DAT Exam 2: Chemistry

1. A volumetric flask weighs 185g when empty and 380g when filled with “liquid
-1
A” (density of 2 g•mL ). If the flask is filled with 160g of “liquid B”, what is
-1
the density of “liquid B” in g•mL ?

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

Solution:

A volumetric flask is a piece of lab equipment that measures one certain volume very
accurately. Density is simply mass divided by volume. If the flask weighs 185g when
empty and 380g when filled with liquid A, then we know that the weight of liquid A is
(380g-185g). Next, we know the density of liquid A is 2 g * mL -1, and we have the weight
of liquid A, so we can find the volume of the volumetric flask by canceling out the grams,
leaving us mL of the flask. Lastly, we know the weight of liquid B that is added; so
dividing the weight of liquid B by the volume of the flask will give us the density of liquid
B.
 2. A chemist adds 26.5g of ammonium chloride to 10g of sodium hydroxide, which
follows the reaction below. Assuming the reaction goes to completion, how
much of which reactant is left in excess?

1. NH4Cl + NaOH NH3 + H2O + NaCl

a) 0.5 mols, ammonium chloride.

b) 0.25 mols, ammonium chloride.
c) 0.5 mols, sodium hydroxide.
d) 0.25 mols, sodium hydroxide.
e) 1 mol, ammonium chloride.

Solution:

First, we calculate the number of mols of ammonium chloride, which has a molecular
weight of 53. We find that there is 0.50 mol NH4Cl (26.5g / 53 g•mol-1). Sodium
hydroxide has a molecular weight of 40g•mol-1, and thus 10g is 0.25 mols NaOH.

We find that the stoichiometric ratio is 1:1 between NH 4Cl and NH3, and 1:1 between
NaOH and NH3. This means that NaOH is the limiting reagent, because all 0.25 mols of it
will react with 0.25 mols of NH4Cl to produce 0.25 mols of NH3. This will leave an
excess of 0.25 mols of ammonium chloride still unreacted (0.50 mols NH 4Cl – 0.25 mols
NH4Cl = 0.25 mols NH4Cl).
 3. What is the sum of the coefficients of the complete balanced equation from
combusting C2H6O?
a. 6
b. 9
c. 12
d. 18
e. 24

Solution:

The balanced equation for the combustion of ethanol (C2H6O) is:

1C2H6O+3O2 2CO2 +3H2O

From the balanced equation, we find 1 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 9.

See Periodic table

 -1
4. An unknown gas has a density of 1.79 g•L at 273K and 1 atm. Identify the
gas.
a. He
b. Ne
c. Ar
d. Kr
e. Xe

Solution:

All you need to know is that there is 1 mol in 22.4L at STP, which is 273K (0° Celsius)
and 1 atm. commit 22.4L in 1 mol of gas at STP to memory, it’ll help you out a lot on
the DAT. From this information you can find the molar mass of the gas, which will reveal
the identity of the gas.

The only gas close to 40 g•mol-1 is argon, Ar. (See periodic table)

5. All of the following are assumptions of an ideal gas EXCEPT one. Which one is
the EXCEPTION?
a. All gas molecules are in constant, rapid, and random motion.
b. There are no attractive or repulsive forces between the gases.
c. The average kinetic energy is proportional to the number of gas
molecules.
d. The volume of the molecules is negligibly small compared to the volume of
the gas.
e. All collisions within the gas are perfectly elastic.
Solution
Here is the entire list of assumptions for ideal gases:

1) Gas molecules are in constant, random motion.

2) The molecules behave as rigid spheres
3) Gas molecules collisions are perfectly elastic.
4) Pressure is due to collisions between molecules and the walls of the container
5) All collisions, both between the molecules themselves and between the molecules
and the walls of the container, are perfectly elastic. (That means that there is no loss
of kinetic energy during the collision).
6) The temperature of the gas is proportional to the average kinetic energy of the
molecules.
7) There are no intermolecular forces occurring between molecules. Hence, they are
assumed to be nonpolar (i.e no attraction/repulsion between molecules).
8) The average kinetic energy of the gas molecules depends only on the
temperature of the system and NOT the number of gas molecules.

And then two absolutely key assumptions, because these are the two most important ways
in which real gases differ from ideal gases:

 There are no (or entirely negligible) intermolecular forces between the gas
molecules.
 The volume occupied by the molecules themselves is entirely negligible relative to
the volume of the container.

