C1

ROUND 1
1. Express 25ten as a number in base3
ANSWER: 221three
2. Express25ten as a number in base two.
ANSWER: 11001two
3. Express 52ten as a number in base 5
ANSWER: 202five
4. Which of the following is a fundamental quantity: mass, weight, time, length, frequency?

ANSWER: Length, time and mass

5. Which of the following is a derived SI unit: kilogram, newton, metre, joule?

ANSWER:Newton and joule

6. Which of the following units is accepted for use in the SI system: steradian, kilogram-force, pound,
radian?

ANSWER:Steradian and radian

7. Which element is most abundant in the universe?

ANSWER:Hydrogen ≈ ¾ of the mass of Universe and 90% of all atoms.
8. Which element is most abundant in the earth’s crust?
ANSWER:Oxygen approx. 49% by mass.
9. Which metal is most abundant in the earth’s crust?
ANSWER: Aluminum approx. 8.1% by mass.
10. What name is given the mass of fungal filaments?
ANSWER: Mycelium
11. Name the slender filaments that make up the body of fungus.

ANSWER: Hyphae

12. A mushroom is a complex structure of dikaryotic hyphae called

ANSWER:Basidiocarp

Preamble: Complete as appropriate

13. Two sets having the same number of elements are said to be . . .
ANSWER: Equivalent

14. A set containing all elements under discussion is called a . . .

ANSWER: Universal set
 15. Two sets are said to be equal if they have . . .
ANSWER: the same elements or same members

16. Arrange the following substances in increasing order of strength of inter-particle forces at room
temperature and pressure: neon, sulphur, mercury.

ANSWER:Neon, mercury, sulphur

17. Under what condition will a long circular cylinder placed on a horizontal surface be in neutral
equilibrium?

ANSWER: When it lies on its curved surface

18. Two balls are released at the top of a smooth inclined plane at the same time. The mass of one
ball is three times the mass of other ball. Which of the balls arrives at the bottom of the inclined
plane first?

ANSWER: They arrive at the same time

19. Name the major inter-unit forces in neon gas.

ANSWER: Induced dipole – induced dipole
20. Name the major inter-unit forces in solid KOH.
ANSWER: Electrostatic
21. Name the major inter-unit forces in liquid 2-butanone.
ANSWER: Dipole – dipole.

22. What name is given to the non-reproductive cells of organisms?

ANSWER: Somatic cells

23. Name the stage in mitosis where sister chromatids move towards opposite poles of dividing cells.

ANSWER: Anaphase

24. How many copies of each chromosome are found in a diploid somatic cell that has not undergone
DNA Replication?

ANSWER: Two

Factorise the expression completely

25. 5xy3 + 15x2y
ANSWER: 5xy(y2 + 3x)
 26. 2x(x + y) - 4xy
ANSWER: 2x(x – y)

27. 48x2 – 147y2

ANSWER: 3(16x2 – 49y2) = 3(4x + 7y)(4x – 7y)

28. A bus leaves a station, travels 20 km and returns after 1 h. What is the displacement of the bus?

ANSWER: 0 km

29. A 10 kg ball is projected upward with speed . What is the kinetic energy of the ball at the
highest point of its trajectory?

ANSWER: 0 J
At the highest point speed is zero.

30. What is the average velocity of a mass oscillating at the end of a vertical spring?

ANSWER:0

31. What is the hybridization of carbon in methanol?

ANSWER:sp2
32. How does the carbon – carbon bond length in ethane differ from that in ethane?
ANSWER: C – C bond length longer in ethane than in ethane.
33. Give one method by which bond lengths are measured.
ANSWER: X-ray diffraction.
34. The ability of one gene to modify the phenotypic expression of another is called.

ANSWER: Epistasis

35. In a cross between two heterozygous individuals, what percentage of the progeny receive recessive
trait.

ANSWER: 25%

36. What general name is given to chemicals that are capable of damaging the DNA?

ANSWER: Mutagens

Simplify

37. (-3x3 +2x2 + 7x+ 5) – (6x3 -5x – 7)

ANSWER: -9x3 + 2x2 + 12x + 12
 38. (-3x4 + 2x2 + 7x – 6) + (8x3 – 3x2 – 8x + 7)
ANSWER: -3x4 + 8x3 – x2 – x+ 1

39. (4x6 – 2x + 7) – (- 3x6 – 2x + 7)

ANSWER: 7x6

40. What is the angular frequency of a simple pendulum of length in a region where the
acceleration due to gravity is ?

ANSWER:

41. What will be the period of a 49 m long simple pendulum on a planet where the acceleration due to
gravity is ?

ANSWER:

42. Martian gravity is 0.4 times terrestrial gravity. What is the length of a Martian simple pendulum with
the same period as a terrestrial pendulum?

ANSWER:0.4 times the length of the terrestrial pendulum

so if , then

43. A pesticide solution contains 0.4g of the active substance in 8 dm3. What is the concentration in ppm
(parts per million)?
ANSWER: 1mg in 1 dm3 of solution ≡ 1ppm
0.4g ≡ 400 mg. This is in 8 dm3. Hence mg in 1 dm3 is 50
Hence conc is 50ppm
44. Explain how you would prepare a solution of 6 ppm concentration from a stock solution of 50 ppm.
ANSWER: Dilution factor is 6 in 50 or 1 in 8.33
Hence measure 6cm3 and dilute to 50cm3 or any such proportions eg 12 cm3 to 100 cm3.
(If 1 cm3 diluted to 8.33 cm3 award only 1 mark)
45. Carbon IV oxide can be obtained from the burning of carbon. What mass of CO2 can be obtained
from 30 g of carbon? [C = 12; O = 16]
ANSWER: C + O2 = CO2
12g → 44g
Therefore 30g → 30/12 x 44
= 110g of CO2
46. Name the principal nutrient-conducting tissue in vascular plants.

ANSWER: Phloem

47. What name is given the large pores that are found in some areas of the sieve tube members?

ANSWER:Sieve Plate

48. Name the specialized parenchyma cells that occur regularly in association with sieve tube members.

ANSWER:Companion Cell

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

In a family, there are three children. Assume the birth of a boy and that of a girl are equally likely.
a) List the set of all possible sequence of births in terms of the gender of the children (Sample Space)
Find the probability of the family having
b) two boys
c) two girls
d) two boys given that the first child is a girl
e) at least two boys given that the middle child is a boy

SOLUTION:
a) S = {BBB, BBG, BGB, GBB, GGB, GBG, BGG,GGG} (2 Marks)
b) Two boys A = {BBG, BGB, GBB} n(A) = 3, P(C) = n(A)/n(S) = 3/8
c) Two girls C ={BGG, GBG, GGB}, n(C) = 3,P(C) = n(C)/n(S) = 3/8
e) Two boys given the first child is a girl
S  {GBB, GBG, GGB, GGG} reduced sample space

A = {GBB}, P(A) = ¼
f) At least two boys given the middle child is a boy
S  {GBB, BBG, GBG, BBB} reduced sample space

C = {GBB, BBG, BBB} P(C) = ¾

ROUND 3 – True or False

49. The quadratic equation x2 – 3x + 5 = 0, has no real roots

ANSWER: True (b2 – 4ac = 9 – 20 = - 11 < 0, hence no real roots)

50. The equation x2 – 4 = 0, has two positive roots

ANSWER: False, (The roots are 2, and -2)

51. The quadratic equation x2–(a + b)x + ab = 0 has roots a and b.

ANSWER: True ( (x – a)(x – b) = 0 )

52. The volume of a pyramid is given by ‘a half base area x height’

ANSWER: False ( ‘a third base area x height’)

53. Volume of a solid of uniform cross-section is ‘ base area x height’

ANSWER: True

54. The total surface area of a circular cylinder is given by where r is the base radius and h

the height.

ANSWER: True

55. The radius of carbon-14 is bigger than that of carbon-12.

ANSWER:False (These are isotopes and therefore have the same size.)
56. Carbon -12 will react with oxygen faster than carbon-13.
ANSWER:False (Reactions involve valence electrons. They are identical in both.)
57. The atomic radius of the elements in the second period of the Periodic Table increases
smoothly from lithium to fluorine.
ANSWER:False (Atomic radius decreases due to increasing nuclear charge.)
58. It will require more than 1 Faraday of charge to discharge Na+ in aqueous solution than in the
molten state.
ANSWER:False (Both carry only one charge.)
59. Electrolysis of concentrated and dilute sodium chloride solutions gives different products.
ANSWER:True (Dilute gives H2 and O2 whereas the conc. gives H2 and Cl2.)
60. In the electrolysis of alumina on commercial scale carbon is used both as the anode and the
cathode.
ANSWER:True (Anode is a mixture of pitch and coke, cathode is graphite.)
61. Lack of vitamin B3 results in symptom known as Pellagra
ANSWER:True
62. Lack of vitamin K results in Rickets
ANSWER: False (vitamin D)
63. Lack of vitamin A results in scurvy
ANSWER: False
64. Growth in thickness of a plant involves the activity of lateral meristems
ANSWER: True
65. Vascular cambium is an apical meristem
ANSWER: False
66. Cork cambium is a lateral meristem,
ANSWER: True
67. A particle moving with constant speed in a circle has constant acceleration.

ANSWER: False (The direction of acceleration is not constant.)

68. When two objects collide and stick together, energy is conserved.

ANSWER:False

69. The change in momentum of an object in a collision with a rigid wall equals the impulse of the force
on the object?

ANSWER: True

70. Linear momentum is only conserved when net force is zero.

ANSWER: True

71. The magnitude of acceleration in uniform circular motion is inversely proportional to speed.

ANSWER: False

72. Tangential acceleration in uniform circular motion is zero.

ANSWER: True
ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am a unicellular free living organism.
2. I belong to the phylum Rhizopoda
3. I am a freshwater organism found in ponds and pools.
4. My body keeps on changing in shape as I move
5. Scientists therefore describe my body as irregular,
6. I moved by using round tipped structures known as pseudopodia.
Who Am I? –
ANSWER:

Riddle #2
1. I am a particle.
2. I have charge.
3. I am heavy, so I am called baryon.
4. My charge is positive.
5. When I am paired with an electron, I form hydrogen.
6. You find me along with neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
Who am I?
ANSWER:

Riddle #3
1. We are the first born of our family
2. We are twins, identical for that matter
3. We are always together and you can only use force to separate us
4. We are very sociable and I can say we or one of us can be found almost every part of the
universe
5. We have identical weight, which is not much
6. In fact among the family we individually have the lightest weight
7. We form an explosive mixture with oxygen gas
Who are we?
ANSWER: H2/hydrogen (gas)
 Riddle #4
1. I am a two digit odd number.
2. I have exactly two prime factors.
3. The sum of my prime factors is 18 and their difference is 4.
4. My digits form an identical pair.
5. Remember the seven times table or the eleven times table and you should get me.
Who am I?

Who am I?

ANSWER: 77

C2ROUND 1

1. Calculate the mass of copper (II) tetraoxosulphate IV pentahydrate needed to prepare 300 cm 3 of
0.2 moldm-3 concentration. [Cu = 64; S = 32, O = 16 H = 1]
ANSWER: GFM of CuSO4.5H2O = 64 + 32 + 64 + 5 x18 = 250
Mass of CuSO4.5H2O in 300 cm3 = 0.2/1 x 300/1000 x 250 g
= 15 g
2. A solution is found to be 0.15 moldm with respect to Cu2+ ions. What mass of anhydrous
-3

copper (II) tetraoxosulphate IV was dissolved in 400cm3solution to obtain this concentration?

[Cu = 64; S = 32, O = 16 H = 1]
ANSWER: GFM of CuSO4, = 64 + 32 + 64 = 160
Mass of CuSO4 in 400 cm3 = 0.15/1 x 400/1000 x 160
= 9.6g
3. 6.25 g of copper (II) tetraoxosulphate IV pentahydrate were dissolved in 200cm3 of deionised
water. What is the concentration of the solution in moldm-3?
[Cu = 64; S = 32, O = 16; H = 1]
ANSWER: GFM of CuSO4.5H2O = 64 + 32 + 64 + 5 x18 = 250
Conc. in moldm-3 = 6.25/250 x 1000/200
= 0.125

4. A cart moving at is brought to rest in when it collides with a wall. Determine the
force on the cart.

ANSWER:500 N
 5. Determine the restoring force in a spring with spring constant when it is stretched by .

ANSWER:0.2 mN

6. Two blocks pressed against each other with a 2 N force begin to slide relative to each other when a 0.5
N lateral force is applied to one of them with the other fixed. Determine the limiting coefficient of static
friction for the blocks.

