Basic Concepts About Matter Chapter 1
Problem-Set Solutions
1.1 All samples of matter have (1) mass and (2) occupy space.
1.2 Chemists are particularly interested in (1) the characteristics of matter, (2) the composition of
matter, and (3) the transformations of matter.
1.3 Copper and a virus are matter because each has mass and occupies space. Magnetism and heat
are forms of energy.
a. energy b. matter c. energy d. matter
1.4 a. matter b. matter c. matter d. energy
1.5 a. Gases have an indefinite volume; liquids have a definite volume.
b. Both liquids and gases have an indefinite shape.
1.6 a. indefinite versus definite shape b. definite volume
1.7 a. Copper wire does not take the shape of its container; yes, it does have a definite volume.
b. Oxygen gas does not have a definite shape nor a definite volume. It takes the shape and
volume of its container.
c. Each granule of sugar has its own definite shape; however, the granules are small, so
the general shape of the mass of crystals does take the shape of the container. Yes,
granulated sugar has a definite volume.
d. Liquid water takes the shape of its container; yes, it has a definite volume.
1.8 a. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
b. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
c. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
d. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
1.9 a. Electrical conductance is a physical property.
b. The state of a substance is a physical property.
c. Reaction with oxygen produces a new substance, so this is a chemical property.
d. A new substance is produced (hydrogen gas), so this is a chemical property.
1.10 a. chemical b. physical c. physical d. physical
1.11 a. Chemical. The key word is “reacting,” which indicates that a new substance is formed.
b. Physical. Red color can be observed without the formation of a new substance.
c. Chemical. The toxicity of beryllium indicates that it produces a change of
substances in the human body.
d. Physical. Pulverizing a substance changes its shape.
1.12 a. physical b. chemical c. physical d. physical
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, 1
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
,2 Problem-Set Solutions Chapter 1
1.13 a. True. Carbon monoxide does reduce the carrying capacity of the blood.
b. False. Carbon monoxide is toxic, but there are other more toxic pollutants.
c. False. Carbon monoxide is colorless and tasteless.
d. True. The iron present in iron ores does react with carbon monoxide.
1.14 a. true b. false c. true d. true
1.15 a. Physical change. The leaf changes shape, but the crushed leaf is not a new substance.
b. Physical change. The metal has changed shape, but it is not a new chemical substance.
c. Chemical change. Burning is always a chemical change because new substances are
formed.
d. Physical change. The ham changes shape, but it is still ham; no new substance is formed.
1.16 a. physical b. chemical c. physical d. physical
1.17 a. Chemical. New substances are produced as the match burns.
b. Physical. A change of state, from liquid to gas in this case, is always a physical change.
c. Chemical. The appearance of the green color indicates that a new substance has been
formed.
d. Physical. A change of state, from liquid to gas in this case, is always a physical change.
1.18 a. chemical b. physical c. chemical d. physical
1.19 a. Physical. Ice and liquid water are the same substance in two different forms.
b. Physical. Crushed ice and ice chips are both forms of water; no new substance is formed.
c. Chemical. Burning a newspaper produces a change in its chemical identity; the gases,
charred paper, etc., formed are new substances.
d. Physical. Pulverizing a sugar cube produces a new shape, but the substance is still sugar.
1.20 a. physical b. chemical c. chemical d. physical
1.21 a. Chemical change. Burning a newspaper produces new substances.
b. Chemical property. Metallic copper reacts with chlorine gas to produce a new substance.
c. Physical change. Ice melting is a change of state. No new substance is produced.
d. Physical property. The state (solid) of a substance (gold) is a physical property.
1.22 a. chemical change b. physical property c. physical change d. physical property
1.23 a. False. A heterogeneous mixture contains two or more substances.
b. True. A pure substance contains only one substance, and so has a definite composition.
c. False. Substances maintain their identity in all mixtures; they are physically mixed, not
chemically combined.
d. True. Most substances in the “everyday world” are mixtures.
1.24 a. true b. false c. true d. false
1.25 a. Heterogeneous mixture. “Two substances” makes this a mixture; “two phases” shows that
it is not uniformly mixed.
b. Homogeneous mixture. “One phase” indicates that the mixture of two substances has
uniform properties throughout.
c. Pure substance. The two phases present represent two forms of a single substance (for
example, ice and liquid water).
d. Heterogeneous mixture. The existence of three substances in three different phases
indicates that the substances are not mixed uniformly.
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated,
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part..