The Ideal Gas Equation:

PV= nRT

P = Pressure (units; 1 atm = 101325 Pa; 1 bar = 100 kPa = 100,000 Pa); Pa = Pascal’s
(sometimes expressed as newton’s per square meter, N m-2).

V = 1 m3 = 1,000 dm3 = 1, 000,000 cm3

n, number of moles = pV = mass (g) / mass of 1 mole (g) x RT

R = 8.31441 J K-1 mol-1

T= temperature is always in Kelvin ; K = C + 273

6. Which statement best explains why bromine is a liquid and iodine is a solid at
STP?
a. At a given temperature, bromine has a higher vapor pressure than iodine.
b. Smaller atoms tend to be more polarizable and exhibit greater intermolecular
forces.
c. The dipole-dipole interactions in iodine are stronger than in bromine.
d. Elements in the same column tend to have different chemical properties.
e. London dispersion forces increase as molar mass increases.

Solution:
a. While this may be true because bromine is a liquid, it does not explain why bromine is a
liquid or iodine is a solid. Vapor pressures are a result of intermolecular forces and internal
energy, not a cause of physical states of matter.
b. This is false, larger molecules tend to be more polarizable and exhibit greater
intermolecular forces. This statement would be correct if it said larger atoms.
c. This statement is nonsense because the interactions in iodine and bromine (I 2 and Br2)
are NOT polar. Both of these molecules are nonpolar.
d. This is false; elements in the same column tend to have similar chemical properties.
Even if this was true, it doesn’t address the question at hand.
e. This is the most accurate statement. As molecules get heavier, they exhibit a greater
amount of London dispersion forces (nonpolar forces), and these forces become so
powerful that iodine actually turns into a solid.
 7. All of the following statements accurately describe why mercury forms a
convex meniscus in a glass thermometer EXCEPT one. Which one is the
EXCEPTION?
a. The molecular forces of cohesion exceed the forces of adhesion.
b. Mercury tends to become ionized and the net charge repels the glass.
c. Nonpolar and polar molecules tend to repel each other.
d. The forces between mercury molecules are stronger than the forces between
the mercury and glass.
e. Capillary action pulls the edges of the mercury down.

Solution:

Mercury is a nonpolar substance and glass is a polar substance (glass is silicon dioxide, or
SiO2). “Like attracts like”, but mercury and glass
are not alike, therefore they true.

The force between the mercury molecules is

much stronger then than the force between the
mercury and glass, so [D] is true.

You could restate [D] by saying the forces of

cohesion exceed the forces of adhesion, so [A]
must be true as well.

Lastly, capillary action is partly responsible for

forming a concave meniscus with water and glass.
The reverse is true in this scenario, so [E] is correct.

The only statement left is [B] which must be false. Mercury does not tend to ionize or gain
a charge if left alone in glass.
 8. All of these are colligative properties EXCEPT for one. Which one is the
EXCEPTION?
a. Change in vapor pressure.
b. Freezing point depression.
c. Osmotic pressure.
d. Boiling point elevation.
e. Density

Solution:

As a strategy tip, this question falls under the “one of the following does not belong?”
question type. At the very least you should recognize that vapor pressure, freezing point,
osmotic pressure, and boiling point were all covered in the same chapter during your
content review.

Colligative properties are based on the number of solute and solvent particles in a solution,
NOT the identity of the particles themselves. Molality is used for vapor pressure, boiling
point elevation, and freezing point depression. Molarity is used for osmotic pressure. Thus,
dissolved species can reduce vapor pressure, decrease freezing point and increase boiling
point, and also change the osmotic pressure.

Density is an intensive property, meaning it does not depend on the number of particles
you have, but rather the identity of the substance itself. If you have a stick of copper and
cut it into two pieces, each of the two new pieces still has the same density as copper and
each other.

What are Colligative Properties?

Colligative Properties are properties of solutions that depend only upon the ratio of solute
particles to solvent particles, and NOT on what type of particles those are.

For example, you may know that throwing salt on ice causes the freezing temperature of
the ice to go down, from O 0C for pure ice, to -10 0C or even lower, depending on how
much salt is added.

