MCAS Review - Physical Science Question Preview (ID: 19175)


Review Questions For The MA State Comprehensive Assessment Test For STE. TEACHERS: click here for quick copy question ID numbers.

Sulfur (S), oxygen (O2), water (H2O), and 15 sodium chloride (NaCl) are all examples of pure substances. Which of the following describes all pure substances?
a) A pure substance consists of only one type of element.
b) A pure substance has a definite chemical composition.
c) A pure substance cannot be broken down into simpler substances.
d) A pure substance is normally found as a solid at room temperature.

A student in a laboratory transfers a beaker containing a hot solution from the lab table to a cool water bath. Which of the following parts of the system experiences an increase in heat energy?
a) beaker
b) lab table
c) solution
d) water bath

Which of the following is a characteristic of all chemical changes?
a) A different state of matter is produced.
b) Some mass is converted to energy.
c) Some form of light is given off.
d) A new material is formed.

What is the smallest unit of an element that still has the properties of that element?
a) an atom
b) a compound
c) an electron
d) a molecule

A can of regular soda sank to the bottom of a container of water, but the can of diet soda floated. Which of the following statements best explains this observation?
a) The can of regular soda is less dense than the can of diet soda.
b) The can of regular soda is more dense than the can of diet soda.
c) The can of regular soda has a larger volume than the can of diet soda.
d) The can of regular soda has a smaller volume than the can of diet soda.

Which of the following substances can be separated into several elements?
a) nitrogen
b) zinc
c) air
d) aluminum

Lauren adds 50 mL of boiling water to 100 mL of ice water. If the 150 mL of water is then put into a freezer, at what temperature will the water freeze?
a) 0°C
b) 15ºC
c) 37 ºC
d) 50ºC

Which of the following is an example of the formation of a mixture?
a) rust forming on an iron nail
b) sugar crystals dissolving in water
c) sodium and chlorine forming table salt
d) hydrogen and oxygen reacting to produce water

Which of the following is an example of a physical change but not a chemical change?
a) A log gives off heat and light as it burns.
b) A tree stores energy from the Sun in its fruit.
c) A penny lost in the grass slowly changes color.
d) A water pipe freezes and cracks on a cold night.

A pot of cold water was heated on a stove until the water boiled. Which of the following best explains why the water was able to boil?
a) The hot stove absorbed cold from the pot.
b) The cold water absorbed heat from the pot.
c) The hot stove gave off heat to the surrounding air.
d) The cold water gave off cold to the surrounding air.

Sugar is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Sugar is an example of which of the following?
a) an atom
b) a compound
c) an electron
d) a mixture

The surface of a heated metal object measures 120 ºC. It is dropped into a bucket filled with water measuring 10
a) Both the water and metal will adjust to the same temperature below 10 ºC.
b) The water and metal will adjust to different temperatures above 120 ºC.
c) The water will remain the same temperature, but the metal will cool to 10 ºC.
d) The water and metal will adjust to the same temperature between 10 ºC and120 ºC.

A student is given a sample of an unknown liquid to test in the laboratory. The student thinks that the liquid is water. Which of the following physical properties of the sample is most helpful to determine if the liquid is water?
a) color of the liquid
b) mass of the liquid
c) volume of the liquid
d) boiling point of the liquid

Ms. Bristol measured the mass of a closed beaker containing several ice cubes. The mass was 100 g. An hour later, after the ice cubes had melted, Ms. Bristol measured the mass of the beaker again. What was the mass of the beaker of water the second t
a) 50 g
b) 75 g
c) 100 g
d) 125 g

Which of the following is an example of a container that is filled with a pure substance rather than with a mixture?
a) a tire filled with air
b) a jar filled with salt water
c) a balloon filled with helium
d) a glass filled with chocolate milk

Which of the following tools would give the most precise measurement of 15 milliliters of water?
a) a 50 mL beaker
b) a 50 mL graduated cylinder
c) a 500 mL beaker
d) a 500 mL graduated cylinder

Which of the following is produced when two or more elements combine in a chemical reaction?
a) atom
b) compound
c) mixture
d) solution

Which of the following units best represents the density of an object?
a) kg
b) hr
c) m/s^2
d) g/cm^3

A cold can of juice is removed from the refrigerator and is placed outdoors on a warm day. After several minutes, moisture appears on the outside of the cold can. Which of the following statements best explains why the moisture appears?
a) The warm air absorbs cold from the can and changes to a liquid.
b) Water vapor in the air condenses into a liquid on the cold can.
c) The warm air causes heat to flow out of the can and condense in the air.
d) Water vapor in the air absorbs heat from the can and changes to a liquid.

Which of the following do water (H2O), rust (Fe2O3), and salt (NaCl) have in common?
a) Water, rust, and salt are atoms.
b) Water, rust, and salt are mixtures.
c) Water, rust, and salt are elements.
d) Water, rust, and salt are compounds.

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