CHAPTER 1: BASIC CONCEPTS ABOUT MATTER
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1) Which of the following is a property of both gases and liquids?
a) definite shape c) definite volume
b) indefinite shape d) indefinite volume
ANS: B DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | phases
NOT: Section 1.2
2) In which of the following pairs of properties are both properties chemical properties?
a) freezes at 10C and nonflammable
b) decomposes at 500C and reacts with bromine
c) poor conductor of heat and is reddish brown in color
d) has a low density and is very hard
ANS: B DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | properties |chemical
NOT: Section 1.3
3) When a substance undergoes a chemical change it is always true that
a) it liquifies
b) it changes from a solid to a gas
c) it is converted to a new kind of matter with a different composition
d) the temperature of the substance increases
ANS: C DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | chemical change
NOT: Section 1.4
4) The description “two substances present, two phases present” is correct for
a) heterogeneous mixtures c) elements
b) homogeneous mixtures d) compounds
ANS: A DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5
5) Which of the following statements about heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures is correct?
a) It is possible to have heterogeneous mixtures in which all the components are liquids.
b) A homogeneous mixture contains visibly different parts, or phases.
c) All of the phases in a heterogeneous mixture must be in the same state.
d) No two phases in a heterogeneous mixture can be in the same state.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5
, 6) Which of the following statements is correct?
a) Elements, but not compounds, are pure substances.
b) Compounds, but not elements, are pure substances.
c) Both elements and compounds are pure substances.
d) Neither elements nor compounds are pure substances.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | pure substances
NOT: Section 1.6
7) An element is a substance that
a) can be broken down into simpler substances by physical means.
b) cannot be broken down into simpler substances by physical means.
c) can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
d) cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical or physical means.
ANS: D DIF: Easy
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | element
NOT: Section 1.6
8) A pure substance F is found to change upon heating into two new pure substances M and Y.
Both M and Y may be decomposed by chemical means. From this we may conclude that:
a) F is an element, M and Y are compounds.
b) F is a compound, M and Y are elements.
c) F, M and Y are all elements.
d) F, M and Y are all compounds.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | compound; element; mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5| Section 1.6
9) Which of the following statements concerning the known elements is correct?
a) No new elements have been identified within the last 40 years.
b) Most elements occur naturally.
c) 108 elements are known at present
d) Scientists have synthesized all possible non-natural elements.
ANS: B DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | elements
NOT: Section 1.7
10) The most abundant elements in the universe and the Earth's crust are, respectively,
a) oxygen and iron. c) helium and carbon.
b) hydrogen and helium. d) hydrogen and oxygen.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | element
NOT: Section 1.7
11) In which of the following sequences of elements does each of the elements have a two-letter
chemical symbol?
a) barium, iron, nitrogen c) silicon, zinc, hydrogen
b) selenium, nickel, strontium d) iodine, xenon, titantium
, ANS: B DIF: Easy
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | element |nomenclature
NOT: Section 1.8
12) In which of the following sequences of elements does each of the elements have a one-letter
chemical symbol?
a) indium, carbon, silver c) antimony, boron, nitrogen
b) iodine, boron, tungsten d) nitrogen, germanium, bromine
ANS: B DIF: Easy
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts |element
NOT: Section 1.8
13) Which one of the following statements about atoms is incorrect?
a) An atom is the smallest “piece” of an element that can exist and still have the properties
of the element.
b) Free isolated atoms are rarely encountered in nature.
c) Atoms may be decomposed using chemical change.
d) Only one kind of atom may be present in a homoatomic molecule.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | atoms
NOT: Section 1.9
14) Which one of the following statements about heteroatomic molecules is correct?
a) No two atoms in a heteroatomic molecule may be the same.
b) Upon chemical subdivision, heteroatomic molecules always yield two or more kinds of
atoms.
c) Heteroatomic molecules maintain the properties of their constituent elements.
d) Molecules of certain elements are heteroatomic.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | molecules
NOT: Section 1.9
15) Which of the following pairings of chemical formulas and "molecular descriptions" is incorrect?
a) LiCN and "triatomic" c) N2 and "homoatomic"
b) KCl and "heteroatomic" d) SiO2 and "diatomic"
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | molecules
NOT: Section 1.9
16) In which of the following pairs of chemical formulas do both formulas represent
compounds?
a) O2 and O3 c) HCN and N2
b) CO2 and O2 d) N2O4 and NO2
ANS: D DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
17) Which of the following is a correct description for a sample of ice cubes in water?
a) one phase present, one substance present
b) one phase present, two substances present
c) two phases present, one substance present
d) two phases present, two substances present
, ANS: C DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | compound; element; mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5
18) Consider the chemical formulas CoI2 and COI2. It is true that they
a) contain identical kinds of atoms
b) identify the same compound
c) contain different kinds and numbers of atoms
d) can be described by none of the above
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
19) In which of the following pairs of chemical formulas do the two members of the pair contain
the same number of elements as well as the same number of atoms?
a) Cs and CS c) CoCl2 and CoCl3
b) CoBr2 and COBr2 d) NH4Br and NiSO4
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
20) The total number of atoms present in one formula unit of Co2(SO4)3 is
a) 14 c) 16
b) 15 d) 17
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
21) Which of the following is a property of both the liquid state and the solid state?
a) a definite shape
b) an indefinite volume
c) an indefinite shape and a definite volume
d) more than one correct response
e) no correct response
ANS: E DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | phases
NOT: Section 1.2
22) In which of the following pairs of properties are both properties physical properties?
a) melts at 73C, decomposes upon heating
b) good reflector of light, blue in color
c) has a high density, is very hard
d) more than one correct response
e) no correct response
ANS: D DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | properties
NOT: Section 1.3
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1) Which of the following is a property of both gases and liquids?
