TEST ITEMS IN PHYSICAL SCIENCES

TEST ITEMS IN CHEMISTRY

1. Which of the following is not a physical property?

a. the ductility of a metal c. the freezing point of a liquid
b. the hardness of a metal d. the corrosiveness of an acid

2. Which statement describes a chemical property?

a. Hemoglobin molecules have red color
b. Water boils below 1000C on top of a mountain
c. Fertilizers help increase the agricultural production
d. When ice cubes are left on the table, it gradually melts.

3. Which is an example of a chemical change

a. boiling of water c. melting of butter
b. souring of milk d. dissolving salt in water

4. Which is an example of a physical change?

a. rusting of iron c. lighting a matchstick
b. ripening of mango d. dissolving sugar in water

5. How will you distinguish between an acid and a base?

a. test with litmus paper c. compare their boiling point
b. compare their density d. test for the solubility of water

6. Which of the following is an example of an intensive property?

a. density b. mass c. volume d. length

7. What do you call a mixture that scatters light passing through it?
a. Solution b. colloid c. suspension d. all of them

8. Ernest Rutherford is credited for the discovery of the atomic nucleus. What do you call the experiment
he conducted that led to the nuclear model of the atom?
a. oil – drop experiment c. gold – foil experiment
b. alpha – scattering experiment d. both b and c

9. Some cough syrup are shaken first before they are used. What characterizes these products?
a. solution b. colloid c. suspension d. mixture

10. All of the following are characteristics of an ionic bond except

a. involves sharing of electrons
b. stronger than a covalent bond
c. the components joined by the bonds are ions
d. ions are held by electrostatic forces of attraction

11. Which of the following is true of the element 17X35.

a. element X has 17 neutrons
b. element X has 18 protons
c. element x has 17 electrons
d. element X has 17 neutrons and 18 protons

12. Louise wanted to know the nature of carbonated drink. She used a blue litmus paper. She observed
that it turned red after ten seconds. What type of compound is it?
a. acid b. base c. salt d. any of them

13. When a candle is lighted, it melts. The wax then vaporizes. Finally, it burns. Which is the correct order
of changes that took place?
a. chemical, physical, physical
b. physical, chemical, chemical
c. physical, physical, chemical
d. chemical, chemical, chemical

14. A covalent bond is formed when

a. electrons are gained by an atom
b. electrons are given up by an atom
c. electrons are shared between atoms
d. electrons are given up by one atom and taken in by another

15. Which of the following bonds is polar covalent?

a. F – F b. Be – Cl c. Na – Cl d. C – O

16. What is the molecular of methane (CH4)?

a. trigonal planar b. tetrahedral c. square planar d. linear
17. All of the following elements will have the tendency to give up electrons to be stable except
a. Aluminum b. Chlorine c. Calcium d. Potassium

18. A solid was heated, and decomposed into black solid and white smoke. What is the solid that was
heated?
a. metal b. element c. mixture d. compound

19. The mass of an atom is attributed to

a. protons and neutrons c. electrons and neutrons
b. protons and electrons d. protons only

20. The common name of hydrochloric acid is muriatic acid. What is the chemical name for baking soda?
a. sodium bicarbonate c. sodium carbonate
b. sodium hydroxide d. calcium carbonate

21. Which of the following has the greatest number of nitrogen atoms?
a. NH4NO3 b. HNO3 c. (NH4)3PO4 d/ Ca(NO3)2

22. Colloids maybe dispersed in a gas, liquid, or solid. Which of the following colloidal systems show a
liquid dispersed in a gas medium?
a. clouds b. smoke c. paint d. beaten egg white

23. What is the correct chemical name of P4O10?

a. diphosphorus pentoxide c. phosphorus oxide
b. tetraphosphorus decoxide d. phosphorus oxyacid

24. Which of the following acid groups is found in vinegar?

a. nitric acid b. acetic acid c. sulfuric acid d. ascorbic acid

25. How do solutions differ from compounds?

a. solutions are heterogeneous mixtures; compounds are homogeneous.
b. solutions vary in composition; compounds have definite composition
c. solutions have definite composition; compounds vary in composition
d. solutions are formed in chem. reactions; compounds combine physically

26. The electron configuration of an atom of element X in the ground state is 1s 22s22p63s23p64s23d104p1.
Which of the following elements represents this?
a. 48Cd b. 35Br c. 31Ga d. 27Co

