ACT Science : Chemistry
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Example Questions
Example Question #231 : Chemistry
Kevin wants to know if a particular kind of chemical fertilizer will help or hinder the growth of his tomato plants. He decides to conduct an experiment in which he grows three plants, one left untreated, one treated with the chemical fertilizer RapidGro and one treated with an organic compost. He records his findings in the charts below, measuring plant height and number of tomatoes over a period of time.
Height of plant (inches):
|
Day |
No Fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
3 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
4 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
|
7 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
|
10 |
16 |
21 |
19 |
|
14 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
Number of tomatoes:
|
Day |
No fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
14 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
On the fourteenth day Kevin picks the biggest tomato from each plant and record its dimensions, as well as other information, which is found below.
Tomato 1 (no fertilizer): 
Tomato 2 (RapidGro): 
Tomato 3 (compost): 
Which method was most fruitful for the plants?
Compost, as it bore the most tomatoes
RapidGro, as it bore fruit faster
None of these answers
No fertilizer, as it bore fruit consistently
Compost, as it bore the most tomatoes
The composted plant had the highest number of tomatoes, or greatest yield, and was therefore most fruitful.
Example Question #232 : Chemistry
Kevin wants to know if a particular kind of chemical fertilizer will help or hinder the growth of his tomato plants. He decides to conduct an experiment in which he grows three plants, one left untreated, one treated with the chemical fertilizer RapidGro and one treated with an organic compost. He records his findings in the charts below, measuring plant height and number of tomatoes over a period of time.
Height of plant (inches):
|
Day |
No Fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
3 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
4 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
|
7 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
|
10 |
16 |
21 |
19 |
|
14 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
Number of tomatoes:
|
Day |
No fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
14 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
On the fourteenth day Kevin picks the biggest tomato from each plant and record its dimensions, as well as other information, which is found below.
Tomato 1 (no fertilizer):
Tomato 2 (RapidGro):
Tomato 3 (compost):
Sally thinks the RapidGro-treated plant was the best plant. What could lead her to this conclusion?
It grew consistently and bore the most fruit
It grew the tallest and bore the biggest fruit
It bore the biggest fruit and grew fastest
It grew the fastest and bore the most fruit
It bore the biggest fruit and grew fastest
Though not the tallest nor the bearer of the most fruit, the RapidGro-treated plant did grow the fastest and had the biggest tomatoes.
Example Question #233 : Chemistry
Kevin wants to know if a particular kind of chemical fertilizer will help or hinder the growth of his tomato plants. He decides to conduct an experiment in which he grows three plants, one left untreated, one treated with the chemical fertilizer RapidGro and one treated with an organic compost. He records his findings in the charts below, measuring plant height and number of tomatoes over a period of time.
Height of plant (inches):
|
Day |
No Fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
3 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
4 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
|
7 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
|
10 |
16 |
21 |
19 |
|
14 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
Number of tomatoes:
|
Day |
No fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
14 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
On the fourteenth day Kevin picks the biggest tomato from each plant and record its dimensions, as well as other information, which is found below.
Tomato 1 (no fertilizer):
Tomato 2 (RapidGro):
Tomato 3 (compost):
What could have caused the number of tomatoes on the second plant to decrease on the fourteenth day?
None of these answers
They could have fallen off the plant
They could have been swept away in a storm
They could have been eaten by Kevin
They could have fallen off the plant
The fertilized plant bore the biggest fruit; it is therefore reasonable to conclude the plant could have not supported the heavy tomatoes.
Example Question #234 : Chemistry
Kevin wants to know if a particular kind of chemical fertilizer will help or hinder the growth of his tomato plants. He decides to conduct an experiment in which he grows three plants, one left untreated, one treated with the chemical fertilizer RapidGro and one treated with an organic compost. He records his findings in the charts below, measuring plant height and number of tomatoes over a period of time.
Height of plant (inches):
|
Day |
No Fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
3 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
4 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
|
7 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
|
10 |
16 |
21 |
19 |
|
14 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
Number of tomatoes:
|
Day |
No fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
14 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
On the fourteenth day Kevin picks the biggest tomato from each plant and record its dimensions, as well as other information, which is found below.
Tomato 1 (no fertilizer):
Tomato 2 (RapidGro):
Tomato 3 (compost):
What can Kevin safely conclude about the effects of RapidGro on plant height?
RapidGro causes plants to grow taller
There is not significant difference between a plant treated with RapidGro and one treated without
RapidGro causes plants to grow at the same rate
RapidGro causes plants to grow less
There is not significant difference between a plant treated with RapidGro and one treated without
Kevin cannot prove causation with this experiment; he cannot prove that RapidGro did or did not do anything. He can only record the results.
Example Question #235 : Chemistry
Kevin wants to know if a particular kind of chemical fertilizer will help or hinder the growth of his tomato plants. He decides to conduct an experiment in which he grows three plants, one left untreated, one treated with the chemical fertilizer RapidGro and one treated with an organic compost. He records his findings in the charts below, measuring plant height and number of tomatoes over a period of time.
Height of plant (inches):
|
Day |
No Fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
3 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
4 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
|
7 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
|
10 |
16 |
21 |
19 |
|
14 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
Number of tomatoes:
|
Day |
No fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
14 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
On the fourteenth day Kevin picks the biggest tomato from each plant and record its dimensions, as well as other information, which is found below.
