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Free JAMB Past Question for chemistry

Q.1

An element with an atomic number of 17 and a mass number of 35 has how many protons, neutrons, and electrons?

a. 17 protons, 18 neutrons, 17 electrons

b. 17 protons, 17 neutrons, 18 electrons

c. 18 protons, 17 neutrons, 17 electrons

d. 35 protons, 17 neutrons, 35 electrons


Correct Answer: option a

Further reading: Atomic structure, atomic number, mass number

Show explanation

The atomic number (Z) equals the number of protons and, in a neutral atom, the number of electrons. The mass number (A) is the sum of protons and neutrons. For this element, protons = 17, electrons = 17. Neutrons=MassNumberAtomicNumber=3517=18Neutrons = Mass Number - Atomic Number = 35 - 17 = 18

Q.2

A reaction that releases heat into the surroundings is known as what?

a. An endothermic reaction

b. A spontaneous reaction

c. An exothermic reaction

d. An irreversible reaction


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Exothermic and endothermic reactions

Show explanation

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy, usually in the form of heat, into the surroundings. This results in a negative change in enthalpy (ΔH-\Delta H )

Q.3

The reaction N2O42NO2N_2O_4 \rightleftharpoons 2NO_2 is an example of what?

a. An irreversible reaction

b. An endothermic reaction

c. A reversible reaction

d. A precipitation reaction


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Reversible reactions and equilibrium

Show explanation

This reaction is a classic example of a reversible reaction, where dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4N_2O_4 ) can be converted into nitrogen dioxide (NO2NO_2 ), and the nitrogen dioxide can also be converted back into dinitrogen tetroxide. The double arrow (\rightleftharpoons ) indicates that the reaction proceeds in both the forward and reverse directions

Q.4

Which process is used for the industrial preparation of ammonia in Nigeria?

a. Contact process

b. Ostwald process

c. Solvay process

d. Haber process


Correct Answer: option d

Further reading: Haber Process for ammonia production

Show explanation

The Haber process is the industrial method for synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases. It involves reacting nitrogen from the air with hydrogen, which is typically obtained from natural gas or petroleum, under high temperature and pressure in the presence of an iron catalyst.

Q.5

The conversion of a liquid to a gas at the boiling point is called what?

a. Condensation

b. Freezing

c. Boiling

d. Melting


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Vapourization

Show explanation

Boiling is the rapid vaporization of a liquid that occurs when a liquid is heated to its boiling point, and the liquid turns into vapor, forming bubbles within the bulk of the liquid

Q.6

According to Boyle's law, if the pressure on a fixed mass of gas is tripled at constant temperature, what happens to its volume?

a. It remains unchanged.

b. It becomes one-third of the original volume.

c. It triples.

d. It becomes six times the original volume.


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Boyle's law

Show explanation

Boyle's law states that for a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, the pressure is inversely proportional to the volume (P1V)(P \propto \frac{1}{V}) . Therefore, if the pressure is tripled, the volume will decrease to one-third of its original value.

Q.7

What is the principle involved in the purification of copper using electrolysis?

a. A less pure metal is used as the cathode.

b. The pure metal is deposited at the anode.

c. The impure metal is used as the anode.

d. The electrolyte is a non-conducting solution.


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Uses of electrolysis

Show explanation

In the electrolytic purification of copper, an impure copper block is used as the anode, and a thin strip of pure copper serves as the cathode. When electricity is passed through the copper(II) tetraoxosulphate(VI) electrolyte, copper ions from the anode dissolve and are deposited as pure copper on the cathode

Q.8

A student wants to separate a mixture of sand and salt. Which sequence of separation techniques is most appropriate?

a. Filtration, evaporation, dissolution

b. Dissolution, filtration, evaporation

c. Magnetization, filtration, decantation

d. Decantation, evaporation, crystallization


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Separation processes

Show explanation

First, the salt is dissolved in water while the sand remains undissolved. Next, the sand is separated by filtration. Finally, the salt is recovered from the water by evaporating the solvent.

Q.9

Which of the following is a reason for the existence of air as a mixture?

a. The gases react to form new compounds.

b. The components have a fixed ratio by volume.

c. The components can be separated by physical means.

d. Air has a single definite melting point.