a) definite shape c) definite volume
b) indefinite shape d) indefinite volume
ANS: B DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | phases
NOT: Section 1.2
2) In which of the following pairs of properties are both properties chemical properties?
a) freezes at 10C and nonflammable
b) decomposes at 500C and reacts with bromine
c) poor conductor of heat and is reddish brown in color
d) has a low density and is very hard
ANS: B DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | properties |chemical
NOT: Section 1.3
3) When a substance undergoes a chemical change it is always true that
a) it liquifies
b) it changes from a solid to a gas
c) it is converted to a new kind of matter with a different composition
d) the temperature of the substance increases
ANS: C DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | chemical change
NOT: Section 1.4
4) The description “two substances present, two phases present” is correct for
a) heterogeneous mixtures c) elements
b) homogeneous mixtures d) compounds
ANS: A DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5
5) Which of the following statements about heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures is correct?
a) It is possible to have heterogeneous mixtures in which all the components are liquids.
b) A homogeneous mixture contains visibly different parts, or phases.
c) All of the phases in a heterogeneous mixture must be in the same state.
d) No two phases in a heterogeneous mixture can be in the same state.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5
, 6) Which of the following statements is correct?
a) Elements, but not compounds, are pure substances.
b) Compounds, but not elements, are pure substances.
c) Both elements and compounds are pure substances.
d) Neither elements nor compounds are pure substances.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | pure substances
NOT: Section 1.6
7) An element is a substance that
a) can be broken down into simpler substances by physical means.
b) cannot be broken down into simpler substances by physical means.
c) can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
d) cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical or physical means.
ANS: D DIF: Easy
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | element
NOT: Section 1.6
8) A pure substance F is found to change upon heating into two new pure substances M and Y.
Both M and Y may be decomposed by chemical means. From this we may conclude that:
a) F is an element, M and Y are compounds.
b) F is a compound, M and Y are elements.
c) F, M and Y are all elements.
d) F, M and Y are all compounds.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | compound; element; mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5| Section 1.6
9) Which of the following statements concerning the known elements is correct?
a) No new elements have been identified within the last 40 years.
b) Most elements occur naturally.
c) 108 elements are known at present
d) Scientists have synthesized all possible non-natural elements.
ANS: B DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | elements
NOT: Section 1.7
10) The most abundant elements in the universe and the Earth's crust are, respectively,
a) oxygen and iron. c) helium and carbon.
b) hydrogen and helium. d) hydrogen and oxygen.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | element
NOT: Section 1.7
11) In which of the following sequences of elements does each of the elements have a two-letter
chemical symbol?
a) barium, iron, nitrogen c) silicon, zinc, hydrogen
b) selenium, nickel, strontium d) iodine, xenon, titantium
, ANS: B DIF: Easy
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | element |nomenclature
NOT: Section 1.8
12) In which of the following sequences of elements does each of the elements have a one-letter
chemical symbol?
a) indium, carbon, silver c) antimony, boron, nitrogen
b) iodine, boron, tungsten d) nitrogen, germanium, bromine
ANS: B DIF: Easy
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts |element
NOT: Section 1.8
13) Which one of the following statements about atoms is incorrect?
a) An atom is the smallest “piece” of an element that can exist and still have the properties
of the element.
b) Free isolated atoms are rarely encountered in nature.
c) Atoms may be decomposed using chemical change.
d) Only one kind of atom may be present in a homoatomic molecule.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | atoms
NOT: Section 1.9
14) Which one of the following statements about heteroatomic molecules is correct?
a) No two atoms in a heteroatomic molecule may be the same.
b) Upon chemical subdivision, heteroatomic molecules always yield two or more kinds of
atoms.
c) Heteroatomic molecules maintain the properties of their constituent elements.
d) Molecules of certain elements are heteroatomic.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | molecules
NOT: Section 1.9
15) Which of the following pairings of chemical formulas and "molecular descriptions" is incorrect?
a) LiCN and "triatomic" c) N2 and "homoatomic"
b) KCl and "heteroatomic" d) SiO2 and "diatomic"
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | molecules
NOT: Section 1.9
16) In which of the following pairs of chemical formulas do both formulas represent
compounds?
a) O2 and O3 c) HCN and N2
b) CO2 and O2 d) N2O4 and NO2
ANS: D DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
17) Which of the following is a correct description for a sample of ice cubes in water?
a) one phase present, one substance present
b) one phase present, two substances present
c) two phases present, one substance present
d) two phases present, two substances present
, ANS: C DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | compound; element; mixtures
NOT: Section 1.5
18) Consider the chemical formulas CoI2 and COI2. It is true that they
a) contain identical kinds of atoms
b) identify the same compound
c) contain different kinds and numbers of atoms
d) can be described by none of the above
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
19) In which of the following pairs of chemical formulas do the two members of the pair contain
the same number of elements as well as the same number of atoms?
a) Cs and CS c) CoCl2 and CoCl3
b) CoBr2 and COBr2 d) NH4Br and NiSO4
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
20) The total number of atoms present in one formula unit of Co2(SO4)3 is
a) 14 c) 16
b) 15 d) 17
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | chemical
formulas
NOT: Section 1.10
21) Which of the following is a property of both the liquid state and the solid state?
a) a definite shape
b) an indefinite volume
c) an indefinite shape and a definite volume
d) more than one correct response
e) no correct response
ANS: E DIF: Easy KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | phases
NOT: Section 1.2
22) In which of the following pairs of properties are both properties physical properties?
a) melts at 73C, decomposes upon heating
b) good reflector of light, blue in color
c) has a high density, is very hard
d) more than one correct response
e) no correct response
ANS: D DIF: Moderate
KEY: Chemistry | general chemistry | general concepts | properties
NOT: Section 1.3
