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Item SB004003: After a chemical reaction occurs, some of the atoms are connected to different atoms than they were in the starting molecules. (This item uses circles to represent atoms.)

The diagram below shows models of the molecules that make up two different substances. In the diagram, atoms are represented by circles, and the molecules are represented by two or more circles connected to each other. The different colored circles represent different types of atoms.

Which of the following could represent one of the molecules that result from the chemical reaction between these two substances? Why?

  1. Because nothing happens to the structure of the molecules during a chemical reaction.
  2. Because some of the atoms are now connected to different atoms than they were in the starting molecules.
  3. Because the molecules that result from a chemical reaction have to include every type of atom from the starting molecules.
  4. Because new types of atoms are formed during chemical reactions.

 

Pre-Test

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice
Overall
Grades
Gender
Primary Language
 
n = 373
6–8
n = 373
9–12
n = 0
Male
n = 205
Female
n = 168
English
n = 346
Other
n = 27
A.
Because nothing happens to the structure of the molecules during a chemical reaction.
5% 5% NAN% 6% 4% 4% 15%
B.
Because some of the atoms are now connected to different atoms than they were in the starting molecules.
18% 18% NAN% 18% 18% 17% 30%
C.
Because the molecules that result from a chemical reaction have to include every type of atom from the starting molecules.
35% 35% NAN% 39% 31% 36% 26%
D.
Because new types of atoms are formed during chemical reactions.
42% 42% NAN% 38% 47% 43% 30%

Post-Test

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice
Overall
Grades
Gender
Primary Language
 
n = 375
6–8
n = 375
9–12
n = 0
Male
n = 205
Female
n = 170
English
n = 347
Other
n = 28
A.
Because nothing happens to the structure of the molecules during a chemical reaction.
3% 3% NAN% 3% 2% 3% 0%
B.
Because some of the atoms are now connected to different atoms than they were in the starting molecules.
51% 51% NAN% 53% 49% 52% 39%
C.
Because the molecules that result from a chemical reaction have to include every type of atom from the starting molecules.
33% 33% NAN% 33% 34% 32% 43%
D.
Because new types of atoms are formed during chemical reactions.
13% 13% NAN% 11% 15% 13% 18%