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Chemistry in Everyday Life — GK Questions with Answers

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36 questions
  1. Which component is largest in Portland cement?
    1. Silica
    2. Lime (CaO)
    3. Alumina
    4. Gypsum
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Lime (CaO)

    CaO ≈ 50–60%, SiO₂ ≈ 20–25%, Al₂O₃ ≈ 5–10%.

  2. Why is gypsum added to cement?
    1. For colour
    2. To make it cheaper
    3. To reduce hardness
    4. To slow setting
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) To slow setting

    Gypsum stops tricalcium aluminate from setting at once.

  3. Glass is etched with which acid?
    1. HF
    2. HNO₃
    3. HCl
    4. H₂SO₄
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) HF

    SiO₂ + 4HF → SiF₄ + 2H₂O; that is why HF is not kept in glass bottles.

  4. Ovenware and laboratory glassware are made of which glass?
    1. Soda glass
    2. Flint glass
    3. Borosilicate (Pyrex)
    4. Photochromic glass
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Borosilicate (Pyrex)

    Borosilicate expands very little with heat, so it stands sudden changes of temperature.

  5. What is in the glass of spectacles that darken by themselves in sunlight?
    1. Lead
    2. Cobalt
    3. Silver halide
    4. Boron
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Silver halide

    Particles of AgCl/AgBr form silver in light and darken the glass — photochromic glass.

  6. About what percentage of urea is nitrogen?
    1. 46%
    2. 35%
    3. 21%
    4. 60%
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) 46%

    28/60 × 100 = 46.7%; ammonium sulphate 21%, ammonium nitrate 35%.

  7. How many elements are taken as essential for plants?
    1. 13
    2. 16
    3. 20
    4. 17
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 17

    17 — C, H, O plus 14 minerals (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and 8 micronutrients).

  8. Bordeaux mixture is made of?
    1. ZnSO₄ and lime
    2. CuSO₄ and slaked lime
    3. FeSO₄ and soda
    4. CuSO₄ and salt
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) CuSO₄ and slaked lime

    For fungal diseases of grapes and potato — 1885, Bordeaux (France).

  9. Which poisonous gas does Celphos (aluminium phosphide) give with moisture?
    1. Phosphine
    2. Ammonia
    3. Chlorine
    4. Hydrogen sulphide
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Phosphine

    AlP + 3H₂O → Al(OH)₃ + PH₃ — a fumigant for grain stores.

  10. The ratio of saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur in gunpowder (black powder)?
    1. 50 : 30 : 20
    2. 60 : 20 : 20
    3. 75 : 15 : 10
    4. 40 : 40 : 20
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 75 : 15 : 10

    KNO₃ 75%, charcoal 15%, sulphur 10%.

  1. Who invented dynamite?
    1. Sobrero
    2. Alfred Nobel
    3. Perkin
    4. Baekeland
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Alfred Nobel

    Nobel in 1867, by soaking nitroglycerine into kieselguhr; nitroglycerine was made by Sobrero (1847).

  2. TNT is made by nitration of which compound?
    1. Phenol
    2. Glycerol
    3. Benzene
    4. Toluene
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Toluene

    2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; phenol gives picric acid, glycerol gives nitroglycerine.

  3. What is on the strip of a safety-match box?
    1. White phosphorus
    2. Sulphur
    3. KClO₃
    4. Red phosphorus and powdered glass
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Red phosphorus and powdered glass

    The head of the stick has KClO₃ + Sb₂S₃; the box has red phosphorus.

  4. Green colour in fireworks comes from which metal?
    1. Strontium
    2. Barium
    3. Sodium
    4. Potassium
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Barium

    Barium green, strontium red, sodium yellow, copper blue.

  5. Propellant of ISRO’s CE-20 cryogenic engine?
    1. UDMH + N₂O₄
    2. Kerosene + liquid O₂
    3. Liquid H₂ + liquid O₂
    4. HTPB + perchlorate
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Liquid H₂ + liquid O₂

    Liquid hydrogen (−253 °C) and liquid oxygen (−183 °C).

  6. Which is the first fully synthetic fibre?
    1. Nylon
    2. Rayon
    3. Terylene
    4. Acrylic
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Nylon

    Carothers, 1935; rayon is semi-synthetic (from cellulose).

  7. Which of these is a thermosetting plastic?
    1. Polythene
    2. Bakelite
    3. PVC
    4. Polystyrene
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Bakelite

    Bakelite and melamine set once and do not melt again.

