Round one

1. Preamble; A nucleoside is described as a nucleotide without a phosphate group. Mention

one example each of a nucleoside.
ANS; ADENOSINE, GUANOSINE, CYTIDINE, THYMIDINE, URIDINE
2. Preamble: Factorise the following expressions
A. 9 a 2−4 ¿
Ans:(5 a−2 b)(a+2 b)

B. p2 q2−6 pqr −9 r 2
Ans: ( pq−3 r)( pq−3 r )

C. x 2+ 4 x +3+mx +3 m

Ans:(x +3) [ x +1+m ]

3. A. A fully saturated hydrocarbon of 10 carbons is converted into a di-alkanone. What will

be the difference in the number of hydrogens in the saturated hydrocarbon and the di-
alkanone.
ANSWER: 4 hydrogens. Each O replaces 2H.
B. Give the main difference between the structure of an alkanal and that of an alkanone
ANSWER: The carbonyl group in an alkanal is terminal but in the case of an alkanone
it is within the molecule.
OR In the alkanal the carbonyl group is bonded to a carbon (R or Ar) and a
Hydrogen whereas in an alkanone, the carbonyl group is bonded to two carbons
(R’s or Ar’s)
C. Explain why the reagent acidified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine cannot be used to
distinguish between an alkanal and an alknone.
ANSWER:The reaction is between the carbonyl group and the reagent and since both
contain the carbonyl group, it cannot be used to distinguish between the two.
4. PREAMBLE: A spherical rod of radius 2m and length 6m undergoes tensile deformation
when a force of 500N is applied. If it stretches by 1/3 the original length, find the following
given π=3.142
A. Tensile strain

Ans. 1/3

B. Young modulus to 2.d.p

Ans. 29.85Nm-2

C. Tensile stress to 2.d.p

Ans. 9.95Nm-2

5. The fallopian tubes of female mammals consists of three main divisions, mention one each
ANS; INFANDIBULUM, AMPULLA, ISTHMUS
6. PREAMBLE; State the nature of the roots of the following quadratic equations
A. x 2−2 x−8=0
Ans: real and distinct roots

B. x 2−10 x+ 25=0
Ans: real and equal roots

C. 2 x 2+3 x +6=0
Ans: no real roots/ complex roots
7. PREAMBLE: A gas of hydrogen molecules at a temperature of 100 K effuses through a
porous plug at a rate R .

A. What is the effusion rate of hydrogen molecules at 400 K through the plug?
ANSWER:2 R
B. What is the effusion rate of hydrogen molecules at 900 K through the plug?
ANSWER:3 R
C. What is the effusion rate of hydrogen molecules at 25 K through the plug?
ANSWER: R / 2
8. Preamble: A particle is projected from the ground level with speed of 40ms-1

At an angle of 600 to the horizontal. Assuming the acceleration due to gravity is 10ms-1, calculate

A. The time of flight

Ans. 6.93s [Tt=(2usin600/g)]

B. The range
Ans. 138.56m [R=ucos600*Tt]

C. Time taken to reach maximum height

Ans. Tmax=3.464s [Tmax=usin600/g]

9. Define the following genetic terms

A. Quantitative trait;
ANS; A measurable phenotype that depends on the cumulative actions of many genes
and the environment.
B. Linkage disequilibrium
ANS; the nonrandom association of alleles at different loci OR
 A population-based parameter that describes the degree to which an allele of one
genetic variant is inherited or correlated with an allele of a nearby genetic variant
within a given population
C. Halotype
ANS; A set of closely linked genetic markers or DNA variations on a chromosome
that tend to be inherited together.
10. PREAMBLE; Find the domain of the following functions
x−4
A. f ( x )= 2
x −9
Ans:{ x : x ∈ R , except x=± 3 }

p+ 4
B. f ( p )= 2
p +2
Ans: { p : p ∈ R }

3
C. g(x ) −√ x +3
1−2 x

{
ANS; x : x ∈ R , except x =
1
2 }
11. PREAMBLE: The resistivity of nichrome, a nickel-chromium alloy used in making heating
elements, is 1 ×10−6 Ω m.

