1 | Page
Michigan State University
CEM 141 CEM 141 EXAM 1- MSU
Questions and Answers 2026 Latest Update
What is matter composed of? Ans: Atoms that are mostly empty space.
How can matter exist in terms of physics? Ans: Matter can exist as either a
particle or a wave.
What are emergent properties? Ans: Properties that arise when atoms and
molecules interact, which are different from the sum of the reactants.
What can a collection of cells produce? Ans: A self-conscious entity that
thinks it is more than just a collection of cells.
What is the first step in the scientific method? Ans: Ask questions.
What is the purpose of designing experiments in scientific inquiry? Ans: To
gather and analyze data and evidence.
What must claims in science be based on? Ans: Data and evidence gathered
from experiments.
What is a scientific question? Ans: A question that can be answered through
experimentation and observation.
What is the role of a control group in an experiment? Ans: To provide a
baseline for comparison with the experimental group.
What is required for a claim to be scientifically valid? Ans: It must be
supported by evidence.
What are the three parts of a scientific explanation? Ans: Claim, evidence,
and reasoning.
What distinguishes a scientific theory from a law? Ans: A theory explains
why phenomena occur, while a law describes what happens.
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
What is an atom? Ans: The smallest unit of an element, composed of
protons, electrons, and neutrons.
What is the difference between an element and a compound? Ans: An
element consists of one type of atom, while a compound is made of two or
more types of atoms chemically bonded.
What is Dalton's Atomic Theory? Ans: A theory stating that elements are
composed of indivisible atoms and that chemical reactions involve the
rearrangement of atoms.
What is the evidence for the existence of atoms? Ans: Atomic Force
Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) provide images
at the atomic level.
What is the significance of the atomic number? Ans: It is unique to each
element and defines the number of protons in an atom.
What happens to coffee when cold milk is added? Ans: The coffee cools
down due to the collision of higher kinetic energy coffee molecules with
lower kinetic energy milk molecules.
What is a scientific model? Ans: A representation that helps predict
outcomes and explain phenomena, which can be a drawing, graph, diagram,
or equation.
What is the relationship between thermal energy and atomic motion? Ans:
Thermal energy keeps atoms in constant motion.
What is the role of evidence in scientific claims? Ans: Evidence must
support claims to validate them scientifically.
What distinguishes one element from another? Ans: Each element has a
unique number of protons, known as the atomic number.
What is the difference between an atom and a molecule? Ans: An atom is
the smallest particle of an element, while a molecule consists of two or more
atoms chemically bonded together.
What is the significance of the Greeks' contribution to atomic theory? Ans:
They proposed the idea of atoms based on philosophy rather than
experimental evidence.
© 2026 All rights reserved
Michigan State University
CEM 141 CEM 141 EXAM 1- MSU
Questions and Answers 2026 Latest Update
What is matter composed of? Ans: Atoms that are mostly empty space.
How can matter exist in terms of physics? Ans: Matter can exist as either a
particle or a wave.
What are emergent properties? Ans: Properties that arise when atoms and
molecules interact, which are different from the sum of the reactants.
What can a collection of cells produce? Ans: A self-conscious entity that
thinks it is more than just a collection of cells.
What is the first step in the scientific method? Ans: Ask questions.
What is the purpose of designing experiments in scientific inquiry? Ans: To
gather and analyze data and evidence.
What must claims in science be based on? Ans: Data and evidence gathered
from experiments.
What is a scientific question? Ans: A question that can be answered through
experimentation and observation.
What is the role of a control group in an experiment? Ans: To provide a
baseline for comparison with the experimental group.
What is required for a claim to be scientifically valid? Ans: It must be
supported by evidence.
What are the three parts of a scientific explanation? Ans: Claim, evidence,
and reasoning.
What distinguishes a scientific theory from a law? Ans: A theory explains
why phenomena occur, while a law describes what happens.
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
What is an atom? Ans: The smallest unit of an element, composed of
protons, electrons, and neutrons.
What is the difference between an element and a compound? Ans: An
element consists of one type of atom, while a compound is made of two or
more types of atoms chemically bonded.
What is Dalton's Atomic Theory? Ans: A theory stating that elements are
composed of indivisible atoms and that chemical reactions involve the
rearrangement of atoms.
What is the evidence for the existence of atoms? Ans: Atomic Force
Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) provide images
at the atomic level.
What is the significance of the atomic number? Ans: It is unique to each
element and defines the number of protons in an atom.
What happens to coffee when cold milk is added? Ans: The coffee cools
down due to the collision of higher kinetic energy coffee molecules with
lower kinetic energy milk molecules.
What is a scientific model? Ans: A representation that helps predict
outcomes and explain phenomena, which can be a drawing, graph, diagram,
or equation.
What is the relationship between thermal energy and atomic motion? Ans:
Thermal energy keeps atoms in constant motion.
What is the role of evidence in scientific claims? Ans: Evidence must
support claims to validate them scientifically.
What distinguishes one element from another? Ans: Each element has a
unique number of protons, known as the atomic number.
What is the difference between an atom and a molecule? Ans: An atom is
the smallest particle of an element, while a molecule consists of two or more
atoms chemically bonded together.
What is the significance of the Greeks' contribution to atomic theory? Ans:
They proposed the idea of atoms based on philosophy rather than
experimental evidence.
© 2026 All rights reserved
