ACT Science : How to find synthesis of data in chemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Chemistry

A student performed the following procedures to study various photosynthetic pigments (light-absorbing chemicals) in tree leaves and the wavelengths of light they absorb.

Experiment 1:

The student obtained samples of leaves from oaks, maples, ashes, sycamores, and poplars. Each leaf sample was ground separately with a mortar and pestle to release the pigments, and then each sample was suspended in water to make a colored solution of the pigment. The student then measured the absorption spectrum (a graph of how much light is absorbed by a pigment at varying wavelengths of light) of each solution in a device called a spectrophotometer. The setup of a spectrophotometer is shown below in Diagram 1.

 

 Spectrophotometer

 

The light source emits white light, which is split into its various wavelengths by the prism. Next, a slit, which can be moved up or down to select a particular wavelength, is used to transmit just a single wavelength to the sample. The sample absorbs a fraction of this light that is characteristic to the pigment in the sample, and the rest is transmitted to the detector for a readout. Using the spectrophotometer, the student found the λmax (the wavelength of light in nanometers (nm) that the pigment absorbs most intensely, for each sample) and recorded the results in Table 1. Table 1 also shows the transmittance and absorbance values at λmax. Transmittance, T, is defined as the fraction of light, expressed as a decimal, which passes through the sample. Absorbance, A, is given by:

                                    A = –log(T)   or  10–A = T

 

 Spectrophotometer_table_1

 

Experiment 2:

A student is given a leaf from an unknown source. She crushes and extracts the pigment according to the procedure in Experiment 1. Measuring the absorbance spectrum in the spectrophotometer produces the following readout, shown in Diagram 2.

 Leaf_absorbance

                                                Diagram 2

In Experiment 2, at which of the following wavelengths, in nanometers, is the most amount of light transmitted through the sample?

Possible Answers:

350

500

450

400

Correct answer:

500

Explanation:

As the equations in the description of Experiment 1, as well as the patterns in the data in Table 1 indicate, a low absorbance provides a high transmittance and vice-versa. Thus, to find what wavelength gives the highest value of transmittance, we must look for the lowest absorbance value. As 500 nm gives an absorbance of 0, it will give a transmittance of 100%, the highest possible value.

                             A = 0,           10–0 = T = 1, or 100%

Example Question #151 : Chemistry

A student performed the following procedures to study various photosynthetic pigments (light-absorbing chemicals) in tree leaves and the wavelengths of light they absorb.

Experiment 1:

The student obtained samples of leaves from oaks, maples, ashes, sycamores, and poplars. Each leaf sample was ground separately with a mortar and pestle to release the pigments, and then each sample was suspended in water to make a colored solution of the pigment. The student then measured the absorption spectrum (a graph of how much light is absorbed by a pigment at varying wavelengths of light) of each solution in a device called a spectrophotometer. The setup of a spectrophotometer is shown below in Diagram 1.

 

 Spectrophotometer

 

The light source emits white light, which is split into its various wavelengths by the prism. Next, a slit, which can be moved up or down to select a particular wavelength, is used to transmit just a single wavelength to the sample. The sample absorbs a fraction of this light that is characteristic to the pigment in the sample, and the rest is transmitted to the detector for a readout. Using the spectrophotometer, the student found the λmax (the wavelength of light in nanometers (nm) that the pigment absorbs most intensely, for each sample) and recorded the results in Table 1. Table 1 also shows the transmittance and absorbance values at λmax. Transmittance, T, is defined as the fraction of light, expressed as a decimal, which passes through the sample. Absorbance, A, is given by:

                                    A = –log(T)   or  10–A = T

 

 Spectrophotometer_table_1

 

Experiment 2:

A student is given a leaf from an unknown source. She crushes and extracts the pigment according to the procedure in Experiment 1. Measuring the absorbance spectrum in the spectrophotometer produces the following readout, shown in Diagram 2.

       Leaf_absorbance

                                                     Diagram 2

A standardized sample of a pigment often found in plant leaves, called Chlorophyll A, was placed into the spectrophotometer and found to have a λmaxof 425 nm. The leaves of which tree most likely have a high concentration of Chlorophyll A?

Possible Answers:

Popular

Sycamore

Oak

Maple

Correct answer:

Maple

Explanation:

Table 1 shows that maple leaves have a λmaxat 425 nm. Thus, we can assume that this is most likely caused by the presence of Chlorophyll A as it has the same λmax, and the value of λmax is characteristic of a particular pigment.

Example Question #53 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Chemistry

A student wanted to study the kinetics, or rates of a chemical reaction based on the concentrations of its reactants and products, of the reaction shown below.

