Grand Canyon University CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry I Final Exam
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Organic Chemistry I Q&A | Chemistry
1. Which of the following best describes the study of chemistry?
A) The study of living organisms
B) The study of matter and its properties, composition, and transformations
C) The study of the physical laws governing the universe
D) The study of the Earth's structure and composition
Correct Answer: The study of matter and its properties, composition, and
transformations
Rationale: Chemistry is the scientific discipline that investigates the
composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter. It focuses on how
substances interact, combine, and change to form new substances. The
correct answer captures the breadth and core focus of the field,
distinguishing it from biology, physics, and geology.
2. Which of the following is an example of a physical property?
A) Flammability
B) Reactivity with acid
C) Density
D) Toxicity
Correct Answer: Density
Rationale: A physical property is a characteristic of matter that can be
observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity.
Density is a physical property because it describes the mass per unit volume
of a substance without altering its composition. Flammability, reactivity, and
,toxicity are chemical properties that describe how a substance behaves in
chemical reactions.
3. A scientist proposes a tentative explanation for a set of observations. This
is called a:
A) Theory
B) Law
C) Hypothesis
D) Conclusion
Correct Answer: Hypothesis
Rationale: A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon or a set
of observations. It is a testable statement that serves as the basis for further
experimentation and investigation. A theory is a well-tested explanation, a
law is a concise statement of a natural phenomenon, and a conclusion is the
result of an experiment.
4. The SI base unit for amount of substance is the:
A) Gram
B) Liter
C) Mole
D) Kilogram
Correct Answer: Mole
Rationale: The mole is the SI base unit for the amount of substance. It is
defined as the amount of a substance that contains as many elementary
entities (atoms, molecules, ions, etc.) as there are atoms in 0.012 kg of
,carbon-12. The gram, liter, and kilogram are not base units for amount of
substance.
5. A sample of water has a mass of 50.0 g and a volume of 50.0 mL. What is
its density?
A) 0.500 g/mL
B) 1.00 g/mL
C) 2.00 g/mL
D) 100 g/mL
Correct Answer: 1.00 g/mL
Rationale: Density is calculated by dividing mass by volume. Density =
mass/volume = 50.0 g / 50.0 mL = 1.00 g/mL. This is the known density of
water at 4°C, which is a standard reference value.
6. How many significant figures are in the measurement 0.003040?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale: Leading zeros are not significant. The zeros between non-zero
digits and trailing zeros after a decimal point are significant. In 0.003040, the
significant figures are 3, 0, 4, and 0 (four total). This rule is essential for
reporting measurements with appropriate precision.
, 7. A balloon contains 2.0 moles of helium gas. How many helium atoms are
present?
A) 6.02 × 10²³
B) 1.20 × 10²⁴
C) 3.01 × 10²³
D) 1.20 × 10²³
Correct Answer: 1.20 × 10²⁴
Rationale: One mole contains 6.02 × 10²³ particles. 2.0 moles of helium
contains 2.0 × 6.02 × 10²³ = 1.20 × 10²⁴ atoms. This calculation uses
Avogadro's number to convert moles to number of atoms.
8. The Law of Conservation of Mass states that:
A) A given compound always contains the same proportion of elements by
mass
B) When two elements form a series of compounds, the ratios of the masses
of the second element that combine with 1 gram of the first element can
always be reduced to small whole numbers
C) Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction
D) The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of
the gases
Correct Answer: Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction
Rationale: The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter is neither
created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means the total mass of
the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products. This law is
fundamental to balancing chemical equations.
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Organic Chemistry I Q&A | Chemistry
1. Which of the following best describes the study of chemistry?
A) The study of living organisms
B) The study of matter and its properties, composition, and transformations
C) The study of the physical laws governing the universe
D) The study of the Earth's structure and composition
Correct Answer: The study of matter and its properties, composition, and
transformations
Rationale: Chemistry is the scientific discipline that investigates the
composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter. It focuses on how
substances interact, combine, and change to form new substances. The
correct answer captures the breadth and core focus of the field,
distinguishing it from biology, physics, and geology.
2. Which of the following is an example of a physical property?
A) Flammability
B) Reactivity with acid
C) Density
D) Toxicity
Correct Answer: Density
Rationale: A physical property is a characteristic of matter that can be
observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity.
Density is a physical property because it describes the mass per unit volume
of a substance without altering its composition. Flammability, reactivity, and
,toxicity are chemical properties that describe how a substance behaves in
chemical reactions.
3. A scientist proposes a tentative explanation for a set of observations. This
is called a:
A) Theory
B) Law
C) Hypothesis
D) Conclusion
Correct Answer: Hypothesis
Rationale: A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon or a set
of observations. It is a testable statement that serves as the basis for further
experimentation and investigation. A theory is a well-tested explanation, a
law is a concise statement of a natural phenomenon, and a conclusion is the
result of an experiment.
4. The SI base unit for amount of substance is the:
A) Gram
B) Liter
C) Mole
D) Kilogram
Correct Answer: Mole
Rationale: The mole is the SI base unit for the amount of substance. It is
defined as the amount of a substance that contains as many elementary
entities (atoms, molecules, ions, etc.) as there are atoms in 0.012 kg of
,carbon-12. The gram, liter, and kilogram are not base units for amount of
substance.
5. A sample of water has a mass of 50.0 g and a volume of 50.0 mL. What is
its density?
A) 0.500 g/mL
B) 1.00 g/mL
C) 2.00 g/mL
D) 100 g/mL
Correct Answer: 1.00 g/mL
Rationale: Density is calculated by dividing mass by volume. Density =
mass/volume = 50.0 g / 50.0 mL = 1.00 g/mL. This is the known density of
water at 4°C, which is a standard reference value.
6. How many significant figures are in the measurement 0.003040?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale: Leading zeros are not significant. The zeros between non-zero
digits and trailing zeros after a decimal point are significant. In 0.003040, the
significant figures are 3, 0, 4, and 0 (four total). This rule is essential for
reporting measurements with appropriate precision.
, 7. A balloon contains 2.0 moles of helium gas. How many helium atoms are
present?
A) 6.02 × 10²³
B) 1.20 × 10²⁴
C) 3.01 × 10²³
D) 1.20 × 10²³
Correct Answer: 1.20 × 10²⁴
Rationale: One mole contains 6.02 × 10²³ particles. 2.0 moles of helium
contains 2.0 × 6.02 × 10²³ = 1.20 × 10²⁴ atoms. This calculation uses
Avogadro's number to convert moles to number of atoms.
8. The Law of Conservation of Mass states that:
A) A given compound always contains the same proportion of elements by
mass
B) When two elements form a series of compounds, the ratios of the masses
of the second element that combine with 1 gram of the first element can
always be reduced to small whole numbers
C) Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction
D) The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of
the gases
Correct Answer: Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction
Rationale: The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter is neither
created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means the total mass of
the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products. This law is
fundamental to balancing chemical equations.
