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Comprehensive MCAT Chemistry Review

Aug 11, 2024

General Chemistry MCAT Review

Introduction

  • Primary Study Source: Miles Down Review Sheets
  • Recommendation: Pause, rewind, take notes for better understanding.

Atomic Structure

Symbols and Isotopes

  • Mass Number (A): Number of protons and neutrons
  • Atomic Number (Z): Number of protons; defines the element
  • Isotopes: Different neutron numbers (e.g., Carbon-12, Carbon-13, Carbon-14)
  • Weighted Average: Based on natural abundance (e.g., Carbon-12 is 99%)

Scientists' Contributions

Rutherford Model (1911)

  • Gold Foil Experiment: Alpha particles mostly pass through, some deflected
  • Conclusion: Existence of a dense nucleus

Bohr Model (1913)

  • Energy Levels: Electrons exist in specific energy states and travel around the nucleus.
  • Photon Emission/Absorption: Transition between energy levels. From a high energy state to a low energy state, light is emitted. Photons absorbed from a low state to a high state.
  • Limitation: Electrons described by probability clouds (Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle)

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

  • Concept: Can't know both momentum (where it’s going) and position simultaneously

Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Numbers

  • Principal (n): Energy level
  • Azimuthal (l): Shape of orbital (s, p, d, f)
  • Magnetic (ml): Orientation of orbital subtype
  • Spin (ms): Electron spin (+1/2, -1/2) ; Pauli
  • Hund's Rule: Electrons fill empty orbitals first
  • Pauli Exclusion Principle: No two electrons can have the same four quantum numbers

Constants to Memorize

  • Avogadro's Number: 6.022 × 10^23
  • Planck's Constant: 6.626 × 10^-34 J·s
  • Speed of Light: 3 × 10^8 m/s -Light Energy: E=hc/wavelength, E=hf. Same equation.
  • F x wavelength= c (which is speed)

Periodic Table Trends

Effective Nuclear Charge

  • Trend: Increases across a period, decreases down a group
  • Explanation: More protons and closer valence electrons

Ionization Energy

  • Trend: Increases across a period, decreases down a group
  • Definition: Energy required to remove an electron

Electron Affinity

  • Trend: Increases across a period, decreases down a group
  • Definition: Energy change when an electron is added

Electronegativity

  • Trend: Increases across a period, decreases down a group
  • Definition: Tendency to attract shared electrons

Atomic Size

  • Trend: Decreases across a period, increases down a group
  • Ions: Cations smaller, anions larger than neutral atoms

Chemical Bonding and Interactions

Covalent Bonds

  • Types: Polar (unequal sharing) and nonpolar (equal sharing)
  • Bond Order: Single, double, triple bonds

Ionic Bonds

  • Definition: Transfer of electrons between metal and non-metal
  • Properties: High melting points, conductivity in molten/aqueous states

Intermolecular Forces

  • Types: Hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, London dispersion
  • Strength: Covalent/Ionic > Hydrogen > Dipole-Dipole > London Dispersion

Stoichiometry and Chemical Reactions

Types of Reactions

  • Combination: Two or more substances form one product
  • Decomposition: One substance breaks down into two or more products
  • Combustion: Hydrocarbon + O2 -> CO2 + H2O
  • Displacement: Single and double replacement
  • Neutralization: Acid + Base -> Salt + Water

Kinetics

  • Order of Reactions: Zeroth, first, second order
  • Graphical Representation: Helps derive rate laws

Gibbs Free Energy

  • Equation: ΔG = ΔH - TΔS
  • Spontaneity: ΔG < 0 (exergonic), ΔG > 0 (endergonic)

Equilibrium

Equilibrium Constants

  • Kc and Kp: Concentration and pressure-based constants
  • Le Chatelier's Principle: System shifts to counteract changes (concentration, temperature, pressure)

Acids and Bases

  • Definitions: Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, Lewis
  • pH and pOH: Calculations and significance

Buffers

  • Components: Weak acid/base and conjugate salt
  • Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation: pH = pKa + log([A-]/[HA])

Electrochemistry

Galvanic Cells

  • Components: Anode (oxidation), cathode (reduction), salt bridge
  • Cell Potential: Calculated from reduction potentials

Electrolytic Cells

  • Non-spontaneous: Driven by external battery

Nernst Equation

  • Equation: Relates cell potential to reaction quotient
  • Application: Predicts direction of electrochemical reactions