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Free JAMB Past Question for chemistry

Q.1

What is the name of the chemical process used to produce soap from fats and oils?

a. Esterification

b. Saponification

c. Neutralization

d. Polymerization


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Saponification

Show explanation

Saponification is the hydrolysis of an ester (like fats and oils) using a strong alkali (like sodium hydroxide) to produce soap (a metallic salt of a fatty acid) and glycerol

Q.2

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.3

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.4

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.5

The process of converting petroleum fractions into higher-quality gasoline with a higher octane number is called what?

a. Fractional distillation

b. Polymerization

c. Cracking and reforming

d. Hydrogenation

Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Cracking and reforming

Show explanation

Crude oil is separated into fractions through fractional distillation. However, to produce higher-quality gasoline with a better octane rating, processes like cracking (breaking down large hydrocarbon molecules) and reforming (rearranging molecules) are used to produce more branched and aromatic hydrocarbons

Q.6

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.7

What is the relative atomic mass of an element based on?

a. Hydrogen (H2=1H_2 = 1 )

b. Carbon-12 isotope (12C=12^{12}C = 12 )

c. Oxygen-16 isotope (16O=16^{16}O = 16 )

d. The mass of a proton


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Relative atomic mass

Show explanation

The modern standard for relative atomic mass is based on the carbon-12 isotope, which is assigned a mass of exactly 12 atomic mass units. The relative atomic mass of an element is the average mass of its atoms compared to one-twelfth the mass of a carbon-12 atom

Q.8

Which of the following separation methods is based on the differential solubility and absorption of components?

a. Crystallization

b. Filtration

c. Chromatography

d. Distillation


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Chromatography

Show explanation

Chromatography, such as paper or column chromatography, separates components of a mixture based on their differing affinities for a stationary phase and a mobile phase

Q.9

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.10

Which scientist proposed the plum pudding model of the atom, suggesting a sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded in it?

a. Ernest Rutherford

b. John Dalton

c. J.J. Thomson

d. Niels Bohr


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Contributions of scientists to atomic structure

Show explanation

Thomson proposed the plum pudding model of the atom in which electrons were embedded in a sphere of uniform positive charge

Q.11

What is the chemical composition of rust?

a. Hydrated iron(III) oxide

b. Iron(II) oxide

c. An alloy of iron and carbon

d. Iron(II) tetraoxosulphate(VI)


Correct Answer: option a

Further reading: Corrosion

Show explanation

Rust is a hydrated form of iron(III) oxide, with the chemical formula Fe2O3nH2OFe_2O_3 \cdot nH_2O . Corrosion, including rusting, is an electrochemical process where iron reacts with oxygen and water

Q.12

Which of the following is an example of a monosaccharide?

a. Starch

b. Sucrose

c. Cellulose

d. Glucose


Correct Answer: option d

Further reading: Carbohydrates classification

Show explanation

Carbohydrates are classified into monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Glucose is a simple sugar, a monosaccharide, which is the basic unit of more complex carbohydrates like starch and cellulose

Q.13

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.14

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

Q.15

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.16

The process of adding a protective coating of zinc to iron to prevent rusting is called what?

a. Galvanization

b. Electroplating

c. Cathodic protection

d. Alloying


Correct Answer: option a

Further reading: Corrosion prevention

Show explanation

Galvanization is a form of cathodic protection where a layer of a more reactive metal, usually zinc, is applied to a steel or iron surface. The zinc corrodes preferentially, protecting the iron underneath from rusting

Q.17

What is the IUPAC name for the dicarboxylic acid HOOCCOOHHOOC-COOH ?

a. Methanoic acid

b. Ethanoic acid

c. Propanedioic acid

d. Ethanedioic acid


Correct Answer: option d

Further reading: Alkanoic acids

Show explanation

The compound HOOCCOOHHOOC-COOH has two carbon atoms and two carboxyl functional groups. The IUPAC naming for dicarboxylic acids is based on the parent alkane name with the suffix "-dioic acid." For a two-carbon chain, the parent alkane is ethane, so the name is ethanedioic acid, commonly known as oxalic acid

Q.18

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.19

What is the process of extracting aluminum from its purified ore called?

a. Reduction with carbon

b. Electrolysis

c. Smelting

d. Leaching


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Electrolytic extraction of metals

Show explanation

Aluminium is a very reactive metal and cannot be extracted by reduction with carbon. It is extracted commercially by the electrolysis of its purified ore, bauxite, which is dissolved in molten cryolite

Q.20

Which statement accurately describes a chemical change?

a. No new substance is formed.

b. It is easily reversible.

c. It involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.

d. It only changes the state of matter.


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Chemical and physical changes

Show explanation

A chemical change, also known as a chemical reaction, involves the rearrangement of atoms and molecules to form new substances with different chemical compositions and properties. This process requires the breaking and forming of chemical bonds

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