MSU CEM 141 FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS)
||100% GUARANTEED
PASS||UPDATED 2026/2027
SYLLABUS||ALREADY GRADED||
What is the core/valence electron configuration of O? - ANSWER ✓ [He] 2s^2
2p^4
Why do we need to know about quantized energy levels of electrons? - ANSWER
✓ Periodic trends.
Can atoms of a particular element absorb or emit all wavelengths of light? -
ANSWER ✓ No.
What is the electron configuration of O. - ANSWER ✓ 1s^2 2s^2 2p^4
Smaller atom = - ANSWER ✓ Higher ionization energy.
Larger charge = - ANSWER ✓ Larger ionization energy.
If an object emitting light is moving away from us, which direction will the
wavelength of light be shifted? - ANSWER ✓ To long wavelengths (towards the
red end of the spectrum).
As two nuclei move toward each other what happens to the potential energy of the
system? - ANSWER ✓ Increases.
As two nuclei move very close together, the strong nuclear force comes into
effect. What happens to the potential energy of the system? - ANSWER ✓
Decreases.
,What happens to the force (F) as q1 and q2 increases? - ANSWER ✓ Increases.
What happens as r increases? - ANSWER ✓ Decreases.
What is true considering the wave-particle duality of light? - ANSWER ✓ A
photon has a certain energy and wavelength.
Evidence: Ejection of electrons when light shines on a metal surface.
Reasoning: _______________ - ANSWER ✓ Ejection of electrons is only
observed when the light has frequencies above a threshold value.
Claim: The interference pattern shows that electrons have wave-like properties.
Evidence: Electrons pass through the slits creating a pattern of dark and bright
bands on the screen.
Reasoning: __________________ - ANSWER ✓ The electrons undergo
diffraction and interact constructively and destructively to produce an interference
pattern.
T/F: The Schrodinger model of the atom treats electrons as waves. - ANSWER ✓
True.
How many valence electrons do elements in group 3A have? - ANSWER ✓ 3.
Does Fluoride or Oxide have a smaller ionic radius? - ANSWER ✓ Fluoride.
Ionization energy increases because ____________ - ANSWER ✓ The effective
nuclear charge increases so the electrons feel a stronger pull from the nucleus and
the electron being removed is closer to the nucleus.
The total number of atoms in the Universe is ____________ - ANSWER ✓
Decreasing because fusion of lightweight elements in the stars yield fewer heavier
nuclei.
Why does potential energy increase when the nuclei move closer to each other? -
ANSWER ✓ The dominant force between the nuclei is repulsive because the
nuclei are positively charged and interact through the electrostatic force.
, According to molecular orbital theory, when atomic orbitals combine
constructively ______________ - ANSWER ✓ Electrons in bonding molecular
orbitals make the species more stable because bonding molecular orbitals are
higher energy than the atomic orbitals.
According to Valence Bond Theory, how do bonds form between carbon atoms in
graphite? - ANSWER ✓ Three sp^2 hybrid orbitals overlap end-to-end while the
unhybridized p-orbitals overlap side-to-side.
What is the best explanation for why metals are malleable? - ANSWER ✓ When
the nuclei move relative to one another, the valence electrons act as a glue holding
them together.
Does cl2 or He have a higher boiling point and why? - ANSWER ✓ Cl2 because
covalent networks require more energy to boil than discrete molecules/atoms.
What is the best explanation for why graphite is slippery whereas diamond is not?
- ANSWER ✓ Because sheets of graphite are held to each other by weak LDFs
whereas only covalent bonds exist within diamond.
T/F: Covalent bonds are present only when atomic orbitals interact constructively.
- ANSWER ✓ True.
Binding in Diamond - ANSWER ✓ Each carbon forms 4 bonds to 4 identical
carbons; tetrahedral; sp3
Valence Bond Theory - ANSWER ✓ The idea that covalent bonds are formed
when orbitals of different atoms overlap.
T/F: Electrons are localized in molecular orbital. - ANSWER ✓ False
T/F: Electrons are localized in Valence Bond. - ANSWER ✓ True
T/F: When the hybrid orbitals combine, there is a large gap between the bonding
and anti bonding orbitals. - ANSWER ✓ True
Bonding in Tetrahedral C results in..... - ANSWER ✓ Sigma bonds.
