ESTUDYR
CHM 1020 - FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
Question 1: The quantity 0.0000064 g expressed in scientific notation is:
a. 6.4 × 10⁻´
b. 6.4 × 10⁻µ
c. 6.4 × 10⁻⁶
d. 0.64 × 10⁻µ
e. 64 × 10⁻¶
Rationale: Move the decimal six places to the right yields 6.4 × 10⁻¶.
Question 2: A substance that can be broken down into two or more simpler substances only by
chemical methods is a(n):
a. Element
b. Mixture
c. Solution
d. Compound
e. Alloy
Rationale: Compounds consist of two or more elements chemically bonded and require chemical
reactions to decompose.
Question 3: Which of the following is not a mixture?
a. Steel
b. Air
c. Salt water
d. Sodium chloride
e. Granite
Rationale: Sodium chloride (table salt) is a pure compound, not a physical mixture.
Question 4: Which substance is an element?
a. HCl
b. NaCl
c. N₂
d. H₂O
e. CO₂
Rationale: N₂ is molecular nitrogen, comprised of two identical atoms of nitrogen.
Question 5: Convert 5.00 inches to centimeters (1 in = 2.54 cm). The result is:
a. 10.2 cm
b. 11.8 cm
c. 12.7 cm
d. 13.5 cm
,ESTUDYR
e. 14.5 cm
Rationale: 5.00 in × 2.54 cm/in = 12.70 cm.
Question 6: Which subatomic particle is located in the nucleus and has a positive charge?
a. Electron
b. Neutron
c. Proton
d. Positron
e. Quark
Rationale: Protons reside in the nucleus and carry a +1 charge.
Question 7: The three pillars of sustainability are:
a. Efficiency, equity, environment
b. Profit, people, planet
c. Environmental, social, economic
d. Technology, policy, finance
e. Conservation, restoration, innovation
Rationale: True sustainability balances environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability.
Question 8: Oxidation–reduction reactions involve changes in the number of:
a. Protons
b. Neutrons
c. Electrons
d. Nuclei
e. Molecules
Rationale: Oxidation is loss of electrons; reduction is gain.
Question 9: A smartphone (113 g) plus a screen protector (27.2 g) plus a case (114 g) weighs:
a. 240.2 g
b. 254.2 g
c. 254.0 g
d. 238.2 g
e. 250.2 g
Rationale: Sum = 113 + 27.2 + 114 = 254.2 g.
Question 10: 2.3 × 10¶ meters expressed in decimal form is:
a. 230,000
b. 2,300,000
c. 23,000,000
d. 0.0023
e. 23,000
Rationale: ×10¶ shifts decimal six places to right.
,ESTUDYR
Question 11: An atom of chlorine-35 contains how many protons and neutrons?
a. 17 p, 17 n
b. 18 p, 17 n
c. 16 p, 19 n
d. 17 p, 18 n
e. 35 p, 0 n
Rationale: Atomic number 17 → protons = 17; mass number 35 → neutrons = 35–17 = 18.
Question 12: In NaCl, the charge on the sodium ion is:
a. –2
b. –1
c. 0
d. +1
e. +2
Rationale: Sodium loses one electron to form Na⁺.
Question 13: Which is a diatomic molecule?
a. Al
b. S₈
c. C
d. H₂
e. NaCl
Rationale: H₂ exists naturally as two-hydrogen-atom molecules.
Question 14: Calculate (3.2 ÷ 0.123) + 45.7 with the correct number of significant figures:
a. 72.1
b. 72.0
c. 72
d. 71.9
e. 72.00
Rationale: Division result has 2 sig figs → 26; +45.7 → 71.7 rounds to 72 (no decimal places).
Question 15: One pillar of sustainability that focuses on equity and quality of life is:
a. Environmental
b. Economic
c. Social
d. Technological
e. Regulatory
Rationale: The social pillar addresses human well-being and community equity.
Question 16: The atomic number of fluorine is:
a. 8
b. 9
, ESTUDYR
c. 10
d. 17
e. 19
Rationale: Fluorine’s atomic number is 9, so it has 9 protons.
Question 17: Anything that occupies space and has mass is termed:
a. Element
b. Energy
c. Matter
d. Force
e. Compound
Rationale: Matter is defined by mass and volume.
Question 18: Tea is an example of a:
a. Element
b. Colloid
c. Pure compound
d. Homogeneous mixture
e. Heterogeneous suspension
Rationale: Tea is uniform in composition (solution).
Question 19: A molecule composed of a metal and a nonmetal atom is typically:
a. Covalent
b. Ionic
c. Metallic
d. Network covalent
e. Radical
Rationale: Metal–nonmetal combinations form ionic bonds.
Question 20: The quantity 8.7 × 10µ g in decimal notation is:
a. 8,700 g
b. 870,000 g
c. 87,000 g
d. 8.70 g
e. 0.87 g
Rationale: ×10µ shifts decimal five places right.
