ACT Science : How to find research summary in chemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #931 : Act Science

Clock reactions are chemical interactions that exhibit a physical change periodically over a given time interval. Many of these reactions involve iodine, the most famous being the Chlorine Dioxide-Iodine-Malonic Acid reaction. These reactions can be quite startling as flasks of colorless liquid periodically turn dark blue and then resolve back to their original colorless state. Even more striking, they seem to alternate between being colorless and blue several times. The term "clock reaction" is derived from the fact that the time at which these sudden changes occur can be predicted. 

Beyond performing these reactions in a well stirred beaker, there are two other notable ways to conduct experiments with clock reactions that demonstrate interesting properties of these reactions. The first is in a continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR). In a CSTR, the reactants are introduced at a continuous rate while the volume of liquid in the reactor is kept constant by siphoning off excess fluid. The result of this process is that one can maintain the ideal conditions in which the reaction may occur over time and restricts the buildup of excess product or reactant that would otherwise make the oscillations of the reactions decay. In a CSTR, clock reactions can be maintained switching predictably from colorless to blue, for example, for far longer than in a simple beaker.

The second way to conduct a clock reaction experiment is in a tank with no stirring at all. This allows the reactants to interact heterogeneously, or without being thoroughly mixed. When this occurs, we can get some parts of the tank that are one color and other parts that are another color. This means that we can observe two different stages of the reaction in one vessel. The patterns that this makes are called Turing patterns, named by the great computer scientist Alan Turing. Turing predicted that the heterogeneous mixing of chemicals called morphogens in complex organisms were responsible for biological pattern formation like spots on a leopard, stripes on a zebra, or patterns on a tropical fish. The existence of such patterns and chemicals has since been confirmed and clock reactions are often used to study these types of Turing patterns.

Which of the following would Turing have agreed was predicted by his morphogen theory?

Possible Answers:

The ability of some goldfish to leap out of their bowls

The existence of domestic dogs without tails

The speckled fur of a domestic cat

The existence of hairless hypoallergenic cats

The folding over of one ear in some breeds of domestic dog

Correct answer:

The speckled fur of a domestic cat

Explanation:

Turing predicted that morphogens were responsible for patterns on animal pelts. The coat of a household cat is a perfect example of the types of patterns that Turing predicted could arise as a result of spatial and temporal heterogeneity of morphogen concentration.

Example Question #931 : Act Science

The Millikin oil drop experiment is among the most important experiments in the history of science. It was used to determine one of the fundamental constants of the universe, the charge on the electron. For his work, Robert Millikin won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.

Millikin used an experimental setup as follows in Figure 1. He opened a chamber of oil into an adjacent uniform electric field. The oil droplets sank into the electric field once the trap door opened, but were then immediately suspended by the forces of electricity present in the field.

Figure 1:

Millikin

By determining how much force was needed to exactly counteract the gravity pulling the oil droplet down, Millikin was able to determine the force of electricity. This is depicted in Figure 2.

Using this information, he was able to calculate the exact charge on an electron. By changing some conditions, such as creating a vacuum in the apparatus, the experiment can be modified. 

Figure 2:

Millikin_drop

When the drop is suspended perfectly, the total forces up equal the total forces down. Because Millikin knew the electric field in the apparatus, the force of air resistance, the mass of the drop, and the acceleration due to gravity, he was able to solve the following equation: 

Table 1 summarizes the electric charge found on oil drops in suspension. Millikin correctly concluded that the calculated charges must all be multiples of the fundamental charge of the electron. A hypothetical oil drop contains some net charge due to lost electrons, and this net charge cannot be smaller than the charge on a single electron.

Table 1: 

Trial #

Electric Charge Calculated in Coulombs (C)

Vacuum Used?

1

1.602176487 x 10-8

No

2

1.602176487 x 10-2

Yes

3

1.602176487 x 10-6

No

4

1.602176487 x 10-4

Yes

 

In Trial 1 and 3, the additional net force not present in Trial 2 and 4 is most probably acting:

Possible Answers:

perpendicular to the electric force.

parallel with, and in the same direction as, the electric force.

parallel to the electric force in either direction.

parallel with, and in the opposite direction as, the electric force.

