Name: Period:

Basic Chemistry Worksheet

1. Classify each of the following as a Physical (P) or chemical (C) change:

a. Bending a piece of wire
b. Cooking a steak
c. Burning coal
d. Cutting grass
e. Ice melting
f. Folding a piece of paper
g. Sanding a piece of wood with sandpaper
h. Human digestion of food
i. Splitting a log with an axe
j. Crushing an aluminum can
k. Cracking open a walnut
l. Photosynthesis
2. What is the difference between an element and a compound?

3. Where are the protons of an atom found? The neutrons? The electrons?

4. Electrons found in the outer shell or orbital are called?

5. What is the charge on a proton? A neutron? An electron?

6. Each energy level can hold a fixed number of electrons. Write the number of
electrons that the following orbitals can hold.
a. 1st: b. 2nd: c. 3rd: 4th:

7. How many valence electrons can each of the following hold:

a. O c. Cl e. K g. N i. H k. C
b. Al d. F f. Ca h. Be j. P l. Na
8. What does the atomic number of an element tell you about its sub-atomic
makeup?

9. What is the atomic number of the following?

a. O c. Cl e. K g. N i. H k. C
b. Al d. F f. Ca h. Be j. P l. Na
10. What does the atomic mass (or mass number) tell you about an element’s sub-
atomic makeup?
 11. Complete the chart:
ELEMENT: # of # of # of
PROTONS: NEUTRONS: ELECTRONS:
Au
Sc
K
P
H
Kr
B
He

12. Explain the difference between ionic and covalent bonding

13. Circle which is stronger: Ionic or Covalent bonds

14. Did the following gain or lose electrons:

a. Na+ b. Cl- c. Al+3 d. K+ e. O- f. H+ g. Ca+2

15. How many covalent bonds can nitrogen form?

16. How many covalent bonds can carbon form?

17. List the properties of water.

18. What is hydrophilic?

19. What is hydrophobic?

20. In the following chemical equation, circle the reactants: Na + Cl  NaCl

21. In the following chemical equation, circle the products: Mg + Cl2  MgCl2

22. Identify each as either an endothermic or exothermic reaction:

a. Glucose + O2  CO2 + H2O + Energy
b. C6H12O6 + C6H11O6 + Energy  C12H22O12 + H2O
23. What are the two components of a solution?

24. A scientist dissolves 25g of KCl in 100mL of AgCl. Which is the solute, which is
the solvent?

25. What is the pH scale used for?

26. On the pH scale, the following number represents:

A = acid B = base N = neutral
a. 2.3 b. 8.9 c. 1.0 d. 7.0 e. 8.1 f. 14

27. Which is the stronger acid, one with a pH of 2.6, or one with a pH of 2.1?

28. Which is the stronger base, one with a pH of 9.6, or one with a pH of 12.1?

29. An example of a base would be?

a. Pure H2O b. vinegar c. ammonia d. milk

30. An example of an acid would be

a. Pure H2O b. vinegar c. ammonia d. milk

31. When water dissociates, it forms

a. H+ ions and H2O b. H+ ions and OH- ions c. H3O+ ions