Amount of Substance
10 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 10 free A-level Chemistry practice questions on Amount of Substance, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Amount of Substance: example questions & answers
10 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
How many molecules are present in 0.25 mol of carbon dioxide gas? (Avogadro constant = 6.02 × 10²³ mol⁻¹)
- A1.51 × 10²³✓
- B6.02 × 10²³
- C2.41 × 10²⁴
- D1.51 × 10²⁴
Answer: Number of molecules = moles × Avogadro constant = 0.25 × 6.02 × 10²³ = 1.505 × 10²³ ≈ 1.51 × 10²³ molecules.
What is the amount, in moles, of 13.7 g of calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂? (Ar: Ca = 40.1, O = 16.0, H = 1.0)
- A0.135 mol
- B0.500 mol
- C0.185 mol✓
- D0.740 mol
Answer: Mr of Ca(OH)₂ = 40.1 + 2(16.0 + 1.0) = 40.1 + 34.0 = 74.1. Moles = mass/Mr = 13.7/74.1 = 0.185 mol.
A 0.500 mol sample of an ideal gas occupies a volume of 1.20 × 10⁻² m³ at a pressure of 1.00 × 10⁵ Pa. What is the temperature of the gas? (R = 8.31 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹)
- A144 K
- B289 K✓
- C346 K
- D578 K
Answer: Using pV = nRT, T = pV/(nR) = (1.00 × 10⁵ × 1.20 × 10⁻²)/(0.500 × 8.31) = 1200/4.155 = 288.8 ≈ 289 K.
25.0 cm³ of a sodium hydroxide solution required 20.0 cm³ of 0.100 mol dm⁻³ hydrochloric acid for complete neutralisation. What is the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution? (NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H₂O)
- A0.100 mol dm⁻³
- B0.0800 mol dm⁻³✓
- C0.125 mol dm⁻³
- D0.250 mol dm⁻³
Answer: Moles HCl = 0.0200 dm³ × 0.100 = 2.00 × 10⁻³ mol. The ratio is 1:1, so moles NaOH = 2.00 × 10⁻³ mol. Concentration = moles/volume = 2.00 × 10⁻³ / 0.0250 = 0.0800 mol dm⁻³.
A compound contains 40.0% carbon, 6.7% hydrogen and 53.3% oxygen by mass. What is its empirical formula? (Ar: C = 12.0, H = 1.0, O = 16.0)
- ACH₂O✓
- BC₂H₄O₂
- CCHO
- DC₂H₆O
Answer: Divide % by Ar: C = 40.0/12.0 = 3.33; H = 6.7/1.0 = 6.7; O = 53.3/16.0 = 3.33. Divide by smallest (3.33): C = 1, H = 2.0, O = 1. Empirical formula = CH₂O.
The empirical formula of a compound is CH₂ and its relative molecular mass is 56.0. What is its molecular formula? (Ar: C = 12.0, H = 1.0)
- AC₂H₄
- BC₃H₆
- CC₄H₈✓
- DC₅H₁₀
Answer: Empirical formula mass of CH₂ = 12.0 + 2(1.0) = 14.0. Number of units = Mr/empirical mass = 56.0/14.0 = 4. Molecular formula = (CH₂)₄ = C₄H₈.
In an industrial process, 64.0 g of methanol (CH₃OH, Mr = 32.0) reacted to give 75.0 g of methyl ethanoate (CH₃COOCH₃, Mr = 74.0). Assuming methanol is the limiting reagent and reacts in a 1:1 mole ratio with the product, what is the percentage yield?
- A86.5%
- B92.5%
- C117%
- D50.7%✓
Answer: Moles methanol = 64.0/32.0 = 2.00 mol, so the theoretical yield of product = 2.00 mol × 74.0 = 148 g. Percentage yield = (75.0/148) × 100 = 50.7%.
Ethanol can be made by hydration of ethene: C₂H₄ + H₂O → C₂H₅OH. Calculate the atom economy of this reaction. (Mr: C₂H₄ = 28.0, H₂O = 18.0, C₂H₅OH = 46.0)
- A39.1%
- B60.9%
- C100%✓
- D76.1%
Answer: In an addition reaction there is only one product, so all reactant atoms end up in the desired product. Atom economy = (Mr of desired product / sum of Mr of all products) × 100 = (46.0/46.0) × 100 = 100%.
What mass of oxygen is required to completely burn 1.00 mol of propane? (C₃H₈ + 5O₂ → 3CO₂ + 4H₂O; Ar: O = 16.0)
- A32.0 g
- B80.0 g
- C160 g✓
- D320 g
Answer: From the equation, 1 mol C₃H₈ reacts with 5 mol O₂. Mass O₂ = moles × Mr = 5 × 32.0 = 160 g.
A 2.40 dm³ sample of an ideal gas at 100 kPa and 300 K contains how many moles? (R = 8.31 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹)
- A0.0962 mol✓
- B0.0481 mol
- C0.192 mol
- D0.962 mol
Answer: Convert: V = 2.40 × 10⁻³ m³, p = 1.00 × 10⁵ Pa, T = 300 K. n = pV/(RT) = (1.00 × 10⁵ × 2.40 × 10⁻³)/(8.31 × 300) = 240/2493 = 0.0963 ≈ 0.0962 mol.