Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 11. Alkali metals are found in Group 1 of the periodic table, which includes elements like sodium (Na) and potassium (K). These elements have 11 protons in their atomic nucleus, giving them an atomic number of 11. The number of protons determines the element's identity, so alkali metals always have 11 protons. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not correspond to the characteristic number of protons for alkali metals.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Anion. When an atom gains one or more electrons, it becomes negatively charged, forming an anion. This process is known as gaining electron(s) to achieve a stable electron configuration. A cation (A) is formed when an atom loses electron(s) and becomes positively charged. Isotope (C) refers to atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. Electron (D) is a fundamental subatomic particle, not a term for an atom gaining electrons.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Xe. Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas, meaning it has a full outer electron shell, making it highly stable and least likely to react with other elements. Li (A) is a highly reactive alkali metal, Cr (B) is a transition metal with varying reactivities, and Nd (C) is a rare-earth metal that can exhibit reactivity. In summary, Xe is the least reactive as noble gases tend to be chemically inert due to their stable electron configuration.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 92. Uranium-235 has an atomic number of 92, which represents the number of protons in its nucleus. Neutrons are calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number (235 - 92 = 143), so there are 143 neutrons in uranium-235. This makes option A the correct choice. Options B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the number of neutrons in uranium-235 based on its atomic number and mass number.