🧪Gen Chem, Acids/Bases & Thermo

Chemistry Formula Sheet: Stoichiometry, Gas Laws & pH

All essential General and AP/University Chemistry equations for stoichiometry, ideal gases, acid-base buffers, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry.

High-Yield Formulas

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Moles, Molarity & Dilution
n = m / M, M = n / V(L), M₁V₁ = M₂V₂

When to use: Converting grams to moles, finding solution concentration, and lab dilutions.

⚠️ Exam Trap: Always convert volume from mL to Liters (divide by 1,000) when calculating Molarity.
Ideal Gas Law
P · V = n · R · T (R = 0.08206 L·atm/(mol·K))

When to use: Relating pressure, volume, moles, and temperature of a gas.

⚠️ Exam Trap: Always convert Celsius to Kelvin first: T(K) = °C + 273.15.
pH, pOH & Water Autoionization
pH = -log[H⁺], pH + pOH = 14 (at 25°C)

When to use: Strong acid/base pH calculations and hydronium concentration.

⚠️ Exam Trap: Significant figures in pH only count digits AFTER the decimal point.
Henderson-Hasselbalch Buffer Equation
pH = pKₐ + log([A⁻] / [HA])

When to use: Finding the pH of a weak acid/conjugate base buffer solution.

⚠️ Exam Trap: At the half-equivalence point of a titration, [A⁻] = [HA] so pH = pKₐ.
Gibbs Free Energy & Spontaneity
ΔG° = ΔH° - T·ΔS° = -R·T·ln(K)

When to use: Predicting whether a reaction is thermodynamically favorable (ΔG < 0).

⚠️ Exam Trap: ΔH° is usually given in kJ/mol while ΔS° is in J/(mol·K)—convert ΔS° to kJ first!
First-Order Half-Life & Kinetics
ln[A]ₜ = -kt + ln[A]₀, t₁/₂ = 0.693 / k

When to use: Radioactive decay and first-order reaction rate problems.

⚠️ Exam Trap: Only first-order reactions have a constant half-life independent of concentration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do students lose points on ΔG = ΔH - TΔS questions?

90% of errors come from unit mismatch: ΔH is reported in kilojoules (kJ/mol) while ΔS is reported in joules (J/mol·K). Divide ΔS by 1,000 before multiplying by temperature in Kelvin.

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