Chemistry · Science General

States of Matter

2,382 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

A substance which changes readily into vapour without heating is called _____.

  1. Efflorescent

  2. Synthetic

  3. Volatile

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

A substance which changes readily into vapour without heating is called volatile (option C). Volatile substances have high vapor pressure at room temperature and evaporate easily. Efflorescent substances lose water of crystallization, effervescent substances release gas bubbles, and synthetic refers to artificially made materials.

Multiple choice

Which of the following substances exhibits the property of sublimation?

  1. Ice

  2. Wax

  3. Camphor

  4. Ethyl alcohol
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Camphor (option C) exhibits the property of sublimation - it transitions directly from solid to vapour without passing through the liquid phase. Ice melts to water before evaporating, wax melts to liquid, and ethyl alcohol evaporates from liquid. Sublimation is characteristic of certain solids like camphor, dry ice (solid CO2), and naphthalene.

Multiple choice

Water is neither acidic nor alkaline because ____.

  1. it cannot accept or donate protons

  2. it boils at high temperature

  3. it can dissociate into equal number of hydrogen ions

  4. it cannot donate or accept electrons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Pure water undergoes self-ionization: H2O ⇌ H+ + OH-. At 25°C, the concentrations of H+ and OH- are equal (10^-7 M each), resulting in neutral pH. This balanced dissociation makes water neither acidic nor alkaline.

Multiple choice

After taking a few ice cubes in a glass, Tanya kept it on a table. Within a few moments, small water drops were formed on the cold outer surface of the glass. This process is called ____________.

  1. evaporation

  2. transpiration

  3. condensation

  4. perspiration

  5. precipitation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 This is the correct option. Condensation is the change in the state of water vapor to liquid water when in contact with any surface. Condensation is crucial to the water cycle because it is responsible for the formation of clouds.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a property of water?

  1. Malleability and ductility

  2. Tasteless and odourless

  3. It is transparent

  4. Water is a good solvent

  5. Salt water is a good conductor of electricity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is a property of metals like gold, in which it can be beaten into sheets and drawn into wire. Water has no such property.

Multiple choice

Among the many uses of water, in India, it is used as a coolant in cars. What is the reason for this?

  1. Coolants are scarcely available

  2. Water has a high specific heat

  3. Low freezing point

  4. Due to the presence of salts in coolants

  5. High boiling point
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Water is used as coolant in car radiators because it has high specific heat capacity of 4200 Joules. Due to its high specific heat capacity, it can absorb a large amount of heat energy from the engine of the car, but its temperature does not rise too high.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the purest form of water?

  1. Rain water

  2. River water

  3. Spring water

  4. Sea water

  5. Distilled water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. Distilled water has many of its impurities removed through distillation. Distillation involves boiling the water and then condensing the steam into a clean container.

Multiple choice

The substance found in three forms liquid, solid and gas is

  1. water

  2. air

  3. ice

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

Water is the only common substance that naturally exists in all three states of matter - solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor) at Earth's surface temperatures. Ice is solid water, not a separate substance.

Multiple choice

Which is the lightest of the following?

  1. Water

  2. Dust

  3. Gas

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

Gas has the lowest density among the options listed. Gases have molecules far apart with minimal attraction, resulting in very low mass per unit volume compared to liquids (water) and solids (sand, dust).

Multiple choice

Dehydration is the removal of

  1. water

  2. muscles

  3. glands

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Dehydration is the process of removing water from substances. In biological contexts, it means harmful water loss from the body. In food preservation, it means removing moisture to prevent bacterial growth. The suffix '-tion' indicates a removal process.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a heterogeneous medium?

  1. Distilled water

  2. Smoke

  3. Pure alcohol

  4. Diamond

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

Smoke is the correct option, as it is a heterogeneous medium. An optical medium which has different compositions at different points is called a heterogeneous medium.