A. What length of nichrome wire of cross sectional area 2.5 ×10−7 m2 is required for an 800 W
element for operation at 200 V ?
ANSWER:12.5 m
L=V 2 A / ρP=( 200 V ) × 2.5 ×10−7 m2 ÷ ( 1 ×10−6 Ωm ×800 W )=12.5 m
2

B. A kitchen needs a 1 kW oven rated for operation at 240 V. What length of nichrome wire of cross
sectional area 2.5 ×10−7 m2 is needed for the oven’s heater element?
ANSWER: 14.4 m
L=V 2 A / ρP=( 240 V ) × 2.5 ×10−7 m2 ÷ ( 1 ×10−6 Ωm ×1000 W ) =14.4 m
2

C. What length of nichrome wire of cross sectional area 2.5 ×10−7 m2 is needed for a1.5 kW element
rated for operation at 240 V?
ANSWER: 9.6 m
L=V 2 A / ρP=( 240 V ) × 2.5 ×10−7 m2 ÷ ( 1 ×10−6 Ωm ×1500 W ) =9.6 m
2

12. A. Explain why the presence of sodium chloride would not render water hard but
magnesium chloride would.
 ANSWER: Sodium salt of the fatty acid anions in the soap is soluble in water,
magnesium salt is not soluble so the soap forms a precipitate or scum with the
magnesium ions.
B. Which of the ions SO4-, CO32-, Fe2+, Fe3+ and K+, when added to water could turn the
water into hard water and why?
ANSWER: Fe2+ and Fe3+. They are the ions that are likely to precipitate the alkanoate
ions of soap and form scum.
C. Which substance when added to water can remove both temporary hardness and
permanent hardness? Explain your answer.
ANSWER: Na2CO3
Temporary: Ca(HCO3)2 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + 2NaHCO3
Permanent: Ca2+ + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + 2Na+
In both cases calcium ions are eliminated as insoluble solid CaCO3

ROUND 2

1
1. Estimate lim
x→ ∞ x
Ans: 0
5 −2
2. Expand the expression: log 12 x y
Ans: log 12 +5logx -2logy
2 2
3. Factorise the expression: a −b −10 b−25
Ans:(a+ b+5)(a−b−5)

4. Polar molecules cannot pass through the non-polar bi-lipid layer of the plasma membrane
and therefore require carrier proteins for their transport. What name is given to this type of
transport?
ANS; Facilitated diffusion
5. What is the function of the hormone Atrial Natriuretic Factor?
ANS; It causes the dilation of blood vessels which leads to the decrease in blood
pressure.
6. How many haem units has a haemoglobin molecule?
ANS; 4 haem units.
7. Which of the following particles are emitted in β +¿¿ decay: proton, neutron, electron,
positron, electron neutrino, electron antineutrino?
 Ans: positron and electron neutrino
8. A curve in a race track banked at 45o to the horizontal has a radius of 40m. What is the
largest speed at which a car can negotiate the curve without skidding if no friction exists
between the road and the tyres of the car.
Ans: 20ms-1

9. A radiofrequency transformer is wound with 20 primary turns and 8 secondary turns.

What is the amplitude of the input current needed for output current amplitude of 10 μA
assuming the transformer is ideal?

Ans: 4 μA

I ¿=N s I out / N p=8 ×10 μA / 20=4 μA

10. Choose the correct statement(s) among the following:

a) [FeCl4]− has tetrahedral geometry.
b) [Co(NH3)2Cl2]+has 2 geometrical isomers.
c) [FeCl4]− has higher spin-only magnetic moment than [Co(en)(NH3)2Cl2]+.
d) The cobalt ion in [Co(NH3)2Cl2]+ has s𝑝3𝑑2 hybridization.

ANS; a and c

11. A metal M forms a hydroxide, M(OH)2 whose solubility product is 1.08*10-10. Calculate

the concentration of M2+ in ppm of a saturated solution of the hydroxide. M

= 201

Ans: Solubility of M(OH)2 = ∛ ¿*10-12] = 3.00*10-4 moldm-3

Solubility of M2+ in gdm-3 = 201*3.00*10-4 = 603*10-4

Solubility of M2+ in mgdm-3 = 60.3

Hence concentration of M2+ in ppm = 60.3

12. An experiment was performed to determine the order of a chemical reaction which could

be a first order or second order reaction. Concentrations of the only reactant A were

determined at various time intervals. Explain how the experimenter determined what order

it was.

Ans: By graphical method.

For 1st order a plot of log10[A] vs t would give a straight line.