But did you realize this freezing-point depression is same, regardless of what kind of salt
you use? It’s true. For example, both sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium bromide
(KBr) would achieve the same freezing-point depression, as long as they were added in the
same salt-to-ice ratio.
 9. The boiling point of a 1.0m aqueous solution is 101.5°C. The molal boiling point
-1
constant for water is 0.512°C•m . Which of the following substances is most
likely dissolved in the water?
a. NaCl
b. Na2SO4
c. C6H6
d. CaCO3
e. K3PO4

Solution

To solve this question you need to know the boiling point elevation formula: (Boiling and
Freezing point formula)

ΔTb = Kb * m * i

Example:

NaCl = I = 2
M = mol/kg

Where ΔTb represents the change in temperature, “ i ” represents the van’t Hoff factor
(number of atoms), m represents the molality, and Kb represents the molal boiling point
constant for water.
Simply plugging in, we find that:
The van’t Hoff factor is equal to 3, so we look to the answer choices to see which species
will dissolve into 3 parts. We find that Na2SO4 will break down into two Na+ ions and

one SO4-2 ion, for a total of 3 ions.

 10. What is the final volume (in mL) when 300mL of 0.8 M KCl is concentrated to
0.9 M KCl?

Solution:

This is a straightforward problem. The formula for concentrations and volumes is:

M1V1 = M2V2

Plug in the values given:

(0.8)(300) = (0.9)(V2) (0.8/0.9)(300) = V2

And we arrive at answer B. If you’re using the same units on both sides of the equation,
then you don’t need to worry about changing the units, so answers [C],[D], and [E] are all
designed to distract you with the mL unit.
 11. What volume of 0.5M H2SO4 is needed to neutralize 250mL of 0.5M KOH?
a. 75mL
b. 125mL
c. 250mL
d. 333mL
e. 500mL

Solution:

H2SO4 has two moles of H+ ions (n1=2), while OH only has one mole of OH–(n1=1).
Therefore, we must remember to use the of the acid in this dilution reaction.

(n1)(M1)(V1) = (n2)(M2)(V2)

(2)(0.5)(V1) = (1)(0.5)(250) V1 = 125 mL

 12. Which of the following best describes a compound that reacts as both an acid and a
base?
a. Nonpolar
b. Neutral
c. Amphoteric
d. Metallic
e. Charged

Solution:

This is a simple definition question. Compounds that can react as both an acid and a base,
depending on the reaction conditions, are termed amphoteric. Many of these compounds
are metallic, but not all metallic compounds are amphoteric. A famous example includes
zinc oxide, which is commonly included in lab cleanup kits since it cleans acid and base
spills.

Amphoterism

- A substance that can behave as either an acid or a base, depending on conditions, is

called amphoteric. A great example is water. When an acid (H+ source) is added to
water, H2O acts as a Bronston-Lowry base by accepting the H+.
 13.Which statement explains why HI is a stronger acid than HBr, which is a
stronger acid than HCl?
a. Iodine is the smallest element out of the 3 and thus creates the strongest acid.
b. The acid strength is increased as electronegativity increases in the binding
element.
c. The number of available electrons in iodine for binding is greater than that of
Cl or Br.
d. The bond strength between H-I is lower than that of H-Cl or H-Br.
e. Acid dissociation decreases as the shielding effect increases.

Solution:

The strength of an acid is usually determined by how much the acid dissociates. Thus, the
weaker the bond holding the proton to the molecule, the stronger the acid is. The bond
strength is largely determined by the difference in electronegativity. Fluorine is one of the
most electronegative elements, and thus is not as strong of an acid as HCl or HI, which
have weaker bonds, and thus a more readily available proton. Answer [A] is false because
iodine is the largest element out of the three, not the smallest. While answer [B] is a
partially true statement, it does not answer the question, because acid strength is
as electronegativity increases in the halogens, as seen in HF. Answer [C] is false, because
all of the halides have 7 available valence electrons. Answer [E] is false, because the
shielding effect increases as you go down a column, and the acid strength also in
the halides.
 -1
14. N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) ; ΔH° = -92.22 kJ•mol . Which change would
decrease the Keq in the above reaction?
a. Adding an iron catalyst.
b. Decreasing the volume of the vessel.
c. Injecting H2 gas.
d. Cooling ammonia gas into a liquid.
e. Increasing the temperature.

Solution

The trick to this question is to realize the only thing that can change the K eq is changing the
temperature, thus Choice [E] must be the correct answer. All the other answers will not
affect the equilibrium or only affect the reaction quotient, Q.

