In an Arrhenius acid-base context, the compounds KOH, H2SO4, and HNO3 when dissolved in water

14.1   Multiple Choice

1) In an Arrhenius acid-base context, the compounds KOH, H2SO4, and HNO3 when dissolved in water, function respectively as a(n) ________.

A) base, acid and acid

B) acid, base and base

C) base, acid and base

D) base, base and acid

2) Each of the following can act like a Bronsted-Lowry acid and Bronsted-Lowry base except:

A) NH4+

B) H2PO4-

C) HCO3-

D) HS-

3) A Bronsted-Lowry acid is defined as a substance that ________.

A) increases the [H+] concentration when placed in water

B) decreases the [H+] concentration when placed in water

C) acts as a proton donor in any system

D) acts as a proton acceptor in any system

4) According to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, a base is ________.

A) a hydronium ion donor

B) a proton donor

C) a proton acceptor

D) a hydroxide ion acceptor

5) Which of the following could not be a Bronsted-Lowry acid?

A) HF

B) HC2H3O2

C) CN−

D) HS−

6) The Bronsted-Lowry acid and base for the reaction

NH4+ + CN− –> NH3 + HCN are, respectively, ________.

A) NH3 and CN−

B) NH4+ and HCN

C) CN− and HCN

D) NH4+ and CN−

7) Which of the following is incorrectly classified as an acid, a base, a salt, or an amphoteric species?

A) H2Sacid

B) NH4+base

C) LiOHbase

D) HS−amphoteric

8) Which of the following is not a conjugate acid/base pair?

A) PH4+/PH3

B) H2O/OH−

C) HSO4−/SO42−

D) S2−/H2S

9) From the choices below, identify a conjugate acid-base pair. (The acid is listed first in the pair.)

H2PO4− + S2− –> HS− + HPO42−

Acid     Conjugate Base

A) S-2 HS-

B) H2PO4-S-2

C) H2PO4-HPO4-2

D) HS-H2PO4-

10) Which of the following pairs of acids and conjugate bases is incorrectly labeled?

Acid     Conjugate Base

A) HSO4-SO4-2

B) HFO2HFO3

C) HSO3-SO3-2

D) NH4+NH3

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

Here are the answers with brief explanations for each question:

1) In an Arrhenius acid-base context, the compounds KOH, H2SO4, and HNO3 when dissolved in water, function respectively as a(n) ________.

Answer: A) base, acid, and acid

Explanation:

  • KOH is a base because it dissociates to form OH⁻ ions in water.
  • H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid) and HNO₃ (nitric acid) are acids because they dissociate to produce H⁺ ions in water.

2) Each of the following can act like a Bronsted-Lowry acid and Bronsted-Lowry base except:

Answer: D) HS⁻

Explanation:

  • NH₄⁺ can donate a proton (acid) or accept a proton (base).
  • H₂PO₄⁻ can donate a proton (acid) or accept a proton (base).
  • HCO₃⁻ can donate a proton (acid) or accept a proton (base).
  • HS⁻ only accepts protons (base), but it does not donate protons, so it can’t act as an acid.

3) A Bronsted-Lowry acid is defined as a substance that ________.

Answer: C) acts as a proton donor in any system

Explanation:

  • A Bronsted-Lowry acid is a proton donor, meaning it donates H⁺ ions (protons) in a reaction.

4) According to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, a base is ________.

Answer: C) a proton acceptor

Explanation:

  • A Bronsted-Lowry base is defined as a substance that accepts a proton (H⁺).

5) Which of the following could not be a Bronsted-Lowry acid?

Answer: C) CN⁻

Explanation:

  • CN⁻ (cyanide ion) is a base, not an acid. It can accept protons, but it cannot donate them, which is what acids do.

6) The Bronsted-Lowry acid and base for the reaction: NH₄⁺ + CN⁻ → NH₃ + HCN are, respectively, ________.

Answer: D) NH₄⁺ and CN⁻

Explanation:

  • NH₄⁺ donates a proton (acting as an acid), while CN⁻ accepts the proton (acting as a base).

7) Which of the following is incorrectly classified as an acid, a base, a salt, or an amphoteric species?

Answer: B) NH₄⁺ base

Explanation:

  • NH₄⁺ is an acid, not a base. It can donate a proton, making it a Bronsted-Lowry acid.

8) Which of the following is not a conjugate acid/base pair?

Answer: D) S²⁻/H₂S

Explanation:

  • S²⁻ is the conjugate base of HS⁻, not H₂S, so S²⁻/H₂S is not a conjugate acid-base pair.

9) From the choices below, identify a conjugate acid-base pair. (The acid is listed first in the pair.)

Answer: C) H₂PO₄⁻/HPO₄²⁻

Explanation:

  • H₂PO₄⁻ (dihydrogen phosphate) donates a proton to form HPO₄²⁻ (hydrogen phosphate), making them a conjugate acid-base pair.

10) Which of the following pairs of acids and conjugate bases is incorrectly labeled?

Answer: B) HFO₂/HFO₃

Explanation:

  • HFO₂ (fluorous acid) and HFO₃ are not a conjugate acid-base pair, as they don’t differ by just one proton. The correct pair should involve a proton transfer, such as HSO₄⁻ and SO₄²⁻.

These questions focus on understanding acid-base theories, particularly Arrhenius and Bronsted-Lowry concepts.

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