311. Which one of the following reactions is an example of decomposition

Which one of the following reactions is an example of decomposition reaction?

[amp_mcq option1=”CH₄(g) + 2O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2H₂O(g)” option2=”2AgCl(s) Sunlight → 2Ag(s) + Cl₂(g)” option3=”CuO + H₂ Heat → Cu + H₂O” option4=”Fe(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → FeSO₄(aq) + Cu(s)” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct option is B.
A decomposition reaction is a reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances.
Option A is a combustion reaction, where a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen to produce heat and light.
Option B, $2\text{AgCl(s)} \text{ Sunlight} \rightarrow 2\text{Ag(s)} + \text{Cl}_2\text{(g)}$, shows silver chloride (a single compound) breaking down into silver and chlorine (simpler substances) upon exposure to sunlight. This is a classic example of photolytic decomposition.
Option C is a reduction reaction, specifically the reduction of copper(II) oxide by hydrogen.
Option D is a displacement reaction, where iron displaces copper from copper sulphate solution.

312. Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”Most carbon compounds are good conductors of electricity.” option2=”Bonding in organic compounds is covalent.” option3=”Graphite is used as a lubricant.” option4=”Diamond is an allotrope of carbon.” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct answer is A) Most carbon compounds are good conductors of electricity. This statement is incorrect; most organic (carbon) compounds are covalent and do not conduct electricity well in their solid or liquid state.
– Conductivity of electricity requires the presence of free-moving charged particles (electrons or ions).
– Most carbon compounds (organic compounds) are formed by covalent bonds between nonmetal atoms (C, H, O, N, S, halogens, etc.). Covalent compounds typically do not form free ions or mobile electrons, so they are poor conductors or insulators.
– Statement B is correct: The primary bonding in organic compounds is covalent.
– Statement C is correct: Graphite, an allotrope of carbon, has a layered structure with delocalized electrons within the layers, which makes it a conductor and a good solid lubricant. However, graphite is an *exception* among carbon compounds regarding conductivity.
– Statement D is correct: Diamond is another well-known crystalline allotrope of carbon.
– The statement claims *most* carbon compounds are good conductors, which is false. The vast majority of organic molecules (e.g., sugars, plastics, oils, alcohols, proteins) are electrical insulators.
Exceptions to the non-conductivity of carbon compounds include graphite, some conjugated polymers, and ionic carbides (though ionic carbides are not typically considered “organic” compounds in the traditional sense). However, the general rule for the vast class of organic compounds is that they are poor conductors of electricity.

313. Which one of the following statements about fertilizers is not

Which one of the following statements about fertilizers is not correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”Urea is a phosphorus-containing fertilizer.” option2=”Application of fertilizer to the soil increases fertility of the soil.” option3=”Urea can be prepared by action of ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure and at high temperature.” option4=”Urea contains more nitrogen than other fertilizers.” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct answer is A) Urea is a phosphorus-containing fertilizer. This statement is incorrect because urea ((NH₂)₂CO) is a nitrogen-containing fertilizer.
– Fertilizers are substances that provide nutrients to plants, primarily nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which are macronutrients.
– Urea has the chemical formula (NH₂)₂CO. It is a rich source of nitrogen, with approximately 46% nitrogen by weight.
– Phosphorus-containing fertilizers typically contain compounds like phosphates (e.g., calcium phosphate in superphosphate).
– Statement B is correct: Fertilizers add essential nutrients to the soil, thus increasing its fertility and supporting plant growth.
– Statement C is correct: Urea is synthesized industrially from ammonia (NH₃) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) under high pressure and temperature (Bosch–Meiser process).
– Statement D is generally correct in the context of solid nitrogen fertilizers; urea has one of the highest nitrogen contents among commonly used solid fertilizers.
Fertilizers can be organic (derived from plant/animal matter) or inorganic (synthetically produced or mined). Urea is an organic compound but is typically synthesized industrially and used as an inorganic fertilizer in agriculture. Different plants require different ratios of N, P, and K, and various fertilizers are available to meet these needs.

314. Which one of the following is not a pigment?

Which one of the following is not a pigment?

