General Chemistry

🏥 General Chemistry

Part 1 of 7 — Atomic Structure & Periodic Trends

Electron configuration determines chemical behavior: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 ....

Periodic trends: electronegativity, ionization energy, and atomic radius follow predictable patterns across periods and groups.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Effective nuclear charge (Zeff) increases across a period as electrons are added to the same shell.

MCAT Tip: Quantum numbers (n, l, ml, ms) describe the state of each electron — no two electrons share all four (Pauli exclusion).

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Chemical Bonding

Part 2 of 7 — Chemical Bonding

Ionic bonds form between metals and nonmetals via electron transfer; covalent bonds share electrons.

VSEPR theory predicts molecular geometry from electron pair repulsion around the central atom.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Electronegativity differences determine bond polarity: <0.5 nonpolar, 0.5-1.7 polar covalent, >1.7 ionic.

MCAT Tip: Hybridization (sp, sp2, sp3) determines geometry: linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral respectively.

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Stoichiometry & Solutions

Part 3 of 7 — Stoichiometry & Solutions

Molarity (M) = moles of solute / liters of solution — the most common concentration unit on the MCAT.

Dilution: M1V1 = M2V2 — moles of solute remain constant.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Limiting reagent: the reactant that runs out first determines the maximum product.

MCAT Tip: Percent yield = (actual yield / theoretical yield) x 100.

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Acids, Bases & Buffers

Part 4 of 7 — Acids, Bases & Buffers

Bronsted-Lowry: acids donate H+, bases accept H+; Lewis: acids accept electron pairs, bases donate them.

pH = -log[H+]; pOH = -log[OH-]; pH + pOH = 14 at 25C.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Buffer = weak acid + conjugate base (or weak base + conjugate acid) — resists pH change.

MCAT Tip: Henderson-Hasselbalch: pH = pKa + log([A-]/[HA]) — critical for MCAT buffer calculations.

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Chemical Kinetics

Part 5 of 7 — Chemical Kinetics

Rate = k[A]^m[B]^n — rate law is determined experimentally, not from stoichiometry.

Arrhenius equation: k = Ae^(-Ea/RT) — higher temperature increases rate constant k.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Catalysts lower activation energy (Ea) without being consumed — enzymes are biological catalysts.

MCAT Tip: Rate-determining step: the slowest step in a mechanism controls the overall rate.

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Thermodynamics & Equilibrium

Part 6 of 7 — Thermodynamics & Equilibrium

Rate = k[A]^m[B]^n — rate law is determined experimentally, not from stoichiometry.

Arrhenius equation: k = Ae^(-Ea/RT) — higher temperature increases rate constant k.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Catalysts lower activation energy (Ea) without being consumed — enzymes are biological catalysts.

MCAT Tip: Rate-determining step: the slowest step in a mechanism controls the overall rate.

Concept Check 🎯

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Review & MCAT Practice

Part 7 of 7 — Review & MCAT Practice

Rate = k[A]^m[B]^n — rate law is determined experimentally, not from stoichiometry.

Arrhenius equation: k = Ae^(-Ea/RT) — higher temperature increases rate constant k.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Catalysts lower activation energy (Ea) without being consumed — enzymes are biological catalysts.

MCAT Tip: Rate-determining step: the slowest step in a mechanism controls the overall rate.

Concept Check 🎯

Fill in the Blanks 🔍