Portland Community College
WEIVER 1 MAXE
PCC
CHEM 210
Department of Chemistry · Organic Chemistry I
SCIENCE FOR THE COMMON GOOD
EST. 1961
CHEM 210 — Exam 1 Review
ATO M I C ST R U C T U R E · B O N D I N G · R E S O N A N C E · N O M E N C L AT U R E · I N T E R M O L E CU L A R F O R C E S ·
M O L E CU L A R O R B I TA LS
INSTITUTION Portland Community College COURSE CODE CH 210
PROGRAM Organic Chemistry I · Science & ACADEMIC YEAR
Engineering Transfer
EXAM TITLE CHEM 210 — Exam 1 Comprehensive TOTAL QUESTIONS 50 Questions
Review
COURSE TITLE Organic Chemistry I · Structure, Bonding & FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False — Select the
Nomenclature Single Best Answer
STUDY GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover organic vs. inorganic compounds, atomic structure, bonding theories, resonance, nomenclature, and
intermolecular forces.
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry I curriculum.
▸ True/False questions require precise knowledge of bonding principles and molecular orbital theory.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive exam preparation.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE · BONDING · RESONANCE · NOMENCLATURE · IMFS · Questions 1
MOLECULAR ORBITALS – 50
1. What is an organic compound?
A. A compound that contains carbon
B. A compound that does not contain carbon
C. A compound that contains only hydrogen and oxygen
D. A compound synthesized only in living organisms
CORRECT ANSWER A. A compound that contains carbon
RATIONALE Organic chemistry is the study of carbon-containing compounds. Carbon is unique in its ability to form four
covalent bonds and link to other carbon atoms in chains of any length. The synthesis of urea from ammonium
cyanate by Friedrich Wöhler redefined organic chemistry, proving that organic compounds could be made
from inorganic starting materials.
, 2. What compound was synthesized that redefined organic chemistry by demonstrating organic compounds could be
made from inorganic compounds?
A. Glucose
B. Benzene
C. Urea
D. Methane
CORRECT ANSWER C. Urea
RATIONALE Friedrich Wöhler synthesized urea (an organic compound) from ammonium cyanate (an inorganic compound)
in 1828. This landmark experiment disproved vitalism—the belief that organic compounds could only be
produced by living organisms—and redefined organic chemistry as the chemistry of carbon compounds
regardless of their source.
3. Why is carbon so significant in organic chemistry?
A. It can only form single bonds
B. It can form four covalent bonds and link to other carbon atoms in chains of any length
C. It is the most abundant element in the universe
D. It has the highest electronegativity of all elements
CORRECT ANSWER B. It can form four covalent bonds and link to other carbon atoms in chains of any length
RATIONALE Carbon's four valence electrons allow it to form four covalent bonds to other atoms. Critically, C–C bonds (339
kJ/mol) are much stronger than Si–Si bonds (188 kJ/mol), enabling carbon to form stable long chains, rings,
and complex branched structures—the molecular backbone of organic chemistry and life itself.
4. An atom has no net charge because:
A. It has more protons than electrons
B. The number of electrons equals the number of protons
C. Neutrons neutralize the charge of protons
D. Electrons and protons have the same mass
CORRECT ANSWER B. The number of electrons equals the number of protons
RATIONALE In a neutral atom, the number of negatively charged electrons equals the number of positively charged
protons, producing a net charge of zero. When electrons and protons are unequal, the species bears a charge:
more protons = cation (+); more electrons = anion (−). Neutrons are uncharged and affect mass, not charge.
5. What is a cation?
A. An atom with more electrons than protons
B. An atom with more protons than electrons (+ charge)
C. An atom with equal numbers of protons and electrons
D. A molecule that has no charge
CORRECT ANSWER B. An atom with more protons than electrons (+ charge)
RATIONALE A cation has fewer electrons than protons, resulting in a net positive charge. Cations are formed when an
atom loses electrons. An anion has more electrons than protons (− charge), formed when an atom gains
electrons. The charge of monatomic ions is determined by the difference between the atom's group number
and its actual valence electron count.
