NEMCC PHYSICAL SCIENCE SURVEY II (DEWITT) FINAL EXAM
REVIEW AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM
ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH WELL ELABORATED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) LATEST UPDATED VERSION
2026 |GUARANTEED PASS A+
***Good luck on your NEMCC Physical Science Survey II Final Exam! This
comprehensive review covers atomic structure, bonding, reactions, mechanics,
thermodynamics, waves, light, electricity, magnetism, astronomy, geology, and
nuclear physics. Review any concepts where you had difficulty and trust your
preparation. ***
SECTION A: CHEMISTRY - ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND PERIODICITY
1. Which statement BEST explains why the atomic masses on the periodic table
are not whole numbers?
A) Scientists have not yet precisely measured atomic masses
B) Atomic masses are weighted averages of all naturally occurring isotopes of an
element CORRECT ANSWER
C) The mass of electrons significantly contributes to atomic mass
D) Nuclear binding energy causes mass variations
Rationale: The atomic mass reported on the periodic table is a weighted average
of the masses of all stable isotopes of that element, taking into account their
natural abundance. For example, chlorine-35 and chlorine-37 combine to give an
average of 35.45 am.
2. An element has an electron configuration ending in 4p⁵. Which statement
about this element is correct?
,A) It is a noble gas with a full valence shell
B) It is a halogen that will readily gain one electron to form a -1 anion CORRECT
ANSWER
C) It is an alkaline earth metal that loses two electrons
D) It is in Period 3 of the periodic table
Rationale: The 4p⁵ configuration indicates the element is in the p-block, Period 4
(because of the 4), and with 5 electrons in the p subshell, it has 7 valence
electrons total (including filled s subshell). This places it in Group 17, the
halogens, which typically gain one electron to achieve a stable octet.
3. Which quantum number describes the orientation of an orbital in space?
A) Principal quantum number (n)
B) Azimuthal quantum number (ℓ)
C) Magnetic quantum number (mℓ) CORRECT ANSWER
D) Spin quantum number (MS)
Rationale: The magnetic quantum number (mℓ) specifies the orientation of an
orbital's angular momentum vector in space. For a given subshell (ℓ), mℓ can have
integer values from -ℓ to +ℓ, defining the specific orbitals (e.g., for p orbitals, mℓ =
-1, 0, +1 corresponding to pox, pie, pp. orientations).
4. Which element has the highest electronegativity?
,A) Francium (Fr)
B) Fluorine (F) CORRECT ANSWER
C) Oxygen (O)
D) Chlorine (Cl)
Rationale: Electronegativity, the tendency of an atom to attract bonding
electrons, increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a
group. Fluorine, in the upper right corner of the periodic table (excluding noble
gases), is the most electronegative element.
5. Which of the following correctly lists elements in order of INCREASING
ionization energy?
A) Na < Mg < Al < Si < P < S < Cl < AR CORRECT ANSWER
B) AR < Cl < S < P < Si < Al < Mg < Na
C) Na > Mg > Al > Si > P > S > Cl > AR
D) All have similar ionization energies
Rationale: Ionization energy generally increases across a period from left to
right due to increasing nuclear charge and decreasing atomic radius. Sodium
(Group 1) has the lowest, and Argon (Group 18) has the highest in Period 3.
(Note: There are minor exceptions like the drop from Mg to Al due to electron
configuration stability.)
6. An atom of potassium (K) has an atomic number of 19 and mass number of 39.
How many neutrons are in its nucleus?
, A) 19
B) 20 CORRECT ANSWER
C) 39
D) 58
Rationale: The number of neutrons is calculated by subtracting the atomic
number (protons) from the mass number (protons + neutrons). Neutrons = 39 - 19
= 20.
7. Which statement about the Bohr model of the atom is correct?
A) Electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed energy levels or shells CORRECT ANSWER
B) Electrons are found in probability clouds called orbitals
C) The nucleus contains protons, neutrons, and electrons
D) Electrons can be found anywhere around the nucleus with equal probability
Rationale: The Bohr model, proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913, describes electrons
traveling in fixed circular orbits (energy levels) around the nucleus. It successfully
explained hydrogen's spectrum but was later replaced by the quantum
mechanical model (which describes orbitals as probability clouds).
8. Which element is a transition metal?
A) Calcium (Ca)
B) Iron (Fe) CORRECT ANSWER
C) Bromine (Br)
REVIEW AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM
ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH WELL ELABORATED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) LATEST UPDATED VERSION
2026 |GUARANTEED PASS A+
***Good luck on your NEMCC Physical Science Survey II Final Exam! This
comprehensive review covers atomic structure, bonding, reactions, mechanics,
thermodynamics, waves, light, electricity, magnetism, astronomy, geology, and
nuclear physics. Review any concepts where you had difficulty and trust your
preparation. ***
SECTION A: CHEMISTRY - ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND PERIODICITY
1. Which statement BEST explains why the atomic masses on the periodic table
are not whole numbers?
A) Scientists have not yet precisely measured atomic masses
B) Atomic masses are weighted averages of all naturally occurring isotopes of an
element CORRECT ANSWER
C) The mass of electrons significantly contributes to atomic mass
D) Nuclear binding energy causes mass variations
Rationale: The atomic mass reported on the periodic table is a weighted average
of the masses of all stable isotopes of that element, taking into account their
natural abundance. For example, chlorine-35 and chlorine-37 combine to give an
average of 35.45 am.
2. An element has an electron configuration ending in 4p⁵. Which statement
about this element is correct?
,A) It is a noble gas with a full valence shell
B) It is a halogen that will readily gain one electron to form a -1 anion CORRECT
ANSWER
C) It is an alkaline earth metal that loses two electrons
D) It is in Period 3 of the periodic table
Rationale: The 4p⁵ configuration indicates the element is in the p-block, Period 4
(because of the 4), and with 5 electrons in the p subshell, it has 7 valence
electrons total (including filled s subshell). This places it in Group 17, the
halogens, which typically gain one electron to achieve a stable octet.
3. Which quantum number describes the orientation of an orbital in space?
A) Principal quantum number (n)
B) Azimuthal quantum number (ℓ)
C) Magnetic quantum number (mℓ) CORRECT ANSWER
D) Spin quantum number (MS)
Rationale: The magnetic quantum number (mℓ) specifies the orientation of an
orbital's angular momentum vector in space. For a given subshell (ℓ), mℓ can have
integer values from -ℓ to +ℓ, defining the specific orbitals (e.g., for p orbitals, mℓ =
-1, 0, +1 corresponding to pox, pie, pp. orientations).
4. Which element has the highest electronegativity?
,A) Francium (Fr)
B) Fluorine (F) CORRECT ANSWER
C) Oxygen (O)
D) Chlorine (Cl)
Rationale: Electronegativity, the tendency of an atom to attract bonding
electrons, increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a
group. Fluorine, in the upper right corner of the periodic table (excluding noble
gases), is the most electronegative element.
5. Which of the following correctly lists elements in order of INCREASING
ionization energy?
A) Na < Mg < Al < Si < P < S < Cl < AR CORRECT ANSWER
B) AR < Cl < S < P < Si < Al < Mg < Na
C) Na > Mg > Al > Si > P > S > Cl > AR
D) All have similar ionization energies
Rationale: Ionization energy generally increases across a period from left to
right due to increasing nuclear charge and decreasing atomic radius. Sodium
(Group 1) has the lowest, and Argon (Group 18) has the highest in Period 3.
(Note: There are minor exceptions like the drop from Mg to Al due to electron
configuration stability.)
6. An atom of potassium (K) has an atomic number of 19 and mass number of 39.
How many neutrons are in its nucleus?
, A) 19
B) 20 CORRECT ANSWER
C) 39
D) 58
Rationale: The number of neutrons is calculated by subtracting the atomic
number (protons) from the mass number (protons + neutrons). Neutrons = 39 - 19
= 20.
7. Which statement about the Bohr model of the atom is correct?
A) Electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed energy levels or shells CORRECT ANSWER
B) Electrons are found in probability clouds called orbitals
C) The nucleus contains protons, neutrons, and electrons
D) Electrons can be found anywhere around the nucleus with equal probability
Rationale: The Bohr model, proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913, describes electrons
traveling in fixed circular orbits (energy levels) around the nucleus. It successfully
explained hydrogen's spectrum but was later replaced by the quantum
mechanical model (which describes orbitals as probability clouds).
8. Which element is a transition metal?
A) Calcium (Ca)
B) Iron (Fe) CORRECT ANSWER
C) Bromine (Br)