The easiest way to think about the ΔH o of a reaction is to add it into the chemical
equation. A negative ΔHo means the reaction is exothermic so energy is given off, or it is
part of the products. The reverse is true for endothermic reactions; the energy would be
part of the reactants. The chemical reaction can be rewritten as:

N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g) + energy

Next, we have to understand the concept of K eq. You can think of Keq as the
concentration of products divided by the concentration of reactants, or:

Decreasing the Keq means we are increasing the amount of reactants, so we have to find
which answer will shift the equilibrium towards the reactants, or towards the left.

Increasing the temperature will shift the equilibrium towards the left, or towards the
reactants, and thus decrease the Keq.

Adding a catalyst does not change the Keq. Decreasing the volume of the vessel will
increase the pressure, and the reaction will shift towards the side that has less moles of gas
to reach equilibrium, or in this case towards the products, thus increasing Q. Injecting H2
gas will push the equilibrium towards the products,
increasing Q. Lastly, cooling ammonia gas into
liquid will pull the reaction towards the right to produce more products, increasing Q.
 What is the molar solubility of PbSO -2
15. 4 in 4.0 × 10 M Pb(NO3)2 solution? The
-8
Ksp for PbSO4 is 1.6 × 10
4.0 × 10-7
a. M
6.4 × 10-10
b. M
3.2 × 10-6
c. M
1.6 × 10-8
d. M
8.0 × 10-10
e. M

Solution:

This is a common ion problem. You should recognize that there are already Pb2+ ions
floating around in the solution, so PbSO4 will be even less soluble. We can setup an ICE
table to solve this:

PbSO4( ) Pb2+( ) + SO42-( )

Next, we can setup the equilibrium expression: Ksp = [Pb2+][SO42-] = (0.04 + x)(x)

On the DAT, you can pretty much always assume that x is a very small number and that
(0.04 + x) is approximately 0.04.

1.6 × 10-8 = 0.04x = 4 × 10-7 = molar solubility

16/4 = 4, and there is only one answer choice with 4 as the stem, leading you to answer
[A].

-5
16. Acetic acid (Ka = 1.8 x 10 ) is titrated with KOH. Which pH indicator should
you use to signal the end point of the titration?
a. Thymol blue; pH = 2 – 2.5
b. Methyl yellow; pH = 3 – 4
c. Bromocresol purple; pH = 5 – 7
d. Cresol red; pH = 7.5 – 9
e. Alizarine Yellow; pH = 10.5 – 12

Solution:

This looks like an intimidating problem and that you have to solve for the pH, but no
calculation is required. Instead, an understanding of titration techniques is required.

For the titration of a weak acid with a strong base, the equivalence point will be a weak
base. For the pH indicator to properly signal the end point (or the “equivalence point”), the
indicator’s pH range must be similar to the pH at the equivalence point. Only cresol red’s
pH indicator is in the weak base range. Alizarine Yellow is used to identify strong bases,
not weak.
 17.A chemist mixes two solutions in a flask and notices the flask becomes cold. It
can be concluded that the reaction:
a. Is exothermic.
b. Is endothermic.
c. Produces a precipitate.
d. Decreases in entropy.
e. Is a neutralization.

Solution:

Thermodynamics consist of a system and its surroundings. In this case, the solution is the
system, and the surroundings is the flask. If the flask becomes cold, it means that energy is
being drawn from it. The reaction is pulling energy into it, meaning that the reaction
is endothermic. If the flask became warmer, then the reaction is giving off energy to its
surroundings, and would be exothermic. We have no idea if a precipitate occurs with the
given information, or if it is a neutralization reaction. Neutralization reactions tend to be
exothermic anyways. Lastly, we cannot conclude if the reaction increased or decreased
entropy because we do not have enough information.
 18.The ∆Hf for Br(g) is +193 kJ/mol. What is the bond dissociation energy of a Br-
Br bond?
a. +193 kJ / mol
b. -193 kJ / mol
c. +386 kJ / mol
d. -386 kJ / mol
e. +96.5 kJ / mol

Solution:

Bond dissociation energies are always positive because we have to put in energy to break
the bond. In other words, the bond has to energy, meaning bond breaking is an
endothermic process, thus our answer must be positive, so we can eliminate [B] and [D].

The ∆Hf for Br(g) is: (1/2) Br2(l) -> Br(g) ; ∆Hf = +193 kJ / mol

If we simply double this reaction, we find:

Br2(l) 2Br(g) ; ∆Hf = (2)(+193) = +386 kJ/mol

 19. All of the following will affect the rate of an irreversible chemical reaction
EXCEPT one. Which one is this EXCEPTION?
a. pressure.
b. concentration of reactants.
c. presence of a catalyst.
d. surface area of reactant solid.
e. concentration of products.