27. Lithium, sodium, and potassium are alkali metals belonging to Group 1A. What is the valence electron
of these elements?
a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4

28. If two atoms that differ in electronegativity combine by chemical reaction and sharing of electrons, the
bond that joins them will be
a. ionic bond b. polar covalent c. nonpolar covalent d. metallic bond

29. What is the correct chemical name of Ca(ClO 3)2?

a. Calcium chlorate c. Calcium (II) chlorate
b. Calcium chloride d. Calcium chlorite

30. Which of the following statements about the atoms of isotopes is true?
a. they have different number of protons and neutrons
b. they have the same number of protons and neutrons
c. they have the same number of proton but different number of neutron
d. they have the same number of neutron but different number of proton

31. Who discovered in 1932 the electrically neutral particle called neutron?
a. Joseph Thomson c. Robert Millikan
b. James Chadwick d. Eugen Goldstein

32. Which of the following represents a mole?

a. 3.01 x 1023 gold atoms c. 27 g aluminum metal
b. 12.4 x 1023 H2O molecules d. 44.00 g of CO2 molecules

33. What gas law states that the absolute pressure is inversely proportional to the volume of a gas?
a. Boyle’s Law b. Charle’s Law c. Gay – Lussac’s Law

34. Which of the following statements about boiling is true?

a. The normal boiling point of water is 1000C
b. Water boils when vapor pressure becomes equal to atmospheric pressure
c. The boiling temperature increases as the atmospheric pressure increases.
d. All of the above.
35. What would be the chemical formula of the compound formed between Mg and S?
a. MgS b. MgS2 c. Mg2S d. MgS3

36. The generalized electron configuration of this group of elements is [Noble Gas] ns2np5. Identify its
group and family.
a. Group VII and Family A c. Group II and Family B
b. Group V and Family A d. Group I and Family B

37. An atom of non – metallic chlorine has mass number of 35 and 18 neutrons in the nucleus. The anion
derived from the atom has 18 electrons. What is the symbol of the anion?
a. Cl1+ b. Cl1- c. Cl0 d. Cl2-

38. Which of the following is an endothermic process?

a. condensing of steam c. freezing of water
b. subliming of mothballs d. all of them

39. What happens to the volume of an ideal gas if both the pressure and the volume (should be
temperature not volume) are doubled?
a. double b. quadruple c. halved d. remains the same

40. Which of the following chemical equations is correctly balanced?

a. 2Zn + 6HCl  ZnCl2 + 3H2
b. 2H2SO4 + 6NaOH  2Na2SO4 + 3H2O
c. 2Mg + 6H2SO4  2MgSO4 + 3H2
d. 2Al + 6HNO3  2Al(NO3)3 + 3H2

41. Plumbic oxide (PbO2) is a compound used in the lead – acid batteries of automobiles. What is the
valence number of the lead in the formula?
a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4

42. What is the molar mass in g/mol of Ca(ClO3)2?

a. 205 b. 206 c. 207 d. 208

43. Carbon disulfide is a nonpolar molecule. Its central atom is carbon. Using VSEPR, what is its shape?
a. linear b. trigonal planar c. tetrahedral d. bent

44. Which of the following molecules has a tetrahedral shape?

a. XeF4 b. BF3 c. AsF5 d. CF4

45. Which of the following pairs of elements is likely to form an ionic compound?
a. I and Cl b. Al and N c. Cl and Cl d. Mg and F

46. During chemical changes or chemical reactions, which particles are gained, lost, or shared?
a. protons inside the nucleus c. electrons in the outermost energy level
b. neutrons inside the nucleus d. electrons in the innermost energy level

47. Hydrogen peroxide has been used as a rocket propellant. If the chemical formula of hydrogen peroxide
is H2O2, what is its empirical formula?
a. H2O b. HO c. H2O2 d. HO2

48. Copper is being used in jewelry making. How many atoms are there in 2 moles of copper?
a. 12.04 x 1022 b. 1.204 x 1023 c. 1.204 x 1024 d. 12.04 x 1024

49. The spoilage of meat is delayed when kept in the refrigerator because the cold temperature
a. keeps the flies insects away c. changes the color and odor of meat
b. slows down the action of bacteria d. turns the water component to ice

50. Who discovered the magnitude of the charge of the electron?

a. Joseph Thomson c. Robert Millikan
b. James Chadwick d. Eugene Goldstein

51. Isomers are compounds with the same

a. molecular formula with different structures
b. molecular formula with different atomic masses
c. atoms, but different molecular formulas
d. structures, but different formulas

