Module 1 – Basic Concepts Name:

Study Guide for Module 1 – Basic Concepts

Reading assignment in Chemistry, 10th edition by Zumdahl

Chapter 1 (ALL)
Learning goals for Module 1:
1. Basics (chemistry, scientific method, law, hypothesis)
2. States of matter
3. Classification of matter and changes
4. The states of elements under normal conditions (room temperature and pressure)
5. Scientific notation, using the calculator to manipulate numbers in scientific notation
6. Units of measurement and equivalences
✓ 7. Uncertainty, significant figures, and the use of significant figures to round off
✓ 8. Dimensional analysis
✓ 9. Density
✓ 10. Conversion among the common temperature scales

Note: ✓ indicates problems to be stressed on drill quizzes and exams.

1) Basics

1a) Define Chemistry (The science that deals with the composition and properties of substances and the
reactions by which one substance is converted into another.)

1b) “Scientific method” is a term used to broadly describe the processes by which scientists study different
phenomena and gain new knowledge. What are three basic steps that could describe how scientists use
this method?

1.

2.

3.

1c) Define hypothesis

1d) Define theory

1e) Define law (sometimes called a “scientific law”)

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1) Basics
1f) How are scientific theories different from scientific laws?

1g) What is a scientific model?

1h) Identify each of the following as a hypothesis, theory, or law

A. When a chemical reaction takes place, mass is neither created nor destroyed.

B. Automobile emissions are the primary cause of the global warming trend that has been observed
over the last several decades.

C. An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.

D. All matter is composed of small units called atoms.

E. A patient taking an experimental medication for leg pain has noticed that his blood pressure has
been increasing. The pain medication is the cause of his elevated blood pressure.

2) States of matter

2a) Define matter

2b) Define mass

2c) List the three states of matter and give the indicated characteristics of each by completing the following
table.
State: State: State:

Shape/Volume: Shape/Volume: Shape/Volume:

Ability to flow: Ability to flow: Ability to flow:

Compressibility: Compressibility: Compressibility:

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3) Classification of matter and changes

3a) Define element

3b) Define compound

3c) Explain the difference between a mixture and a pure substance

3d) Define homogeneous mixture

3e) Define heterogeneous mixture

3f) Write the chemical symbol for the elements listed below.

− hydrogen − helium − lithium − beryllium − boron

− nitrogen − oxygen − fluorine − neon − sodium

− aluminum − phosphorus − silicon − sulfur − chlorine

− potassium − calcium − scandium − titanium − vanadium

− manganese − iron − cobalt − nickel − copper

− gallium − germanium − arsenic − selenium − bromine

− rubidium − strontium − silver − cadmium − gold

− indium − tin − antimony − tellurium − iodine

− cesium − barium − lanthanum − francium − radium

− thallium − lead − bismuth − polonium − astatine

− radon − actinium − xenon − mercury − krypton

− carbon − magnesium − argon − chromium − zinc

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3) Classification of matter and changes

3g) Give the name for the elements whose symbols are indicated.

−H − He − Li − Be −B

−C −N −O −F − Ne

−S − Cl − Ar −K − Ca

− Sc − Ti −V − Cr − Mn

− Fe − Co − Ni − Cu − Zn

− Ga − Ge − As − Se − Br

− Kr − Rb − Sr − Ac − Zr

− Pd − Ag − Cd − In − Sn

− Sb − Te −I − Xe − Cs

− Ba − La − Pt − Au − Hg

3h) Define physical change

3i) Define chemical change

3j) Classify each of the following as a physical change or a chemical change.

A. Sucrose is dissolved in water

B. A cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol dries very quickly when left open in air

C. Propane burns in air to form carbon dioxide and water

D. Solid sodium and gaseous chlorine combine to form solid sodium chloride

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4) The states of elements under normal conditions (room temperature and pressure)

4a) Define atom

4b) Define molecule

4c) List the elements that appear as diatomic species under normal conditions (H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2).

4d) List the elements that are gaseous under normal conditions. (H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn)

4e) List the elements that are liquid under normal conditions. (Hg and Br2)

5) Scientific notation, using the calculator to manipulate numbers in scientific notation

5a) Write the numbers indicated in scientific notation.

Number Number in scientific notation Number Number in scientific notation
S. 0.0541 5.41*10-2 90.2*102 9.02*103
0.00023 2.3*10-4 823*102 8.23*104
A. 80.2 102*10-4
0.00043 581*10-9
B. 0.0072 8743
0.00172 38*10-5
C. 0.00022 4326
0.0000473 101*10-8
5b) Perform the indicated calculation. Show the first three digits and the power of 10 in your answer.

