CEM 141 EXAM 1 MSU NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
TEST BANK| MSU CEM 141 EXAM 1 REVIEW WITH 300
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
What is the first step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Ask a
question.
What is the second step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Design
an experiment.
What is the third step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Gather and
analyze data.
What is the fourth step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Make a
conclusion based on data and evidence.
What is the fifth step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Develop
explanations about how and why the universe behaves as it does.
What is the difference between a scientific law and a theory? -
ANSWER - A law describes what happens, while a theory explains why
it happens.
pg. 1
,What is the atomic hypothesis? - ANSWER - The idea that all things are
made of atoms.
Who is Richard Feynman? - ANSWER - A Nobel Laureate and
influential scientist known for his work in quantum mechanics.
What is the role of reasoning in a scientific explanation? - ANSWER -
To connect the claim and evidence logically.
What does it mean for a theory to be falsifiable? - ANSWER - It can be
proven false by experiments and data.
What is the significance of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and
scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)? - ANSWER - They provide
images at the atomic level.
Who proposed the earliest atomic theory? - ANSWER - The Greeks
What was the basis of the earliest atomic theory? - ANSWER -
Observation, not experimentation.
What is Brownian motion? - ANSWER - The random motion of atoms
and particles.
pg. 2
,What are the four classical elements according to the Greeks? -
ANSWER - Earth, fire, air, and water.
What distinguishes one element from another? - ANSWER - The type of
atoms they contain.
What is the smallest unit of an element? - ANSWER - An atom.
How many naturally occurring elements are there? - ANSWER - 91 to
98 (the number is arguable).
What is the difference between an atom and an element? - ANSWER -
An atom is a single unit, while an element is a collection of atoms of the
same type.
Which has more electrons: helium (He) or xenon (Xe)? - ANSWER - He
has 2 electrons, Xe has 54 electrons.
How do London Dispersion Forces (LDFs) compare between He and
Xe? - ANSWER - LDFs between Xe atoms are expected to be stronger
due to more electrons.
What factors increase London Dispersion Forces? - ANSWER - Increase
in size of atom/molecule and surface area.
pg. 3
, Which has a higher melting point: helium or xenon? - ANSWER -
Xenon has a higher melting point due to stronger LDFs.
What does the depth of the PE well tell you about atomic interactions? -
ANSWER - It indicates how strong the interaction is and how much
energy is needed to separate the atoms.
Which has a longer internuclear distance: He atoms or Xe atoms? -
ANSWER - Xe atoms have a longer internuclear distance.
What is the Van der Waals radius? - ANSWER - It is defined as half the
distance between atoms at the potential minimum.
What happens when two hydrogen atoms approach each other? -
ANSWER - They are attracted and can form a covalent bond.
What is the difference between hydrogen atoms and hydrogen
molecules? - ANSWER - Hydrogen molecules (H2) have different
chemical and physical properties than individual hydrogen atoms (H).
What are intermolecular forces (IMFs)? - ANSWER - They include
London Dispersion Forces and are relatively weak interactions between
neutral molecules or atoms.
pg. 4
TEST BANK| MSU CEM 141 EXAM 1 REVIEW WITH 300
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
What is the first step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Ask a
question.
What is the second step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Design
an experiment.
What is the third step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Gather and
analyze data.
What is the fourth step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Make a
conclusion based on data and evidence.
What is the fifth step in the scientific method? - ANSWER - Develop
explanations about how and why the universe behaves as it does.
What is the difference between a scientific law and a theory? -
ANSWER - A law describes what happens, while a theory explains why
it happens.
pg. 1
,What is the atomic hypothesis? - ANSWER - The idea that all things are
made of atoms.
Who is Richard Feynman? - ANSWER - A Nobel Laureate and
influential scientist known for his work in quantum mechanics.
What is the role of reasoning in a scientific explanation? - ANSWER -
To connect the claim and evidence logically.
What does it mean for a theory to be falsifiable? - ANSWER - It can be
proven false by experiments and data.
What is the significance of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and
scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)? - ANSWER - They provide
images at the atomic level.
Who proposed the earliest atomic theory? - ANSWER - The Greeks
What was the basis of the earliest atomic theory? - ANSWER -
Observation, not experimentation.
What is Brownian motion? - ANSWER - The random motion of atoms
and particles.
pg. 2
,What are the four classical elements according to the Greeks? -
ANSWER - Earth, fire, air, and water.
What distinguishes one element from another? - ANSWER - The type of
atoms they contain.
What is the smallest unit of an element? - ANSWER - An atom.
How many naturally occurring elements are there? - ANSWER - 91 to
98 (the number is arguable).
What is the difference between an atom and an element? - ANSWER -
An atom is a single unit, while an element is a collection of atoms of the
same type.
Which has more electrons: helium (He) or xenon (Xe)? - ANSWER - He
has 2 electrons, Xe has 54 electrons.
How do London Dispersion Forces (LDFs) compare between He and
Xe? - ANSWER - LDFs between Xe atoms are expected to be stronger
due to more electrons.
What factors increase London Dispersion Forces? - ANSWER - Increase
in size of atom/molecule and surface area.
pg. 3
, Which has a higher melting point: helium or xenon? - ANSWER -
Xenon has a higher melting point due to stronger LDFs.
What does the depth of the PE well tell you about atomic interactions? -
ANSWER - It indicates how strong the interaction is and how much
energy is needed to separate the atoms.
Which has a longer internuclear distance: He atoms or Xe atoms? -
ANSWER - Xe atoms have a longer internuclear distance.
What is the Van der Waals radius? - ANSWER - It is defined as half the
distance between atoms at the potential minimum.
What happens when two hydrogen atoms approach each other? -
ANSWER - They are attracted and can form a covalent bond.
What is the difference between hydrogen atoms and hydrogen
molecules? - ANSWER - Hydrogen molecules (H2) have different
chemical and physical properties than individual hydrogen atoms (H).
What are intermolecular forces (IMFs)? - ANSWER - They include
London Dispersion Forces and are relatively weak interactions between
neutral molecules or atoms.
pg. 4
