Normality???

[yorkiepoo]

I keep coming across questions involving NORMALITY in the gen chem section in Kaplan prep. I definately did not learn about normality in my gen chem class and it isnt in my course text book. I cant reallf figure out how to apply it.

Could some one please tell me:

*IS THIS ACTUALLY ON THE EXAM?

*HOW DO YOU DO THESE NORMALITY PROBLEMS? WHAT IS THE TRICK?

Thanks!

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[Fariba]

Normality is the number of acid or base equivalents per liter of solution. Its just another way to relate the amount of solute /volume of solution.

For example, H2SO4 will liberate 2 acid equivalents ---> first it produces HSO4^- + an H+ (1 acid equivalent) ---> then it will produce SO4^2- + H+ (the second acid equivalent.)

So, since each mole of H2SO4 will liberate 2 equivalents of H+, a 3M solution (for example) would be calculated as being 6N (6 Normal.) Normality should always be more than the Molarity.

And in case I didnt help, I am sure you can find some good tutorials online. Try this website:
http://www.wwnorton.com/chemistry/overview/ch1.htm

- By the way... since Normality and Molarity look very similar, be sure to check and see what the question is really asking for. There very well might be a question on the DAT that includes Normality but you might mistake it for Molarity. Not a big coversion though, so its not difficult to solve.