S. (1.86*10-3)*(8.77*10-9) 1.63*10-11
A. (4.11*103)*(7.21*10-6)
B. (7.45*10-6)*(4.32*10-3)
C. (1.22*102)*(8.05*103)
D. (5.56*10-3)/(4.80*104)

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6) Units of measure and equivalents

6a) List the two parts of a measurement

6b) Designate the numerical equivalent of the following metric prefixes.

kilo milli centi

pico mega nano

6c) Complete each of the following equivalences.(1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 lb = 454 g, 1 mile = 5280 ft, 1 cm3 = 1 mL,
density of water = 1.0 g/mL)

1 in = _______ cm 1 lb = _______ g 1 mile = _______ ft

1 cm3 = _______mL density of water = _______ g/mL

7) ✓✓✓ Uncertainty, Significant Figures, and the Use of Significant Figures to Round Off

7a) State the rules for rounding off numbers. (If the portion to be dropped is greater than or equal to five,
round up. If it is less than five, leave it alone.)

7b) Round off one digit from each of the following numbers using the rules above.

Number Number rounded off Number Number rounded off

S. 0.0075 0.008 8745 8750 or 8.75*103

0.00172 0.0017 308*10-5 3.1*10-3

A. 0.00325 786

0.00217 239*10-3

B. 0.0256 4732

0.0475 489*10-4

C. 0.02765 4435

0.00198 412*10-1

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7c) Uncertainty: Significant Digits

It is important that we indicate the uncertainty in measured numbers. One way of doing so is to count the
number of significant digits (or significant figures). Define significant digits.

7d) It is easy to determine the number of significant digits in a number that has only nonzero digits because,
by convention, all nonzero digits in a number are always significant. When a number contains zeros,
however, it is not quite so easy because zeros may or may not be significant depending on their placement
in the number. There are three rules for determining whether or not zeros in a number are significant.
State them.

Rule 1: Zeros to the left of nonzero digits:

Rule 2: Zeros between nonzero digits:

Rule 3: Zeros to the right of nonzero digits:

7e) In terms of uncertainty, explain how the measurement 25 cm is different from 25.00 cm.

7f) Indicate the number of significant figures in each of the following numbers

Number Number of significant figures Number Number of significant figures

S. 0.0075 2 8745 4
0.00172 3 308*10-5 3
A. 0.0000325 7.90
0.027 239*10-3
B. 0.0206 4732
0.000045 489*10-4
C. 0.000005 4.04
0.00098 42*10-1
D. 10.0 213
*200 3.05*10-2
*As written (with no decimal point) this number has only one significant figure. However, if the intent is for
it to have two or three significant figures, it would be best to rewrite it in appropriate scientific notation.
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7g) Determining the uncertainty in numbers obtained by multiplying or dividing

State the rule used to determine the uncertainty in answers obtained by multiplying or dividing
measurements.

7h) Indicate the number of significant digits in each of the given numbers and then use this information to
round off the result obtained by multiplying the two or dividing one by the other.

Number Significant Figures in Number Number Significant Figures in Number

S. 0.00541 3 9.1 x 10-1 2
Multiply the two numbers above and round off using the rule in g.
R
(0.00541)*(9.1*10 ) = 0.0049231 = 0.0049 = 4.9*10-3
-1
A. 0.0023 8.23 x 102
Multiply the two numbers above and round off using the rule in g.

B. 8.02 1.2 x 102

Divide the first of the two numbers above by the second and round off using the rule in g.

C. 8.020 5.81 x 102

Multiply the two numbers above and round off using the rule in g.

D. 0.0072 9.346 x 102

Divide the first of the two numbers above by the second and round off using the rule in g.

E. 0.0732 4.3 x 10-4

Divide the first of the two numbers above by the second and round off using the rule in g.

F. 0.123 4.33 x 103

Divide the first of the two numbers above by the second and round off using the rule in g.

7i) Determining the uncertainty in numbers obtained by adding or subtracting

State the rule used to determine the uncertainty in answers obtained by adding or subtracting
measurements.

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7j) Indicate the absolute uncertainty in each of the given numbers and then use this information to round off
the result obtained by adding the two or subtracting one from the other.
Number Absolute Uncertainty in Number Absolute Uncertainty in Number
Number
S. 0.00541 ±0.00001 0.0023 ±0.0001
Add the two numbers above and round off using the rule in i.
0.00541
+ 0.0023 R
= 0.00771 = 0.0077

A. 0.0023 0.822
Subtract the first of the two numbers above from the second and round off using the rule in i.

B. 8.02 121
Add the two numbers above and round off using the rule in i.

C. 3.020 0.23
Add the two numbers above and round off using the rule in i.

D. 0.0072 0.09333
Subtract the first of the two numbers above from the second and round off using the rule in i.

E. 0.0732 0.0043
Add the two numbers above and round off using the rule in i.

F. 0.123 4.3
Subtract the first of the two numbers above from the second and round off using the rule in i.

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8) ✓✓✓ Dimensional analysis

Notes:
 Unit factors based on definitions are exact. Thus, they have an infinite number of significant figures. For
example, 1 foot is defined to be exactly 12 inches and 100 cm is defined to be 1 meter. Therefore, the
1 foot 1 meter
defined unit factors 12 inches or 100 cm have an infinite number of significant figures. Note that 2.54
cm = 1 in is also considered to be exact.

