Questions tagged [erratum]
For questions that deal with possible errors in a specific statement of a specified book, article, website, etc. These questions should always include a complete reference (see tag wiki for format).
100
questions
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Does it sometimes take energy to create a chemical bond? [duplicate]
Wikipedia says so:
Bonds can also be broken apart. Since most bonds require energy to form, they also give off energy when they are broken. But before most bonds break, the molecule has to be ...
7
votes
0answers
74 views
Does tantalum and tungsten really not form amalgams?
User @Poutnik has recently answered two questions(here and here) in which he/she quoted this statement from Wikipedia:
Almost all metals can form amalgams with mercury, the notable
exceptions ...
2
votes
1answer
334 views
Barron states that 4.18×10⁸ joules equal 1 kcal, is this correct?
Here is a paragraph in Barron's SAT chemistry prep book:
Work itself is measured in Joules, and so is energy. In some problems, however, energy may be expressed in kilocalories. The relationship ...
-1
votes
1answer
116 views
Is there a error at page 566 of Atkins Physical Chemistry? [closed]
At page 556 I found this question being analyzed and the rate law is provided.
However, when I apply steady state approximation, I can't find the result without the factor 2.
Is it me being wrong?
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Possible erratum in solutions to Orbital Interactions in Chemistry 2ed [closed]
I was attempting the problems in Chapter 1 of Orbital Interactions in Chemistry, and found a slight problem.
ftp://ftp.wiley.com/public/sci_tech_med/orbital_interactions_2e/Chapter%201%20-%20Answers....
0
votes
0answers
69 views
Is it possible to obtain n-butane by treating halopropane grignard reagent with methanol?
The answer is a,b.
My mechanism however doesn't give n-butane when R is propyl. Is this a case of textbook errata?
Himanshu Pandey, Advanced Problems In Organic Chemistry, 9th edition ...
0
votes
0answers
77 views
Attack of 3-methylbutan-1-ol on benzene in acidic medium
That's how I proceeded with the question. However the answer is tert-butylbenzene. I can't figure out why do I have an extra carbon atom.
SOURCE
- JEE Advanced 1994
3
votes
0answers
116 views
What is the product of the following series of reactions?
.
The answer given to this question is .
This is how I attempted solving the problem.
Considering that my answer and the author's answer is differing only by a methyl group, is this a publishing ...
2
votes
0answers
140 views
Pressure in Skoog Instrumental Analysis Problem 27-22b (gas chromatography)
Problem 27-22b in:
Skoog; Holler; Crouch. Principles of Instrumental Analysis. Thomson Brooks/Cole (publisher varies by country)
asks for corrected retention volumes.
A compressibility factor, $j$ ...
3
votes
1answer
129 views
Is there a case when an atom of some element (e.g. carbon) does not have its expected number of protons (e.g. 6)?
Page 12 of the Study Guide for Campbell Biology, 11th Edition has the following question:
A carbon atom has 6 neutrons. How many protons are present in the nucleus of a carbon atom?
A. 12
...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
thermochemistry problem confusion
I can understand upto where the ideal gas equation is used to calculate volume of steam. But on trying to find out $ \Delta V$ , i saw that there are no gases on the reactant side so then $P\Delta V=(\...
1
vote
0answers
49 views
Find the Electronic Configuration of an Iron Atom [closed]
I'm confused. Iron has 26 electrons and I wrote down $\ce{1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^6, 4s^2, 3d^6}$ yet my answer booklet says $\ce{1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^6}$ but that is only 18. How can it be ...
2
votes
1answer
987 views
Classification of the Inside of a Grapefruit
In the text Chemistry: The Central Science, the inside of a grapefruit is classified as a homogeneous mixture. Unless I’m missing something, to me it would be a heterogenous mixture owing to pulp, ...
5
votes
0answers
93 views
Why is the carbon atom omitted from the molecular formula?
In my chemistry textbook, the following reaction was given:
I have two questions related to the marked in orange boxes/parts of the image:
Why is the molecule symbolized by $\ce{(CH3)3Cl}$ instead ...
3
votes
2answers
324 views
What is the expected product in the reaction of hydrogen chloride with allylbenzene?
Shouldn't it be 4th option since since the carbon attached to the ring is secondary as well as resonance stabilized?
0
votes
0answers
102 views
Steric hindrance during Hydroboration
In response to this diagram (Organic Chemistry By David Klein 3rd Edition Page 364):
The textbook stated
A comparison of the transition states for hydroboration via
Markovnikov addition or anti-...
