Why is KOH a strong alkali?

A. Because it reacts vigorously with acids

B. Because it forms a basic solution when dissolved in water

C. Because in solution it fully dissociates into K+ and OH-

D. Because it forms insoluble precipitates with metal cations

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Answer Explanation:

A) Because it reacts vigorously with acids: While KOH does react with acids to form salts and water, the strength of an alkali is not solely determined by its reactivity with acids.

B) Because it forms a basic solution when dissolved in water: This statement is true, but it does not fully explain why KOH is considered a strong alkali. Many compounds can form basic solutions when dissolved in water.

C) Because in solution it fully dissociates into K+ and OH- (Correct Answer): KOH is considered a strong alkali because it fully dissociates in aqueous solution into potassium ions (K+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). This dissociation leads to a high concentration of hydroxide ions in solution, making it strongly alkaline.

D) Because it forms insoluble precipitates with metal cations: This statement describes the formation of insoluble hydroxide precipitates when alkali solutions are added to solutions of metal salts. However, it does not fully explain why KOH itself is considered a strong alkali.

Therefore, the Correct Answer is C.

More Questions on C2 Acids, Bases and Salts

Question 1:

What do plants use the nitrogen in fertilizers for?

A. To provide energy for photosynthesis

B. To build cellulose in cell walls

C. To build amino acids and proteins

D. To regulate water uptake

The Correct Answer is D.

A) To provide energy for photosynthesis: While nitrogen is essential for various metabolic processes in plants, it is not directly involved in providing energy for photosynthesis. Instead, plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose during photosynthesis.

B) To build cellulose in cell walls: Nitrogen is not directly involved in the synthesis of cellulose, which is primarily composed of glucose units. Cellulose synthesis mainly relies on carbon and hydrogen, which are obtained from carbon dioxide and water during photosynthesis.

C) To build amino acids and proteins: Plants use nitrogen from fertilizers to synthesize amino acids and proteins. Nitrogen is a crucial component of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, which are essential for plant growth, development, and various physiological processes.

D) To regulate water uptake (Correct Answer): Nitrogen plays a role in regulating various physiological processes in plants, including water uptake. It affects the osmotic potential of plant cells and helps regulate the movement of water and nutrients within the plant.


Question 2:

What color do acids make litmus paper turn?

A. Red

B. Yellow

C. Blue

D. Black

The Correct Answer is A.

A) Red (Correct Answer): Acids turn litmus paper red. Litmus paper is a common indicator that changes color in response to changes in acidity or alkalinity. Acids change the blue litmus paper to red.

B) Yellow: Acids do not typically turn litmus paper yellow. Litmus paper is generally unaffected by acids in a way that would cause it to turn yellow.

C) Blue: Acids do not turn litmus paper blue. Instead, they change blue litmus paper to red.

D) Black: Acids do not turn litmus paper black. Litmus paper is not expected to change to black in the presence of acids.


Question 3:

Why is dry hydrogen chloride gas not acidic?

A. Because it does not react with water

B. Because it does not contain hydrogen ions (H+)

C. Because it contains hydrogen ions but not chloride ions (Cl-)

D. Because hydrogen is bonded to chlorine in dry HCl and not dissociated

The Correct Answer is D.

A) Because it does not react with water: While dry hydrogen chloride gas does not react with water, the absence of this reaction does not inherently determine its acidity. Acidity is determined by the presence of hydrogen ions in solution.

B) Because it does not contain hydrogen ions (H+): Dry hydrogen chloride gas does not contain free hydrogen ions, which are characteristic of acidic solutions. However, the absence of hydrogen ions alone does not explain why dry hydrogen chloride gas is not acidic.

C) Because it contains hydrogen ions but not chloride ions (Cl-): Dry hydrogen chloride gas does not contain free chloride ions, but the presence of hydrogen ions is crucial for acidity. However, the absence of chloride ions alone does not fully explain why dry hydrogen chloride gas is not acidic.

D) Because hydrogen is bonded to chlorine in dry HCl and not dissociated (Correct Answer): Dry hydrogen chloride gas does not dissociate into hydrogen ions (H+) and chloride ions (Cl-) because there is no water present to facilitate dissociation. Therefore, it does not exhibit acidic properties in the absence of dissociation.


Question 4:

What is an appropriate pH value for hydrochloric acid?

A. pH 2-4

B. pH 1-3

C. pH 0-2

D. pH 3-5

The Correct Answer is B.

Rationale for each choice:

A) pH 2-4: While hydrochloric acid is indeed highly acidic, a pH range of 2-4 would suggest a slightly less concentrated solution. However, this range might still be appropriate for dilute or partially neutralized hydrochloric acid.

A) pH 1-3 (Correct Answer): Hydrochloric acid typically has a very low pH due to its strong acidic nature. A pH range of 1-3 is commonly observed for concentrated hydrochloric acid solutions.

C) pH 0-2: This range suggests an even stronger acidity, which could be true for very concentrated hydrochloric acid solutions, although they might not commonly occur in typical laboratory or industrial settings.

D) pH 3-5: This pH range would indicate a significantly less acidic solution compared to hydrochloric acid. Such a pH range might be more appropriate for weak acids or diluted hydrochloric acid solutions rather than the concentrated form.