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS)
||100% GUARANTEED
PASS||UPDATED 2026/2027
SYLLABUS||ALREADY GRADED||
What is the core/valence electron configuration of O? - ANSWER ✓ [He] 2s^2
2p^4
Why do we need to know about quantized energy levels of electrons? - ANSWER
✓ Periodic trends.
Can atoms of a particular element absorb or emit all wavelengths of light? -
ANSWER ✓ No.
What is the electron configuration of O. - ANSWER ✓ 1s^2 2s^2 2p^4
Smaller atom = - ANSWER ✓ Higher ionization energy.
Larger charge = - ANSWER ✓ Larger ionization energy.
If an object emitting light is moving away from us, which direction will the
wavelength of light be shifted? - ANSWER ✓ To long wavelengths (towards the
red end of the spectrum).
As two nuclei move toward each other what happens to the potential energy of the
system? - ANSWER ✓ Increases.
As two nuclei move very close together, the strong nuclear force comes into
effect. What happens to the potential energy of the system? - ANSWER ✓
Decreases.
,What happens to the force (F) as q1 and q2 increases? - ANSWER ✓ Increases.
What happens as r increases? - ANSWER ✓ Decreases.
What is true considering the wave-particle duality of light? - ANSWER ✓ A
photon has a certain energy and wavelength.
Evidence: Ejection of electrons when light shines on a metal surface.
Reasoning: _______________ - ANSWER ✓ Ejection of electrons is only
observed when the light has frequencies above a threshold value.
Claim: The interference pattern shows that electrons have wave-like properties.
Evidence: Electrons pass through the slits creating a pattern of dark and bright
bands on the screen.
Reasoning: __________________ - ANSWER ✓ The electrons undergo
diffraction and interact constructively and destructively to produce an interference
pattern.
T/F: The Schrodinger model of the atom treats electrons as waves. - ANSWER ✓
True.
How many valence electrons do elements in group 3A have? - ANSWER ✓ 3.
Does Fluoride or Oxide have a smaller ionic radius? - ANSWER ✓ Fluoride.
Ionization energy increases because ____________ - ANSWER ✓ The effective
nuclear charge increases so the electrons feel a stronger pull from the nucleus and
the electron being removed is closer to the nucleus.
The total number of atoms in the Universe is ____________ - ANSWER ✓
Decreasing because fusion of lightweight elements in the stars yield fewer heavier
nuclei.
Why does potential energy increase when the nuclei move closer to each other? -
ANSWER ✓ The dominant force between the nuclei is repulsive because the
nuclei are positively charged and interact through the electrostatic force.
, According to molecular orbital theory, when atomic orbitals combine
constructively ______________ - ANSWER ✓ Electrons in bonding molecular
orbitals make the species more stable because bonding molecular orbitals are
higher energy than the atomic orbitals.
According to Valence Bond Theory, how do bonds form between carbon atoms in
graphite? - ANSWER ✓ Three sp^2 hybrid orbitals overlap end-to-end while the
unhybridized p-orbitals overlap side-to-side.
What is the best explanation for why metals are malleable? - ANSWER ✓ When
the nuclei move relative to one another, the valence electrons act as a glue holding
them together.
Does cl2 or He have a higher boiling point and why? - ANSWER ✓ Cl2 because
covalent networks require more energy to boil than discrete molecules/atoms.
What is the best explanation for why graphite is slippery whereas diamond is not?
- ANSWER ✓ Because sheets of graphite are held to each other by weak LDFs
whereas only covalent bonds exist within diamond.
T/F: Covalent bonds are present only when atomic orbitals interact constructively.
- ANSWER ✓ True.
Binding in Diamond - ANSWER ✓ Each carbon forms 4 bonds to 4 identical
carbons; tetrahedral; sp3
Valence Bond Theory - ANSWER ✓ The idea that covalent bonds are formed
when orbitals of different atoms overlap.
T/F: Electrons are localized in molecular orbital. - ANSWER ✓ False
T/F: Electrons are localized in Valence Bond. - ANSWER ✓ True
T/F: When the hybrid orbitals combine, there is a large gap between the bonding
and anti bonding orbitals. - ANSWER ✓ True
Bonding in Tetrahedral C results in..... - ANSWER ✓ Sigma bonds.
