AP Chemistry - Problem Drill 02: The Basic Skills in Chemistry
Question No. 1 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
1. SI defines a set of units of measure as a basic set from which all other SI units
are derived from. What is the correct SI unit for mass and what instrument is used
to measure it?
Question
(A) Grams, scale
(B) Grams, balance
(C) Kilograms, scale
(D) Kilograms, balance
A. Incorrect!
Grams are a common unit for mass, but it is not the SI unit. Scale measures
weight (which is gravity dependent), not mass.
B. Incorrect!
Grams are a common unit for mass, but it is not the SI unit.
Feedback
C. Incorrect!
Scale measures weight (which is gravity dependent), not mass.
D. Correct!
Good job! Kilograms is the correct SI unit for mass and it is measured with a
balance.
Grams are a common unit for mass, but it is not the SI unit. Scale measures
weight (which is gravity dependent), not mass.
Kilograms is the correct SI unit for mass and it is measured with a balance.
The correct answer is (D).
Solution
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Question No. 2 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
2. There are a set of metric prefixes or SI prefixes used to form decimal multiples
and submultiples of SI units. What does the prefix “milli-“ stand for?
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
1000
0.1
0.01
0.001
A. Incorrect!
1000 is Kilo-, not milli-.
B. Incorrect
0.1 is Deci-, not milli-.
C. Incorrect!
0.01 is Centi-, not milli-.
Feedback
D. Correct!
Good job! 0.001 is milli-. For example, milligrams or milliliters are 0.001 of their
base units (grams or liters).
Milli- is 0.001. This is one of the most common prefixes used in chemistry, such as
mass and volume.
The correct answer is (D).
Solution
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Question No. 3 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
3. Significant figures are digits of number that are known with certainty. In
experiments, this means the precision of measurements. Take the following
measurement to the correct number of decimal places.
Question
(A) 30 mL
(B) 30.0 mL
(C) 30.00 mL
(D) 3.0 mL
A. Incorrect!
30 mL has too few decimal places.
B. Correct!
Good job! It’s on the “30” line, so add a 0 at the end to indicate it’s on the line. The
significant figures of 3 indicate the precision of the volumetric measurement.
Feedback
C. Incorrect!
30.00 has too many decimal places.
D. Incorrect!
It’s on the “30” line, not the “3” line.
It’s on the “30” line, so add a 0 at the end to indicate it’s on the line.
The correct answer is (B).
Solution
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Question No. 4 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
4. Counting significant figures is mostly about counting the zeros. Some zeros are
significant and some are not, depending on their positions. How many significant
figures are there in 1020 mL?
Question
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
A. Incorrect!
Use the significant digit rule for a number without decimal places.
B. Incorrect!
Use the significant digit rule for a number without decimal places.
Feedback
C. Correct!
Good job! Follow the significant figure rules to count zeros. Zero’s in-between nonzero numbers are significant. Trailing zero’s are significant if there is a decimal
point.
D. Incorrect!
Use the significant digit rule for a number without decimal places.
To be good in counting significant figures, master the rules on counting zeros.
Follow the significant figure rules to count zeros. Zeros in-between non-zero
numbers are significant. Trailing zeros are significant if there is a decimal point.
The correct answer is (C).
Solution
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Question No. 5 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
5. Significant figures show the precision in chemical measurements. The number of
significant figures of 0.00250 is _____.
Question
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
2
3
4
5
A. Incorrect!
Check the significant figures rules on significant and non significant zeros.
B. Correct!
Good job! Leading zeros are never significant and trailing zero’s are significant if
there is a decimal point.
Feedback
C. Incorrect!
Check the significant figures rules on significant and non significant zeros.
D. Incorrect!
Check the significant figures rules on significant and non significant zeros.
Use these two rules:
1. Leading zeros are never significant
2. Trailing zeros are significant if there is a decimal point.
The correct answer is (B).
Solution
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Question No. 6 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
6. In 1799, France adopted the metric system as their units of measurement.
Today it is the universal and neutral system of measurement, especially in science
and engineering. The metric system is _______.
Question
(A) A binary system.
(B) Scientific notation.
(C) A system of measurement based on multiples of 10.
(D) A system to measure lengths.