52. The hydrocarbons with a double covalent carbon – carbon bond are called
a. alkanes b. alkenes c. alkynes d. none of them

53. According to their definitions, which of the following would not occur as unsaturated hydrocarbon?
a. alkanes b. alkenes c. alkynes d. none of them

54. What is the proof of a “wine cooler” that is 5 % alcohol by volume?

 a. 2.5 proof b. 5 proof c. 10 proof d. 50 proof

55. A solution that is able to resist changes in the pH when small amounts of an acid or base are added is
called a
a. neutral solution c. buffer solution
b. saturated solution d. balanced solution

56. A substance that ionizes completely into hydronium ions is known as a

a. strong acid b. weak acid c. strong base d. weak base

57. When a solution of an acid and a base are mixed together,

a. a salt and water are formed
b. they lose their acid and base properties
c. both are neutralized
d. all of the above are correct

58. Salt solutions freeze at a lower temperature than pure water because
a. more ionic bonds are present
b. salt solutions have higher vapor pressure
c. ions get in the way of water molecules trying to form ice
d. salt naturally has a lower freezing point than water

59. Adding sodium chloride to water raises the boiling point of water because
a. the energy of hydration is higher
b. sodium chloride has a higher boiling point
c. sodium chloride ions occupy space at the water surface
d. sodium chloride ions have stronger ion – ion bonds than water

60. Which of the following will conduct an electric current?

a. pure water
b. a water solution of a covalent compound
c. a water solution of an ionic compound
d. none of the above

61. According to the activity series for metals, adding metallic iron to a solution of aluminum chloride
should result in
a. a solution of iron chloride and metallic aluminum
b. a mixed solution of iron and aluminum chloride
c. the formation of iron hydroxide with hydrogen given off
d. no metal replacement reaction

62. What do rusting and combustion have in common?

a. neither involve the reduction of a substance
b. they are both examples of oxidation
c. they are both impeded by the presence of water
d. they are the reverse processes and so they share nothing in common

63. Energy is required to break apart a chemical bond to overcome

a. gravitational forces of attraction c. electrical forces of attration
b. nuclear forces of attraction d. It is not! Energy is released.

64. Which type of molecular attraction is considered the strongest?

a. Ion – dipole b. dipole – dipole c. dipole – induced dipole

65. Water is considered a polar compound because

a. each molecule consists of fewer than 10 atoms
b. it has a strong attraction to magnets
c. one side is slightly negative while the other side is slightly positive
d. it is found in its frozen state in both arctic and Antarctic regions of our planet

66. What type of bonds generally involve nonmetal atoms?

a. covalent bonds b. ionic bonds c. none of them

67. The atoms of elements toward the bottom of any group in the periodic table tend to be
a. smaller because in the increase of the nuclear charge
b. smaller because of the decrease in the probability cloud density
c. larger because of a greater number of occupied shells
d. larger because of the decrease in nuclear charge

68. Salts are made of elements found on opposite ends of the periodic table because
a. elements on the left end tend to form positive ions while those on the right tend to form
negative ions
b. elements on the left tend to form negative ions while those on the right tend to form positive ions
 c. elements on opposite ends of the periodic table have similar arrangements of electrons
d. False. Salts are generally made of elements found on the same side of the periodic table.

69. Osmosis is the process whereby

a. water flows across a semipermeable membrane from regions of high to low solute concentrations
b. water flows across a semipermeable membrane from regions of low to high solute
concentrations
c. solutes flow across a semipermeable membrane from regions of high to oow solute
concentrations
d. solutes flow across a semipermeable membrane from regions of low to high solute concentrations

70. Calculate the molarity of 4.008g sodium hydroxide flakes dissolved in 1000 mL water.
a. 0.1 M b. 1.0 M c. 4.0 M d. 40 M

71. Sterling silver contains 93.5% silver. If a necklace made of sterling silver weighs 15 g, what is the mass
of the silver dissolved contained in the necklace?
a. 1.6 g b. 6.2 g c. 9.0 g d. 14.0 g

72. What is the percent by volume of 94 mL of ethyl alcohol present in 375 mL of beer?
a. 9.4 b. 25 c. 37 d. 40
73. A yellowish solution extracted from a leaf has a pH of 8. How would you describe the solution extract?
a. Acidic b. basic c. saturated d. supersaturated
74. How do viscosity and surface tension of liquids change as temperature increases?
a. Viscosity decreases with increasing temperature. Surface tension increases with an increase in
temperature.
b. Viscosity increases with increasing temperature. Surface tension decreases with an increase in
temperature.
c. Viscosity and surface tension increase with increasing temperature.
d. Viscosity and surface tension decrease with increasing temperature.