ANSWER:0.25

7. If x2 – 5x + a has a remainder 1 when divided by (x + 1), find a

ANSWER: a = -5 (1 + 5 + a = 1, hence a = - 5, substitute x = -1)

8. If (x - 2) is a factor of ax2 – 8x + 8, find a.

ANSWER: a = 2 (Substitute x = -2, 4a - 16 + 8 = 0, 4a = 8, and a = 2)

9. Find the remainder when x3 – 2x + 4 is divided by (x + 1)

ANSWER: R =5 ( R = -1 + 2 + 4 = 5, substitute x = -1)

10. Name the symbiotic relationship that exists between fungi and roots of certain plants.

ANSWER:Mycorrhizae

11. Name the symbiotic association that exists between certain fungi and algae.

ANSWER: Lichen

12. Name the type of association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other neither
benefits nor gets harmed.

ANSWER: Commensalism

13. What vitamin is referred to as Calciferol?

ANSWER: Vitamin D

14. Which vitamin is referred to Tocopherol?

ANSWER: Vitamin E

15. Which vitamin is known as Riboflavin?

 ANSWER: B2

16. What is 15 millimole in moles?

ANSWER:15 millimole ≡ 0.015mol
17. A plastic container measures 1m wide, 2m long and 9m high. What is its volume in dm3
ANSWER:Volume = 1 x 2 x 9 = 18 m3
≡18,000 or 1.8 x 104 dm3 [note 1m =10 dm]
18. A fuel tank contains 20m3 of fuel. If the fuel is dispensed 50 litres per car how many cars can be
served?
ANSWER: 20m3 ≡ 20,000dm3 or litres
Hence number of cars that can be served = 20,000/50
= 400 cars
19. The work function of a certain photocathode is 0.8 eV. What is the minimumenergy a photon must have
to cause a photoelectric effect in the photocathode?

ANSWER:0.8 eV

20. A 20 g steel ball projected at from the ground becomes embedded in the ground when it falls.
Determine the impulse on the ball at impact.

ANSWER:0.6 N s
Impulse equals change in momentum. The speed at impact equals the launch speed. Please no
credit for answers without units.

21. A block whose weight is 50 N is stationary on a plane inclined at to the horizontal. What is the
normal reaction of the plane on the block?

ANSWER:25 N
Component of weight perpendicular to the plane is . This is
equal and opposite to the reaction.

22. Evaluate 10log10

ANSWER: 10 (Let 10log10 = x, hence logx = log10, and x = 10)

23. Evaluate log9 27

ANSWER:3/2 (let log927 = x, hence 27 = 9x =32x, hence 3 = 2x and x = 3/2)

24. Evaluate log64 16

ANSWER: 2/3 (let x = log6416, hence 16 = 64x, and 42 = 43x, 3x = 2 and x = 2/3)

25. What name is given to growth zones of unspecialized cells in plants?

 ANSWER: Meristems

26. Which part of the plant serves as the framework for positioning of the leaves?

ANSWER: Stem

27. Name the most common and least specialized cells in plants.

ANSWER: Parenchyma

28. Define Boyle’s Law

ANSWER: The volume of a given mass of gas is inversely proportional to its
pressure provided temperature remains constant ie V α 1/P
29. Define Rate Law of a Reaction
ANSWER: Rate Law defines Rate of Reaction = k[A]n[B]q where n is the order
of the reaction with respect to reactant A and q with respect to reactant B.
30. Define solubility of a substance
ANSWER: The maximum quantity of a substance in moles or grams required to form
a saturated solution of the substance in 1dm3 of the solvent at a given
temperature.
31. Name the device with which a small voltage can be made larger.

ANSWER: Voltage amplifier

32. Name the time required for a quantity of radioactive material to decrease to one half its initial
amount.

ANSWER:Half life

33. Name the type of radiation that can be detected with aGeiger-Müller counter.

ANSWER:Ionizing radiation

34. Solve for n, given 33n + 2 = 243

ANSWER: n = 1 (243 = 35, hence 3n + 2 = 5, and n = 1)

35. Solve for n, if 42n – 1 = 1/64

ANSWER: n = - 1 (1/64 = 4-3, hence 2n – 1 = -3, and n = -1

36. Find n, given that 5-2n + 3 = 125

 ANSWER: n = 0 (125 = 53, hence -2n + 3 = 3, and n= 0

37. What name is given to the change in species through time?

ANSWER:Evolution

38. According to Darwin, what is the common driving force in evolution?

ANSWER: Natural selection

39. What name is given to the collection of hypotheses that have been given repeatedly tested without
rejection?

ANSWER:Theory

40. Name one element in the Main Group Elements whose symbol starts with R.
ANSWER: Rubidium (Rb) Radium (Ra) Radon (Rn)
41. Name one element in the first series of transition elements whose symbol starts with C.
ANSWER: Chromium (Cr) Cobolt (Co) Copper (Cu).
42. Name one element in the Main Group Elements whose symbol starts with T
ANSWER: Thallium (Tl) Tellerium (Te)
43. What does the area under a speed-time graph represent?

ANSWER:Distance

44. In an experiment to verify the relationship between the electrostatic force on a pair of point-like
charges and the distance between them, what will be the slope of the graph obtained if the logarithm
of the force is plotted against the logarithm of distance?

ANSWER:-2

45. The temperature-time graph for a solid that is being heated at a constant rate shows two positive
slope regions and a horizontal region. Name the physical phenomenon occurring in the horizontal
region.

ANSWER: Melting

46. List the set of prime numbers between 20 and 30

ANSWER:{23, 29}

47. List the set of prime numbers between 30 and 40

ANSWER:{31, 37}
48. List the set of prime numbers between 60 and 70

ANSWER:{61, 67}

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

List the apparatus and/or pieces of glassware needed to do a melting point determination of a
crystalline solid whose melting point is likely to be over 100oC.

SOLUTION:
- Thermometer, upper limit greater than 100oC
- Glass capillary tube with one end sealed.
- Heating bath, oil.
- Retort stand with a clamp.
- Stirrer for the oil bath.
- Bunsen burner and a tripod or electrically heated plate
- Watch glass for preparing sample to go into the capillary tube.
- (Micro)-spatula
- Rubber band or any suitable material to tie the capillary tube to the thermometer.
- Filter paper to test the dryness of crystals.

ROUND 3 – True or False

1. Carbon IV oxide molecule contains polar bonds yet the molecule is not polar.
ANSWER: T molecule is linear dipoles cancel out
2. Sulphur IV oxide molecule just like carbon IV oxide molecule is linear.
ANSWER: F It is a bent molecule
3. The shape of ammonia molecule is a kind of pyramid.
ANSWER: T It is a trigonal pyramid
4. Whereas ethanol can be oxidized ethane cannot be oxidized
ANSWER: F Ethane can be oxidized to CO2 and H2O.
5. When alkanoic acids are tested with sodium hydrogen carbonate the effervescence is due to
the decomposition of the acids.
ANSWER: F The NaHCO3 reacts to form H2CO3 which breaks down to
give CO2 and H2O.
6. Tertiary alkanols cannot be oxidised with acidified Na2Cr2O7
ANSWER: T
7. Mammals and bird do not have fully developed double circulation

ANSWER:False

8. Fishes have fully developed double circulation

ANSWER:False

9. Humans can not digest chitin

ANSWER: True

10. The epidermal tissue of plants is a complex tissue

ANSWER: True

11. Collenchyma cells are common in roots of plants.

ANSWER: False

12. The cell wall of fungi have chitin

ANSWER: True

13. The weight of a freely falling object equals its weight when it is at rest.

ANSWER: False

14. The weight of an astronaut in a rocket accelerating upward from the earth surface is greater than her
weight in orbit.

ANSWER: True

15. Two objects with the same mass can have different weights.

ANSWER: True

16. An adiabatic process occurs with no heat exchange.

 ANSWER: True

17. An isothermal process is always adiabatic.

ANSWER: False

18. No work is done in an isochoric process.

ANSWER: True

19. A regular pentagon has a centre of symmetry

ANSWER: False

20. A rhombus has two axes of symmetry

ANSWER: True (diagonals)

21. A kite has a fixed center of rotation

ANSWER: False

22. (x + a)2 = x2 + ax + a2

ANSWER: False ( (x + a)2 = x2 + 2ax + a2 )

23. log(a + b) = loga + logb

ANSWER: False
24. a(x + y) = ax.ay

ANSWER:True

ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am a cylindrical worm.
2. I am known to possess metamerically segmented body
3. My segments are visible as transverse rings.
4. My first body segment called Peristomium lies ventral to my mouth
5. I am a terrestrial organism and live in moist soil that is rich in humus.
6. I do not possess a distinct head but have an anterior mouth
7. The first five letters of my name signifies a planet.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Earthworm

Riddle #2
1. Consistency and accuracy are my traits
2. Therefore I hate guesswork or approximations
3. I love aqueous solutions
4. Pieces of graduated glassware are my best friends
5. Above all these you need an indicator to identify me
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Volumetric Analyses

Riddle #3
1. I am named for an ancient Greek scientist.
2. That scientist invented a screw.
3. He is claimed to have shouted Eureka!
4. By me you can determine relative densities.
5. I can tell you the upthrust on a body in a fluid.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER:Archimedes’ Principle.

Riddle #4
1. I am a geometric figure and to be precise I am a polygon.
2. I am both equiangular and equilateral.
3. My diagonals are congruent and bisect each other perpendicularly.
4. My diagonals also bisect my angles.
5. I fit my outline in eight positions and I have four axes of symmetry.
6. My angles are all of the right measure.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Square

C3
 ROUND 1

Find the next term in the sequence

1. 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, . . .

ANSWER: 16 (difference of the terms form a sequence, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . )

2. 3, 3, 6, 9, 15, . . .

ANSWER: 24 (apart from the first two terms, each term is the sum of the two
preceding terms)

3. 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, . . .

ANSWER: 49 (Each term is a square, ieun = (n + 1)2)

4. Name the phenomena that occur at the interface between two transparent media when light is
incident on the boundary between them.

ANSWER: Reflection and refraction

5. Under what condition does total internal reflection occur?

ANSWER: When the angle of incidence in the denser media exceeds the critical angle for
two media.

6. Name the instrument by which the first visual image of a virus was obtained.

ANSWER:Electron microscope

7. Name the part of the digestive system where starchy foods begin being digested.

ANSWER: Mouth

8. What product is recovered in the collecting duct of the nephron?

ANSWER: Water

9. Name the process by which bacteria split into two.

ANSWER: Binary fission

 10. State Charles’ Law.

ANSWER:The volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure is directly

proportional to its absolute temperature

11. Under which conditions do gases deviate from Boyle’s Law?

ANSWER: At high pressures.

12. Why do you think noble gases behave almost like ideal gases?

ANSWER: No attractive nor repulsive forces among the gaseous atoms.

13. Find the total surface area of a cube of side of length 4 cm.

ANSWER: 96 cm2 (area of a face is 4x 4 = 16cm2, with six faces we have 6 x 16 =

96 cm2)

14. Find the perimeter of a square whose area is 196 cm2

ANSWER: 56 cm [x2=196, hence x = 14, perimeter is 4x = 4(14) = 56 cm]

15. Find the perimeter of a cuboid of sides of lengths 3 cm, 4cm and 5cm

ANSWER: 48 cm [ perimeter = 4(3 + 4+ 5)= 4(12) = 48 cm]

16. What is the change in volume when an ideal gas at atmospheric pressure undergoes an isochoric
process?

ANSWER:None (An isochoric process is a constant volume process.)

17. The pressure of a fixed quantity and fixed volume of an ideal gas is doubled. How does the absolute
temperature of the gas change?

ANSWER:It is doubled

or

18. The number of moles of an ideal gas in a vessel with rigid walls maintained at constant temperature
is doubled. How does the pressure change?

ANSWER:It is doubled

or .
 19. In plant anatomy what name is given to accumulated secondary xylem?

ANSWER: Wood

20. Name the part of wood that is actively involved in transport of water.

ANSWER:Sapwood

21. Name the part of wood that is darker and has stopped conducting nutrients.

ANSWER:Heartwood

22. Define an acid according to the Lowry-Brönsted Theory

ANSWER: An acid is proton donor.
23. Generally a buffer should have in solution a pair of substance. What is this pair?
ANSWER: A weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its
conjugate acid.
24. What distinguishes a strong acid from a weak acid?
ANSWER: A strong acid dissociates/ionizes completely in solution whereas a
weak acid does so partially.
Simplify

25. 6 7  2 28  3 63
ANSWER: 7 [ (6 + 2.2 – 3.3) 7 = 7 )]

26. 3 75  2 12  2 48
ANSWER: 11 3 [ 3.5 3  2.2 3  2.4 3 (15  4  8) 3 11 3 ]

27. 3 72  4 8  2 50
ANSWER:0 [ 3.6 2  4.2 2  2.5 2 (18  8  10) 2 0]

28. A ball of mass moving with speed collides with and becomes attached to a stationary ball of
mass . What is the change in total kinetic energy of the two balls?

