Chemistry MCQs
Chemistry Objective (Multiple Choice) General Knowledge Questions & Answers for SSC-CGL, UPPSC, UPSC, NDA, CDS and UPSC Civil Services Prelims Examination.
1. A cotton wick dipped in pure honey when ignited with a matchstick will ______?
[A] Burn steadily
[B] Burn with a cracking sound
[C] Not burn at all
[D] Burn producing a large amount of smoke
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Burn steadily]
Notes:
A cotton wick soaked in pure honey, when lit with a matchstick, will burn consistently. This is primarily due to the high sugar content of the honey acting as fuel for the flame. Contrary to common misconceptions, honey doesn’t produce much smoke or any unusual sounds during combustion.
2. Which colour does cobalt oxide impart to glass?
[A] Brown
[B] Blue
[C] Red
[D] Yellow
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Blue]
Notes:
Cobalt Oxide is commonly used to create a distinctive blue hue in glasses and ceramics. The depth of the blue can be altered by changing the concentration of the oxide. In addition to being used for aesthetic purposes, Cobalt blue, which results from Cobalt Oxide, is also used because it absorbs certain wavelengths of light, making it useful for filtering out unwanted wavelengths.
3. Which among the following will undergo a chemical reaction depending on the pH of the solution?
[A] Calcium Oxide
[B] Zinc Oxide
[C] Ferric Oxide
[D] Ferrous Oxide
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Zinc Oxide]
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.
4. The chemical oxygen demand COD test is commonly used to measure which of the following?
[A] amount of organic compounds in water
[B] amount of oxygen in water
[C] amount of oxygen in a chemical
[D] amount of oxygen used in a oxygenation process
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [amount of organic compounds in water]
Notes:
chemical oxygen demand is a measure of water quality and is amount of organic pollutants found in surface water. Potassium permanganate has been used for many years to measure COD
5. When a piece of quicklime is dipped in water, it gives bubbles. This bubbling is due to which of the following ?
[A] Oxygen
[B] Carbon Dioxide
[C] Water Vapour
[D] Hydrogen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Water Vapour]
Notes:
When quicklime (calcium oxide) is added to water, it reacts exothermically to form calcium hydroxide (slaked lime). This reaction produces heat and releases water vapor, which causes bubbling. The reaction can be represented as: [ ext{CaO} + ext{H}_2 ext{O}
ightarrow ext{Ca(OH)}_2 + ext{heat} ] Trivia: Quicklime is used in various applications, including steelmaking and water treatment, and was historically used in ancient construction.
6. What characteristic of silica gel, a granular form of silica produced from sodium silicate, enables it to control humidity and prevent spoilage or degradation when packaged with various products?
[A] Its high thermal conductivity
[B] Its hygroscopic properties
[C] Its high reflectivity
[D] Its low thermal conductivity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Its hygroscopic properties]
Notes:
Silica gel possesses hygroscopic properties, meaning it can absorb and hold water vapour. This makes it an effective desiccant or drying agent. When packaged with products, silica gel can help control humidity and prevent spoilage or degradation by absorbing excess moisture. This property is particularly valuable when shipping or storing items that can be negatively impacted by damp conditions, like electronics, food, and leather goods.
7. Which of the following are two predominant acids of acid rain?
[A] sulphuric acid and nitric acid
[B] carbonic acid and hydrochloric acid
[C] nitric acid and hydrochloric Acid
[D] hydrofluoric acid and hydrochloric Acid
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ sulphuric acid and nitric acid ]
Notes:
Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulphuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms.
8. In a photochemical smog, which gas causes irritation to mucous membrane and respiratory system?
[A] Nitrous oxide
[B] Sulphur dioxide
[C] Ozone
[D] Carbon monoxide
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Ozone]
Notes:Ozone (O3) is the most common photochemical oxidant in photochemical smog. Inhaling ozone can cause irritation to the mucous membrane and respiratory system. Ozone can also cause chest constriction and damage to vegetation.
Other components of photochemical smog include:
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- Peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN)
- Aldehydes
Other air pollutants that can be harmful to humans include:
- Sulfur dioxide
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Dioxins
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Carbon monoxide can cause hyperventilation, respiratory distress, and stillbirths. At high levels, carbon monoxide can even cause direct poisoning.
9. What is the relation between mass and wavelength of any matter, as per de Broglie’s relation?
[A] Both are directly proportional
[B] Both are inversely proportional
[C] Both are independent of each other
[D] wavelength is twice the square of the mass
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Both are inversely proportional]
Notes:
According to de Broglie, every object in motion has a wave character. As per de Broglie’s relation, mass and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other.
10. When is the gamma ray emitted?
[A] When a nucleus in a ground state goes to the excited state
[B] When a nucleus in an excited state spontaneously decays to its ground state
[C] When alpha rays and beta rays collide
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [When a nucleus in an excited state spontaneously decays to its ground state]
Notes:
When a nucleus in an excited state spontaneously decays to its ground state (or to a lower energy state), a photon is emitted with energy equal to the difference in the two energy levels of the nucleus. This is the so-called gamma decay.