Chemistry Benchmark #1
1. A chemistry class determines that each atom of a
metallic element contains 26 protons and 30
neutrons. When the teacher asks the class what the
element is, half the class says “iron” and half the
class says “zinc.” What is the element?
A. Iron, because iron’s atomic number is 26.
B. Zinc, because zinc’s atomic number is 30.
C. Iron, because the atomic weight of the substance
is 66.
D. Zinc, because the atomic weight of the substance
is 56.
2. The diagram below shows two forms of lithium,
labeled I and II:
4. Shown below is a model of the structure of
atom X.
Which is the atomic number of X?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 12
D. 18
5. Which model best shows the structure of the
atom?
A.
How are forms I and II different?
A. They exist as ions with different oxidation states.
B. They have the same number of protons but
different reactivities.
C. They have different numbers of neutrons and so
exist as isotopes.
D. They have different numbers of electrons and thus
different charges.
3. What is the mass of an atom with 34 protons, 34
electrons, and 45 neutrons?
A. 34 amu
B. 68 amu
C. 79 amu
D. 113 amu
B.
C.
D.
6. If an electron in a hydrogen atom falls from n =
6 to n = 2, what color of visible light will be
emitted?
A. blue
B. green
C. red
D. violet
Chemistry Benchmark #1
7. Which statement describes the differences
between the visible and ultraviolet regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum?
A. The visible region has a lower frequency and
wavelength than the ultraviolet region.
B. The visible region has a higher frequency and
wavelength than the ultraviolet region.
C. The visible region has a higher frequency and a
lower wavelength than the ultraviolet region.
D. The visible region has a lower frequency and a
higher wavelength than the ultraviolet region.
8. How does the Bohr model explain the source of the
light produced by excited atoms?
A. It is the energy absorbed by an electron that
moves from a higher to a lower energy level.
B. It is the energy absorbed by an electron that
moves from a lower to a higher energy level.
C. It is the energy given off by an electron that moves
from a higher to a lower energy level.
D. It is the energy given off by an electron that moves
from a lower to a higher energy level.
9. Which is the order of the electromagnetic spectrum
from lowest to highest frequency?
A. gamma rays, infrared rays, microwaves, X–rays
B. infrared rays, gamma rays, microwaves, X–rays
C. microwaves, infrared rays, X–rays, gamma rays
D. X–rays, gamma rays, infrared rays, microwaves
10. The reaction below represents a decay reaction.
211​
Bi → 207​
​ 81​Tl + ?
83 ​
Which nuclear particle will complete the equation?
A. a proton
B. a neutron
C. a beta particle
D. an alpha particle
11. Which particle is commonly used to initiate a
fission chain reaction?
A. a proton
B. a neutron
C. a beta particle
D. an alpha particle
12. Iodine–131 is a radioactive isotope used in
the treatment of thyroid disorders. A dose of 25.0
mg of iodine–131 is administered to a patient.
Approximately how much of a 25.0 mg sample of
Iodine–131 will remain after 2 half–lives?
A. 3.13 mg
B. 6.25 mg
C. 12.5 mg
D. 25.0 mg
13. Which two elements from the periodic table
will react most similarly to each other?
A. two elements from the same row
B. two elements from the same column
C. two elements that are in neighboring columns
D. two elements on opposite sides of the periodic
table
14. Which of these elements is a metalloid?
A. cobalt
B. fluorine
C. lithium
D. silicon
15. Which atom has the greatest atomic radius?
A. aluminum
B. magnesium
C. sodium
D. sulfur
Chemistry Benchmark #1
16. The table compares the ionization energies of four
elements in the same period and shows the resulting
change in radius for each.
20. Which correctly names the chemical formula,
Fe​2​(SO​4​)​3​?
A. iron sulfide
B. iron sulfate
C. iron(II) sulfate
D. iron(III) sulfate
21. What is the formula for the compound
vanadium(VI) phosphate?
Which element is most likely an alkali metal?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
22. Which formula has a name that includes
“trioxide”?
17. Which represents the electron configuration for a
noble gas?
A. 1s​2​2s​2​2p​6​3s​2​3p​6​4s​2​3d​7
B. 1s​2​2s​2​2p​6​3s​2​3p​6​4s​2​3d​10​4p​4
C. 1s​2​2s​2​2p​6​3s​2​3p​6​4s​2​3d​10​4p​6​5s​2​4d​3
D. 1s​2​2s​2​2p​6​3s​2​3p​6​4s​2​3d​10​4p​6​5s​2​4d​10​5p​6
18. The configuration below represents an element.
1s​2​2s​2​2p​6​3s​2​3p​6​4s​2​3d​10​4p​5
Which element is being represented?
