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Questions 1 - 10
1

A researcher analyzes two types of electromagnetic waves. He observes that wave A has a higher amplitude than wave B. What can you conclude about these two waves?

The relative wavelengths and speed cannot be determined without knowledge of the medium through which the wave is traveling.

Wave A has the higher wavelength

Wave B has the higher wavelength

Wave A has the higher speed

Explanation

Amplitude of a wave is defined as the maximum peak of oscillation or vibration. Recall that frequency, wavelength, and speed are not dependent on the amplitude and are calculated using the wave equation:

Here, is the speed of the wave (which is the speed of light for electromagnetic waves), is the frequency, and is the wavelength. Amplitude of a wave is not present in this equation and, therefore, cannot be used to determine relative values of frequency, wavelength, and speed.

2

Which of the following is not an intensive property?

Volume

Temperature

Density

Melting point

Pressure

Explanation

Intensive properties are not dependent on the amount of substance. Melting point, pressure, temperature, and density are some examples of intensive properties. Therefore, volume of a substance is not an example of an intensive property, rather, it is an extensive property which depends on the amount of substance. Some other examples of extensive properties include weight, energy, and electric charge.

3

In an                      reaction, the products are more stable than the reactants; in an                      reaction the reactants are more stable than the products.

exergonic . . . endergonic

endergonic . . . exergonic

endergonic . . . endergonic

exergonic . . . exergonic

Explanation

Exergonic reactions release energy; therefore, the energy of products is lower than that of the reactants. Endergonic reactions consume energy; therefore, the energy of products is greater than that of the reactants. In other words, exergonic reactions are spontaneous, while endergonic reactions are nonspontaneous, and require the net input of energy to drive the reaction.

4

A researcher analyzes two types of electromagnetic waves. He observes that wave A has a higher amplitude than wave B. What can you conclude about these two waves?

The relative wavelengths and speed cannot be determined without knowledge of the medium through which the wave is traveling.

Wave A has the higher wavelength

Wave B has the higher wavelength

Wave A has the higher speed

Explanation

Amplitude of a wave is defined as the maximum peak of oscillation or vibration. Recall that frequency, wavelength, and speed are not dependent on the amplitude and are calculated using the wave equation:

Here, is the speed of the wave (which is the speed of light for electromagnetic waves), is the frequency, and is the wavelength. Amplitude of a wave is not present in this equation and, therefore, cannot be used to determine relative values of frequency, wavelength, and speed.

5

What is the complete ground state electron configuration for the magnesium atom?

1s22s22p63s2

1s22s23s2

1s42p63s2

1s22s22p23s2

1s22s22p63s6

Explanation

Magnesium has an atomic number of 12, so the total number of electrons in its configuration should add up to twelve. The maximum number of electrons in the s subshell is two. Of all the answer choices, only 1s22s22p63s 2 fits the criteria. The sum of the exponent values is 12, matching the atomic number of magnesium, and the number of electrons in the s and p subshells matches the maximum amount possible.

6

A researcher analyzes two types of electromagnetic waves. He observes that wave A has a higher amplitude than wave B. What can you conclude about these two waves?

The relative wavelengths and speed cannot be determined without knowledge of the medium through which the wave is traveling.

Wave A has the higher wavelength

Wave B has the higher wavelength

Wave A has the higher speed

Explanation

Amplitude of a wave is defined as the maximum peak of oscillation or vibration. Recall that frequency, wavelength, and speed are not dependent on the amplitude and are calculated using the wave equation:

Here, is the speed of the wave (which is the speed of light for electromagnetic waves), is the frequency, and is the wavelength. Amplitude of a wave is not present in this equation and, therefore, cannot be used to determine relative values of frequency, wavelength, and speed.

7

In an atom or molecule, why can't two electrons have the same four electronic quantum numbers?

The Pauli Exclusion Principle

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

Harmonic Reaction Orders

Kinetic energy operator

The first law of thermodynamics

Explanation

The Pauli Exclusion Principle explains various phenomena such as the structure of atoms and how different atoms combine to share electrons. When you have two electrons that are located in the same orbital, the quantum numbers n, l and ml are the same. However, ms will be different. Two electrons cannot have the same four electronic quantum numbers because no more than two electrons may occupy an orbital, and if they do, the spin of one must cancel the spin of the other so their spins will have a zero net spin angular momentum.

8

Which of the following trends decreases as you move from left to right on the periodic table?

Atomic radius

Electronegativity

Electron affinity

Ionization energy

Explanation

Although it may seem counterintuitive, atomic radius does decrease from left to right on the periodic table. The reason for this is because the added positive charge in the nucleus causes the elctrons to be pulled more strongly towards the center, which decreases the atomic radius.

9

Which of the following represents the alkaline earth metal with the greatest atomic number?

Explanation

Alkaline earth metals are group II elements; among them, radium has the largest atomic number.

10

Which of the following represents the alkaline earth metal with the greatest atomic number?

Explanation

Alkaline earth metals are group II elements; among them, radium has the largest atomic number.

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