NC CHECK-INS 2.

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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—PHYSICAL

1 A scientist pours two liquids into a flask and swirls the flask to combine the liquids. The
scientist then places the flask on a laboratory workbench. After a few seconds, the liquids
separate into layers. How are the contents of the flask classified?

A as an element

B as a compound

C as a homogeneous mixture

D as a heterogeneous mixture

2 Marcia created this model to represent a neutral boron (B) atom.

Does Marcia’s model represent the boron atom?

A no, because the diagram does not have enough protons

B no, because the diagram shows an unequal number of neutrons and electrons

C yes, because the diagram has the correct number of protons

D yes, because the diagram shows an equal number of protons and electrons

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3 Which element has chemical properties that are most similar to chlorine (Cl)?

A oxygen (O)

B sulfur (S)

C iodine (I)

D krypton (Kr)

4 Iron was melted and then cooled to form thin iron sheets. What type of change occurred during
the melting and cooling?

A A physical change occurred when the iron was melted and allowed to cool.

B A chemical change occurred when the iron was melted and allowed to cool.

C The iron changed physically when melted and chemically when cooled.

D The iron changed chemically when melted and physically when cooled.

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5 The balanced equation below represents a chemical reaction.

FeS + 2HCl → FeCl2 + H2S

According to the law of conservation of mass, how many hydrogen and chlorine atoms are
required for this reaction?

A 1 hydrogen atom and 1 chlorine atom

B 1 hydrogen atom and 2 chlorine atoms

C 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 chlorine atom

D 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 chlorine atoms

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Questions 6–10 are part of an item set. Use the following information to answer the questions.

Extracting Silicon from Sand

Gino takes a science field trip to the beach. He learns that beach sand contains tiny particles of
quartz, a pure substance that has the chemical formula SiO2. He takes a quartz particle back to
science class and observes it under a microscope. He notices the quartz has a jagged, crystal-like
structure and is somewhat transparent.

Gino’s teacher says quartz can be used to produce silicon, a substance manufacturers use to make
electronics. Silicon production requires quartz and carbon be placed into a furnace that heats these
substances to a very high temperature. Once the temperature is high enough, some of the heat
produces a chemical reaction between quartz and carbon. There are two products of this reaction:
silicon and carbon monoxide. The model in Figure 1 represents this reaction.

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6 Does the model shown in Figure 1 support the law of conservation of mass?

A No, the model shows more Si, O, and C atoms in the reactants than in the products.

B No, the model shows more molecules in the products than in the reactants.

C Yes, the model shows an equal number of Si, O, and C atoms in the reactants and the
products.

D Yes, the model shows an equal number of molecules in the reactants and the products.

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8 Gino claims that the quartz he collected is a compound. What evidence best supports his
claim?

A It can chemically react with carbon.

B It has a jagged, crystal-like appearance.

C It can be changed from a solid to a liquid.

D It is composed of different, chemically combined elements.

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10 In the reaction shown in Figure 1, solid silicon (Si) collects at the bottom of the furnace, while
carbon monoxide (CO) escapes as a gas. Which claim do these observations support?

A This chemical reaction occurred in a closed system.

B This chemical reaction occurred in an open system.

C The total mass of the products will be less than the total mass of the reactants.

D The total mass of the products will be greater than the total mass of the reactants.

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11 Jeremy wants to create a model of a neutral chlorine atom with a mass number of 35.
How many protons, electrons, and neutrons should appear in Jeremy’s model?

A 17 protons, 17 electrons, and 18 neutrons

B 17 protons, 18 electrons, and 17 neutrons

C 35 protons, 35 electrons, and 18 neutrons

D 35 protons, 17 electrons, and 35 neutrons

12 Which two elements are most similar in terms of physical and chemical properties?

A beryllium (Be) and carbon (C)

B beryllium (Be) and magnesium (Mg)

C magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na)

D magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al)

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13 The list below describes how humans obtain table salt from the ocean.

• First, a person must collect some seawater in a shallow pool.

• Then, the water evaporates, leaving behind solid table salt.
• Lastly, a machine breaks the solid table salt into smaller pieces.

Which choice describes the changes that occurred in this scenario?

A The seawater evaporating is a physical change, and the machine breaking the salt into
smaller pieces is a chemical change.

B The seawater evaporating is a chemical change, and the machine breaking the salt into
smaller pieces is a physical change.

C Both the seawater evaporating and the machine breaking the salt into smaller pieces
are physical changes.

D Both the seawater evaporating and the machine breaking the salt into smaller pieces
are chemical changes.