A. arsenic
B. bromine
C. germanium
D. krypton
19. Which of these elements has the most d electrons
in its outermost shell?
A. chromium
B. iron
C. scandium
D. zinc
A. V(PO​4​)​2
B. V​3​(PO​4​)​6
C. V​2​PO​4
D. V​6​PO​4
A. SO​3
B. Al​2​O​3
C. Fe​2​O​3
D. NaNO​3
23. Which name is given to the compound with
the chemical formula CuCl2?
A. Copper(II) chloride
B. Copper(IV) chloride
C. Cupric(IV) dichloride
D. Cuprous(IV) dichloride
24. Which is the chemical formula for magnesium
phosphate?
A. MgPO​4
B. Mg​3​PO​4
C. Mg(PO​4​)​3
D. Mg​3​(PO​4​)​2
25. Which chemical formula is written correctly?
A. Al​2​SO​4
B. MgNO​3
C. (NH​4​)​3​CO​3
D. Ca(C​2​H​3​O​2​)​2
Chemistry Benchmark #1
26. An atom of an element with atomic number 48
and mass number 120 contains:
31. What is the volume of 60.0 g of ether if the
density of ether is 0.70 g/mL?
A. 48 protons, 48 electrons, and 72 neutrons
B. 72 protons, 48 electrons, and 48 neutrons
C. 120 protons, 48 electrons, and 72 neutrons
D. 72 protons, 72 electrons, and 48 neutrons
A. 86 mL
B. 1.2 x 10​-2​ mL
C. 2.4 x 10​-2​ mL
D. 42 mL
27. According to the equation:
32. Chlorine boils at 239 K. What is the boiling
point of chlorine expressed in degrees Celsius?
X → 208​
​ 82​ Pb + 4​​ 2​He
The nucleus correctly represented by X is
A. 204​
​ 80​ Hg
B. 212​
​ 84​ Po
C. 204​
​ 80​ Bi
D. 212​
​ 84​ Pb
28. A radioactive element has a half-life of 2 days.
Which fraction represents the amount of an original
sample of this element remaining after 6 days?
A. 1/2
B. 1/3
C. 1/4
D. 1/8
29. If an electron in a hydrogen atom falls from n = 2
to n = 1, what type of electromagnetic radiation will be
emitted?
A. infrared
B. visible
C. ultraviolet
D. X-ray
30. How many milligrams are in 2.5 kg?
A. 2.5 x 10​-4​ mg
B. 2.5 x 10​1​ mg
C. 2.5 x 10​2​ mg
D. 2.5 x 10​6​ mg
A. 93°C
B. 34°C
C. -61°C
D. -34°C
33. Which is an example of a chemical change?
A. sugar dissolving in water
B. water boiling when heated
C. iron rusting from oxidation
D. gallium melting in the palm of a person’s hand
34. Which statement indicates a chemical
property?
A. Magnesium has a silver color.
B. The boiling point of alcohol is 89.3°F.
C. Sodium metal reacts violently with water.
D. Water is found in three phases: solid, liquid,
and gas.
35. Which process is a chemical change?
A. boiling water
B. melting snow
C. shredding paper
D. burning a matchstick
Chemistry Benchmark #1
35. The diagram represents a reaction that occurs
between concentrated sulfuric acid and table sugar.
Based on the diagram, how is it evident that a
chemical reaction is occurring?
A. The sugar has dissolved in the sulfuric acid.
B. A precipitate formed in the bottom of the beaker.
C. The temperature of the test tube has decreased
greatly.
D. The steam given off indicates that a gas is being
released.
Chemistry Benchmark #1
Answer Key
Question
Answer
Standard
1
A
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.1
2
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.1
3
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.1
4
B
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.1
5
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.2
6
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.3
7
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.3
8
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.3
9
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.4
10
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.4
11
B
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.4
12
B
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.4
13
B
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.3.1
14
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.3.1
15
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.3.2
16
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.3.2
17
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.3.3
18
B
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.3.3
19
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.3.3
20
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.2.4
21
A
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.2.4
22
A
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.2.4
23
A
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.2.4
Chemistry Benchmark #1
24
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.2.4
25
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.2.4
26
A
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.1
27
B
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.4
28
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.4
29
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.1.1.3
30
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
31
A
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
32
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
33
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.2.2.2
34
C
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.2.2.2
35
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.2.2.2
36
D
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.2.2.2
37
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
38
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
39
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
40
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
41
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
42
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
43
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
44
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.
45
NCES.9_12.SC.CH.