Solution:

A chemical reaction occurs when two or more reactant molecules hit each other with
enough force and in the proper orientation. The more the molecules hit each other, the
greater the chance for a reaction, and the faster a reaction can proceed. Increasing the
pressure will make more molecules hit each other, resulting in a change in the rate of the
reaction. Increasing the concentration of the reactants will also affect the frequency of
molecular collisions. A catalyst will lower the activation energy required and speed up a
reaction. More surface area of a reactant will give more opportunities for molecules to
strike to cause a reaction. However, the concentration of products will not affect the rate of
an irreversible reaction. Product molecules colliding into each other will not help the
forward reaction to occur quicker.
 20. A first order reaction has a half-life of 90 minutes. What is the rate constant in
-1
hour ?
a. 90 / (0.693)
b. (0.693) / 1.5
c. (0.693)(1.5)
d. (0.693) / 90
e. (0.693)(90)

Solution

The half-life for a first order reaction is: t1/2 = 0.693/k

We are given time in minutes and they want the final rate constant in hours. There are 1.5
hours in 90 minutes. Now, simply substitute in the values given, and we find that k =
(0.693)/1.5.
 2+ -
21. How many electrons are transferred in this half-reaction? Mn → MnO4
a. 2
b. 3
c. 5
d. 7
e. 14

Solution

On the DAT, you won’t be expected to fully balance out entire redox equations, simply
because it takes too much time. Instead, you’ll be asked to do a part of a balance redox
equation.

If we find the oxidation states of manganese in the reactant phase and in the product phase,
we can find the amount of electrons that were transferred in this half-reaction. We can
immediately see that the oxidation state of manganese in the reactant is +2(Mn2+).

The oxidation state of manganese in the product is a little trickier. We have to setup an
algebraic equation:

x + (-2)(4) = -1

x = Mn-2 = the standard state of oxygen4 = amount of oxygen atoms-1 = overall charge of
the compound

Solving for x, we find that the oxidation state of Mn is +7.The difference between Mn2+
and Mn7+ is 5 electrons, which is our final answer.
 22.Which of the following acts as a reducing agent?
a. Cl-
b. IO3-
c. F2
d. Zn2+
e. Cl2

Solution

A reducing agent is in a chemical reaction. Conversely, an oxidizing agent is.

In this case, the reducing agent we’re looking for must have an element that “will likely
give up electrons (or become oxidized). Cl– is a great candidate to act as a reducing agent
since it will change oxidation states from -1 to 0. IO3– looks like a possibility, but the
oxidation state on iodine is +5, and it isn’t likely to give up more electrons. F2 isn’t likely
to give up more electrons, and neither is Zn2+ or Cl2.
 23.The valence electron in ground state lithium can be described by which set of
quantum numbers?
a. 2, 0, 0, +1/2
b. 2, 0, 1, +1/2
c. 2, 1, 1, +1/2
d. 3, 0, 0, -1/2
e. 3, 1, 0, +1/2

Solution:

The electron configuration of ground state lithium is 1s22s1. This can also be written as
[He]2s1 in the noble-gas configuration. The 2s1 describes the valence electron
specifically, where n = 2 (second period), so [D] and [E] can be eliminated. The electron is
in the s orbital due to being in the first two columns, so = 0. The table below describes
how quantum numbers work. Notice the fancy word “azimuthal”. It’s worth knowing, it
can appear on the DAT.

So for a 2s1 electron:

n = 2l = 0 ml = 0 ms = -(1/2), +(1/2)

Defintion:

The azimuthal quantum number is a quantum number for an

atomic orbital that determines its orbital angular momentum
and describes the shape of the orbital.
 24. A Lewis structure for O3 is: O=O-O. Including this structure, the total
number of ground state resonance structures for this molecule is:
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5

Solution:

Resonance Structures: A Drawing different resonance structures is kind of like moving

doors on a hinge. Lone-pair or pi electrons swing down to form a double or triple bond,
and the adjacent pi electrons swing out to become a new set of lone pairs or a new double
of triple bond.

