Multiple choice test on 1.

1
Introduction to the particulate nature of
matter and chemical change
Use the following 'quiz' to test your knowledge and understanding of this sub-topic. You will need access to a
periodic table (Section 6 of the IB data booklet).

Which equation correctly describes the reaction that occurs when sodium metal is added to water at room
temperature?

A. 2Na(s) + 2H2O(aq) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

B. 2Na(s) + 2H2O(aq) → 2NaOH(s) + H2(g)

C. Na(s) + H2O(l) → NaOH(s) + H2(g)

D. 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

The equation must be correct stoichiometrically (i.e. balanced). The equation must also have the correct
state symbols. Sodium is a solid, water is a pure substance (so is a liquid at room temperature), sodium
hydroxide is in aqueous solution and hydrogen is a gas.

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Which of the following are homogenous mixtures?

I. solid steel

II. an aqueous solution of salt

III. molten salt

A. II and III only

B. I, II and III

C. I and III only

D. I and II only

For a mixture to be homogeneous there must be no clear boundary between the phases of the individual
components. Molten salt is a pure substance so is not a mixture. Steel is an alloy so contains carbon (and
other metals) as well as iron so both I and II are mixtures and exist in a single phase and so are
homogeneous.

Sodium is a metal and chlorine is a green non-metal. They react together to form sodium chloride, NaCl. What
can be deduced correctly about the physical properties of solid sodium chloride?

A. It will be green.

B. It will conduct electricity .

C. Its melting point will be different to the melting points of sodium and chlorine.

D. It will be a semi-metal (metalloid).

Sodium chloride is a compounds formed from two elements. Compounds have different properties to the
elements from which they are derived. Semi-metals (such as silicon and germanium) are elements not
compounds.

4
Which of the following is an element?

A. methane

B. ozone

C. ice

D. air

If you are an ancient Greek then air and ice (water) would be acceptable answers, but chemical elements
must consist of atoms which all contain the same number of protons (i.e. identical atoms if we ignore the
concept of isotopes). Air is a homogeneous mixture of different gases, ice (water) is a compound of
hydrogen and oxygen and methane is a compound of carbon and hydrogen. Ozone, O3 is an allotrope of
oxygen but it only contains oxygen atoms so it is an element.

Which mixture can best be separated into its separate components by using chromatography?

A. air

B. black ink

C. sea-water

D. sodium hydroxide solution

Simple paper chromatography can be used to separate the different colours found in black ink. Air is best
separated by fractional distillation, and both sea water and sodium hydroxide solution by distillation.

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Which reaction involves precipitation?

A. NaOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → Na2SO4(aq) + H2O(l)

B. Fe(s) + S(s) → FeS(s)

C. CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

D. AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

For precipitation to occur a solid must be formed from a solution. Only two of the equations have solid
products and only in one of them is the solid formed from solution.

What is the sum of all the coefficients when the equation for the combustion of ethanol is balanced using the
smallest possible whole numbers?

−C2H5OH(l) + −O2(g) → −CO2(g) + −H2O(l)

A. 19

B. 8

C. 9.5

D. 9

The correctly balanced equation is C2H5OH(l) + 3O2(g) → 2CO2(g) + 3H2O(l) which gives a total of 9.

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Argon, carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen are all present in air. What is the order in which the gases will be
formed when liquid air is slowly warmed?

Gas Boiling point / oC

Ar − 186

CO2 − 78
O2 − 183
N2 − 196

A. N2 > Ar > O2 > CO2

B. N2 > O2 > Ar > CO2

C. CO2 > Ar > O2 > N2

D. CO2 > O2 > Ar > N2

The liquid with the lowest boiling point will be the first to form a gas so nitrogen gas will be formed first and
carbon dioxide last. The boiling point of argon is lower than oxygen so argon will vaporise before oxygen.

At high altitude snow can sublime. Which statement correctly describes this process?

A. Snow turns directly into water vapour.

B. Snow turns into liquid water.

C. Snow forms hard ice.

D. Snow turns into liquid water which then turns into water vapour.

Sublimation occurs when a solid turns directly into a gas.

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Which is the correct order for the coefficients in the balanced equation for the reaction between ammonia and
oxygen to form nitrogen oxide and water

−NH3(g) + −O2(g) → −NO(g) + −H2O(g) ?

A. 4, 5, 4, 6

B. 2, 3, 2, 3

C. 4, 7, 4, 6

D. 2, 2, 2, 3

The correctly balanced equation is 4NH3(g) + 5O2(g) → 4NO(g) + 6H2O(g)