Some Tough General Chemistry Questions Quiz

Answer: no 2 electrons in an atom can have the same four quantum numbers

The correct answer is that no 2 electrons can have the same four quantum numbers. This won Pauli the Nobel prize in 1945.

Answer: sulfur hexafluoride

The octet rule states that 'atoms (other than hydrogen) tend to form bonds until it is surrounded by eight valence electrons'. However, there are a number of compounds that have more than eight valence electrons. These are known as expanded octet. SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) is an example where the sulfur atom has 12 valence electrons. Can you think of some more?

Answer: increase

Think about it in reverse order. If you have a volume of gas in a container and you increase the pressure, the volume of the gas will decrease.

Answer: sulfuric acid

The two major components of acid rain are sulfuric and sulfurous acid. The are formed when pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide (both acidic oxides) react with water. Nature produces sulfur dioxide via volcanic eruptions.

Answer: ammonium ion

A Brønsted-Lowry base is a proton acceptor, an electron pair donor is in fact a Lewis base, not a Brønsted-Lowry base. The Brønsted-Lowry acid/base theory concerns proton donors and acceptors, whilst the Lewis acid/base theory concerns electron pair acceptors and donors.

The ammonia molecule can accept a proton to form the ammonium ion, and this makes it a Brønsted-Lowry base. Also, it donates its lone electron pair to form a dative covalent bond to the hydrogen ion, making it a Lewis base.