AP Chemistry : Chemical Reactions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Net Ionic Equations

What is the net ionic equation for the reaction that occurs when sodium chloride is mixed with silver nitrate.

Possible Answers:

NaCl (aq) + AgNO3 (aq) -> NaNO3 (aq) + AgCl (aq)

NaCl (aq) + AgNO3 (aq)  ->  NaNO3 (s) + AgCl (aq)

Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) -> AgCl (s)

Na+ (aq) + NO3- (aq) -> NaNO3 (s)

NaCl (aq) + AgNO3 (aq)  ->  NaNO3 (aq) + AgCl (s)

Correct answer:

Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) -> AgCl (s)

Explanation:

Only the Ag and Cl ions are reacting to form solid silver chloride.

Example Question #2 : Net Ionic Equations

What is the net ionic equation that occurs when sodium chloride is mixed with potassium nitrate?

Possible Answers:

NaCl (aq) + KNO3 (aq)  ->  KNO3 (aq) + KCl (s)

NaCl (aq) + KNO3 (aq)  ->  NaNO3 (s) + KCl (aq)

Na+ (aq) + NO3- (aq) -> NaNO3 (s)

No Reaction

NaCl (aq) + KNO3 (aq) -> NaNO3 (aq) + KCl (aq)

Correct answer:

No Reaction

Explanation:

Since no precipitation is predicted by the solubility rules, there will be no reaction.

Example Question #3 : Net Ionic Equations

What is the net ionic reaction when potassium carbonate is mixed with Calcium bromide?

Possible Answers:

2 K2CO3 (aq) + CaBr2 (aq) ->  2 KBr (aq)  +  CaCO3 (aq)

2 K2CO3 (aq) + CaBr2 (aq) ->  2 KBr (aq)  +  CaCO3 (s)

2 K2CO3 (aq) + CaBr2 (aq) ->  2 KBr (s)  +  CaCO3 (aq)

Ca2+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) ->  CaCO3(s)

2 K+ (aq) + Br- (aq) -> 2 KBr (s)

Correct answer:

Ca2+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) ->  CaCO3(s)

Explanation:

Only the calcium and carbonate ions are reacting according to the solubility rules to form calcium carbonate.

Example Question #4 : Net Ionic Equations

What is the net ionic reaction when a solution of Cd(NO3)2 is reacted with (NH4)2S?

Possible Answers:

Cd(NO3)2 (aq) + (NH4)2S (aq) ->  CdS (s) + 2 NH4NO3 (aq)

Cd2+(aq) + S2- ->  CdS (s)

Cd(NO3)2 (aq) + (NH4)2S (aq) ->  CdS (aq) + 2 NH4NO3 (aq)

Cd(NO3)2 (aq) + (NH4)2S (aq) ->  CdS (s) + 2 NH4NO3 (aq)

NH4+ (aq) + NO3- (aq)  ->  NH4NO3 (s)

Correct answer:

Cd2+(aq) + S2- ->  CdS (s)

Explanation:

Only Cd and S ions are interacting according to the solubility rules to form a solid precipitant.

Example Question #5 : Net Ionic Equations

What is the net ionic reaction when a solution of rubidium sulfate is mixed with barium hydroxide?

Possible Answers:

Rb+ (aq) + OH- (aq)  ->  RbOH (s)

Ba2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq)  ->  BaSO4 (s)

Rb2SO4 (aq) + Ba(OH)2 (aq)  ->  2 RbOH  (s)  +  BaSO4 (aq)

No Reaction

Rb2SO4 (aq) + Ba(OH)2 (aq)  ->  2 RbOH  (aq)  +  BaSO4 (s)

Correct answer:

Ba2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq)  ->  BaSO4 (s)

Explanation:

Only the Ba and sulfate ions will react according to the solubility rules.

Example Question #4 : Types Of Reactions

The reaction above could be classified as __________.

Possible Answers:

decomposition 

oxidation-reduction

decomposition and oxidation-reduction

single displacement

synthesis

Correct answer:

decomposition 

Explanation:

When one molecule is converted into two or more smaller molecules, the reaction is considered a decomposition reaction. In this example, none of the elements under go a change in oxidation number, so this is not an oxidation-reduction reaction. (Calcium is always , oxygen is always , and carbon remains  throughout the reaction.)  

Example Question #1 : Introduction For Reactions

Which of the following represents a combustion reaction?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Combustion reactions always produce  and excess heat. Depending on the molecule that is oxidized by oxygen, which in this case was methane , the ratios between  and  can vary.

Example Question #2 : Introduction For Reactions

What is the chemical formula of the salt formed when a chemist mixes solvated Potassium and Arsenic ions in solution?

Possible Answers:

KAs_3

K_3As

KAs_2

K_2As

KAs

Correct answer:

K_3As

Explanation:

Potassium is a Group I element, so to get to a filled valence shell, it will lost one electron, yielding K^+.

Arsenic is a Group 5 element, so it needs to gain three electrons to obtain a filled valence shell, yielding As^{-3}.

In order to balance out the charges, the resultant salt will be K_3As.

Example Question #3 : Introduction For Reactions

What is the net ionic equation for the ion exchange reaction between ferrous sulfate and calcium iodide? Assume all compounds are soluble.

Possible Answers:

None of the available answers

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, we must know what ferrous sulfate is. Ferrous refers to , and sulfate has the formula . When we combine the two together we get .

Calcium is a divatent cation and iodide is a monovalent anion, so their salt is . The ion exchange reaction is then:

Example Question #4 : Introduction For Reactions

Select the net ionic equation from this molecular reaction:

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The net ionic equation is derived by removing all spectator ions from the total ionic equation (in which all ions are listed). To put it another way, the net ionic equation involves only the ions that participate in a reaction which, in this case, is the precipitation of barium sulfate.

Begin by writing all aqueous compounds in their dissociated (ionic) forms.

Cancel out any ions that appear in equal quantities on both sides of the equation. In this case, we can cancel the nitrate and potassium ions.

This is our net ionic equation.

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