HESI A2
Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test Questions
Question 1 of 9
Which ion would you expect to dominate in water solutions of bases?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In water solutions of bases, the dominant ion would be OH⻠(hydroxide ion). Bases release OH⻠ions when dissolved in water, increasing the concentration of hydroxide ions and leading to a higher pH. This is in contrast to acids, which release H⺠ions. Therefore, in water solutions of bases, the presence of OH⻠ions signifies the basic nature of the solution. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because MgCl₂ is a salt, 2HCl is a compound consisting of two hydrogen ions and one chloride ion, and H⺠represents a hydrogen ion typically associated with acids, not bases.
Question 2 of 9
When an acid is added to a base, water and a salt form. What kinds of bonds form in these two compounds?
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.
Question 3 of 9
Which of the following is not an allotrope of carbon?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Fluorine. Allotropes of carbon are different forms of the same element. Diamonds, graphite, and buckminsterfullerene are all allotropes of carbon. However, fluorine is a separate chemical element and not an allotrope of carbon. Therefore, fluorine does not belong to the group of carbon allotropes.
Question 4 of 9
Radioactive isotopes are frequently used in medicine. What kind of half-life would a medical isotope probably have?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Medical isotopes used in diagnosis and treatment need to have a relatively short half-life to minimize radiation exposure to patients. If the half-life were too long (such as many years) or even years-long, the radiation would persist for too long and could be harmful to the patient. Seconds-long half-lives would not provide enough time for the isotope to be effective. Days-long half-lives strike a balance between providing enough time for the isotope to be used effectively and minimizing radiation exposure.
Question 5 of 9
Which classification best describes B, Si, As, Te, At, Ge, and Sb that form a staircase pattern on the right side of the periodic table?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: B, Si, As, Te, At, Ge, and Sb are located in a staircase pattern on the periodic table's right side. Elements in this region are known as metalloids or semimetals because they exhibit properties of both metals and nonmetals. They possess characteristics of both metallic and non-metallic elements, making them valuable semiconductors with diverse applications in electronics. Choice A is incorrect because these elements are not considered true metals. Choice C is incorrect as these elements do not display typical nonmetal properties exclusively. Choice D, 'Ultrametals,' is not a recognized classification in chemistry and is therefore incorrect.
Question 6 of 9
Which two functional groups would you expect an amino acid to contain?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Amino acids are organic compounds that are characterized by the presence of an amino group (NH2) and a carboxylic acid group (COOH) in their chemical structure. These two functional groups, found in option A, are fundamental components of amino acids and play crucial roles in their classification and biological functions. Option B contains an aldehyde group (CHO) and an amide group (CO-NH), which are not characteristic functional groups of amino acids. Option C includes a hydroxyl group (OH) and an ester group (COOR), which are not typically present in amino acids. Option D presents ether (R-O-R) and carboxylic acid (COOH) functional groups, which do not represent the functional groups commonly found in amino acids.
Question 7 of 9
Which ion would you expect to dominate in water solutions of bases?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In water solutions of bases, the dominant ion would be OH⻠(hydroxide ion). Bases release OH⻠ions when dissolved in water, increasing the concentration of hydroxide ions and leading to a higher pH. This is in contrast to acids, which release H⺠ions. Therefore, in water solutions of bases, the presence of OH⻠ions signifies the basic nature of the solution. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because MgCl₂ is a salt, 2HCl is a compound consisting of two hydrogen ions and one chloride ion, and H⺠represents a hydrogen ion typically associated with acids, not bases.
Question 8 of 9
How many times more acidic is a substance with a pH of 3 compared to a substance with a pH of 5?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The pH scale is logarithmic, indicating that each pH unit change reflects a 10-fold difference in acidity level. Going from pH 5 to pH 3 involves a difference of 2 units, which translates to a 100-fold increase in acidity level (10^2 = 100 for each unit). Therefore, a substance with a pH of 3 is 1,000 times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 5 (100 * 10 = 1,000). Choice A (8) is incorrect as it does not consider the logarithmic nature of the pH scale. Choice B (2) is incorrect because it represents the difference in pH units, not the increase in acidity level. Choice C (100) is incorrect as it miscalculates the increase in acidity level, which is 1,000 times and not 100 times.
Question 9 of 9
Which is a property of an ionic compound?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Ionic compounds are composed of positively and negatively charged ions that are held together by strong electrostatic forces. These ions arrange themselves in a repeating pattern to form a stable and orderly structure known as a crystalline shape. This is a characteristic property of ionic compounds, making choice D the correct answer. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because ionic compounds typically have high melting points, good conductivity in the molten or dissolved state, and do not involve shared electrons but rather the transfer of electrons between atoms.