MASTERING CHEMISTRY: ATOMS
FIRST COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE – 180 QUESTIONS WITH IN-
DEPTH RATIONALE BASED ON
BURDGE & OVERBY, 5TH EDITION
Chapter 1: Chemistry: The Science of Change
1. What is a unifying principle that explains a body of experimental
observations?
Answer: C. theory
Rationale: A theory is a well-tested, unifying explanation for a broad
set of observations. It differs from a hypothesis (a tentative
explanation) and a law (a summary of observed behavior) .
2. Which of the following is a tentative explanation for a set of
observations?
Answer: Hypothesis
Rationale: A hypothesis is a proposed explanation made before
testing. If repeatedly validated, a hypothesis may eventually become a
theory .
3. The SI base unit of mass is:
Answer: C. kg (kilogram)
, Rationale: The kilogram is the SI base unit for mass. The gram is a
derived unit (1 kg = 1000 g), and milligrams are smaller subunits .
4. The SI prefix mega- (M) means:
Answer: D. 10⁶
Rationale: Mega- represents one million (1,000,000 or 10⁶). Milli-
represents 10⁻³, so they differ by a factor of 10⁹ .
5. Which of the following is a 'substance' according to the definition in
your textbook?
Answer: D. water
Rationale: A substance (pure substance) has definite composition and
distinct properties. Water (H₂O) is a compound and thus a substance.
Air and wet sand are mixtures .
6. Which of the following cannot be separated into simpler substances
by chemical means?
Answer: An element
Rationale: Elements are the simplest forms of matter and cannot be
broken down chemically. Compounds can be decomposed into
elements by chemical reactions .
7. If a liquid contains 60% sugar and 40% water throughout its
composition, what is it called?
Answer: Homogeneous mixture (solution)
Rationale: A mixture with uniform composition throughout is
homogeneous. Sugar dissolved in water is a common example of a
homogeneous mixture/solution .
8. Which of the following is not an SI base unit?
, Answer: D. gram
Rationale: The SI base unit for mass is the kilogram (kg), not the gram
(g). Gram is a derived unit in SI, though commonly used .
9. How many micrograms are in 65.3 kg?
Answer: E. 6.53 × 10¹⁰ μg
Rationale: 1 kg = 10³ g and 1 μg = 10⁻⁶ g, so 1 kg = 10⁹ μg. 65.3 kg ×
10⁹ μg/kg = 6.53 × 10¹⁰ μg .
10. A dose of medication was prescribed to be 35 microliters. Which
expresses that volume in centiliters?
Answer: E. 3.5 × 10⁻³ cL
Rationale: 1 μL = 10⁻⁶ L and 1 cL = 10⁻² L. So 35 μL = 3.5 × 10⁻⁵ L.
Converting: 3.5 × 10⁻⁵ L × (1 cL / 10⁻² L) = 3.5 × 10⁻³ cL .
11. Which state of matter has a fixed shape and fixed volume?
Answer: Solid
Rationale: Solids have particles held in rigid positions, giving them
definite shape and volume. Liquids have fixed volume but take the
shape of their container. Gases have neither fixed shape nor fixed
volume .
12. Which of the following is a physical property?
Answer: Odor, taste, and color
Rationale: Physical properties can be observed without changing the
substance's composition. Color, odor, melting point, and density are
physical properties. Flammability and toxicity are chemical properties .
13. The SI prefix milli- represents:
, Answer: 10⁻³
Rationale: Milli- means one-thousandth (0.001 or 10⁻³). A millimeter
is 1/1000 of a meter .
14. Which of the following is a chemical change?
Answer: Combustion and oxidation
Rationale: Chemical changes result in new substances with different
compositions. Combustion (burning) and oxidation are chemical
changes. Melting and freezing are physical changes .
15. An intensive property:
Answer: Does not depend on the amount of matter (e.g.,
temperature, density)
Rationale: Intensive properties are independent of sample size.
Extensive properties (mass, volume) depend on how much matter is
present .
Chapter 2: Atoms and the Periodic Table
16. The elements in Group 7A are known by what name?
Answer: B. Halogens
Rationale: Group 7A elements (F, Cl, Br, I, At) are called halogens
("salt-formers"). Group 1A are alkali metals, Group 2A are alkaline
earth metals, and Group 8A are noble gases .