,Problem-Set Solutions Chapter 1 3
1.26 a. homogeneous mixture b. pure substance
c. pure substance d. heterogeneous mixture
1.27 a. Homogeneous mixture, one phase. The word “dissolved” indicates that the sugar is
uniformly distributed throughout the sugar-water mixture.
b. Heterogeneous mixture, two phases. The undissolved sugar is not uniformly mixed with the
sugar solution.
c. Heterogeneous mixture, two phases. The water solution (water, dissolved carbon dioxide
and dissolved sugar) is one phase; the sand is the other phase.
d. Heterogeneous mixture, three phases. The three phases present are ice (solid), liquid water,
and liquid oil. The two liquids are not soluble in one another; they are separate phases.
1.28 a. pure substance, two phases b. heterogeneous mixture, two phases
c. heterogeneous mixture, three phases d. homogeneous mixture, one phase
1.29 a. Compound. A single substance (A) made up of two elements is a compound.
b. Compound. B must contain more than one element to decompose chemically, so it is a
compound.
c. Classification is not possible because not enough information is given.
d. Classification is not possible. Melting is a physical change that both elements and
compounds can undergo.
1.30 a. element b. classification not possible
c. classification not possible d. classification not possible
1.31 a. For A and B, classification is not possible. C is a compound because it contains the
elements in A and B.
b. D is a compound because it breaks down into simpler substances. It is not possible to
classify E, F, and G.
1.32 a. A, compound; B, classification not possible; C, classification not possible
b. D, classification not possible; E, classification not possible; F, classification not possible;
G, classification not possible
1.33 a. True. An element contains one kind of atoms and so is a single pure substance. A
compound has a definite, constant composition, so it is also a pure substance.
b. False. A compound results from the chemical combination of two or more elements.
c. False. In order for matter to be heterogeneous, at least two substances (either elements or
compounds) must be present.
d. False. Both compounds and elements have a definite composition.
1.34 a. true b. false c. true d. false
1.35 a. Compound. A compound is a substance that contains more than one element.
b. Mixture. Two substances are “mixed” together; this is a mixture.
c. Element. A substance that cannot be decomposed by chemical means is an element.
d. Mixture. Since the composition is variable, this is not a compound; it is a mixture.
1.36 a. compound b. mixture c. compound d. compound
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated,
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, 4 Problem-Set Solutions Chapter 1
1.37 a. Homogeneous mixture. The sample is a single phase (homogeneous); when it is boiled
away (evaporated), it reveals that there are two substances (a mixture).
b. Heterogeneous mixture. A “cloudy” mixture is not homogeneous; it has two phases.
c. Heterogeneous mixture. The sample is nonuniform; it is heterogeneous.
d. Compound. The sample is not a mixture; it cannot be separated by physical means. It
reacts with magnesium (an element) to form two compounds containing different elements.
Therefore, the sample contains more than one element; it is a compound.
1.38 a. homogeneous mixture b. element
b. compound d. homogeneous mixture
1.39 a. True. Variable composition is one indication of a mixture.
b. True. The two elements are physically combined and retain their physical properties.
c. False. The elements in a compound are chemically combined and cannot be separated by
physical methods.
d. True. Elements in a compound are chemically combined.
1.40 a. false b. false c. true d. false
1.41 a. True. There are a number of heavier elements that do not occur naturally.
b. False. There are 117 known elements.
c. False. Any elements discovered in the future will be highly unstable and thus not naturally
occurring.
d. False. There are 88 naturally occurring elements.
1.42 a. false b. false c. true d. true
1.43 a. True. Oxygen is the most abundant element and silicon is the second most abundant
element in Earth’s crust.
b. True. Oxygen is the most abundant element in Earth’s crust.
c. False. Hydrogen and helium are the two most abundant elements in the universe as a
whole.
d. True. 60.1% of all elemental particles (atoms) within Earth’s crust are oxygen atoms.
1.44 a. false b. false c. false d. true
1.45 In Earth’s crust:
a. Silicon (20.1%) is more abundant than aluminum (6.1%).
b. Calcium (2.6%) is less abundant than hydrogen (2.9%).
c. Iron (2.2%) is less abundant than oxygen (60.1%).
d. Sodium (2.1%) is more abundant than potassium (<1.5%).
1.46 a. more b. less c. more d. less
1.47 a. True. In terms of mass percent, the body contains more proteins than carbohydrate.
b. False. The two most abundant elements in the human body are hydrogen and oxygen.
c. True. Hydrogen atoms make up more than 60% of the atoms in the human body.
d. False. Proteins are a good source of the element nitrogen; fats are not.
1.48 a. false b. false c. true d. true
1.49 a. Al is the symbol for aluminum. b. Ne is the symbol for neon.
c. Br is the symbol for bromine. d. U is the symbol for uranium.