[amp_mcq option1=”Zinc oxide” option2=”Chalk” option3=”White lead” option4=”Silica” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct answer is Silica. While finely divided silica can appear white and contribute to opacity, it is not primarily classified or used as a pigment in the same way as Zinc oxide, Chalk, and White lead, which are well-established white pigments used for imparting colour (whiteness) and opacity.
– A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. Pigments are typically solid and ground into fine powder.
– Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a widely used white pigment known as Zinc White.
– Chalk is primarily Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which is used as a white pigment and filler.
– White lead (basic lead carbonate, (PbCO₃)₂·Pb(OH)₂) is a dense white pigment historically used in paints, although its use has declined due to toxicity.
– Silica (Silicon dioxide, SiO₂) occurs in many forms. While very fine forms like fumed silica can act as opacifiers and contribute to whiteness and are used as fillers in paints, its primary applications often lie outside of being a dedicated coloring pigment, such as abrasives, drying agents, fillers for controlling rheology or structure, and as a component of glass or ceramics. Compared to the others, its role as a pigment is less central.
The term “pigment” usually refers to a substance added to a material to change its color. While silica is white when powdered, its applications are broader than just coloration, and other options are classic examples of white pigments specifically used for their tinting strength and opacity.

315. Which one of the following is the colour of hydrogen gas?

Which one of the following is the colour of hydrogen gas?

[amp_mcq option1=”Light yellow” option2=”Orange” option3=”Black” option4=”Colourless” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct answer is Colourless. Hydrogen gas (H₂) is a colourless gas.
– Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe.
– At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen exists as a diatomic molecule (H₂) and is a gas.
– Pure hydrogen gas is colourless, odourless, and tasteless.
– It is also highly flammable.
Many common gases like nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, etc.), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are also colourless. Some gases do have colour, such as chlorine (greenish-yellow), bromine vapour (reddish-brown), iodine vapour (violet), and nitrogen dioxide (reddish-brown).

316. Which one of the following allotropes of carbon is isomorphous with cr

Which one of the following allotropes of carbon is isomorphous with crystalline silicon?

[amp_mcq option1=”Coke” option2=”Diamond” option3=”Graphite” option4=”Coal” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct answer is Diamond. Diamond is a crystalline allotrope of carbon that is isomorphous with crystalline silicon because they share the same crystal structure.
– Isomorphism refers to the phenomenon where two or more substances crystallize in the same crystal structure.
– Crystalline silicon has a diamond cubic crystal structure, where each silicon atom is covalently bonded to four other silicon atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement.
– Diamond, which is also a crystalline allotrope of carbon, also has a diamond cubic structure, with carbon atoms replacing silicon atoms in the same arrangement.
– Coke, Graphite, and Coal are other forms of carbon, but they do not share the same crystal structure as crystalline silicon. Graphite has a layered hexagonal structure, while Coke and Coal are largely amorphous or contain various carbonaceous materials without a single, defined crystal structure.
The similarity in structure between diamond and silicon is due to both carbon and silicon belonging to Group 14 of the periodic table and forming strong covalent bonds in a tetrahedral geometry. This structural similarity has implications for their properties, although the bond strength (C-C vs Si-Si) leads to significant differences in hardness and melting point.

317. Which one of the following is not an example of a redox reaction?

Which one of the following is not an example of a redox reaction?