ANSWER:

(conservation of linear momentum), , and

so . No credit if the
 negative is omitted.

29. Napari, who is riding a motor cycle, is trying to overtake a bus ahead of her which is moving
steadilyat . How fast must she ride to overtake the bus in ?

ANSWER:

30. The heat capacity at constant volume of one mole of air is . How much heat is required to
change the temperature of of air at standard temperature and pressureby ?

ANSWER: 208 J

31. A salt of gram formula mass (GFM) 96 forms a dihydrate when it crystallizes out of solution.
Calculate the percentage increase in the GFM after the crystallization.
[O = 16; H = 1.0]
ANSWER: Salt → dihydrate
96 → 96 + 2 x 18
% increase = 36/96 x 100
= 300/8 = 37.5
32. A salt of GFM 162 forms a trihydrate when it crystallizes out of solution. Calculate the
percentage water content of the crystals. [O = 16; H = 1.0].
ANSWER: Salt → salt trihydrate
162 → 162 + 3 x 18
% water 54/216 x 100 = 25
33. A salt of GFM 270 is pentahydrate. What is the salt to water ratio in the crystals.
[O = 16; H = 1.0]
ANSWER: Mass of 5H2O = 5 x 18
Mass of anhydrous salt = 270 – 90 = 180
Salt to water ratio = 180 : 90
≡ 2:1

34. Name the part of roots where lateral roots are formed.

ANSWER:Pericycle

35. Name the tissue that regulates the flow of water laterally between the vascular tissues and the cell
layers in the outer portion of the root.
ANSWER: Endodermis

36. Name the thickened waxy band that encircles the cells of the endodermis.
ANSWER:Casparian strip
 37. The moment of inertia of a dumbbell is . What is the kinetic energy of the dumbbell when
it rotates at ?

ANSWER: 20 J

38. The magnitude of the gain of an inverting amplifier is . What is the output voltage when the
input voltage is ?

ANSWER: 64 mV

39. Bulk modulus has dimensions of pressure. Use dimensional analysis to predict the dependence of
the speed of a wave in a fluid on density and bulk modulus of the fluid.

ANSWER: . Accept .

implies , and so

Simplify

40. (x2 – 4)/(x2 – 2x), where x 2, x 0

ANSWER: (x + 2)/x

41. (x3+y3)/(x + y), where x  y

ANSWER: (x2 – xy + y2)

42. (2x + 8)/(x2 – 16), where x 4

ANSWER: 2/(x - 4) [ ( 2(x + 4)/(x – 4)(x + 4) = 2/(x – 4)]

43. To which group of the Periodic Table does the element with atomic number 15 belong?
ANSWER: Group V or 15 (Electronic configuration 1s22s22p63s22p3)
44. To which group of the Periodic Table does the element with atomic number 19 belong?
 ANSWER: Group 1.(Electronic configuration 1s22s22p63s22p63s1)
45. What should be the atomic number of the 3rd member of the first d-transition series?
ANSWER: 23 Electronic configuration[Ar]4s23d3ie 18 + 5 = 23
46.In which organ in mammals is the Bowman’s capsule located?

ANSWER: Kidney

47.In which organ in mammals can one find the islets of Langerhans?

ANSWER: Pancreas

48.In which organ in mammals can one find the loop of Henle?

ANSWER: Kidney

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

If you were shown a transverse section of a young root and a young stem from the same
dicotyledonous plant how could you tell them apart?

SOLUTION:

Stem Root
Presence of pith Absence of pith
Absence of pericycle Presence of pericycle
Vascular bundles arranged in the form of Vascular bundles not arranged in the form
a cylinder of a cylinder
Xylem inner to the phloem Xylem occurs in the form of a star
Absence of endodermis Presence of endodermis
Absence Casparian strip Presence of Casparian strip
Absence of root hairs Presence of root hairs
Phloem occurs on top of the xylem Phloem occurs in the arms of the xylem
ROUND 3 – True or False

1. 50 cm3 of 0.20 moldm-3HCl has the same pH as 100 cm3 of 0.10 moldm-3HCl
ANSWER:F Concentrations of H+ are different
2. A dilute, aqueous solution of ammonia contains only HO- and NH4+.
ANSWER:F NH4OH is not fully ionized
3. 50 cm of 0.1 moldm-3HCl will have different pH from 50 cm3 of 0.1 moldm-3ethanoic
3

acid
ANSWER:T HCl being a strong acid is fully ionized; ethanoic acid acid
is a weak acid
4. Tetrachloromethane molecule is non-polar though it contains polar bonds
ANSWER:T The dipoles cancel out
5. In ethane the two carbon and the four hydrogens all lie in the same plane.
ANSWER:T The two carbons are sp2hybridised
6. In trichloromethane the carbon is bonded to only three chlorine atoms and therefore is
expected to be less polar than tetrachloromethane which has four chlorine atoms.
ANSWER:F In the former the dipoles do not cancel out but they do in
the latter.
7. Prokaryotes, or Bacteria lack an original nucleus
ANSWER: True
8. Bateriophages are bacteria that infest viruses
ANSWER: True
9. The tissue is the smallest level of organization of living organisms
ANSWER:False
10. Parenchyma cells are dead at maturity
 ANSWER:False
11. Collenchymacells are living at maturity
ANSWER: True

12. Fibres are sometimes called stone cells.

ANSWER:False

13. There are electrons in the nucleus of a neutral atom.

ANSWER: False [There are no electrons in the nucleus.]
14. In alpha emission, two protons and two neutrons in a bound state are ejected from the
nucleus.
ANSWER: True
15. X-ray emission occurs when a vacancy in an inner shell of an atom is filled.
ANSWER: True
16. Nuclear fission occurs when deuterium nuclei collide and helium nuclei are produced.
ANSWER:False
17. Fissile material is produced in a breeder reactor.
ANSWER: True
18. A nuclear chain reaction can be sustained if more neutrons are produced than are
absorbed in the reaction.
ANSWER: True
19. The derivative of a quotient is the quotient of the derivatives
ANSWER:False
20. If two functions have the same derivative, their difference is a constant
ANSWER: True 3.
21. If the derivative of a function is a linear function, the function itself is a quadratic.
ANSWER: True
22. sec2A – tan2A = 1
ANSWER: True
23. sin(A + B)= sinAsinB + cosAcosB
ANSWER:False
 
24. If A is an acute angle and sinA = ½ , then A 30
ANSWER: True
ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am a two digit number.
2. I am a square of a cube and at the same time a cube of a square.
3. At the base of it all is the only even prime number.
4. The sum of my digits is ten and the difference is the base of the binary system.
5. My digits are successive even numbers..
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: 64

Riddle #2

1. I am a type of fungus belonging to class Ascomycetes

2. Unlike most members of the class, I am unicellular.
3. Individually, each cell of mine is colourless but may appear cream or white in colonies.
4. I am saprophytic and found on the surface of sugary substances like fruit juices, sugar cane and
nectar of flowers.
5. I am the most common fungus that is used in alcoholic fermentation of sugar.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Yeast

Riddle #3
1. I am an electrical device.
2. I can store electrical energy.
3. I can carry both direct and alternating current.
4. The energy I store is proportional to the square of the current I carry.
5. The voltage across my terminals is proportional to the rate of change of current I carry.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER:: Inductor
Riddle #4
1. I am the third in command in our little village in the nation
2. My name starts with A just like in Amma
3. Our village is known as village of noble people
4. Our main drawback is that we are not sociable and therefore ignorant of what is happening outside
our village
5. The name of the first in command in the village has some two letters found in the name of the upper
limb of human body

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Argon (Ar)

Riddle #5 (Tie Break)

1. My siblings and I are a set of triplets.
2. I come into play whenever two objects interact.
3. I insist that forces that come into play during the interaction always occur in matched pairs.
4. These paired forces act in opposite direction.
5. Their magnitudes are however the same.
6. You still do not know who I am? Well, my siblings and I are laws enacted by the same scientific
lawyer.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: (Newton’s) Third Law of Motion.

C4
ROUND 1

1. Name the band of muscle that controls the entrance to the duodenum from the stomach.
ANSWER:Pyloric sphincter

2. Food moves down the esophagus by rhythmic muscular contraction called

ANSWER:Peristalsis
 3. Name the ion that is secreted into the small intestine by the pancreas to neutralize stomach acid
ANSWER:Bicarbonate
4. Define electron affinity of an atom
ANSWER: The energy lost or gained
5. Define electronegativity of an atom.
ANSWER:It is a measure of the ability of an atom to attract an electron to
itself
6. Electronegativity of carbon is 2.5. What is the electronegativity of neon?
ANSWER: Zero/0
7. Which of the following can be used for food irradiation without danger to consumers: alpha
particles, beta particles, gamma particles, thermal neutrons

ANSWER:Gamma

8. Which of the following can be accomplished with nuclear radiation: sterilization, inspection of
materials, and determination of material composition?

ANSWER: All

9. Name the nuclear reaction responsible for energy generation in the sun.

ANSWER: Fusion

Factorise the expression

10. 49x2 – 81y2

ANSWER: (7x – 9y)(7x + 9y) (difference of two squares

11. (a2/4 – b2/9)

ANSWER: (a/2 – b/3)(a/2 + b/3)

12. 9x2/4 – 16y2/25

ANSWER: (3x/2 – 4y/5)(3x/2 + 4y/5)

13. In which part of the leaf are phloem and xylem located?

ANSWER:Veins
 14. Sieve tube members are found in the nutrient-conducting tissue called

ANSWER:Phloem

15. Fibres and sclereids types of which plant cells.

ANSWER: Sclerenchyma

16. Give the systematic name for an alkane of 11 carbons in a straight chain.
ANSWER: Undecane
17. How many alkanols can be derived from a straight chain of 8 carbons? Name any two
ANSWER: 4, Octan-1-ol/1-octanol; 2-ol; 3-ol; 4-ol
18. Give the systematic name of a symmetrical alkanone of 9 carbons in a straight chain.
ANSWER: 5-Nonanone
19. A battery has an electromotive force of 8 V and an internal resistance of . What is the terminal
voltage of the battery when it supplies a current of ?

ANSWER: 7.6 V

20. A battery has an electromotive force of 8 V and an internal resistance of . At what current will
the battery supply maximum power to a load?

ANSWER: 40 A

21. The terminal voltageof a battery is 9 V when it supplies 1 A and 8 V when it supplies 2 A. What is
the internal resistance of the battery?

ANSWER:
and imply

A number is chosen from the set of numbers S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}. Find

the probability

22. The number is even

ANSWER: 4/9 [ A = {2, 4, 6, 8}, P(A) = n(A)/n(S) = 4/9 ]

23. The number is a prime number

 ANSWER: 4/9 [ B = {2, 3, 5, 7} , P(B) = n(B) /n(S) = 4 /9 ]

24. The number is odd and greater than 4

ANSWER: 3/9 or 1/3 [ C = {5, 7, 9}, P(C ) = n(C ) /n(S) = 3/9 = 1/3 ]

25. Name the cells that make up the cortical tissues in plants.

ANSWER: Parenchyma

26. What name is given to the openings that lie between guard cells?

ANSWER:Stomata

27. Name the principal water conducting tissue in plants

ANSWER: Xylem

28. Why is it that the Theory that explains the behavior of matter, especially gases, is called
Kinetic Theory of Matter?
ANSWER:Matter is perceived to consist of small particles in constant
motion
29. Why are gases able to assume the shape of their container?
ANSWER:Gaseous molecules/atoms are in constant motion in all
directions.
30. Why does a given volume of a fixed mass of gas increase with an increase in temperature?
ANSWER:The heating increases the average speed of the particles which
are able to strike the walls of the container with greater energy.
31. An ideal transformer has primary-to-secondary turns ratio 50:1. Determine the secondary voltage
when the input voltage is 100 V.

ANSWER: 2 V

32. An ideal transformer has primary-to-secondary turns ratio 50:1. Determine the input current when
the secondary current is 500 mA.

ANSWER: 10 mA

33. An ideal transformer has primary-to-secondary turns ratio 50:1. Determine the input power required
to sustain a secondary current of 200 mA when the input voltage is 20 V.

ANSWER: 80 mW
Secondary voltage is and power is .
34. Find the coordinates of the point A(2, -5) under a rotation through 180 degrees about the origin.

ANSWER: (-2, 5)

35. Find the coordinates of the point B(-4, 0) under clockwise rotation through 90 degrees about the
origin.

ANSWER: (0, 4)

36. Find the coordinates of the point C(0, -4) under a counter-clockwise rotation through 90 degrees
about the origin.

ANSWER: (4, 0)

37. If one comes across a population of plants and realizes a high level of homozygosity, what would
one predict about their mating system?

