Questions Bank principle of analytical chemistry course

1. Which of the following is the primary goal of analytical chemistry?

a) Synthesis of chemical compounds
b) Measurement of chemical composition
c) Study of chemical reactions
d) Designing chemical equipment
Answer: b) Measurement of chemical composition

2. Which method is used to separate components in a mixture?

a) Spectroscopy
b) Chromatography
c) Titration
d) Gravimetry
Answer: b) Chromatography

3. Gravimetric analysis primarily involves:

a) Volume measurement
b) Mass measurement
c) Concentration measurement
d) Absorbance measurement
Answer: b) Mass measurement

4. Which of the following is an example of qualitative analysis?

a) Determining the concentration of sodium ions in water
b) Identifying the presence of chloride ions in a solution
c) Measuring the mass of a precipitate
d) Calculating the molarity of a solution
Answer: b) Identifying the presence of chloride ions in a solution

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5. Analytical chemistry is primarily divided into:
a) Qualitative and Quantitative analysis
b) Organic and Inorganic analysis
c) Physical and Chemical analysis
d) Theoretical and Experimental analysis
Answer: a) Qualitative and Quantitative analysis

6. The analyte in an analysis is:

a) The reagent used for titration
b) The substance to be identified or measured
c) The solvent in which the reaction occurs
d) The standard solution used for calibration
Answer: b) The substance to be identified or measured

7. A sample with unknown composition is referred to as:

a) Standard sample
b) Control sample
c) Unknown sample
d) Reference sample
Answer: c) Unknown sample

8. Which of the following units is commonly used to express concentration in analytical

chemistry?
a) Mole per liter (Molarity)
b) Grams per mole (Molar mass)
c) Joules per mole (Energy)
d) Kilograms per cubic meter (Density)
Answer: a) Mole per liter (Molarity)

9. A measure of the reproducibility of a set of measurements is called:

a) Sensitivity
b) Specificity
c) Accuracy
d) Precision
Answer: d) Precision

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10. Which of the following is a characteristic of a primary standard?
a) High solubility in water
b) High reactivity with air
c) High purity and stability
d) High sensitivity to temperature changes
Answer: c) High purity and stability

11. Which of the following is an example of a classical method in analytical chemistry?

a) Chromatography
b) Gravimetric analysis
c) Spectrophotometry
d) Mass spectrometry
Answer: b) Gravimetric analysis

12. Which of the following is the most common step in sample preparation?
a) Filtration
b) Grinding
c) Homogenization
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

13. In dilution, if 10 mL of stock solution is diluted to 100 mL, the dilution factor is:
a) 1
b) 10
c) 100
d) 0.1
Answer: b) 10

14. What is the first step in any analytical procedure?

a) Data analysis
b) Calibration of instruments
c) Sample collection and preparation
d) Reporting results
Answer: c) Sample collection and preparation

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15. Which type of analysis identifies the chemical species present in a sample?
a) Quantitative analysis
b) Qualitative analysis
c) Process analysis
d) Elemental analysis
Answer: b) Qualitative analysis

16. What is the role of a standard solution in analytical chemistry?

a) To enhance the sensitivity of the method
b) To serve as a reference for quantifying an analyte
c) To remove impurities from the sample
d) To act as the primary analyte
Answer: b) To serve as a reference for quantifying an analyte

17. Dilution is the process of:

a) Adding more solute to a solution
b) Increasing the concentration of a solution
c) Decreasing the concentration of a solution by adding solvent
d) Removing solvent from the solution
Answer: c) Decreasing the concentration of a solution by adding solvent

18. Which of the following remains constant during dilution?

a) Volume of the solution
b) Amount (moles) of solute
c) Concentration of the solution
d) Amount of solvent
Answer: b) Amount (moles) of solute

19. Which of the following formulas is used in dilution calculations?

a) M1V1 = M2V2
b) C1V1 = C2V2
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above
Answer: c) Both a and b

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20. If 10 mL of a 5 M solution is diluted to 50 mL, what is the final concentration?
a) 1 M
b) 2 M
c) 0.5 M
d) 10 M
Answer: a) 1 M
Solution: M1V1 = M2V2 , so (5)(10)=M2(50), M2 =1 M.

