HESI A2
HESI A2 Chemistry Practice Questions
1. What is the net charge of an ionic compound?
- A. 0
- B. -1
- C. +1
- D. Variable
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 0. Ionic compounds have a net charge of 0 because they are formed by the combination of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions) in a way that neutralizes their charges. This balanced combination results in an electrically neutral compound. Therefore, the net charge of an ionic compound is typically 0. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because ionic compounds are designed to have a total neutral charge, with the positive charges balancing out the negative charges.
2. Which element is a metalloid?
- A. Silicon
- B. Lead
- C. Helium
- D. Aluminum
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Silicon.' Silicon is a metalloid, which means it has properties of both metals and nonmetals. It is commonly used in electronic devices due to its semiconductor properties. Lead (Choice B) is a metal, Helium (Choice C) is a noble gas, and Aluminum (Choice D) is a metal.
3. Among the following elements, which is a nonmetal?
- A. Mercury
- B. Magnesium
- C. Sulfur
- D. Potassium
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Sulfur is a nonmetal as it is located on the right side of the periodic table. Nonmetals generally exhibit properties such as being brittle, poor conductors of heat and electricity, and having lower melting points compared to metals. Mercury (A), Magnesium (B), and Potassium (D) are all metals due to their metallic properties. Mercury is a liquid metal at room temperature, Magnesium is a solid metal, and Potassium is a solid metal as well. Therefore, the correct answer is C, Sulfur.
4. When an acid is added to a base, water and a salt form. What kinds of bonds form in these two compounds?
- A. Liquid and metallic
- B. Polar and nonpolar covalent
- C. Polar covalent and ionic
- D. Ionic only
Correct answer: C
Rationale: In water, the bond formed between the oxygen atom and the hydrogen atoms is a polar covalent bond. The oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons more strongly, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms. In the salt formed, the bond between the metal cation and the nonmetal anion is predominantly an ionic bond. The metal cation donates electrons to the nonmetal anion, resulting in the formation of oppositely charged ions that are held together by electrostatic attractions. Choices A and B are incorrect because water and salts do not form bonds that are liquid and metallic, or polar and nonpolar covalent. Choice D is incorrect as it oversimplifies the types of bonds present in water and salts, failing to differentiate between the covalent bond in water and the ionic bond in the salt.
5. Which type of chemical bond is the strongest?
- A. Ionic
- B. Hydrogen
- C. Covalent
- D. Metallic
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Covalent bonds, especially those formed between non-metals, are the strongest type of chemical bond. In covalent bonds, atoms share electrons, creating a strong bond that requires a significant amount of energy to break. Choice A, ionic bonds, are strong but generally weaker than covalent bonds as they involve the transfer of electrons rather than sharing. Choice B, hydrogen bonds, are relatively weak intermolecular forces, not true chemical bonds. Choice D, metallic bonds, are strong but typically not as strong as covalent bonds. Metallic bonds involve a 'sea of electrons' shared between metal atoms, providing strength but with less directional bonding compared to covalent bonds.
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