Sample Standardized Test Items for the Gas Laws and Kinetic Molecular
Theory
National Assessment of Educational Progress
Question 1 (molar volume)
A 10-liter sample of CO 2 gas contains the same number of molecules as how many
liters of O 2 gas at the same temperature and pressure?
A.
5 liters
B.
10 liters
C.
20 liters
D.
30 liters
Grade 12
Year: 2000
Type of question: multiple-choice
Difficulty: Hard (36.36% Correct)
Virginia Standard of Learning 2007 Chemistry Released Test Items
Question 2 (partial pressure law)
A mixture of gases with a pressure of 800.0 mm Hg contains 60% nitrogen and 40%
oxygen by volume. What is the partial pressure of oxygen in this mixture?
F 140.0 mm Hg
G 320.0 mm Hg
H 373.0 mm Hg
J 480.0 mm Hg
Question 3 (kinetic molecular theory)
According to the kinetic-molecular theory of gases, molecules of an ideal gas —
F travel in curved lines of motion
G undergo elastic collisions
H are separated by small distances
J have strong forces between them
Question 4 (partial pressure law)
Question 5 (Charles’ Law)
Virginia Standard of Learning 2008 Chemistry Released Test Items
Question 6 (molar volume)
A balloon is filled with 3.8 L of helium gas at STP. Approximately how many moles of
helium are contained in the balloon?
A 0.17 mol
B 0.26 mol
C 72 mol
D 85 mol
Question 7 (Relationship between gas pressure and frequency of collision between gas
particles and the walls of container)
Question 8 (partial pressure law)
The composition of dry air is approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen,
and 1% other gases. What is the partial pressure of nitrogen at standard
atmospheric pressure (101.3 kPa)?
A 21.0 kPa
B 79.0 kPa
C 101.3 kPa
D 760.0 kPa
Question 9 (Boyle’s law)
A gas has a volume of 100.0 mL at a pressure of 600.0 mm Hg. If the temperature is held
constant, what is the volume of the gas at a pressure of 800.0 mm Hg?
F 33.33 mL
G 66.67 mL
H 75.00 mL
J 133.0 mL
Question 10 (Boyle’s law)
Question 11 (partial pressure law)
In a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen gas, 80.0 percent of the total gas pressure is exerted
by the nitrogen. If the total pressure is 2.0 atm, what pressure does the oxygen exert?
F 0.20 atm
G 0.40 atm
H 0.80 atm
J 1.6 atm
Virginia Standard of Learning 2009 Chemistry Released Test Items
Question 12 (molar volume)
What is the volume occupied by 51.0 g of ammonia gas at STP?
F 0.439 L
G 22.8 L
H 67.2 L
J 91.9 L
Question 13 (partial pressure law)
A mixture of gases with a pressure of 800 mm Hg contains 10% oxygen and 90%
nitrogen by volume. What is the partial pressure of the oxygen gas in the mixture?
A 10 mm Hg
B 80 mm Hg
C 700 mm Hg
D 800 mm Hg
Question 14 (Charles’ Law)
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System 2013 Released Test Items
Question 15 (molar volume)
The chemical equation below represents the reaction of 1 mol of hydrogen gas (H 2)with 1 mol of
chlorine gas (Cl2) in a sealed container at STP. The reaction produces 2 mol of hydrogen chloride
gas (HCl) in the sealed container.
What is the pressure in the container at standard temperature after the reaction is complete?
A. 1 atm
B. 2 atm
C. 3 atm
D. 4 atm
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.2 - Perform calculations using the ideal gas law. Understand the molar volume at 273 K
and 1 atmosphere (STP).
Question 16 (gas laws) Some manufacturers place rubber plugs in the bottoms of pressurized
aerosol cans to prevent structural failure if the cans are exposed to excessive heat. The normal
pressure inside an aerosol can is 2.0 atm at 27°C. When the temperature of the gas in the can is
increased to 250°C, the pressure reaches 3.5 atm and the plug pops out.Which of the following
graphs best shows the relationship of pressure to the temperature inside the can?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.1 - Using the kinetic molecular theory, explain the behavior of gases and the
relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's law), volume and temperature (Charles's law),
pressure and temperature (Gay-Lussac's law), and the number of particles in a gas sample
(Avogadro's hypothesis). Use the combined gas law to determine changes in pressure, volume, and
temperature.
Question 17 (Molar volume)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.2 - Perform calculations using the ideal gas law. Understand the molar volume at 273 K
and 1 atmosphere (STP).
The table below provides data about a gas sample.
Volume
1.0 L
Pressure
303.9 kPa
Temperature 323 K
Which of the following can be determined using the data?
A. the chemical composition of the gas
B. the condensation temperature of the gas
C. the number of gas molecules in the sample
D. the distance between gas molecules in the sample
Question 18 (Charles’ Law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.1 - Using the kinetic molecular theory, explain the behavior of gases and the
relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's law), volume and temperature (Charles's law),
pressure and temperature (Gay-Lussac's law), and the number of particles in a gas sample
(Avogadro's hypothesis). Use the combined gas law to determine changes in pressure, volume, and
temperature.
Three identical balloons each contain one mole of gas. One balloon contains oxygen, one contains
nitrogen, and one contains argon. Which of the following changes in volume will happen if the
balloons are placed in a warmer room?
