CONTEST 55

ROUND 1

PREAMBLE: State whether the following structures in a moss plant are diploid or haploid.
1. Operculum of the sporophyte.
ANSWER: Diploid
2. Protonema
ANSWER: Haploid
3. Archegonia
ANSWER: Haploid
PREAMBLE: The mass of a hydrogen molecule is approximately 3 ×10−27 kg and the Boltzmann
constant is approximately 1.4 × 10−23 J / K . Find the rms speed of hydrogen molecules at the given
temperature.
4. −133 ℃.
ANSWER: 1400 m / s
v rms= √ 3 kT / m=√ 3 × 1.4 ×10 J / K ×140 K ÷ ( 3 ×10 kg )=1400 m / s
−23 −27

5. −238 ℃
ANSWER: 700 m / s

v rms= √ 3 kT / m=√ 3 × 1.4 ×10 J / K ×35 K ÷ ( 3 ×10 kg )=700 m / s

−23 −27

6. 287 ℃
ANSWER: 2800 m / s

v rms= √ 3 kT / m=√ 3 × 1.4 ×10 J / K ×560 K ÷ ( 3 ×10 kg )=2800 m / s

−23 −27

PREAMBLE: Find three consecutive natural numbers such that:

7. the product of the first and third numbers exceeds the product of 8 and the second number by 32.
ANSWER: 10, 11, 12
[ n(n + 2) = 8(n + 1) + 32, n2 – 6n - 40 = 0, (n – 10)(n + 4) = 0, n = 10]
8. the product of the first and third numbers is 10 less than ten times the second number.
ANSWER: 8, 9, 10 [n(n + 2) = 10(n + 1) – 10, n2 – 8n = 0, n = 8]
9. the product of the first and second numbers exceeds four times the third number by 2.
ANSWER: 5, 6, 7

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 [n(n + 1) = 4(n + 2) + 2, n2 – 3n – 10 = 0, (n – 5)(n + 2) = 0, n = 5]
10. Name the pH indicator you can use for the titration of dilute ammonia with dilute HCl.
ANSWER: Methyl Orange (or methyl red)
11. Name two pH indicators you can use for the titration of dilute HCl with dilute NaOH.
ANSWER: Methyl orange (or methyl red) and Phenolphthalein
12. Name the pH indicator you can use for the titration of acidified iron (II) solution with KMnO 4
solution.
ANSWER: No external indicator needed. The KMnO4 is a self-indicator.
13. Give one difference each between intracellular and extracellular digestion.
ANSWERS:
a) Intracellular digestion takes place inside a food vacuole of the cell, while extracellular
digestion takes in the alimentary canal.
b) In intracellular digestion, digested food diffuses into the cytoplasm, whereas in
extracellular digestion, digested food is absorbed into the cell.
c) Intracellular digestion is less efficient than extracellular digestion.
d) In intracellular digestion, there is no regional differentiation, whereas in extracellular
digestion the digestive system is made up of different regions.
e) Intracellular digestion is found in unicellular organisms, whereas extracellular digestion
is found in multicellular organisms.
14. Determine the potential energy of a 2 μC charge located midway between two large parallel plates 10 cm
apart when the field strength between the plates is 500 V / m and one of the plates is grounded.
ANSWER: 50 μ J
U =qV =2 μ C ×500 V / m× 0.1m ÷ 2=50 μ J
15. Determine the potential energy of a 2 μC charge located midway between two large parallel plates 10 cm
apart maintained at a potential difference of 500 V with one of the plates grounded.
ANSWER: 500 μ J
U =qV =2 μ C ×500 V ÷ 2=500 μ J
16. Determine the potential energy of a 2 μC charge located midway between two large parallel plates 10 cm
apart when the field strength between the plates is 50 V / m and one of the plates is grounded.
ANSWER: 5 μ J
U =qV =2 μ C ×50 V / m× 0.01m ÷ 2=5 μ J
PREAMBLE: Identify the geometric concept as SEGMENT, RIGHT ANGLE, CENTRAL ANGLE,
DIAMETER, ARC

