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IB Chemistry: Introduction to the particulate nature of matter — Practice Questions & Answers

124 practice questions available for this topic — here are 10 with full answers and explanations.

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Practice questions with answers

1 Multiple choice · Easy

Which of the following is a pure substance rather than a mixture?

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WhyA pure substance has a fixed composition. Distilled water is the compound $\text{H}_{2}\text{O}$ only. Air, brass and seawater are all mixtures of two or more substances.
2 Multiple choice · Easy

What is a temperature of $25\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ expressed on the Kelvin scale?

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WhyTo convert from Celsius to Kelvin add 273: $T(\text{K}) = 25 + 273 = 298\,\text{K}$.
3 Multiple choice · Medium

The direct change of state from a gas to a solid without passing through the liquid state is called:

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WhyDeposition is gas to solid directly. Sublimation is the reverse (solid to gas). Condensation is gas to liquid and freezing is liquid to solid.
4 Multiple choice · Medium

According to kinetic molecular theory, when the temperature of a gas is increased its particles:

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WhyTemperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles. Higher temperature means greater average kinetic energy, so the particles move faster on average.
5 Multiple choice · Medium

Which technique is best for separating two completely miscible liquids that have different boiling points?

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WhyFractional distillation separates miscible liquids by exploiting differences in boiling point. Filtration separates insoluble solids; a separating funnel separates immiscible liquids.
6 Multiple choice · Hard

A substance has a fixed composition and can only be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions. It is best classified as:

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WhyA compound has a fixed composition and is broken down by chemical means into its elements. An element cannot be broken down chemically; mixtures have variable composition and are separated physically.
7 Fill in the blank · Easy

The temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid is called the point.

Answer: melting / melting point

WhyAt the melting point the solid and liquid states coexist; thermal energy overcomes the forces holding particles in the fixed lattice.
8 Fill in the blank · Medium

Absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature, is $0\,\text{K}$, which is equal to $^{\circ}\text{C}$ (to the nearest whole number).

Answer: -273 / -273.15

WhyThe Kelvin and Celsius scales are offset by 273. Therefore $0\,\text{K} = 0 - 273 = -273\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ (more precisely $-273.15\,^{\circ}\text{C}$).
9 Multiple choice · Medium

A test tube contains a mixture of miscible liquid hydrocarbons. What type of mixture is it and how is it best separated?

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WhyMiscible liquids form a single phase, a homogeneous mixture, best separated by fractional distillation using their differing boiling points.
10 Multiple choice · Easy

Which property is used to separate a mixture of miscible liquids by distillation?

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WhyDistillation separates liquids that have different boiling points.

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