Chemistry MCQs
Chemistry Objective (Multiple Choice) General Knowledge Questions & Answers for SSC-CGL, UPPSC, UPSC, NDA, CDS and UPSC Civil Services Prelims Examination.
1. Which among the following is a Noble Gas?
[A] Nitrogen
[B] Hydrogen
[C] Oxygen
[D] Helium
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Helium]
Notes:
The noble gases are the chemical elements in group 18 of the periodic table. They are the most stable due to having the maximum number of valence electrons their outer shell can hold. This chemical series contains helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.
2. Which among the following is known as Quick Lime?
[A] CaO
[B] CaCO2
[C] Ca(OH)2
[D] CaCl2
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Correct Answer: A [CaO]
Notes:
Calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound. It is a white, caustic, alkaline crystalline solid at room temperature.
3. When Sulphur is heated with rubber, the process is commonly known as ?
[A] Galvanization
[B] Sulphonation
[C] Vulcanization
[D] Hydrodesulfurization
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Correct Answer: C [Vulcanization]
Notes:
Natural rubber becomes soft at high temperature (>335 K) and brittle at low temperatures (<283 k) and shows high water absorption capacity. It is soluble in non-polar solvents and is non-resistant to attack by oxidising agents. To improve upon these physical properties, a process of vulcanisation is carried out. This process consists of heating a mixture of raw rubber with sulphur and an appropriate additive at a temperature range between 373 K to 415 K. On vulcanisation, sulphur forms cross links at the reactive sites of double bonds and thus the rubber gets stiffened.
In the manufacture of tyre rubber, 5% of sulphur is used as a crosslinking agent
4. Which among the following is the most abundant organic compound in nature?
[A] Glucose
[B] Fructose
[C] Sucrose
[D] Cellulose
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Correct Answer: D [Cellulose]
Notes:
Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound in nature. It is the main constituent of plant fiber. Plants contain on average 33% cellulose, and cotton is the purest form at 90%. Chitin is the second most abundant organic compound in nature.
5. What is the primary event that occurs during an oxidation reaction?
[A] Electrons are gained
[B] Electrons are lost
[C] Protons are gained
[D] Protons are lost
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Correct Answer: B [Electrons are lost]
Notes:
Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which an atom, ion, or molecule loses an electron to another substance. So, the correct answer is “Electrons are lost”. This phenomenon is often observed in various chemical and biological systems. Understanding this important process can allow us to gain insights in fields ranging from biology to materials science.
6. Under standard conditions, which of the following is the most stable form of carbon?
[A] Charcoal
[B] Graphite
[C] Diamond
[D] Amorphous Carbon
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Correct Answer: B [Graphite]
Notes:
Under standard conditions, Graphite is the most stable form of carbon. It is commonly used in pencils and lubricants due to its layered structure. These layers can move over each other, making graphite soft and slippery. Besides Graphite, other forms of carbon are diamond, charcoal, and amorphous carbon, each with unique properties and applications.
7. Which among the following is the main constituent of vegetable oil and animal fats?
[A] Glycogen
[B] Triglyceride
[C] Galactose
[D] Diglyceride
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Correct Answer: B [Triglyceride]
Notes:
The main constituent of vegetable oil and animal fats is triglyceride. Triglycerides are composed of three fatty acids linked to a glycerol molecule. They are the most common type of fat found in the body and serve as a major energy source. In fact, triglycerides account for about 95% of the fats in the human diet.
8. Which among the following makes Chile saltpetre different from saltpetre?
[A] Nitrate
[B] Sodium
[C] Magnesium
[D] Calcium
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Correct Answer: B [Sodium]
Notes:
Chile saltpetre, or sodium nitrate (NaNO3), differs from regular saltpetre, which typically refers to potassium nitrate (KNO3). Chile saltpetre is primarily composed of sodium, while traditional saltpetre contains potassium. Historically, Chile saltpetre was extensively mined in the Atacama Desert and was crucial for fertilizer and explosives in the 19th century.
9. Consider the following substances:
- Iodine
- Napthalene
- Camphor
Which of the above substances undergo ‘sublimation’ on heating?
[A] 1 and 2
[B] 1 and 3
[C] 2 and 3
[D] All of them
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Correct Answer: D [All of them]
Notes:Sublimation is the process where a solid turns directly into a gas without passing through the liquid phase.
- Iodine: Sublimes at about 113.7°C, releasing purple vapors.
- Naphthalene: Sublimes at around 80°C, commonly used in mothballs.
- Camphor: Sublimes at approximately 175°C, used in medicinal and aromatic applications.
All three substances can undergo sublimation upon heating, making the correct answer “All of them.”
10. Which of the following is correct about ozone?
[A] it is a red coloured gas
[B] it is odourless
[C] it is harmless in small concentrations
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [it is harmless in small concentrations]
Notes:
Pure ozone is a pale blue gas, dark blue liquid and violet-black solid. Ozone has a characteristic smell and in small concentrations it is harmless. However, if the concentration rises above about 100 parts per million, breathing becomes uncomfortable resulting in headache and nausea.