Physical Science EOC Review #1

A group of students is concerned about the planned construction of a nuclear reactor near their town. They research potential problems that might affect the local environment. Which possibility should the students use as an argument against building the power plant?

• The reactor would pollute the air with greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

• The cooling water that is discharged into the river would be radioactive.

• It would provide a less reliable energy source than burning fossil fuels.

• A problem with the cooling system could lead to the release of radiation.

The volume of a weather balloon increases as it rises in the atmosphere. What causes this change?

• an increase in pressure

• the addition of gas particles

• a decrease in pressure

• the removal of gas particles

The compound NF₃ is a colorless, explosive, highly hazardous and toxic gas that is a component of some rocket fuels. Which statement about this compound is correct?

• It is a binary ionic compound.

• Its name is nitrogen trifluoride.

• Its name is sodium triphosphate.

• Based on the periodic table, its formula should be NF₄.

Use a periodic table to determine which two elements have similar chemical properties.

• chromium and tungsten

• platinum and gold

• iron and lead

• calcium and sodium

Which statement BEST describes a difference between the particles in a gas and the particles in a plasma?

• Particles of a gas move freely; particles of a plasma slide past one another.

• Particles of a gas are not charged; particles of a plasma are positively and negatively charged.

• Particles of a gas occupy a definite volume; particles of a plasma have indefinite volume.

• Particles of a gas have high energy; particles of a plasma have low energy.

Which statement BEST explains how two atoms of different elements might have the same mass?

• The atoms have the same number of subatomic particles.

• The atoms have the same number of protons and electrons.

• The atoms have the same number of charged particles in their nucleus.

• The atoms have the same number of subatomic particles in their nucleus.

The equation above shows an example of radioactive decay. Which description BEST matches this equation?

• beta decay of uranium-238

• alpha decay of uranium-238

• beta decay of thorium-234

• alpha decay of thorium-234

Which chemical equation shows mass being conserved?

• 4FeS + 7O₂ → Fe₄O₃ + 4SO₂

• 4FeS + 7O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃ + S₄O₂

• 4FeS + 7O₂ → 4FeO₃ + SO₂

• 4FeS + 7O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃ + 4SO₂

Nitrogen and hydrogen react to produce ammonia.

N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃

Which statement about this reaction is true?

• It is an unbalanced equation.

• It is double displacement reaction.

• The mass of nitrogen and hydrogen equals the mass of ammonia.

• Nitrogen and hydrogen atoms become ammonia atoms when they react.

Which description BEST describes a particle that contains 18 electrons, 24 neutrons, and 20 protons?

• an ion with a charge of 2^-

• an ion with a charge of 2⁺

• an atom with a mass of 38 amu

• an atom with an atomic number of 24