 Unit factors that are measured, including most English-to-metric conversions, have only a limited number of
significant figures. For example, 454 g = 1 lb is the result of a measurement. Therefore, the unit factor
454 g
1 lb has only three significant figures.

8a) 𝑔∙𝑐𝑚 𝑙𝑏𝑠∙𝑓𝑡

S. Convert 16.2 to
𝑠𝑒𝑐 ℎ𝑟
𝑙𝑏𝑠 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 𝑔 ∙ 𝑐𝑚 1 𝑙𝑏 1 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑓𝑡 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑏 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
= 16.2 × × × × × = 4.21
ℎ𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐 454 𝑔 2.54 𝑐𝑚 12 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 ℎ𝑟 ℎ𝑟

𝑙𝑏𝑠∙𝑓𝑡 𝑔∙𝑐𝑚
A. Convert 2.6 to
ℎ𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑐𝑚∙𝑔 𝑓𝑡∙𝑙𝑏
B. Convert 8.3*10-4 to
𝑠𝑒𝑐 ℎ𝑟

𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠∙𝑙𝑏 𝑐𝑚∙𝑔
C. Convert 5.7*104 to
ℎ𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑓𝑡∙𝑙𝑏 𝑐𝑚∙𝑘𝑔
D. Convert 2.3*102 to
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐

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8b) S. A car drives from New Orleans to Memphis, a distance of 362 miles, at a rate of 95.3 ft/sec. How long,
in hours, will it take to reach Memphis?

5280 𝑓𝑡 1 𝑠𝑒𝑐 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 ℎ𝑟

362 𝑚𝑖 × × × × = 5.57 ℎ𝑟
𝑚𝑖 95.3 𝑓𝑡 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛

6
A. Water flows from a garden hose at a rate of 8.03 gallons/min. If a swimming pool can hold 2.25 x 10
L of water, how long, in hours, will it take to fill the pool using this hose? Hint: 1 quart = 946 mL.

B. A certain medication is supplied as a solution having a concentration of 5.1 g of medication/L of

solution. The recommended daily dosage is 0.10 mg of medicine/kg of body weight. If a patient weighs
178 lb, what volume of medication, in mL, should be injected each day?

9) ✓✓✓ Density

9a) Define density

9b) S1. An organic liquid that occupies a volume of 3.47 liters has a mass of 4.268 kg. What is the density of
the compound?
mass
d = volume
4.268 kg
d = 3.47 liters
kg kg
d = 1.22997 liters = 1.23 liters

S2. If the density of a substance is 1.34 g/mL, what volume would be occupied by 16 grams of the
substance?
mass
d = volume
volume*d = mass
mass
volume = density
16 g
volume = 1.34 g/mL = 11.9 mL = 12 mL

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9b) A. When 58.3 mL of liquid is added to a graduated cylinder, the cylinder and liquid are found to weigh
251.65 grams. If the cylinder weighs 204.58 grams alone, what is the density of the liquid?

B. A certain object is found to weigh 72.5 grams and to displace 14.9 cubic centimeters of water. What
is the density of the object?

C. What is the mass of 53.1 mL of a liquid whose density is 1.2 g/mL?

D. The density of a certain substance is 1.74 g/mL at 25oC. What volume does 32.2 grams of the
substance occupy?

E. The density of a certain substance is 5.6 g/mL at 25oC. What volume does 13.9 grams of the
substance occupy?

F. The density of a certain substance is 0.841 g/mL at 25oC. What mass does 37.6 mL of the
substance have?

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10) ✓✓✓ Conversion among the common temperature scales

10a) An algorithm for converting between ℃ and ℉:

 Add 40 to the given temperature.
5℃ 9℉
 Multiply by or so as to cancel the units
9℉ 5℃

 Subtract 40 from number calculated in step 2 to obtain the converted temperature.

S. Convert -11oF to °C. (Module 0)

5oC
 -11oF + 40oF = 29oF  29oF * = 16.1oC  16.1oC - 40oC = -23.9oC = -24oC
9oF

A. Convert 22 °C to °F.

B. Convert -22 °F to °C.

C. Convert 125 °F to °C.

D. Convert 87 °C to °F.

E. Convert 155 °C to °F.

F. Convert 296 °F to °C.

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10) ✓✓✓ Conversion among the common temperature scales

10b) S. Convert 12 K to °C.

oC = 12 K - 273oC = -261oC

A. Convert 22oC to K.

B. Convert -22oC to K.

C. Convert 125 K to oC.

D. Convert 65oC to K.

E. Convert 424 K to oC.

F. Convert 44 oC to K.

Note: All parts of this module and the following

Companion Skills Module on "Algebra" must be
completed when you arrive at drill. In addition, you should
be prepared to take quizzes on the material in both.

Updated by JWC 1/26/97; SB 12/10/98; MA 12/14/99; JWC 12/16/00; MA 12/17/01; MA 12/12/02; MA 8/15/08, 5/31/13; 2/21/20

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