Chemistry mock exam summary

3.1 Ions  an ion is a charged particle and it contains an unequal

amount of electrons and protons.

Two ions that have opposite charges are attracted to each other,
this is an ionic bond.

When a metal and a non metal react together they form a ionic
compound.

3.3
Writing formulas for ionic compounds

1. Write down the name of the ionic compound

2. Write down the symbol for its ions
3. Balance the ions
4. Write down the formula without the charges.

Example:
1. Lithium fluoride
2. The ions are Li+ F-
3. One Li+ is needed for every F-, to make the total charge zero
4. Therefore the formula is LiF

3.4

Because the atoms share electron there is a strong force of

attraction between them holding them together. This force is called
a covalent bond. The bonded atoms form a molecule. A molecule
is a small group of atoms that is held together by covalent
bonds.

3.5 + 3.6

Properties of ionic solids: high melting and boiling points, brittle,

usually soluble in water, insoluble in petrol, do not conduct whilst
solid but do conduct when melted or dissolved.

Properties of molecular solids: low melting and boiling points,

brittle, insoluble in water but soluble in petrol, do not conduct
electricity.

Properties of metals: hard, tough, high compressive strength,

high tensile strength, malleable and very ductile, good conductors
of electricity and heat, high melting points
4.1
Relative atomic mass is found on the periodic table and is the top
number.

The mass of any molecule or group of ions is the formula mass.

If the substance is made of molecules its mass is known as the
relative molecular mass.
Example:
Subtance Formula Atoms in RAM of Formula
formula atoms mass
Nitrogen N2 2N N=14 28
Ammonia NH3 1N 3H N=14 17
H=1
Magnesium Mg(NO3)2 1Mg Mg= 24 148
nitrate 2N N=14
6O O=16

4.2 the mole

RAM or formula mass x 6.02x1023 = one mole

Finding the mass of a mole

1. Right down the symbol or formula of the substance
2. Find its RAM or formula mass
3. Express the mass in grams

Number of moles = Mass/mass of one mole (M/m)

4.3 percentage composition of a compound

Percentage composition tells you which elements are in a compound

and how much of each one there is, as a percentage of the total
mass.

Calculating the percentage of an element by mass

Mass of element/ total mass of compound

Ans x 100 = %

Calculating the percentage composition of a compound

1. Write down the formula of the compound

2. Using a list of RAMs work out its formula mass
3. Write the mass of the element you want as a fraction of the total.
4. Multiply the fraction by 100 to give a percentage.
Example;
What is the percentage of oxygen in the following compound:
Gass sulphur dioxide (SO2)
Formula mass is 64
Mass of oxygen = 32
32/64 x 100 = 50%

example 2: when you have the percentage but not the mass
find 35% of nitrogen in a 20kg bag of fertilizer
change percentage to fraction
35/100x 20(mass of bag)
= 7kg.

4.4 the formula compound (I)

Finding the imperial formula of SO2 when grams are given.
1. Find the masses given. S = 32g & O = 32g
2. change the masses to moles using its RAM. RAM of S= 32 & O=16
3. find the ratio by dividing both RAM by the masses given. 
32/32=1 and 32/16 = 2. (One mole of sulphur combines with two
moles of oxygen). The ratio is therefore 1: 2
4. The empirical formula is there fore one S for every 2 O  SO2

4.5 the formula of a compound (II)

The formula of an ionic compound is always the same as its

empirical formula.

Molecular formula shows the actual numbers of atoms that

combine to make a molecule. The empirical merely shows the
simplest ratio!

Working out the molecular formula

To work out this formula you need to know
 Empirical formula
 Formula mass of the compound

Example:
The percentage copmosistuin of octance is 84.2% carbon and 15.8%
hydrogen. Its formula mass is 114. What is its molecular formula?

1. assume we are talking about 110g  84.2g C & 15.8g H

2. change masses to moles by deviding them by their RAM 
84.2/12 & 15.8/1
3. which means  7.02 carbon atoms combine with 15.8 hydrogen
atoms
4. now divide both numbers by the lowest out come, (7.02/7.02 &
15.8/7.02)
5.  1: 2.25 this is the ratio, but you must change it to whole
numbers so therefore it becomes 4 : 9
6. meaning the empirical formula is C4H9

4.6 The concentration of a solution

The concentration of a solution is the amount of solute, in grams or
moles, that is dissolved in 1dm3 of solution.

