... Everything seems right to me
 
Cool. I really appreciate you looking over it :)

Have a good one. Now... I just have to go take the test without notes :(
 
15.A: They are an isoelectric series since they have the same number of electrons, thus the largest radius is determined by the isotope with the smallest atomic number, which is:
(a)

Well... they are not really isotopes.
Remember isotopes are atoms of same element but with different amount of neutrons.


All your answers seem right anyway.
 
Could someone explain what Frogpad has done in the exercise 16? I would like to understand. Thank you!
 
Well I am not sure about the technique he used... it is kind of different, and harder to understand. All you got to do in this problem is reverse the second equation and change the sign of the Enthalpy of that equation.
Then when you add the first and modified second equation, some of the reactants and products of any of the equations cancel out leaving the desired equation which was
N2 + O2 ---> 2NO
and you add the enthalpy values to get the enthalpy of that desired equation.


If this is the first time you have seen these kind of problems, then my repsonse may be of no use to you, so use your textbook or search online for tuts.
 
Haxx0rm4ster, thank you, but you are just explaining what he has done and not why he has done what he did.
 
Well I wouldn't be able to explain why as good as a textbook or some chemist (or someone that knows more english than me!) that posted a tut online, but anyway, thanks for the thank you!


I guess you could take a look at this link:
http://www.webchem.net/notes/how_far/enthalpy/measurement_of_enthalpy.htm
 
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Woops, I meant to say Ions, not isotopes.

Haxx0rm4ster: Are you asking for the method that I used? Actually, I'll just answer you assuming this is the question you are asking.

In my chem book, they talk about Hess's law and rules that can be used to perform Hess's law. I'll give you an example:

Say you have:
[tex]2NO_{(g)} + O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{2(g)} \,\,\,\,\, \Delta H = -114.2kJ[/tex]

The book says that you can FLIP the order of the reactants and the products which would be:
[tex]2NO_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{(g)} + O_{2(g)}[/tex]

But, when you flip them you have to change the sign of [itex]\Delta H [/tex] so the flip would become:<br /> [tex]2NO_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{(g)} + O_{2(g)} \,\,\,\,\, \Delta H = 114.2kJ[/tex]<br /> <br /> Now, yeah... that's cool and all. But why does that work? Well our T.A. showed us a "method" or maybe it should be called a "trick", but it makes MUCH more sense to me. Instead of tacking the [itex]\Delta H[/itex] on the end of the equation, instead include it as an algebraic quantity.<br /> <br /> So instead we would have:<br /> [tex]2NO_{(g)} + O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow 2NO_{2(g)} + \Delta H[/tex]<br /> In this form, some algebraic rules apply (I don't know the extent of which rules are applicable... I know addition, subtraction, and multiplying by a constant hold)<br /> <br /> Now let's say you want to "flip" the equation. You can now use algebre, so you would do it like this:<br /> <br /> [tex]O_{2(g)} \longrightarrow -2NO_{(g)} + 2NO_{2(g)} + \Delta H[/tex]<br /> [tex]\longrightarrow -O_{2(g)} -2NO_{(g)} + 2NO_{2(g)} + \Delta H[/tex]<br /> [tex]- 2NO_{2(g)} \longrightarrow -O_{2(g)} -2NO_{(g)} + \Delta H[/tex]<br /> <br /> Now we need to multiply by a constant:<br /> [tex](-1) - 2NO_{2(g)} \longrightarrow (-1)-O_{2(g)} -2NO_{(g)} + \Delta H = -114.2kJ[/tex]<br /> [tex]2NO_{2(g)} \longrightarrow O_{2(g)} + 2NO_{(g)} - \Delta H[/tex]<br /> <br /> Now if we take [itex]\Delta H[/itex] out we have:<br /> [tex]-\Delta H = -114.2kJ[/tex]<br /> [tex]\Delta H = 114.2kJ[/tex]<br /> <br /> Does that answer your question?[/itex]
 
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  • #10
lol, well I wasnt really asking, but there is another way which is a LOT more simple.


Easy way I learned:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hess's_Law


except they use 4 equations to find 1 ... but still not very hard to understand.
 
  • #11
lol...sorry about that. I meant to copy and paste "PPonte" as the name (to the person I addressed) :)
 
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  • #12
Frogpad, thank you.
Simple, good and neat explanation.

Haxx0rm4ster, thank you.
I didn't know that this was a law. If I knew I would have searched and didn't have to bore you.
 

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