Question 21: On the periodic table, vertical columns are called:
a. Periods
b. Rows
c. Groups
d. Blocks
CHM 1020 - FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
Question 1: The quantity 0.0000064 g expressed in scientific notation is:
a. 6.4 × 10⁻´
b. 6.4 × 10⁻µ
c. 6.4 × 10⁻⁶
d. 0.64 × 10⁻µ
e. 64 × 10⁻¶
Rationale: Move the decimal six places to the right yields 6.4 × 10⁻¶.
Question 2: A substance that can be broken down into two or more simpler substances only by
chemical methods is a(n):
a. Element
b. Mixture
c. Solution
d. Compound
e. Alloy
Rationale: Compounds consist of two or more elements chemically bonded and require chemical
reactions to decompose.
Question 3: Which of the following is not a mixture?
a. Steel
b. Air
c. Salt water
d. Sodium chloride
e. Granite
Rationale: Sodium chloride (table salt) is a pure compound, not a physical mixture.
Question 4: Which substance is an element?
a. HCl
b. NaCl
c. N₂
d. H₂O
e. CO₂
Rationale: N₂ is molecular nitrogen, comprised of two identical atoms of nitrogen.
Question 5: Convert 5.00 inches to centimeters (1 in = 2.54 cm). The result is:
a. 10.2 cm
b. 11.8 cm
c. 12.7 cm
d. 13.5 cm
,ESTUDYR
e. 14.5 cm
Rationale: 5.00 in × 2.54 cm/in = 12.70 cm.
Question 6: Which subatomic particle is located in the nucleus and has a positive charge?
a. Electron
b. Neutron
c. Proton
d. Positron
e. Quark
Rationale: Protons reside in the nucleus and carry a +1 charge.
Question 7: The three pillars of sustainability are:
a. Efficiency, equity, environment
b. Profit, people, planet
c. Environmental, social, economic
d. Technology, policy, finance
e. Conservation, restoration, innovation
Rationale: True sustainability balances environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability.
Question 8: Oxidation–reduction reactions involve changes in the number of:
a. Protons
b. Neutrons
c. Electrons
d. Nuclei
e. Molecules
Rationale: Oxidation is loss of electrons; reduction is gain.
Question 9: A smartphone (113 g) plus a screen protector (27.2 g) plus a case (114 g) weighs:
a. 240.2 g
b. 254.2 g
c. 254.0 g
d. 238.2 g
e. 250.2 g
Rationale: Sum = 113 + 27.2 + 114 = 254.2 g.
Question 10: 2.3 × 10¶ meters expressed in decimal form is:
a. 230,000
b. 2,300,000
c. 23,000,000
d. 0.0023
e. 23,000
Rationale: ×10¶ shifts decimal six places to right.
,ESTUDYR
Question 11: An atom of chlorine-35 contains how many protons and neutrons?
a. 17 p, 17 n
b. 18 p, 17 n
c. 16 p, 19 n
d. 17 p, 18 n
e. 35 p, 0 n
Rationale: Atomic number 17 → protons = 17; mass number 35 → neutrons = 35–17 = 18.
Question 12: In NaCl, the charge on the sodium ion is:
a. –2
b. –1
c. 0
d. +1
e. +2
Rationale: Sodium loses one electron to form Na⁺.
Question 13: Which is a diatomic molecule?
a. Al
b. S₈
c. C
d. H₂
e. NaCl
Rationale: H₂ exists naturally as two-hydrogen-atom molecules.
Question 14: Calculate (3.2 ÷ 0.123) + 45.7 with the correct number of significant figures:
a. 72.1
b. 72.0
c. 72
d. 71.9
e. 72.00
Rationale: Division result has 2 sig figs → 26; +45.7 → 71.7 rounds to 72 (no decimal places).
Question 15: One pillar of sustainability that focuses on equity and quality of life is:
a. Environmental
b. Economic
c. Social
d. Technological
e. Regulatory
Rationale: The social pillar addresses human well-being and community equity.
Question 16: The atomic number of fluorine is:
a. 8
b. 9
, ESTUDYR
c. 10
d. 17
e. 19
Rationale: Fluorine’s atomic number is 9, so it has 9 protons.
Question 17: Anything that occupies space and has mass is termed:
a. Element
b. Energy
c. Matter
d. Force
e. Compound
Rationale: Matter is defined by mass and volume.
Question 18: Tea is an example of a:
a. Element
b. Colloid
c. Pure compound
d. Homogeneous mixture
e. Heterogeneous suspension
Rationale: Tea is uniform in composition (solution).
Question 19: A molecule composed of a metal and a nonmetal atom is typically:
a. Covalent
b. Ionic
c. Metallic
d. Network covalent
e. Radical
Rationale: Metal–nonmetal combinations form ionic bonds.
Question 20: The quantity 8.7 × 10µ g in decimal notation is:
a. 8,700 g
b. 870,000 g
c. 87,000 g
d. 8.70 g
e. 0.87 g
Rationale: ×10µ shifts decimal five places right.
Question 21: On the periodic table, vertical columns are called:
a. Periods
b. Rows
c. Groups
d. Blocks