WEIVER 1 MAXE
PCC
CHEM 210
Department of Chemistry · Organic Chemistry I
SCIENCE FOR THE COMMON GOOD
EST. 1961
CHEM 210 — Exam 1 Review
ATO M I C ST R U C T U R E · B O N D I N G · R E S O N A N C E · N O M E N C L AT U R E · I N T E R M O L E CU L A R F O R C E S ·
M O L E CU L A R O R B I TA LS
INSTITUTION Portland Community College COURSE CODE CH 210
PROGRAM Organic Chemistry I · Science & ACADEMIC YEAR
Engineering Transfer
EXAM TITLE CHEM 210 — Exam 1 Comprehensive TOTAL QUESTIONS 50 Questions
Review
COURSE TITLE Organic Chemistry I · Structure, Bonding & FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False — Select the
Nomenclature Single Best Answer
STUDY GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover organic vs. inorganic compounds, atomic structure, bonding theories, resonance, nomenclature, and
intermolecular forces.
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry I curriculum.
▸ True/False questions require precise knowledge of bonding principles and molecular orbital theory.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive exam preparation.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE · BONDING · RESONANCE · NOMENCLATURE · IMFS · Questions 1
MOLECULAR ORBITALS – 50
1. What is an organic compound?
A. A compound that contains carbon
B. A compound that does not contain carbon
C. A compound that contains only hydrogen and oxygen
D. A compound synthesized only in living organisms
CORRECT ANSWER A. A compound that contains carbon
RATIONALE Organic chemistry is the study of carbon-containing compounds. Carbon is unique in its ability to form four
covalent bonds and link to other carbon atoms in chains of any length. The synthesis of urea from ammonium
cyanate by Friedrich Wöhler redefined organic chemistry, proving that organic compounds could be made
from inorganic starting materials.
, 2. What compound was synthesized that redefined organic chemistry by demonstrating organic compounds could be
made from inorganic compounds?
A. Glucose
B. Benzene
C. Urea
D. Methane
CORRECT ANSWER C. Urea
RATIONALE Friedrich Wöhler synthesized urea (an organic compound) from ammonium cyanate (an inorganic compound)
in 1828. This landmark experiment disproved vitalism—the belief that organic compounds could only be
produced by living organisms—and redefined organic chemistry as the chemistry of carbon compounds
regardless of their source.
3. Why is carbon so significant in organic chemistry?
A. It can only form single bonds
B. It can form four covalent bonds and link to other carbon atoms in chains of any length
C. It is the most abundant element in the universe
D. It has the highest electronegativity of all elements
CORRECT ANSWER B. It can form four covalent bonds and link to other carbon atoms in chains of any length
RATIONALE Carbon's four valence electrons allow it to form four covalent bonds to other atoms. Critically, C–C bonds (339
kJ/mol) are much stronger than Si–Si bonds (188 kJ/mol), enabling carbon to form stable long chains, rings,
and complex branched structures—the molecular backbone of organic chemistry and life itself.
4. An atom has no net charge because:
A. It has more protons than electrons
B. The number of electrons equals the number of protons
C. Neutrons neutralize the charge of protons
D. Electrons and protons have the same mass
CORRECT ANSWER B. The number of electrons equals the number of protons
RATIONALE In a neutral atom, the number of negatively charged electrons equals the number of positively charged
protons, producing a net charge of zero. When electrons and protons are unequal, the species bears a charge:
more protons = cation (+); more electrons = anion (−). Neutrons are uncharged and affect mass, not charge.
5. What is a cation?
A. An atom with more electrons than protons
B. An atom with more protons than electrons (+ charge)
C. An atom with equal numbers of protons and electrons
D. A molecule that has no charge
CORRECT ANSWER B. An atom with more protons than electrons (+ charge)
RATIONALE A cation has fewer electrons than protons, resulting in a net positive charge. Cations are formed when an
atom loses electrons. An anion has more electrons than protons (− charge), formed when an atom gains
electrons. The charge of monatomic ions is determined by the difference between the atom's group number
and its actual valence electron count.