[amp_mcq option1=”AlCl₃ + 3H₂O → Al(OH)₃ + 3HCl” option2=”2NaH → 2Na + H₂” option3=”4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃” option4=”CuSO₄ + Zn → Cu + ZnSO₄” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct answer is A) AlCl₃ + 3H₂O → Al(OH)₃ + 3HCl. This reaction is a double displacement (or hydrolysis) reaction, where no changes in oxidation states occur, unlike redox reactions.
– A redox reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the transfer of electrons, resulting in changes in the oxidation states of atoms.
– Oxidation is an increase in oxidation state (loss of electrons).
– Reduction is a decrease in oxidation state (gain of electrons).
– Let’s analyze the oxidation states in each reaction:
– A) AlCl₃ (+3, -1) + H₂O (+1, -2) → Al(OH)₃ (+3, -2, +1) + HCl (+1, -1). Oxidation states of all elements remain unchanged.
– B) 2NaH (+1, -1) → 2Na (0) + H₂ (0). Na changes from +1 to 0 (reduction), H changes from -1 to 0 (oxidation). Redox.
– C) 4Fe (0) + 3O₂ (0) → 2Fe₂O₃ (+3, -2). Fe changes from 0 to +3 (oxidation), O changes from 0 to -2 (reduction). Redox.
– D) CuSO₄ (+2, -2) + Zn (0) → Cu (0) + ZnSO₄ (+2, -2). Cu changes from +2 to 0 (reduction), Zn changes from 0 to +2 (oxidation). Redox.
Double displacement reactions, such as precipitation, neutralization, and some hydrolysis reactions, are typically non-redox reactions as they involve the exchange of ions without changes in oxidation states.

318. For an element with atomic number 35, which one of the following will

For an element with atomic number 35, which one of the following will be the correct number of electrons in its valence shell based on Bohr’s model of an atom?

[amp_mcq option1=”1″ option2=”3″ option3=”5″ option4=”7″ correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct answer is 7. An element with atomic number 35 is Bromine (Br), which is a halogen in Group 17 of the periodic table and typically has 7 valence electrons.
– Bohr’s model describes electrons orbiting the nucleus in specific energy levels or shells (K, L, M, N, etc.).
– The maximum number of electrons a shell can hold is generally given by 2n², where n is the shell number (n=1 for K, n=2 for L, etc.).
– For atomic number 35 (Bromine), we fill the shells sequentially:
– K shell (n=1): 2 electrons (capacity 2)
– L shell (n=2): 8 electrons (capacity 8)
– M shell (n=3): 18 electrons (capacity 18)
– N shell (n=4): The remaining electrons: 35 – (2 + 8 + 18) = 35 – 28 = 7 electrons.
– The outermost shell is the valence shell, which is the N shell in this case.
– The number of electrons in the valence shell is 7.
While the simple Bohr model doesn’t fully explain the filling order of electrons in multi-electron atoms due to subshells, the concept of valence electrons in the outermost shell is fundamental. Elements in the same group of the periodic table generally have the same number of valence electrons (e.g., Halogens in Group 17 all have 7 valence electrons), which determines their chemical properties.

319. Which one of the following is the correct order of the valencies of el

Which one of the following is the correct order of the valencies of elements Ne, Si, N and Mg ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Ne < Mg < N < Si" option2="Si < N < Mg < Ne" option3="Ne < N < Si < Mg" option4="Mg < Ne < N < Si" correct="option1"]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The correct order of the valencies of elements Ne, Si, N and Mg is Ne < Mg < N < Si.
Valency is the combining capacity of an element, typically the number of electrons an atom needs to gain, lose, or share to form a chemical bond and achieve a stable electron configuration.
Neon (Ne) is a noble gas with a full outer electron shell, so its valency is generally 0. Magnesium (Mg) is in Group 2 and typically loses 2 electrons, so its valency is 2. Nitrogen (N) is in Group 15 and typically gains 3 electrons or forms 3 covalent bonds, so its valency is 3. Silicon (Si) is in Group 14 and typically forms 4 covalent bonds, so its valency is 4. Ordering these valencies (0, 2, 3, 4) gives Ne < Mg < N < Si.

320. The mass number of argon is 40. Which one of the following statements

The mass number of argon is 40. Which one of the following statements is correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The number of protons in argon is 22.” option2=”The number of neutrons in argon is 18.” option3=”The number of electrons in argon is 18.” option4=”The sum of numbers of protons and electrons in argon is 40.” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The number of electrons in a neutral atom of argon is 18.
The mass number of an element is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. The atomic number, which defines the element, is equal to the number of protons. In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. Argon (Ar) has an atomic number of 18.
Given mass number = 40. Atomic number of Argon = 18. Number of protons = 18. For a neutral atom, number of electrons = number of protons = 18. Number of neutrons = Mass number – Number of protons = 40 – 18 = 22.

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