Instructor Solutions Manual: H. Stephen Stoker, Jennifer B. Tillinger, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, ©2026,
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
Instructor Solutions Manual
All Chapters Included ✅
H. STEPHEN STOKER, JENNIFER B. TILLINGER, GENERAL, ORGANIC, AND BIOLOGICAL
CHEMISTRY, ©2026, 9780357975657; CHAPTER 1: BASIC CONCEPTS ABOUT MATTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
End-of-Chapter Exercise Solutions...........................................................................................1
Chemistry: The Study of Matter (Section 1-1) ........................................................................... 1
Physical States of Matter (Section 1-2) ..................................................................................... 2
Properties of Matter (Section 1-3)..............................................................................................3
Changes in Matter (Section 1-4)................................................................................................5
Pure Substances and Mixtures (Section 1-5) ............................................................................ 7
Elements and Compounds (Section 1-6)...................................................................................9
Discovery and Abundance of the Elements (Section 1-7) ....................................................... 13
Names and Chemical Symbols of the Elements (Section 1-8)................................................15
Atoms and Molecules (Section 1-9).........................................................................................17
Chemical Formulas (Section 1-10) .......................................................................................... 21
Chemical Connections 1-A.......................................................................................................26
Carbon Monoxide: A Substance with Both “Good” and “Bad” Properties................................26
Chemical Connections 1-B.......................................................................................................27
Elemental Composition of the Human Body............................................................................27
END-OF-CHAPTER EXERCISE SOLUTIONS
CHEMISTRY: THE STUDY OF MATTER (SECTION 1-1)
1-1 What are the two general characteristics that all types of matter possess?
Answer: All samples of matter have (1) mass and (2) occupy space.
1-2 What are the three aspects of matter that are of particular interest to chemists?
Answer: Chemists are particularly interested in (1) the characteristics of matter,
(2) the composition of matter, and (3) the transformations of matter.
© 2026 1
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, Instructor Solutions Manual: H. Stephen Stoker, Jennifer B. Tillinger, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, ©2026,
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
1-3 Classify each of the following as matter or energy (nonmatter).
a. air
b. pizza
c. sound
d. gold
Answer:
Air, pizza, and gold are matter because each has mass and occupies space. Sound is a form
of energy.
a. matter
b. matter
c. energy
d. matter
1-4 Classify each of the following as matter or energy (nonmatter).
a. silver
b. cake
c. heat
d. water
Answer:
a. matter
b. matter
c. energy
d. matter
PHYSICAL STATES OF MATTER (SECTION 1-2)
1-5 What physical characteristics distinguish between the two states listed?
a. liquids and solids
b. gases and liquids
Answer:
a. Liquids have an indefinite shape; solids have a definite shape.
b. Gases have an indefinite volume; liquids have a definite volume.
1-6 What physical characteristic is the same for the two states listed?
a. liquids and solids
b. gases and liquids
Answer:
a. definite volume
b. indefinite shape
1-7 Indicate whether each of the following substances takes the shape of its container and
whether it has a definite volume.
a. copper wire
b. oxygen gas
c. granulated sugar
d. liquid water
© 2026 2
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, Instructor Solutions Manual: H. Stephen Stoker, Jennifer B. Tillinger, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, ©2026,
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
Answer:
a. Copper wire does not take the shape of its container; yes, it does have a definite volume.
b. Oxygen gas does not have a definite shape or a definite volume. It takes the shape and
volume of its container.
c. Each granule of sugar has its own definite shape; however, the granules are small, so the
general shape of the mass of crystals does take the shape of the container. Yes,
granulated sugar has a definite volume.
d. Liquid water takes the shape of its container; yes, it has a definite volume.
1-8 Indicate whether each of the following substances takes the shape of its container and
whether it has an indefinite volume.
a. aluminum powder
b. carbon dioxide gas
c. clean air
d. gasoline
Answer:
a. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
b. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
c. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
d. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
PROPERTIES OF MATTER (SECTION 1-3)
1-9 Classify each of the following properties of the metal magnesium as a physical property or a
chemical property.
a. solid at room temperature
b. ignites upon heating in air
c. hydrogen gas is produced when it is dissolved in acids
d. has a density of 1.738 g/cm3 at 20°C
Answer:
a. The state of a substance is a physical property.
b. Ignition on heating with air produces a new substance, so this is a chemical property.
c. A new substance is produced (hydrogen gas), so this is a chemical property.
d. Density is a physical property.
