Deck 1: Keys to Studying Chemistry Definitions, Units, and Problem Solving

Question 1

Select the best statement.

A) Chemical changes provide the only valid basis for identification of a substance.
B) Chemical changes are easily reversed by altering the temperature of the system.
C) Chemical changes always produce substances different from the starting materials.
D) Chemical changes are associated primarily with extensive properties.
E) Chemical changes are accompanied by changes in the total mass of the substances involved.

Answer 1

Chemical changes always produce substances different from the starting materials.

Question 2

The most significant contribution to modern science made by alchemists was

A) their fundamental work in the transmutation of the elements.
B) their widespread acceptance of observation and experimentation.
C) their systematic method of naming substances.
D) their understanding of the nature of chemical reactions.
E) their discovery of phlogiston.

Answer 2

their widespread acceptance of observation and experimentation.

Question 3

The mass of a sample is 550 milligrams. Which of the following expresses that mass in kilograms?

A) 5.5 × 10⁸ kg
B) 5.5 × 10⁵ kg
C) 5.5 × 10^-4 kg
D) 5.5 × 10^-6 kg
E) 5.5 × 10^-1 kg

Answer 3

5.5 × 10^-4 kg

Question 4

During the swing of a frictionless pendulum, what energy form(s) remain constant?

A) kinetic energy only
B) potential energy only
C) both kinetic energy and potential energy
D) kinetic plus potential energy
E) None of these choices are correct.

Question 5

Which one of the following is a "substance" in the sense of the word as used in your textbook?

A) air
B) tap water
C) sea water
D) water
E) toothpaste

Question 6

Which of the following represents the largest volume?

A) 10,000 μL
B) 1000 pL
C) 100 mL
D) 10 nL
E) 10 cm³

Question 7

A dictionary has the following definition for a word: "A tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts." Which of the following words best fits that definition?

A) theory
B) hypothesis
C) law
D) experiment
E) definition

Question 8

In an average year, the American chemical industry produces more than 9.5 million metric tons of sodium carbonate. Over half of this is used in the manufacture of glass while another third is used in the production of detergents and other chemicals. How many pounds of sodium carbonate are produced annually?

A) 2.1 × 10¹⁰ lb
B) 4.3 × 10⁹ lb
C) 1.1 × 10⁷ lb
D) 2.2 × 10⁶ lb
E) 2.1 × 10⁴ lb

Question 9

Select the best statement.

A) Physical changes may be reversed by changing the temperature.
B) Physical changes alter the composition of the substances involved.
C) Physical properties are not valid characteristics for identifying a substance.
D) Physical properties are mostly extensive in nature.
E) Physical changes are usually accompanied by chemical changes.

Question 10

Which of the following activities is not a part of good science?

A) proposing a theory
B) developing a hypothesis
C) making quantitative observations
D) designing experiments
E) indulging in speculation

Question 11

You prepare 1000. mL of tea and transfer it to a 1.00-quart pitcher for storage. Which of the following statements is true?

A) The pitcher will be filled to 100% of its capacity with no tea spilled.
B) The pitcher will be filled to about 95% of its capacity.
C) The pitcher will be filled to about 50% of its capacity.
D) The pitcher will be completely filled and a small amount of tea will overflow.
E) The pitcher will be completely filled and most of the tea will overflow.

Question 12

A dose of medication was prescribed to be 35 microliters. Which of the following expresses that volume in centiliters?

A) 3.5 × 10⁵ cL
B) 3.5 × 10⁴ cL
C) 3.5 cL
D) 3.5 × 10^-4 cL
E) 3.5 × 10^-3 cL

Question 13

A scientist made careful measurements of the pressure and temperature of many different gases. Based on these measurements, he concluded that "the pressure of a fixed amount of gas, measured at constant volume, is directly proportional to its absolute temperature." This statement is best described as a

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) law.
D) experiment.
E) definition.

Question 14

The average distance from Earth to the Sun is 150 megameters. What is that distance in meters?

A) 1.5 × 10⁸ m
B) 1.5 × 10⁶ m
C) 1.5 × 105 m
D) 1.5 × 10³ m
E) 1.5 × 10^-6 m

Question 15

The distance between carbon atoms in ethylene is 134 picometers. Which of the following expresses that distance in meters?

