PORTAGE LEARNING CHEM 103 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
MODULE 6 EXAM (PDF) | 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental unit of measurement in the metric system?
A) Meter
B) Gram
C) Fahrenheit
D) Liter
Correct Answer: C) Fahrenheit
Rationale: The fundamental metric units for length, mass, and volume are the meter, gram, and
liter. Fahrenheit is a unit of temperature in the imperial system, while Celsius and Kelvin are the
metric units .
2. A 5.00 g sample of an unknown metal has a volume of 2.50 mL. What is its density?
A) 0.500 g/mL
B) 2.00 g/mL
C) 7.50 g/mL
D) 12.5 g/mL
Correct Answer: B) 2.00 g/mL
Rationale: Density is mass divided by volume (D = m/v). Therefore, 5.00 g / 2.50 mL = 2.00
g/mL . This value can be used to help identify the metal.
3. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?
A) Dissolving sugar in water
B) Boiling water to steam
C) Rusting of an iron nail
D) Breaking a glass beaker
Correct Answer: C) Rusting of an iron nail
Rationale: Rusting is a chemical change because it creates a new substance (iron oxide).
Dissolving sugar, boiling water, and breaking glass are physical changes that do not alter the
chemical composition .
4. How many significant figures are in the measurement 0.003040?
A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
Correct Answer: A) 4
,Rationale: The leading zeros are not significant. The digits 3, 0, 4, and 0 are significant. The zero
between the 3 and 4 is significant, and the trailing zero is significant because the number
contains a decimal point .
5. Convert 25°C to Kelvin.
A) 25 K
B) 248 K
C) 298 K
D) 248 K
Correct Answer: C) 298 K
Rationale: The conversion formula is K = °C + 273. Therefore, 25 + 273 = 298 K .
6. Convert 98.6°F to Celsius.
A) 37.0°C
B) 210°C
C) 32.0°C
D) 104°C
Correct Answer: A) 37.0°C
Rationale: The conversion formula is °C = (°F - 32) / 1.8. Therefore, (98.6 - 32) / 1.8 = 37.0°C .
7. A 2.50 L sample of a gas at 25°C is heated to 75°C at constant pressure. What is the new
volume?
A) 0.833 L
B) 7.50 L
C) 2.92 L
D) 2.14 L
Correct Answer: C) 2.92 L
Rationale: Charles's Law states V1/T1 = V2/T2. Temperatures must be in Kelvin. T1 = 298 K,
T2 = 348 K. V2 = (2.50 L)(348 K) / 298 K = 2.92 L .
8. A gas occupies 10.0 L at a pressure of 2.00 atm. If the volume is decreased to 5.00 L at
constant temperature, what is the new pressure?
A) 0.500 atm
B) 1.00 atm
C) 2.00 atm
D) 4.00 atm
Correct Answer: D) 4.00 atm
Rationale: Boyle's Law states P1V1 = P2V2. Therefore, (2.00 atm)(10.0 L) = P2(5.00 L) → P2 =
4.00 atm .
, 9. Which of the following functional groups is characteristic of a carboxylic acid?
A) -OH
B) -COOH
C) -NH2
D) -COH
Correct Answer: B) -COOH
Rationale: The carboxyl group (-COOH) contains both a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group and is
the defining functional group of carboxylic acids .
10. A polymer made from many monomers of glucose linked together is called a:
A) Nucleic acid
B) Protein
C) Polypeptide
D) Polysaccharide
Correct Answer: D) Polysaccharide
Rationale: Polysaccharides are polymers composed of monosaccharide (sugar) monomers, such
as glucose. Starch and cellulose are common examples found in biological systems .
11. The primary function of carbohydrates in a biological system is:
A) Catalyzing biochemical reactions
B) Storing energy
C) Encoding genetic information
D) Transporting lipids
Correct Answer: B) Storing energy
Rationale: Carbohydrates are primarily used as a source of energy. They can be broken down to
release glucose, which is used in cellular respiration to produce ATP .
12. The intermolecular forces that are most important in holding nonpolar molecules like n-
octane (C8H18) in a liquid state are:
A) Hydrogen bonds
B) Ionic bonds
C) Van der Waals interactions
D) Covalent bonds
Correct Answer: C) Van der Waals interactions
Rationale: n-octane is a nonpolar molecule, so it does not form hydrogen bonds (which require
O-H or N-H bonds) or ionic bonds. The primary intermolecular attractions are the weak,
temporary dipole-induced dipole forces known as Van der Waals or London dispersion forces .
13. Which type of reaction involves the breakdown of a polymer into its monomers by the
addition of water?
