CHEM

121: Exam 1 Study Guide

Chapter 1

Know the Scientific method

Know the definitions for hypothesis, scientific law, and scientific theory, and be able to explain the
differences between them.

Chapter 2

Length, mass, weight, volume

- Know 1 ft.12 in., 1 yd. 3 ft., 1 gal4 qt.,
1 qt.2 pints, 1 pint2 cups
- Know 1 cm31 mL and 1 dm31 L

Significant figures or digits

- Rounding
- In addition, subtraction
- In multiplication, division
- In measurements (uncertainty)

Scientific notation

Solve problems using dimensional analysis

with conversion factors, showing all work

Use dimensional analysis to solve problems

Metric system
- Know these metric prefixes and their
symbols: kilo (k), deci (d), centi (c),
milli (m), and micro ( and mc)
- Know mcg=micrograms in medicine
- Be able to perform metric-metric
conversions using these prefixes

Chapter 3

Know that matter is studied at the

macroscopic, microscopic, particulate
(molecular) levels

Physical states of matter

- Determine physical state of substances
(solids, liquids, gases) given descriptions
of volume, shape, particles moving, etc.

Use the metric-English conversions provided
(1 in. 2.54 cm; 1 lb=453.6 g; 1 qt=946 mL)

Volume by calculation
- Vrectangular solid = length width thickness

Volume by displacement

m

V
- Be able to determine density, mass, or volume
given the other two quantities
- Identify what items sink or float in a given liquid
given the densities of the liquid and other
substances.
Density: d =

Temperature
- Know the formulas for converting F-to-C or C-
to-F and K-to-C or C-to-K

Percentage: ratio of parts per 100 parts

- Given amount of part and whole, calculate %
- Use a given % to solve for part or whole



Classification of matter
Given examples, determine which are
elements, compounds, or mixtures
Given molecular-level images, determine
which are elements, compounds, or mixtures
and solids, liquids, or gases
Distinguish between homogeneous and
heterogeneous mixtures

Chapter 3 (Continued)

Be able to identify properties and changes as

physical or chemical
- Know terms for changes of state:
- Melting, freezing, vaporizing,
condensation, sublimation, deposition

Chemical reaction:
- reactants: starting materials
- products: substances produced in reaction

kinetic energy (KE): energy associated with an

objects motion
- Faster objects have higher KE.

Law of Conservation of Mass

- Matter is neither created nor destroyed in a
chemical reaction.
- Solve problems conserving mass.

Law of Conservation of Energy

- Know 6 forms of energy: heat, light,
chemical, electrical, mechanical, and
nuclear

joule (J): SI unit of energy;

1 kJ=1000 J and 1 watt = 1 J/s

calorie (cal): energy needed to raise the

temperature of 1 g of water by 1C

potential energy (PE): energy due to its position

or composition (chemical bonds)

Be able to carry out calculations involving

energy in J, cal, Cal, and kilowatt-hours (kWh).

heat: energy is transferred from a hotter

substance to a cooler substance
Identify what lost heat and gained heat given
different scenarios.

Know the relative kinetic energy of solids, liquids,

and gases

Endothermic versus Exothermic changes:

endothermic: a change requiring energy
exothermic: a change that releases energy
To determine for physical changes consider if
the reactants have more or less kinetic energy
than the products.
To determine for chemical changes consider if
the surrounding became hotter or colder after
the reaction.

heat capacity (in J/molC): the amount of heat

capacity necessary to raise the temperature of
a given amount of substance by 1C

specific heat (in J/gC): the amount of heat to

raise temperature of 1 gram of a substance by
1C.

Recognize that the greater the heat capacity

or specific heat of a substance, the more
heat energy it can absorb before its
temperature begins to rise.

Chapter 4

Know ideas of matter proposed by Democritus, Empedocles, and Aristotle.

Know the main points of John Daltons Model, what was later proven wrong and why.

Know people and discoveries associated with the discovery of protons, neutrons, electrons.

Know Plum-Pudding Model versus Nuclear Model.

CHEM121 Exam 1 Study Guide F2016

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Chapter 4 (Continued)

Know Rutherfords Alpha-Scattering

Experiment and what was determined from it
(atomic nucleus, atom mostly empty space,
the size of an atom relative to its nucleus).

Subatomic particles
proton (p+): +1 charge, inside nucleus
neutron (n): neutral, inside nucleus
electron (e): 1 charge, outside nucleus

Use the Periodic Table to identify those

elements whose naturally occurring isotopes
are all radioactive and unstable.

Electrostatic force: force resulting from a

charge on particles
- Objects w/ like charges repel one another.
- Objects w/ unlike charges attract each
other.

Know the names and element symbols for

elements #1-20 on the Periodic Table.
Given the element symbol, name the
element, or vice versa. Spelling counts!

Know definitions of isotope, atomic mass

Atomic notation:

mass number = A

atomic number = Z E = element symbol

mass # (A): # of protons + # of neutrons

atomic # (Z): # of protons=# of electrons

Determine # of protons, neutrons, and

electrons for any given isotope.

Give atomic notation for any element

given element name/symbol and mass
number

Use the Periodic Table to identify the most

abundant isotope of any element given its
naturally occurring isotopes.

The Periodic Table

column = group, family
row = period, series

Representative Elements: A Group Elements

Group IA: alkali metals (except H)
Group IIA: alkaline earth metals
Group VIIA: halogens
Group VIIIA: noble gases

Transition Metals/Elements: B Group Elements

Inner Transition Elements:

- Elements in lanthanide and actinide series

Metals, nonmetals, and semimetals:

- Know properties of metals and nonmetals
- Location on Periodic Table and properties

Know which elements exist as solids, liquids,

gases at room temperature (25C)

Know the names and symbols for all elements

included on p. 10 in the Ch. 4 lecture notes, Ti
(titanium), and Sr (strontium), and uranium
(U). Spelling counts!

You will be given a Periodic Table with elements symbols, atomic numbers,
and atomic masses.

Be able to solve problems combining concepts covered in Chapters 1-4.
CHEM121 Exam 1 Study Guide F2016

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