HESI A2
Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test Questions
Question 1 of 5
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 5
What is the charge of an alpha particle?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, resulting in a total charge of +2 due to the presence of two positively charged protons. Therefore, the correct answer is C, indicating a charge of +2. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because an alpha particle is positively charged due to the two protons it contains, resulting in a charge of +2.
Question 3 of 5
What is the correct name of AgNO₃?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct name for AgNO₃ is silver nitrate. In chemical nomenclature, the element symbol Ag represents silver, and the polyatomic ion NO₃ is known as nitrate. Therefore, when the silver ion (Agâº) combines with the nitrate ion (NO₃â»), the resulting compound is named silver nitrate (AgNO₃). Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not accurately represent the composition of AgNO₃. Argent nitrous (Choice A) and Argent oxide (Choice B) do not reflect the correct anion, and Silver nitrite (Choice C) uses a different anion altogether.
Question 4 of 5
What is the oxidation state of the chlorine atom in the compound HCl?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the compound HCl (hydrochloric acid), the hydrogen atom has an oxidation state of +1 based on the rules of assigning oxidation states. Since the overall compound is neutral, the oxidation state of chlorine must be -1 to balance the charge. Chlorine typically has an oxidation state of -1 in binary compounds with nonmetals, such as HCl. Therefore, the correct answer is -1. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as the oxidation state of chlorine in HCl is -1, not +1, +2, or -2.
Question 5 of 5
Which of these types of intermolecular force is the strongest?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hydrogen bonding is the strongest type of intermolecular force among the options provided. It occurs when a hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine) and forms a strong electrostatic attraction with an unshared pair of electrons on another electronegative atom. This type of bond is stronger than dipole-dipole interactions, London dispersion forces, and Keesom interactions due to the significant electronegativity difference between the hydrogen and the electronegative atom involved in the bond. The presence of hydrogen bonding contributes to unique properties in substances, such as high boiling and melting points, making it a crucial force in various biological and chemical processes.