Physical Science Survey II – NEMCC
(Northeast Mississippi Community College) –
Midterm Exam Questions with Verified
Answers (Instructor: Dewitt)
Question 1: What is the "-ide" rule for naming compounds?
Answer: The compound contains only two different elements.
Rationale: This naming convention is used for binary compounds. When a
compound consists of a metal and a nonmetal, the nonmetal's name ends with "-
ide" (e.g., sodium chloride, magnesium oxide).
Question 2: What are the three types of chemical bonds?
Answer:
1. Ionic: Electrons are transferred between atoms; electrostatic force is the
binding force. (e.g., NaCl).
2. Covalent: Octets are achieved through sharing electrons; usually occurs
between nonmetallics.
3. Metallic: Outer electrons move freely throughout the metal; described as an
"electron gas" within a rigid lattice of metal atoms. These bonds allow metals
to conduct heat and electricity well.
Rationale: Chemical bonds are the forces that hold atoms together in
compounds. The type of bond formed depends on the elements involved and
how they interact to achieve stability, typically by obtaining a full outer
electron shell.
,Question 3: What do all naturally occurring radioactive decay series end with?
Answer: Lead.
Rationale: Radioactive decay series involve heavy, unstable nuclei (like Uranium or
Thorium) undergoing a sequence of decays (alpha and beta) to become more
stable. The final, stable endpoint of these major natural chains is always a non-
radioactive isotope of lead (Pb).
Question 4: What is Alpha emission?
Answer: The expulsion of a helium nucleus. It is the least penetrating type of
radiation and can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
Rationale: An alpha particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons (identical to a
helium-4 nucleus). Because it is relatively large and charged, it interacts strongly
with matter and loses its energy quickly, giving it low penetrating power.
Question 5: What is Beta emission?
Answer: The expulsion of an electron. It is more penetrating than alpha emission
and can be stopped by about 1 cm of aluminum.
Rationale: A beta particle is a high-energy, high-speed electron ejected from a
neutron in an unstable nucleus. Being much smaller and faster than an alpha
particle, it can penetrate further into materials before being stopped.
Question 6: What defines an element's atomic number?
Answer: The number of protons. Elements are distinguished by this number, and in
a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons.
Rationale: The atomic number (Z) is the fundamental property of an element. It
determines the element's identity and its position on the periodic table. All atoms of
the same element have the same number of protons.
, Question 7: What are hydrocarbons with all single carbon-carbon bonds called?
Answer: Alkanes. They can be straight chains, branches, or rings.
Rationale: Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they contain the
maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible. The single bonds make them
generally less reactive than other hydrocarbon families.
Question 8: What are hydrocarbons with a double carbon-carbon bond called?
Answer: Alkenes. They are considered unsaturated hydrocarbons. The simplest
alkene is ethylene.
Rationale: The double bond is the functional group of an alkene. "Unsaturated"
means the molecule has fewer hydrogen atoms than an alkane with the same
number of carbons due to the multiple bond.
Question 9: What are hydrocarbons with a triple carbon-carbon bond called?
Answer: Alkynes. The simplest alkyne is acetylene.
Rationale: The triple bond makes alkynes even more unsaturated than alkenes.
Acetylene is a common gas used in welding torches due to the high temperature of
its flame.
Question 10: What are alcohols?
Answer: Organic compounds that have one or more hydroxyl functional groups (-
OH).
Rationale: The hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to a carbon atom is what defines an
alcohol. The properties of an alcohol, such as its solubility in water and boiling
point, are largely determined by this polar group.
Question 11: What are aromatic hydrocarbons based on?
Answer: They are based on the benzene ring structure. The functional group derived
from benzene is called a phenyl group. They are characterized by delocalized
(Northeast Mississippi Community College) –
Midterm Exam Questions with Verified
Answers (Instructor: Dewitt)
Question 1: What is the "-ide" rule for naming compounds?
Answer: The compound contains only two different elements.
Rationale: This naming convention is used for binary compounds. When a
compound consists of a metal and a nonmetal, the nonmetal's name ends with "-
ide" (e.g., sodium chloride, magnesium oxide).
Question 2: What are the three types of chemical bonds?
Answer:
1. Ionic: Electrons are transferred between atoms; electrostatic force is the
binding force. (e.g., NaCl).
2. Covalent: Octets are achieved through sharing electrons; usually occurs
between nonmetallics.
3. Metallic: Outer electrons move freely throughout the metal; described as an
"electron gas" within a rigid lattice of metal atoms. These bonds allow metals
to conduct heat and electricity well.
Rationale: Chemical bonds are the forces that hold atoms together in
compounds. The type of bond formed depends on the elements involved and
how they interact to achieve stability, typically by obtaining a full outer
electron shell.
,Question 3: What do all naturally occurring radioactive decay series end with?
Answer: Lead.
Rationale: Radioactive decay series involve heavy, unstable nuclei (like Uranium or
Thorium) undergoing a sequence of decays (alpha and beta) to become more
stable. The final, stable endpoint of these major natural chains is always a non-
radioactive isotope of lead (Pb).
Question 4: What is Alpha emission?
Answer: The expulsion of a helium nucleus. It is the least penetrating type of
radiation and can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
Rationale: An alpha particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons (identical to a
helium-4 nucleus). Because it is relatively large and charged, it interacts strongly
with matter and loses its energy quickly, giving it low penetrating power.
Question 5: What is Beta emission?
Answer: The expulsion of an electron. It is more penetrating than alpha emission
and can be stopped by about 1 cm of aluminum.
Rationale: A beta particle is a high-energy, high-speed electron ejected from a
neutron in an unstable nucleus. Being much smaller and faster than an alpha
particle, it can penetrate further into materials before being stopped.
Question 6: What defines an element's atomic number?
Answer: The number of protons. Elements are distinguished by this number, and in
a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons.
Rationale: The atomic number (Z) is the fundamental property of an element. It
determines the element's identity and its position on the periodic table. All atoms of
the same element have the same number of protons.
, Question 7: What are hydrocarbons with all single carbon-carbon bonds called?
Answer: Alkanes. They can be straight chains, branches, or rings.
Rationale: Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they contain the
maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible. The single bonds make them
generally less reactive than other hydrocarbon families.
Question 8: What are hydrocarbons with a double carbon-carbon bond called?
Answer: Alkenes. They are considered unsaturated hydrocarbons. The simplest
alkene is ethylene.
Rationale: The double bond is the functional group of an alkene. "Unsaturated"
means the molecule has fewer hydrogen atoms than an alkane with the same
number of carbons due to the multiple bond.
Question 9: What are hydrocarbons with a triple carbon-carbon bond called?
Answer: Alkynes. The simplest alkyne is acetylene.
Rationale: The triple bond makes alkynes even more unsaturated than alkenes.
Acetylene is a common gas used in welding torches due to the high temperature of
its flame.
Question 10: What are alcohols?
Answer: Organic compounds that have one or more hydroxyl functional groups (-
OH).
Rationale: The hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to a carbon atom is what defines an
alcohol. The properties of an alcohol, such as its solubility in water and boiling
point, are largely determined by this polar group.
Question 11: What are aromatic hydrocarbons based on?
Answer: They are based on the benzene ring structure. The functional group derived
from benzene is called a phenyl group. They are characterized by delocalized