ANSWER: They are predominantly self-fertilizing

38. What is the key advantage of multicellularity in organisms?

ANSWER: It allows the formation of specialized cells.

39. During fermentation, yeasts are able to convert pyruvate to what molecule.

ANSWER: Ethanol

40. Consider the reaction

A + B → C + D.
If the enthalpies of formation of A, B, C and D are -800, -950, -1,100 and -750 kJmol -1
respectively calculate the enthalpy of reaction.
ANSWER: Δrxn = ΣΔf(products) - ΣΔf(reactants)
= (-1100 + -750) - (-800 + -750)
= -1850 + 1750 = -100 kJmol-1

41. Carbon II oxide burns in air to give carbon IV oxide. If the enthalpy of reaction is -280
kJmol-1and the enthalpy of formation of carbon IV oxide is -400 kJmol-1.calculate the
enthalpy of formation of carbon II oxide.
ANSWER: -280 = -400 - -280
= -400 + 280 =-120 kJmol-1
 42. Calculate the enthalpy of condensation of gaseous HCN if the enthalpies of formation of
liquid HCN and gaseous HCN are 105 kJmol-1 and 134 kJmol-1 respectively.
ANSWER: HCNg → HCNl
134 105
Δcond = 105 - 134 = -29 kJmol-1

43. Determine the charge on a 5 nF capacitor charged to 500 V.

ANSWER:

44. Determine the energy stored in a 5 nF capacitor charged to 500 V.

ANSWER: or

45. Determine the time the voltage on a 5 nF capacitor in parallel with a resistor will fall by
half.

ANSWER:

Evaluate the numerical expression:

46. 1212 - 212

ANSWER: 14,200 [ 1212 – 212 = (121 – 21)(121+21) = 100(142) = 14,200]

47. 852 – 152

ANSWER: [ (85 – 15)(85 + 15) = 70(100) = 7,000]

48. 732 - 232

ANSWER: [(73 – 23)(73 + 23) = 50(96)= 4,800]

 PROBLEM OF THE DAY
a. State the first law of thermodynamics.
b. A heat engine operating on a closed cycle absorbs 10 kJ of heat from a heat source and
rejects 4 kJ of heat every minute. Determine the power output and thermal efficiency of
the engine.

SOLUTION:

a. The change in internal energy of a system equals the heat absorbed by the system less the
work done by the system: .

b. The work done in one minute is . The power output is

The thermal efficiency .

ROUND 3 – True or False

25. In general carnivores have longer digestive system than herbivores ANSWER: False
26. In mammals, the urogenital products are separated from faecal matter in the small intestine
ANSWER: False – Large intestine
27. Single celled organisms digest their food intracellularly
ANSWER: True
28. Trichomes are outgrowths of epidermal cells
ANSWER: True
29. Root hairs are extension of single epidermal cells
ANSWER: True
6. Guard cells are paired cells
ANSWER: True
7. J. J. Thompson’s experiment led to the discovery of an electron
ANSWER:T
8. Electrons in higher energy levels require higher energy to ionize them.
ANSWER:F
9. Pauling’s Exclusion Principle states that an orbital can accommodate only 2 electrons
ANSWER:F (The actual statement is that no two electrons in an atom can
have the same energy)
10. Carbolic acid is another name for aromatic carboxylic acids
ANSWER:F It is another name for phenol
11. Urea which occurs in our urine formed from the breakdown of proteins.
ANSWER:T
12. The functional group in urea is the amino group.
 ANSWER:F (The amide group)
13. Angular momentum is conserved when net torque is zero.

ANSWER:True

14. A body is in mechanical equilibrium when the net force on it is zero.

ANSWER: False

15. Linear momentum is conserved when net force is not zero.

ANSWER: False

16. If two bodies are in thermal equilibrium and one of them is in thermal equilibrium with a third
body, then all three are in thermal equilibrium.

ANSWER:True

17. A saturated vapour is in equilibrium with its liquid.

ANSWER: True

18. Longitudinal waves can be polarized.

ANSWER:False

19. The sum of the external angles of any polygon is four right angles

ANSWER: TRUE

20. The interior angle of a regular quadrilateral is a straight angle

ANSWER: FALSE

21. The diagonals of a rectangle bisect each other perpendicularly

ANSWER: FALSE

22. An isosceles triangle fits its outline in two positions

ANSWER: TRUE

23. An equilateral triangle has three axes of symmetry

ANSWER: TRUE
24. In a kite, the shorter diagonal bisects the two angles at its ends

ANSWER: FALSE

ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. My origins can be traced to nature and natural processes.
2. I am very, very old.
3. I am part of a brownish to black liquid mixture mined from underground.
4. During fractional distillation of the mineral, I am collected between 68oC and 168oC.
5. I am usually given an octane rating
6. You can call me Mr. G orMiss P
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: GASOLINE/PETROL

Riddle #2

1. I am flagellated and flexible freshwater organism

2. I am unicellular and free-living
3. I am characterized as having both animal-like and plantlike characteristics
4. My body is spindle-shaped with rounded anterior and pointed posterior end
5. In spite of the presence of a mouth, I also possess chlorophyll that makes me appear green in
colour
6. I belong to the phylum Euglenophyta.

WHO AM I?

ANSWER: Euglena
Riddle #3
1. I am an optical device.
2. I form images.
3. My images are real and inverted.
4. I form equally sharp images of objects near and far.
5. I used to be called camera obscura.
6. You know me by my hole.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER:Pinhole camera

Riddle #4
1. I am a property appropriate for comparing two geometric figures.
2. Equality is not widely applicable so forget about congruence.
3. Two figures have me if they have the same shape but different sizes.
4. Two polygons have me if their corresponding angles are equal and corresponding sides are
proportional.
5. For triangles, it is sufficient for two triangles to be either equiangular, or corresponding sides to be
in the same ratio.

WHO AM I?

ANSWER: SIMILARITY

C5
ROUND 1

49. Name the band of muscle that controls the entrance to the duodenum from the stomach.
ANSWER:Pyloric sphincter

50. Food moves down the esophagus by rhythmic muscular contraction called
ANSWER:Peristalsis

51. Name the ion that is secreted into the small intestine by the pancreas to neutralize stomach acid
ANSWER:Bicarbonate
 52. Define electron affinity of an atom
ANSWER: The energy lost or gained
53. Define electronegativity of an atom.
ANSWER:It is a measure of the ability of an atom to attract an electron to
itself
54. Electronegativity of carbon is 2.5. What is the electronegativity of neon?
ANSWER: Zero/0
55. Which of the following can be used for food irradiation without danger to consumers: alpha
particles, beta particles, gamma particles, thermal neutrons

ANSWER:Gamma

56. Which of the following can be accomplished with nuclear radiation: sterilization, inspection of
materials, and determination of material composition?

ANSWER: All

57. Name the nuclear reaction responsible for energy generation in the sun.

ANSWER: Fusion

Factorise the expression

58. 49x2 – 81y2

ANSWER: (7x – 9y)(7x + 9y) (difference of two squares

59. (a2/4 – b2/9)

ANSWER: (a/2 – b/3)(a/2 + b/3)

60. 9x2/4 – 16y2/25

ANSWER: (3x/2 – 4y/5)(3x/2 + 4y/5)

61. In which part of the leaf are phloem and xylem located?

ANSWER:Veins

62. Sieve tube members are found in the nutrient-conducting tissue called
 ANSWER:Phloem

63. Fibres and sclereids types of which plant cells.

ANSWER: Sclerenchyma

64. Give the systematic name for an alkane of 11 carbons in a straight chain.
ANSWER: Undecane
65. How many alkanols can be derived from a straight chain of 8 carbons? Name any two
ANSWER: 4, Octan-1-ol/1-octanol; 2-ol; 3-ol; 4-ol
66. Give the systematic name of a symmetrical alkanone of 9 carbons in a straight chain.
ANSWER: 5-Nonanone
67. A battery has an electromotive force of 8 V and an internal resistance of . What is the terminal
voltage of the battery when it supplies a current of ?

ANSWER: 7.6 V

68. A battery has an electromotive force of 8 V and an internal resistance of . At what current will
the battery supply maximum power to a load?

ANSWER: 40 A

69. The terminal voltageof a battery is 9 V when it supplies 1 A and 8 V when it supplies 2 A. What is
the internal resistance of the battery?

ANSWER:
and imply

A number is chosen from the set of numbers S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}. Find

the probability

70. The number is even

ANSWER: 4/9 [ A = {2, 4, 6, 8}, P(A) = n(A)/n(S) = 4/9 ]

71. The number is a prime number

ANSWER: 4/9 [ B = {2, 3, 5, 7} , P(B) = n(B) /n(S) = 4 /9 ]

72. The number is odd and greater than 4

 ANSWER: 3/9 or 1/3 [ C = {5, 7, 9}, P(C ) = n(C ) /n(S) = 3/9 = 1/3 ]

73. Name the cells that make up the cortical tissues in plants.

ANSWER: Parenchyma

74. What name is given to the openings that lie between guard cells?

ANSWER:Stomata

75. Name the principal water conducting tissue in plants

ANSWER: Xylem

76. Why is it that the Theory that explains the behavior of matter, especially gases, is called
Kinetic Theory of Matter?
ANSWER:Matter is perceived to consist of small particles in constant
motion
77. Why are gases able to assume the shape of their container?
ANSWER:Gaseous molecules/atoms are in constant motion in all
directions.
78. Why does a given volume of a fixed mass of gas increase with an increase in temperature?
ANSWER:The heating increases the average speed of the particles which
are able to strike the walls of the container with greater energy.
79. An ideal transformer has primary-to-secondary turns ratio 50:1. Determine the secondary voltage
when the input voltage is 100 V.

ANSWER: 2 V

80. An ideal transformer has primary-to-secondary turns ratio 50:1. Determine the input current when
the secondary current is 500 mA.

ANSWER: 10 mA

81. An ideal transformer has primary-to-secondary turns ratio 50:1. Determine the input power required
to sustain a secondary current of 200 mA when the input voltage is 20 V.

ANSWER: 80 mW
Secondary voltage is and power is .

82. Find the coordinates of the point A(2, -5) under a rotation through 180 degrees about the origin.

ANSWER: (-2, 5)
83. Find the coordinates of the point B(-4, 0) under clockwise rotation through 90 degrees about the
origin.

ANSWER: (0, 4)

84. Find the coordinates of the point C(0, -4) under a counter-clockwise rotation through 90 degrees
about the origin.

ANSWER: (4, 0)

85. If one comes across a population of plants and realizes a high level of homozygosity, what would
one predict about their mating system?

ANSWER: They are predominantly self-fertilizing

86. What is the key advantage of multicellularity in organisms?

ANSWER: It allows the formation of specialized cells.

87. During fermentation, yeasts are able to convert pyruvate to what molecule.

ANSWER: Ethanol

88. Consider the reaction

A + B → C + D.
If the enthalpies of formation of A, B, C and D are -800, -950, -1,100 and -750 kJmol -1
respectively calculate the enthalpy of reaction.
ANSWER: Δrxn = ΣΔf(products) - ΣΔf(reactants)
= (-1100 + -750) - (-800 + -750)
= -1850 + 1750 = -100 kJmol-1

89. Carbon II oxide burns in air to give carbon IV oxide. If the enthalpy of reaction is -280
kJmol-1and the enthalpy of formation of carbon IV oxide is -400 kJmol-1.calculate the
enthalpy of formation of carbon II oxide.
ANSWER: -280 = -400 - -280
= -400 + 280 =-120 kJmol-1

90. Calculate the enthalpy of condensation of gaseous HCN if the enthalpies of formation of
liquid HCN and gaseous HCN are 105 kJmol-1 and 134 kJmol-1 respectively.
 ANSWER: HCNg → HCNl
134 105
Δcond = 105 - 134 = -29 kJmol-1

91. Determine the charge on a 5 nF capacitor charged to 500 V.

ANSWER:

92. Determine the energy stored in a 5 nF capacitor charged to 500 V.

ANSWER: or

93. Determine the time the voltage on a 5 nF capacitor in parallel with a resistor will fall by
half.

ANSWER:

Evaluate the numerical expression:

94. 1212 - 212

ANSWER: 14,200 [ 1212 – 212 = (121 – 21)(121+21) = 100(142) = 14,200]

95. 852 – 152

ANSWER: [ (85 – 15)(85 + 15) = 70(100) = 7,000]

96. 732 - 232

ANSWER: [(73 – 23)(73 + 23) = 50(96)= 4,800]

 PROBLEM OF THE DAY
c. State the first law of thermodynamics.
d. A heat engine operating on a closed cycle absorbs 10 kJ of heat from a heat source and
rejects 4 kJ of heat every minute. Determine the power output and thermal efficiency of
the engine.

