Chemistry MCQs

Notes:
The oxidizing power of elements increases on moving left to right along a period in the periodic table. This is because electronegativity and the non-metallic character increases from left to right.

Notes:
The agricultural industry widely uses urea, a white crystalline solid containing 46 percent nitrogen as an animal feed additive and fertilizer. Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid fertilizers at 46% N.

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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.

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Calamine is an ore that contains zinc carbonate along with impurities like iron oxide. Through smelting, the zinc carbonate in calamine can be reduced to extract pure zinc metal. Other common zinc ores are sphalerite (zinc sulfide) and smithsonite (zinc carbonate). So calamine is considered a zinc ore due to its zinc carbonate content.

Notes:
Silver is the metal with the highest electrical and thermal conductivity. It has only one valence electron, which can move around with little resistance. This makes silver a great conductor of electricity and heat.
Silver’s thermal conductivity is 430 wK/m, which is higher than copper (400 wK/m), aluminum (235 wK/m), and brass (109 wK/m).
Silver’s low contact wear resistance and excellent optical reflectivity make it ideal for coating contacts, mirrors, and conductors in telecom applications.
Impurities can decrease a conductor’s conductivity. For example, sterling silver is not as good of a conductor as pure silver. Oxidized silver is not as good a conductor as untarnished silver.

Notes:
Tetra Ethyl Lead (TEL) is one such component that is added to petrol to reduce its tendency to `ping’ under compression. TEL breaks down to lead at upper cylinder temperatures. Lead atoms spread around and combining with the free radicals and slowing down the reaction.
However, `Leaded’ petrol was a grave danger to the environment, as lead is a poison when it is absorbed into the body.

Notes:
Chlorine has an atomic number of 17, meaning it has 17 protons. Its atomic weight is approximately 35, which indicates it typically has 18 neutrons (35 – 17 = 18). Therefore, the correct composition is 17 protons and 18 neutrons. Chlorine is a halogen and exists primarily as two stable isotopes: Chlorine-35 and Chlorine-37.

Notes:
Zinc oxide (ZnO) can undergo a chemical reaction depending on the pH of the solution. In acidic conditions, it can react to form zinc ions (Zn²⁺), while in alkaline conditions, it can form zincates. This behavior is due to its amphoteric nature, which allows it to react with both acids and bases. In contrast, calcium oxide (CaO) is basic, ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃) is generally inert in neutral pH, and ferrous oxide (FeO) is less reactive in varying pH levels.

Notes:
Iodine-135 is a important by-product of nuclear fission, particularly in reactors using uranium fuel. It has a high neutron capture cross-section, meaning it effectively absorbs neutrons, which can inhibit the fission process and reduce reactor power output. This property makes it crucial for managing reactor control and safety, as its presence can lead to a phenomenon known as “neutron poison,” affecting the overall efficiency of the nuclear reaction.

Notes:
Ilmenite (FeO.TiO2) is important titanium mineral. It is widely distributed along the Indian coastal lines. With proven reserves exceeding 270 million tonnes, about 37 per cent of the total world Ilmenite reserves are located in the beach sands of the southern peninsular India. Titanium known for its excellent corrosion resistance, high strength and low density, is widely used for aero-engine and airframe structures in both civilian and military aircraft. Titanium-alloy components also find applications in satellite launch vehicles, rockets and missiles. As of now, India’s total titanium requirement is being met by imports even though it possesses a large reserve base of titanium minerals.