0
votes
0answers
96 views
Does S use its p-orbitals for bonding? [duplicate]
This question was inspired from the following questioN:
I thought the answer would be either A (maybe accounting for larger sizes?) or B (Bent's rule) but apparently the answer is D. Can someone ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
Same set of carboxylate reagents yielding two different products with an alkylide
I recently came across two contrasting products for the same set of reagents - carboxylic acid and alkyllithium, and wish to understand why exactly any difference exists between the two.
Reaction 1
...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
How can the outermost electrons in silicon be 2s and 2p electrons?
My book says the number of outermost electrons in silicon is $4$. Yes, right. But then it says those are $\ce{2s}$ and $\ce{2p}$ electrons. The electronic configuration of silicon is $\ce{1s^2 2s^2 ...
5
votes
1answer
495 views
Why are 3 equivalents of organolithium needed in synthesis of ketone from carboxylic acid?
For the reaction of a carboxylic acid and organolithium reagents to synthesise a ketone, Clayden's, on p 219, mentions:
Notice that three equivalents of organolithium are needed in this reaction: ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
How can a methyl halide react by intramolecular SN2?
Out of the following, $\ce{CH3Br}$ doesn't react by which mechanism?
SN2
SN1
E2
Intramolecular SN2
E1
My textbook gives 2, 3 and 5 as the correct answers, which means it does react ...
3
votes
0answers
1k views
Is it a “Bary center” or a “Bari center”?
(Studying Coordination Chemistry, "Crystal Field Theory" at school)
Apparently, different sources spell this differently.
The Wikipedia article on Crystal Field Stabilization Energy, calls it the "...
1
vote
1answer
498 views
“Nitrogen (gas) is physisorbed over iron (metal) at room temperature”: Is this for real? [closed]
My copy (PDF) of Levine's Physical Chemistry (6th ed.), page 570-571, section: "Adsorption of Gases on Solids", states:
Physical adsorption is nonspecific. For example, $\ce{N2}$ will be physically ...
5
votes
1answer
5k views
Are all ionic compounds salts?
According to Wikipedia:
A salt is an ionic compound that can be formed by the neutralization
reaction of an acid and a base.
Are all ionic compounds salts? Are all salts ionic compounds?
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Where does the additional hydrogen in the Fischer depictions of glucopyranose come from?
My book shows this figure of Fischer formula of D-glucose:
I don't understand this figure, and I wonder why the upper carbon atoms in both the right and left formulas have 5 bonds.
And from where ...
8
votes
0answers
2k views
Why can't I dry/concentrate ethanol using calcium chloride … or can I?
My (very unreliable) school textbook tells me:
Lower alcohols form a solid derivative with certain metal salts.
and,
It is for this reason that ethanol cannot be dried/concentrated using ...
4
votes
1answer
275 views
Can a bond be electrophilic or nucleophilic?
The indicated bond is:
A) Nucleophilic because it is electron-deficient.
B) Electrophilic because it is electron-rich.
C) Nucleophilic because it is electron-rich.
D) Electrophilic ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
Chemical Kinetics / Rate Question — Error in Textbook Question/Answer?
I am reading Kaplan's General Chemistry MCAT Review 2018-2019, and think that one of its chemical kinetic questions is wrong. (Or perhaps I am simply missing something). I have attached an image of ...
2
votes
1answer
5k views
The “Ostwald Isolation Method”: How does this work?
Recently started reading up on Chemical Kinetics, and I came across a certain "Ostwald Isolation Method" that figures in my school-issued workbook. Apparently, it's used to determine (approximately) ...
1
vote
0answers
500 views
Does the rate of dissociation of PCl5 increase in presence of Cl2
I'm sorry if this is somehow inappropriate to ask but I've found a rather strange question on my text book that asks "Why does the rate of dissociation of $\ce{PCl5}$ increase in the presence of $\ce{...
0
votes
0answers
237 views
Is a SR2+ substituent really more electron-withdrawing than NH3+?
As the electronegativity of nitrogen and sulfur are around 3.04 and 2.58, respectively (according to the Pauling scale). So according to that, $\ce{NH3+}$ should pull the electrons more towards it ...
4
votes
1answer
375 views
What exactly does the “per mole” unit of heat of atomization mean?
I am facing a confusion in the definition of the standard enthalpy of atomization. The confusion arises because of the "per mole" in its units ($\pu{kJ mol^-1}$).
My question: When I say "per mole", ...
0
votes
0answers
325 views
Can final volume differ from initial volume in a constant volume process?
A sample of 1.00 mol perfect gas molecules with $C_{p,\mathrm m} = 7R/2$ is put through the following cycle: (a) constant-volume heating to twice its initial volume, ...
