MCAT Math Question 18: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 18

3. An experimenter is attempting to determine the internal energy of a well-known compound He cleans his glassware, completes the synthesis, calibrates a bomb calorimeter, and then uses it to measure the appropriate thermodynamic values. Which of the following errors did he make?

  • A. He did not determine if the compound was novel or if the information has already been determined.
  • B. He did not have a specific goal at the beginning of his research.
  • C. He should not be involved in both the synthesis of the compound and later testing.
  • D. He should have calibrated the calorimeter before the synthesis of the compound.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The experimenter has not completed the initial phases of research. There was no data acquisition or refinement, and there was no indication that the question required an experiment to be answered. Were the experimenter doubtful of the validity of the reported value, an experiment could be appropriate—but there is no information to indicate that this is so. Based on the question stem, it is clear that the experimenter had a clear goal, eliminating choice (B). In human subjects research, tasks may be divided to facilitate blinding, but this is generally unnecessary in basic sciences research, eliminating choice (C). As long as the calorimeter was calibrated prior to its use, it does not matter when this calibration occurred relative to the synthesis of the compound, eliminating choice (D).

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