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Air as a mixture

Show explanation

Air is a mixture because its components, like nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, are not chemically bonded to each other. They can be separated physically, for example, by fractional distillation of liquid air

Q.10

A solution that contains more dissolved solute than a saturated solution under the same conditions is called what?

a. Saturated

b. Unsaturated

c. Dilute

d. Supersaturated


Correct Answer: option d

Further reading: Unsaturated, saturated, and supersaturated solutions

Show explanation

A supersaturated solution contains more dissolved solute than a saturated solution at that temperature. It is a metastable state, and the excess solute will often crystallize out if disturbed

Q.11

What is the product at the cathode during the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride (NaCl)?

a. Chlorine gas (Cl2Cl_2)

b. Hydrogen gas (H2H_2 )

c. Sodium metal (Na)

d. Oxygen gas (O2O_2 )


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Electrolysis of fused salts

Show explanation

The cathode is the negative electrode, where reduction occurs[cite: 205]. In molten NaCl, the ions present are Na+andClNa^+ and Cl^- . The positive sodium ions (Na+Na^+ ) migrate to the cathode and gain electrons to form sodium metal (Na)

Q.12

Which of these is an alloy of copper and zinc?

a. Steel

b. Bronze

c. Duralumin

d. Brass


Correct Answer: option d

Further reading: Alloys

Show explanation

Brass is an alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon

Q.13

The process of making a substance insoluble in water by reacting it with an acid and a base is a method of preparing what?

a. Soluble salts

b. Double salts

c. Insoluble salts

d. Acidic salts


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Preparation of salts

Show explanation

Insoluble salts are often prepared by a precipitation reaction, where two soluble salts are mixed in an aqueous solution, and the ions combine to form an insoluble product that precipitates out of the solution

Q.14

In a reversible reaction at equilibrium, what happens if the concentration of a product is increased?

a. The equilibrium shifts to the left, favoring the reactants.

b. The equilibrium shifts to the right, favoring the products.

c. The equilibrium position remains unchanged.

d. The reaction stops completely.


Correct Answer: option a

Further reading: Le Chatelier's principle

Show explanation

According to Le Chatelier's principle, if a change of condition is applied to a system in equilibrium, the system will shift in a direction that counteracts the change. Increasing the concentration of a product will cause the equilibrium to shift to the left (towards the reactants) to consume the excess product and restore equilibrium

Q.15

What is the mass of sulfur in 35.2 g of iron(II) sulfide (FeS)? (Fe = 56, S = 32)

a. 12.8 g

b. 16.0 g

c. 20.0 g

d. 28.0 g


Correct Answer: option a

Further reading: Stoichiometry and mole concept

Show explanation

The molar mass of FeS is 56+32=88g/mol56 + 32 = 88 g/mol . The mass of sulfur in 35.2 g of FeS is calculated as: Mass of S=(3288)×35.2g=12.8gS = (\frac{32}{88}) \times 35.2 g = 12.8 g .

Q.16

Which of the following is a disadvantage of hard water?

a. It forms a lather easily with soap.

b. It causes pipes to corrode faster.

c. It produces a scum with soap, wasting it.

d. It is good for brewing and tanning.


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Hard and soft water

Show explanation

Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium salts. These ions react with soap to form an insoluble precipitate called scum, which prevents the soap from lathering and can stain clothes and fixtures. This leads to a waste of soap.

Q.17

What is the basicity of tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid (H2SO4)(H_2SO_4) ?

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

d. 4


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Basicity of acids

Show explanation

The basicity of an acid is the number of replaceable hydrogen ions per molecule of the acid. Since one molecule of tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid (H2SO4H_2SO_4 ) can furnish two hydrogen ions, its basicity is 2

Q.18

Which of the following elements is a halogen?

a. Neon

b. Potassium

c. Chlorine

d. Aluminium


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Halogens

Show explanation

Halogens are the elements in Group 17 of the periodic table, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. Chlorine is a representative example

Q.19

In the reaction Cl2+2KI2KCl+I2Cl_2 + 2KI \to 2KCl + I_2 , which substance is the oxidizing agent?

a. Cl2Cl_2

b. KIKI

c. KClKCl

d. I2I_2


Correct Answer: option a

Further reading: Oxidizing and reducing agents

Show explanation

An oxidizing agent is a substance that causes oxidation by accepting electrons. In this reaction, the oxidation number of chlorine changes from 0 in Cl2Cl_2 to -1 in KClKCl .This reduction of chlorine means it has gained electrons and is therefore the oxidizing agent

Q.20

Why is air considered a mixture?

a. Its composition is fixed and definite.

b. Its components can be separated by physical means.

c. It can be represented by a chemical formula.

d. It has a single, uniform boiling point.


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Air as a mixture

Show explanation

Air is a mixture because its constituent gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc., are not chemically combined and can be separated by physical methods like fractional distillation of liquefied air. The composition of air also varies slightly depending on the location and conditions, which is characteristic of a mixture, not a compound

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