Basic Science Tutorials

Great Selection of basic science topics from Jefferson County School website.
Very comprehensive list of science and other tutorials from the Vocational Information Center.

Science Practice Questions

1. The _______ Theory defines acids and bases in terms of the electron-pair concept; according to its definition, an acid is an electron-pair acceptor, and a base is an electron-pair donor.

1. Arrhenius
2. Lewis
3. Clark
4. Brønstead-Lowry

2. In chemistry, a _______ is any compound produced by a chemical reaction between a base and an acid.

1. Salt
2. Radical
3. Crystal
4. Electrolyte

3. In the periodic table of the elements, elements are arranged in order of their atomic  ______, which is the number of _______ found in their nucleus.

1. Mass, protons
2. Number, neutrons
3. Mass, neutrons
4. Number, protons

4. Any physical manifestation that is part of the observable structure, function or behavior of a living organism is its ________________.

1. Genetic code
2. Chromosome
3. Genotype
4. Phenotype

5. The manner in which instructions for building proteins, the basic structural molecules of  living material are written in the DNA is a __________ ___________.

1. Genotypic assignment
2. Chromosome pattern
3. Genetic code
4. Genetic fingerprinting

6. A ______ ______ is a graphical description of feeding relationships among species in an ecological community.

1. Food web
2. Food chain
3. Food network
4. Food sequence

7. Gas laws are physical laws concerning the behavior of gases.  Boyle’s law and Charles’ law may be combined to give the general or universal gas law, which is expressed as:

1. (pressure x volume)/temperature = constant
2. (pressure x temperature)/volume = constant
3. (pressure x constant)/temperature = volume
4. (temperature x volume)/pressure = constant

8. Classification is a grouping of organisms based on similar _______ and ______________.

1. Traits, evolutionary histories
2. Traits, biological histories
3. Behaviors, evolutionary histories
4. Traits, evolutionary advancement
5. Characteristics, evolutionary histories

9. The groups into which organisms are classified are called taxa and include, in order of size, ______, _________, __________, _________, _________, and _____________.

1. Genus, Kingdom, Phylum/division, Class, Order, and Family Species
2. Order, Kingdom, Phylum/division, Genus, Class, and Family Species
3. Genus, Kingdom, Phylum/division, Class, Order, and Family Species
4. Kingdom ,Genus, Phylum/division, Class, Order, and Family Species
5. Family species, Order, Class, Phylum/division, Kingdom, and Genus

 Answer Key

1.  B
The Lewis Theory defines acids and bases in terms of the electron-pair concept; according to its definition, an acid is an electron-pair acceptor, and a base is an electron-pair donor.

2.  A
A salt is any compound produced by a chemical reaction between a   base and an acid.

3.  D
In the periodic table of the elements, elements are arranged in order of their atomic  number, which is the number of protons found in their nucleus.

4.  D
Any physical manifestation that is part of the observable structure, function or behavior of a living organism is its phenotype.

5.  C
The manner in which instructions for building proteins, the basic structural molecules of  living material are written in the DNA is a genetic code.

6.  A
A food web is a graphical description of feeding relationships among species in an ecological community.

Note:  A food web differs from a food chain in that the latter shows only a portion of the food web involving a simple, linear series of species (e.g., predator, herbivore, plant) connected by feeding links. A food web aims to depict a more complete picture of the feeding relationships, and can be considered a bundle of many interconnected food chains occurring within the community.

7. A  Gas laws are physical laws concerning the behavior of gases.  Boyle’s law and Charles’ law may be combined to give the general or universal gas law, which is expressed as:

(pressure x volume)/temperature = constant

Note:  Boyle’s law and Charles’ law are concerned with the relationships between the pressure, temperature, and volume of an ideal (hypothetical) gas. Van der Waal’s law includes corrections for the non-ideal behavior of real gases.

8. A
Classification is a grouping of organisms based on similar Traits and evolutionary histories.

Note: Taxonomy and systematics are the two sciences that attempt to classify living things.  In taxonomy, organisms are assigned to groups based on their characteristics. In modern systematics, the placement of organisms into groups is based on evolutionary relationships.

9. A
The groups into which organisms are classified are called taxa and include, in order of size, Genus, Kingdom, Phylum/division, Class, Order, and Family Species. 

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Here is a quick over view of Basic Chemistry.

1. What are the differences, if any, between mixtures and compounds?

1. A mixture is homogeneous, and the properties of its components are retained, while a compound is heterogeneous and its properties are distinct from those of the elements combined in its formation.
2. A mixture is heterogeneous, and the properties of its components are retained, while a compound is homogeneous and its properties are distinct from those of the elements combined in its formation.
3. A mixture is heterogeneous, and the properties of its components are changed, while a compound is homogeneous and its properties are similar to those of the elements combined in its formation.
4. A compound is heterogeneous, and the properties of its components are retained, while a mixture is homogeneous and its properties are distinct from those of the elements combined in its formation.

2. What are the differences, if any, between chemical changes and physical changes?

1. During a physical change, some aspect of the physical properties of matter are altered, but the identity of the substance remains constant. Chemical changes involve the alteration of both a substance’s composition and structure.
2. During a chemical change, some aspect of the physical properties of matter are altered, but the identity of the substance remains constant. Physical changes involve the alteration of both a substance’s composition and structure.
3. During a physical change, no aspects of the physical properties of matter are altered, but the identity of the substance remains constant. Chemical changes involve the alteration of both a substance’s composition and structure.
4. There is no substantive difference between chemical and physical changes.

 3. When a measurement is recorded, it includes the _________ ________, which are all the digits that are certain plus one uncertain digit.