14 Magnesium metal reacts with oxygen gas. The reaction produces very bright light, as well as
solid magnesium oxide. The chemical equation below represents the reaction.

2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

Suppose this reaction produces 12 grams of magnesium oxide. What must be true of the
masses of magnesium metal and oxygen gas?

A The mass of magnesium metal must equal 12 grams, because oxygen gas is
weightless.

B The total mass of magnesium metal and oxygen gas must equal 12 grams, because a
chemical reaction can only rearrange atoms.

C The total mass of magnesium metal and oxygen gas must be greater than 12 grams,
because the chemical reaction converts mass into light.

D The mass of magnesium metal must be greater than 12 grams, because there are more
atoms on the reactant side of the chemical equation than on the product side.

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15 A scientist conducts a demonstration using a sample of solid aluminum (Al) and a test tube
containing liquid bromine (Br2). The aluminum is added to the test tube, and a chemical
reaction takes place. The only product of the chemical reaction is a solid white powder.
How should this solid white powder be classified?

A as an element

B as a mixture

C as a compound

D as a solution

16 A student lights the wick of a candle, and the candle burns for several minutes. The student
makes the following observations:

• Observation 1: The white candle wick turns black as it burns.

• Observation 2: The solid candle wax near the flame transforms into a liquid.

Which choice best compares these two observations?

A Observation 1 describes a physical change, and Observation 2 describes a chemical

change.

B Observation 1 describes a chemical change, and Observation 2 describes a physical

change.

C Each observation describes a physical change.

D Each observation describes a chemical change.

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17 What do the positions of helium (He) and radon (Rn) on the periodic table of elements
indicate?

A They have similar atomic masses.

B They have similar chemical properties.

C They contain the same number of protons.

D They contain the same number of neutrons.

18 Kenneth has a sample of a metal. He claims that the sample is composed of an element.
What evidence would support his claim?

A All of the atoms in the metal have 78 protons.

B All of the atoms in the metal vibrate at the same speed.

C Some atoms in the metal have 78 protons, and others have 28 protons.

D Some atoms in the metal vibrate faster than others.

19 A student conducted a scientific demonstration. The student combined 50 grams of liquid X

and 150 grams of liquid Y in a beaker. A chemical reaction occurred and produced gas
bubbles and a new liquid. Both liquid X and liquid Y were completely consumed in the reaction.
What should be the combined mass of the new liquid and the gas bubbles?

A 10 grams

B 50 grams

C 100 grams

D 200 grams

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20 A scientist conducts a demonstration using a solid piece of sodium metal and a flask
containing chlorine gas. When the scientist places sodium into the flask, a chemical reaction
occurs. Solid sodium chloride is the product of the reaction. How is sodium chloride classified?

A Sodium chloride is a compound because it consists of two substances that are

physically combined.

B Sodium chloride is a compound because it consists of two substances that are

chemically combined.

C Sodium chloride is a mixture because it consists of two substances that are physically
combined.

D Sodium chloride is a mixture because it consists of two substances that are chemically
combined.

21 Alex drew the model of an atom below. His goal was to represent the relative size and location
of the atom’s protons, neutrons, and electrons.

There is an error in Alex’s model. How should he change the model to correct the error?

A He should reduce the size of the electrons.

B He should increase the size of the electrons.

C He should swap the positions of the neutrons and protons.

D He should swap the positions of the neutrons and electrons.

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22

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23 The mass of each of two liquids is 45 grams. The liquids are added to a 55-gram beaker, and a
chemical reaction occurs. After the chemical reaction stops, the beaker is placed on a scale,
and the scale reads “80 grams.” What most likely happened to create this difference in mass?

A Some of the mass was converted into heat during the reaction.

B Some of the mass was converted into energy during the reaction.

C Some of the mass was caught inside the substances in the beaker.

D Some of the mass escaped as a gas during the reaction.

24 A molecule of sucrose has 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms.
How is sucrose classified?

A as an element

B as a compound

C as a homogeneous mixture

D as a heterogeneous mixture

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25 A scientist conducts a demonstration using a 10-gram sample of sodium (Na). The scientist
places the sodium into a tank of water. The sodium reacts with the water, creating a loud
sound and some light. The reaction continues until no sodium remains in the tank. The
chemical equation below represents this reaction.

2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2

The scientist determines the total mass of the products is 17.8 grams. Which
choice best explains the difference in mass?

A The chemical reaction consumed 7.8 grams of water.

B The chemical reaction produced 27.8 grams of water.

C Matter was destroyed during the reaction because the reaction produced sound and
light energy.

D Matter was created during the reaction because the reaction produced sound and light
energy.

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