Finding concentrations

Example: find the concentration in moles per dm3 in solution A

Solution A has 2.5g of copper (II) sulphate in 1dm3 of solution.
Equation: mass of compound= mass of compound/formula mass =
concentration of moles.
2.5g = 2.5/250 = 0.01 moles
Therefore the concentration is 0.01moles per dm3. (can also be
written as 0.01M)

General equation for finding a solution concentration:

Concentration (mol/dm3) = Amount of solute (mole)/volume
of solution (dm3)

Finding the amount of solute in a solution

(Need to know volume + concentration)

Amount of solute (mol) = concentration (mol/dm3) x volume

(dm3)
 Then you can convert you answer into grams by
multiplying number of moles by the formula mass.

Calculation triangle

Example: solution A, NaOH, concentration 1, volume 2dm3

Concentration (mol/dm3) 1
Amount of solute (mol x 1x2=2
concentration)
Formula mass (g/mol) 40
Multiply by moles for grams 80g

5.1 Physical and chemical changes

CHEMICAL
When substances within a mixture react and form a new
chemical substance we call this a chemical reaction.

Difference between compound and mixture?

Mixture  particles as MIXED together and can easily be taken
apart
Compound  Ions are bonded together and form a new chemical
substance

How can you tell a chemical reaction has taken place?

1. One or more new chemical substances are formed
2. Energy is taken in or given out during the reaction. (for
example heat could be needed to start the chemical reaction.
When a reaction gives out energy we call this exothermic,
(exo = external & thermic= heat/temperature). When heat is
taken we call this endothermic (endo = in & thermic = heat
temperature.)
3. The change is most likely to be very difficult to reverse.

PHYSICAL

When no new chemical substances are formed, we call this a

physcal change. It may look different but still consists of the
same molecules, for example water and ice.

5.2 Equations for chemical reactions

chemical equation = C + O2  CO2

Reactants & Product

Balancing an equation: both sides are balances (have same amount

of atoms)

Adding more information to an equation: add state symbols (g) (s)

(l)

How to write the equation for a reaction:

1. Write the equation in words
2. Now write the equation using symbols. Make sure al formulae
are correct.
3. Make sure your equation is balanced
4. Add the state symbols

Example:
1. Calcium + chlorine  calcium chloride
2. Ca + Cl2  CaCl2
3. Ca: 1 atom on the left and one on the right  balanced
Cl: 2 atoms on the left and 2 on the right  balanced
 4. Ca(s) + Cl2 (g)  CaCl2(s)

5.3 Calculations from equations

What can an equation tell you?

C(s) + O2(g)  CO2(g)

Tells you that 1 carbon atom reacts with 1 molecule of oxygen to
give 1 molecule of carbon dioxide.
What if there were one mole of carbon atoms reacting with one
mole of oxygen?
1 mole of carbon reacts with one mole of oxygen to give one mole
of carbon dioxide.
This can be converted into grams by using the RAM. CO 2 would be
12+16+16 =44, meaning…
12g of carbon reacts with 32g of oxygen gives 44g of carbon dioxide
or…
6g of carbon reacts with 16g of oxygen gives 22g of carbon dioxide

From the equation reaction you can tell:

• How many moles of each substance take part;
• How many grams of each substance take part.

The mass never changes during a chemical reaction.

6.1 Breaking down compounds

decompositions are only one reactant and break down into two or more simpler
products. This can be triggered by heat, light, enzymes and electricity.

Decomposition by heat  thermal decomposition

Example: CaCO3(s) heat CaO(s) + CO2(g)
Calcium carbonate lime stone  calcium oxide (quicklime) + carbon dioxide

Decomposition: reactions: one substance is broken down into two or

more other (simpler) substances. Three different methods can be
used to decompose substances.

A) Electrolysis: passing electric current through a substance to

decompose it.
Eg. Water (H20)  Hydrogen and oxygen (h2 + 02)
Al203 (l)  4Al (s) + 302 (g)

B) Thermolysis: decomposition by heating in the absence of oxygen.

Eg. CaCo3 (s)  Cao (s) + Co2 (g)
Fe C2O4 (s)  Fe +2CO2 (g)
Sugar  H2O + CO2 + tar-like substances.

C) Photolysis: decomposition by exposing a substance to light or

other radiation.
Eg. 2AgCl (s)  2Ag(s) + Cl2

6. 3 Gaining and losing oxygen

If a substance loses oxygen during a reaction it is reduced

If a substances gains oxygen during a reaction it is oxidized.
The substance that causes the loss we call reducing agent
The substance that loses the oxygen we call the oxidizing agent

6.4 Redox reactions

When one substance in a reaction is oxidized, another is

reduced. The reaction is called a redox reaction.
Rusting and combustion are for example redox reactions.

If a substance loses electrons during a reaction it has been oxidized.

If it gains electrons it has been reduced.
Remember: OIL RIG
Oxidation Is Loss of electrons.
Reduction Is Gain of electrons.
6.5 Precipitation and neutralization