First Year High School

Chemistry Contest
sponsored by
The Illinois Heartland Section of the American Chemical Society
a nd
The Department of Chemistry at Illinois State University and
the Center for Mathematics, Science & Technology (CeMaST)

Name:___________________________________________________
Home phone:_______________________
High school:_______________________________

Grade:_______

E-mail:_____________________________________
Teacher:__________________________________

1. Do not start the exam until instructed to do so.

2. There is no talking or sharing of any materials. All cell phones should be shut off
during the examination.
3. You have 80 minutes to complete this exam that features 50 questions and 2
challenge tie-breaker questions.
4. Mark all answers in pencil on the scan-tron sheet that has been provided. Be sure to
make all erasures complete. There is no penalty for guessing at an answer.
5. Once you complete the 40 questions, then complete the challenge tie-breaker
questions 101 and 102. These multiple choice questions should be completed on the
back of the scan-tron sheet.
6. You may use this exam booklet for scratch paper. Give this exam packet and
scantron to the proctor who is closest to your seat.
7. Once you have completed the exam, you may turn in your exam. You may leave the
examination area. You are asked to not re-enter until the exam is done.

Useful equations and constants

N = Avogrados number = 6.02 x 1023 particles/mol
R = 0.08206 (L atm)/(mol K) = 8.314 J/(mol K)
c = 3.00 x 108 m/s
1 atm = 760 torr = 1.01325 x 105 Pa
1.00 lb = 454 grams
ln[A] = kt + ln[A ]0

PV = nRT
o

K = C + 273.15
+

pH = log [H ]
o

G = - RT ln K

pOH = log [OH ]

G = H - TS

2010 ACS High School Chemistry Contest

Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1. The symbol for the element sodium is__________.

A. S
B. So
C. Sm
D. Na
E. S n

2. The correct answer for the addition 56.234 + 0.0021 g is: (considering significant figures)
A. 56 g
B. 56.24 g
C . 5 6 .2 3 6 1 g
D . 5 6 .2 3 6 g
E . 5 6 .2 5 5 g

3. The number of neutrons in an atom of uranium-235 is:

A. 235
B. 92
C . 327
D. 143
E. insufficient information given

4. The isotope symbol for an ion that has 11 protons, 12 neutrons, and 10 electrons is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

5. Rank the boiling points of the following compounds from lowest to highest:
C12H22O11 (sucrose), O2, NaF
A. C12H22O11 (sucrose), O2, NaF
B. O2, NaF, C12H22O11 (sucrose)
C. O2, C12H22O11 (sucrose), NaF
D. NaF, O2, C12H22O11 (sucrose)
E. NaF, C12H22O11 (sucrose), O2

6. The formula for the permanganate ion is:

A. M nO4 B. MnO22C . M nO3 D. M nO3 2 E. M nO4 2 -

7. How many carbon atoms are there in 0.50 mole of CO2?

A . 0 .5 0
B. 1.50
C. 3.0 1023
D . 9 .0 1 0 2 3
E . 8 .3 1 0 2 5

8. Rank the following in order of increasing mass: 1.0 mole of SF4, 0.50 mole of H2S, 0.20 mole of Cu,
and 0.10 mole of Pb.
A. Pb < Cu < H2S < SF4
B. Cu < H2S < Pb < SF4
C. Pb < Cu < SF4 < H2S
D. Cu < H2S < SF4 < Pb
E. SF4 < H2S < Cu < Pb

9. Balance the following skeletal equation: C3H8(g) + O2(g) CO2(g) + H2O(g).

A. C3H8(g) + O2(g) 3CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
B. C3H8(g) + O2(g) 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)
C. C3H8(g) + 3O2(g) 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)
D. C3H8(g) + 4O2(g) 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)
E. C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)

10. When aqueous solutions of sodium chloride and silver nitrate are mixed, a double-displacement
reaction occurs. What is the balanced equation for the reaction?
A. NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) Na(s) + AgNO3Cl(aq)
B. NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + AgCl(aq)
C. NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + AgCl(s)
D. NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + ClAg(s)
E. NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + 3AgCl(s)

