Question 1

Which of the following best explains why water forms a floating, oscillating blob in the space station, rather than spilling like on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Due to the absence of gravity, intermolecular forces dominate and hold the water molecules together

Question 2

Why is the density of ice less than that of liquid water, and why is this important for life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Ice has a crystalline structure with more open space, making it less dense, which allows aquatic life to survive under frozen surfaces

Question 3

Which state of matter is compressible and why?

Accepted Answer

Gas, because there is a large amount of empty space between particles

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the difference in molecular motion between solids, liquids, and gases?

Accepted Answer

Solids have fixed positions with only vibrational motion, liquids have limited translational and rotational motion, gases have complete freedom of motion

Question 5

Which of the following is a property of liquids that allows them to take the shape of their container but not expand to fill it?

Accepted Answer

Particles are closely packed but have some ability to move around

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why gases are highly compressible?

Accepted Answer

Gases have a large amount of empty space between particles

Question 7

Which of the following statements about solids is correct?

Accepted Answer

Solids retain their shape and volume because their particles are fixed in position

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the difference between crystalline and amorphous solids?

Accepted Answer

Crystalline solids have particles arranged in an orderly geometric pattern, while amorphous solids lack long-range order

Question 9

Which of the following changes will increase the rate of vaporization of a liquid?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the surface area

Question 10

Which of the following best explains why water has a higher boiling point than methane (CH$_4$), even though their molar masses are similar?

Accepted Answer

Water has stronger hydrogen bonding between molecules

Question 11

Which of the following intermolecular forces is present in all molecules and atoms?

Accepted Answer

Dispersion (London) forces

Question 12

Which of the following molecules can form hydrogen bonds?

Accepted Answer

NH$_3$

Question 13

Which of the following best describes why branched alkanes have lower boiling points than straight-chain alkanes of the same molar mass?

Accepted Answer

Branched alkanes have less surface-to-surface contact, resulting in weaker dispersion forces

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why water is an excellent solvent for ionic compounds?

Accepted Answer

Water has a large dipole moment and can form ion-dipole interactions with ions

Question 15

Which of the following statements about vapor pressure is correct?

Accepted Answer

Vapor pressure increases as temperature increases

Question 16

A sample of water is heated from -10$^	ext{o}$C to 110$^	ext{o}$C at 1 atm. Which equation would you use to calculate the energy required to heat the water from 0$^	ext{o}$C to 100$^	ext{o}$C?

Accepted Answer

$q = mC_l \Delta T$

Question 17

Which of the following best describes what happens at the boiling point of a liquid?

Accepted Answer

The vapor pressure of the liquid equals the external pressure

Question 18

Which of the following is true about the process of condensation?

Accepted Answer

Condensation releases energy to the surroundings

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why ice floats on water?

Accepted Answer

Ice is less dense than liquid water due to its open crystalline structure

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the effect of increasing temperature on the viscosity of a liquid?

Accepted Answer

Viscosity decreases as temperature increases

Liquids, Solids, and Intermolecular Forces (Chapter 12) – Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards