ATI TEAS 7 Chemistry Exam 2026 Update
1. Where do electrons orbit?
A. Around other electrons
B. Around the nucleus in shells
C. Inside the nucleus
D. In the proton cloud
Correct Answer: B. Around the nucleus in shells
Rationale: Electrons move around the nucleus in specific energy levels called shells or orbitals.
Exam Tip: Electrons are outside the nucleus; protons and neutrons are inside the nucleus.
2. Do neutrons have an electrical charge?
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Neutral
D. Variable
Correct Answer: C. Neutral
Rationale: Neutrons carry no electrical charge, while protons are positive and electrons are
negative.
Exam Tip: “Neutron” sounds like “neutral” — easy memory trick.
3. Atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons are called:
A. Ions
B. Compounds
C. Molecules
D. Isotopes
Correct Answer: D. Isotopes
Rationale: Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different neutron numbers, giving them
different atomic masses.
Exam Tip: Same protons = same element; different neutrons = isotope.
,4. How do you find atomic mass?
A. Protons + electrons
B. Electrons + neutrons
C. Protons + neutrons
D. Protons only
Correct Answer: C. Protons + neutrons
Rationale: Atomic mass is determined by adding the number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus.
Exam Tip: Electrons have almost no mass and are not included in atomic mass.
5. Atoms that gained or lost electrons and therefore have a positive or negative charge are
called:
A. Isotopes
B. Molecules
C. Ions
D. Compounds
Correct Answer: C. Ions
Rationale: Atoms become ions when they gain or lose electrons, resulting in an electrical
charge.
Exam Tip: Losing electrons = positive ion; gaining electrons = negative ion.
6. A chart that shows how elements are related to one another is called the:
A. Atomic chart
B. Periodic table of elements
C. Electron map
D. Orbital chart
Correct Answer: B. Periodic table of elements
Rationale: The periodic table organizes elements by atomic number and chemical properties.
Exam Tip: Elements in the same column usually have similar chemical behavior.
,7. What are the columns of the periodic table called?
A. Periods
B. Shells
C. Groups or families
D. Orbitals
Correct Answer: C. Groups or families
Rationale: Vertical columns are called groups or families and contain elements with similar
properties.
Exam Tip: Group = vertical column.
8. What are the rows of the periodic table called?
A. Families
B. Periods
C. Orbitals
D. Series
Correct Answer: B. Periods
Rationale: Horizontal rows on the periodic table are called periods.
Exam Tip: Period = horizontal row.
9. The first two groups on the periodic table are known as the:
A. Noble gases and halogens
B. Reactive nonmetals
C. Alkali and alkaline earth metals
D. Transition metals
Correct Answer: C. Alkali and alkaline earth metals
Rationale: Group 1 contains alkali metals, and Group 2 contains alkaline earth metals; both are
highly reactive metals.
Exam Tip: Alkali metals are among the most reactive elements.
, 10. What is found in the middle of the periodic table?
A. Noble gases
B. Reactive metals
C. Metalloids
D. Halogens
Correct Answer: B. Reactive metals
Rationale: The middle section contains transition metals, which are reactive metals.
Exam Tip: Transition metals occupy the center block of the table.
11. What are the elements on the far right side of the periodic table called?
A. Halogens
B. Reactive gases
C. Noble gases
D. Transition metals
Correct Answer: C. Noble gases
Rationale: Noble gases are chemically stable and generally unreactive because they have full
valence shells.
Exam Tip: Noble gases rarely form bonds because their outer shell is already full.
12. What do the groups on the periodic table represent?
A. Number of protons
B. Number of orbitals
C. Number of valence electrons
D. Atomic mass
Correct Answer: C. Number of valence electrons
Rationale: Elements in the same group usually have the same number of valence electrons.
Exam Tip: Valence electrons determine chemical behavior and bonding.
1. Where do electrons orbit?
A. Around other electrons
B. Around the nucleus in shells
C. Inside the nucleus
D. In the proton cloud
Correct Answer: B. Around the nucleus in shells
Rationale: Electrons move around the nucleus in specific energy levels called shells or orbitals.
Exam Tip: Electrons are outside the nucleus; protons and neutrons are inside the nucleus.
2. Do neutrons have an electrical charge?
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Neutral
D. Variable
Correct Answer: C. Neutral
Rationale: Neutrons carry no electrical charge, while protons are positive and electrons are
negative.
Exam Tip: “Neutron” sounds like “neutral” — easy memory trick.
3. Atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons are called:
A. Ions
B. Compounds
C. Molecules
D. Isotopes
Correct Answer: D. Isotopes
Rationale: Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different neutron numbers, giving them
different atomic masses.
Exam Tip: Same protons = same element; different neutrons = isotope.
,4. How do you find atomic mass?
A. Protons + electrons
B. Electrons + neutrons
C. Protons + neutrons
D. Protons only
Correct Answer: C. Protons + neutrons
Rationale: Atomic mass is determined by adding the number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus.
Exam Tip: Electrons have almost no mass and are not included in atomic mass.
5. Atoms that gained or lost electrons and therefore have a positive or negative charge are
called:
A. Isotopes
B. Molecules
C. Ions
D. Compounds
Correct Answer: C. Ions
Rationale: Atoms become ions when they gain or lose electrons, resulting in an electrical
charge.
Exam Tip: Losing electrons = positive ion; gaining electrons = negative ion.
6. A chart that shows how elements are related to one another is called the:
A. Atomic chart
B. Periodic table of elements
C. Electron map
D. Orbital chart
Correct Answer: B. Periodic table of elements
Rationale: The periodic table organizes elements by atomic number and chemical properties.
Exam Tip: Elements in the same column usually have similar chemical behavior.
,7. What are the columns of the periodic table called?
A. Periods
B. Shells
C. Groups or families
D. Orbitals
Correct Answer: C. Groups or families
Rationale: Vertical columns are called groups or families and contain elements with similar
properties.
Exam Tip: Group = vertical column.
8. What are the rows of the periodic table called?
A. Families
B. Periods
C. Orbitals
D. Series
Correct Answer: B. Periods
Rationale: Horizontal rows on the periodic table are called periods.
Exam Tip: Period = horizontal row.
9. The first two groups on the periodic table are known as the:
A. Noble gases and halogens
B. Reactive nonmetals
C. Alkali and alkaline earth metals
D. Transition metals
Correct Answer: C. Alkali and alkaline earth metals
Rationale: Group 1 contains alkali metals, and Group 2 contains alkaline earth metals; both are
highly reactive metals.
Exam Tip: Alkali metals are among the most reactive elements.
, 10. What is found in the middle of the periodic table?
A. Noble gases
B. Reactive metals
C. Metalloids
D. Halogens
Correct Answer: B. Reactive metals
Rationale: The middle section contains transition metals, which are reactive metals.
Exam Tip: Transition metals occupy the center block of the table.
11. What are the elements on the far right side of the periodic table called?
A. Halogens
B. Reactive gases
C. Noble gases
D. Transition metals
Correct Answer: C. Noble gases
Rationale: Noble gases are chemically stable and generally unreactive because they have full
valence shells.
Exam Tip: Noble gases rarely form bonds because their outer shell is already full.
12. What do the groups on the periodic table represent?
A. Number of protons
B. Number of orbitals
C. Number of valence electrons
D. Atomic mass
Correct Answer: C. Number of valence electrons
Rationale: Elements in the same group usually have the same number of valence electrons.
Exam Tip: Valence electrons determine chemical behavior and bonding.
