Virginia Chemistry Benchmark

Which of the following best describes what the 118 known chemical elements combine to form?

• all the cells of living organisms only

• all of the heat and light from the Sun

• all of the energy on Earth

• all the matter in the Universe

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Which of the following best describes the carbon dioxide molecule?

• It contains three compounds from two elements.

• It contains three atoms from two elements.

• It contains two elements from three compounds.

• It contains two atoms from three elements.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

What part of an atom exists in orbitals surrounding the nucleus?

• proton

• photon

• electron

• neutron

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-1

_______ and _______ are located in the nucleus of the atom, while _______ exist in orbitals in the empty space outside of the nucleus.

• Orbitals; electrons; protons

• Protons; neutrons; electrons

• Protons; electrons; neutrons

• Neutrons; electrons; protons

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

When atoms are joined together, they form .

• electrons

• nuclei

• protons

• molecules

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Diamond and graphite contain only carbon atoms, yet they are very different objects with very different properties. Why are diamond and graphite different?

• Their subatomic particles are different.

• They contain different atoms.

• They contain different elements.

• Their atoms are arranged differently.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Which statement describes J.J. Thomson’s plum-pudding model of the atom?

• The electrons can be either positive or negative.

• The electrons take up most of the space in an atom.

• The electrons are embedded in a positive sphere.

• The electrons in the atom orbit around the protons.

Rutherford fired alpha particles at a piece of thin gold foil and found that most particles passed straight through. What did the experiment tell him about the nature of atoms?

• They react with other atoms.

• They have positive and negative charges.

• They are small and cannot be seen.

• They are made up mostly of empty space.

Electrons orbit around the nucleus of atoms in allowed energy states. This is the basis of the theory of which scientist?

• Niels Bohr

• Max Planck

• John Dalton

• Albert Einstein

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-1

Which of the following best describes a way in which the periodic table is organized?

• Elements are organized into groups with similar properties.

• Elements are organized with nonmetals on the left and metals on the right.

• Elements are organized in alphabetical order.

• Elements are organized by weight with heavy elements listed above light elements.