Changes In States of Matter Multiple Choice
Which is an example of a physical change?
Ice melting
Iron rusting
Mixing baking soda and sugar
Baking a cake
Rationale:
Ice melting is an example of a physical change.
When ice melts, it changes physically from a solid to a liquid, but the matter itself does not chemically change.
A physical change is reversible, and a new substance is not created. Ice can be melted into water, and water can refreeze into ice, making it reversible. The form of the matter may change, but the substance itself is not modified in a physical change—only the physical components, such as size and shape. In a chemical change, the change is typically irreversible. Chemical reactions and new products occur in chemical changes.
This question asks for an example of a physical change. The correct answer is “ice melting.” The other answers do not make sense because:
Iron rusting is a chemical change
Mixing baking soda and sugar is a chemical change
Baking a cake is a chemical change
What is it called when a solid turns directly into a gas?
Evaporation
Sublimation
Freezing
Melting
Rationale:
Sublimation happens when a solid turns directly into a gas.
Sublimation is a change in a state of matter or a transition phase.
There are several transition phases in chemistry, including melting, freezing, evaporating, condensing, sublimation, and deposition.
This question asks for the transition phase that turns a solid to a gas. “Sublimation” is the correct answer because:
Evaporation is the transition liquid to gas
Freezing is the transition from liquid to solid
Melting is the transition from solid to liquid
Which is not a characteristic of a liquid?
Tightly packed particles with defined shape
Not compressible
Particles can slide past one another
Particles are close together and have no regular order/arrangement
Rationale:
Liquids have a definite volume and are made up of particles that are close together with no regular pattern or arrangement.
Liquid particles tend to have weak intermolecular forces.
Liquids cannot be compressed, and do not have a definite shape. They will conform to the container that they are in.
This question asks the student to identify which answer choice is NOT a characteristic of a liquid. The correct answer is “tightly packed particles with defined shape” because:
Not compressible is a characteristic of liquid
Particles can slide past one another is a characteristic of liquid
Particles are close together and have no regular order/arrangement is a characteristic of liquid
An example of plasma is __________.
ice
magma
lightning
steel
Rationale:
Lightning is an example of plasma.
Plasma is not as common as the other stages of matter.
Plasma is an ionized gas that has no definite shape and is less dense than solids or liquids. Plasma is made of charged particles; therefore, unlike a regular gas, it can conduct electricity and produce magnetic fields. Plasma is found in stars, lightning, solar winds, and even in neon signs.
The boiling point of water is ________.
32 degrees F
0 degrees C
56 degrees C
212 degrees F
Rationale:
The boiling point of water is 212 degrees F.
The boiling point for water is 212 degrees F at sea level. As the barometric pressure changes, so does the boiling point. However, for the TEAS, know that conventionally the boiling point of water is 212 degrees F.
The question asks for the boiling point of water, and the correct answer is “212 degrees F” because:
0 degrees C is 32 degrees F, which is the freezing point of water
56 degrees C is 132.8 degrees F, which is not hot enough to boil water
32 degrees F is the freezing point of water
Which state of matter has a definite shape and volume with particles that are closely packed together with little to no movement?
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Plasma
Rationale:
Solids have a definite shape and tightly packed particles.
Solids have strong intermolecular forces and a high density. Solids do not conform to the shape of the container they are in.
Solids have a definite volume in addition to a definite shape. They are not compressible and have a low kinetic energy.
This question asks the student to identify which state of matter describes a definite shape and particles that are closely packed together with little to no movement. The correct answer choice is “solid” because:
Liquids have indefinite shape and particles that are close together but can move around each other
Gases have indefinite shape, and the particles can move about freely
Plasma is a type of gas, so it is also able to move about freely with no defined shape
Which is an example of a chemical change?
Melting butter
Freezing ice
Souring milk
Water evaporating
Rationale:
Souring milk is an example of a chemical change.
During a chemical change, substances are changed into a new substance, whereas in a physical change the substance may look different, while the chemical makeup stays the same.
Signs of chemical changes include color changes, energy being produced or absorbed, and odor.
This question asks for the answer choice that is an example of a physical change. “Souring milk” is the correct answer because:
Melting butter is a physical change
Freezing ice is a physical change
Water evaporating is a physical change
Which state of matter has randomly arranged particles that move freely, and has no fixed shape or definite volume?