1-10 Classify each of the following properties of the metal magnesium as a physical property or a
chemical property.
a. silvery-white in color
b. does not react with cold water
c. melts at 651°C
d. finely divided form burns in oxygen with a dazzling white flame
Answer:
a. physical property
b. chemical property
c. physical property
d. chemical property
1-11 Indicate whether each of the following statements describes a physical or a chemical
property.
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, Instructor Solutions Manual: H. Stephen Stoker, Jennifer B. Tillinger, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, ©2026,
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
a. Silver salts discolor the skin by reacting with skin protein.
b. Hemoglobin molecules have a red color.
c. Beryllium metal vapor is extremely toxic to humans.
d. Aspirin tablets can be pulverized with a hammer.
Answer:
a. Chemical. The key word is “reacting,” which indicates that a new substance is formed.
b. Physical. Red color can be observed without the formation of a new substance.
c. Chemical. The toxicity of beryllium indicates that it produces a change of substances in
the human body.
d. Physical. Pulverizing a substance changes its shape.
1-12 Indicate whether each of the following statements describes a physical or a chemical
property.
a. Diamonds are very hard substances.
b. Gold metal does not react with nitric acid.
c. Lithium metal is light enough to float on water.
d. Mercury is a liquid at room temperature.
Answer:
a. physical
b. chemical
c. physical
d. physical
1-13 Classify each of the following descriptions as a physical property or chemical property of the
substance.
a. The blue solid turns black when heated over a flame.
b. The substance reacts explosively with oxygen at 425°C.
c. The substance has a density of 8.27 g/cm3 at 25°C.
d. The substance melts at temperatures above 250°C.
Answer:
a. Chemical. A change in color indicates the formation of a new substance.
b. Chemical. The word “reacts” indicates that a new substance is formed.
c. Physical. Density is a characteristic of a substance that can be observed without
changing the basic identity of the substance.
d. Physical. Change of state is a physical property.
1-14 Classify each of the following descriptions as a physical property or chemical property of the
substance.
a. The substance does not tarnish when exposed to dry air at 25°C.
b. The substance has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale.
c. The substance is a liquid at 75°C.
d. The substance spontaneously combusts in the presence of air.
Answer:
a. chemical property
b. physical property
c. physical property
© 2026 4
.
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
Instructor Solutions Manual
All Chapters Included ✅
H. STEPHEN STOKER, JENNIFER B. TILLINGER, GENERAL, ORGANIC, AND BIOLOGICAL
CHEMISTRY, ©2026, 9780357975657; CHAPTER 1: BASIC CONCEPTS ABOUT MATTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
End-of-Chapter Exercise Solutions...........................................................................................1
Chemistry: The Study of Matter (Section 1-1) ........................................................................... 1
Physical States of Matter (Section 1-2) ..................................................................................... 2
Properties of Matter (Section 1-3)..............................................................................................3
Changes in Matter (Section 1-4)................................................................................................5
Pure Substances and Mixtures (Section 1-5) ............................................................................ 7
Elements and Compounds (Section 1-6)...................................................................................9
Discovery and Abundance of the Elements (Section 1-7) ....................................................... 13
Names and Chemical Symbols of the Elements (Section 1-8)................................................15
Atoms and Molecules (Section 1-9).........................................................................................17
Chemical Formulas (Section 1-10) .......................................................................................... 21
Chemical Connections 1-A.......................................................................................................26
Carbon Monoxide: A Substance with Both “Good” and “Bad” Properties................................26
Chemical Connections 1-B.......................................................................................................27
Elemental Composition of the Human Body............................................................................27
END-OF-CHAPTER EXERCISE SOLUTIONS
CHEMISTRY: THE STUDY OF MATTER (SECTION 1-1)
1-1 What are the two general characteristics that all types of matter possess?
Answer: All samples of matter have (1) mass and (2) occupy space.
1-2 What are the three aspects of matter that are of particular interest to chemists?
Answer: Chemists are particularly interested in (1) the characteristics of matter,
(2) the composition of matter, and (3) the transformations of matter.
© 2026 1
.
, Instructor Solutions Manual: H. Stephen Stoker, Jennifer B. Tillinger, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, ©2026,
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
1-3 Classify each of the following as matter or energy (nonmatter).
a. air
b. pizza
c. sound
d. gold
Answer:
Air, pizza, and gold are matter because each has mass and occupies space. Sound is a form
of energy.
a. matter
b. matter
c. energy
d. matter
1-4 Classify each of the following as matter or energy (nonmatter).
a. silver
b. cake
c. heat
d. water
Answer:
a. matter
b. matter
c. energy
d. matter
PHYSICAL STATES OF MATTER (SECTION 1-2)
1-5 What physical characteristics distinguish between the two states listed?
a. liquids and solids
b. gases and liquids
Answer:
a. Liquids have an indefinite shape; solids have a definite shape.
b. Gases have an indefinite volume; liquids have a definite volume.
