ATI TEAS 7 CHEMISTRY REVIEW

AREAS COVERED

1. Understanding States of Matter.

2. Understanding Changes in States of Matter.

3. Understanding Properties of Matter

4. Understanding Chemical Bonds.

5. Understanding Chemical Solutions.

6. Understanding Chemical Reactions.

7. Understanding Acid Base Balance.

8. Understanding Balancing Chemical Equations.

NB: Questions related to chemistry test your knowledge of chemical properties and processes. You

may be asked questions about states of matter, properties of matter, phase changes, chemical bonds, chemical

solutions, chemical reactions, and acids and bases. You may be asked to balance chemical equations. Let’s get

started in understanding how chemistry is important on the ATI TEAS.

 UNDERSTANDING STATES OF MATTER

Matter is made up of microscopic particles that move different speeds depending on the energy

they are exposed to. We measure this energy as temperature. The molecules can move either

quickly and randomly or hardly at all.

When the energy is high, matter take the form of a gas, in which molecules are moving about

quickly and are far apart. Gases have no fixed form. Molecules are free to move at random past

each other, and they tend to fill any container that holds them. If a gas is not contained, its

molecules will disperse.

Lower temperatures result in a liquid, in which molecules cohere but are fluid. Coherence means

that the molecules remain close together, but they can change position by sliding over one

another. In liquids, molecules move less freely than in a gaseous state, sliding past one another.

They have a fixed volume but will flow freely unless they fill a portion of a container.

When the temperature is low, matter takes the form of a solid, in which molecules are packed

closely together and retain their positions. Solid matter is rigid, and molecules retain a uniform

spacing. A solid has a defined form, which is brittle. It can be broken into pieces but tends to stay

together.

A somewhat unusual state of matter is plasma, which is like a gas in many of its properties but
carries an electric charge.

The TEAS focus on solids, liquids, and gases.

 UNDERSTANDING CHANGES IN STATE OF MATTER

The state of matter depends on temperature and pressure. Higher temperatures cause molecules

to energize and move farther apart. Increasing pressure forces molecules closer together. Melting

is the phase change from solid to liquid and boiling is the phase change from liquid to gas. There

is also a direct change from solid to gas known as sublimation. The phase change from gas to

liquid is condensation and the change from liquid to solid is freezing. A direct change from gas

to solid is deposition.

All types of matter can be described in terms of the physical and chemical properties each

substance has. Physical properties are observable and there is an extensive list of physical

properties that one could observe about a substance. A few examples are density, the

temperatures at which the substance undergoes phase changes, malleability, conductivity,

specific heat capacity, mass, volume, color, and many other properties. Physical properties are

further divided into intensive and extensive properties. An intensive property does not depend on

the size or amount of matter in the object, while an extensive property does depend on the

amount of matter in the object. For example, mass is extensive because the measurement would

change the size of the sample. Boiling point is intensive because the temperature at which the

object boils is not dependent on its volume.

Understanding properties of matter- WATER

Water is a polar inorganic compound that is transparent and nearly colorless. H2O is a covalent

compound because oxygen and hydrogen are nonmetals. It has 8 total valence electrons (6 from
oxygen and 1 from each hydrogen). Breaking the bonds requires a lot of energy, so water has a

very high specific heat and heat of vaporization. The molar mass of water is 18.02 g/mol. It

commonly exists as solid, liquid, and gas.

The polarity of water allows it to exhibit both cohesive and adhesive properties. Cohesiveness

allows water to travel through tiny capillaries and creates surface tension on the surface of a
body of water. Adhesiveness allows water to stick to other molecules and dissolve them, making

it known as the “universal solvent.”

Water also has a unique property called osmosis, which is a specific type of diffusion. Diffusion

is a term used to describe the process of a substance moving from an area of high concentration

to an area of low concentration. Osmosis is a type of diffusion in which water moves passively

through a semi-permeable membrane to equalize water concentration on both sides of the

membrane. This is how water moves through cell walls in the body.

UNDERSTANDING CHEMICAL BONDS

A chemical compound is created when two or more atoms join to form a chemical bond that

leaves the atoms in a less excited state than they were in before the bond. Such bonds form in

two ways.

A covalent bond occurs when atoms share electrons between them. This type of bond is common

between two atoms of the same element, as in hydrogen (H2) or in similar elements. When a

molecule shares a pair of electrons in a stable state, it has formed a covalent bond. Alkanes, for

example, share a single bond. In some compounds, one atom takes the shared electron for more

time, due to its structure, forming a polar covalent bond. This molecule is partly negatively

charged and partly positively charged. Some molecules form a double bond, sharing four

electrons as opposed to two. These bonds are commonly represented in the alkenes,

hydrocarbons with twice as many hydrogen molecules as carbon molecules. It is possible to form
triple bonds as seen in a group of hydrocarbons called alkynes.