Question 5:

Which one of the following must be added to dilute hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen?

A. Iron

B. Iron sulfide

C. Copper chloride

D. Sulfur

The Correct Answer is A.

A. Iron (Correct Answer): Iron can react with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas according to the following reaction:

2HCl + Fe => FeCl2 + H2

So, adding iron to dilute hydrochloric acid would produce hydrogen gas.

B. Iron sulfide: Iron sulfide may react with hydrochloric acid, but it does not directly produce hydrogen gas. The reaction would likely produce hydrogen sulfide gas instead.

C. Copper chloride: Copper chloride does not react with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas. The reaction between copper chloride and hydrochloric acid would likely produce copper chloride and hydrogen chloride gas.

D. Sulfur: Sulfur does not react with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas. The reaction between sulfur and hydrochloric acid would likely produce hydrogen sulfide gas.


Question 6:

How can copper sulfate crystals be separated from copper sulfate solution?

A. Filtration

B. Distillation

C. Decantation

D. Evaporation

The Correct Answer is D.

A) Filtration: Filtration is not suitable for separating dissolved substances from a solution. It is typically used to separate solid particles from a liquid mixture.

B) Distillation: Distillation is a process used to separate components of a mixture based on differences in their boiling points. It is not typically used to separate solid crystals from a solution.

C) Decantation: Decantation involves pouring off the liquid portion of a mixture, leaving the solid behind. While it can be used to separate solid and liquid phases, it may not effectively separate dissolved copper sulfate from the solution.

D) Evaporation (Correct Answer): Evaporation involves heating the solution to allow the solvent (water) to vaporize, leaving behind the solute (copper sulfate) as solid crystals. This process is commonly used to obtain solid crystals from a solution.


Question 7:

What is a precipitate?

A. A gas formed during a chemical reaction

B. A liquid formed when two aqueous solutions react

C. A solid formed when two aqueous solutions react

D. A solution formed during a chemical reaction

The Correct Answer is C.

A) A gas formed during a chemical reaction: While gases can indeed be produced during chemical reactions, a precipitate specifically refers to a solid that forms during a reaction.

B) A liquid formed when two aqueous solutions react: Precipitates are not liquids. They are solids that are formed when certain ions combine to form an insoluble compound.

C) A solid formed when two aqueous solutions react (Correct Answer): A precipitate is indeed a solid substance that forms when two aqueous solutions react and certain ions combine to create an insoluble compound.

D) A solution formed during a chemical reaction: A precipitate is not a solution. It is the solid product that separates out of a solution during a chemical reaction due to its limited solubility.


Question 8:

What ions make ethanoic acid acidic?

A. H+ ions

B. OH- ions

C. Na+ ions

D. Cl- ions

The Correct Answer is A.

A) H+ ions (Correct Answer): Ethanoic acid (acetic acid) is acidic because it donates protons (H+) in solution, leading to the formation of hydronium ions (H3O+). This process characterizes acids.

 

B) OH- ions: Hydroxide ions (OH-) typically characterize bases, not acids. Ethanoic acid doesn't contain hydroxide ions.

 

C) Na+ ions: Sodium ions (Na+) are not responsible for the acidity of ethanoic acid. Na+ ions are typically found in salts and do not contribute to acidity.

 

D) Cl- ions: Chloride ions (Cl-) are not responsible for the acidity of ethanoic acid. Cl- ions are typically found in salts and do not contribute to acidity.


Question 9:

:pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. The pH scale ranges from:

A. 0–7

B. 7–14

C. 0–14

D. 1–10

The Correct Answer is C.

A. 0–7: This range corresponds to acidic solutions on the pH scale. A pH value below 7 indicates acidity.

B. 7–14: This range corresponds to basic solutions on the pH scale. A pH value above 7 indicates alkalinity.

C. 0–14 (Correct Answer): The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, covering the entire spectrum of acidity and alkalinity. A pH value of 7 is considered neutral, while values below 7 indicate acidity and values above 7 indicate alkalinity.

D. 1–10: This range does not encompass the full range of the pH scale. The pH scale extends beyond 10 for alkaline solutions and below 1 for highly acidic solutions. Therefore, this choice is incorrect.


Question 10:

Which acid is needed to make ammonium nitrate?

A. Sulfuric acid

B. Hydrochloric acid

C. Nitric acid

D. Acetic acid

The Correct Answer is C.

A) Sulfuric acid: Sulfuric acid is not used in the production of ammonium nitrate. Although sulfuric acid is a widely used acid in various industries, it is not involved in the synthesis of ammonium nitrate.

B) Hydrochloric acid: Hydrochloric acid is not used in the production of ammonium nitrate. While it is an important industrial acid, it does not react with ammonia to produce ammonium nitrate.

C) Nitric acid (Correct Answer): Ammonium nitrate is typically produced by reacting ammonia (NH3) with nitric acid (HNO3). The reaction forms ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), which is a common fertilizer and explosive compound.

D) Acetic acid: Acetic acid, commonly known as vinegar, is not used in the production of ammonium nitrate. It is a weak acid and does not react with ammonia to form ammonium nitrate.