Nursing Elites

1. What number represents the number of protons an element has?

• A. Atomic mass
• B. Mass number
• C. Atomic number
• D. Neutron number

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, atomic number. The atomic number corresponds to the number of protons in an element. This number is unique to each element and determines its placement on the periodic table. It is equal to the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that element. Choice A, atomic mass, represents the average mass of an element's isotopes. Choice B, mass number, is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom. Choice D, neutron number, specifically refers to the count of neutrons in an atom and not protons.

2. What distinguishes one allotrope from another?

• A. Arrangement of atoms
• B. Gram atomic mass
• C. Physical state
• D. Stability

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Allotropes are different forms of the same element that exist in the same physical state but have different structures. The arrangement of atoms is what distinguishes one allotrope from another, determining their unique properties and characteristics. Gram atomic mass (Choice B) is a constant value for a specific element and does not change between different allotropes. Physical state (Choice C) refers to whether a substance is a solid, liquid, or gas, which can be the same for different allotropes of an element. Stability (Choice D) can vary between different allotropes, but it is not what always differentiates one allotrope from another. Therefore, the correct answer is the arrangement of atoms, as it is the key factor that varies across different allotropes.

3. Which of the following is a characteristic of a chemical change?

• A. Change in shape
• B. Production of gas
• C. Melting
• D. Freezing

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The production of gas is a characteristic of a chemical change. During a chemical change, new substances are formed, often with the release or absorption of energy. The production of gas is a significant indicator of a chemical change because it indicates the formation of new compounds through chemical reactions. Choices A, C, and D are not characteristics of chemical changes. Changes in shape, melting, and freezing are physical changes where the substance's identity remains the same, unlike in chemical changes where new substances with different properties are formed.

4. When an acid is added to a base, water and a salt form. What kinds of bonds form in these two compounds?

• A. Liquid and metallic
• B. Polar and nonpolar covalent
• C. Polar covalent and ionic
• D. Ionic only

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In water, the bond formed between the oxygen atom and the hydrogen atoms is a polar covalent bond. The oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons more strongly, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms. In the salt formed, the bond between the metal cation and the nonmetal anion is predominantly an ionic bond. The metal cation donates electrons to the nonmetal anion, resulting in the formation of oppositely charged ions that are held together by electrostatic attractions. Choices A and B are incorrect because water and salts do not form bonds that are liquid and metallic, or polar and nonpolar covalent. Choice D is incorrect as it oversimplifies the types of bonds present in water and salts, failing to differentiate between the covalent bond in water and the ionic bond in the salt.

5. What is the name for the horizontal rows of the periodic table?

• A. groups
• B. periods
• C. families
• D. sets

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the periodic table, 'periods' are the horizontal rows. Each period corresponds to the energy level occupied by the elements in that row. The other terms mentioned, such as groups, families, and sets, are not used to describe the horizontal rows but rather refer to different aspects of the periodic table organization. 'Groups' are the vertical columns, 'families' are groups of elements with similar properties, and 'sets' is a more generic term not specifically used in the context of the periodic table.

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