21. Analytical chemistry is critical to environmental chemistry because:

a) It helps determine the solubility of substances
b) It identifies and quantifies pollutants in air, water, and soil
c) It provides solutions for synthesizing new materials
d) It monitors only biological pollutants
Answer: b) It identifies and quantifies pollutants in air, water, and soil

22. The primary objective of quantitative analysis is to:

a) Identify the components of a sample
b) Measure the exact quantity of an analyte in a sample
c) Separate components of a mixture
d) Study chemical reaction mechanisms
Answer: b) Measure the exact quantity of an analyte in a sample

23. What is the correct sequence of steps in a typical quantitative analysis process?
a) Data interpretation → Sampling → Analysis → Preparation
b) Sampling → Sample preparation → Measurement → Data analysis
c) Measurement → Sampling → Preparation → Analysis
d) Sampling → Data analysis → Preparation → Interpretation
Answer: b) Sampling → Sample preparation → Measurement → Data analysis

24. Sampling is defined as:

a) The calculation of an analyte's concentration
b) The process of collecting a representative portion of material for analysis
c) Measuring the mass of a precipitate
d) Separating analytes in a mixture
Answer: b) The process of collecting a representative portion of material for analysis

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25. Which of the following is NOT a common sample preparation step?
a) Dissolution
b) Filtration
c) Precipitation
d) Titration
Answer: d) Titration

26. Results in quantitative analysis must be reported with:

a) Theoretical assumptions only
b) Units and a measure of uncertainty (e.g., standard deviation)
c) Graphical data only
d) The cost of the analysis
Answer: b) Units and a measure of uncertainty (e.g., standard deviation)

27. Which of the following is critical when reporting results?

a) The accuracy and precision of the measurement
b) The color of the solution analyzed
c) The type of instrument used
d) The sampling location
Answer: a) The accuracy and precision of the measurement

28. For detecting very low concentrations of analytes, the method chosen should have:
a) High sensitivity
b) Low specificity
c) High cost
d) A large sample volume
Answer: a) High sensitivity

29. Which of the following factors must be considered collectively when selecting an
analytical method?
a) Sensitivity, cost, speed, and accuracy
b) Sample color, lab location, and instrument size
c) Analyst’s preference, reagent color, and sample state
d) Laboratory accreditation and data storage format
Answer: a) Sensitivity, cost, speed, and accuracy

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30. Safety considerations in method selection focus on:
a) The ease of using the instruments
b) The toxicity of reagents and waste disposal requirements
c) The speed of the analysis
d) The availability of calibration standards
Answer: b) The toxicity of reagents and waste disposal requirements

31. What is the primary objective of qualitative inorganic analysis?

a) To identify the concentration of an analyte
b) To determine the presence or absence of specific ions in a sample
c) To measure the mass of a precipitate
d) To determine the pH of a solution
Answer: b) To determine the presence or absence of specific ions in a sample

32. Which of the following is an example of a qualitative inorganic analysis method?

a) Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
b) Flame test
c) Volumetric titration
d) High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Answer: b) Flame test

33. What is the main objective of qualitative organic analysis?

a) To determine the concentration of organic compounds
b) To identify the functional groups and structure of organic compounds
c) To calculate the molecular weight of an organic compound
d) To measure the pH of an organic solution
Answer: b) To identify the functional groups and structure of organic compounds

34. When testing urine for D9-THC, a positive result typically indicates:
a) The person has recently used marijuana
b) The person has used other drugs
c) The person has been exposed to second-hand smoke
d) The person has a medical condition
Answer: a) The person has recently used marijuana

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35. What is the primary purpose of analyzing human DNA samples taken from a crime
scene?
a) To determine the exact time of the crime
b) To reveal whether a person was present at the crime scene
c) To calculate the victim’s age
d) To identify the weapon used in the crime
Answer: b) To reveal whether a person was present at the crime scene

36. Which technique is commonly used to identify functional groups in organic compounds?
a) Infrared (IR) spectroscopy
b) Thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
c) Gas chromatography (GC)
d) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
Answer: a) Infrared (IR) spectroscopy