SOLUTION:

c. The change in internal energy of a system equals the heat absorbed by the system less the
work done by the system: .

d. The work done in one minute is . The power output is

The thermal efficiency .

ROUND 3 – True or False

30. In general carnivores have longer digestive system than herbivores ANSWER: False
31. In mammals, the urogenital products are separated from faecal matter in the small intestine
ANSWER: False – Large intestine
32. Single celled organisms digest their food intracellularly
ANSWER: True
33. Trichomes are outgrowths of epidermal cells
ANSWER: True
34. Root hairs are extension of single epidermal cells
ANSWER: True
25. Guard cells are paired cells
ANSWER: True
26. J. J. Thompson’s experiment led to the discovery of an electron
ANSWER:T
27. Electrons in higher energy levels require higher energy to ionize them.
ANSWER:F
28. Pauling’s Exclusion Principle states that an orbital can accommodate only 2 electrons
ANSWER:F (The actual statement is that no two electrons in an atom can
have the same energy)
29. Carbolic acid is another name for aromatic carboxylic acids
ANSWER:F It is another name for phenol
30. Urea which occurs in our urine formed from the breakdown of proteins.
ANSWER:T
31. The functional group in urea is the amino group.
ANSWER:F (The amide group)
32. Angular momentum is conserved when net torque is zero.

ANSWER:True
33. A body is in mechanical equilibrium when the net force on it is zero.

ANSWER: False

34. Linear momentum is conserved when net force is not zero.

ANSWER: False

35. If two bodies are in thermal equilibrium and one of them is in thermal equilibrium with a third
body, then all three are in thermal equilibrium.

ANSWER:True

36. A saturated vapour is in equilibrium with its liquid.

ANSWER: True

37. Longitudinal waves can be polarized.

ANSWER:False

38. The sum of the external angles of any polygon is four right angles

ANSWER: TRUE

39. The interior angle of a regular quadrilateral is a straight angle

ANSWER: FALSE

40. The diagonals of a rectangle bisect each other perpendicularly

ANSWER: FALSE

41. An isosceles triangle fits its outline in two positions

ANSWER: TRUE

42. An equilateral triangle has three axes of symmetry

ANSWER: TRUE

43. In a kite, the shorter diagonal bisects the two angles at its ends

ANSWER: FALSE
ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
7. My origins can be traced to nature and natural processes.
8. I am very, very old.
9. I am part of a brownish to black liquid mixture mined from underground.
10. During fractional distillation of the mineral, I am collected between 68oC and 168oC.
11. I am usually given an octane rating
12. You can call me Mr. G orMiss P
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: GASOLINE/PETROL

Riddle #2

7. I am flagellated and flexible freshwater organism

8. I am unicellular and free-living
9. I am characterized as having both animal-like and plantlike characteristics
10. My body is spindle-shaped with rounded anterior and pointed posterior end
11. In spite of the presence of a mouth, I also possess chlorophyll that makes me appear green in
colour
12. I belong to the phylum Euglenophyta.

WHO AM I?

ANSWER: Euglena

Riddle #3
7. I am an optical device.
8. I form images.
 9. My images are real and inverted.
10. I form equally sharp images of objects near and far.
11. I used to be called camera obscura.
12. You know me by my hole.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER:Pinhole camera

Riddle #4
6. I am a property appropriate for comparing two geometric figures.
7. Equality is not widely applicable so forget about congruence.
8. Two figures have me if they have the same shape but different sizes.
9. Two polygons have me if their corresponding angles are equal and corresponding sides are
proportional.
10. For triangles, it is sufficient for two triangles to be either equiangular, or corresponding sides to be
in the same ratio.

WHO AM I?

ANSWER: SIMILARITY

C6
ROUND 1

Find the gradient of the line joining the given points

1. A(-2, 3) and B(5, -4)

ANSWER: -1 [ (5 + 2)/(-4 -3) = 7/-7 = -1]

2. C(2, - 4) and D(6, -4)

ANSWER: 0 [ (- 4 + 4)/(6 – 2) = 0/4 = 0]

3. E(3, 7) and F(3, 8)

ANSWER: infinity or undefined [(8 – 7)/(3 – 3) = 1 /0 = infinity or undefined]

4. Name the force that prevents rain water from soaking through the woven fabric of an umbrella.

ANSWER: Surface tension

 5. Name the state of a substance whose solid is simultaneously in equilibrium with its liquid and
vapour.

ANSWER: Triple point

6. Why is the equilibrium between a liquid and its vapour named dynamic?

ANSWER: Vapour condenses and liquid evaporates continually

7. Name the type of neurons that carry impulses away from the Central Nervous system to effector
muscles and Glands.

ANSWER: Motor neurons/Efferent Neuron

8. Name the type of neurons that carry impulses from Sensory receptors to the Central Nervous
System.

ANSWER: Sensory/Afferent Neuron

9. The motor and sensory neurons form the ------------------------- nervous system of vertebrates.

ANSWER: Peripheral

10. What is the name of the element with the symbol Se?
ANSWER: Selenium
11. What is the name of the element with the symbol Sn?
ANSWER: Tin
12. What is the name of the element with the symbol Sc?
ANSWER: Scandium
13. Find x if the angles of a triangle are 3x, 4x and 5x degrees.

ANSWER: x = 15 [3x + 4x + 5x = 180, 12x = 180 and x = 15 ]

14. The angles of a triangle are (30 +x), (2x + 50) and (50 – x) degrees. Find x

ANSWER: x = 25 [ 130 + 2x = 180 2x = 50 and x = 25 ]

15. The angles of a quadrilateral are in the ratio 1 : 2 : 3 : 4. Find the least angle.


ANSWER: 36 [x + 2x + 3x + 4x = 360, 10x = 360, x = 36

16. What is the moment of inertia of a solid sphere of mass and radius about an axis through the
centre of the sphere?
ANSWER:

17. What is the moment of inertia of a spherical shell of mass and radius about an axis through
the centre of the sphere?

ANSWER:

18. What is the moment of inertia of a cylindrical shell of mass and radius about an axis along the
axis of the cylinder?

ANSWER:

19. Name the pigment in plants that absorbs sunlight.

ANSWER: Chlorophyll

20. Name the metal ion that lies at the centre of the carbon ring of chlorophyll molecule.

ANSWER: Magnesium

21. Name the pigments that capture light of wavelengths not efficiently absorbed by chlorophyll.

ANSWER: Carotenoids

Preamble to all schools: Describe the penetrating power of the following

particles as Not penetrating OR Moderately penetrating OR Very penetrating

22. Beta particle

ANSWER: Moderately penetrating.
23. Neutron.
ANSWER: Very penetrating
24. Alpha particle
ANSWER: Not penetrating

Determine the value(s) of x for which the given expression is not defined
25. 2x/(x2 – 4)

ANSWER: x = 2, x = -2 [expression is undefined if the denominator is zero,

x2 – 4 = 0, or x = 2, x = -2)]

26. x 3
 ANSWER: x <3 [the radicand (x – 3) should be negative ie ( x – 3)< 0 or x < 3]

27. (2x – 3)/x

ANSWER: x = 0 [ denominator should be zero, ie x = 0)

28. Determine the electric force on a charge moving steadily with speed parallel to a
uniform electric field with strength .

ANSWER:

29. Determine the magnetic force on a charge moving steadily with speed parallel to a
uniform magnetic field with flux density .

ANSWER:

30. If the electrostatic force on each of a pair of charges is when they are apart, what is the
force on each when they are apart?

ANSWER:

FILL IN THE BLANKS

31. The internal membranes of chloroplasts are organized into flattened sacs called………

ANSWER: Thylakoids

32. Thylakoids are stacked on top of one another in columns called………..

ANSWER: Grana/Granum

33. The liquid that surrounds the thylakoid membrane system is known as…………

ANSWER:Stroma

34. What is the most likely by-product of industrial chlorination of hydrocarbons?

ANSWER: HCl
35. One of the commercial uses of hydrochloric acid is the removal of rust from steel. How is
this possible?
ANSWER: Rust is oxide of iron, and reacts selectively/faster than iron.
 36. HCl in the gastric juice helps in the breakdown of foods chemically. How is it able to break
down proteins?
ANSWER: Proteins are made up of amino-acid residues linked by amide bonds.
The acid catalyses the hydrolysis of the amidebonds.
Express as a single logarithm
37. log3 + 3log2 – 3log4
ANSWER: log(3/8) [ log(3.23/43) = log(24/64) = log(3/8) ]

38. log125 – log75 +3log3

ANSWER: log45 [log(125/75) + log27 = log[(5/3)(27)] = log45

39. Simplifylog(625)/log(125)
ANSWER: 4/3 [log(54)/log(53) =4log5/3log5 =4/3]

40. The potential difference across a coil is when the current through it is changing at a rate of
. What is the self-inductance of the coil?

ANSWER:

41. The current through a capacitor is when the potential difference across it is changing at a rate
of . What is the capacitance of the capacitor?

ANSWER:

42. Determine the energy stored in a capacitor charged to .

ANSWER:1.250 J

43. What name is given to the site on the enzyme surface where a reactant fits?

ANSWER:Active site

44. Name the site on the reactant that binds to an enzyme

ANSWER:Binding site

45. What name is given to the site where a signal molecule binds to the enzyme surface?

ANSWER:Allosteric site
46. An oxide of nitrogen contains 46.7% N and 53.3% O. Calculate the empirical formula of the
oxide. [O = 16.0; N = 14.0]
ANSWER: N O
46.7/14 53.3/16
3.34 3.33 hence N:O = 1:1 ie NO

47. What is the percentage carbon in methane? [C = 12.0; H = 1.0]

ANSWER: Methane CH4 %C = (12/16) x 100
= 75
48. Which of the compounds ethanol and ethylamine has higher proportion of carbon?
ANSWER: Ethanol C2H5OH = 46 Ethylamine C2H5NH2 = 45
% C = (24/46) x100 % C = (24/45) x 100
Hence Ethylamine has higher proportion of C

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

You are given about 300cm3 of impure methanol, boiling point 65oC. The
impurity is an organic solid soluble in the methanol. List all apparatus and
pieces of glassware you will need to be able to obtain pure methanol by simple
distillation.

SOLUTION
1. Round-bottom flask, 500 cm3. No mark if right volume is not given.
2. Liebig Condenser or any double surface water condenser
3. Receiver adapter
4. Still head
5. (Glass) funnel
6. Heating mantle or water bath + Bunsen burner
7. Thermometer
8. 2 Conical flasks to collect distillates
9. Boiling chips
10. Labeled bottle to store the pure methanol
ROUND 3 – True or False

1. For the equilibrium reaction between nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas to form ammonia gas,
the forward reaction is favoured by increase in pressure
ANSWER: True The forward reaction is accompanied by decrease in
volume/number of gaseous molecules.
2. For the equilibrium reaction between nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas to form ammonia gas,
the Kc and Kp are equal.
ANSWER: FalseChange in the number of gaseous molecules is not zero
3. For the equilibrium reaction between nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas to form ammonia gas,
only change in temperature can change the equilibrium constant.
ANSWER: True
4. The reaction between methane and bromine in the presence of light is an example of addition
reaction.
ANSWER: False Substitution reaction
5. Aminomethane is a stronger base than aminobenzene.
ANSWER: True Methyl group donates electrons by inductive effect to the e-
pair on N. The phenyl group delocalizes the e-pair on the N
6. Chemical reactions sometimes involve proton particles.
ANSWER: False Chemical reactions involve only outer nuclear
electrons.
7. Capillary action is due to cohesion
ANSWER: False (Adhesion)
8. Amino acids are sub-units of nucleic acids
ANSWER: False
9. The addition of acid to water increases the pH of water
ANSWER: False
10. All organisms consist of one or more cells
ANSWER: True

11. The mammalian body excretes nitrogen mainly as uric acid

ANSWER: False (Urea)
12. Cells are the smallest living things
ANSWER: True

13. One pole of a magnet can be isolated from the other pole.
 ANSWER: False

14. Electric field lines begin on negative charges and terminate on positive charges.

ANSWER: False

15. Magnetic field lines are always closed.

ANSWER: True
16. An electron has an intrinsic magnetic dipole moment.
ANSWER: True
17. A proton has an intrinsic magnetic dipole moment.
ANSWER: True
18. A neutron does not have an intrinsic magnetic dipole moment.