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated,
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part..
Problem-Set Solutions
1.1 All samples of matter have (1) mass and (2) occupy space.
1.2 Chemists are particularly interested in (1) the characteristics of matter, (2) the composition of
matter, and (3) the transformations of matter.
1.3 Copper and a virus are matter because each has mass and occupies space. Magnetism and heat
are forms of energy.
a. energy b. matter c. energy d. matter
1.4 a. matter b. matter c. matter d. energy
1.5 a. Gases have an indefinite volume; liquids have a definite volume.
b. Both liquids and gases have an indefinite shape.
1.6 a. indefinite versus definite shape b. definite volume
1.7 a. Copper wire does not take the shape of its container; yes, it does have a definite volume.
b. Oxygen gas does not have a definite shape nor a definite volume. It takes the shape and
volume of its container.
c. Each granule of sugar has its own definite shape; however, the granules are small, so
the general shape of the mass of crystals does take the shape of the container. Yes,
granulated sugar has a definite volume.
d. Liquid water takes the shape of its container; yes, it has a definite volume.
1.8 a. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
b. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
c. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
d. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
1.9 a. Electrical conductance is a physical property.
b. The state of a substance is a physical property.
c. Reaction with oxygen produces a new substance, so this is a chemical property.
d. A new substance is produced (hydrogen gas), so this is a chemical property.
1.10 a. chemical b. physical c. physical d. physical
1.11 a. Chemical. The key word is “reacting,” which indicates that a new substance is formed.
b. Physical. Red color can be observed without the formation of a new substance.
c. Chemical. The toxicity of beryllium indicates that it produces a change of
substances in the human body.
d. Physical. Pulverizing a substance changes its shape.
1.12 a. physical b. chemical c. physical d. physical
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, 1
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
,2 Problem-Set Solutions Chapter 1
1.13 a. True. Carbon monoxide does reduce the carrying capacity of the blood.
b. False. Carbon monoxide is toxic, but there are other more toxic pollutants.
c. False. Carbon monoxide is colorless and tasteless.
d. True. The iron present in iron ores does react with carbon monoxide.
1.14 a. true b. false c. true d. true
1.15 a. Physical change. The leaf changes shape, but the crushed leaf is not a new substance.
b. Physical change. The metal has changed shape, but it is not a new chemical substance.
c. Chemical change. Burning is always a chemical change because new substances are
formed.
d. Physical change. The ham changes shape, but it is still ham; no new substance is formed.
1.16 a. physical b. chemical c. physical d. physical
1.17 a. Chemical. New substances are produced as the match burns.
b. Physical. A change of state, from liquid to gas in this case, is always a physical change.
c. Chemical. The appearance of the green color indicates that a new substance has been
formed.
d. Physical. A change of state, from liquid to gas in this case, is always a physical change.
1.18 a. chemical b. physical c. chemical d. physical
1.19 a. Physical. Ice and liquid water are the same substance in two different forms.
b. Physical. Crushed ice and ice chips are both forms of water; no new substance is formed.
c. Chemical. Burning a newspaper produces a change in its chemical identity; the gases,
charred paper, etc., formed are new substances.
d. Physical. Pulverizing a sugar cube produces a new shape, but the substance is still sugar.
1.20 a. physical b. chemical c. chemical d. physical
1.21 a. Chemical change. Burning a newspaper produces new substances.
b. Chemical property. Metallic copper reacts with chlorine gas to produce a new substance.
c. Physical change. Ice melting is a change of state. No new substance is produced.
d. Physical property. The state (solid) of a substance (gold) is a physical property.
1.22 a. chemical change b. physical property c. physical change d. physical property
1.23 a. False. A heterogeneous mixture contains two or more substances.
b. True. A pure substance contains only one substance, and so has a definite composition.
c. False. Substances maintain their identity in all mixtures; they are physically mixed, not
chemically combined.
d. True. Most substances in the “everyday world” are mixtures.
1.24 a. true b. false c. true d. false
1.25 a. Heterogeneous mixture. “Two substances” makes this a mixture; “two phases” shows that
it is not uniformly mixed.
b. Homogeneous mixture. “One phase” indicates that the mixture of two substances has
uniform properties throughout.
c. Pure substance. The two phases present represent two forms of a single substance (for
example, ice and liquid water).
d. Heterogeneous mixture. The existence of three substances in three different phases
indicates that the substances are not mixed uniformly.
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated,
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part..
