Which law is expressed by the equation: Ptot = Pa + Pb, where P represents pressure, Ptot is the total pressure, and Pa and Pb are component pressures?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Dalton's law. Dalton's law states that in a mixture of non-reacting gases, the total pressure is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases. The equation Ptot = Pa + Pb represents Dalton's law, where Ptot is the total pressure, and Pa and Pb are the component pressures. Choice A, Henry's law, deals with the solubility of gases in liquids. Choice C, Boyle's law, describes the inverse relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature. Choice D, Gay-Lussac's law, states that the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature when volume is constant.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. The factors that influence rates of reaction are temperature, particle size, concentration, and the presence of a catalyst. Temperature affects the speed of molecules, particle size impacts the available surface area for reactions, concentration influences the collision frequency between reactant molecules, and catalysts accelerate reactions by providing an alternative pathway with lower activation energy. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they either include irrelevant factors that do not affect reaction rates (barometric pressure, container material, elevation, and volatility) or lack important factors that do influence reaction rates (like a catalyst).

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: "-2". Oxygen usually exhibits an oxidation state of -2 in most compounds. This is due to oxygen's high electronegativity, which causes it to attract electrons, leading to the gain of two electrons in chemical reactions. Choice A (-1) is incorrect because oxygen rarely has an oxidation state of -1 in compounds. Choice C (0) is incorrect as oxygen does not usually have an oxidation state of zero in compounds. Choice D (-3) is incorrect as oxygen does not commonly have an oxidation state of -3 in compounds.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Different isotopes of a particular element contain the same number of protons. Isotopes are defined by the number of neutrons they have, which can vary while the number of protons remains the same. This is because the number of protons in an atom determines its elemental identity. Choice B - Neutrons is incorrect because isotopes can have different numbers of neutrons. Choice C - Protons and neutrons is incorrect because the number of neutrons can vary in isotopes. Choice D - Protons, neutrons, and electrons is incorrect because electrons are not fixed and can vary in an atom, but the number of protons is what defines the element.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Wavefunction. The wavefunction is a mathematical function that gives the amplitude of a wave as a function of position (and sometimes, as a function of time and/or electron spin). It is commonly used in quantum mechanics to describe the behavior of particles, particularly electrons, in atomic and molecular systems. The wavefunction provides information about the probability of finding a particle in a particular state or position. Wavelength (Choice A), Frequency (Choice B), and Wavenumber (Choice C) are properties of waves, but they do not directly represent the mathematical function that describes the wave's behavior as the wavefunction does.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Wavelength is correctly defined as the distance between adjacent peaks or adjacent troughs on a wave. It is a crucial characteristic of waves, influencing properties such as color in light waves and pitch in sound waves. By altering the wavelength, significant changes in the wave's perception and attributes can be observed. Choice A, Frequency, refers to the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time and is not related to the distance between peaks or troughs. Choice B, Wavenumber, represents the spatial frequency of a wave in terms of cycles per unit distance, not the distance between adjacent peaks. Choice C, Wave oscillation, does not specifically define the distance between adjacent peaks or troughs but rather the movement of a wave back and forth.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In the periodic table, the elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. This organization is based on the number of protons in the nucleus of each element. It provides a systematic way to classify elements and predict their properties. Knowing the atomic number of an element helps determine its placement in the periodic table and its characteristics. Therefore, the correct answer is the order of increasing atomic number as it is fundamental to the structure and properties of the elements. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Alphabetical order does not reflect any underlying property of the elements, metallic properties vary across the table, and neutron content alone is not the basis for the arrangement in the periodic table.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Oxygen typically has an oxidation number of -2 in compounds because it tends to gain electrons. This is due to its high electronegativity, which leads to oxygen attracting electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. Choice A (2) is incorrect because oxygen doesn't have a +2 oxidation number in compounds. Choice C (0) is incorrect as oxygen rarely has an oxidation number of 0 in compounds. Choice D (-1) is incorrect as oxygen's oxidation number in compounds is typically -2, not -1.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A balanced equation is one where the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides, fulfilling the law of conservation of mass. This principle ensures that the total number of atoms of each element is equal in both reactants and products, signifying that no atoms are created or destroyed, but rather rearranged. Choice A is incorrect because a balanced equation has equal numbers of atoms in the reactants and products. Choice C is incorrect as a balanced equation includes both reactants and products. Choice D is incorrect because coefficients are essential in balancing equations by adjusting the number of atoms present.