Chemistry 111 – Elementary Inorganic Chemistry
Morehouse College – Problem Set #1
DUE: Friday, September 8, 2006 in class
A Note About Problem Sets: All problem sets will be given out in class. They will be due in class
the following week, unless specified otherwise (as in above). Problem sets turned in after the due
date/time will receive half-credit if received by the beginning of the next class period. Problem
sets offered after this time period will not be accepted and a student will receive no credit for
having attempted them. Problem set solutions will be posted to the course web site.
1. What is science? Explain your reasoning.
2. What is a hypothesis? Explain.
3. Classify each of the following as a substance or mixture. Be certain to indicate
which substances are compounds or elements or if mixtures are homogeneous or
heterogeneous.
a. Whole milk
b. Italian salad dressing
c. Water
d. Air
e. Iron filings
f. Saline solution
g. Sugar
h. Quicksilver (liquid Mercury)
4. a. What are the three states of matter?
b. A phase change occurs when one form of matter is converted into another.
For example, each of the following processes can be described as a phase
change. For each, indicate what phase change is occurring by identifying the
states of matter involved.
i. An ice cube melts
ii. A rain puddle evaporates
iii. A tea kettle boils
iv. Rain falls from the sky
v. Water freezes at a doorstep
5. Your instructor, Dr. Lawrence, stood on a scale today. He discovered that he
weighs 91.8 lbs plus 40% of his total weight. What is his total weight (in lbs.)?
Show your work.
