MCAT 4E · Chem/Phys

Atoms, Nuclear Chemistry and the Periodic Table

477 original Anki flashcards, a 12-page illustrated study guide, a 3-page cheat sheet and 59 practice questions for MCAT content category 4E.

What is inside

deck.apkg477 original Anki flashcards (223 short answer, 78 multiple choice, 91 cloze, 73 true/false, 12 image occlusion), 26 original diagrams
guide.pdf12-page illustrated study guide that explains the ideas
cheatsheet.pdf3 printable pages, US Letter at 100 percent
questions.pdf59 original MCAT-style practice questions with explanations, including 4 passage-based sets
README.txtimport steps

223 short answer
78 multiple choice
91 cloze
73 true/false
12 image occlusion

Topics (22)

01AtAtomic structure, isotopes and atomic mass
02NuNuclear forces and binding energy
03MaMass defect
04RaRadioactive decay types: alpha, beta, gamma, positron, electron capture
05HaHalf-life and decay kinetics
06FiFission and fusion
07BoBohr model and line spectra
08QuQuantum numbers
09OrOrbitals and electron configurations
10AuAufbau, Hund's rule and Pauli exclusion
11ExExceptions (Cr, Cu)
12PaParamagnetism and diamagnetism
13PePeriodic table organization
14PePeriodic trends: radius, ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity
15MeMetals, nonmetals and metalloids
16GrGroup properties: alkali, alkaline earth, halogens, noble gases
17TrTransition metals
18AbAbsorption and emission spectroscopy basics
19StStoichiometry and moles
20LiLimiting reagent and yield
21EmEmpirical and molecular formulas
22BaBalancing redox reactions and oxidation numbers

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Sample card from Atoms, Nuclear Chemistry and the Periodic Table, answer side — Sample card (answer side)

Sample multiple choice card: Which pair are isotopes of the same element? — Sample card (answer side)

Try it · sample practice questions

Five questions from the pack.

0 of 5 answered

Q1Magnesium has isotopes 24Mg (78.99%, 23.985 u), 25Mg (10.00%, 24.986 u), and 26Mg (11.01%, 25.983 u). What is the average atomic mass?

B. The weighted average is 0.7899(23.985) + 0.1000(24.986) + 0.1101(25.983) = 24.31 u. The simple mean of the three masses (24.99) ignores abundance, and 23.99 is just the most abundant isotope.

Q2A 160 mg sample of an isotope with a half-life of 6.0 days is stored for 18 days. How much remains?

B. 18 days is 3 half-lives, so 160 x (1/2)^3 = 20 mg. 53 mg would come from linear decay, 80 mg is only one half-life, and 10 mg is four half-lives.

Q3Which set of quantum numbers (n, l, ml, ms) describes an allowed electron?

D. For n = 4, l can be 3 and ml can be -3, so the last set is allowed. In (3,3,...) l equals n, in (4,2,3,...) ml exceeds l, and a spin of 0 is not allowed.

Q4Which atom has the smallest radius?

A. Across period 3, Zeff rises while electrons enter the same shell, so radius shrinks and Si is the smallest of Na, Mg, Al, and Si. Na is the largest because it has the lowest nuclear charge.

Q5How many grams of CO2 form when 22.0 g of propane (C3H8, 44.1 g/mol) burns completely?

C. 22.0 g is 0.499 mol propane, and each gives 3 CO2, so 1.497 mol x 44.01 = 65.9 g. 22.0 g forgets the factor of 3, 87.8 g uses the water coefficient (4) instead of the CO2 coefficient (3), and 132 g doubles the answer.

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