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New YorkChemistry

Kinetics, Equilibrium, Acids and Bases

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What defines an acid and a base on the Regents, and what does the pH scale tell you?

Acids, bases and the pH scale: identify Arrhenius acids and bases, interpret the pH scale, and relate a change in pH to a change in hydrogen ion concentration.
A focused Regents Chemistry answer on Arrhenius acids and bases, the pH scale, and how each pH unit means a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration, using Table K and Table L of the Reference Tables.
9 min answer →

What is dynamic equilibrium, and how does Le Chatelier's principle predict the effect of a stress on a system?

Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle: describe dynamic equilibrium and predict the shift in a system when concentration, temperature or pressure is changed.
A focused Regents Chemistry answer on dynamic equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle: equal forward and reverse rates, and how a change in concentration, temperature or pressure shifts the equilibrium to relieve the stress.
9 min answer →

What happens when an acid reacts with a base, and what is a salt?

Neutralization and salts: write neutralization reactions of an acid with a base to form a salt and water, and identify the salt produced.
A focused Regents Chemistry answer on neutralization: how an acid and a base react to form a salt and water, how to predict the salt from the acid's anion and the base's cation, and the role of the hydrogen and hydroxide ions.
9 min answer →

How does a potential energy diagram show activation energy, the heat of reaction and the effect of a catalyst?

Potential energy diagrams: interpret potential energy diagrams to identify activation energy, the activated complex and the heat of reaction, and show how a catalyst changes the diagram.
A focused Regents Chemistry answer on potential energy diagrams: reading the activation energy, the activated complex and the heat of reaction (delta-H), distinguishing exothermic from endothermic reactions, and how a catalyst lowers the activation energy without changing delta-H.
9 min answer →

What must happen for a reaction to occur, and what factors make a reaction go faster?

Reaction rates and collision theory: use collision theory to explain how concentration, temperature, surface area and a catalyst affect the rate of a reaction.
A focused Regents Chemistry answer on reaction rates and collision theory: why effective collisions need enough energy and the right orientation, and how concentration, temperature, surface area, the nature of the reactants and a catalyst change the rate.
9 min answer →

How does a titration find the unknown concentration of an acid or base?

Titration: use titration data and the Table T titration relationship to calculate the unknown concentration of an acid or base.
A focused Regents Chemistry answer on titration: the laboratory procedure, the role of the indicator and the endpoint, and the Table T relationship M_A V_A = M_B V_B for a one-to-one acid-base reaction, with a worked calculation.
9 min answer →