A. The balloon with argon will decrease most in volume because argon is a noble gas.
B. All of the balloons will decrease in volume equally because the temperature increased.
C. The balloon with oxygen will increase most in volume because oxygen has the largest
molecules.
D. All of the balloons will increase in volume equally because they have equal numbers of
molecules.
Question 19 (Ideal gas law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.2 – Perform calculations using the ideal gas law. Understand the molar volume at 273 K
and 1 atmosphere (STP).
A student has 84.0 g of N2 gas in a sealed 500 L container at 20°C. Which of the following
equations should the student use to calculate the gas pressure?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Question 20 (Ideal gas law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.2 - Perform calculations using the ideal gas law. Understand the molar volume at 273 K
and 1 atmosphere (STP).
A walk-in cooler has a volume of 1.1 × 104 L. If the temperature inside the cooler is 3°C and the gas
pressure is 1.0 atm, how many moles of gas are inside the cooler?
A. 4.9 × 10 mol
2
B. 4.5 × 104 mol
C. 2.5 × 105 mol
D. 6.0 × 1023 mol
Question 21 (Ideal gas law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.2 - Perform calculations using the ideal gas law. Understand the molar volume at 273 K
and 1 atmosphere (STP).
A 0.50 L container at 305 K holds a 0.22 g sample of carbon dioxide gas (CO2). Assuming ideal gas
behavior, what is the pressure, in kilopascals, exerted by the gas?
A. 23 kPa
B. 25 kPa
C. 41 kPa
D. 67 kPa
State Average = 54%
Question 22 (Ideal gas law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.1 - Using the kinetic molecular theory, explain the behavior of gases and the
relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's law), volume and temperature (Charles's law),
pressure and temperature (Gay-Lussac's law), and the number of particles in a gas sample
(Avogadro's hypothesis). Use the combined gas law to determine changes in pressure, volume, and
temperature.
A sample of nitrogen (N2) gas in a 10.0 L container has a pressure of 1.0 atm at 297 K. Assuming
ideal gas behavior, what will the pressure be if the same amount of nitrogen gas is put into a 5.0 L
container at 297 K?
A. 0.40 atm
B. 0.50 atm
C. 2.0 atm
D. 2.5 atm
State Average = 54%
Question 23 (Charles’ Law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.1 - Using the kinetic molecular theory, explain the behavior of gases and the
relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's law), volume and temperature (Charles's law),
pressure and temperature (Gay-Lussac's law), and the number of particles in a gas sample
(Avogadro's hypothesis). Use the combined gas law to determine changes in pressure, volume, and
temperature.
The illustrations below represent the expansion of a gas in a cylinder of an engine. The piston
moves as the gas volume changes.
What could have been done to the gas in the cylinder to bring about this change in volume?
A. Half of the molecules were released.
B. The Kelvin temperature was doubled.
C. The condensation rate for the gas was doubled.
D. The amount of heat in the gas was reduced by one half.
State Average = 54%
Question 24 (Ideal gas law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.2 - Perform calculations using the ideal gas law. Understand the molar volume at 273 K
and 1 atmosphere (STP).
The four tanks shown in the diagram below contain compressed nitrogen gas. The temperature of
the gas is the same in each tank.
Which of the tanks contains the greatest number of gas particles?
A. tank 1
B. tank 2
C. tank 3
D. tank 4
Question 25 (Relationship between gas pressure and frequency of collision between gas particles
and the walls of container)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.1 - Using the kinetic molecular theory, explain the behavior of gases and the
relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's law), volume and temperature (Charles's law),
pressure and temperature (Gay-Lussac's law), and the number of particles in a gas sample
(Avogadro's hypothesis). Use the combined gas law to determine changes in pressure, volume, and
temperature.
The diagram below shows gas inside a sealed container before and after force is applied to the
container’s movable piston. The temperature inside the container remains the same after the
force is applied.
Applying force to the piston results in compression of the gas particles and an increase in gas
pressure. Which of the following statements best describes the change in gas particles after
compression?
A. The kinetic energy of the gas particles increases.
B. The kinetic energy of the gas particles decreases.
C. The velocity with which the gas particles hit the container wall increases.
D. The frequency with which the gas particles hit the container wall increases.
Question 26 (Boyle’s law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.1 – Using the kinetic molecular theory, explain the behavior of gases and the
relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle’s law), volume and temperature (Charles’s law),
pressure and temperature (Gay-Lussac’s law), and the number of particles in a gas sample
(Avogadro’s hypothesis). Use the combined gas law to determine changes in pressure, volume, and
temperature.
Which of the following statements explains what happens to the gas inside a balloon as the
external pressure on the balloon decreases and the temperature stays constant?
A. The volume increases.
B. The volume decreases.
C. The molecular speed increases.
D. The molecular speed decreases.
Question 27 (Ideal gas law)
Reporting Category: Properties of Matter and Thermochemistry
Standard: 6.2 - Perform calculations using the ideal gas law. Understand the molar volume at 273 K
and 1 atmosphere (STP).
What is the volume of 0.25 mol of ammonia gas (NH3) at 1.00 atm and 273 K?
A. 0.33 L
B. 5.6 L
C. 95 L
D. 1530 L