  8. In which year was the Nobel given for fullerene (C₆₀)?
    1. 1985
    2. 2023
    3. 2010
    4. 1996
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 1996

    Kroto, Curl, Smalley — discovered 1985, Nobel 1996; graphene 2010, quantum dots 2023.

  9. Rum is made from which raw material?
    1. Molasses
    2. Grapes
    3. Barley
    4. Potato
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Molasses

    By fermenting and distilling sugarcane molasses; brandy from wine, whisky from grain.

  10. Which detergent is mainly in dishwashing liquids?
    1. Anionic
    2. Cationic
    3. Non-ionic
    4. Soap
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Non-ionic

    Non-ionic (polyethylene glycol esters); hair conditioners use cationic.

  1. Which gas forms when bleach and toilet cleaner are mixed?
    1. Oxygen
    2. Hydrogen
    3. Chlorine
    4. CO₂
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Chlorine

    NaOCl + 2HCl → NaCl + Cl₂ + H₂O — poisonous.

  2. What is mixed with baking soda in baking powder?
    1. Tartaric acid
    2. Salt
    3. Sugar
    4. Lime
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Tartaric acid

    The acid gives CO₂ and does not let bitter Na₂CO₃ remain.

  3. The reason a cut apple turns brown?
    1. Bacteria
    2. Water
    3. Sunlight
    4. Oxidation by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Oxidation by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase

    Lemon juice (vitamin C) stops it.

  4. Who discovered penicillin?
    1. Waksman
    2. Alexander Fleming
    3. Ehrlich
    4. Domagk
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Alexander Fleming

    In 1928 from the Penicillium fungus; Waksman gave streptomycin, Domagk the sulpha drug.

  5. Which of these is a broad-spectrum antibiotic?
    1. Chloramphenicol
    2. Penicillin G
    3. Insulin
    4. Aspirin
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Chloramphenicol

    Chloramphenicol, ampicillin and tetracycline are broad; penicillin G is narrow.

  6. A 0.2% solution of phenol is a/an?
    1. Disinfectant
    2. Antibiotic
    3. Antiseptic
    4. Antacid
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Antiseptic

    0.2% antiseptic, 1% disinfectant.

  7. Dettol is a mixture of?
    1. Phenol + iodine
    2. Chloroxylenol + terpineol
    3. Boric acid + alcohol
    4. Cresol + soap
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Chloroxylenol + terpineol

    Dettol is an antiseptic.

  8. Ranitidine belongs to which class of drugs?
    1. Antihistamine (allergy)
    2. Analgesic
    3. Tranquilliser
    4. Antacid (reduces acid)
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Antacid (reduces acid)

    It blocks the H₂ receptors of the stomach and cuts acid production.

  9. What is Equanil used for?
    1. Pain
    2. Fever
    3. Malaria
    4. Stress and depression (tranquilliser)
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Stress and depression (tranquilliser)

    Meprobamate — a tranquilliser.

  10. Why is aspartame not used in cooked food?
    1. Too sweet
    2. It breaks down with heat
    3. Costly
    4. Bitter
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) It breaks down with heat

    Used in cold drinks; sucralose is used for cooking.

  1. Saccharin is about how many times sweeter than cane sugar?
    1. 100
    2. 2000
    3. 550
    4. 10
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 550

    Saccharin 550, aspartame 100, sucralose 600, alitame 2000.

  2. What is added to foods as an antioxidant?
    1. BHA and BHT
    2. Sodium benzoate
    3. Saccharin
    4. MSG
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) BHA and BHT

    BHA and BHT stop fats oxidising; sodium benzoate is a preservative.

  3. The banned dye added to turmeric?
    1. Tartrazine
    2. Metanil yellow
    3. Curcumin
    4. Caramel
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Metanil yellow

    It is identified by the pink-violet colour it gives with HCl.

  4. Which was the first synthetic dye?
    1. Indigo
    2. Congo red
    3. Alizarin
    4. Mauveine
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Mauveine

    William Perkin, 1856, from aniline.

  5. The most suitable extinguisher for a fire in electrical equipment?
    1. CO₂
    2. Soda-acid
    3. Water
    4. Foam
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) CO₂

    CO₂ does not conduct electricity and leaves no residue; water and foam carry current.

  6. What should be used on burning petrol or oil?
    1. Water
    2. Soda-acid
    3. Foam
    4. Nothing
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Foam

    Foam forms a layer on the oil and keeps air out; water makes the oil float and spread.

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