ACS Ethics and Professional Conduct in Chemistry 2

Question 1

Authorship on an ACS journal paper should be based on which criterion according to ACS guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Substantial intellectual contribution to conception, design, execution, or interpretation

Answer

Seniority or academic rank within the research group

Answer

Financial contribution to the funding of the research

Answer

Amount of laboratory bench time logged during the project

Question 2

A chemist working in industry develops a synthesis route during employment. Who typically owns the intellectual property under standard US employment agreements?

Accepted Answer

The employer, because the work was done within the scope of employment

Answer

The chemist, because they performed the work

Answer

The ACS, because it serves as the professional arbitrator of IP disputes

Answer

The federal government, if any federal grant funding was involved in training

Question 3

Which statement about the treatment of human subjects in chemical research aligns with ACS ethical standards?

Accepted Answer

Chemical exposure studies on humans require IRB approval and informed consent

Answer

Informed consent is only required when the research involves clinical trials

Answer

Industrial hygiene data from employees may be used without consent if anonymized

Answer

Human subject protections apply only to medical, not chemical, research

Question 4

What does the ACS principle of 'responsible use of chemicals' require of professional chemists regarding hazardous substances?

Accepted Answer

Minimize use of hazardous chemicals and dispose of waste according to regulations

Answer

Use the most potent reagents available to maximize reaction efficiency

Answer

Transfer hazardous waste management responsibility entirely to safety officers

Answer

Prioritize cost reduction over hazard minimization when selecting reagents

Question 5

When a chemist is asked to provide expert testimony in a legal case, ACS ethical guidelines require them to:

Accepted Answer

Provide objective, scientifically accurate testimony regardless of who retained them

Answer

Advocate strongly for the party that hired them as an expert witness

Answer

Limit testimony to data that supports the hiring attorney's position

Answer

Decline all expert witness roles to avoid conflicts of interest

Question 6

A chemist is reviewing a grant proposal and recognizes it covers work similar to their own unpublished research. What is the ethical course of action?

Accepted Answer

Decline to review the proposal and notify the funding agency of the conflict

Answer

Complete the review and use the proposal to accelerate their own research

Answer

Review the proposal but recommend rejection to eliminate the competition

Answer

Share the proposal details with their research group for perspective

Question 7

Which of the following best describes 'gift authorship' as defined by ACS publication ethics?

Accepted Answer

Adding an individual's name to a paper solely due to their status or seniority, without real contribution

Answer

Recognizing a mentor's contribution by listing them as corresponding author

Answer

Crediting a collaborator who provided reagents but did not conduct experiments

Answer

Including a statistician who analyzed the data as a co-author