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17. The longest chord of a circle.
ANSWER: Diameter
18. An angle formed by two radii of a circle.
ANSWER: Central Angle
19. A continuous part of a circle.
ANSWER: ARC
20. Explain why primary and secondary alkanols can be oxidized but a tertiary alkanol cannot be.
ANSWER: In the primary and secondary alkanols there is a hydrogen atom on the carbon
atom carrying the hydroxyl group. Two hydrogens one from the oxygen and the other
from carbon are eliminated during oxidation. There is no hydrogen on the carbon in the
case of tertiary alkanol.
21. Tollens’ test can be used to distinguish between an alkanal and an alkanone. Why is this possible?
ANSWER: Tollens’ Reagent is a mild oxidizing agent which can oxidize the alkanal but
cannot oxidize the alkanone.
22. What is observed when a Tollens’ Test is positive and what is the chemistry behind this?
ANSWER: Tollens’ Reagent contains silver (I) complex. The silver is reduced to silver metal
which forms a thin layer of the metal in the glass resulting in a silver mirror.
23. State one importance each of binomial nomenclature.
ANSWERS:
a) Binomial names are universally accepted. They avoid confusion as each organism has only
one binomial name.
b) These names are scientific, precise and avoid repetition.
c) These names are simple and meaningful.
d) Binomial nomenclature indicates relationships among organisms
PREAMBLE: A gun with a muzzle velocity of 300 m / s fires a 0.1 kg pellet horizontally 20 m above
ground. Acceleration due to gravity is approximately 10 m / s2.
24. Find the horizontal range of the pellet.
ANSWER: 600 m
Fall time t =√ 2 h / g=√ 2 ×20 m ÷ 10 m / s 2=2 s so horizontal distance x=vt=300 m / s ×2 s=600 m
25. The same gun fires a pellet that attains a height of 20 m above the barrel of the gun. Find the sine of the angle
of the barrel relative to the horizontal when the pellet is fired.
ANSWER: 1 / 15=0.07

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 Initial vertical component of velocity u v =√ 2 gh=20 m / s=u sin θ so

sin θ=uv / u=20 m / s ÷300 m / s=1 / 15=0.0 6̇.

26. Calculate the kinetic energy of the pellet when the barrel is aimed 45 ° above the horizontal.
ANSWER: 4.5 kJ
1 2 2
KE= m v =0.5× 0.1 kg × ( 300 m / s ) =4500 J
2
PREAMBLE: Find the coordinates of the center C and radius R of a circle if the end points of a
diameter are:
27. A(- 3, 1) and B(3, - 7)

ANSWER: C(0, -3), R = 5 [D = R = 10/2 = 5]

28. A(-2, 5) and B(3, -7)

ANSWER: C(1/2, -1), R = 13/2 [

29. A(-5, 5) and B(-7, 5)
ANSWER: C(-6, 5), R = 1 [ D = 2, R = 2/2 = 1]
30. In the battery, normally referred to as car battery, how many storage cells are present?
ANSWER: 6
31. How are the cells connected in the battery, in series or in parallel?
ANSWER: In series
32. Describe the electrodes in the lead storage cell.
ANSWER: Anode (Lead alloy grids packed with) Spongy lead
Cathode (Lead alloy grids packed with) Lead (IV) oxide
33. What name is given to the state of a plant cell at which the protoplast is just about to withdraw from
the cell wall?
ANSWER: Incipient plasmolysis
34. What is the value of the pressure potential of a flaccid plant cell?
ANSWER: Zero (0) (the protoplast is not exerting in pressure on the wall)
35. What name is given to the complete collapse of the cell wall in plants as a result of loss of water
through osmosis?
ANSWER: Cytorrhysis
36. What property of a light wave results in its bending when it crosses the boundary between two different
media?
ANSWER: Difference in speed of light in different media

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37. Light passes from a medium into a more optically dense medium. Rank the sizes of the angle of incidence
and the angle of refraction.
ANSWER: Angle of incidence is greater than angle of refraction
38. What property of a medium determines the ratio of speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the
medium?
Ans: Refractive index
PREAMBLE: Find the common ratio in the exponential sequence
39. 4, 2, 1, ½ . . .
ANSWER: ½
40. 1, 5, 25, 125, . . .
ANSWER: 5
41. 1, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, . . .
ANSWER: 10-1 or 1/10
42. In the commercial preparation of concentrated HNO3, ammonia gas is oxidized by oxygen to give NO
and steam. 4NH3(g) + 5O2 → 4NO(g) + 6H2O(g
Calculate the enthalpy change for the reaction given the following enthalpies of formation in
kJmol-1. NH3(g) -46; NO(g) +90.3; H2O(g) -241.
ANSWER: ∆Hr = [4*90.3 + 6*-241] - [4*-46] = -900.8
kJ OR -9.0*102 kJ
43. Consider the following reaction in connection with the commercial production of concentrated HNO 3.
3NO2 (g) + H2O(l) → 2HNO3 (aq) + NO (g). Given that the enthalpy change
for the reaction is -137 kJ, and enthalpies of formation of gaseous NO2, gaseous NO and liquid water
are 33.0, 90.0 and -285 kJmol-1, calculate the enthalpy of formation of concentrated HNO3.
ANSWER: 3NO2 (g) + H2O(l) → 2HNO3 (aq) + NO(g). ∆H = -137
-137 = [2 ∆H(HNO3) + 90] - [3*33 - 285]
2 ∆H (HNO3) = -137 – 90 + 99 – 285 = -413
∆H (HNO3) (aq) = -206.5 kJmol-1 or 2.07*102 kJmol-1
44. Consider the following enthalpies of formation in kJmol-1, CH4 (g) -75; CCl4 (l) -139; HCl(g) -92.
Calculate the enthalpy change when methane is converted into liquid CCl 4.
ANSWER: CH4 (g) + 2Cl2 (g) → CCl4 + 4HCl.
∆Hr = [-139 + 4*-92] - [-75] = -432 or -4.32*102kJmol-1.

