Tutorial Questions – Matter

(Questions are taken from the Chemistry Companion, and answers are available in the ‘Answers and Solutions’ manual)

Highlighted questions will be covered in the tutorial

States of Matter
2.30 What physical characteristic:
(a) distinguishes liquids from solids
(b) is common to solids and liquids
(c) distinguishes gases from liquids
(d) is common to liquids and gases

2.31 Silver has a melting point of 962°C and a boiling point of 2162°C. Specify its physical state at each of the
following temperatures:
(a) 500°C (b) 1000°C (c) 2000°C (d) 3000°C

2.32 Oxygen has a melting point of –210°C and a boiling point of –196°C. Specify the physical state of oxygen
at each of the following temperatures:
(a) –250°C (b) –200°C (c) –100°C (d) 100°C

2.33 Give the name of the change of state associated with each of the following processes.
(a) Liquid water converted into ice cubes
(b) The inside of your car window fogs up
(c) Mothballs in the wardrobe disappear with time
(d) Wet washing dries

2.34 Give the normal state (solid, liquid, or gas) of each of the following.
(a) sodium carbonate (b) ethyl alcohol (c) nitrogen (d) zinc

2.35 Give the normal state (solid, liquid, or gas) of each of the following.
(a) potassium hydroxide (b) silver (c) carbon (graphite) (d) Chlorine

2.36 Match each state of matter with the terms on the left. More than one state can match each term:
(a) incompressible 1. gas
(b) indefinite shape 2. liquid
(c) definite volume 3. solid
(d) fluid

Physical and Chemical Properties

2.37 The following are properties of a certain element. Classify them as physical or chemical:
(a) In powdered form, it burns brilliantly on ignition
(b) Bulk metal does not react with steam even when red hot
(c) It has a density of 1.85 g.cm-3 at 20°C
(d) It is a relatively soft silvery-white metal

2.38 Indicate whether each of the following statements describes a physical or chemical property:
(a) Silver nitrate discolours the skin by reacting with skin protein
(b) Haemoglobin gives blood its red colour
(c) Sodium metal is light enough to float on water
(d) Bromine is a liquid at room temperature
2.39 Indicate whether each of the following statements describes a physical or chemical property:
(a) Lighter fluid can be ignited with a match
(b) Potassium metal reacts with cold water
(c) Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas
(d) Sodium metal is so soft that it can be cut with a sharp knife

2.40 The following are properties of substances. Decide whether each is a physical property or a chemical
property:
(a) Chlorine gas liquefies at −35°C under normal pressure.
(b) Sodium burns in chlorine gas.
(c) Nitrogen boils at –196°C.
(d) Lithium is a soft, silvery-coloured metal.
(e) Iron rusts in moist air.

2.41 Iodine is a solid, having blue-black crystals. The crystals vaporise readily to a violet-coloured gas. Iodine
combines with sodium metal to produce sodium iodide. Identify the physical and chemical properties of
iodine indicated here.

2.42 What physical properties would you use to separate these mixtures?
(a) iron filings and salt (b) salt and water

2.43 Name two physical properties that could be used to distinguish between these substances:
(a) water and alcohol
(b) gold and copper
(c) neon gas and chlorine gas

2.44 A certain substance is a silver-grey-coloured metal that melts at 420°C. When it is placed in dilute sulfuric
acid, hydrogen is given off and the metal dissolves. It has a density of 7.13 g/cm3 at 25°C and reacts slowly
with oxygen to form a metal oxide. Which of these properties are physical and which are chemical?

Physical and Chemical Changes

2.45 Classify each of the following changes as physical or chemical:
(a) Grinding salt crystals into powder.
(b) Cutting grass.
(c) Exploding of a bomb.
(d) Burning wood in a fireplace.

2.46 Classify each of the following changes as physical or chemical:

(a) Stretching an elastic band.
(b) Making a baseball bat from a piece of wood.
(c) Car windows become fogged.
(d) Leaves change colour in autumn.

2.47 Indicate whether each of the following methods involve physical or chemical changes:
(a) Iron is obtained by decomposing iron ore (iron(III) oxide), liberating the oxygen and leaving the iron behind.
(b) Sand is obtained from a sand–salt mixture by adding water to the mixture and pouring off the resulting salt–
water solution.
(c) Ammonia is obtained by the high-temperature, high-pressure reaction between hydrogen and nitrogen.
(d) Water is obtained from a salt-water solution by evaporating the water and then collecting it via condensation
of the water vapour.
2.48 Which of the following are physical changes and which are chemical changes?
(a) melting of potassium chloride
(b) pulverizing of sandstone
(c) burning of magnesium
(d) dissolving of salt in water

2.49 For each of the following, decide whether a physical or a chemical change is involved:
(a) dissolving of sodium in water
(b) rusting of iron
(c) burning of leaves
(d) evaporation of ether

2.50 A sample of mercury(II) oxide was heated in a reaction vessel to produce mercury metal and oxygen gas. A
glowing wood splint was thrust into the reaction vessel and the splint burst into flame. Identify each physical
and chemical change.

Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

2.51 Indicate whether each of the following materials is a substance, a heterogeneous mixture, or a solution:
(a) air (b) chlorine (c) petrol (d) calcium

2.52 Name each of the following elements:

(a) Zn (b) F (c) Ne (d) Cd (e) P

2.53 Write the chemical symbols for each of the following elements:
(a) nickel (b) gold (c) sulfur (d) lithium (e) arsenic

2.54 Name the elements found in each compound:

(a) sodium chloride (NaCl) (b) Manganese dioxide (MnO2)
(c) ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) (d) calcium sulfate (CaSO4)

2.55 Based on the information given, classify each of the following pure substances as elements or compounds,
or indicate that no such classification is possible because of insufficient information:
(a) Sophisticated analysis indicates that substance A contains two elements.
(b) Substance B decomposes upon heating.
(c) Heating substance C to 900°C causes no change.
(d) Heating substance D to 400°C causes it to melt.

2.56 Classify each of the following as a heterogeneous mixture, a homogeneous mixture; or a pure substance:
(a) muesli (b) apple (c) vitamin tablet (d) alcohol

2.57 Classify each of the following as a heterogeneous mixture, a homogeneous mixture, or a pure substance:
(a) iron ore (b) copper wire (c) wet sand (d) distilled water

2.58 Which of the following are pure substances and which are mixtures? For each, list all of the different phases
present:
(a) alcohol and its vapour
(b) paint, containing a liquid solution and a dispersed solid pigment
(c) partially molten copper
(d) a sand containing quartz (silicon dioxide) and calcite (calcium carbonate)

2.59 Classify each of the following as a pure substance, a homogeneous mixture, or a heterogeneous mixture:
(a) sand (b) air (c) calcium (d) petrol