ANSWER: False
19. In a square, the diagonals are congruent and bisect perpendicularly
ANSWER: TRUE
20. In a rhombus, adjacent angles are supplementary
ANSWER: TRUE
21. A kite has two axes of symmetry
ANSWER: FALSE (one axis of symmetry)
22. All squares are similar
ANSWER: TRUE
23. In a trapezium, there are two pairs of parallel sides
ANSWER: FALSE (only one pair of parallel sides)
24. An equiangular quadrilateral is a square
ANSWER: FALSE (It is a rectangle)

ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am known not to satisfy the criteria for “living”
2. This is because I possess only a portion of the properties of organisms
3. I cannot reproduce on my own and for this reason I am not considered alive by biologists.
4. Don’t dare to host me in your cells, because I will produce many of my type with disastrous results
to you the host.
5. Some of my members are responsible for HIV/AIDS

WHO AM I?

ANSWER: Virus

Riddle #2
1. I am much associated with circles, curves and also angles.
2. I am simply a line.
3. For a given curve, my gradient is obtained by differentiation.
4. For a circle, a radius is always perpendicular to me at the point of contact.
5. I simply touch a circle or a curve at a single point.
6. I am also a trigonometric ratio.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Tangent

Riddle #3

1. If I were your spouse you would be calling me ‘honey’

2. But I cannot be your spouse because I am an organic compound
3. I belong to a certain group of natural products
4. I am the sweetest of them all.
5. I love one of my cousins very much and we are found together in most places
6. My name suggests that I may be found in a number of fruits

WHO AM I?
ANSWER:FRUCTOSE

Riddle #4
1. I am a process.
2. You can call me a reaction.
 3. I divide into two. Because of that I am similar to binary fission, but I have nothing to do with
cells.
4. I operate with nuclei of heavy atoms.
5. By me much energy is produced.

WHO AM I? -

ANSWER: Nuclear fission

C7
CONTEST7
ROUND 1

1. Name the part of the flower that develops into seeds.

ANSWER:Ovules

2. Name the part of the flower that develops into the fruit.

ANSWER: Ovary

3. What name is given to the shoot of the embryo?

ANSWER:Plumule

4. Name the law that relates action and reaction forces.

ANSWER:Newton’s third law

5. Name the law that gives the force between stationary point charges.

ANSWER: Coulomb’s law

6. Name the law that gives the relationship between angle of incidence and angle of refraction for light
incident at the boundary between two media.

ANSWER:Snell’s law

7. Which cation or cations in solution will give chalky precipitate with dilute NaOH solution?
ANSWER: Ca2+ and Pb2+
 8. Which cation or cations in solution will give white gelatinous precipitate with dilute NaOH ,
the precipitate dissolving in excess of the NaOH solution?
ANSWER: Zn2+ and Al3+

9. Which cation or cations in solution will give white precipitate when H2S is bubbled through
the solution?
ANSWER: Zn2+
10. What is the union of two sets A and B?

ANSWER: This is the set of elements belonging to either A or B

11. What is the intersection of two sets A and B?

ANSWER: This is the set of elements belonging to both A and B.

12. What is the null set?

ANSWER: This is the set having no members.

13. Which phylum of fungi is considered the largest of the fungal phyla?

ANSWER: Ascomycota

14. Name the member of the imperfect fungi that is a source of a well-known antibiotic.

ANSWER: Penicillium

15. Which group of algae has chloroplast identical to those found in plants?

ANSWER: Green algae

State the physical quantity associated with the unit given:

16. The weber

ANSWER: Magnetic flux

17. The tor

ANSWER: Pressure

18. The light-year.

ANSWER: Distance
 19. The electrolysis of dilute H2SO4 using inert electrodes is equivalent to hydrolysis of water.
Why is this so?
ANSWER: At the cathode H+ is discharged; at the anode OH- is easier to
discharge than SO4-. Hence H+ and OH-, ions of water are
discharged from the solution
20. In the electrolysis of copper II tetraoxosulphate IV using inert electrodes, what products are
formed at the electrodes?
ANSWER:At the anode O2 is discharged/formed, at the cathode Cu metal is deposited.
21. In the electrolysis of copper II tetraoxosulphate IV using copper electrodes, what products
are formed at the electrodes?
ANSWER: At the anode Cu2+ are formed or the copper electrode dissolves. At the
cathode Cu metal is deposited.
22. Find the number of subsets of the set A ={1, 2, 3, 4}

ANSWER: 16 [2 n where n is number of elements of the set, hence 24 = 16]

23. What set has only one subset?

ANSWER: The empty set or the null set

24. Find the set of prime factors of the number 30

ANSWER: {2, 3, 5}

25. How many phosphate groups form the phosphate component of ATP?

ANSWER: 3

26. Each molecule of ATP is composed of how many parts?

ANSWER: 3

27. Which of the four nucleotides of DNA is a component of ATP?

ANSWER: Adenine

28. How much energy is needed to just melt of ice at if the specific latent heat of fusion of
ice is ?

ANSWER:

29. The heat capacity of an objectis . How much energy is needed to increase the temperature
 of the objectby ?

ANSWER:

30. What is the heat capacity of an object whose temperature increases by when it absorbs
of heat?

ANSWER:

31. Identify a Main Group of elements in the Periodic Table that shows +3 oxidation state in its salts or
compounds.

ANSWER: Group III, B, Al, Ga, etc

32. Identify a Main Group of elements in the Periodic Table that shows -2 oxidation state in its anions or
compounds.

ANSWER: Group 16 (old Group 6) O, S, Se, etc

33. In the Periodic Table hydrogen is placed in both Group 1 and Group 17 (old Group7). Why?

ANSWER: Can be in Group 1 because it has a valence shell of s1. Can also be Group
17 because it needs only one electron to complete its valence shell.

Find the general term of the sequence

34. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, . . .

ANSWER: 3n
[a linear sequence with a = 3, d = 3 Un = a + (n- 1)d = 3 + (n – 1)3 =3n]

35. 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, . . .

ANSWER: 3(2n – 1) [ a geometric or exponential sequence with a = 3, and r = 2]

36. 5, 2, -1, -4, -7, . . .

ANSWER: 8 – 3n
[a linear sequence with a = 5, d = -3, Un = a + (n – 1)d = 5 + ( n – 1)(-3)= 8 -3n]

Preamble:
 One gene has two alleles A anda, another has alleles B and b. For each of the
following genotypes, state the gametes that will be produced. (Assume
independent assortment)
37. AaBB
ANSWER: AB and aB

38. Aabb
ANSWER:Ab and ab

39. AABb
ANSWER:AB and Ab
40. What is the buoyant force on an object of volume and density in a fluid of
density where acceleration due to gravity is ?

ANSWER: Buoyant force equals weight of fluid displaced, which is

.

41. What is the density of an object of volume whose apparent weight is in a fluid of
density ? Acceleration due to gravity is .

ANSWER: Apparent weight is so density is

.

42. What is the work done in carrying of water up a flight of steps? The acceleration due
to gravity is and the density of water is .

ANSWER:

43. How many litres of water should be added to 5 litres of 50% HCl solution to dilute it 35%?
ANSWER: Let the volme to be added be xlitres.
(5 x 0.5) = (5 + x)0.35
Hence x = 2.14 litres
44. How many litres of water should be added to 10 litres of 25% NaOH solution to dilute it to
15%?
ANSWER: Let the volume to be added be xlitres.
(10 x 0.25) = (10 + x)0.15
Hence x = 6.67 litres
45. What is the new per cent concentration if 10 litres of water are added to 8 litres of 35% HCl?
ANSWER: Let the new %concentration be M.
(8 x 0.35) = (10 + 8)M
 Hence M = 15.6%

Convert the binary number to a decimal

46. 11001two
ANSWER: 25ten [16 + 8 + 1 = 25]

47. 111001two

ANSWER: 57 [32 + 16 + 8 + 1 = 57]

48. 100111two

ANSWER: 39[ 32 + 4 + 2 + 1= 39]

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

Describe fully the structure of the DNA molecule.

SOLUTION

a. A molecule of DNA has a double helix shape

b. Each strand of the helix consists of a chain of nucleotides.
c. Each nucleotide is made up of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a
nitrogenous base (AGCT).
d. The two stands are held together by hydrogen bonds between nitrogenous
base of nucleotides on opposite strands
e. The nitrogenous bases form hydrogen bonds with each other in pairs.
f. Adenine forms hydrogen bond with Thymine, while Cytosine forms hydrogen
bond with Guanine.

ROUND 3 – True or False

1. If A is an acute angle then sinA<cosA

 ANSWER: FALSE
3

2. sin 30 = 2
ANSWER: FALSE
3. If A is an acute angle, then sin A < tan A

ANSWER: TRUE
4. Every relation is a mapping

ANSWER: FALSE
5. Only some mappings are relations

ANSWER: FALSE
6. The set of natural numbers is a subset of the set of whole numbers

ANSWER: TRUE

7. Ozone is an isotope of oxygen

ANSWER: False It is an allotrope.
8. SO3 is a binary compound
ANSWER: True It contains two elements.
9. Starch and cellulose are polymers which have glucose as their monomers.
ANSWER: True though starch is made up of α- and cellulose β-glucose units
10. MgO is a good conductor of electricity whereas SiO2 is not.
ANSWER: True MgO is ionic whereas SiO2 is covalent
11. Table salt added to water depresses its freezing point.
ANSWER: True
12. Salty water has a lower boiling point than pure water
ANSWER: False Dissolved solutes raise boiling points of solvents.
13. Sound waves are transverse waves.
ANSWER: False
14. Sound waves can be made to interfere.
ANSWER:True
15. Sound waves propagate in vacuum.
ANSWER: False
16. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is between the sun and the earth and all three are in a straight
line.
ANSWER: True
17. When a shadow is cast, the umbra is lighter than the penumbra.
 ANSWER:False
18. Total internal reflection cannot occur for light incident from one medium into a denser medium.
ANSWER: True
19. The vertebral column belongs to the appendicular skeleton
ANSWER: False (axial)
20. Bone is a type of connective tissue
ANSWER:True
21. Osteoblasts of bones secrete collagen
ANSWER:True
22. Meiosis is a division that produces two nuclei
ANSWER:False
23. An animal cell having two rather than one of each type of chromosome has a haploid number of
chromosome
ANSWER:False (diploid)
24. Meiosis reduces the parental chromosome number
ANSWER:True

ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am a two digit number.
2. I have three prime factors which are successive prime numbers.
3. Half of me is the product of two of the prime factors.
4. The sum of my digits is three and the difference of my digits is also three.
5. I am a multiple of ten.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: 30
Riddle #2
1. I am a law.
2. I describe the behavior of gases.
3. I can tell you the volume of a fixed quantity of gas.
4. I am named for a French physicist whose last name is a common first name.
5. I state that the volume of a fixed quantity of gas at constant pressure is proportional to
temperature.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Charles’s law

Riddle #3

1. I am a type of organelle
2. I am normally located just outside the nucleus
3. I am found in most eukaryotic cells, but absent in higher plants and fungi
4. I am shaped like a cylinder, and normally occur in a pair
5. I am involved in the organization of the mitotic spindle and in the completion of cytokinesis
6. The first four letters of name means hundred

WHO AM I?
ANSWER:Centriole

Riddle #4
1. I am a hydrocarbon
2. A look at my molecular formula would suggest I do not have my full complement of
hydrogens.
3. I am therefore chemically unsaturated
4. All my carbons are in a ring
5. One mole of me can and will react with two moles of bromine usually dissolved in
chloroform.
6. If I have 8 carbons then what is my molecular formula?
WHO AM I?
 ANSWER:C8H12 (With the full complement of H C8H18 but Ring + 2 double
bonds = -6H)

C8
ROUND 1

1. What is the energy of a photon associated with an electromagnetic wave of frequency ?

ANSWER:
is Planck’s constant

2. What is the momentum of a photon associated with an electromagnetic wave of wavelength ?

ANSWER:
is Planck’s constant

3. What is the change in momentum of a mirror after it reflects a photon associated with an
electromagnetic wave of wavelength ?

ANSWER:

Determine the odd number out and give your reason

4. 3, 13, 23, 33, 43

ANSWER: 33 [the other numbers are prime but 33 is not a prime]

5. 4, 8, 16, 64, 256

ANSWER: 8 [the other numbers are exact squares but 8 is not]

6. 5, 15, 25, 35, 45

ANSWER: 5 [5 is a prime and the other numbers are composite numbers]

7. Give the common name of one alkanoic acid that can be obtained from vegetable oils.
ANSWER: Myristic acid (14C); Palmitic acid (16C); Stearic acid (C18)
8. Give the common name of one alkenoic or alkadienoic acid that can be obtained from
vegetable oils.
ANSWER: Oleic acid (9-Octadecenoic acid); Linoleic acid (9,12-
octadecadienoic acid)
 9. Give the number of carbons in stearic acid and palmitic acids.
ANSWER: Stearic acid 18 carbons; Palmitic acid 16 carbons
10. The measure of an angle is twice the measure of its supplement. Find the measure of the angle.