An ionic bond is created between atoms when one atom gives an electron to the other. These

bonds typically take place between metals and nonmetals due to the unique electron

configuration of metals, with the metal giving an electron to the nonmetal. This transfer creates a

positive charge and a negative charge at the ends of the compound. The positive charge, or
cation, is created by the giver of an electron. The negative charge, or anion, is located at the

receiving end of the electron. The net charge of the compounds remains balanced at zero.

UNDERSTANDING CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS

A chemical solution is a group of chemical compounds evenly distributed in a state of matter.

The solution is a homogenous mixture where one chemical compound is completely dissolved in

the others. This is most easily achieved in a liquid state. There are mixtures that are not solutions.

A heterogeneous mixture maintains separation between two substances, like oil and water.

The solute is the compound dissolved in the solvent. Liquids make excellent solvents. The

solubility of a solvent depends on the nature of the liquid as well as external factors like

temperature. The concentration of the solution is the amount of solute in the solution. The mole

is the unit of measurement for chemical reactions and refers to a compound’s molecular mass.

UNDERSTANDING CHEMICAL REACTIONS

To create a new chemical compound from other elements and compounds, a chemical reaction is

needed. Two or more reactants are added together, often with an input of energy, creating one or

more products and by-products. Photosynthesis occurs, for instance, when a plant cell combines

carbon dioxide and water. The sun’s rays provide the energy. The chemical reaction produces
sugar and oxygen. Chemical reactions are shown with equations and have a basic pattern:

reactants go on the left and products go on the right, with the reaction sign (an arrow) showing

the direction of the reaction in the middle. Here is an example showing the direction of the

reaction in the middle. Here is an example showing the formation of water molecules:

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
Equations for chemical reactions must be balanced; there must be the same number of atoms of

each element on both sides of the reaction. Notice in the equation above that there are four

hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms on each side. Only their arrangement is changed.

There are five basic types of chemical reactions:

• Synthesis: two separate things joining together to form 1 compound

• Decomposition: 1 compound breaks down into 2 or more compounds

• Combustion: The use of fuel (combustible material) with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and

water

• Single replacement: 1 element or compound replaces another element or compound in a

compound

For example: A + BC ⟹AC + B

• Double replacement: 2 ionic compounds create two more iconic compounds

For example: AB + CD ⟹AD + CB

Reaction rates depend on the likelihood of collision between particles.

The reaction rate can be altered by changing the following factors:

• Concentration – The more particles there are, the higher the chance of collisions.
• Temperature – Particles excite at higher temperatures, so more collisions are likely and will

have more energy.

• Pressure – Increased pressure forces particles together, so collisions are more likely

• Surface area – In a solid, only particles at the surface can collide. The bigger the surface, the

faster the reaction. Breaking up a sample into smaller particles provides more surface area for

collisions.
• Catalysts – A catalyst is a substance that changes the rate of a chemical reaction but is

chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction.

Chemical reactions occur in nature and in the laboratory. A catalyst will speed up the reaction by

lowering the amount of energy needed to start the reaction. Enzymes act as catalysts in cellular

processes. They quicken the chemical reaction, turning a molecule, known as a substrate, into a

product without being altered themselves.

UNDERSTANDING ACID BASE BALANCE

Many acids and bases can be understood from the perspective of the theory developed by

Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist. In this view, an acid is a substance that gives off hydrogen (H+)

ions when it is dissolved in water. A base, or alkaline substance, is a substance that gives off

hydroxide (OH-) ions when it is dissolved in water. Acidic solutions have higher concentrations

of hydrogen ions, whereas alkaline solutions have lower concentrations of hydrogen ions.

The presence of acids and bases can be tested using tools known as indicators. One indicator in

common use litmus paper. Litmus paper turns red in the presence of a base.
Here are some examples of acids and their chemical formulas.

ACID CHEMICAL FORMULA

• Acetic Acid HC2H3O2

• Phosphoric Acid H3PO4

• Citric Acid H3C6H5O7

• Hydrochloric Acid HCL

• Sulfuric Acid H2SO4

BASE CHEMICAL FORMULA

• Ammonium Hydroxide NH4OH

• Lithium Hydroxide LiOH

• Magnesium Hydroxide Mg (OH) 2

• Potassium Hydroxide KOH

• Sodium Hydroxide NaOH

IMPORTANT NOTE: ACID = ACID; BASE = HYDROXIDE

The acidity or alkalinity of a solution is measured using a scale known as the pH scale.

Each step of the pH scale has 10 times the difference in concentration of hydrogen (H+) ions as

the step before or after it. So, a solution with a pH of 7 will have 10 times more hydrogen ions

than a solution with a pH of 8 and 10 times fewer hydrogen ions than a solution with a pH of 6.
 UNDERSTANDING BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

The TEAS Science section may contain questions that ask you to balance chemical equations.