Gas
Liquid
Solid
Energy
Rationale:
Gases are made up of randomly arranged particles that can move about freely with no fixed shape.
Gases are easily compressed, and they can expand to fill the container that they are in.
Gases have no definite volume or definite shape. Gas particles also have a high kinetic energy.
This question wants to know which state of matter has particles that are randomly arranged and move freely with no definite shape or volume. The correct answer is “gas” because:
Liquids have a definite volume, but gases do not.
Solids have particles that are closely packed together with a definite shape and volume.
Energy is not a state of matter.
Which of the following is not an example of a phase change in matter?
Freezing
Melting
Mixing
Evaporating
Rationale:
Mixing is not a phase change.
Mixing refers to combining two or more substances, which are physically mixed but not chemically combined.
Phase changes happen when matter shifts from one form to another. Freezing, evaporating, melting, and boiling are examples of phase changes.
This question asks which of the choices is not an example of a phase change. The correct answer is “mixing” because:
Freezing is a phase change
Melting is a phase change
Evaporating is a phase change
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees F, water will _______.
freeze
boil
evaporate
sublimate
Rationale:
The freezing point of water is 32 degrees F.
When the temperature of water is 32 degrees F or lower, the water will begin to freeze into ice.
When water gets colder than 32 degrees F, the water molecules lose energy and become locked into place, or frozen.
This question asks for the answer choice that best explains what water will do when the temperature drops below 32 degrees F. “Freeze” is the correct answer because:
The boiling point of water is 212 degrees F
Water does not evaporate when the temperature is 32 degrees F or lower. When water evaporates, it turns from liquid to vapor
Sublimation occurs when a solid goes directly to the gas stage, skipping over the liquid stage
Which law states that mass in a closed system is neither created or destroyed over time?
Law of Conservation of Mass
Law of Attraction
Boyle’s Law
Pascal’s Law
Rationale:
The Law of Conservation of Mass states that mass in a closed system will not be created or destroyed over time by physical nor chemical changes.
The Law of Conservation of Mass also states that the mass of products in a reaction must equal the mass of the reactants.
This question asks for the law that describes mass in a closed system that cannot be created or destroyed over time. “The Law of Conservation of Mass” is correct because:
Law of Attraction is a philosophical concept
Boyle’s Law states that the pressure and volume of gas have an inverse relationship when the temperature is constant
Pascal’s Law relates to fluid pressure
__________ is defined as anything that has mass and takes up space.
Density
Malleability
Matter
Metal
Rationale:
Matter can be defined as anything that has mass and takes up space.
There are multiple phases of matter: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.
This question asks for the answer choice that is defined as anything that has mass and takes up space. The correct answer is “matter” because:
Density is a relationship between mass and volume
Malleability is the ability of an object to be shaped without breaking
Metal is a solid, which is a form of matter
Which is the formula for density?
D = m/v
D = v/m
D = vm
D = m + v
Rationale:
The formula for density is D = m/v.
Density is a ratio or relationship between mass and volume. Density can be defined as mass per unit of volume.
To find the density of something, you need to divide the mass by the volume.
The question asks for the formula of density; “D = m/v” is correct. The others do not make sense because density is mass divided by volume.
Danielle finds a rock with a mass of 45 g and a volume of 15 cm3. What is the density of the rock?
675 g/cm3
0.33 g/cm3
3.0 g/cm3
60 g/cm3
Rationale:
The density of the rock is 3.0 g/cm3.
Density is a ratio or relationship between mass and volume. Density can be defined as mass per unit of volume.
To find the density of Danielle’s rock, she would do mass divided by volume. 45 divided by 15 equals 3.0 g/cm3.
This question asks for the density of Danielle’s rock. The correct answer is 3.0 g/cm3 because:
675 g/cm3 does not equal 45/15
.33 g/cm3 does not equal 45/15
60 g/cm3 does not equal 45/15
What is the density of water?
10 g/cm3
100 g/cm3
11 g/cm3
1 g/cm3
Rationale:
The density of water is 1 g/cm3.
Density equals mass divided by volume.
Density is a ratio or relationship between mass and volume. Density can be defined as mass per unit of volume.
This question asks for the density of water. 1 g/cm3 is the correct answer because:
10 g/cm3 does not equal the density of water
100 g/cm3 does not equal the density of water
11 g/cm3 does not equal the density of water