 

This reaction is easy to monitor using a spectrophotometer, which measures how much light of a particular wavelength is absorbed by a solution. The deep purple potassium permanganate, or , absorbs light of a 550 nm wavelength in proportion to its concentration in the reaction solution. Manganese sulfate, or , is pale pink and absorbs light of a 500 nm wavelength in proportion to its concentration in the reaction solution. All other reactants and products are colorless and do not absorb visible light and thus cannot be monitored using the spectrophotometer.

 

Experiment 1:

The student constructed a standard curve, or a graph of the absorbance of solutions of varying concentrations of potassium permanganate, to quantify the relationship between concentration and absorbance. To prepare five sample of increasing concentration, he labeled five test tubes A, B, C, D, and E, weighed out 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 grams of potassium permanganate into each, respectively, and added 1 milliliter (mL) of water to each test tube to dissolve. Then, he used the spectrophotometer to determine the absorbance at 550 nm of each sample. The data is graphed in Figure 1 below.

Kinetics_figure_1 

                                                        Figure 1

  

Experiment 2: 

The student then studied potassium permanganate in the presence of oxalic acid, , to observe the reaction. Monitoring both the absorbances of potassium permanganate and manganese sulfate, he was able to determine the reaction rate using a special setting on the spectrophotometer. The reaction rate at various concentrations of reactants is shown below in Table 1.

Kinetics_table_2

The rate constant, , for a chemical reaction involving two reactants is given by the following equation: 

What is the rate constant for the reaction studied in Experiment 2?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can obtain the value of the rate constant by plugging in values to this equation. Using the top row of data of Table 1, we can see that a rate of 2.5 occurs when concentrations of both potassium permanganate and oxalic acid are 0.5 grams/ml. Plugging this into our equation, we see that

or,

.

By dividing, we see that  must be 10.

Example Question #831 : Act Science

A student wanted to study the kinetics, or rates of a chemical reaction based on the concentrations of its reactants and products, of the reaction shown below.

 

This reaction is easy to monitor using a spectrophotometer, which measures how much light of a particular wavelength is absorbed by a solution. The deep purple potassium permanganate, or , absorbs light of a 550 nm wavelength in proportion to its concentration in the reaction solution. Manganese sulfate, or , is pale pink and absorbs light of a 500 nm wavelength in proportion to its concentration in the reaction solution. All other reactants and products are colorless and do not absorb visible light and thus cannot be monitored using the spectrophotometer.

 

Experiment 1:

The student constructed a standard curve, or a graph of the absorbance of solutions of varying concentrations of potassium permanganate, to quantify the relationship between concentration and absorbance. To prepare five sample of increasing concentration, he labeled five test tubes A, B, C, D, and E, weighed out 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 grams of potassium permanganate into each, respectively, and added 1 milliliter (mL) of water to each test tube to dissolve. Then, he used the spectrophotometer to determine the absorbance at 550 nm of each sample. The data is graphed in Figure 1 below.

Kinetics_figure_1 

                                                        Figure 1

  

Experiment 2: 

The student then studied potassium permanganate in the presence of oxalic acid, , to observe the reaction. Monitoring both the absorbances of potassium permanganate and manganese sulfate, he was able to determine the reaction rate using a special setting on the spectrophotometer. The reaction rate at various concentrations of reactants is shown below in Table 1.

Kinetics_table_2

Reaction rate is given by the following equation:

Imagine that  for this particular reaction. If a student uses concentrations of 2.0 grams/mL for both of the reactants, what should he expect the rate to be?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

As we saw in Question 3, the rate is given by:

We are told in the question stem to assume that k=24 for this particular reaction. If we plug in 2 for both reactant concentrations, we get:

Example Question #51 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Chemistry

The Ideal Gas Law is as follows:

               

 is pressure as measured in Pascals,  is volume as measured in cubic meters,  is the number of moles of the gas,  is the gas constant known as 8.314 Joules per mole times Kelvin, and  is the temperature measured in Kelvin.

 

A class of students began studying the Ideal Gas Law and how the Pressure and the Volume relate to one another.  They took 20 moles of a sample gas and kept the room at a temperature of 300 Kelvin.  They then used different sized containers of the gas to limit and expand the volume.  At each different volume, they measure the pressure of the gas on its container.  The table they made from their results is seen in table 1.

 

Volume of the container

Pressure Measured in Pascals

1 cubic meter

49,884 Pascals

2 cubic meters

24,942 Pascals

3 cubic meters

16,628 Pascals

4 cubic meters

12,471 Pascals

5 cubic meters

 9,976.8 Pascals

6 cubic meters

 8,314 Pascals

7 cubic meters

 7,126.2 Pascals

TABLE 1 

 

And they graph their findings in Figure 1.

Img021

FIGURE 1

If the Kelvin temperature were to rise, what would happen to the pressure?

