FTCE Middle Grades General Science 5-9 (004)
Exam Questions and Answers
FTCE Middle Grades General Science 5–9 (004) Practice Exam
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales (2026/2027 Update)
SECTION 1: STRUCTURE AND BEHAVIOR OF MATTER
Approximate Percentage: 14%
1. Which of the following is a characteristic of a liquid but NOT of a gas?
A. It has the ability to flow.
B. It maintains its volume in an open container.
C. Its molecules are constantly in motion.
D. Its volume varies depending on temperature.
Correct Answer: B. It maintains its volume in an open container. Rationale:
Liquids have a definite volume and take the shape of their container, while gases
expand to fill the entire container. Both liquids and gases can flow, and molecules
in both states are in constant motion .
2. A 0.100 m³ chamber is filled with oxygen gas at standard conditions (101 kPa
at 273 K). Assuming ideal behavior, what will the pressure be after the gas is
heated to 819 K?
A. 34 kPa
B. 51 kPa
C. 202 kPa
D. 303 kPa
,Correct Answer: D. 303 kPa. Rationale: Using the combined gas law with constant
volume: P₁/T₁ = P₂/T₂. P₂ = P₁ × (T₂/T₁) = 101 kPa × (819 K / 273 K) = 303 kPa .
3. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?
A. Melting ice
B. Dissolving sugar in tea
C. Burning wood
D. Boiling water
Correct Answer: C. Burning wood. Rationale: Burning wood produces new
substances (ash, smoke, gases) and is irreversible, making it a chemical change.
Melting, dissolving, and boiling are physical changes because no new substances
are formed .
4. The modern periodic table arranges elements primarily by increasing:
A. Atomic mass
B. Atomic number
C. Alphabetical order
D. Number of isotopes
Correct Answer: B. Atomic number. Rationale: The periodic table is organized by
increasing atomic number, with elements in the same column (group) having
similar chemical properties due to similar valence electron configurations .
5. Elements in the same group (column) of the periodic table tend to have
similar chemical properties because they have the same:
A. Number of neutrons
B. Number of valence electrons
C. Atomic mass
D. Number of isotopes
,Correct Answer: B. Number of valence electrons. Rationale: Elements in the same
group have the same number of valence electrons, which determines their
chemical behavior .
6. Which type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electrons between
atoms?
A. Ionic bond
B. Covalent bond
C. Metallic bond
D. Hydrogen bond
Correct Answer: B. Covalent bond. Rationale: Covalent bonds form when atoms
share electrons. Ionic bonds involve transfer of electrons, metallic bonds involve
delocalized electrons, and hydrogen bonds are intermolecular attractions .
7. What is the primary difference between a compound and a mixture?
A. Compounds can be separated by physical means
B. Mixtures have fixed compositions
C. Compounds have fixed compositions and are chemically combined
D. Mixtures are always homogeneous
Correct Answer: C. Compounds have fixed compositions and are chemically
combined. Rationale: Compounds have fixed compositions and their components
are chemically bonded. Mixtures have variable compositions and can be separated
by physical means .
8. Which pH value indicates a strongly acidic solution?
A. 1
B. 7
, C. 10
D. 14
Correct Answer: A. 1. Rationale: pH 1 is strongly acidic. pH 7 is neutral, and pH
10–14 is basic/alkaline .
9. What happens to the particles of a substance as it changes from a liquid to a
gas?
A. Particles move closer together and slow down
B. Particles gain energy, move faster, and spread farther apart
C. Particles lose all kinetic energy
D. Particles combine to form new substances
Correct Answer: B. Particles gain energy, move faster, and spread farther apart.
Rationale: During vaporization, particles absorb energy, increasing their kinetic
energy. They move faster and spread farther apart as intermolecular forces are
overcome .
10. The Law of Conservation of Mass states that:
A. Mass can be created but not destroyed
B. Mass can be destroyed but not created
C. Mass is neither created nor destroyed; total mass of reactants equals total mass
of products
D. Mass always decreases
Correct Answer: C. Mass is neither created nor destroyed; total mass of
reactants equals total mass of products. Rationale: Atoms are only rearranged in
a chemical reaction, not created or destroyed .
