Belen Kohl
Brightspace Activity 1
2. Which best represents a homogeneous mixture of an element and a compound?
Set up:
The question is asking to identify the properties of elements, compounds, and homogeneous mixtures and
match the properties to one image. Information on elements, compounds, and homogeneous mixtures can be found
in the General Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the specific properties which will help differentiate between
different image answers. I am given that the species is a mixture made up of an element and a compound. I am given
5 images, some with the shapes separated and some with them in pairs or grouped all together. In some images the
shapes are individual while in others they are paired. I would need to look up or remember the specific properties of
elements and compounds, which would allow me to rule out certain options (a and b). I would need to look up the
specific properties of a mixture which would allow me to select the correct one from the image with both an element
and a compound.
My work:
Elements are pure and only made of one type of atom, compounds have set proportions but can be made up of
multiple elements which are chemically combined. A homogeneous mixture is a mix of multiple elements and/or
compounds which are NOT chemically combined but have the same composition throughout the mixture. Options
A, B, and C only have an element OR a compound, not both so they are ruled out. Option D does not have a uniform
composition and is also ruled out. The correct answer is E, which is composed of both an element and a compound
and has a uniform composition.
3. _____are substances with constant composition that can be broken down into elements by chemical
processes.
Set up:
The question is asking to identify the properties of different substances, then match these properties to the
ones in the question to identify the substance. Information about different substances can be found in the General
Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the specific properties which are given in the question. I am given that the
properties of the substance are that it has constant composition, which can be broken into elements by chemical
processes. I would need to look up or remember the specific properties of different substance types, which would
allow me to select the correct one to fill in the blank.
My work:
The many classifications of substances are hard to remember, but we can narrow down our answer into two parts.
First, only homogeneous mixtures have constant composition. Second, only compounds can be broken down into
elements by chemical reactions. Therefore, the substance must be a homogeneous mixture of compounds.
4. What is 409 Kelvin in Fahrenheit and in Celsius?
The question is asking to convert the temperature 409 Kelvin into Fahrenheit and Celcius form. The
conversion equations from Kelvin to Fahrenheit and Kelvin to Celsius can be found in the General Chemistry
textbook. I am looking for the conversion rates for Kelvin to other scales of temperature. I am given that the
temperature in Kelvin is 409 K. I would need to look up or remember specific conversion rates from Kelvin to
Celcius and Fahrenheit, which would allow me to give the correct answers in degrees for both Celcius and
Fahrenheit.
5. How many grams are in 8.1 kilograms?
The question is asking to convert the mass of 8.1 kilograms into grams. The orders of magnitude which
relate kilograms and grams can be found in the General Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the amount of grams
in a kilogram. I am given that the mass in the original units is 8.1 kg. I would need to look up or remember specific
conversion rate for kilograms to grams, which would allow me to find the equivalent mass in grams.
6. As part of the calibration of a new laboratory balance, a 1.000-g mass is weighed with the following results:
Trial Mass
1. 1.201 ± 0.001
2. 1.202 ± 0.001
3. 1.200 ± 0.001
The balance is
A. Both accurate and precise.
B. Accurate but imprecise.
C. Precise but inaccurate.
D. Both inaccurate and imprecise.
E. Accuracy and precision are impossible to determine with the available information.
The question is asking to identify properties of a scale by comparing the different masses recorded. The
definitions of accurate and precise can be found in the General Chemistry textbook or a dictionary. I am looking for
the properties which describe the balance. I am given the actual weight of the mass, along with the tree trials
recorded by the balance. I would need to look up or remember the meanings of precise and accurate, which would
allow me to match the properties shown by the data to those in the answers.
7. A scientist obtains the number 0.045006700 on a calculator. If this number actually has four (4) significant
figures, how should it be written?
The question is asking to correct the given number to show four significant figures. The specific rules of
significant figures can be found in the General Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the number which is equivalent
to the given number, but written with four significant figures. I am given the number 0.045006700 in the question,
and the number of significant figures it should have (four). I would need to look up or remember the rules for which
figures in a number count as significant, which would allow me to give the scientist's number with only four
significant figures.
