CHEM 103
Final Exam | Practice Questions & Answers | Detailed
Rationales | General Chemistry Exam Prep
Resource Features
➢ CHEM 103 Final Exam practice questions
➢ 2026/2027-focused review
➢ Detailed answers
➢ Step-by-step rationales
➢ Calculation-based questions
, CHEM 103 Final Exam | Practice Questions, Answers &
Detailed Rationales | General Chemistry Review
Question 1
Which state of water has the highest density?
a) ice
b) liquid water
c) water vapor
d) both b & c
Answer: b) liquid water
Rationale: Liquid water has its maximum density at 4°C (1.00
g/mL). Ice is less dense (0.92 g/mL) because the hydrogen-
bonded crystal structure creates open spaces, causing ice to float.
Water vapor is a gas with very low density.
Question 2
Which of the following statements is correct about specific
gravity?
,a) it is the ratio of density of water to the density of the substance
b) it is the ratio of density of substance to the density of water
c) its unit is g/mL
d) it has no unit
e) both b & d
Answer: e) both b & d
Rationale: Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity (no units)
defined as the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of
water at a specified temperature. Since it is a ratio of two
densities with the same units, the units cancel out.
Question 3
Which of the following statements is NOT true about significant
figures?
a) a number is significant if it is a zero between non-zero digits
b) a number is significant if it is a placeholder zero
c) a number is significant if it is in the coefficient of a number
written in scientific notation
, d) a number is significant if it is a zero at the end of a decimal
number
Answer: b) a number is significant if it is a placeholder zero
Rationale: Placeholder zeros (leading zeros) are NOT significant.
For example, in 0.0015, the zeros are placeholders and are not
significant. Zeros between non-zero digits, zeros at the end of a
decimal number, and zeros in scientific notation coefficients are
all significant.
Question 4
In which set(s) do both numbers contain the same number of
significant figures?
a) 102.10 and 102.001
b) 500.0 and 5.01 × 10²
c) 0.0000105 and 150000
d) 3.90 × 10³ and 0.310
Answer: d) 3.90 × 10³ and 0.310
Final Exam | Practice Questions & Answers | Detailed
Rationales | General Chemistry Exam Prep
Resource Features
➢ CHEM 103 Final Exam practice questions
➢ 2026/2027-focused review
➢ Detailed answers
➢ Step-by-step rationales
➢ Calculation-based questions
, CHEM 103 Final Exam | Practice Questions, Answers &
Detailed Rationales | General Chemistry Review
Question 1
Which state of water has the highest density?
a) ice
b) liquid water
c) water vapor
d) both b & c
Answer: b) liquid water
Rationale: Liquid water has its maximum density at 4°C (1.00
g/mL). Ice is less dense (0.92 g/mL) because the hydrogen-
bonded crystal structure creates open spaces, causing ice to float.
Water vapor is a gas with very low density.
Question 2
Which of the following statements is correct about specific
gravity?
,a) it is the ratio of density of water to the density of the substance
b) it is the ratio of density of substance to the density of water
c) its unit is g/mL
d) it has no unit
e) both b & d
Answer: e) both b & d
Rationale: Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity (no units)
defined as the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of
water at a specified temperature. Since it is a ratio of two
densities with the same units, the units cancel out.
Question 3
Which of the following statements is NOT true about significant
figures?
a) a number is significant if it is a zero between non-zero digits
b) a number is significant if it is a placeholder zero
c) a number is significant if it is in the coefficient of a number
written in scientific notation
, d) a number is significant if it is a zero at the end of a decimal
number
Answer: b) a number is significant if it is a placeholder zero
Rationale: Placeholder zeros (leading zeros) are NOT significant.
For example, in 0.0015, the zeros are placeholders and are not
significant. Zeros between non-zero digits, zeros at the end of a
decimal number, and zeros in scientific notation coefficients are
all significant.
Question 4
In which set(s) do both numbers contain the same number of
significant figures?
a) 102.10 and 102.001
b) 500.0 and 5.01 × 10²
c) 0.0000105 and 150000
d) 3.90 × 10³ and 0.310
Answer: d) 3.90 × 10³ and 0.310