ANSWER: 120 degrees [x + y = 180, x = 2y, 3y = 180, y = 60, x = 2y = 120]

11. The measure of an angle is twice the measure of its complement. Find the measure of the angle.

ANSWER: 60 degrees [x + y = 90, x = 2y, 3y = 90, y = 30, x = 2y = 60 ]

12. Find two supplementary angles whose difference is 30 degrees

ANSWER: 105, 75 degrees [x + y = 180, x – y = 30, 2x = 210, x = 105, y = 75.]

13. State what is likely to be observed when dilute HCl is added to a soluble bromide.
ANSWER: Clear solution or no precipitate formed.
14. State what is likely to be your observation when concentrated H2SO4 is added to to solid
NaCl.
ANSWER: Fuming, pungent smelling gas.
15. State your observation when concentrated H2SO4 is added to solid iodide.
ANSWER: Fuming pungent smelling gas
16. The thin shell of air, land and water around the earth that supports life is known as

ANSWER: Biosphere

17. An organism’s modification in structure, function or behaviour, to suit the environment is known as

ANSWER: Adaptation

18. A biological community together with the associated abiotic environment is known as

ANSWER: Ecosystem

19. What is the refractive index of a material for which the sine of the angle of refraction is when
the angle of incidence is in air?

ANSWER: 1.5

20. What is the refractive index relative to air for a material for which the critical angle is ?

ANSWER: 2
 21. What is sine of the angle of refraction when light is incident at an angle of from a medium of
refractive index 1.5 into a medium of refractive index 1.2?

ANSWER: 0.625

so

22. Find the area of a square whose diagonal is 8 cm long

ANSWER: 32 cm2[ d2 = 2a2 , 64 = 2a2 , a2 = 32 (area)]

23. Find the length of a diagonal of a square whose area is 64 cm2

ANSWER: 8 2cm [ side of square a = 8, diagonal d2 = 2a2 = 2(64), hence d =

8 2]

24. Find the perimeter of a square whose area is 50 cm2

ANSWER: 20 2cm [ side of square is a = 50 5 2 , hence perimeter =

4( 5 2 ) = 20 2 ]

25. Calculate the mass of SO2 that can be obtained by heating 224g of elemental sulphur in
excess oxygen if the process is only 80% efficient. [S = 32.0; O = 16]
ANSWER: S + O2 → SO2
32g 32g 64g
Hence mass of SO2 from 224g of S = (224/32) x 64
If 80% efficient then mass of SO2 = 7 x 64 x 0.8
= 358.4g

26. Calculate the volume at STP in litres that will be occupied by the SO2 obtained by burning
9.6g of elemental sulphur in excess oxygen. The molar volume of gas at STP is 22.4 litres.
ANSWER: S + O2 → SO2
32g → 22.4litres at STP
Therefore 9.6g S → (9.6/32) x 22.4 litres
= 6.72 litres
27. The volume of oxygen gas trapped in a vertical cylinder with a piston measures 9.6 litres at a
pressure of 200 kPa. If the pressure on the piston is released very gently what will be the
pressure of the oxygen when it expands at a constant temperature to a volume of 24 litres.
ANSWER: Let the new pressure be P2
P1V1 = P2V2
200 x 9.6 = P2 x 24
 Hence P2 = (9.6/24) x 200
P2 = 80 kPa
FILL IN THE BLANKS
28. Sepals of flowers are collectively referred to as ……………

ANSWER: Calyx

29. Petals of flowers are collectively referred to as ……………….

ANSWER: Corolla

30. The calyx and the corolla together are referred to as the …………….

ANSWER:Perianth

31. What is the distinction between oscillations in sound waves and those in light waves?

ANSWER: Sound wave oscillations are longitudinal whereas light wave oscillations are
transverse

32. What property distinguishes red light from blue light?

ANSWER: The frequency of blue light is greater than that of red light
Accept:The wavelength of red light is greater than that of a blue light

33. Name a property of transverse waves that longitudinal waves do not have.

ANSWER: Polarization: Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized

Find the fraction lying midway between the given fractions

34. ¾ and 5/7

ANSWER: 41/56 [ ½ (3/4 + 5/7) = ½ (21 + 20)/28 = 41/56 ]

35. -1/2 and 2/3

ANSWER: 1/12 [ ½ (2/3 – ½) = ½ (1/6) = 1/12 ]

36. 2/5 and – 3/7

 ANSWER: -1/70 [ ½ (2/5 – 3/7) = ½ (14 – 15)/35 = -(1/2)(1/35) = - 1/70 ]

37. Why is it that the ideal gas equation does not hold for gases at very low temperatures?
ANSWER: At very low temperatures gases are not moving fast enough;
intermolecular forces become apparent
38. Which postulate of the Kinetic Theory of Matter predicts that gases can easily be
compressed?
ANSWER: Postulate: For gases the sizes of the molecules/atoms are negligible
compared with the average distances between them.
39. What is the implication of the postulate that in an ideal gas all collisions are elastic?
ANSWER: A given gas at constant temperature and volume will maintain a
constant pressure
40.Most mature fruits have three regions. Name one region and indicate the
part of the fruit (To All Schools)

ANSWERS:
 Exocarp – Skin of the fruit
 Endocarp – The inner boundary around the fruit
 Mesocarp – The fleshy tissue (Between the endocarp and the
exocarp)

41. If a diffraction grating has a period of ,what is the wavelength of waves it diffracts at an angle
of in first order?

ANSWER: 1 cm

42. If the sound in front of two loud speakers, one directly behind the other, is first inaudiblewhen the
distance between the speakers is 0.65 m as it is increased from zero, what is the wavelength of the
sound from the speakers?

ANSWER: 1.3 m
Destructive interference occurs when the path difference is an odd multiple of half
wavelengths. The first null occurs when the path difference is half a wavelength.

43. What is the frequency of a note an octave above 256 Hz?

ANSWER: 512 Hz
if is an octave above

44. Select the first stage of cellular respiration

 Krebs cycle, Glycolysis, Electron transport, Chemiosmosis

ANSWER:Glycolysis
45. The entry of pyruvate into the second stage of cellular respiration requires the presence of:
ADP, ATP, Oxygen, CO2
ANSWER:Oxygen
46. Carbon fixation requires the expenditure of energy (ATP molecules). Select source of the ATP from
the following:
The Calvin cycle, the light reactions,glycolysis, Thylakoids

ANSWER: The light reactions

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

You have been provided with the following materials; a wooden box, a knife,
cello tape, black paper, two potted plants, and water. Describe how you will
use the materials to study the effect of light on plant movement.

SOLUTION
With the help of the cello tape, cover the inside of the box with the black paper. Use the knife to create
a hole on the top corner of the box to allow light to pass through. Put one of the potted plants in the box
and keep the other in the open exposed to light on all sides. Water both plants and observe the
movement of the stem for some days. It will be observed that the stem or tips of the plant in the box
bends towards the hole in the wood, while the plant kept in the uniform light keeps straight upwards.
ROUND 3 – True or False

1. An equilateral quadrilateral is a rhombus.

ANSWER: TRUE
2. A square is a rhombus
ANSWER: TRUE
3. In a parallelogram, the diagonals bisect the angles at their ends
ANSWER: FALSE
4. The mean of a given data is always greater than the median
ANSWER: FALSE
5. The number of students in a school represents a continuous data
ANSWER: FALSE
6. The diameter of a circle represents a continuous data.
ANSWER: TRUE
7. Water vapour is a greenhouse gas.
ANSWER: TRUE
8. Table sugar is made up two glucose units.
ANSWER: FALSE (Made up of glucose and fructose.)
9. The atomic mass of an element of several natural isotopes is the average of the mass numbers
of the isotopes.
ANSWER: FALSE (It is the weighted average)
10. Haemitite is one of the several ores of iron.
 ANSWER: TRUE (=Fe2O3)
11. Magnetite is an ore from which magnesium can be obtained.
ANSWER: FALSE (Magnetite is an ore of Fe (Fe3O4))
12. Buaxite and mica both contain aluminium.
ANSWER: TRUE (Bauxite Al2O3.xH2O; Mica/Feldspar K2Al2Si6O16)
13. An enzyme lowers the activation energy of a particular reaction
ANSWER: TRUE
14. The sugar component of ATP is a pentose sugar
ANSWER: False (Ribose)
15. Vestigial structures provide anatomical record of macroevolution
ANSWER: True
16. Bacteria lack organized nucleus
ANSWER: True
17. The cell of bacteria lack plasma membrane
ANSWER: False
18. Many kinds of bacteria possess flagella
ANSWER: True
19. The image in a plane mirror is laterally inverted.

ANSWER: True

20. A concave mirror always forms a real image.

ANSWER: False

21. A convex mirror never forms a virtual image of a real object?

ANSWER: False

22. In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved.

ANSWER: True

23. In an inelastic collision, energy is conserved.

ANSWER: False

24. In an elastic collision, kinetic energy is partially converted into thermal energy.
 ANSWER:False

ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am a German embryologist
2. One can never talk about chromosomes without making reference to me, because I discovered
them.
3. While examining rapidly dividing cells of larvae of Salamander in 1882, I saw minute threads within
their nuclei that appeared to be dividing lengthwise.
4. I called their division mitosis, based on the Greek word mitos, meaning thread.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Walther Fleming

Riddle #2
1. My chemistry is made of redox reactions
2. Therefore if I were human, my blood would be made up of electrons.
3. I am partly made up of a container with two electrodes.
4. I am incomplete without an electrolyte.
5. When I am in operation a current is passed through me.
6. Electroplating is one of my important applications.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Electrolysis

Riddle #3

1. I am a physical constant.
2. I am a measure of the strength of a natural force.
3. That force obeys an inverse square law.
4. It is a weak force because I have a very small value.
5. Indeed, it is weaker than the other natural force that obeys an inverse square law.
 6. It acts between objects with mass.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER:Gravitational constant

Riddle #4
1. I am a relation but I am definitely not many to many or one to many.
2. I connect elements of two sets such that, each element in the first set has an image in the second
set.
3. I am a process in Geography where I am used to represent a country or a region.
4. I have something to do with a map.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Mapping
C9
ROUND 1

1. Give an expression for the effective resistance of three parallel resistors with resistance , and
.

ANSWER:

2. Give an expression for the effective capacitance of three parallel capacitances , and .

ANSWER:

3. Give an expression for the effective impedance of three series impedances , and .

ANSWER:

Factorise the quadratic expressions

4. x2 – 5xy - 6y2

ANSWER: (x + y)(x – 6y) [ x2 – 5xy – 6y2 = x2 – 6xy + xy – 6y2 = x(x – 6y)

+ y(x - 6y) = (x + y)(x – 6y)]

5. 3x2 + 5xy + 2y2

 ANSWER: (3x +2y)(x + y) [ 3x2 + 5xy + 2y2 = 3x2 + 3xy + 2xy + 2y2 = 3x(x +
y) + 2y(x + y) = (3x + 2y)(x + y)]

6. 5x2 – 2xy – 7y2

ANSWER: (x + y)(5x – 7y) [5x2 – 2xy – 7y2 = 5x2 + 5xy – 7xy – 7y2 = 5x(x
+y)- 7y(x + y) = (x + y)(5x – 7y) ]

7. What name is given to the two genetically identical chromosomes that are attached to each other?

ANSWER: Sister Chromatids

8. Sister Chromatids are constricted and attached to each other at a region called

ANSWER: centromere

9. What name is given to a microtubule structure that brings about chromosomal movement during
cell division?

ANSWER: Spindle
10. How many elements are present in the Group 1 of the Periodic Table?
ANSWER: Seven including hydrogen.
11. How many elements are present in the first d-Transition series of elements?
ANSWER: 10 including Cu and Zn
12. How many inert gases are known?
ANSWER: Six (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and Rn)
13. What is the upper fixed point on the Celsius scale?

ANSWER: The steam point, the temperature of boiling water at standard atmospheric
pressure

14. What is the lower fixed point on the Kelvin scale?

ANSWER: Absolute zero, the state of zero pressure of a gas

15. What is the lower fixed point on the Celsius scale?

ANSWER:The ice point, the temperature of melting pure ice

Complete the sentence

16. The measure of an acute angle is less than . . .

ANSWER: 90 degrees
 17. The measure of an obtuse angle is greater than . . .

ANSWER: 90 degrees

18. The measure of a reflex angle is greater than . . .

ANSWER: 180 degrees

19. Name the process by which organisms can become modified over time

ANSWER: Natural selection

20. The maintenance of the internal conditions of an animal within certain boundaries is called

ANSWER: Homeostasis

21. Changes that occur in populations of organisms with the passage of time which results in increased
adaptation of the organisms to the prevailing environment is called.