25. Which of the following is the most likely formed compound between atoms X
and Y?
 2 2 6 2
Atom X: 1s 2s 2p 3s
2 2 4
Atom Y: 1s 2s 2p

A. X3Y
B. X2Y
C. X2Y3
D. XY
E. XY2

Solution:
Using the periodic table, we can find that atom X is magnesium and atom Y is oxygen.
These atoms are most often found in with a +2 and -2 charge in compounds, respectively.
Therefore, we only need one of each atom to form the likely compound MgO, or
magnesium oxide.

26. Calcium has a larger atomic radius than magnesium because of the:
a. Difference in the number of neutrons in their nucleus.
 b. Increase in ionization energy.
c. Lanthanide contraction.
d. Increase in effective nuclear charge.
e. Increase in electron shielding.

Solution:

So by this point, you should know the basic periodic trend of atomic size, i.e. atomic size
generally gets larger as you go down and towards the left on the periodic table (francium is
very big), and atomic size generally gets smaller as you go up and towards the right
(fluorine is very small).

Occasionally, the DAT will ask about the fundamental concepts behind atomic size. First,
many of the periodic trends, including atomic size, can be derived from the two concepts
of effective nuclear charge and electron shielding. These are quite complicated topics;
so if nothing else, just remember what’s in bold below for the DAT.

The effective nuclear charge is the net positive charge felt by the valence electrons. In a
given group in the periodic table, the effective nuclear charge stays relatively constant due
to the constant number of valence electrons; the increasing number of protons is balanced
with an increasing number of core electrons. Going across the periodic table, however,
more protons are being added, and the electrons experience a stronger effective nuclear
charge. The increasing effective nuclear charge is responsible for the decrease in
atomic size across the periodic table from left to right.

The electron shielding effect reduces the effect of a full nuclear charge. As more core
electrons are added, they begin to “shield” the valence electrons from the increasingly
positive nucleus. This allows the outer electrons to move farther away from the nucleus,
hence increasing atomic size. The increasing electron shielding effect is responsible for
the increase in atomic size moving down groups.

27. An extracted pure compound appears silvery white, exhibits high conductivity
 to heat and electricity, yet has a very low melting point. Which of the following
elements is a possible match for this compound?
a. Platinum
b. Sodium
c. Germanium
d. Selenium
e. Iodine

Solution:

The compound described matches that of an alkali metal,

the first group in the periodic table. The alkali metals
display metallic properties due to their low first ionization
energies, but they have low melting points due to their
weak inter-atomic bonding. latinum is a metal, but it also
has a high melting point. Germanium is a metalloid and
has a high melting point as well, and is only conductive
under special circumstances (a semi-conductor).
Selenium is used in Head and Shoulders shampoo, and is
a nonmetal, so it doesn’t have a high conductivity. Lastly,
iodine does not conduct electricity.
 28. Radioactively decays to by which process?
a. Positron emission
b. Electron capture
c. Alpha decay
d. Beta decay
e. Gamma decay

Solution

Beta decay is the only process listed that converts a neutron to a proton and electron.
Notice how the reaction balances by the numbers. The mass number 19 stays the same on
both sides of the equations, but the product has a larger atomic number. To balance the
equation an electron is added, or we say the compound underwent beta decay. Refer to the
table of radioactive decay below to refresh your memory if needed.
 29. A student measures the mass of a compound to be 9.01 g and its volume to be
11.0 mL. What is the density in g/mL?
a. 0.8
b. 0.82
c. 0.819
d. 0.8191
e. 0.81909

Solution:

You may be exclaiming you need a calculator for this problem. This problem isn’t testing
your calculation skills though; it is testing your knowledge of significant figures.

For multiplying and dividing, the number of significant figures is determined by the
measurement with the fewest amount of significant figures. For adding and subtracting, the
answer must have the same amount of decimal places as the measurement with the fewest
number of decimal places. This reduces error when taking measurements.

How many Sig. Figs:

 30. A student finds that the average number of cells over 10 samples is 2130, with
a standard deviation of ±6. However, the professor determines the true average
number of cells is 2850. The student’s measurement was:
a. Inaccurate and precise
b. Accurate and imprecise
c. Inaccurate and imprecise
d. Accurate and precise

Solution:

The definition of accuracy is that the measurement taken is close to the true value, whereas
the definition of precise is that the measurement produces consistent results. Thus, the
student’s measurements were precise, since we can see the standard deviation is low
compared to the total number of cells, meaning the variation of each measurement was
low. However, the measurement was inaccurate, because the measured value by the
student differed significantly from the true value.