CHEMISTRY MID-YEAR EXAM MULTIPLE CHOICE REVIEW
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Use the following questions/descriptions to guide your preparation for the 50 Multiple Choice portion of
your mid-term examination:
Quantitative and Measurement Skills (5 questions):
Be able to do an SI conversion (you need to know what the prefixes mean).
Know the definitions of precision and accuracy.
Be able to convert between scientific notation and the regular way of writing numbers (small decimals and
vary large numbers).
Given a measurement, be able correctly determine the number of significant figures (SIG FIGS) in that
measurement.
Given a calculation involving both addition/subtraction and multiplication/division, be able to correctly
determine the number of SIG FIGS in the answer (you don’t have to actually calculate the number answer).
Properties of Matter (6 questions):
Given a series of properties, be able to determine which are physical, and which are chemical.
Be able to distinguish between physical and chemical changes.
Given a list of types of matter, be able to distinguish between pure and impure substances (elements,
compounds, and mixtures).
Given a list of types of mixtures, be able to correctly determine which are homogeneous, and which are
heterogeneous.
Know the different states of matter and their properties: solid, liquid, and gas (vapor) phases.
Atomic Structure and Nuclear Chemistry (12 questions):
Know the characteristics of Dalton’s Early Atomic Theory.
Know, and be able to describe, the Thomson (Plum Pudding) and Rutherford (Gold Foil Experiments lead
to the discovery of the nucleus) models of the atom.
Know the properties of the subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons).
Know Lavoisier’s Law of Conservation of Matter for chemical reactions.
Given a list of pairs of species, be able to determine which pair best illustrates the Law of Multiple
Proportions.
Know how nuclear changes (alpha and beta emission) affect the mass number and the number of protons in
the nucleus of an unstable atom.
Given a radioactive nuclide and its product after decay, be able to determine the type of particle emitted.
Given a half-life, be able to determine how long it will take for a given fraction of the original sample to
remain.
Be able to describe and differentiate between nuclear fission and fusion reactions.
Periodicity and Electronic Structure (8 questions):
Know Mendeleev’s original and Moseley’s modern periodic laws.
Given an element, determine which element of a list is in the same period (horizontal row) or group or
family (vertical column).
Know the general properties of metals, nonmetals, and semimetals (metalloids), so that if you are given the
characteristics of an unknown element you will be able to classify it.
Given a list of elements, be able to identify whether it is a metal, a nonmetal, or a semimetal.
CHEMISTRY MID-YEAR EXAM MULTIPLE CHOICE REVIEW
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Know the valence shell electron configurations of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, groups 13, 14, 15,
16, 17 (halogens), and 18 (noble gases).
Given an element, be able to determine its electron configuration. Given an electron configuration, be able
to determine the element.
Know trends in atomic radius within a group, and within a period.
Know trends in ionization energy within a group, and within a period.
Chemical Bonding, Molecular Shapes, Formula Writing, and Compound Naming (15 questions):
Know how many electrons are shared in single, double, and triple covalent bonds.
Given a list of compounds, be able to determine which among them are ionic or molecular compounds.
Know the usual charges on ions formed from elements in Groups 1, 2, 13, and 17.
Given a compound name and/or formula, be able to determine the number of shared and unshared regions
of concentrated negative charge around the central atom.
Know why atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds.
Given a series of element pairs, be able to determine which pair will form the most polar or least polar
covalent bond based on their locations on the periodic table (you will need to know electronegativity
trends).
Given an element pair, be able to determine the bond type formed (know which types of element pairs will
form ionic, nonpolar covalent, and polar covalent bonds).
Know how VSEPR can be used to determine the shapes of molecules.
Given a molecular compound name, be able to determine its shape (this means that you have to be able to
determine the formula based on the compound name).
Be able to determine hybridization type based on how many regions of concentrated negative charge are
around the central atom in a molecule.
You will be given a series of binary compounds that have individual polar covalent bonds. Use your
knowledge of radial symmetry to determine which of the compounds is either polar overall or nonpolar
overall.
Given a compound formula, be able to name it correctly.
Know the stock (what do the roman numerals represent?) and traditional (when do we use prefixes?)
naming rules for ionic and molecular compounds.
Given a compound name, be able to name it correctly.
Percent Composition, Empirical and Molecular Formulas from Quantitative Analysis (4 questions):
Given mass data of two elements in a compound, be able to determine the percent composition of one of
the elements.
Given an empirical formula an and molar mass, be able to determine the molecular formula of a compound.
Know the relationship between empirical and molecular formulas.
Given a chemical formula, be able to chose a mathematical set-up that can be used to correctly determine
the percent composition of one of the elements in the compound (you don’t actually have to calculate the
percent composition here).