A) 1.34 × 10^-13 m
B) 1.34 × 10^-12 m
C) 1.34 × 10^-10 m
D) 1.34 × 10^-7 m
E) 1.34 × 10^-6 m

Question 16

A detailed explanation of natural phenomena that is generally accepted and has been extensively tested is called a

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) law.
D) fact.
E) postulate.

Question 17

Water vapor is less dense than ice because

A) molecules in the gas phase are in constant motion.
B) molecules in the gas phase have more potential energy than in solids.
C) molecules in the gas phase have more kinetic energy than in solids.
D) gaseous molecules have less mass.
E) molecules in the gas phase have more space between them than in solids.

Question 18

Which of the following is a chemical change?

A) boiling of water
B) melting wax
C) broiling a steak on a grill
D) condensing water vapor into rainfall
E) carving a piece of wood

Question 19

A large pizza has a diameter of 15 inches. Express this diameter in centimeters.

A) 38 cm
B) 24 cm
C) 18 cm
D) 9.3 cm
E) 5.9 cm

Question 20

Select the best statement about chemistry before 1800.

A) Alchemy focused on objective experimentation rather than mystical explanations of processes.
B) The phlogiston theory laid a valuable theoretical basis for modern chemistry.
C) Lavoisier's quantitative work on the role of oxygen in combustion was the beginning of modern chemistry.
D) The interpretation of data by alchemists was not biased by their overall view of life.
E) Alchemists failed because they did not develop any practical chemical methods.

Question 21

Isopropyl alcohol, commonly known as rubbing alcohol, boils at 82.4°C. What is the boiling point in kelvins?

A) 387.6 K
B) 355.6 K
C) 323.6 K
D) 190.8 K
E) -190.8 K

Question 22

Which of the following is an extensive property of oxygen?

A) boiling point
B) temperature
C) average kinetic energy of molecules
D) density
E) mass

Question 23

Which of the following is not an SI base unit?

A) meter
B) ampere
C) second
D) gram
E) kelvin

Question 24

Acetic acid boils at 244.2°F. What is its boiling point in degrees Celsius?

A) 382.0°C
B) 167.7°C
C) 153.4°C
D) 117.9°C
E) 103.7°C

Question 25

The SI unit of speed (velocity) is

A) km/h.
B) km/s.
C) m/h.
D) m/s.
E) None of these choices are correct.

Question 26

The average distance between the Earth and the Moon is 240,000 miles. Express this distance in kilometers.

A) 6.1 × 10⁵ km
B) 5.3 × 10⁵ km
C) 3.9 × l0⁵ km
D) 1.5 × 10⁵ km
E) 9.4 × 10⁴ km

Question 27

The density of mercury, the only metal to exist as a liquid at room temperature, is 13.6 g/cm³. What is that density in pounds per cubic inch?

A) 849 lb/in³
B) 491 lb/in³
C) 376 lb/in³
D) 0.491 lb/in³
E) 1.83 × 10^-3 lb/in³

Question 28

If the density of a certain spherical atomic nucleus is 1.0 × 10¹⁴ g cm^-3 and its mass is 2.0 × 10^-23 g, what is its radius in cm?

A) 3.6 × 10^-13 cm
B) 2.0 × 10^-37 cm
C) 4.8 × 10^-38 cm
D) 2.2 × 10^-19 cm
E) None of these choices are correct.

Question 29

Given that 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 cm³ is equal to

A) 16.4 in³.
B) 6.45 in³.
C) 0.394 in³.
D) 0.155 in³.
E) 0.0610 in³.

Question 30

The area of a 15-inch pizza is 176.7 in². Express this area in square centimeters.

A) 1140. cm²
B) 448.8 cm²
C) 96.8 cm²
D) 69.57 cm²
E) 27.39 cm²

Question 31

If the price of gold at the morning fixing in London was $5310 per lb, what would a kilogram of gold have cost in £ (pounds)? (Assume an exchange rate of $1.00 = £0.545)

A) £1310
B) £3510
C) £6370
D) £10400
E) £17100

Question 32

The joule is the SI unit of energy and is equal to 1 kg m² s^-2. The erg is another energy unit, equal to 1 g cm² s^-2. Use unit conversion methods to work out how many ergs are in 1 joule.

A) 10^-1 ergs
B) 10 ergs
C) 10² ergs
D) 10⁵ ergs
E) 10⁷ ergs

Question 33

The speed needed to escape the pull of Earth's gravity is 11.3 km/s. What is this speed in mi/h?

