Physical Science Practice Test 3

The mass of a chlorine atom in atomic mass units is approximately 35. The atom has (A) 35 neutrons. (B) 35 protons. (C) 18 neutrons. (D) 35 electrons. (E) 17 neutrons.

(C) 18 neutrons.

Which of the following processes is closest to an ideal reversible process? (A) Two cars colliding. (B) Using a toaster to make toast. (C) A pendulum swinging with almost no friction. (D) A ripe peach rotting. (E) An ice cube melting in a glass of warm water.

(C) A pendulum swinging with almost no friction.

Use the Periodic Table to decide if S is a metal or a nonmetal. Do the same for O. If these two form a compound, which of the following characteristics will it show at room temperature? (A) Brittle, transparent, electrically non conducting solid. (B) Electrically conducting, metallic alloy. (C) Transparent gas. (D) The elements listed are very unlikely to react with one another. (E) Electrically nonconducting, metallic alloy.

(C) Transparent gas.

In which kind of radioactive decay would the number of protons in the resulting nucleus be more than in the initial nucleus? (A) alpha decay. (B) gamma decay. (C) beta decay. (D) neutron capture. (E) fission.

(C) beta decay.

Listed below are the common names and contents for a number of common substances. Four are compounds, one is not. Which is not a compound? (A) sulfur dioxide, consisting of molecules having one S and two O atoms. (B) hydrochloric acid, consisting of molecules having one H and one Cl atom. (C) sulfur, consisting of molecules having eight S atoms. (D) carbon monoxide, consisting of molecules having one C and one O atom. (E) nitric oxide, consisting of molecules having one N and one O atom.

(C) sulfur, consisting of molecules having eight S atoms.

Which of the following are most chemically similar to Pd? (A) Ar and Al. (B) Rh and Ag. (C) Pt and Zn. (D) Ni and Pt. (E) P and Pb.

(D) Ni and Pt. same column on table

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a metal or alloy? A. Electrically Conductive B. Thermally Conductive C. Malleable D. Brittle

D. Brittle

Which of the following would best describe the room temperature characteristics of ionic substances? A. Electrically conducting alloy. B. Transparent gas. C. A malleable solid. D. Brittle, non-conducting solid with high melting points.

D. Brittle, non-conducting solid with high melting points.

The gasoline engine of an automobile is considerably less than 100% efficient. This means that not all of the energy in the gasoline is turned into kinetic energy of the car. Which of the following best explains why? A. Engineers and scientists have not yet managed to make it more efficient, but there is no scientific reason it cannot be 100% efficient. B. There is too much friction in the engine and the rest of the automobile. If it were not for this friction the efficiency would be 100%. C. All engines (that is electric motors, gasoline engines, steam power generators burning gas or oil, etc) have exactly the same efficiency, which is, of course, less than 100%. D. Some of the chemical potential energy in the gasoline must become ambient thermal energy if the rest is to supply the kinetic energy of the automobile. This means some energy must be wasted. E. Actually the automobile engine is nearly 100% efficient as long as the automobile is traveling on the level. When it climbs up a hill, however, the efficiency drops because of the changing gravitational potential energy

D. Some of the chemical potential energy in the gasoline must become ambient thermal energy if the rest is to supply the kinetic energy of the automobile. This means some energy must be wasted.

What is the charge of iron (Fe) in the compound Fe2O3? A. -3 B. -2 C. +2 D. +3

D. +3

A metal can best be described as which of the following? A. A network solid consisting of individual negatively charged atoms B. A network solid consisting of positively-charged and negatively-charged ions C. A molecular solid consisting of charged atoms D. An ionic solid consisting of covalently-bonded atoms E. A network solid consisting of positively charged atoms in a sea of electrons

E. A network solid consisting of positively charged atoms in a sea of electrons

What happens to the entropy of the universe as the products are formed in an exothermic chemical reaction? A. The total entropy stays the same. B. Thermal energy is converted into electromagnetic energy resulting in a decrease in total entropy. C. Chemical bonds are formed resulting in a decrease in total entropy. D. Chemical potential energy is converted into kinetic energy resulting in a decrease in entropy. E. Chemical potential energy is converted into thermal energy resulting in an increase in entropy.

E. Chemical potential energy is converted into thermal energy resulting in an increase in entropy.

C

The graph below shows energy as a function of time for several different reactions. Which reaction has the highest activation energy?

C

which reaction releases the most energy?

Which of the following correctly describes the ranges of forces between charged nucleons in nuclear physics? "Short distances" refers to distances about the size of the diameter of a nucleon. (A) The strong interaction is about as strong as the electromagnetic interaction at short distances, but becomes much weaker at long distances. (B) The electromagnetic interaction is stronger than the strong interaction at short distances, but weaker at sufficiently long distances. (C) The strong interaction is stronger than the electromagnetic interaction at all distances. (D) The strong interaction is stronger than the electromagnetic interaction at short distances, but the reverse is true at sufficiently long distances. (E) The strong interaction is about as strong as the electromagnetic interaction at short distances, but becomes much stronger at long distances.

(D) The strong interaction is stronger than the electromagnetic interaction at short distances, but the reverse is true at sufficiently long distances.

The primary obstacle to controlled fusion reactions as a source of energy is (A) the scarcity of fuel (deuterium). (B) the danger of long lived radioactive wastes. (C) the danger of a runaway reaction. (D) overcoming the electromagnetic repulsion of particles with like charges. (E) the scarcity of suitable material for control rods.

(D) overcoming the electromagnetic repulsion of particles with like charges.

If the activity of a radioactive substance drops to 1/16 its initial value in 12 hours, its half life is (A) 2 hours. (B) 3 hours. (C) 6 hours. (D) 16 hours. (E) none of these.

3 hours

Sugar is a covalent molecule that is solid at room temperature and dissolves easily in water. What does this information tell us about the molecule? A. Sugar molecules are polar B. Sugar molecules are long straight molecules with no kinks C. Sugar molecules are ionic D. Sugar molecules contain double bonds. E. Sugar contains hydrogen and oxygen just like water

A. Sugar molecules are polar

A refrigerator is normally run with its door closed. What would happen if the refrigerator were placed in the middle of a closed room with its door open and turned on? A. The room would heat up because all of the energy absorbed by the refrigerator, both thermal and electrical potential, is released back into the room as thermal energy. B. The room would heat up because the electrical potential energy loses entropy while the room gains entropy. C. The temperature of the room would stay the same because internal energy is conserved. D. The room would cool down because as the entropy of the electrical potential energy increases, the entropy of the room must decrease to compensate. E. The room would cool down because the electrical potential energy from the outlet decreases the ambient thermal energy in the room.

A. The room would heat up because all of the energy absorbed by the refrigerator, both thermal and electrical potential, is released back into the room as thermal energy.

How do semiconductors change with increasing temperatures? A. When you heat them up, semiconductors act more like metals. B. When you heat them up, semiconductors become better insulators. C. When you heat them up, semiconductors become more transparent.

A. When you heat them up, semiconductors act more like metals.

Which of the following set of properties is most likely those associated with methane, a covalently bonded compound? A. solid at room temperature, opaque, good electrical conductor B. solid at room temperature, transparent, electrical conductor when dissolved in water C. gas at room temperature, colorless, does not conduct electricity when solid

C. gas at room temperature, colorless, does not conduct electricity when solid