Physical Science Benchmark

1. Kyle drew diagrams of molecules in three different states. (SPS5a)

Which statement is most likely true about the intermolecular attractions between the molecules in Figure 3 compared with Figure 2?

• A. The intermolecular attractions are stronger in Figure 2, which allows the molecules to move around more.

• B. The intermolecular attractions are weaker in Figure 3, which allows the molecules to move around more.

• C. The intermolecular attractions are stronger in Figure 3, which allows the molecules to move around less.

• D. The intermolecular attractions are weaker in Figure 2, which allows the molecules to move around less.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Question # 2. A glass of water is at room temperature in a closed system. What will happen if one ice cube is added to the system? (SPS5a)

• A. Heat will be removed from the system, causing the liquid water to lose some molecular motion but retain its state.

• B. Heat will be removed from the system, causing the liquid water to lose some molecular motion and change state.

• C. Heat will be added to the system, causing the liquid water to gain some molecular motion but retain its state.

• D. Heat will be added to the system, causing the liquid water to gain some molecular motion and change state.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Question # 3 Read the passage about a science experiment that Jacob conducted. (SPS5b)

Jacob took an empty water bottle and put the lid on it. He then put the water bottle into a boiling water bath. After 5 minutes, Jacob removed the bottle and immediately placed it in a cold water bath.

Which of the following best explains what Jacob observed?

• A. The water bottle collapsed because the volume increased as the temperature decreased.

• B. The water bottle collapsed because the volume decreased as the temperature decreased.

• C. The water bottle expanded because the volume increased as the temperature decreased.

• D. The water bottle expanded because the volume decreased as the temperature decreased.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Question #4. Read the passage about Ivory soap. (SPS5b)

Ivory soap floats in water because it is less dense than water. When Ivory soap is put into a microwave oven and cooked for 25 seconds, it will expand and fill up the microwave.

What is the most likely reason the Ivory soap expands when heated?

• A. The particles in the Ivory soap expand when the temperature increases.

• B. The increase in temperature causes a chemical reaction to make more soap.

• C. The air spaces in the soap heat up and cause the soap particles to increase in number.

• D. The volume of gas in the spaces of the Ivory soap expands when the temperature increases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Question # 5. Fernando places 50 mL of HCl in a 100 mL beaker and 50 mL of NaOH in a 100 mL beaker. He places them on a scale together and measures a combined mass of 15.00 grams. Then he mixes the liquids together and waits five minutes while they react. (SPS3a)

After the HCl and NaOH react, Fernando measures the mass again. Using the mass before the reaction in the diagram, what is the mass after the reaction?

• A) 5.00 grams

• B) 10.00 grams

• C) 15.00 grams

• D) 20.00 grams

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Question # 6. The stability of an atom of an isotope is based on the (SPS1a)

• A. ratio of protons and electrons.

• B. ratio of protons and neutrons.

• C. total number of electrons.

• D. total number of neutrons.

Question # 7. Which best describes the atomic number and atomic mass of an element? (SPS1a)

• A. The atomic number identifies the element and represents the number of protons in an atom of the element. The atomic mass is the average mass of all ions of the element.

• B. The atomic number identifies the element and represents the number of protons in an atom of the element. The atomic mass is the average mass of all isotopes of the element.

• C. The atomic number represents the number of protons and neutrons in an atom of the element. The atomic mass identifies the element and represents the average mass of all ions of the element.

• D. The atomic number represents the number of protons and neutrons in an atom of the element. The atomic mass identifies the element and represents the average mass of all isotopes of the element.

Question # 8. The equation below is unbalanced. (SPS3b)

What are the missing coefficients needed to make this equation balanced from left to right?

• A. 1, 2, 3

• B. 1, 2, 2

• C. 2, 4, 3

• D. 2, 1, 2

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Question # 9. Erika made a table to compare and contrast the properties of metals and nonmetals. (SPS1b)

Most Metals Nonmetals

good conductor poor conductor

high melting point low melting point

not malleable malleable

hard not hard

Erika made a mistake in her table. Which best describes the mistake Erika made?

• A. Most metals have low melting points, and most nonmetals have high melting points.

• B. Most metals are poor conductors, and most nonmetals are good conductors.

• C. Most metals are malleable, and most nonmetals are not malleable.

• D. Most metals are not hard, and most nonmetals are hard.

Question # 10. An atom that has one or two valence electrons is most likely to be (SPS1b)

• A. nonreactive.

• B. highly reactive.

• C. reactive only with metals.

• D. nonreactive only with nonmetals.