Precision Thinking
Why do planets farther from the Sun usually have longer orbital periods?
They travel larger orbital paths and experience weaker gravitational attraction from the Sun.
Why do metals tend to form positive ions during chemical bonding?
Metals lose valence electrons to achieve a stable outer energy level.
Which stays the same everywhere in space: mass or weight?
Mass
What two things affect gravitational force?
Mass and distance
What shape are planetary orbits?
Elliptical
A planet is described as having a thick gaseous atmosphere, low density, and many moons. Is it most likely terrestrial or Jovian?
Jovian
Why does water have a higher boiling point than methane?
Water forms hydrogen bonds, which are stronger than dispersion forces.
Compare revolution and rotation using Earth as an example.
Rotation is Earth spinning on its axis, causing day and night. Revolution is Earth orbiting the Sun, causing a year.
A planet has twice Earth’s mass but also is twice the distance away from the sun. How would its gravity pull to the Sun compare to Earth's gravitational pull to the Sun?
Gravity would stay about the same because the increased distance offsets the increased mass.
Which type of elements usually form ionic bonds?
A metal and a nonmetal
Which intermolecular force would most likely exist between two nonpolar molecules with temporary uneven electron distribution?
London dispersion forces
According to Kepler’s Second Law, why does a planet move faster near perihelion?
The planet experiences a stronger gravitational pull when it is closer to the Sun.
Why are Jovian planets generally less dense than terrestrial planets?
Jovian planets are mostly made of gases, while terrestrial planets are made of rock and metal.
An astronaut has a mass of 80 kg on Earth. Would their mass change on Mars? Explain.
No. Mass stays constant regardless of location because it measures the amount of matter.
Which family contains colorless gases that rarely react?
Noble gases
An element is highly reactive and needs to gain one electron to become stable. In which group is it most likely located?
Group 17
If Planet X is farther from the Sun than Earth, compare its orbital speed and orbital period to Earth.
Planet X would move slower and have a longer orbital period.
A substance has polar molecules but does not contain hydrogen bonded to N, O, or F. What is the strongest intermolecular force present?
Dipole-dipole forces
A rover on the moon has a mass of 16.8 kg. What is its weight in Newtons?
164.64 N
Explain why elements in Group 1 are highly reactive while noble gases are mostly unreactive.
Group 1 elements only need to lose one electron to become stable, while noble gases already have full valence shells.
How is gravitational force affected as distance between two objects increases?
Gravitational force decreases with increasing distance between objects.
A person weighs 150 pounds on Earth. If the Moon’s gravity is about 1/6 of Earth’s gravity, what would the person weigh on the Moon?
about 25 pounds
Predict which element would react most similarly to magnesium:
calcium, sulfur, or argon. Explain your reasoning.
Calcium, because elements in the same group have similar valence electrons and chemical properties.
Rank the following substances from weakest to strongest intermolecular forces:
CH4, CO2, NH3, H2O
Explain why planets farther from the Sun take longer to orbit. What Kepler's law does this relate to?
They travel a larger orbital path and move more slowly due to weaker gravity.