Where do I begin learning Chemistry from the complete ground up?

I think the first three topics should be Structure of the Atom (including quantum numbers and electronic configuration), Periodic Properties and Chemical Bonding.

Question on Solvay Process

Na₂CO₃ can be manufactured by Solvay’s process, but not K₂CO₃. Why?

Update

Guys, I am updating answers for many of the questions. You can check them. Also, I have changed the theme and included comments. In case, you need to discuss any answers, you can do so through comments section.

Keep reading Chemistry.

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Question on Reduction

Which out of (a) Clemmensen Reduction and (b) Wolff Kishner Reduction is the best suitable reduction method for the following reaction?

Question on Carbonyl Compounds

An organic compound P of molecular formula C₄H₁₀O upon dehydrogenation gives a compound Q which forms phenyl hydrazone with phenylhydrazine and both the compounds P and Q respond positive to the Iodoform Test. What is the name of the compound P?

Question on Electrochemistry

3 Faraday of electricity are passed through molten Al₂O₃ aqueous solution of CuSO₄ and molten NaCl in three different electrolytic cells. What will be the molar ratio of Al, Cu, Na deposited at the respective cathodes?

Question on Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution

Which among (a) Nitrobenzene and (b) benzene, is a suitable solvent for the Friedel - Craft alkylation of para - bromo benzene?

Question on Equivalent Weights

Monosodium salt of oxalic acid is titrated with NaOH solution. In a second titration it is titrated with KMnO₄ solution. What will the ratio of equivalent weights of monosodiumoxalate in both the titration be?

Question on Carbonyl Compounds

If the cyanohydrin of a carbonyl compound on hydrolysis gives lactic acid (CH₃CH(OH)COOH), what is the name of the carbonyl compound?

Question on Basic Strength

Is aniline is a weaker base than ethylamine? Why?

Question on Grignard Reagent

What is the name of the ester, having molecular formula C₂H₄O₂, which on treatment with MeMgI, followed by hydrolysis produces acetaldehyde as the product?

Question on Grignard Reagent

Ethyl acetate is treated with double molar quantity of C₂H₅MgBr and the reaction mixture is hydrolysed with H₂O to a produce a product “P”. What is the name of “P”?

Hunsdiecker Reaction

Reaction: Hunsdiecker Reaction

Reagent: Br₂/CCl₄

Use in Chemistry: Conversion of Silver salts of carboxylic acids to alkyl halides

Reaction Examples:

Reaction Mechanism:

The widely believed mechanism involves the Silver salt of the carboxylic acid reacting with bromine to form acyl hypobromite which undergoes homolytic bond cleavage to produce bromine radical and a carboxylate radical. This carboxylate radical then releases a carbon dioxide molecule to produce an alkyl radical. This alkyl radical combines with the bromine radical from the acyl hypobromite to form alkyl bromide.

Related Reaction: Simonini Reaction

"Science is a great game. It is inspiring and refreshing. The playing field is the universe itself."

“Science is a great game. It is inspiring and refreshing. The playing field is the universe itself.”



- Isidor Isaac Rabi - Physicist and Nobel Prize winner.

Question on Sulphonation

What will the ascending order of the rate of sulphonation of the following molecules?

Question on Chemical Kinetics

The time required for 99.9% completion of the first order reaction is “x” times to that of its half life time. What is the value of “x”?

Question on Molecular Formula

A compound A crystallizes in a hexagonal close packing system. If the compound is made of X and Y in which X occupies all the lattice position of hcp layers and Y occupies two third of the octahedral voids, what will the formula of A be?

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener. It is used as a substitute for sugar in food and some beverages. It is the methyl ester of the dipeptide of L-aspartic acid and L-phenyl alanine. Both L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine are natural amino acids. It is said that aspartame is almost 200 times sweeter than sugar. This property allows us to have the same amount of sweetness as sugar but will a little quantity. As small quantity of aspartame is used, its calorific contribution becomes insignificant.

Aspartame gets hydrolysed into methanol and its constituent amino acids when hydrolysed in highly acidic conditions and also at elevated temperatures. There has been several articles on research work that shows some serious side effects of aspartame due to this break down especially due to the production of methanol. Methanol can cause permanent blindness even when consumed in little quantity.

Question on Glucose

How many molecules of phenyl hydrazine reacts with one molecule of glucose to produce glucosazone?

Question on Molecular Structure

How many sigma bonds (a), pi bonds (b) and lone pair of electrons (c) respectively are present in the enolic form of acetone?

Question on Precipitation

7-Bromo-cycloheptatriene gives a precipitate of AgBr with AgNO₃. Why?

Caught Red Handed

Mr. Stanley was missing some money that he had kept in this cup board. This is the third time that he was missing money. In earlier occasions he blamed himself for having lost the money. But, this time he knew for sure that something is wrong. Someone is stealing money from him. “Who could it be?”, he asked himself. He made a list of suspects. It read 4 names. Alex, Charles, Robin and Peter.

Mr. Stanley wanted to catch the culprit during the act. He thought of a wonderful plan. He fetched the washing soda from his laundry room. He then took a little of the washing soda and spread it over some of the notes he had. He ensured that the amount was just enough to catch the culprit. He then left the notes in the same place as earlier and left the room.

Mr. Stanley is using a procedure all chemists do during a titration. During a titration, an indicator is used to indicate the end of the reaction that is being performed. The indicator can be added additionally to the reaction mixture to show completion of the reaction. In some reactions one of the products can act as an indicator. Substances commonly used as an indicator exhibit different color in different medium. Phenophthalein, a common indicator, becomes pink in a basic solution and is colorless in acidic solution.

Like other acid base indicators, phenolphthalein has different colors for its acidic (unionized) and basic (ionized) forms. It is colorless in acidic form and pink colored in basic form

When Mr. Stanley returned to his office after 10 minutes, he observed that the notes have gone as he had expected. He immediately summoned his four suspects to his office. He told them about the frequent disappearance of money from his office. All the four were surprised to hear that there has been a series of theft at their workplace. Mr. Stanley said, “I laid a trap this time to catch the culprit.” There was no nervousness or change of expression on anyone’s face. They still seemed surprised.

“Show me your Palms”, he said. All the four extended their hands to show their palms. He then sprayed a solution on phenolphthalein on everyone’s palms. All but Robin’s palms were colorless. The washing soda (Sodium Carbonate) had made phenolphthalein change its colour to pink.

Robin, suspended from work, after being caught Red (pink to be precise) Handed is doing social service to compensate for all the money he had stolen.

Note: Please DO NOT handle chemicals with bare hands. Always be protected from chemicals.

Question on Copper

In moist air Copper corrodes to produce a green layer on the surface. Why?

Question on Chemical Bonding

Why is NF₅ not known while PF₅ is known?

Question on Solubility

Among MgSO₄ and BaSO₄ which one is more soluble in water at room temperature? Why?

Question on Acidic Strength

Out of (a) P₂O₅ (b) MgO (c) SiO₂ and (d) Al₂O₃ which oxide is the most acidic?