37. Paper chromatography is commonly used in qualitative organic analysis to:

a) Determine the molecular weight of compounds
b) Separate and identify amino acids and other small molecules
c) Measure the boiling point of compounds
d) Quantify the concentration of specific compounds
Answer: b) Separate and identify amino acids and other small molecules

38. Which of the following techniques can be used to separate and identify amino acids in a
sample?
a) Infrared (IR) spectroscopy
b) Paper chromatography
c) Atomic absorption spectroscopy
d) Flame test
Answer: b) Paper chromatography

39. What chemical is commonly used in a breathalyzer to detect alcohol?

a) Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)
b) Potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇)
c) Sodium chloride (NaCl)
d) Silver nitrate (AgNO₃)
Answer: b) Potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇)

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40. In a breathalyzer test, what color change occurs when alcohol vapors come into contact
with potassium dichromate?
a) Yellow to red
b) Orange to black
c) Green to blue
d) Colorless to pink
Answer: b) Orange to black

41. What does the color change in the breathalyzer indicate?

a) The presence of alcohol vapors
b) The concentration of alcohol in the blood
c) The amount of carbon dioxide exhaled
d) The temperature of the exhaled air
Answer: a) The presence of alcohol vapors

42. Which of the following compounds is oxidized in the breathalyzer reaction with
potassium dichromate?
a) Methanol
b) Ethanol
c) Isopropanol
d) Acetone
Answer: b) Ethanol

43. In the reaction involving potassium dichromate in a breathalyzer, what is the product
when ethanol is oxidized?
a) Ethylene glycol
b) Acetic acid
c) Methanol
d) Propanol
Answer: b) Acetic acid

44. Why is potassium dichromate chosen for use in a breathalyzer test?

a) It is inexpensive and easily available
b) It reacts with alcohol to produce a noticeable color change
c) It can detect alcohol even in very small quantities
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

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45. Which of the following properties can be used to identify elements or compounds in
qualitative analysis?
a) Boiling point
b) Melting point
c) Color
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

46. In qualitative analysis, what happens when lead (Pb) reacts with hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)?
a) A white precipitate forms
b) A black precipitate forms
c) A colorless gas is produced
d) A blue solution forms
Answer: b) A black precipitate forms

47. What is the chemical nature of the black precipitate formed when lead (Pb) reacts with
hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)?
a) Lead sulfate (PbSO₄)
b) Lead sulfide (PbS)
c) Lead chloride (PbCl₂)
d) Lead nitrate (Pb(NO₃)₂)
Answer: b) Lead sulfide (PbS)

48. In forensic or industrial applications, which of the following tests could help detect lead
contamination in paint or dust?
a) Reaction with potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)
b) Reaction with hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) to form a black precipitate
c) Reaction with hydrochloric acid (HCl)
d) Reaction with silver nitrate (AgNO₃)
Answer: b) Reaction with hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) to form a black precipitate

49. Qualitative analysis can help detect which of the following in food samples?
a) Presence of pesticides
b) Heavy metals like lead and mercury
c) Harmful bacteria and pathogens
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

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50. In qualitative analysis, what is often used to detect the presence of specific ions in a
solution?
a) Color change and precipitate formation
b) UV absorption
c) High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)
d) Gas chromatography
Answer: a) Color change and precipitate formation

51. Which of the following is the correct method to prepare a 1 M solution of NaCl in water?
a) Dissolve 58.5 g of NaCl in 1 L of water.
b) Dissolve 58.5 g of NaCl in 100 mL of water.
c) Dissolve 58.5 g of NaCl in 500 mL of water.
d) Dissolve 100 g of NaCl in 1 L of water.
Answer: a) Dissolve 58.5 g of NaCl in 1 L of water.

52. What is the molarity of a solution prepared by dissolving 30 g of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆, molar
mass = 180 g/mol) in 500 mL of water?
a) 0.33 M
b) 1.0 M
c) 0.5 M
d) 0.1 M
Answer: a) 0.33 M
Explanation: First, calculate the moles of glucose:
Moles of glucose=Mass/Molar mass=30 g/180 g/mol=0.167 mol
Now, calculate the molarity:
Molarity=Moles/Volume in liters=0.167 mol/0.5 L=0.33 M.

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