We will outline the steps in this process later in this review. One of the most important chemical

equations for humans is the one that represents photosynthesis. Without the following equation,

there would be no life on Earth:

CO2 + H2O C6H12O6 + O2

This equation shows how green plant cells, with the help of the sun’s energy, convert carbon

dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose and oxygen (O2). The two reactants, carbon dioxide

and water, are on the left side of the arrow. The arrow shows the direction of production. The

two products, sugar and oxygen, are on the right side of the arrow.

According to the Law of the Conversation of Mass, in a chemical reaction, no energy is lost, but

neither is mass destroyed. The amount of reactant must match the amount of products that are

made, even if those products escape as a gas or a liquid.

In the photosynthesis equation, there is a difference in the number of atoms on the right and left
sides:

Element Reactants Products

C 1 6

H 2 12

O 3 8
To produce sugar and oxygen requires more reactants than we have on the left side. The solution

is to balance the two sides.

We can multiply any molecule with a number, called a coefficient. We cannot change the

subscript, however, without changing the nature of the molecule. By adding coefficients to the

reactants and products, we can balance the equation in a few simple steps.

The best way to do this is by balancing each element in turn. Start with the carbon. The right side

has 6 carbon atoms, so the left side needs 6:

6CO2 + H2O C6H12O6 + O2

6CO2 + H2O C6H12O6 + O2

Here we have multiplied the CO2 by 6 to result in 6 carbon atoms on the left side. When we

multiply CO2 by 6, this also change the number of oxygen atoms on the left side from 3 to 13.

There are now 12 oxygen atoms in the CO2 molecule, plus 1 in the H2O molecule, for a total of

13. The 2 changed numbers are shown underlined in the following table.

Element Reactants Products

C 6 6

H 2 12

O 13 8

Now the carbon is equal, but the hydrogen remains unequal, and the oxygen has changed in

number.
Next, we fix the hydrogen:

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + O2

Here we multiplied the H2O molecule by 6 to result in 12 hydrogen 2 atoms on the left side.

When we multiple H2O by 6, the further changes the 2 number of the oxygen atoms on the left

side from 13 to 18. There are now 12 oxygen atoms in the CO2 molecule, plus 6 in the H2O

molecule, for a total of 18.

Element Reactants Products

C 6 6

H 12 12

O 18 8
The last remaining imbalance rests with the oxygen. At this point, there is plenty of oxygen in

the reactants. We can balance the equation by producing more O2.

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

In this step, the O2 molecule on the right side was multiplied by 6. This resulted in 18

oxygen atoms on the right side. The equation is now balanced. Each element has the same

number of atoms on the left and right sides.

Element Reactants Products

C 6 6

H 12 12

O 18 1
 CHEMISTRY
States of Matter

Solid: rock, wood, paper…

● Molecules are packed together in a tight, orderly pattern

● Vibrational motion, not translational motion
TEAS 6 Science

● Retains shape
● Retains density

Liquid: water, juice, soda…

● Molecules are less ordered than solids,

less tightly packed
● Vibrational and translational motion
● Shape is indefinite- takes shape of
container
● Retains volume

Gas: Oxygen, Methane, Carbon Dioxide…

● Molecules are rapidly moving and spread far apart

● Highly compressible- expands to fill
container
● No definite shape
● No definite volume

Change in Matter

● Condensation: Gas→ Liquid

● Deposition: Gas→ Solid
● Evaporation: Liquid→Gas
● Freezing: Liquid→ Solid
● Melting: Solid→Liquid
● Sublimation: Solid→Gas

Boiling: The transition of liquid to gas when a substance has acquired enough thermal energy.

Critical Point: The temperature at which LIQUID and GAS phases have same density.

Phase Diagram: A graph of physical states of a substance under varying temperature and pressure.

Triple Point: The temperature and pressure at which all 3 phases of a pure substance coexists.

Chemical Bonds and Structures

Covalent Bond: A chemical bond where electrons are SHARED between atoms (2 NON metals)

Ionic Bond: Between 2 metals or a metal and a nonmetal. Complete

TRANSFER of electrons

Proton: positively charged atomic particle (determines atomic number)

Electron: Negatively charged atomic particle- very small and irrelevant to

mass of atom.

Neutron: Determines isotope. Added to number protons to get atomic mass.

No electric charge.

Anion: Negatively charged ion

Cation: Positively charged ion

TEAS 6 Science

Atom: The most basic complete unit of an element

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
Scientific Method:

I. Identify the problem

II. Ask Questions (by conducting research)
III. Develop Hypothesis (IF/THEN
statement)
IV. Conduct Experiment
V. Analyze Results
TEAS 6 Science

VI. Form a
Conclusion Independent
variable

● The thing you are testing

● "If" statement of the hypothesis
● Cause

Dependent

Variable

● The thing you are measuring

● "Then" statement of the hypothesis
● Effect

Control

Variable

● Scientific Constant
● Remains unchanged throughout the experiment

*Must be able to replicate data for a successful experiment and must have a large sample