 For 2nd order a plot of 1/[A] vs t would give a straight line.

ROUND 3
1. Both alanine and isoleucine are essential amino acids
ANS; FALSE
2. Both Arginine and glycine are essential amino acids
ANS; FALSE
3. Both methionine and phenylalanine are essential amino acids
ANS; TRUE
4. If a body radiates 10 W of thermal energy at 100 ℃, then it radiates 20 W at 200 ℃ .
Ans: False
5. If a body radiates 10 W of thermal energy at 100 ℃, then it radiates 160 W at 200 ℃.
Ans: False
6. If a body radiates 10 W of thermal energy at 100 K , then it radiates 160 W at 200 K .
Ans: True
7. A line contains at most two points. FALSE
8. If two lines intersect, then their intersection is exactly one point. TRUE
9. If two planes intersect, then their intersection is a line. TRUE
10. Si(OH)4 dissolves in water to give a neutral solution.

Ans: F. It gives an acidic solution

11. Al(OH)3 is insoluble in water but soluble in NaOH solution.

Ans: T. Al(OH)3 is amphoteric

12. Be(OH)2 is partly ionic, partly covalent. Ans: T

13. There are 8 cranial bones of the skull

ANS; TRUE

14. The skull of humans is made up of 23 bones

ANS; FALSE [22]
15. There are 14 facial bones of the skull
ANS; TRUE
16. A tetrahedron has four triangular faces. FALSE
17. A hexahedron (cube) has six square faces. TRUE
18. An icosahedron has 20 equilateral triangular faces. TRUE
19. If the uncertainty in the x coordinate of a particle is a , then the uncertainty in the x
component of the linear momentum of the particle is less than Planck’s constant divided
by 4 πa .
 Ans: False

20. If the uncertainty in the x coordinate of a particle is a , then the uncertainty in the y
component of the linear momentum of the particle is greater than Planck’s constant
divided by 4 πa .

ANS: False

21. If the uncertainty in the y coordinate of a particle is a , then the uncertainty in the y
component of the linear momentum of the particle is greater than Planck’s constant
divided by 4 πa .

Ans: True

22. There is a difference between the pressure exerted by a gas and a pressure exerted by the

weight of a mass resting on a surface.

Ans: T. Gas exerts its pressure in all directions, but the mass exerts its pressure on just the

surface below it.

23. A plot of pressure versus the reciprocal of the temperature at constant volume will give a

straight line.

Ans: F. Normally P α T at constant V and n.

24. Avogadro’s law suggests that equal volumes of hydrogen gas and helium gas at the same

temperature and pressure contain the same number of atoms.

Ans: F. The law suggests that equal volumes contain the same number of moles of the

stable species, molecules in the case of hydrogen and atoms in the case of helium.

ROUND FOUR
#1
1. I am of Greek origin
2. Which means ‘open marriage’
3. I am a type of autogamy
4. My sepals are most commonly partly fused with my five petals alternating in position
with the sepals.
5. My flowers open at maturation before fertilization for easy pollination.
6. This helps to facilitate self-pollination in plants like rose, cotton eggplants etc.
 Who am I?
Ans: Chasmogamy.

#2

1. I am a line segment associated with a regular polygon

2. In a circle I am the radius
3. In a regular polygon, I am the radius of the inscribed circle
4. I am the shortest distance from the center of a regular polygon to a
5. Part of me is POT and the other part of me is a THEM
Who am I?

ANS; Apothem

#3

1. Although I am a metallic element, I have a low melting point of 28oC

2. It is not surprising that I exist as a liquid at room temperature
3. I form the strongest base known
4. I was discovered spectroscopically by Bunsen and Kirchoff
5. My name in latin literally means sky-blue
6. My atomic number is 55 so my electronic configuration will reveal that I belong to
group 1 of the periodic table.
Who am I ?
Ans: Cesium
#4

1. I am useful in all Science laboratories and not just in the Chemistry laboratory.

2. But I am not that conspicuous especially if I am the micro size.

3. I may be kept in a drawer or cupboard in the laboratory.

4. An expensive form of me is made with nickel.

5. I could be made of glass or plastic material and have a flat or oval-shaped or tapered end.

6. I could have a wooden handle to make the scooping of solid material from bottles easier.

Who am I?

Ans: Spatula