17. The elements in Group 2A are known by what name?
Answer: Alkaline earth metals
FIRST COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE – 180 QUESTIONS WITH IN-
DEPTH RATIONALE BASED ON
BURDGE & OVERBY, 5TH EDITION
Chapter 1: Chemistry: The Science of Change
1. What is a unifying principle that explains a body of experimental
observations?
Answer: C. theory
Rationale: A theory is a well-tested, unifying explanation for a broad
set of observations. It differs from a hypothesis (a tentative
explanation) and a law (a summary of observed behavior) .
2. Which of the following is a tentative explanation for a set of
observations?
Answer: Hypothesis
Rationale: A hypothesis is a proposed explanation made before
testing. If repeatedly validated, a hypothesis may eventually become a
theory .
3. The SI base unit of mass is:
Answer: C. kg (kilogram)
, Rationale: The kilogram is the SI base unit for mass. The gram is a
derived unit (1 kg = 1000 g), and milligrams are smaller subunits .
4. The SI prefix mega- (M) means:
Answer: D. 10⁶
Rationale: Mega- represents one million (1,000,000 or 10⁶). Milli-
represents 10⁻³, so they differ by a factor of 10⁹ .
5. Which of the following is a 'substance' according to the definition in
your textbook?
Answer: D. water
Rationale: A substance (pure substance) has definite composition and
distinct properties. Water (H₂O) is a compound and thus a substance.
Air and wet sand are mixtures .
6. Which of the following cannot be separated into simpler substances
by chemical means?
Answer: An element
Rationale: Elements are the simplest forms of matter and cannot be
broken down chemically. Compounds can be decomposed into
elements by chemical reactions .
7. If a liquid contains 60% sugar and 40% water throughout its
composition, what is it called?
Answer: Homogeneous mixture (solution)
Rationale: A mixture with uniform composition throughout is
homogeneous. Sugar dissolved in water is a common example of a
homogeneous mixture/solution .
8. Which of the following is not an SI base unit?
, Answer: D. gram
Rationale: The SI base unit for mass is the kilogram (kg), not the gram
(g). Gram is a derived unit in SI, though commonly used .
9. How many micrograms are in 65.3 kg?
Answer: E. 6.53 × 10¹⁰ μg
Rationale: 1 kg = 10³ g and 1 μg = 10⁻⁶ g, so 1 kg = 10⁹ μg. 65.3 kg ×
10⁹ μg/kg = 6.53 × 10¹⁰ μg .
10. A dose of medication was prescribed to be 35 microliters. Which
expresses that volume in centiliters?
Answer: E. 3.5 × 10⁻³ cL
Rationale: 1 μL = 10⁻⁶ L and 1 cL = 10⁻² L. So 35 μL = 3.5 × 10⁻⁵ L.
Converting: 3.5 × 10⁻⁵ L × (1 cL / 10⁻² L) = 3.5 × 10⁻³ cL .
11. Which state of matter has a fixed shape and fixed volume?
Answer: Solid
Rationale: Solids have particles held in rigid positions, giving them
definite shape and volume. Liquids have fixed volume but take the
shape of their container. Gases have neither fixed shape nor fixed
volume .
12. Which of the following is a physical property?
Answer: Odor, taste, and color
Rationale: Physical properties can be observed without changing the
substance's composition. Color, odor, melting point, and density are
physical properties. Flammability and toxicity are chemical properties .
13. The SI prefix milli- represents:
, Answer: 10⁻³
Rationale: Milli- means one-thousandth (0.001 or 10⁻³). A millimeter
is 1/1000 of a meter .
14. Which of the following is a chemical change?
Answer: Combustion and oxidation
Rationale: Chemical changes result in new substances with different
compositions. Combustion (burning) and oxidation are chemical
changes. Melting and freezing are physical changes .
15. An intensive property:
Answer: Does not depend on the amount of matter (e.g.,
temperature, density)
Rationale: Intensive properties are independent of sample size.
Extensive properties (mass, volume) depend on how much matter is
present .
Chapter 2: Atoms and the Periodic Table
16. The elements in Group 7A are known by what name?
Answer: B. Halogens
Rationale: Group 7A elements (F, Cl, Br, I, At) are called halogens
("salt-formers"). Group 1A are alkali metals, Group 2A are alkaline
earth metals, and Group 8A are noble gases .
17. The elements in Group 2A are known by what name?
Answer: Alkaline earth metals