11. Which type of radiation has the lowest energy?
Exam Questions and Answers
FTCE Middle Grades General Science 5–9 (004) Practice Exam
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales (2026/2027 Update)
SECTION 1: STRUCTURE AND BEHAVIOR OF MATTER
Approximate Percentage: 14%
1. Which of the following is a characteristic of a liquid but NOT of a gas?
A. It has the ability to flow.
B. It maintains its volume in an open container.
C. Its molecules are constantly in motion.
D. Its volume varies depending on temperature.
Correct Answer: B. It maintains its volume in an open container. Rationale:
Liquids have a definite volume and take the shape of their container, while gases
expand to fill the entire container. Both liquids and gases can flow, and molecules
in both states are in constant motion .
2. A 0.100 m³ chamber is filled with oxygen gas at standard conditions (101 kPa
at 273 K). Assuming ideal behavior, what will the pressure be after the gas is
heated to 819 K?
A. 34 kPa
B. 51 kPa
C. 202 kPa
D. 303 kPa
,Correct Answer: D. 303 kPa. Rationale: Using the combined gas law with constant
volume: P₁/T₁ = P₂/T₂. P₂ = P₁ × (T₂/T₁) = 101 kPa × (819 K / 273 K) = 303 kPa .
3. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?
A. Melting ice
B. Dissolving sugar in tea
C. Burning wood
D. Boiling water
Correct Answer: C. Burning wood. Rationale: Burning wood produces new
substances (ash, smoke, gases) and is irreversible, making it a chemical change.
Melting, dissolving, and boiling are physical changes because no new substances
are formed .
4. The modern periodic table arranges elements primarily by increasing:
A. Atomic mass
B. Atomic number
C. Alphabetical order
D. Number of isotopes
Correct Answer: B. Atomic number. Rationale: The periodic table is organized by
increasing atomic number, with elements in the same column (group) having
similar chemical properties due to similar valence electron configurations .
5. Elements in the same group (column) of the periodic table tend to have
similar chemical properties because they have the same:
A. Number of neutrons
B. Number of valence electrons
C. Atomic mass
D. Number of isotopes
,Correct Answer: B. Number of valence electrons. Rationale: Elements in the same
group have the same number of valence electrons, which determines their
chemical behavior .
6. Which type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electrons between
atoms?
A. Ionic bond
B. Covalent bond
C. Metallic bond
D. Hydrogen bond
Correct Answer: B. Covalent bond. Rationale: Covalent bonds form when atoms
share electrons. Ionic bonds involve transfer of electrons, metallic bonds involve
delocalized electrons, and hydrogen bonds are intermolecular attractions .
7. What is the primary difference between a compound and a mixture?
A. Compounds can be separated by physical means
B. Mixtures have fixed compositions
C. Compounds have fixed compositions and are chemically combined
D. Mixtures are always homogeneous
Correct Answer: C. Compounds have fixed compositions and are chemically
combined. Rationale: Compounds have fixed compositions and their components
are chemically bonded. Mixtures have variable compositions and can be separated
by physical means .
8. Which pH value indicates a strongly acidic solution?
A. 1
B. 7
, C. 10
D. 14
Correct Answer: A. 1. Rationale: pH 1 is strongly acidic. pH 7 is neutral, and pH
10–14 is basic/alkaline .
9. What happens to the particles of a substance as it changes from a liquid to a
gas?
A. Particles move closer together and slow down
B. Particles gain energy, move faster, and spread farther apart
C. Particles lose all kinetic energy
D. Particles combine to form new substances
Correct Answer: B. Particles gain energy, move faster, and spread farther apart.
Rationale: During vaporization, particles absorb energy, increasing their kinetic
energy. They move faster and spread farther apart as intermolecular forces are
overcome .
10. The Law of Conservation of Mass states that:
A. Mass can be created but not destroyed
B. Mass can be destroyed but not created
C. Mass is neither created nor destroyed; total mass of reactants equals total mass
of products
D. Mass always decreases
Correct Answer: C. Mass is neither created nor destroyed; total mass of
reactants equals total mass of products. Rationale: Atoms are only rearranged in
a chemical reaction, not created or destroyed .
11. Which type of radiation has the lowest energy?