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 PROBLEM OF THE DAY

Without the use of internal metabolic mechanisms, explain how an ectoderm

such as a lizard that lives on a hot desert environment is able to use
behavioural mechanisms to regulate its body temperature on a daily basis.

SOLUTION:

1. The body temperature of the lizard in its real environment can be very different
from its ambient temperature.
2. At night, when temperature drops to near freezing point, the lizard spends the
night in a burrow where the soil temperature is constant.
3. In the morning when the air temperature is still cool, the lizard emerges from
the burrow and achieves rapid rise in temperature by lying on a rock with
maximum exposure to the sun.
4. The dark skin absorbs solar radiation causing the body temperature to rise far
above the surrounding cool temperature.
5. In the afternoon, when the surrounding temperature is too high above that of the
lizard’s body, it stays mostly in the shade, frequently in bushes, where there is a
cooling breeze.
6. As the afternoon progresses, the air starts cooling and the lizard again spends
much of its time in the sun on hot rocks to raise its body temperature.
7. The lizard returns to its burrow just before sunset, and goes through the same
cycle the following day.

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 ROUND 3

TRUE OR FALSE
1. In an organic molecule, resonance is shown when two or more structures can be written for the same
molecule.
ANSWER: False They should be electronic structures
2. The different resonance structures differ only in the positions of nuclei and electrons in the molecule.
ANSWER: False only the positions of electrons can differ
3. Resonance is absent in molecules that do not have pi bonds.
ANSWER: True Delocalization is not possible
4. Mosses require water as a medium for completing their life cycle.
ANSWER: True
5. In mosses, it is the gametophytic phase that produces the haploid gametes.
ANSWER: True
6. In mosses, the gametophyte plant lacks chlorophyll and depends on the photosynthetic sporophyte
ANSWER: False
7. Under a reflection in the origin, (x, y) → (-x, -y).
ANSWER: True
8. Under a reflection in the line x = a, (x, y) → ( x, y – 2a).
ANSWER: False
9. Under a reflection in the y-axis, (x, y) → (-x, -y).
ANSWER: False
10. The electric force on a charged particle moving in an electric field is in the direction of the field.
ANSWER: False
11. The magnetic force on a charged particle moving in a magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction
of the field.
ANSWER: True
12. The magnitude of the electric force on a charged particle moving in an electric field is proportional to
the speed of the particle.
ANSWER: False

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13. In the extraction of gold from its ore, the gold is selectively dissolved in sodium cyanide solution in
the presence of oxygen to give the complex NaAu(CN)2.
ANSWER: True
14. Elemental gold can be recovered from the complex, NaAu(CN)2 by addition of zinc dust.
ANSWER: True
15. In refining gold by electrolysis, the electrolyte used during the process is an aqueous solution of gold
(I) trioxonitrate (V) and trioxonitrate (V) acid.
ANSWER: True
16. When vitamin C is eaten in large quantities the excess is stored in the fatty tissues for later use.
ANSWER: False
17. Vitamin D can be acquired only by eating meat or dairy products.
ANSWER: False
18. Vitamins are required in larger quantities than essential amino acids.
ANSWER: False

19. is a real number.

ANSWER: True

20. is a real number.

ANSWER: False

21. is a real number.

ANSWER: True
22. The impulse of a force is a measure of the change in linear momentum the force produces.
ANSWER: True
23. A force that changes only the direction of the linear momentum of a particle has zero impulse.
ANSWER: False
24. A force that changes only the magnitude of the linear momentum of a particle has zero impulse.
ANSWER: False

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 ROUND 4

RIDDLE

Riddle #1

1. William Shakespeare, in Julius Caesar uses me to describe Cassius' ill-tempered nature.

2. But, I am an organ found in virtually all vertebrates.
3. In humans, I am brownish in colour and located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.
4. I play important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system.
5. I am the organ that is responsible for purifying the blood as well as storing blood cells.
Who am I?
ANSWER: The spleen

Riddle #2

1. I am closely associated with energy.

2. But I am not energy itself.
3. I characterize regions of space in which electric fields exist.
4. My negative gradient equals electric field strength.
5. I am a measure of the work done in moving a unit positive charge from a reference point to a field
point.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Electric potential

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Riddle #3

1. I am a diagram for illustrating a frequency distribution.

2. I am not a histogram.
3. Neither am I a line chart or a bar chart.
4. My name suggests something edible.
5. I am circular in shape with frequencies reduced to angular measures.
6. I am the edible chart.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Pie Chart

Riddle #4

1. I am an inorganic salt.
2. I am soluble in water, ethanol, methanol and propanone.
3. I possess a metal cation and a complex anion.
4. My anion is made up of another metal and oxygen.
5. Apart from being a powerful oxidizing agent, I can be used as a disinfectant at home.
6. My characteristic purple colour is due to this my complex anion.
Who am I?
ANSWER: KMnO4 or Potassium tetraoxopermanganate (VII).

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