1-6 What physical characteristic is the same for the two states listed?
a. liquids and solids
b. gases and liquids
Answer:
a. definite volume
b. indefinite shape
1-7 Indicate whether each of the following substances takes the shape of its container and
whether it has a definite volume.
a. copper wire
b. oxygen gas
c. granulated sugar
d. liquid water
© 2026 2
.
, Instructor Solutions Manual: H. Stephen Stoker, Jennifer B. Tillinger, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, ©2026,
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
Answer:
a. Copper wire does not take the shape of its container; yes, it does have a definite volume.
b. Oxygen gas does not have a definite shape or a definite volume. It takes the shape and
volume of its container.
c. Each granule of sugar has its own definite shape; however, the granules are small, so the
general shape of the mass of crystals does take the shape of the container. Yes,
granulated sugar has a definite volume.
d. Liquid water takes the shape of its container; yes, it has a definite volume.
1-8 Indicate whether each of the following substances takes the shape of its container and
whether it has an indefinite volume.
a. aluminum powder
b. carbon dioxide gas
c. clean air
d. gasoline
Answer:
a. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
b. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
c. takes shape of container; yes, indefinite volume
d. takes shape of container; no, definite volume
PROPERTIES OF MATTER (SECTION 1-3)
1-9 Classify each of the following properties of the metal magnesium as a physical property or a
chemical property.
a. solid at room temperature
b. ignites upon heating in air
c. hydrogen gas is produced when it is dissolved in acids
d. has a density of 1.738 g/cm3 at 20°C
Answer:
a. The state of a substance is a physical property.
b. Ignition on heating with air produces a new substance, so this is a chemical property.
c. A new substance is produced (hydrogen gas), so this is a chemical property.
d. Density is a physical property.
1-10 Classify each of the following properties of the metal magnesium as a physical property or a
chemical property.
a. silvery-white in color
b. does not react with cold water
c. melts at 651°C
d. finely divided form burns in oxygen with a dazzling white flame
Answer:
a. physical property
b. chemical property
c. physical property
d. chemical property
1-11 Indicate whether each of the following statements describes a physical or a chemical
property.
© 2026 3
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, Instructor Solutions Manual: H. Stephen Stoker, Jennifer B. Tillinger, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, ©2026,
9780357975657; Chapter 1: Basic Concepts About Matter
a. Silver salts discolor the skin by reacting with skin protein.
b. Hemoglobin molecules have a red color.
c. Beryllium metal vapor is extremely toxic to humans.
d. Aspirin tablets can be pulverized with a hammer.
Answer:
a. Chemical. The key word is “reacting,” which indicates that a new substance is formed.
b. Physical. Red color can be observed without the formation of a new substance.
c. Chemical. The toxicity of beryllium indicates that it produces a change of substances in
the human body.
d. Physical. Pulverizing a substance changes its shape.
1-12 Indicate whether each of the following statements describes a physical or a chemical
property.
a. Diamonds are very hard substances.
b. Gold metal does not react with nitric acid.
c. Lithium metal is light enough to float on water.
d. Mercury is a liquid at room temperature.
Answer:
a. physical
b. chemical
c. physical
d. physical
1-13 Classify each of the following descriptions as a physical property or chemical property of the
substance.
a. The blue solid turns black when heated over a flame.
b. The substance reacts explosively with oxygen at 425°C.
c. The substance has a density of 8.27 g/cm3 at 25°C.
d. The substance melts at temperatures above 250°C.
Answer:
a. Chemical. A change in color indicates the formation of a new substance.
b. Chemical. The word “reacts” indicates that a new substance is formed.
c. Physical. Density is a characteristic of a substance that can be observed without
changing the basic identity of the substance.
d. Physical. Change of state is a physical property.
1-14 Classify each of the following descriptions as a physical property or chemical property of the
substance.
a. The substance does not tarnish when exposed to dry air at 25°C.
b. The substance has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale.
c. The substance is a liquid at 75°C.
d. The substance spontaneously combusts in the presence of air.
Answer:
a. chemical property
b. physical property
c. physical property
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