Correct answer:

parallel with, and in the same direction as, the electric force.

Explanation:

The additional force in the absence of a vacuum is mainly air resistance, and the magnitude of the observed electric force suggests that the net force is acting parallel and opposite to gravity. Thus, it is in the same direction as the electric force.

Example Question #241 : Chemistry

The Millikin oil drop experiment is among the most important experiments in the history of science. It was used to determine one of the fundamental constants of the universe, the charge on the electron. For his work, Robert Millikin won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.

Millikin used an experimental setup as follows in Figure 1. He opened a chamber of oil into an adjacent uniform electric field. The oil droplets sank into the electric field once the trap door opened, but were then immediately suspended by the forces of electricity present in the field.

Figure 1:

Millikin

By determining how much force was needed to exactly counteract the gravity pulling the oil droplet down, Millikin was able to determine the force of electricity. This is depicted in Figure 2.

Using this information, he was able to calculate the exact charge on an electron. By changing some conditions, such as creating a vacuum in the apparatus, the experiment can be modified. 

Figure 2:

Millikin_drop

When the drop is suspended perfectly, the total forces up equal the total forces down. Because Millikin knew the electric field in the apparatus, the force of air resistance, the mass of the drop, and the acceleration due to gravity, he was able to solve the following equation: 

Table 1 summarizes the electric charge found on oil drops in suspension. Millikin correctly concluded that the calculated charges must all be multiples of the fundamental charge of the electron. A hypothetical oil drop contains some net charge due to lost electrons, and this net charge cannot be smaller than the charge on a single electron.

Table 1: 

Trial #

Electric Charge Calculated in Coulombs (C)

Vacuum Used?

1

1.602176487 x 10-8

No

2

1.602176487 x 10-2

Yes

3

1.602176487 x 10-6

No

4

1.602176487 x 10-4

Yes

 

Changes to which of the following would likely result in a difference in the observed strength of the electric field needed to suspend an oil drop?

Possible Answers:

All of the choices would change the observed strength of the electric field needed to suspend an oil drop.

strength of the force of gravity.

total electric charge on the oil drop.

the fundamental charge on the electron.

Correct answer:

All of the choices would change the observed strength of the electric field needed to suspend an oil drop.

Explanation:

The experiment is fundamentally matching the net electric charge on the oil drop with an external electric field to exactly counteract the force of gravity. As a result, changes to any of these quantities will change the observed results.

Example Question #932 : Act Science

The Millikin oil drop experiment is among the most important experiments in the history of science. It was used to determine one of the fundamental constants of the universe, the charge on the electron. For his work, Robert Millikin won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.

Millikin used an experimental setup as follows in Figure 1. He opened a chamber of oil into an adjacent uniform electric field. The oil droplets sank into the electric field once the trap door opened, but were then immediately suspended by the forces of electricity present in the field.

Figure 1:

Millikin

By determining how much force was needed to exactly counteract the gravity pulling the oil droplet down, Millikin was able to determine the force of electricity. This is depicted in Figure 2.

Using this information, he was able to calculate the exact charge on an electron. By changing some conditions, such as creating a vacuum in the apparatus, the experiment can be modified. 

Figure 2:

Millikin_drop

When the drop is suspended perfectly, the total forces up equal the total forces down. Because Millikin knew the electric field in the apparatus, the force of air resistance, the mass of the drop, and the acceleration due to gravity, he was able to solve the following equation: 

Table 1 summarizes the electric charge found on oil drops in suspension. Millikin correctly concluded that the calculated charges must all be multiples of the fundamental charge of the electron. A hypothetical oil drop contains some net charge due to lost electrons, and this net charge cannot be smaller than the charge on a single electron.

Table 1: 

Trial #

Electric Charge Calculated in Coulombs (C)

Vacuum Used?