,Problem-Set Solutions Chapter 1 3
1.26 a. homogeneous mixture b. pure substance
c. pure substance d. heterogeneous mixture
1.27 a. Homogeneous mixture, one phase. The word “dissolved” indicates that the sugar is
uniformly distributed throughout the sugar-water mixture.
b. Heterogeneous mixture, two phases. The undissolved sugar is not uniformly mixed with the
sugar solution.
c. Heterogeneous mixture, two phases. The water solution (water, dissolved carbon dioxide
and dissolved sugar) is one phase; the sand is the other phase.
d. Heterogeneous mixture, three phases. The three phases present are ice (solid), liquid water,
and liquid oil. The two liquids are not soluble in one another; they are separate phases.
1.28 a. pure substance, two phases b. heterogeneous mixture, two phases
c. heterogeneous mixture, three phases d. homogeneous mixture, one phase
1.29 a. Compound. A single substance (A) made up of two elements is a compound.
b. Compound. B must contain more than one element to decompose chemically, so it is a
compound.
c. Classification is not possible because not enough information is given.
d. Classification is not possible. Melting is a physical change that both elements and
compounds can undergo.
1.30 a. element b. classification not possible
c. classification not possible d. classification not possible
1.31 a. For A and B, classification is not possible. C is a compound because it contains the
elements in A and B.
b. D is a compound because it breaks down into simpler substances. It is not possible to
classify E, F, and G.
1.32 a. A, compound; B, classification not possible; C, classification not possible
b. D, classification not possible; E, classification not possible; F, classification not possible;
G, classification not possible
1.33 a. True. An element contains one kind of atoms and so is a single pure substance. A
compound has a definite, constant composition, so it is also a pure substance.
b. False. A compound results from the chemical combination of two or more elements.
c. False. In order for matter to be heterogeneous, at least two substances (either elements or
compounds) must be present.
d. False. Both compounds and elements have a definite composition.
1.34 a. true b. false c. true d. false
1.35 a. Compound. A compound is a substance that contains more than one element.
b. Mixture. Two substances are “mixed” together; this is a mixture.
c. Element. A substance that cannot be decomposed by chemical means is an element.
d. Mixture. Since the composition is variable, this is not a compound; it is a mixture.
1.36 a. compound b. mixture c. compound d. compound
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated,
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, 4 Problem-Set Solutions Chapter 1
1.37 a. Homogeneous mixture. The sample is a single phase (homogeneous); when it is boiled
away (evaporated), it reveals that there are two substances (a mixture).
b. Heterogeneous mixture. A “cloudy” mixture is not homogeneous; it has two phases.
c. Heterogeneous mixture. The sample is nonuniform; it is heterogeneous.
d. Compound. The sample is not a mixture; it cannot be separated by physical means. It
reacts with magnesium (an element) to form two compounds containing different elements.
Therefore, the sample contains more than one element; it is a compound.
1.38 a. homogeneous mixture b. element
b. compound d. homogeneous mixture
1.39 a. True. Variable composition is one indication of a mixture.
b. True. The two elements are physically combined and retain their physical properties.
c. False. The elements in a compound are chemically combined and cannot be separated by
physical methods.
d. True. Elements in a compound are chemically combined.
1.40 a. false b. false c. true d. false
1.41 a. True. There are a number of heavier elements that do not occur naturally.
b. False. There are 117 known elements.
c. False. Any elements discovered in the future will be highly unstable and thus not naturally
occurring.
d. False. There are 88 naturally occurring elements.
1.42 a. false b. false c. true d. true
1.43 a. True. Oxygen is the most abundant element and silicon is the second most abundant
element in Earth’s crust.
b. True. Oxygen is the most abundant element in Earth’s crust.
c. False. Hydrogen and helium are the two most abundant elements in the universe as a
whole.
d. True. 60.1% of all elemental particles (atoms) within Earth’s crust are oxygen atoms.
1.44 a. false b. false c. false d. true
1.45 In Earth’s crust:
a. Silicon (20.1%) is more abundant than aluminum (6.1%).
b. Calcium (2.6%) is less abundant than hydrogen (2.9%).
c. Iron (2.2%) is less abundant than oxygen (60.1%).
d. Sodium (2.1%) is more abundant than potassium (<1.5%).
1.46 a. more b. less c. more d. less
1.47 a. True. In terms of mass percent, the body contains more proteins than carbohydrate.
b. False. The two most abundant elements in the human body are hydrogen and oxygen.
c. True. Hydrogen atoms make up more than 60% of the atoms in the human body.
d. False. Proteins are a good source of the element nitrogen; fats are not.
1.48 a. false b. false c. true d. true
1.49 a. Al is the symbol for aluminum. b. Ne is the symbol for neon.
c. Br is the symbol for bromine. d. U is the symbol for uranium.
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated,
or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part..
