General Chemistry I: Mathematics Diagnostic

IntoChemistry | General Chemistry I Math Readiness

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Initial math diagnostic

Take this at the beginning of the course. The 24 questions sample six foundational skills. This is a learning check, not a placement test.

Suggested: review any skill area below 75%; this cutoff is an instructional choice, not a validated prediction threshold. Scores are not automatically sent to Talon.

Choose one response for each question, then select “Check my answers.” No timer. Hints are optional. You can retry freely. Questions are formative, not proctored.

Question 1. What percentage of a mixture is 2 g of solute in 8 g of total mixture?

33.3 % 0.2 % 75.0 % 25.0 %

Hint for question 1

Use the whole mixture as denominator.

Question 2. What percentage of a mixture is 3 g of solute in 12 g of total mixture?

75.0 % 25.0 % 33.3 % 0.2 %

Hint for question 2

Use the whole mixture as denominator.

Question 3. Which is the correct scientific notation for 0.0032?

32 × 10^-3 3.2 × 10^-2 3.2 × 10^-3 3.2 × 10^3

Hint for question 3

A number smaller than one requires a negative power of ten.

Question 4. Which is the correct scientific notation for 0.00045?

4.5 × 10^-3 45 × 10^-4 4.5 × 10^4 4.5 × 10^-4

Hint for question 4

A number smaller than one requires a negative power of ten.

Question 5. How many significant figures are in the measured value 0.00230?

4 3 1 2

Hint for question 5

Focus on zeros that mark position versus recorded precision.

Question 6. How many significant figures are in the measured value 4.050?

4 2 3 1

Hint for question 6

Focus on zeros that mark position versus recorded precision.

Question 7. Convert 125 mg to grams.

0.125 g 0.0125 g 125 g 1.25 g

Hint for question 7

One gram is one thousand milligrams.

Question 8. Convert 360 mg to grams.

3.6 g 0.36 g 360 g 0.036 g

Hint for question 8

One gram is one thousand milligrams.

Question 9. Given y = 2x + 1, solve for x when y = 9.

5 3 6 4

Hint for question 9

Subtract the constant term before dividing.

Question 10. Given y = 3x + 2, solve for x when y = 17.

5 7 4 6

Hint for question 10

Subtract the constant term before dividing.

Question 11. What is the slope of the line through (0 mL, 0 g) and (2 mL, 6 g)?

1.50 g/mL 4.00 g/mL 6.00 g/mL 3.00 g/mL

Hint for question 11

Slope is rise divided by run.

Question 12. What is the slope of the line through (0 mL, 0 g) and (3 mL, 12 g)?

4.00 g/mL 2.00 g/mL 5.00 g/mL 8.00 g/mL

Hint for question 12

Slope is rise divided by run.

Question 13. A ratio is 2:5. If the smaller quantity is 8 g, what is the larger quantity?

20 g 40 g 16 g 12 g

Hint for question 13

Scale both parts of the ratio by the same factor.

Question 14. A solution is 20% solute by mass. What total mass contains 10 g of solute?

20 g 50 g 2 g 100 g

Hint for question 14

Rearrange part = fraction × total.

Question 15. Which is equal to 6.0 × 10³?

60000 0.006 6000 600

Hint for question 15

Positive exponent moves the decimal to the right.

Question 16. What is (2 × 10³)(3 × 10²)?

5 × 10⁵ 6 × 10⁶ 6 × 10¹ 6 × 10⁵

Hint for question 16

The exponents combine by addition when multiplying like bases.

Question 17. Round 12.346 to four significant figures.

12.3 12.3460 12.35 12.34

Hint for question 17

Count significant digits from the first nonzero digit.

Question 18. For 2.0 g × 3.14 mL, what is the correctly rounded product?

6 g·mL 6.28 g·mL 6.280 g·mL 6.3 g·mL

Hint for question 18

Multiplication uses the fewest significant figures.

Question 19. Convert 0.250 L into milliliters.

0.250 mL 250 mL 2500 mL 25.0 mL

Hint for question 19

One liter equals one thousand milliliters.

Question 20. Convert 2.5 km into meters.

25000 m 2500 m 25 m 250 m

Hint for question 20

Use the kilo prefix as a factor of one thousand.

Question 21. From d=m/V, which expression isolates V?

V=m+d V=dm V=m/d V=d/m

Hint for question 21

Move denominator V before isolating it.

Question 22. Solve 3x + 5 = 20.

x=5 x=15 x=45 x=7

Hint for question 22

Use inverse operations in reverse order.

Question 23. A line crosses the y-axis at 4 and has slope 2. Which equation describes it?

y=2x+4 y=x+6 y=2x−4 y=4x+2

Hint for question 23

Identify m and b separately.

Question 24. A graph plots mass (g) vertically and volume (mL) horizontally. What units does slope have?

g/mL g·mL mL/g g

Hint for question 24

Keep the order y over x.

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