11. Phosphine, PH3, a reactive and poisonous compound, reacts with oxygen as follows:
4PH3(g) + 8O2(g) P4O10(s) + 6H2O(g)
If 9.2 moles of phosphine react with sufficient oxygen, how many moles of P4O10 will be formed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

4.0 moles
9.2 moles
37 moles
2.3 moles
6.0 moles

12. Phosphorus trichloride can be made by the reaction:

P4(s) + 6Cl2(g) 4PCl3(l)
What is the maximum amount of phosphorus trichloride that can be formed if 15 molecules of P4 react
with 42 molecules of chlorine?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

4 molecules
12 molecules
24 molecules
28 molecules
57 molecules

13. Aluminum metal reacts with sulfuric acid according to the equation:
2Al(s) + 3H2SO4(aq) Al2(SO4)3(s) + 3H2(g)
If 10.0 g of aluminum reacts with excess sulfuric acid, and 54.2 g of Al2(SO4)3 are collected, what is the
percent yield for the reaction?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

6 3 .4 %
8 5 .5 %
117%
4 7 .1 %
not enough information given

14. If an equal quantity of heat is transferred to 10.0 g samples of liquid water (C = 4.184 J/goC), concrete
(C = 0.88 J/goC), asphalt (C = 0.920 J/goC), glass (C = 0.84 J/goC), and iron (C = 0.448 J/goC), rank the
final temperatures of the samples from least to greatest.
A. iron < glass < concrete < asphalt < water
B. water < asphalt < concrete < glass < iron
C. asphalt < concrete < glass < iron < water
D. iron < concrete < glass < asphalt < water
E. water < concrete < asphalt < glass < iron

15. A 3.50 g sample of rice is burned in a bomb calorimeter containing 1980 g of water. The temperature
of the water increases from 22.75oC to 28.88oC. How much heat, in joules, did the rice sample release
when it burned? (Cwater = 4.184 J/goC)
A . 1 .8 8 1 0 5 J
B. 2.39 105 J
C . 5 .0 8 1 0 4 J
D . 3 .3 3 1 0 2 J
E . 4 .2 2 1 0 2 J

16. Rank the following types of electromagnetic radiation from shortest wavelength to longest
wavelength: visible, ultraviolet, microwave, infrared, x-ray.
A. x-ray < visible < ultraviolet < infrared < microwave
B. x-ray < ultraviolet < visible < microwave < infrared
C. x-ray < ultraviolet < visible < infrared < microwave
D. infrared < microwave < ultraviolet < visible < x-ray
E. microwave < infrared < ultraviolet < visible < x-ray

17. List the following colors of visible light from shortest wavelength to longest wavelength: green, blue,
yellow, red, violet.
A. red < yellow < green < blue < violet
B. violet < yellow < green < blue < red
C. blue < violet < green < red < yellow
D. violet < blue < green < yellow < red
E. yellow < red < green < violet < blue

18. A laser used in DVD players has a wavelength of 405 nm. What is the frequency of this light in hertz
(s-1)?
A. 7.41 105 s-1
B. 7.41 1014 s-1
C. 1.35 10-6 s-1
D. 1.35 10-13 s-1
E. 1.22 102 s-1

19. Write the electron configuration for the element chlorine.

A. 1s22s22p5
B. 1s22s22p63s24p5
C. 1s22s22p63s23p5
D. 1s22s22p63s23p6
E. 1s22s22p63s24p6

20. The following orbital diagram corresponds to the element___________.

A. Al
B. Si
C. P
D. As
E. S
F. Cl

21. Rank the following elements in order of increasing ionization energy: Sr, He, Si, F
A. S r < S i < He < F
B. F < Si <He < Sr
C . S r < S i <F < H e
D . S i < F <H e < S r
E. He < F < S r < S i

22. The formula of the compound that would be formed when magnesium and fluorine react is:
A. M gF
B. Mg2F
C. MgF2
D. F2Mg
E. FMg