1

1.602176487 x 10-8

No

2

1.602176487 x 10-2

Yes

3

1.602176487 x 10-6

No

4

1.602176487 x 10-4

Yes

 

The electric force experienced by oil drops will vary directly with the magnitude of charge on the drop. A scientist is measuring two different drops in two different experimental apparatuses, but each in perfect suspension and not moving. Drop 1 has a greater net charge than does drop 2. The magnitude of the electric force:

Possible Answers:

is greater on drop 1 than drop 2.

is greater on drop 2 than drop 1.

is equal on both drops.

may be greater on either drop 1 or drop 2.

Correct answer:

is greater on drop 1 than drop 2.

Explanation:

The electric force, in isolation, will be greater on drop 1 because it has a greater net charge to interact with the external electric field. 

Example Question #931 : Act Science

The Millikin oil drop experiment is among the most important experiments in the history of science. It was used to determine one of the fundamental constants of the universe, the charge on the electron. For his work, Robert Millikin won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.

Millikin used an experimental setup as follows in Figure 1. He opened a chamber of oil into an adjacent uniform electric field. The oil droplets sank into the electric field once the trap door opened, but were then immediately suspended by the forces of electricity present in the field.

Figure 1:

Millikin

By determining how much force was needed to exactly counteract the gravity pulling the oil droplet down, Millikin was able to determine the force of electricity. This is depicted in Figure 2.

Using this information, he was able to calculate the exact charge on an electron. By changing some conditions, such as creating a vacuum in the apparatus, the experiment can be modified. 

Figure 2:

Millikin_drop

When the drop is suspended perfectly, the total forces up equal the total forces down. Because Millikin knew the electric field in the apparatus, the force of air resistance, the mass of the drop, and the acceleration due to gravity, he was able to solve the following equation: 

Table 1 summarizes the electric charge found on oil drops in suspension. Millikin correctly concluded that the calculated charges must all be multiples of the fundamental charge of the electron. A hypothetical oil drop contains some net charge due to lost electrons, and this net charge cannot be smaller than the charge on a single electron.

Table 1: 

Trial #

Electric Charge Calculated in Coulombs (C)

Vacuum Used?

1

1.602176487 x 10-8

No

2

1.602176487 x 10-2

Yes

3

1.602176487 x 10-6

No

4

1.602176487 x 10-4

Yes

 

Based only on the information in the passage, which of the following could be the charge of one electron?

I.  1.602176487 x 10-6 C

II. 1.602176487 x 10-2 C

III. 1.602176487 × 10-19 C

IV. 1.602176487 × 10-17 C

Possible Answers:

III and IV

I and II

I, II, III, and IV

I and III

Correct answer:

III and IV

Explanation:

The oil drops are suspended in the electric field by a charge that is equal to the net charge on the oil droplet. The passage and data table suggest that the oil drops all have total net charges that are multiples of either III or IV. This is because each electron on a drop has a charge that is some factor of the total net charge on the oil droplet. In other words, if there is one electron with charge X and you have 100 excess electrons, you will have a total charge of 100X. Based just on the information in the passage, the answer could be any number that is a factor of the observed values for the oil droplets.

Example Question #934 : Act Science

A chemist has mixed up the labels on some of his chemical compounds. To try to determine the compounds, the chemist dissolves the compounds in pure water. He notes the corrosiveness and color of each solution, along with a measurement of the pH for each (for which he estimates a 0.15 margin of error for each measurement).

Act 3

Does this set of experiments achieve its goal? 

Possible Answers:

Yes, all of the substances can be identified from one another

No, substances A and C give similar results in all tests and cannot be determined from one another

No, solutions A and B are too similar in the properties tested by the chemist

Yes, the chemist can develop any formulations he wants

No, the experiments do not include information on the use of each solution

Correct answer:

No, substances A and C give similar results in all tests and cannot be determined from one another

Explanation:

The purpose of the experiment was to be able identify accurately each of the substances. Substance A has a pH of 7.0, is fully soluble, colorless and is not corrosive. Substance C has a pH of 7.2, is fully soluble, colorless and is not corrosive. Only the pH differs and because there is a 0.15 margin of error on each measurement, the 0.2 point difference is not significant enough to determine which substance is which. More experiments would need to be performed to differentiate Substance A and C.

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