1. Major figures
2. Significant figures
3. Relative figures
4. Relevant figures

 4. The _______ _______ is based on the lowest theoretical temperature, called ________ _______.

1. Kelvin scale, absolute zero
2. Celsius scale, absolute zero
3. Kelvin scale, boiling point of water
4. Centigrade scale, freezing point of water

 5. Through experiments and calculations, ________  ______ has been verified to be _________^o on the _________ scale.

1. Through experiments and calculations, absolute zero has been verified to be – 273.15^o on the Celsius scale.
2. Through experiments and calculations, unconditional zero has been verified to be 0^o on the Kelvin scale.
3. Through experiments and calculations, absolute null has been verified to be -100^o on the Celsius scale.
4. Through experiments and calculations, absolute zero has been verified to be – 273.15^o on the Kelvin scale.

6. When using the scientific notation system to express large numbers, move the _______ ______ until _____ digit(s) remain(s) to the left, then indicate the number of moves of the decimal point as the _______ __ ___.

1. When using the scientific notation system to express large numbers, move the decimal point until only two digits remain to the left, then indicate the number of moves of the decimal point as the exponent of 10.
2. When using the scientific notation system to express large numbers, move the decimal until only one digit remains to the left, then indicate the number of moves of the decimal point as the exponent of 2.
3. When using the scientific notation system to express large numbers, move the decimal until only three digits remain to the left, then indicate the number of moves of the decimal point as the exponent of 10.
4. When using the scientific notation system to express large numbers, move the decimal until only one digit remains to the left, then indicate the number of moves of the decimal point as the exponent of 10.

 7. In science, ________ indicates the __________ or ___________ of a measurement, while _______ indicates the ________ of a measurement to its known or accepted value.

1. In science, accuracy indicates the reliability or reproducibility of a measurement, while precision indicates the proximity of a measurement to its known or accepted value.
2. In science, exactitude indicates the reliability or reproducibility of a measurement, while contiguity indicates the remoteness of a measurement to its known or accepted value.
3. In science, precision indicates the reliability or reproducibility of a measurement, while accuracy indicates the proximity of a measurement to its known or accepted value.
4. In science, uncertainty indicates the realism or possibility of a measurement, while precision indicates the distance of a measurement to its known or accepted value.

 8. The _________________ states that, in a chemical change, ________ can be neither _____ or ________, but only changed from _______________.

1. The Law of the Preservation of Matter states that, in a chemical change, energy can be    neither created nor destroyed, but only changed from one form to another.
2. The Law of the Conservation of Energy states that, in a chemical change, energy can be    neither created nor destroyed, but only changed from one atomic number to another.
3. The Law of the Conservation of Energy states that, in a chemical change, energy can be    neither created nor destroyed, but only changed from one form to another.
4. The Law of the Conservation of Energy states that, in a chemical change, energy can be    neither duplicated nor destroyed, but only changed from one form to another.

9.  A _________ is a process that transforms one set of chemical substances to another; the substances used are known as ________ and those formed are _________.

1. A chemical change is a process that transforms one set of chemical substances to another; the substances used are known as products and those formed are reactants.
2. A biological change is a process that transforms one set of chemical substances to another; the substances used are known as reactants and those formed are products.
3. A chemical change is a process that transforms one set of chemical substances to another; the substances used are known as reactants and those formed are products.
4. A chemical variation is a process that transforms one set of chemical substances to another; the substances used are known as reactants and those formed are products.

10.  ________ is the series of chemical reactions resulting in the ______ of organic compounds, and _________  is the series of chemical reactions that _________ larger molecules.

1. Anabolism is the series of chemical reactions resulting in the synthesis of inorganic compounds, and catabolism is a series of chemical reactions that break down larger molecules.
2. Anabolism is the series of chemical reactions resulting in the synthesis of organic compounds, and catabolism is a series of chemical reactions that combine larger molecules.
3. Catabolism is the series of chemical reactions resulting in the synthesis of organic compounds, and anabolism is a series of chemical reactions that break down larger molecules.
4. Anabolism is the series of chemical reactions resulting in the synthesis of organic compounds, and catabolism is a series of chemical reactions that break down larger molecules.

Answer Key

1. B
A mixture is heterogeneous, and the properties of its components are retained, while a         compound is homogeneous and its properties are distinct from those of the elements combined in its formation.

2. A
During a physical change, some aspect of the physical properties of matter are altered,         but the identity of the substance remains constant. Chemical changes involve the         alteration of both a substance’s composition and structure.

Note:  Examples of physical changes include breaking glass, cutting wood and melting ice. Sometimes, the process can be easily reversed. Restoration of the original form is not possible following a chemical change.

3.  B
When a measurement is recorded, it includes the significant figures, which are all the digits that are certain plus one uncertain digit.

4.  A
The Kelvin scale is based on the lowest theoretical temperature, called absolute zero.

5.  A
Through experiments and calculations, absolute zero has been verified to be – 273.15^o on the Celsius scale.

6.  A
When using the scientific notation system to express large numbers, move the decimal point until only two digits remain to the left, then indicate the number of moves of the         decimal point as the exponent of 10.

7.  C
In science, precision indicates the reliability or reproducibility of a measurement, while accuracy indicates the proximity of a measurement to its known or accepted value.

Note:  Regardless of the precision or accuracy of a measurement, all measurements include a degree of uncertainty, dependent on limitations of the measuring instrument and the skill with which the measurement is completed.[i]

8.  C
The Law of the Conservation of Energy states that, in a chemical change, energy can         be neither created nor destroyed, but only changed from one form to another.

9.  C
A chemical change is a process that transforms one set of chemical substances to         another; the substances used are known as reactants and those formed are products.

10.  D
Anabolism is the series of chemical reactions resulting in the synthesis of organic compounds, and catabolism is a series of chemical reactions that break down larger molecules.