23. Which of the following compounds is likely to have covalent bonds?

A. NaCl
B. LiF
C. CO
D. CaBr2
E. MgO

24. Arrange the following bonds in order of increasing polarity: F-F, F-C, F-O, F-N
A. F-F < F-C < F-O < F-N
B. F-F < F-O < F-N < F-C
C. F-O < F-N < F-F < F-C
D. F-N < F-O < F-F < F-C
E. F-N < F-C < F-O < F-F

25. Identify the class of organic substance for the molecule H3C-CH3.
A. alkane
B. alkene
C. alcohol
D. amine
E. ester

26. Predict the molecular shape and give the approximate bond angles of the PCl3 molecule.
A. linear, 180o
B. trigonal planar, 120o
C. tetrahedral, 109.5o
D. trigonal pyramidal, 109.5o
E. bent, 120o

27. Predict the molecular shape and give the approximate bond angles of the SO2 molecule.
A. linear, 180o
B. trigonal planar, 120o
C. tetrahedral, 109.5o
D. trigonal pyramidal, 109.5o
E. bent, 120o

28. Which of the following molecules is polar?

A. BCl3
B. NH3
C. SiCl4
D. CBr4
E. BeBr2

29. If the initial pressure of a 2.00 L gas sample is 2.50 atm, what will the pressure be if the volume is
changed to 3.00 L at constant temperature?
A. 1.50 atm
B. 1.67 atm
C. 15.0 atm
D. 2.40 atm
E. 0.600 atm

30. Given a fixed amount of gas held at constant pressure, calculate the volume it would occupy if a 2.00
L sample were cooled from 60.0oC to 30.0oC.
A . 1 .0 0 L
B. 4.00 L
C . 2 .2 0 L
D . 0 .4 5 5 L
E . 1 .8 2 L

31. Calculate the number of moles in 55 g of N2, and the volume that it would occupy at STP.
A . 2 .0 m o l , 4 5 L
B. 2.0 mol, 0.089 L
C . 1 .5 1 0 3 m o l , 6 7 L
D. 1.5 103 mol, 3.4 104 L
E . 3 .9 m o l , 8 8 L

32. Which of the following substances can participate in hydrogen bonding?

A. S iH4
B. CH2Cl2
C . H2 O
D. P H3
E. both H2O and PH3

33. Arrange the following substances in order of increasing boiling point: CH3OH, CH4, CH3CH2OH,
HOC H2 C H2 OH
A. CH3OH < CH4 < CH3CH2OH < HOCH2CH2OH
B. CH4 <CH3OH < CH3CH2OH < HOCH2CH2OH
C. CH4 <CH3OH < HOCH2CH2OH < CH3CH2OH
D. CH3OH < CH4 < HOCH2CH2OH < CH3CH2OH
E. HOCH2CH2OH < CH3CH2OH < CH3OH < CH4

34. A solid substance has a high melting point, is hard, brittle, and conducts electricity when molten. This
substance is probably a(n)________ solid.
A. metallic
B. ionic
C. network
D. nonpolar molecular
E. polar molecular

35. Which of the following substances is a strong electrolyte?

A. C H3 C H2 OH
B. C6H6
C . KOH
D. S O2
E. P C l3

36. What is the percent-by-mass concentration of NaCl in a solution that is prepared by adding 14.0 g of
NaCl to 75.0 g of water?
A . 6 1 .0 %
B. 15.7%
C . 1 8 .7 %
D . 2 4 .0 %
E . 5 .3 6 %

37. How many moles of HCl are contained in 75.0 mL of 2.00 M HCl?
A. 2.00 moles
B. 1.50 102 moles
C. 0.150 moles
D. 37.5 moles
E. 26.7 moles

38. A 150.0 g sample of ocean water contains 3.5 mg of mercury. How many parts per million of mercury
are in the sample?
A. 15 ppm
B. 23 ppm
C . 2 .4 1 0 2 p p m
D . 2 .3 1 0 4 p p m
E. 43 ppm

