Chemistry · Science General

States of Matter

2,682 Questions

States of matter questions explore physical changes, evaporation, phase transitions, and the properties of liquids and gases. Topics cover density, cryosurgery, heavy water, and electrolytes. This foundational chemistry topic frequently appears in general science sections of SSC and railway exams.

Phase change mechanismsEvaporation and temperature effectsProperties of liquidsPhysical versus chemical changesElectrolytes and heavy water

States of Matter Questions

Multiple choice

Pick the odd one out in regard to the colligative properties of water.

  1. Boiling point

  2. Vapour pressure

  3. Osmosis

  4. Surface tension
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Colligative properties are properties of solutions that depend upon the ratio of the number of solute particles to the number of solvent molecules in a solution, and not on the type of chemical species present. The concentration of solutes will affect the boiling point, vapour pressure and osmotic properties, but surface tension is a physical property of water.

Multiple choice

Which of the following properties of water contributes the most appropriately to its capillary action?

  1. Adhesion and hydrogen bonding

  2. Hydrogen bonding and surface tension

  3. Cohesion and surface tension

  4. Liquidity and viscosity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Adhesion is due to hydrogen bonding property and cohesion is due to surface tension of water. Capillary action comprises of first adhesion and then cohesion. Therefore, chemically correct answer is hydrogen bonding and surface tension. 

Multiple choice

Match the properties of water that are responsible for the given functions or uses of water.

 
FUNCTIONS PROPERTIES
A. Insulator in capacitors I. Diffusion and osmosis
B. Water of crystallisation II. High heat capacity
C. Breathing through gills III. High dielectric constant
D. Fire extinguisher IV. Instant hydrogen bonding
E. Coolant in nuclear reactors V. High rate of evaporation

  1. A - III, B - IV, C - I, D - II, E - V

  2. A - II, B - IV, C - V, D - III, E - I

  3. A - III, B - IV, C - I, D - V, E - II

  4. A - V, B - III, C - I, D - II, E - IV
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Water acts as an insulator of charge in capacitors due to its high dielectric constant of 80. Crystallisation requires water to hydrogen bond, in order to stabilise the crystal. Breathing in all the organisms is a property of diffusion and osmosis (in gills). Nuclear reactors use variants of water (like heavy water, boiling water) as a coolant due to its high heat capacity, i.e. water carries the heat efficiently. Fire is extinguished by water as it readily evaporates and vapours cool down the nearby objects and cut down the supply of oxygen.

Multiple choice

Which of the following objects will be the most difficult for a person to hold in his hands if he applies some mustard oil on his hands?

  1. An earthen cup

  2. A glass tumbler

  3. A thermocol tumbler

  4. A wooden cup

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. A glass tumbler will be the most difficult for the person to hold because the oil on the outer surface of the glass tumbler reduces the friction between the glass tumbler and his hands.

Multiple choice

In which of the following ways can the physical state of matter be changed?

a. It can be changed by heating or cooling the matter. b. It can be changed by increasing or decreasing the pressure being applied on it. c. It can be changed by increasing or decreasing the quantity of matter.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The physical state of matter can be changed by heating or cooling the matter and by increasing or decreasing the pressure being applied on it.

Multiple choice

Freezing mixture is made up of

  1. ice and sugar

  2. water and sugar

  3. water and salt

  4. ice and common salt
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Freezing mixture is made up of ice and common salt.

Multiple choice

Which of the following conditions are required to change a gaseous state of matter into a liquid state?

  1. High temperature<font size="2"> and</font> low pressure

  2. High pressure<font size="2"> </font><font size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2"><font size="2">and</font></font></font> high temperature

  3. Low temperature<font size="2"> </font><font size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2"><font size="2">and</font></font></font> low pressure

  4. Low temperature<font size="2"> </font><font size="2"><font face="Arial" size="2"><font size="2">and</font></font></font> high pressure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The pressure and temperature conditions determine the state of a substance. A gaseous state of matter can be converted into a liquid state by lowering the temperature and increasing the pressure. Lower temperatue decreases the kinetic energies of the molecules and high pressure brings the particles closer, and the state of the substance changes from gaseous to liquid.

Multiple choice

Mahima was boiling water for making tea when she noticed tiny bubbles well before the water began to boil. She wondered what made the bubbles. Which of the following options will explain to Mahima what were these bubbles?

  1. The heat from the gas causes bubbles in the water at heating.

  2. The carbon dioxide due to burning of the gas causes bubbles in the water when heating.

  3. The dissolved oxygen in the water causes bubbles in the water when heating.

  4. The chemicals in the water escaping due to the heat causes bubbles in the water when heating.

  5. The dissolved carbon dioxide in the water causes bubbles in the water at heating.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The bubbles come from the air dissolved in water.

Multiple choice

Which of the following objects is an opaque object?

  1. Water in a glass

  2. Metal sheet

  3. Butter paper

  4. Air
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Transparent objects
Allow light to pass through and can clearly see through them
Water, air, glass, cellophane, plastic sheet
Translucent objects
Allow light to pass through partially and cannot see clearly through them
Frosted glass, plastic ruler, butter paper
Opaque objects
Do not allow light to pass through and cannot see through them
Table, chair, book, iron (or any metal)

So, a metal sheet is opaque in nature.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the process of changing water vapour into water?

  1. Transpiration

  2. Perspiration

  3. Evaporation

  4. Precipitation

  5. Circulation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All the droplets collected by evaporation form bigger drops of water. Some of them may become too heavy to remain in the sky and fall down as rain. Thereby, changing from water vapour into water. This process is known as precipitation.

Multiple choice

Find the odd one out.

  1. Impurities

  2. Clear solution

  3. Filtrate

  4. Pure substances
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Clear solution, filtrate and pure substances are all pure, but impurities are the substances which make things impure. 

Multiple choice

During evaporation, water changes from

  1. liquid to solid

  2. gas to liquid

  3. liquid to gas

  4. solid to liquid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Evaporation refers to the conversion of a liquid to its vapour state. During evaporation, water changes from liquid to gas.

Multiple choice

Ritu was boiling eggs and to facilitate the same, she covered the saucepan with a steel plate. Upon removing the plate, she found out that there were water droplets on the inner side of the plate. What phenomenon led to the formation of these droplets?

  1. Condensation

  2. Evaporation

  3. Filtration

  4. Decantation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The process of conversion of water vapour into its liquid form is called condensation. When the boiling water evaporated, it encountered the plate that was being used as a cover. The water vapour turned back into water upon encountering the cooler plate. This is called condensation.