Question 1

When sodium acetate, NaCH3COO, is added to water the resulting solution is basic. True or false?

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. In water, NaCH3COO forms Na+ and CH3COO- ions. Na+ is neutral, and does not affect the pH of the solution. CH3COO- is the conjugate base of acetic acid, and reacts with water to form hydroxide ions. Therefore, the resulting solution will be basic.

Question 2

What do the letters in the S-T-A-R method of communication stand for?

Accepted Answer

STAR stands for situation, task, action, result.
S-Explain the situation.
T-Describe the task that needed to be completed.
A-What action did you take?
R-Describe the result.
For example: "I was brought in to lead a $1.5 million project that was failing and management didn't understand why. My task was to bring the project back on schedule. To do this, I analyzed why the project had fallen behind schedule and discovered the team was in a matrixed organization and the operational processes were taking precedence over this project. To solve the problem, I worked with functional managers to free up time for key resources. The result was that we got the project turned around and delivered on schedule. Furthermore, we won an additional $500,000 contract because the client went from being dissatisfied to very happy."
Key Takeaway: STAR is an effective technique to deliver a cohesive narrative of what you are doing or have done Master it and you will win points in interviews and with senior managers.
Have at least 10 of these scenarios prepared. Try not to re-use any in one given day, no matter how many interviews you have. At the end, people get together and compare notes. Plus, in many cases, that perfect example you have won't fit the question that is asked. If someone asks you about a time you managed a team through adversity, you can't use your story about how you singlehandedly increased earnings 20 percent while saving the CEO's grandmother from a burning house.

Question 3

A princess who is severely allergic to certain frogs is confronted with the possibility that her prince may be a frog. There are 3 frogs in front of her. She's not sure she'll be allergic to the frog until she kisses it. One frog is definitely safe to kiss. Should she kiss a frog and risk death?

Accepted Answer

Maybe is the best choice here. This is a somewhat absurd question, but it's one an editor had in an interview. It is designed throw you off. The question is at the end of the day about risk. Businesses must take risks to succeed. Princesses may have to in order to find their Prince Charming.
Key Takeaway: The interviewer is really asking you to analyze the risk and determine if it is worth it. This is an easy question if you do not panic. Maybe a quick Q&A could lead to an answer here, or you can propose something out of the box to manage this risk, like a big box of Benadryl.

Question 4

How many molecules are in .275 grams of SO₃ ?

Accepted Answer

Begin this problem by converting grams of SO₃ to moles of SO₃ using the molar mass of SO₃. Once you have obtained this value, use Avogadro's number to convert moles of SO₃ to molecules of SO₃. The final expression is (.275 grams SO₃) x (1 mol / 80.057 grams) x (6.022x10²³ molecules / 1 mol), indicating that the correct answer is 2.07x10²¹ .

Question 5

What volume of .250 M potassium hydroxide is needed to neutralize 1.25 liters of .500 M hydrochloric acid?

Accepted Answer

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong, monoprotic acid. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is a strong base that contains one hydroxide anion per molecule. The concentrations and volumes of these solutions are related by the formula (Molarity₁)(Volume₁) = (Molarity₂ )(Volume₂). Entering the variables into this equation gives (.250 M)(Volume₁) = (.500 M)(1.25 liters). Solve for Volume1 to find the correct answer, 2.5 liters.

Quiz 1: Biomedical Admissions

When sodium acetate, NaCH3COO, is added to water the resulting solution is basic. True or false?

What do the letters in the S-T-A-R method of communication stand for?

A princess who is severely allergic to certain frogs is confronted with the possibility that her prince may be a frog. There are 3 frogs in front of her. She's not sure she'll be allergic to the frog until she kisses it. One frog is definitely safe to kiss. Should she kiss a frog and risk death?

How many molecules are in .275 grams of SO3 ?

What volume of .250 M potassium hydroxide is needed to neutralize 1.25 liters of .500 M hydrochloric acid?

How many molecules are in .275 grams of SO₃ ?