Portage Learning CHEM 103
Introduction to General Chemistry
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Comprehensive Modules 1–6 Examination | 2026/2027
100 Questions | Verified Answers | Graded A+ | Latest Update
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Abstract
This Portage Learning Chem 103 Modules 1–6 Comprehensive Exam for 2026/2027 reflects the
standardized competency assessment used to evaluate proficiency in foundational general chemistry
principles for undergraduate science students. The examination measures knowledge of scientific
measurement, atomic structure, periodic trends, chemical bonding, nomenclature, reaction types,
stoichiometric calculations, gas law applications, and scenario-based quantitative reasoning
essential for effective, evidence-based practice in chemistry, health sciences, and STEM fields. The
comprehensive 100-question format provides extensive coverage of critical chemistry domains across
Modules 1–6, aligned with current Portage Learning curriculum guidelines and ACS General
Chemistry learning outcomes.
Keywords: General Chemistry, Portage Learning, CHEM 103, Stoichiometry, Gas Laws, Chemical
Bonding, Atomic Structure, Significant Figures, Nomenclature, Dimensional Analysis
Score Breakdown
Module Domain Questions Percentage
Scientific Method &
1 18 18%
Measurement
Atomic Structure &
2 16 16%
Periodic Table
Chemical Bonding &
3 16 16%
Nomenclature
Chemical Reactions &
4 18 18%
Equation Balancing
Stoichiometry & Mole
5 17 17%
Concepts
Gas Laws & Kinetic
6 15 15%
Molecular Theory
,1. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Which of the following best describes
the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?
A. A theory explains why something happens; a law describes what happens.
B. A law is a guess; a theory has been proven true.
C. A theory is tested experimentally; a law is based only on observations.
D. There is no meaningful difference between the two terms.
Rationale: A scientific theory provides a comprehensive explanation of why a phenomenon
occurs, while a scientific law is a concise description of a natural phenomenon (what happens)
expressed as a mathematical or verbal statement.
2. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) In the scientific method, what is the
purpose of conducting a controlled experiment?
A. To prove that the hypothesis is correct beyond any doubt.
B. To eliminate the need for peer review.
C. To collect data that supports the researcher's expected outcome.
D. To test the hypothesis by isolating the effect of one variable while keeping others
constant.
Rationale: A controlled experiment allows a researcher to manipulate one independent
variable while keeping all other variables (controlled variables) constant, enabling a clear test
of cause and effect related to the hypothesis.
3. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Which of the following represents the
correct SI base unit for temperature?
A. Kelvin (K)
B. Joules (J)
C. Degrees Fahrenheit (F)
D. Degrees Celsius (C)
Rationale: The SI base unit for temperature is the kelvin (K). While Celsius is commonly used
in chemistry, the kelvin is the official SI unit, where 0 K is absolute zero.
4. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) What SI prefix corresponds to a factor
of 10^-3?
A. centi-
B. deci-
C. micro-
D. milli-
Rationale: The prefix milli- corresponds to 10^-3. For reference: centi- = 10^-2, deci- = 10^-1,
and micro- = 10^-6.
5. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Convert 0.0045 kilograms to
milligrams.
A. 4.5 mg
B. 450 mg
C. 4,500 mg
D. 45,000 mg
Rationale: 0.0045 kg x (1,000 g / 1 kg) x (1,000 mg / 1 g) = 0.0045 x 1,000 x 1,000 = 4,500
mg. Moving from kg to g to mg involves two conversions of x1000.
6. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Convert 25.0 degrees Celsius to
Kelvin.
A. 298.2 K
B. 25.0 K
C. -248.2 K
, D. 77.0 K
Rationale: K = C + 273.15 = 25.0 + 273.15 = 298.15 K, which rounds to 298.2 K. The Kelvin
scale is shifted 273.15 units above the Celsius scale.
7. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Convert 1.50 miles to meters. (1 mile =
1.609 km)
A. 2410 m
B. 932 m
C. 1500 m
D. 2414 m
Rationale: 1.50 mi x (1.609 km / 1 mi) x (1000 m / 1 km) = 1.50 x 1.609 x 1000 = 2413.5 m,
which rounds to 2414 m (rounded to four significant figures).
8. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) How many significant figures are in
the measurement 0.007030 m?
A. 3
B. 6
C. 5
D. 4
Rationale: Leading zeros (0.00) are not significant. The digits 7, 0, 3, and 0 are significant,
giving 4 significant figures. The trailing zero after the 3 is significant because it follows a
nonzero digit and appears after the decimal point.
9. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) How many significant figures are in
the number 3,000,100?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 7
Rationale: In 3,000,100: the 3 and 1 are nonzero (significant). The three zeros between 3 and 1
are captive zeros and are significant. The two trailing zeros after the 1 are not significant
because there is no decimal point shown. Total = 5 significant figures.
10. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Round the result of (12.35 x 4.567) /
3.2 to the correct number of significant figures.
A. 17.6
B. 17.59
C. 17.5
D. 18
Rationale: First calculate: 12.35 x 4.567 = 56.40245, then 56..2 = 17.6257656... For
multiplication and division, the answer must have the same number of significant figures as the
measurement with the fewest sig figs. Here, 3.2 has only 2 significant figures, so the answer
rounds to 18.
11. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Express the number 0.0000520 in
correct scientific notation.
A. 5.20 x 10^-5
B. 5.20 x 10^-4
C. 5.2 x 10^-5
D. 52.0 x 10^-6
Rationale: To convert 0.0000520 to scientific notation, move the decimal point 5 places to the
right: 5.20 x 10^-5. The trailing zero is kept because it is a significant figure.
12. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) What is the density of an object with a
mass of 45.6 g and a volume of 12.0 cm cubed?