A) 65,500 mi/h
B) 25,300 mi/h
C) 18,200 mi/h
D) 1,090 mi/h
E) 5.02 × 10^-3 mi/h

Question 34

Which of the following abbreviations of the given SI base unit is incorrect?

A) second: s
B) kilogram: kg
C) kelvin: K
D) mole: m
E) ampere: A

Question 35

At a pressure of one billionth (10^-9) of atmospheric pressure, there are about 2.7 × 10¹⁰ molecules in one cubic centimeter of a gas. How many molecules is this per cubic meter?

A) 2.7 × 10¹⁶
B) 2.7 × 10¹⁴
C) 2.7 × 10¹²
D) 2.7 × 10⁸
E) 2.7 × 10⁴

Question 36

Which of the following correctly shows how to convert a density of 20.1 g cm^-3 to units of kg m^-3?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Question 37

Acetone, which is used as a solvent and as a reactant in the manufacture of Plexiglas^®, boils at 56.1°C. What is the boiling point in degrees Fahrenheit?

A) 159°F
B) 133°F
C) 101°F
D) 69.0°F
E) 43.4°F

Question 38

Which of the following abbreviations of the given SI base unit is incorrect?

A) second: s
B) kilogram: kg
C) meter: m
D) mole: mol
E) kelvin: k

Question 39

Talc is a mineral that has low conductivity for heat and electricity and that is not attacked by acid. It is used as talcum powder and face powder. A sample of talc weighs 35.97 g in air and 13.65 g in mineral oil (d = 1.75 g/cm³). What is the density of talc?

A) 4.61 g/cm³
B) 2.82 g/cm³
C) 2.63 g/cm³
D) 2.44 g/cm³
E) 1.61 g/cm³

Question 40

The SI prefix mega- (M) means

A) 10^-6.
B) 10^-3.
C) 10³.
D) 10⁶.
E) 10⁹.

Question 41

Classify the following properties of hydrogen gas as either intensive or extensive.

A) the mass of the gas sample
extensive
B) the average speed of a molecule in the sample
intensive
C) temperature
intensive
D) density
intensive
E) number of molecules present
extensive

Question 42

Which one of the following numbers contains a digit or digits which is/are not significant?

A) 970.0
B) 502
C) .300
D) .0043
E) 20.01

Question 43

Which measurement is expressed to 4 significant figures?

A) 0.423 kg
B) 24.049 cm
C) 1300 K
D) 82,306 m
E) 62.40 g

Question 44

The ripening of fruit, once picked, is an example of physical change.

Question 45

In each of the sets below, choose the one quantity or number which is exact.

A) i. the human population
ii. the distance in light years from the sun to Alpha Centauri, a nearby star
iii. the winning time for the 100 m dash in the Olympic Games
B) i. the weight of a particular one cent coin in g
ii. the boiling point of lead, in °C
iii. the number of cm in 1 yd
C) i. the measured value of the speed of light (2.998 × 10⁸ m/s)
ii. π (3.141)
iii. the volume of milk in a 1-gallon jug

Question 46

An important aim in much chemical work is to use macroscopic measurements in order to gain an understanding of the microscopic world.

Question 47

Select the answer with the correct number of decimal places for the following sum: 13.914 cm + 243.1 cm + 12.00460 cm =

A) 269.01860 cm
B) 269.0186 cm
C) 269.019 cm
D) 269.02 cm
E) 269.0 cm

Question 48

Select the answer that expresses the result of this calculation with the correct number of significant figures and with correct units. 16.18 cm × 9.6114 g ÷ 1.4783 cm² =

A) 105.2 g/cm³
B) 105.2 g/cm²
C) 105.2 g/cm
D) 72.13 g/cm²
E) 72.13 g/cm

Question 49

The difference between a student's experimental measurement of the density of sodium chloride and the known density of this compound reflects the ___________ of the student's result.

A) accuracy
B) precision
C) random error
D) systematic error
E) indeterminate error

Question 50

Select the answer that expresses the result of this calculation with the correct number of significant figures.

A) 13.3568
B) 13.357
C) 13.36
D) 13.4
E) 13

Question 51

The result of (3.8621 × 1.5630) - 5.98 is properly written as

A) 0.06.
B) 0.056.
C) 0.0565.
D) 0.05646.
E) 0.056462.

Question 52

The appropriate number of significant figures in the result of 15.234 - 15.208 is

A) 1.
B) 2.
C) 3.
D) 4.
E) 5.