8. Express the number 0.000333 in scientific notation.
The question is asking to convert the number 0.000333 into scientific notation form. The rules of scientific
notation can be found in the General Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the order of magnitude of the number. I
am given the number 0.000333. I would need to count the number of zeros after the decimal mark, which would
allow me to find the order of magnitude and convert into scientific notation form.
9. You are asked to determine the perimeter of the cover of your textbook. You measure the length as 39.36
cm and the width as 24.83 cm. How many significant figures should you report
The question is asking to identify the number of significant figures in the resultant from the equation to find
the perimeter of the textbook. The specific rules of addition with significant figures can be found in the General
Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the number with the least significant figures after the decimal point. I am
given the numbers 39.36 and 24.83 in the question, both with four sig figs total and two after the decimal point. I
would need to add 2x the length and width to each other, then make sure the answer only has two sig figs after the
decimal point.
10. Consider the numbers 23.68 and 4.12. The sum of these numbers has ________ significant figures, and the
product of these numbers has ________ significant figures.
The question is asking to identify the number of significant figures in the resultant from both the product
and the sum of the given numbers. The specific rules of addition and multiplication with significant figures can be
found in the General Chemistry textbook. For the sum, I am looking for the number with the least significant figures
after the decimal point. For the product, I am looking for the number with the least sig figs in total. I am given the
numbers 23.68 and 4.12 in the question, both with two sig figs after the decimal point, the smallest number of total
sig figs is three. I need to know the significant figure rules for addition and multiplication, so I can multiply the
numbers and make sure the product only has three sig figs. Then add the numbers and make sure the sum only has
two sig figs after the decimal point.
11. How many significant figures are in 0.00110?
The question is asking to identify the number of significant figures in the given number. Rules of counting
significant figures can be found in the General Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the amount of numbers which
count as sig figs. I am given the number 0.00110. I would need to look up or remember which figures count as
significant, which would allow me to find the number of sig figs in 0.00110.
12. For spring break, you and some friends plan a road trip to a sunny destination that is 2105 miles away. If
you drive a car that gets 33 miles per gallon and gas costs $3.199/gal, about how much will it cost to get to
your destination?
The question is asking to find the cost of a road trip which is 2105 miles away. The price of gas and the
miles per gallon of gas rate of the car can be found in the problem. I am looking for the amount of gas needed for the
car to complete the road trip. I am given that the car gets 33 miles/gallon and a gallon of gas costs $3.199. I would
need to find the number of gallons needed for the trip, which would allow me to find how much it will cost to get to
the destination.
13. Convert 7.9 kg to lb. (1 kg = 2.205 lb)
The question is asking to convert the mass of 7.9 kilograms into pounds conversion rate for kg to lb can be
found in the problem. I am looking for a mass equivalent to mass given, but in pounds. I am given that the mass in
the original units is 7.9 kg. I would need to remember the specific conversion rate for kg to lb, then multiply by the
conversion factor to get the total number in pounds.
14. A wavelength of red light is measured at 655 mm. What is this measurement in cm?
The question is asking to convert the length of 655 millimeters to centimeters. The orders of magnitude
which relate millimeters and centimeters can be found in the General Chemistry textbook. I am looking for the
amount of millimeters in a centimeter. I am given that the length in the original units is 655 mm. I would need to
look up or remember specific conversion rate for mm to cm, which would allow me to find the equivalent length in
centimeters.
15. A 20 mL sample of glycerol has a mass of 25.2 grams. What is the mass of a 57-mL sample of glycerol?
The question is asking to find the mass of glycerol. The mass of 20 mL of glycerol can be found in the
problem. I am looking for the mass of grams of a 57 mL sample of glycerol. I am given that the mass of the original
sample was 25.2 grams. I would need to know how many grams of mass 1 mL of the solution would have, which
would allow me to find the mass of the 57 mL sample.
