High School Chemistry : Phases of Matter

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Phases Of Matter

Which of the following correctly describes a solid?

Possible Answers:

Definite shape, but not definite volume

Neither definite shape, nor definite volume

Definite volume, but not definite shape

Definite volume and definite shape

None of these define a solid

Correct answer:

Definite volume and definite shape

Explanation:

A solid is defined as having a definite shape and definite volume. A liquid is defined as having a definite volume, but not a definite shape. A gas is defined as neither having a definite shape nor a definite volume.

Example Question #1 : Phases Of Matter

Which of the following is a property of a solid?

Possible Answers:

Molecules are held together in fixed positions

Samples of solids have indefinite shapes and volumes

Molecules can freely move past one another

Molecules are not touching one another

Samples of solids have indefinite shapes but definite volumes

Correct answer:

Molecules are held together in fixed positions

Explanation:

Solids are defined as having definite shapes and volumes. The atoms in a solid touch one another and are fixed in rigid positions. Unlike liquids or gases, molecules inside a solid are not able to freely move past one another. Solids will retain their shape even when put in open atmospheres.

Example Question #1 : Phases Of Matter

Which of the following is not a characteristic of solid elemental aluminum?

Possible Answers:

Malleable

High-density metal

Good conductor of heat

Good conductor of electricity

Ductile

Correct answer:

High-density metal

Explanation:

Aluminum is not a high-density metal. You may figure this out by comparing aluminum's density (2.7 g/mL) to the density of other metals. Aluminum is very lightweight compared to other metals, making it ideal for the construction of things like airplanes.

Aluminum is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is ductile, meaning it can be turned into wire, and it is malleable, meaning it can be made into sheets.

Example Question #1 : Solids And Liquids

Which of the following is a property of crystalline solids?

Possible Answers:

Atoms move about randomly

Atoms move about to fill their container

None of these

Atoms are locked together in a repetitive pattern

Correct answer:

Atoms are locked together in a repetitive pattern

Explanation:

A crystalline solid is made up of a repeating pattern of atoms called a crystal lattice. Atoms moving about randomly, and taking the shape of their container are descriptions of fluids (liquids and gasses).

Example Question #1 : Solids And Liquids

Which of the following properties will decrease as a solute is dissolved in a liquid?

Possible Answers:

Temperature

Freezing point

Boiling point

Osmotic pressure

Correct answer:

Freezing point

Explanation:

Dissolving a solute in a solvent increases the number of dissolved particles per mass of solvent. Freezing point depression is a colligative property of solutions, and will decrease as the molality of the solution increases. Boiling point and osmotic pressure increase as the molality of the solution increases. Temperature is unaffected by the dissolution of solutes in a solvent.

Example Question #3 : Phases Of Matter

Which of the following best explains why salt is scattered on icy roads and sidewalks?

Possible Answers:

The salt lowers the boiling point of the ice, making it more likely to sublimate

The salt raises the freezing point of the ice, making it easier to clear or navigate safely

The salt gives extra traction for walkers and drivers

The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, making it easier to clear or navigate safely

Correct answer:

The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, making it easier to clear or navigate safely

Explanation:

The salt decreases the freezing point of the water. Upon addition of salt to icy roads and sidewalks, the ice melts, making it safer to drive and walk. Freezing point depression is a colligative property and depends on the number of dissolved particles, not the type of particles. Thus, sugar would also decrease the freezing point of ice. The amount the freezing point decreases is proportional to the number of dissolved solutes in the solution.

Example Question #1 : Solids And Liquids

Which of the following is a difference between amorphous and crystalline solids?

Possible Answers:

Crystalline solids do not have a repetitive pattern of atoms, amorphous solids do.

Amorphous solids constantly change shape, crystalline solids do not

Amorphous solids do not have a repetitive pattern of atoms, crystalline solids do

Amorphous solids are intermediaries between liquids and true (crystalline) solids

Correct answer:

Amorphous solids do not have a repetitive pattern of atoms, crystalline solids do

Explanation:

Crystals, or crystalline solids consist of repeated, regular pattern of atoms known as a crystal lattice. Amorphous solids do not have a lattice, and consist of a mass of atoms without a repeated pattern.

Example Question #1 : Phases Of Matter

Which of the following statements concerning the properties of solids are true?

Possible Answers:

Solids generally have very strong intermolecular forces

All of these

Solids are incompressible

Solids can either be crystalline or amorphous

Solids have definite shapes and volumes

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

Solids have well defined shapes because their atoms are held tightly together, only allowing localized movement. Because a solid's atoms are so close together, solids are incompressible. There so little space between atoms that they can't get any closer together. The reason a solid's atoms are so close together is they experience strong intermolecular forces, resulting in high stability. Solids can either be crystalline or amorphous in structure. Crystalline structure is regimented and grid-like, while amorphous has no regular, repeating pattern of atoms.

Example Question #4 : Phases Of Matter

Which phase of matter has a definite volume, but no definite shape?

Possible Answers:

Gas

Liquid

Solid

All phases have these qualities

Correct answer:

Liquid

Explanation:

Liquids have a few similar properties to solids. They are not easily compressible and they have a definite constant volume. Unlike solids, however, liquids do not have a definite shape and conform to the structure that contains them. Solids maintain a constant shape.

Gases have no definite shape or volume.

Example Question #1 : Help With Properties Of Liquids

What is the freezing point of three moles of HCl dissolved into 1kg of water?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Freezing point depression refers to the phenomenon that occurs when the freezing point of a solution is decreased due to the presence of ions or molecules. The freezing point depression is given by the formula:

 refers to the van't Hoff factor, which is the number of ions created by dissolving a single molecule of the solute. In this case, the van't Hoff factor is two because HCl will create two ions per molecule in solution.

 referes to the molality, which is the moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. We can rewrite our equation in these terms:

We know all of these terms, allowing us to solve:

This tells us that the freezing point of the solution is 11.16 degrees less than the freezing point of pure water.

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