(Problem 2.5, Atkins Physical ...
3
votes
2answers
8k views
Does fumaric acid form stronger hydrogen bonds than maleic acid?
My book claims:
Fumaric acid can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds (strong) while maleic acid forms intramolecular hydrogen bonds (weak), hence fumaric acid has higher boiling point than maleic ...
2
votes
1answer
249 views
Can a first degree carbocation form if a methyl shift is possible?
I was going through a reference book when I stumbled upon this question
Is that even possible?
6
votes
1answer
128 views
Enantioexcess for a non-chiral molecule?
I am trying to understand this quote in a section on "Biotransformations of Organic Molecules" from a handbook I am reading:
[...] Euglena gracilis could convert acetophenone to 2-phenylethanol; ...
14
votes
2answers
3k views
Configuration of chiral center in cocaine
I couldn't get the absolute configuration for the chiral center I marked. I got R, but according to my answer key it is apparently S. Would really appreciate an explanation.
0
votes
1answer
276 views
Bohr Radius Confusion
I saw online that the radius for each level is defined by the formula:
$$r_n=n^2 r_1$$
Where $r_1$ is approximately $53\ \mathrm{pm}$.
However, on the Barron's AP chemistry book 7th edition, it ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Can a table salt + vinegar mixture be explosive?
I remember having read in a book, Ask Me Anything (Dorling Kindersley), that a combination of copious amounts of table salt and vinegar is explosive.
Now this was a really long while back, and I can'...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
What happens when prop-2-en-1-ol reacts with concentrated hydrogen bromide
What happens when prop-2-en-1-ol (allyl alcohol) reacts with concentrated hydrogen bromide?
My Idea: I thought that in the first step protonation of the hydroxyl group will take place followed by ...
2
votes
0answers
590 views
Problems with Daniell cell
In Zemansky and Dittman's book on thermodynamics, pages 41–43, the authors discuss the Daniell cell as a thermodynamic system.
Their cell consists of two saturated $\ce{CuSO4}$ and $\ce{ZnSO4}$ ...
2
votes
1answer
598 views
Beryl is a mineral which contains 5.03% Be, 10.4% Al, 35.5% Si and 53.58% O. What is the simplest formula for beryl?
So I tried to follow a 3 step rule to solving this equation:
Divide each % by it's own atomic mass
Dived each of those by whichever is smallest
Find the lowest whole #
Be = 5.03% / 9 = .558 ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
What exactly does κ stand for in this equation connecting solubility and molar conductivity?
I came across the following equation while studying electrochemistry ("Physical Chemistry" by Wallwork and Grant):
The solubility $s$ of a sparingly soluble salt can be determined from conductivity ...
5
votes
2answers
10k views
Correct equation for Ionic Conductivity (λ) in Solutions?
We haven't started on Electrochemistry at school yet, but I did manage to find some time to read up on the topic. One thing I've noticed from when I started, is that different books and sites use ...
5
votes
3answers
13k views
What is the difference between molar conductance and molar conductivity?
I'm learning (or at least trying to learn) about electrochemistry, but a major obstacle to that, is that different books I refer use different terms for the same symbols. So in a last ditch attempt to ...
5
votes
1answer
421 views
Is Nitroglycerine a Nitro Compound or an Ester?
I looked up nitroglycerine in a science dictionary (Oxford Dictionary of Science, 2003), and it explicitly mentions that nitroglycerine is an ester and not a nitro compound.
However my teacher told ...
3
votes
0answers
61 views
Spectrochemical Series - Latest version?
--Studying the Crystal Field Theory [under Coordination Chem.] at school now--
A book my teacher lent me [printed in 2002] has the spectrochemical series in it, and it depicts pyridine [py] as having ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is the solubility of sodium acetate trihydrate so much lower than anhydrous sodium acetate?
According to Wikipedia:
Solubility of anhydrous sodium acetate in water at 0 $^{\circ}$C is 119 g/100 mL (AKA 1.495 mol/100mL)
Solubility of trihydrate sodium acetate in water at 0 $^{\circ}$C is 36....
4
votes
1answer
315 views
Clarification about Frost diagram y-axis conventions?
I was looking at the Frost diagram of Manganese, and on the UC Davis ChemWiki, I see this one:
However, the one straight from my textbook, "Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry" (Overton), looks like this:...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Does the addition of water to N2H4 produce N2H4
I am currently calculating the $\ce{pH}$ of a species.
The reaction is as follows,
$$\ce{N2H4 + H2O <=> N2H_{$A$}+ + OH-}$$
However, I'm not sure what the value of $A$ will be. In my ...
