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CHEMISTRY 20B

SAMPLE MIDTERM EXAM


These questions are samples only and do not reflect the variety of topics that have been
covered in class and the textbook. Other types of questions on material covered in the
class and homework could appear on the midterm. The summer 2010 midterm exam will
primarily cover material in Oxtoby from chapters 9 through the middle of chapter 12 plus
lecture material that may go beyond the book. The midterm will consist of 4 multi-part
questions over 2 hours. Do not come to the exam if you are auditing the course.


NAME ________________________________________

STUDENT ID # _______________________



INSTRUCTIONS:

This exam consists of 3 questions on 6 single-sided pages.
This is a closed-book exam; the front side only of one 8.5x11 note sheet is allowed.
You may use a simple calculator.
Show all of your work; no credit will be given for an answer alone.
Give units for all numerical answers and employ significant figures.


SOME HELPFUL CONSTANTS AND CONVERSIONS:

Gas Constant : R = 8.314 J K
-1
mol
-1
= 0.08206 L atm K
-1
mol
-1

Avogadros Number : N
0
= 6.0221 x 10
23
mol
-1

Boltzmanns Constant: k
B
= 1.3807 x 10
-23
J K
-1
= 1.3807 x 10
-16
erg K
-1

Plancks Constant: h = 6.626 x 10
-34
J s = 6.626 x 10
-27
erg s
Gravitational Acceleration g = 980 cm s
-2
= 9.80 m s
-2

1 atm = 1.013 x 10
5
Pa



Question Value Score
1 20
2 30
3 30
Total 80


Question 1 (20 points)
The following questions pertain to aqueous solutions. The normal boiling point of water
is 100.0 C, and the normal freezing point of water is 0.0 C. The freezing point
depression constant for water is k
f
= 1.86 K kg mol
-1
, and the boiling point elevation
constant for water is k
b
= 0.512 K kg mol
-1
. The mass density of water is 1.00 g mL
-1
.

1. (a) Suppose that 0.10 moles of sodium chloride (NaCl) salt are added to 1.0 L of pure
liquid water. What is the new normal freezing point in C of the salt solution?














1. (b) Suppose that 100.0 mL of a homogeneous aqueous solution contains 3.0 g of an
unknown material that dissolves but does not dissociate. The normal boiling point
of the solution is measured to be 101.0 C. What is the molar mass (i.e. molecular
weight) of the unknown material?




















Question 2 (30 points)
The vanadic ion V
3+
forms green salts and is a good reducing agent. In a neutral aqueous
solution, it is transformed into the colorless vanadic hydroxide ion, V(OH)
4
+
. The salt,
vanadic sulfate V
2
(SO
4
)
3
, can be oxidized in aqueous solution according to the following
incomplete and unbalanced equation fragment:

!
V
2
SO
4
( )
3
(aq) + ... " V(OH)
4
+
(aq) +SO
4
2#
(aq) + ...

2. (a) What is the oxidation number of vanadium on the left hand side of the equation
fragment? What is the oxidation number of vanadium on the right hand side?







2. (b) Using the equation fragment as a guide, complete and balance the reaction for the
oxidation of vanadium sulfate using common species that commonly participate in
aqueous redox reactions of electrolytes (e.g. hydronium ions, hydroxide ions,
water molecules, electrons). Add only species that are absolutely necessary.























2. (c) Suppose you are given 0.540 g of an unknown substance X and have a 0.200 M
aqueous solution of vanadium sulfate. Suppose each molecule of X can accept one
electron. You would like to know the molecular weight of X, so you add the
vanadium sulfate solution to X in a beaker a little bit at a time and stir thoroughly
while watching. What kind of color change do you expect to see as you increase
the vanadium sulfate solution? If the solution changes color after 15.0 mL have
been added to substance X, what is the molecular weight of X?















Question 3 (30 points)
Consider a solution of liquid methanol (CH
3
OH) mixed with liquid propanol
(CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
OH). At 40.0 C, the two liquids are fully miscible, the vapor pressure
above pure liquid methanol is 303 torr, and the vapor pressure above pure liquid propanol
is 44.6 torr.

3. (a) Which of the two alcohols is more volatile? Briefly explain using 1-2 sentences.









3. (b) Assuming ideal solution behavior, what is the liquid composition of a solution of
methanol and propanol at 40.0 C if the total vapor pressure above the solution is
202 torr? You may express your answer as a mole fraction of methanol and a mole
fraction of propanol.






















3. (c) For the total vapor pressure of 202 torr given in part (b), what is the mole fraction
of methanol in the vapor phase at 40.0 C? Is this higher or lower than the mole
fraction of methanol in the liquid solution? Briefly explain why your answer is
sensible.
















3. (d) Briefly explain a simple process by which you could separate out highly pure
methanol from the solution of methanol and propanol at 40.0 C.

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