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 the correct set of chemical formulae of Chile Saltpetre, Saltpetre and Quick Lime?
[A] KNO3, NaNO3, CaO
[B] NaNO3, KNO3, Ca(OH)2
[C] Na(OH)2, KOH, CaO
[D] NaNO3, KNO3, CaO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [NaNO3, KNO3, CaO]
Notes:
Saltpetre, also spelled Saltpeter, also called Nitre, or Niter, any of three naturally occurring nitrates, distinguished as (1) ordinary saltpetre, or potassium nitrate, KNO3; (2) Chile saltpetre, cubic nitre, or sodium nitrate, NaNO3; and (3) lime saltpetre, wall saltpetre, or calcium nitrate, Ca(NO3)2.
Calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound.
2. Which of the following is an alkaline earth metal?
[A] Pottasium
[B] Lead
[C] Copper
[D] Calcium
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Calcium ]
Notes:
The six elements in column 2 of the Periodic table are called Alkaline Earth Metals. These include Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba), and Radium (Ra).
3. Which among the following is popularly called Hypo?
[A] Silver Bromide
[B] Silver nitrate
[C] Sodium thiosulphate
[D] Sodium phosphate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sodium thiosulphate ]
Notes:
Sodium thiosulfate is an important inorganic salt with several medical uses. It is also called sodium hyposulfite or ‘hypo’. It is used in several pharmaceutical preparations and also has various medical properties.
4. Which element is responsible for the bright red color observed during the bursting of firecrackers?
[A] Strontium
[B] Sodium
[C] Sulfur
[D] Magnesium
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Strontium]
Notes:
The bright red color in fireworks is due to the presence of Strontium salts. The Strontium atom, upon yielding its energy in a quick burst upon heating, emits a brilliant red light. In fact, such properties of elements are used to identify them in a flame test, a classic method in chemistry labs across the globe.
5. Which among the following is Quick Silver?
[A] Aluminium
[B] Mercury
[C] Lead
[D] Zinc
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mercury]
Notes:
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. The element is also known as quicksilver for its mobility. Mercury is one of the oldest and deadliest poisons, a highly toxic metal mined from a brilliant red ore.
6. What happens to water’s vapor pressure when heated?
[A] It increases
[B] It decreases
[C] It first increases then decreases
[D] No change
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [It increases]
Notes:
Vapor pressure of water increases as its temperature rises. At 25°C, water’s vapor pressure is approximately 23.8 mmHg, while at 100°C it reaches 760 mmHg. When a liquid is heated, kinetic energy of molecules grows, allowing more to escape as vapor and thus increasing vapor pressure.
7. Consider the following:
- Copper
- Zinc
- Tin
Gun Metal is the alloy of which among the above?
[A] 1 & 2
[B] 1 & 3
[C] 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Gun metal is an alloy primarily composed of copper, tin, and zinc. Specifically, it typically contains about 88% copper, 10% tin, and 2% zinc. This alloy is known for its strength, corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand high temperatures, making it ideal for manufacturing firearms and artillery. The term “gun metal” dates back to the 15th century when it was used for cannons and other weaponry.
8. Which among the following is produced when we pass chlorine into slaked lime?
[A] DDT
[B] Baking Powder
[C] Bleaching Powder
[D] Gypsum
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Bleaching Powder]
Notes:
Bleaching powder is made by passing Cl2 into slaked lime. Though bleaching powder is often written as Ca(OCl)2 , it is really a mixture and not a compound.
9. What is the half life of the longest lived isotope of Francium?
[A] 1 minute
[B] 21 minute
[C] 21 hours
[D] 100 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [21 minute]
Notes:
Francium is highly radioactive. its longest-lived isotope 223Fr has a half-life of only 21 minutes.
10. If we take 1 kg of iron and let it rust, and none of the rust falls off, then the total weight will be___?
[A] Less than 1 Kg
[B] More than 1 Kg
[C] Exact 1 Kg
[D] More or Less than 1 Kg
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [More than 1 Kg]
Notes:
If the rust stays attached to the main body or the flakes of rust that fall off are collected and weighed than the weight will increase. If you are using for example iron shavings than the chemical formula would look like this Fe(II) + O2 = FeO2 And the weight will increase by the mass of the shavings divided by the molar mass of iron times 2 times the molar mass of oxygen (in this case taking the molar mass of oxygen as a single oxygen atom not a pair). Thus, When rust forms, the mass of the iron object is increased by the mass of oxygen that has combined with some of the iron