Possible Answers:

Pressure decreases

The temperature has no predictable effect on the pressure because there are too many other variables

Pressure increases but only until Kelvin reaches 500, and then it decreases

Pressure remains constant

Pressure increases

Correct answer:

Pressure increases

Explanation:

As the temperature increases, the pressure a gas puts on its container increases.  Warmer temperature means more molecule movement, which makes the pressure higher.  

Example Question #52 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Chemistry

The Ideal Gas Law is as follows:

               

 is pressure as measured in Pascals,  is volume as measured in cubic meters,  is the number of moles of the gas,  is the gas constant known as 8.314 Joules per mole times Kelvin, and  is the temperature measured in Kelvin.

A class of students began studying the Ideal Gas Law and how the Pressure and the Volume relate to one another. They took 20 moles of a sample gas and kept the room at a temperature of 300 Kelvin. They then used different sized containers of the gas to limit and expand the volume. At each different volume, they measure the pressure of the gas on its container. The table they made from their results is seen in table 1.

 

Volume of the container

Pressure Measured in Pascals

1 cubic meter

49,884 Pascals

2 cubic meters

24,942 Pascals

3 cubic meters

16,628 Pascals

4 cubic meters

12,471 Pascals

5 cubic meters

 9,976.8 Pascals

6 cubic meters

 8,314 Pascals

7 cubic meters

 7,126.2 Pascals

TABLE 1 

 

And they graph their findings in Figure 1.

Img021

FIGURE 1

Would Figure 1 be the same for 1 mole of hydrogen gas as it would be for 1 mole of oxygen gas?

Possible Answers:

Yes, but it only works for hydrogen and oxygen, as they are the most common gases.

No, the Ideal Gas Law works for neither because they are both solids at room temperature.  

No, hydrogen is a heavier gas than oxygen.

Yes. There is no place in the equation to include the type of gas, only the number of moles available. The equation is for any gas.

No, oxygen is a heavier gas than hydrogen.

Correct answer:

Yes. There is no place in the equation to include the type of gas, only the number of moles available. The equation is for any gas.

Explanation:

Moles is a measure of the amount of any type of gas; the Ideal Gas Law does not need or have a place for a variable type of gas. The number of moles of any type of gas fits into the equation.

Example Question #53 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Chemistry

The Ideal Gas Law is as follows:

               

 is pressure as measured in Pascals,  is volume as measured in cubic meters,  is the number of moles of the gas,  is the gas constant known as 8.314 Joules per mole times Kelvin, and  is the temperature measured in Kelvin.

A class of students began studying the Ideal Gas Law and how the Pressure and the Volume relate to one another. They took 20 moles of a sample gas and kept the room at a temperature of 300 Kelvin. They then used different sized containers of the gas to limit and expand the volume. At each different volume, they measure the pressure of the gas on its container. The table they made from their results is seen in table 1.

 

Volume of the container

Pressure Measured in Pascals

1 cubic meter

49,884 Pascals

2 cubic meters

24,942 Pascals

3 cubic meters

16,628 Pascals

4 cubic meters

12,471 Pascals

5 cubic meters

 9,976.8 Pascals

6 cubic meters

 8,314 Pascals

7 cubic meters

 7,126.2 Pascals

TABLE 1 

 

And they graph their findings in Figure 1.

Img021

FIGURE 1

What would the pressure be if the volume was 100 cubic meters?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

One can plug 100 cubic meters into the equation, but the equation is measured in pascals.  To find it in the SI unit kilopascals, one must divide by 1000.  

Example Question #54 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Chemistry

The Ideal Gas Law is as follows:

               

 is pressure as measured in Pascals,  is volume as measured in cubic meters,  is the number of moles of the gas,  is the gas constant known as 8.314 Joules per mole times Kelvin, and  is the temperature measured in Kelvin.

 

A class of students began studying the Ideal Gas Law and how the Pressure and the Volume relate to one another.  They took 20 moles of a sample gas and kept the room at a temperature of 300 Kelvin.  They then used different sized containers of the gas to limit and expand the volume.  At each different volume, they measure the pressure of the gas on its container.  The table they made from their results is seen in table 1.

 

Volume of the container

Pressure Measured in Pascals

1 cubic meter

49,884 Pascals

2 cubic meters

24,942 Pascals

3 cubic meters

16,628 Pascals

4 cubic meters

12,471 Pascals

5 cubic meters

 9,976.8 Pascals

6 cubic meters

 8,314 Pascals

7 cubic meters

 7,126.2 Pascals

TABLE 1 

 

And they graph their findings in Figure 1.

Img021

FIGURE 1

If the same 20 moles of the same gas were taken to sea level (at a pressure of 100,000 Pascals) and heated to 300 Kelvin, how large would the volume of the container be to hold it at its new pressure?

Possible Answers:

Not enough information

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Pressure increases as volume decreases. For the gas to be put at the air pressure at sea level, which is approximtely , the volume must decrease.  The equation leads us to , or approximately .

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