General Chemistry Exam 1 (Chapters 2–3) Complete
Study Guide, Practice Questions & Verified Exam
Prep 2026–2027
Which one of the following is not one of the postulates of Dalton's atomic theory?
A) Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
B) All atoms of a given element are identical; the atoms of different elements are different and have
different
properties.
C) Atoms of an element are not changed into different types of atoms by chemical reactions: atoms are
neither
created nor destroyed in chemical reactions.
D) Compounds are formed when atoms of more than one element combine; a given compound always
has the
same relative number and kind of atoms.
E) Each element is composed of extremely small particles called atoms. - correct answers -A) Atoms are
composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Consider the following selected postulates of Dalton's atomic theory:
(i) Each element is composed of extremely small particles called atoms.
(ii) Atoms are indivisible.
(iii) Atoms of a given element are identical.
(iv) Atoms of different elements are different and have different properties.
Which of the postulates is(are) no longer considered valid?
1
,A) (i) and (ii)
B) (ii) only
C) (ii) and (iii)
D) (iii) only
E) (iii) and (iv) - correct answers -C) (ii) and (iii)
Which pair of substances could be used to illustrate the law of multiple proportions?
A) SO2, H2SO4
B) CO, CO2
C) H2O, O2
D) CH4, C6H12O6
E) NaCl, KCl - correct answers -B) CO, CO2
Which statement below correctly describes the responses of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation to an
electric
field?
A) Both beta and gamma are deflected in the same direction, while alpha shows no response.
B) Both alpha and gamma are deflected in the same direction, while beta shows no response.
C) Both alpha and beta are deflected in the same direction, while gamma shows no response.
D) Alpha and beta are deflected in opposite directions, while gamma shows no response.
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,E) Only alpha is deflected, while beta and gamma show no response. - correct answers -D) Alpha and
beta are deflected in opposite directions, while gamma shows no response.
Which one of the following is not true concerning cathode rays?
A) They originate from the negative electrode.
B) They travel in straight lines in the absence of electric or magnetic fields.
C) They impart a negative charge to metals exposed to them.
D) They are made up of electrons.
E) The characteristics of cathode rays depend on the material from which they are emitted. - correct
answers -E) The characteristics of cathode rays depend on the material from which they are emitted.
The charge on an electron was determined in the ________.
A) cathode ray tube, by J. J. Thomson
B) Rutherford gold foil experiment
C) Millikan oil drop experiment
D) Dalton atomic theory
E) atomic theory of matter - correct answers -C) Millikan oil drop experiment
The gold foil experiment performed in Rutherford's lab ________.
A) confirmed the plum-pudding model of the atom
B) led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus
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, C) was the basis for Thomson's model of the atom
D) utilized the deflection of beta particles by gold foil
E) proved the law of multiple proportions - correct answers -B) led to the discovery of the atomic
nucleus
In the Rutherford nuclear-atom model, ________.
A) the heavy subatomic particles, protons and neutrons, reside in the nucleus
B) the three principal subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) all have essentially the
same mass
C) the light subatomic particles, protons and neutrons, reside in the nucleus
D) mass is spread essentially uniformly throughout the atom
E) the three principal subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) all have essentially the
same mass
and mass is spread essentially uniformly throughout the atom - correct answers -A) the heavy
subatomic particles, protons and neutrons, reside in the nucleus
Cathode rays are deflected away from a negatively charged plate because ________.
A) they are not particles
B) they are positively charged particles
C) they are neutral particles
D) they are negatively charged particles
E) they are emitted by all matter - correct answers -D) they are negatively charged particles
4
Study Guide, Practice Questions & Verified Exam
Prep 2026–2027
Which one of the following is not one of the postulates of Dalton's atomic theory?
A) Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
B) All atoms of a given element are identical; the atoms of different elements are different and have
different
properties.
C) Atoms of an element are not changed into different types of atoms by chemical reactions: atoms are
neither
created nor destroyed in chemical reactions.
D) Compounds are formed when atoms of more than one element combine; a given compound always
has the
same relative number and kind of atoms.
E) Each element is composed of extremely small particles called atoms. - correct answers -A) Atoms are
composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Consider the following selected postulates of Dalton's atomic theory:
(i) Each element is composed of extremely small particles called atoms.
(ii) Atoms are indivisible.
(iii) Atoms of a given element are identical.
(iv) Atoms of different elements are different and have different properties.
Which of the postulates is(are) no longer considered valid?
1
,A) (i) and (ii)
B) (ii) only
C) (ii) and (iii)
D) (iii) only
E) (iii) and (iv) - correct answers -C) (ii) and (iii)
Which pair of substances could be used to illustrate the law of multiple proportions?
A) SO2, H2SO4
B) CO, CO2
C) H2O, O2
D) CH4, C6H12O6
E) NaCl, KCl - correct answers -B) CO, CO2
Which statement below correctly describes the responses of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation to an
electric
field?
A) Both beta and gamma are deflected in the same direction, while alpha shows no response.
B) Both alpha and gamma are deflected in the same direction, while beta shows no response.
C) Both alpha and beta are deflected in the same direction, while gamma shows no response.
D) Alpha and beta are deflected in opposite directions, while gamma shows no response.
2
,E) Only alpha is deflected, while beta and gamma show no response. - correct answers -D) Alpha and
beta are deflected in opposite directions, while gamma shows no response.
Which one of the following is not true concerning cathode rays?
A) They originate from the negative electrode.
B) They travel in straight lines in the absence of electric or magnetic fields.
C) They impart a negative charge to metals exposed to them.
D) They are made up of electrons.
E) The characteristics of cathode rays depend on the material from which they are emitted. - correct
answers -E) The characteristics of cathode rays depend on the material from which they are emitted.
The charge on an electron was determined in the ________.
A) cathode ray tube, by J. J. Thomson
B) Rutherford gold foil experiment
C) Millikan oil drop experiment
D) Dalton atomic theory
E) atomic theory of matter - correct answers -C) Millikan oil drop experiment
The gold foil experiment performed in Rutherford's lab ________.
A) confirmed the plum-pudding model of the atom
B) led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus
3
, C) was the basis for Thomson's model of the atom
D) utilized the deflection of beta particles by gold foil
E) proved the law of multiple proportions - correct answers -B) led to the discovery of the atomic
nucleus
In the Rutherford nuclear-atom model, ________.
A) the heavy subatomic particles, protons and neutrons, reside in the nucleus
B) the three principal subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) all have essentially the
same mass
C) the light subatomic particles, protons and neutrons, reside in the nucleus
D) mass is spread essentially uniformly throughout the atom
E) the three principal subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) all have essentially the
same mass
and mass is spread essentially uniformly throughout the atom - correct answers -A) the heavy
subatomic particles, protons and neutrons, reside in the nucleus
Cathode rays are deflected away from a negatively charged plate because ________.
A) they are not particles
B) they are positively charged particles
C) they are neutral particles
D) they are negatively charged particles
E) they are emitted by all matter - correct answers -D) they are negatively charged particles
4