A) Condensation
MODULE 6 EXAM (PDF) | 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental unit of measurement in the metric system?
A) Meter
B) Gram
C) Fahrenheit
D) Liter
Correct Answer: C) Fahrenheit
Rationale: The fundamental metric units for length, mass, and volume are the meter, gram, and
liter. Fahrenheit is a unit of temperature in the imperial system, while Celsius and Kelvin are the
metric units .
2. A 5.00 g sample of an unknown metal has a volume of 2.50 mL. What is its density?
A) 0.500 g/mL
B) 2.00 g/mL
C) 7.50 g/mL
D) 12.5 g/mL
Correct Answer: B) 2.00 g/mL
Rationale: Density is mass divided by volume (D = m/v). Therefore, 5.00 g / 2.50 mL = 2.00
g/mL . This value can be used to help identify the metal.
3. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?
A) Dissolving sugar in water
B) Boiling water to steam
C) Rusting of an iron nail
D) Breaking a glass beaker
Correct Answer: C) Rusting of an iron nail
Rationale: Rusting is a chemical change because it creates a new substance (iron oxide).
Dissolving sugar, boiling water, and breaking glass are physical changes that do not alter the
chemical composition .
4. How many significant figures are in the measurement 0.003040?
A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
Correct Answer: A) 4
,Rationale: The leading zeros are not significant. The digits 3, 0, 4, and 0 are significant. The zero
between the 3 and 4 is significant, and the trailing zero is significant because the number
contains a decimal point .
5. Convert 25°C to Kelvin.
A) 25 K
B) 248 K
C) 298 K
D) 248 K
Correct Answer: C) 298 K
Rationale: The conversion formula is K = °C + 273. Therefore, 25 + 273 = 298 K .
6. Convert 98.6°F to Celsius.
A) 37.0°C
B) 210°C
C) 32.0°C
D) 104°C
Correct Answer: A) 37.0°C
Rationale: The conversion formula is °C = (°F - 32) / 1.8. Therefore, (98.6 - 32) / 1.8 = 37.0°C .
7. A 2.50 L sample of a gas at 25°C is heated to 75°C at constant pressure. What is the new
volume?
A) 0.833 L
B) 7.50 L
C) 2.92 L
D) 2.14 L
Correct Answer: C) 2.92 L
Rationale: Charles's Law states V1/T1 = V2/T2. Temperatures must be in Kelvin. T1 = 298 K,
T2 = 348 K. V2 = (2.50 L)(348 K) / 298 K = 2.92 L .
8. A gas occupies 10.0 L at a pressure of 2.00 atm. If the volume is decreased to 5.00 L at
constant temperature, what is the new pressure?
A) 0.500 atm
B) 1.00 atm
C) 2.00 atm
D) 4.00 atm
Correct Answer: D) 4.00 atm
Rationale: Boyle's Law states P1V1 = P2V2. Therefore, (2.00 atm)(10.0 L) = P2(5.00 L) → P2 =
4.00 atm .
, 9. Which of the following functional groups is characteristic of a carboxylic acid?
A) -OH
B) -COOH
C) -NH2
D) -COH
Correct Answer: B) -COOH
Rationale: The carboxyl group (-COOH) contains both a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group and is
the defining functional group of carboxylic acids .
10. A polymer made from many monomers of glucose linked together is called a:
A) Nucleic acid
B) Protein
C) Polypeptide
D) Polysaccharide
Correct Answer: D) Polysaccharide
Rationale: Polysaccharides are polymers composed of monosaccharide (sugar) monomers, such
as glucose. Starch and cellulose are common examples found in biological systems .
11. The primary function of carbohydrates in a biological system is:
A) Catalyzing biochemical reactions
B) Storing energy
C) Encoding genetic information
D) Transporting lipids
Correct Answer: B) Storing energy
Rationale: Carbohydrates are primarily used as a source of energy. They can be broken down to
release glucose, which is used in cellular respiration to produce ATP .
12. The intermolecular forces that are most important in holding nonpolar molecules like n-
octane (C8H18) in a liquid state are:
A) Hydrogen bonds
B) Ionic bonds
C) Van der Waals interactions
D) Covalent bonds
Correct Answer: C) Van der Waals interactions
Rationale: n-octane is a nonpolar molecule, so it does not form hydrogen bonds (which require
O-H or N-H bonds) or ionic bonds. The primary intermolecular attractions are the weak,
temporary dipole-induced dipole forces known as Van der Waals or London dispersion forces .
13. Which type of reaction involves the breakdown of a polymer into its monomers by the
addition of water?
A) Condensation