Introduction to General Chemistry
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Comprehensive Modules 1–6 Examination | 2026/2027
100 Questions | Verified Answers | Graded A+ | Latest Update
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Abstract
This Portage Learning Chem 103 Modules 1–6 Comprehensive Exam for 2026/2027 reflects the
standardized competency assessment used to evaluate proficiency in foundational general chemistry
principles for undergraduate science students. The examination measures knowledge of scientific
measurement, atomic structure, periodic trends, chemical bonding, nomenclature, reaction types,
stoichiometric calculations, gas law applications, and scenario-based quantitative reasoning
essential for effective, evidence-based practice in chemistry, health sciences, and STEM fields. The
comprehensive 100-question format provides extensive coverage of critical chemistry domains across
Modules 1–6, aligned with current Portage Learning curriculum guidelines and ACS General
Chemistry learning outcomes.
Keywords: General Chemistry, Portage Learning, CHEM 103, Stoichiometry, Gas Laws, Chemical
Bonding, Atomic Structure, Significant Figures, Nomenclature, Dimensional Analysis
Score Breakdown
Module Domain Questions Percentage
Scientific Method &
1 18 18%
Measurement
Atomic Structure &
2 16 16%
Periodic Table
Chemical Bonding &
3 16 16%
Nomenclature
Chemical Reactions &
4 18 18%
Equation Balancing
Stoichiometry & Mole
5 17 17%
Concepts
Gas Laws & Kinetic
6 15 15%
Molecular Theory
,1. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Which of the following best describes
the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?
A. A theory explains why something happens; a law describes what happens.
B. A law is a guess; a theory has been proven true.
C. A theory is tested experimentally; a law is based only on observations.
D. There is no meaningful difference between the two terms.
Rationale: A scientific theory provides a comprehensive explanation of why a phenomenon
occurs, while a scientific law is a concise description of a natural phenomenon (what happens)
expressed as a mathematical or verbal statement.
2. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) In the scientific method, what is the
purpose of conducting a controlled experiment?
A. To prove that the hypothesis is correct beyond any doubt.
B. To eliminate the need for peer review.
C. To collect data that supports the researcher's expected outcome.
D. To test the hypothesis by isolating the effect of one variable while keeping others
constant.
Rationale: A controlled experiment allows a researcher to manipulate one independent
variable while keeping all other variables (controlled variables) constant, enabling a clear test
of cause and effect related to the hypothesis.
3. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Which of the following represents the
correct SI base unit for temperature?
A. Kelvin (K)
B. Joules (J)
C. Degrees Fahrenheit (F)
D. Degrees Celsius (C)
Rationale: The SI base unit for temperature is the kelvin (K). While Celsius is commonly used
in chemistry, the kelvin is the official SI unit, where 0 K is absolute zero.
4. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) What SI prefix corresponds to a factor
of 10^-3?
A. centi-
B. deci-
C. micro-
D. milli-
Rationale: The prefix milli- corresponds to 10^-3. For reference: centi- = 10^-2, deci- = 10^-1,
and micro- = 10^-6.
5. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Convert 0.0045 kilograms to
milligrams.
A. 4.5 mg
B. 450 mg
C. 4,500 mg
D. 45,000 mg
Rationale: 0.0045 kg x (1,000 g / 1 kg) x (1,000 mg / 1 g) = 0.0045 x 1,000 x 1,000 = 4,500
mg. Moving from kg to g to mg involves two conversions of x1000.
6. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Convert 25.0 degrees Celsius to
Kelvin.
A. 298.2 K
B. 25.0 K
C. -248.2 K
, D. 77.0 K
Rationale: K = C + 273.15 = 25.0 + 273.15 = 298.15 K, which rounds to 298.2 K. The Kelvin
scale is shifted 273.15 units above the Celsius scale.
7. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Convert 1.50 miles to meters. (1 mile =
1.609 km)
A. 2410 m
B. 932 m
C. 1500 m
D. 2414 m
Rationale: 1.50 mi x (1.609 km / 1 mi) x (1000 m / 1 km) = 1.50 x 1.609 x 1000 = 2413.5 m,
which rounds to 2414 m (rounded to four significant figures).
8. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) How many significant figures are in
the measurement 0.007030 m?
A. 3
B. 6
C. 5
D. 4
Rationale: Leading zeros (0.00) are not significant. The digits 7, 0, 3, and 0 are significant,
giving 4 significant figures. The trailing zero after the 3 is significant because it follows a
nonzero digit and appears after the decimal point.
9. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) How many significant figures are in
the number 3,000,100?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 7
Rationale: In 3,000,100: the 3 and 1 are nonzero (significant). The three zeros between 3 and 1
are captive zeros and are significant. The two trailing zeros after the 1 are not significant
because there is no decimal point shown. Total = 5 significant figures.
10. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Round the result of (12.35 x 4.567) /
3.2 to the correct number of significant figures.
A. 17.6
B. 17.59
C. 17.5
D. 18
Rationale: First calculate: 12.35 x 4.567 = 56.40245, then 56..2 = 17.6257656... For
multiplication and division, the answer must have the same number of significant figures as the
measurement with the fewest sig figs. Here, 3.2 has only 2 significant figures, so the answer
rounds to 18.
11. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) Express the number 0.0000520 in
correct scientific notation.
A. 5.20 x 10^-5
B. 5.20 x 10^-4
C. 5.2 x 10^-5
D. 52.0 x 10^-6
Rationale: To convert 0.0000520 to scientific notation, move the decimal point 5 places to the
right: 5.20 x 10^-5. The trailing zero is kept because it is a significant figure.
12. (Module 1: Scientific Method & Measurement) What is the density of an object with a
mass of 45.6 g and a volume of 12.0 cm cubed?