For numbers 75 – 77, consider the following reaction.

The complete combustion of methane, CH4, can be represented by the equation:

CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g)  CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)

75. How many grams of CO2 are formed from the combustion of 120 g of methane?
a. 43.6 g b. 54.5 g c. 264 g d. 330 g

76. How many liters of O2 are needed to produce 20 L of CO2 at STP?

a. 10 L b. 20 L c. 22.4 L d. 40 L

77. How many grams of water are produced from the combustion of 56 L CH 4 at STP?
a. 45 g b. 63 g c. 90 g d. 126 g

78. The products of the double replacement reaction between barium nitrate and hydrochloric acid are
a. BaCl and HNO3 c. BaCl2 and HNO3
b. BaCl2 and HNO2 d. BaCl and HNO2

79. An element undergoes oxidation when it

a. increases in oxidation number c. gains electrons
b. decreases in oxidation number d. loses protons

80. The reaction of sulfur trioxide with water to form sulfuric acid is an example of
a. combination reaction c. single replacement reaction
b. decomposition reaction d. double replacement reaction

For numbers 81 and 82, consider the following:

A compound was analyzed to contain 43.6% P and 56.4% O.

81. The empirical formula of the compound is

a. PO3 b. P2O5 c. PO4 d. P3O7

82. If the molecular mass of the compound is 284 g/mol, the molecular formula is
a. P4O12 b. P44O56 c. P3O12 d. P4O10

83. Which of these elements has the smallest atomic radius?

a. I b. Na c. Rb d. Cl

84. Which of the following elements is the most metallic?

a. O b. Ca c. Se d. Be
85. Which of the following elements has the highest ionization energy?
a. Li b. Ne c. Kr d. K

86. The differentiating electron of chlorine is added to a

a. 3p7 b. 7p3 c. 7p5 d. 3p5

87. Which of the following elements belong to the d – block of the periodic table?
a. Mg b. Sc c. Al d. Kr

88. Sublevels are filled up in increasing energies. This statement explains the
a. Hund’s rule c. Pauli’s exclusion principle
b. Aufbau principle d. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

89. The maximum number of electrons that the third principal energy level can contain is
a. 8 b. 10 c. 18 d. 32

90. The azimuthal quantum number of the differentiating electron of phosphorus 31P15 is
a. 0 b. – 1 c. +1 d. 2

91. No two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers. This statement is known as
a. de Broglie’s principle c. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle
b. Pauli’s exclusion principle d. Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity

92. The maximum number of electrons in the f sublevel is

a. 6 b. 8 c. 10 d. 14

For numbers 93 – 95, consider the following set of four quantum numbers:

n = 4, l = 2, m = +1, s = – ½

93. The electron which has the given set of quantum numbers occupies sublevel
a. s b. p c. d d. f

94. The orbital configuration of the electron is

a. 4d4 b. 4p3 c. 4d9 d. 4p5

95. The set of four quantum numbers is the PIN of the

a. 33rd electron b. 40th electron c. 42nd electron d. 47th electron

96. What did the alpha – scattering experiment reveal?

a. The atom is made up of a very small, massive, and positively charged nucleus.
b. The atom consists of negative charges embedded in a sphere of positive charges.
c. The electrons are negatively charged particles.
d. The protons are in the nucleus.

97. Which of the following is an assumption of Dalton’s atomic theory?

a. Atoms of an element have different masses.
b. When atoms combine to form compounds, they do so in ratios of small whole numbers
c. An atom consists of a very small, positively charged nucleus
d. An atom is a sphere of positively charged material in which the detachable electrons are
embedded

98. Which of these isotopes is used in detecting a malfunction of the thyroid gland?
a. Iodine – 131 b. Cobalt – 60 c. Carbon – 14 d. Uranium – 235

99. Which of the following molecules in non polar?

a. NH3 b. H2O c. CCl4 d. all of them are non polar

100. Which is true about ionic compounds?

a. soluble in water
b. do not conduct electricity
c. formed by electron sharing
d. have low melting and boiling points