Science & Chemistry is 1 of 13 topics on the Texas Class A Barber written exam — part of fadejunkie's 299-question practice bank. Below are 17 real Science & Chemistry questions with real answers.
When you see 'pH' printed on a product label, what do those two letters actually stand for?
Potential hydrogen. pH literally stands for potential hydrogen — it's a scale measuring hydrogen ion concentration, which is what determines acidity or alkalinity.
On the pH scale, a reading below 7 tells you the solution is:
Acidic. Any pH reading below 7 indicates an acidic solution on the pH scale.
What's iontophoresis?
Using electric current to push water-soluble product into the skin.
Which type of light produces chemical reactions in the skin without generating heat — sometimes called 'cold light'?
Ultraviolet. UV light is called 'cold' or actinic light because it triggers chemical change in skin without the heat you get from infrared.
Chemically speaking, what's a 'base' actually made of?
Hydrogen, a metal, and oxygen. Bases are built from hydrogen, a metal, and oxygen — that structure is what gives them their alkaline properties.
What do humectants do in a product formula?
Pull moisture out of the air and hold onto it.
In galvanic current work, what's the name for the positive electrode?
The anode. The anode is the positive electrode; the cathode is the negative one — mixing them up changes which reaction you're actually causing on the skin.
What category of treatment does high-frequency current fall under?
Electrotherapy — it's one of the electric current modalities used in skin services.
Hair is made of keratin, and keratin is a protein. What are proteins actually built from?
Amino acids. Proteins like keratin are chains of amino acids linked together.
The actual flow of electricity moving along a wire or conductor is called the:
Electric current. Electric current is the term for electricity flowing along a conductor.
Chemists use one word for anything that's alive now or was ever alive. What is it?
Organic. Organic is the term applied to substances found in things that are or were once living.
An adjustable device used to dial current up or down in a circuit is called a:
Rheostat. A rheostat is an adjustable resistor used to control the amount of current flowing in a circuit.
What element has to be present for a substance to fall under organic chemistry?
Carbon.
Germicidal UV lamps that kill off microorganisms rely on which specific band of light?
UVC rays. UVC rays are the specific ultraviolet wavelength used in germicidal irradiation to inactivate microorganisms.
Which LED light color is used to calm acne and bacteria?
Blue.
Which of these is a physical change rather than a chemical one?
Ice melting into water. Ice melting into water only changes its physical state, not its chemical composition, making it a physical change.
Which everyday compound do barbers regularly use in liquid, solid ice, and vapor steam form?
Water. Water is a compound that commonly exists as solid ice, liquid water, and vapor steam depending on temperature.
These are a sample. Try the Science & Chemistry practice quiz or flip through the Science & Chemistry flashcards for free. A one-time $15 lifetime pass unlocks full multi-topic study and the complete 299-question bank across all 13 tested topics.
Science & Chemistry is one of 13 topics tested on the Texas barber written exam. See the Texas Barber State Board Exam Guide for the full exam process, or browse every topic on the Practice Question Hub or the Education Hub.