39. How many moles of potassium iodide, KI, are required to precipitate all of the lead(II) ion from 50.0
mL of a 1.2 M Pb(NO3)2 solution? (First, write a balanced equation for the reaction.)
A . 0 .1 2 m o l e
B. 0.060 mole
C . 0 .2 4 m o l e
D . 0 .0 3 0 m o l e
E . 0 .0 4 8 m o l e

40. Select the correct equilibrium constant expression for the reaction:
H2(g) + I2(g)

A.
B.
C.

2HI(g)

Keq
Keq = [HI]2 [H2][I2]
Keq = [HI]2 + [H2] + [I2]

D. Keq
E. Keq =

41. Which equilibrium constant represents a reaction that is reactant favored?

A. Keq = 0.025
B. Keq = 5.2
C. Keq = 8.4 10-5
D. Keq = 6.3 105
E. not enough information

42. Consider the following reaction at a specific temperature:

CO2(g) + H2(g)
CO(g) + H2O(g)
If [CO2] = 3.60 M, [H2] = 4.00 M, [CO] = 1.18 M, and [H2O] = 2.40 M at equilibrium, calculate the value
of the equilibrium constant under these conditions.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

0 .4 7 1
0 .1 9 7
5 .0 8
2 .1 2
0 .4 4 4

43. Consider the following reaction and its equilibrium constant:

FeO(s) + CO(g)
Fe(s) + CO2(g) Keq = 0.67
If the equilibrium concentration of CO is measured at 0.40 M, what is the equilibrium concentration of
CO2?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

0 .4 0 M
1 .1 M
0 .6 7 M
0 .2 7 M
1 .7 M

44. The conjugate base of H2PO4- is:

A. HP O4 2 B. H2PO3C. H3PO4
D. P O4 3 E. H2 P O4 OH-

45. Calculate the pH of a solution that has [OH-] = 1.0 10-6 M.

A . p H = 1 .0 0
B. pH = 7.00
C . p H = 6 .0 0
D . p H = 8 .0 0
E . p H = 1 4 .0 0

46. Consider the following reaction:

Mg(s) + NiSO4(aq) MgSO4(aq) + Ni(s)
Which of the following statements regarding this reaction is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Each magnesium atom gains two electrons.

The sulfate ion is reduced.
Nickel ion is the oxidizing agent.
Magnesium is reduced.
Each nickel ion loses two electrons.

47. Consider the reaction:

H2O(l) + 3SO32-(aq) + 2MnO4-(aq) 3SO42-(aq) + 2MnO2(s) + 2OH-(aq)
Which species is reduced?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

H2 O
S O3 2 M nO4 S O4 2 M nO2

48. Consider the reaction:

Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)
Which species is oxidized, and how many electrons are transferred per atom of zinc that reacts?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Zn, 2 electrons
H+, 2 electrons
SO42-, 4 electrons
Zn2+, 4 electrons
H2, 2 electrons

49. Gamma rays are:

A. high-energy electromagnetic radiation.
B. H nuclei.
C. electrons.
D. He nuclei.
E. positrons.

50.

To which class of compounds does the molecule shown in the figure belong?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

ketone
aldehyde
alcohol
ester
carboxylic acid

ACS High School Chemistry Contest Key

1 .D
2 .D
3 .D
4 .C
5 .C
6 .A
7 .C
8 .B
9 .E
1 0 .C
1 1 .D
1 2 .D
1 3 .B
1 4 .B
1 5 .C
1 6 .C
1 7 .D
1 8 .B
1 9 .C
2 0 .C
2 1 .C
2 2 .C
2 3 .C
2 4 .B
2 5 .A
2 6 .D
2 7 .E
2 8 .B
2 9 .B

3 0 .E
3 1 .A
3 2 .C
3 3 .B
3 4 .B
3 5 .C
3 6 .B
3 7 .C
3 8 .B
3 9 .A
4 0 .D
4 1 .C
4 2 .B
4 3 .D
4 4 .A
4 5 .D
4 6 .C
4 7 .C
4 8 .A
4 9 .A
5 0 .D