HESI A2 Chemistry

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Sum of protons and neutrons. Atomic mass is the total mass of an atom, which is the combined mass of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. This value is measured in atomic mass units (amu). Choice A is incorrect because it refers to the atomic number (number of protons). Choice C is incorrect as it only considers the number of neutrons, not the total mass. Choice D is incorrect because atomic mass is not an average weight but a specific value for a single atom.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct formula for potassium chloride is KCl. "K" represents potassium and "Cl" represents chloride. Potassium is a metal with a +1 charge, while chloride is a non-metal with a -1 charge. When these two ions combine, they form a neutral compound with a 1:1 ratio, resulting in the formula KCl. Choice A (NaCl) is incorrect because "Na" represents sodium, not potassium. Choice C (KCl) is also incorrect because it is the same as the correct answer. Choice D (ClK) is incorrect as the order of elements in a chemical formula matters, and in this case, it should be KCl to represent potassium chloride accurately.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Beta radiation. Beta radiation consists of high-energy electrons or positrons traveling at high speeds, typically around 16,000 km/sec. This is because beta particles are emitted during the decay of a radioactive nucleus when a neutron changes into a proton and an electron (beta-minus decay) or a proton changes into a neutron and a positron (beta-plus decay). Alpha radiation (A) consists of helium nuclei, gamma radiation (C) is high-energy electromagnetic radiation, and there is no such thing as delta radiation (D) in the context of nuclear physics.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct balanced equation is 2Fe + O₂ → 2FeO. This is because there is 1 Fe atom on each side, 2 O atoms on each side, and the ratio of Fe to O is 2:2. Choice A has incorrect coefficients for Fe and O, choice B has an incorrect ratio of Fe to O, and choice D also has incorrect coefficients for Fe and O. Thus, the correct answer is C as it maintains the balance of atoms on both sides of the equation.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: ionization energy. Ionization energy is the energy needed to remove an electron from an atom. The outermost electron requires the least amount of energy to remove as it is farthest from the nucleus. This process results in the formation of a positively charged ion. Explanation: 1. Covalent bonding (A) refers to the sharing of electrons between atoms, not the energy required to remove an electron. 2. Electronegativity (B) is the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond, not the energy needed to remove an electron. 3. Atomic radius (C) is the size of an atom, which does not directly relate to the energy required to remove an electron.