A. Incorrect!
That is not it. A binary system is typically used in computer science.
B. Incorrect!
Scientific notation is to express the very small or large numbers in exponent of 10,
which has nothing to do with the metric system.
Feedback
C. Correct!
Good job! The metric system is a system of measurement based on the multiples of
10.
D. Incorrect!
It is more than just the measurement of lengths.
This is a measurement system and is based on 10.
The correct answer is (C).
Solution
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Question No. 7 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
7. Volumetric measurement plays a central role in the laboratory. Volume is how
much space an object takes up or the quantity of 3D space occupied by a liquid,
solid or gas. Which of the following is how the volume of a liquid should be read?
Question
(A) From
(B) From
(C) From
(D) From
the
the
the
the
top of the
bottom of
top of the
bottom of
meniscus with a graduated cylinder.
the meniscus with a graduated cylinder.
meniscus with a beaker.
the meniscus with a beaker.
A. Incorrect!
Liquid volumes should be read from the bottom of the meniscus.
B. Correct!
Good job! Liquid volumes should be read from the bottom of the meniscus of a
graduated cylinder.
Feedback
C. Incorrect!
Beakers are not accurate enough to be used to measure volume.
D. Incorrect!
Beakers are not accurate enough to be used to measure volume.
Beakers are not accurate enough to be used to measure volume. Liquids should
always be measured from the bottom of a meniscus in a graduated cylinder.
The correct answer is (B).
Solution
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Question No. 8 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
8. 5000 meters track is a popular running distance which is in the Olympic Games.
How many significant figures it has in 5000?
Question
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
A. Correct!
Good job! All non-zero numbers are significant, but trailing zeros without a decimal
point are insignificant.
B. Incorrect!
The trailing zeros are insignificant unless it has a decimal point.
Feedback
C. Incorrect!
The trailing zeros are insignificant unless it has a decimal point.
D. Incorrect!
The trailing zeros are insignificant unless it has a decimal point.
All non-zero numbers are significant, but trailing zeros without decimal point are
insignificant.
The correct answer is (A).
Solution
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Question No. 9 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
9. Science deals with very small or very large numbers. Scientific notation is based
on powers of the base number 10, in the format of n.nn x 10m. Write out
0.0053030 in scientific notation.
Question
(A) 5.3030 x 10-3
(B) 53.030 x 102
(C) 0.53 x 104
(D) 5 x 103
A. Correct!
Good job! Move the decimal place to the right to create a new number from 1 up to
10 and determine the exponent as the number of time you moved the decimal.
Finally place the number in the correct form for scientific notation. Keep the
significant figures in place unless specified.
B. Incorrect!
The first number n.nn must be between 1 up to 10.
Feedback
C. Incorrect!
The first number n.nn must be between 1 up to 10.
D. Incorrect!
The form is correct but the significant figures are not.
In scientific notation, the digits indicate the number of significant figures in the
number. Without any specification, we must write out the exact precision as the
raw data. In this case, there are five significant figures in the original number.
Therefore, we must keep all five in the converted form. That is 5.3030x10-3.
The correct answer is (A).
Solution
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Question No. 10 of 10
Instructions: (1) Read the problem and answer choices carefully (2) Work the problems on paper as
needed (3) Pick the answer (4) Go back to review the core concept tutorial as needed.
10. Certain units in chemistry are not part of the SI unit but widely used. Which
one is NOT an SI unit?
Question
(A) Volume (L)
(B) Length (m)
(C) Temperature (K)
(D) Pressure (atm)
A. Incorrect!
This is one of the derived SI units.
B. Incorrect!
This is one of the SI units.
C. Incorrect!
This is one of the SI units.
Feedback
D. Correct!
Good job! Indeed, this is a non-SI unit. It is a commonly used unit in chemistry.
The SI unit for pressure is Pascal (Pa = N/m2). 1 atm = 101,325 Pa.
Pressure in atm is not the SI unit. It is a commonly used unit in chemistry. The SI
unit for pressure is Pascal (Pa). 1 atom = 101,325 Pa. Other non-SI pressure units
are torr and mmHg. 1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 760 torr = 760 mm Hg.
The correct answer is (D).
Solution
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