Tomato 1 (no fertilizer):
Tomato 2 (RapidGro):
Tomato 3 (compost):
If Kevin wanted the tallest plant, which method of growth would he pick?
Compost, because after 2 weeks it was the tallest plant
Compost, because it grew the most steadily
Fertilizer because after 7 days it was the tallest plant
Fertilizer, because it grew the fastest
Compost, because after 2 weeks it was the tallest plant
Kevin wants the tallest plant, not the fastest growing. If he wants one that will grow tallest overall, he need not pick the faster growing fertilizer but the compost, for it was tallest at the end.
Example Question #31 : How To Find Research Summary In Chemistry
Kevin wants to know if a particular kind of chemical fertilizer will help or hinder the growth of his tomato plants. He decides to conduct an experiment in which he grows three plants, one left untreated, one treated with the chemical fertilizer RapidGro and one treated with an organic compost. He records his findings in the charts below, measuring plant height and number of tomatoes over a period of time.
Height of plant (inches):
|
Day |
No Fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
3 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
4 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
|
7 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
|
10 |
16 |
21 |
19 |
|
14 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
Number of tomatoes:
|
Day |
No fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
14 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
On the fourteenth day Kevin picks the biggest tomato from each plant and record its dimensions, as well as other information, which is found below.
Tomato 1 (no fertilizer):
Tomato 2 (RapidGro):
Tomato 3 (compost):
Which is the best conclusion of Kevin's experiment?
The composted plant bore the most fruit and the tallest plant
The fertilized plant bore the biggest fruit and the tallest plant
The composted plant bore the biggest fruit and the tallest plant
The fertilized plant grew the fastest and had the most fruit
The composted plant bore the most fruit and the tallest plant
The composted plant is the only one which bore the most fruit and was the tallest; all other statements are false in some way.
Example Question #237 : Chemistry
Kevin wants to know if a particular kind of chemical fertilizer will help or hinder the growth of his tomato plants. He decides to conduct an experiment in which he grows three plants, one left untreated, one treated with the chemical fertilizer RapidGro and one treated with an organic compost. He records his findings in the charts below, measuring plant height and number of tomatoes over a period of time.
Height of plant (inches):
|
Day |
No Fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
3 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
|
4 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
|
7 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
|
10 |
16 |
21 |
19 |
|
14 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
Number of tomatoes:
|
Day |
No fertilizer |
RapidGro |
Compost |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
14 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
On the fourteenth day Kevin picks the biggest tomato from each plant and record its dimensions, as well as other information, which is found below.
Tomato 1 (no fertilizer):
Tomato 2 (RapidGro):
Tomato 3 (compost):
Tom eats one tomato from each plant and decides the RapidGrow-treated plant is the best because its tomato tastes the juiciest. What is the problem with Tom's conclusion?
Tom does not like Kevin
The tomatoes were eaten out of order
Taste cannot be scientifically quantified
Tom was not part of the original experiment
Taste cannot be scientifically quantified
Taste cannot be reliably measured and is a matter of opinion. This is the issue with Tom's conclusion.
Example Question #921 : Act Science
The Environmental Protection Agency compiled the following information about heavy metals in drinking water. Heavy metals are toxic, and thus must be monitored very closely. All amounts are given in parts per billion (ppb), a common measurement of concentration for trace contaminants. Figure 1 shows total heavy metal contamination in each city as a makeup of various percentages of specific contaminants. Figure 2 shows specific amounts of contaminants (with the same color coding) in ppb as well as total contamination level in ppb.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Which city has the most total heavy metal contaminants?
Boston
Seattle
Chicago
Fargo
Boston
Figure 2 shows total heavy metal contaminants in ppb and indicates the makeup of this total. However, this question asks solely for the total amount of contamination. We can see that the bar representing heavy metal contamination in Boston is the highest, and thus is the correct answer to this question.
Example Question #922 : Act Science
A scientist decided to use high-tech equipment to measure the electronegativity, an atom's attraction to electrons, of the second period on the periodic table. The results of her measurements are in the chart below. Z is equal to the atomic number of the specified atom and the number of protons in that atom.
Metals are elements that typically have electronegativities of less than 2.0 Debyes. Which of the following sets of atoms do not contain a metal?
Nitrogen, Oxygen, Lithium
Lithium, Beryllium, and Boron
Beryllium, Boron, and Carbon
Carbon, Fluorine, Nitrogen
Lithium and Beryllium
Carbon, Fluorine, Nitrogen
The correct answer is the one that does not include neither lithium nor beryllium. Based on the information provided, we can infer that lithium and beryllium are the only elements listed that are metals due to their low electronegativities.
Example Question #923 : Act Science
A scientist decided to use high-tech equipment to measure the electronegativity, an atom's attraction to electrons, of the second period on the periodic table. The results of her measurements are in the chart below. Z is equal to the atomic number of the specified atom and the number of protons in that atom.
An atom's atomic radius tends to follow an opposite trend than electronegativity with regards to an atom's atomic number. Which of the following pairs of atoms does not involve an atom with a larger radius followed by an atom with a smaller radius?
Oxygen, carbon
Lithium, beryllium
Oxygen, fluorine
Boron, nitrogen
Lithium, fluorine
Oxygen, carbon
If atomic radius follows an opposite trend than that of electronegativity with regards to atomic number, then we know that the lower electronegativity of an atom, the greater its atomic radius. Therefore, the correct answer must be an element with a higher atomic number or electronegativity followed by one with a lower atomic number or electronegativity.
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