Question 53

As part of an experiment to determine the density of a new plastic developed in her laboratory, Sara Ann Dippity measures the volume of a solid sample. Her four trials yield volumes of 12.37 cm³, 12.41 cm³, 12.39 cm³, and 12.38 cm³. Measurements of other scientists in the lab give an average volume of 12.49 cm³. Which of the following statements represents the best analysis of the data?

A) Sara's results have low precision and high accuracy.
B) Sara's results have high precision and high accuracy.
C) Sara's results have greater precision than accuracy.
D) Sara's results have greater accuracy than precision.
E) Sara has been using a faulty instrument to measure the volume.

Question 54

The appropriate number of significant figures in the result of 15.234 × 15.208 is

A) 2.
B) 3.
C) 4.
D) 5.
E) 6.

Question 55

A student makes several measurements of the density of an unknown mineral sample. She then reports the average value of these measurements. The number of significant figures she uses in her result should be a measure of its

A) accuracy.
B) precision.
C) systematic error.
D) determinate error.
E) human error.

Question 56

As chief chemist at Superior Analytical Products (SAP) you must design an experiment to determine the density of an unknown liquid to three (3) significant figures. The density is of the order of 1 g/cm³. You have approximately 7 mL of the liquid and only graduated cylinders and balances are available for your use. Which of the following combinations of equipment will allow you to meet but not exceed your goal?

A) graduated cylinder with ±0.1 mL uncertainty; balance with ±0.1 g uncertainty
B) graduated cylinder with ±0.01 mL uncertainty; balance with ±0.1 g uncertainty
C) graduated cylinder with ±0.01 mL uncertainty; balance with ±0.01 g uncertainty
D) graduated cylinder with ±0.001 mL uncertainty; balance with ±0.001 g uncertainty
E) graduated cylinder with ±0.1 mL uncertainty; balance with ±0.001 g uncertainty

Question 57

Bud N. Chemist must determine the density of a mineral sample. His four trials yield densities of 4.77 g/cm³, 4.67 g/cm³, 4.69 g/cm³, and 4.81 g/cm³. Independent studies found the correct density to be 4.75 g/cm³. Which of the following statements represents the best analysis of the data?

A) Bud's results have much greater accuracy than precision.
B) Bud's results have much greater precision than accuracy.
C) Bud's results have high accuracy and high precision.
D) Bud's results have low accuracy and low precision.
E) Bud's equipment is faulty.

Question 58

Which of the following correctly expresses 52,030.2 m in scientific notation?

A) 5.20302 × 10⁴ m
B) 5.20302 × 10⁵ m
C) 5.203 × 10⁴ m
D) 5.20 × 10⁴ m
E) 5.2 × 10⁴ m

Question 59

Which of the following correctly expresses 0.000007913 g in scientific notation?

A) 7.913 × 10⁶ g
B) 7.913 × 10⁵ g
C) 7.913 × 10^-5 g
D) 7.913 × 10^-6 g
E) 7.913 × 10^-9 g

Question 60

Express 96,342 m using 2 significant figures.

A) 9.60 × 10⁴ m
B) 9.6 × 10⁴ m
C) 9.60 × 10^-4 m
D) 9.6 × 10^-4 m
E) 96000. m

Question 61

When a wooden match burns in air, chemical potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.

Question 62

The numerical value of any temperature expressed in Celsius is always different from the numerical value of the same temperature in Fahrenheit.

Question 63

The number 6.0448, rounded to 3 decimal places, becomes 6.045.

Question 64

The numerical value of any temperature expressed in Celsius is always different from the numerical value of the same temperature in kelvin.

Question 65

The number 6.0448, rounded to 2 decimal places, becomes 6.05.

Question 66

Which of the following is a physical change?

A) milk turning sour
B) battery cables corroding
C) sugar turning brown when heated
D) liquid water being cooled and forming ice
E) an egg being hard-boiled

Question 67

When applying the scientific method, it is important to avoid any form of hypothesis.

Question 68

Which of the following processes and concepts is not a part of the "scientific method"?

A) experiment
B) observation
C) model
D) speculation
E) law

Question 69

When applying the scientific method, a model or theory should be based on experimental data.

Question 70

The weight of a coin measured as 1.96235 g on one balance is definitely more accurate than a weight measurement of 1.95 g on another balance.

Question 71

The potential energy of a car moving on a level road does not depend on its speed.