ANSWER: Evolution

22. How do atomic orbitals overlap to form sigma bonds?

ANSWER: Orbitals overlap headlong
23. What is the hybridization of carbon in carbon II oxide?
ANSWER: sp hybridization
24. Why do compounds with pi bonds undergo addition reaction readily?
ANSWER: The pi electron cloud is very much exposed and therefore attracts
reagents especially electrophiles
25. What is a saturated vapour?

ANSWER: A vapour which is in dynamic equilibrium with its liquid or solid

26. What is the critical point of a substance?

ANSWER: The unique temperature and pressure above both of which only a gas phase
exists?

27. What is the dew point?

ANSWER:The temperature at which there is sufficient water vapour in air to saturate it

Complete the sentences using either mean, mode, median or standard deviation

28. The middle value of a set of data (numbers) is the . .. .

 ANSWER: MEDIAN

29. The average of a set of data is the . . .

ANSWER: MEAN

30. The most common value of a set of numbers is the . . .

ANSWER: MODE
Fill in the blanks

31. The plumule in some seeds may be enclosed in sheathing structures called….

ANSWER: Coleoptiles

32. The radicle mal also be enclosed in a sheathing structures called …………..

ANSWER: Coleorhiza

33. The short part of the seedling or embryo just above the cotyledons is called ….

ANSWER: Epicotyl

34. Solid CO2 is called ‘dry ice’. Will dry ice melt or sublime if allowed to warm up?

ANSWER:Solid CO2 sublimes’

35. Which kind of substances react with both acids and bases?
ANSWER:Amphoteric substances
36. What is electroplating?
ANSWER:It is the deposition of a thin film of metal on an object by electrolysis.
37. What is the beat frequency from a 256 Hz note and a 252 Hz note sounded together?

ANSWER: 4 Hz [The beat frequency is the difference in frequency.]

38. If the pressure amplitude of the sound wave from a loud speaker is 0.2 mPa at a distance of 1 m
from the speaker, what is the amplitude 5 m away?

ANSWER: 0.04 mPa[Amplitude is inversely proportional to distance so pressure at 5 m

is ].

39. What is the ratio of the intensity of sound at 2 m to the intensity at 10 m from a small speaker?

ANSWER: 25 [Intensity obeys the inverse square lawso

 .]

40. Find the base if the subtraction ( 225 – 136) = 56 is true

ANSWER: 7 [ x + 5 – 6 = 6, hence x = 7]

41. Find the base if the addition (156 + 77) =244 is true.
ANSWER: 9 [ 6 + 7 – x = 4, x = 13 -4 = 9 ]

42. Change the decimal number 38 to a number in base 6.

ANSWER: 102six[ 38 = 36 + 2 = 1(62) + 0(6) + 2(60)

Describe the following types of fruits

43. Drupe
ANSWER:Simple fleshy fruit with a single seed enclosed in a hard
stony endocarp
44. Berry
ANSWER:Fleshy fruits that normally develop from compound ovary
and commonly contain more than one seed
45.Pome
ANSWER:Simple fleshy fruit flesh is derived primarily from the
receptacle/ Theexocarp and mesocarpof a pome may be
fleshy and difficult to distinguish from one another.
46. Magnesium reacts with HCl to give magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas. If 0.15 mol of
magnesium is added to 0.24 molHCl how many moles of magnesium chloride will be
formed?
ANSWER: Mg + 2HCl = MgCl2 + H2
0.15 0.24
0.24 mol of HCl will react with 0.12 mol of Mg
Therefore mol of MgCl2 that will be formed = 0.12
47. What volume of HCl gas in litres must be dissolved in 300cm3 of water in order to produce
0.20 moldm-3 of hydrochloric acid? Assume molar vole of gas is 22.4 litres?
ANSWER: 300cm3 of 0.20 moldm-3 of hydrochloric acid ≡ 0.6 molHCl
1 molHCl ≡ 22.4 litre of HCl gas
0.6mol = (0.6/1) x 22.4
= 13.44 litre
48. 100 cm3 of 0.10 moldm-3NaCl solution are added to 200 cm3 of 0.04 moldm-3 silver nitrate
solution. How many moles of free chloride ions will be left in solution?
ANSWER: Initial moles of chloride = (100/1000) x 0.1
= 0.01
Initial moles of silver ions = (200/1000) x 0.04
= 0.008
Therefore excess moles of Cl- = 0.01 – 0.008
= 0.002

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

A flower has the following floral formula. Describe the flower as far as
possible.
•Ӏ• K(5) C(3)+2A10 G(2)
SOLUTION
a. It is a zygomorphic(irregular) flower (Could be cut in only one plane)
b. It is bisexual (hermaphrodite) flower (Contains both male and female parts)
c. The Calyx consists of 5 sepals that are all fused.
d. The Corolla consists of 5 petals, 3 of which are fused and 2 are free.
e. The Androecium consists of 10 free stamens
f. The gynoecium consists of 2 superior ovaries that are fused.

ROUND 3 – True or False

1. The set of prime numbers is a subset of the set of odd integers

ANSWER: FALSE (2 is a prime but it is not an odd number)
2. The set of multiples of ten is a subset of multiples of five
 ANSWER: TRUE
3. A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3
ANSWER: TRUE
4. A number is divisible by 4 if the sum of its digits is divisible by four
ANSWER: FALSE
5. Interior opposite angles formed a transversal and two parallel lines are supplementary
ANSWER: TRUE
6. A scalene triangle fits its outline in exactly one position
ANSWER: TRUE
7. The speed of light in glass is lower than the speed of light in air.
ANSWER: True
8. The wavelength of a light wave in air equals the wavelength of the same wave in glass.
ANSWER: False
9. An optically dense medium has a higher refractive index than a less dense medium.
ANSWER: True
10. A p type semiconductor has a higher concentration of holes than of electrons.
ANSWER: True
11. An n type semiconductor is negatively charged.
ANSWER: False
12. An intrinsic semiconductor has equal hole and electron concentrations.
ANSWER:True
13. Arteries carry blood away from the heart
ANSWER:True
14. Arteries contain many valves
ANSWER:False

15. Arteries are capable of expanding

ANSWER: True
16. Tomatoes and grapes are types of berries
ANSWER:True
17. Apples are types of pomes
ANSWER: True
18. Legumes are fleshy fruits
ANSWER:False
19. The backbone of starch polymer is made up of tetrahydropyran rings held together through
oxygen atoms.
ANSWER: T pyranose ≡ tetrahydropyran
20. The two strands of the DNA structure are held by weak covalent bonds.
ANSWER: F They are held by hydrogen bonds
21. The linkages between various amino acid units in a protein are covalent bonds.
ANSWER: T Linkages are amide bonds/peptide linkages
22. 1 mole of molten aluminium oxide and two moles of molten magnesium oxide will require
the same amount of charge to discharge them in electrolysis.
ANSWER: F 1 mol Al2O3 will require 6F of charge; 2 molMgO will
require 4F of charge. (F = Faraday)
23. Pure water does not conduct electricity.
ANSWER: T Water is a covalent compound.
24. Any impurity in water makes it possible for the water to conduct electricity.
ANSWER: F The impurity has to be ionic or capable of ionizing in water

ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am an electrical property of matter.
2. My value for a substance depends on the type of substance and on temperature.
3. For certain special substances, my value is zero at very low temperatures.
4. For metals, my value generally increases as temperature increases.
5. I behave the opposite way for semiconductors.
6. If you know my value, you can calculate electrical resistance.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: Electricalresistivity
Riddle #2
1. I am a figure in the plane.
2. Of my type, I am one of the simplest.
3. There is nothing circular about me.
4. I have three of everything.
5. I am usually known by the number of my angles.
6. I may be right, equilateral, isosceles or scalene.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: TRIANGLE

Riddle #3
1. I am a cation.
2. I am derived from a heavy metal
3. I am two electrons less my neutral atom
4. If H2S is bubbled through my aqueous solution a black precipitate is formed
5. If sodium hydroxide solution is added to my aqueous solution, a white precipitate
insoluble in excess is obtained
6. If I am derived from an element whose ancestors were all plumbers.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER:Pb2+ /Lead II ions

Riddle #4
1. I am a mammal.
2. I belong to the cat family.
3. You can say I am one of a kind because I am the only living species of the genus to which I belong.
4. Unlike the domestic cat, climbing is not my specialty.
5. However, you dare not challenge me to a short distance race.
6. I am the fastest four-legged animal.
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: CHEETAH (Acinonyxjubatus)
C10
 CONTEST10
ROUND 1

State the functions of the following structures found in animal cells

1. Plasma membrane

ANSWER:Selective passage of molecules in and out of cells

2. Golgi apparatus

ANSWER: It processes, packages, and distributes molecules

3. Vacuoles

ANSWER: Storage of substances

4. How does the electrical conductivity of a metal vary when temperature is increased?

ANSWER: It decreases

5. How does the electrical conductivity of a semiconductor such as silicon vary when temperature is
increased?

ANSWER: It increases

6. How does the electrical conductivity of an insulator vary when temperature is increased?

ANSWER: It increases

7. Give the systematic name for a derivative of cyclobutane with the formula C6H12.
ANSWER: Ethylcyclobutane; cisor trans-1,2-dimethylcyclobutane, cis or trans-
1,3-dimethylcyclobutane
8. Name all the possible hexenes that be represented by the formula C6H12
ANSWER: 1- or 2- or 3-hexene//hex-1-eneetc
9. What is the difference in the chemical properties of an OH bonded to a saturated carbon and
an OH bonded to an aromatic carbon/nucleus?
ANSWER: OH bonded to a saturated carbon is neutral/an alkanol but one
bonded to an aromatic carbon is acidic/phenolic

10. Name the phase of meiosis where homologous chromosomes separate.

ANSWER: Anaphase I
 11. Name the Phase of meiosis where bivalents are aligned at the equator of the spindle.

ANSWER:Metaphase I

12. Name the stage of meiosis where crossing over occurs.

ANSWER: Prophase I

13. Which of the following is not a vector quantity: energy, angular momentum, displacement, and
force?

ANSWER: Energy

14. Which of the following is not a scalar quantity: energy, angular momentum, distance, and speed?

ANSWER:Angular momentum

15. Which of the following is not a signed quantity: speed, electric charge, atomic number, and potential
difference?

ANSWER: Atomic number and speed

Find the equation of the line passing through the given points

16. A(-2, 1) and B(-2 , 5)

ANSWER, x = -2 [x-coordinate same for both points]

17. C(-3, 5) and D(-10, 5)

ANSWER: y = 5 [y-coordinate same for both points]

18. E(-2, -2) and F(5, 5)

ANSWER: y = x [gradient m = 1, y + 2 = x + 2, and y = x]

19. When the concentration of a reactant A of a reaction is doubled, all others remaining
constant, the rate of the reaction increases by a factor of 8. What is the order of the reaction
with respect to reactant A?
ANSWER: 3rd order
20. When the concentration of a reactant B of a reaction is trebled, all others remaining constant,
the rate of the reaction increases by a factor of 9. What is the order of the reaction with
respect to reactant B?
 ANSWER: 2nd order
21. When the concentration of a reactant C of a reaction is quadrupled, all others remaining
constant, the rate of the reaction does not change. What is the order of the reaction with
respect to reactant C?
ANSWER: Zero order
22. Which plant cell type are the most abundant of all cell types?

ANSWER: Parenchyma cells

23. What name is given to parenchyma cells with extensive connected air spaces?

ANSWER:Aerenchyma

24. Parenchyma cells containing numerous chloroplasts are collectively referred to as….

ANSWER:Chlorenchyma

25. What is the acceleration of a 5 kg mass acted on by a horizontal 2 N force directed to the left and a
horizontal 6 N force directed to the right?

ANSWER: to the right

Net force is to the right so acceleration is
.

26. What is the acceleration of a 2 kg mass attached by a horizontal inextensible string to a 5 kg mass
which is being pulled to the right by a horizontal 14 N force?

ANSWER: to the right

The two masses have the same acceleration
.

27. A 2 kg mass is attached by a horizontal inextensible string to a 5 kg mass which is being pulled to
the right by a 14 N horizontal force. What is the tension in the string?

ANSWER:
Acceleration of the 2 kg mass is and the force on it is
, which equals the tension in the string.

If log5 = a and log 3 = b, find in terms of a and b

28. log 75

ANSWER: 2a + b [log75 = log25 + log3 = 2log5 + log3 = 2a + b]

 29. log (9/125)

ANSWER: 2b – 3a [log9 – log125 = log32 – log53= 2log3 – 3log5 = 2b – 3a ]

30. log(125/81)

ANSWER: 3a – 4b [log125 – log81 = log53 – log34 = 3log5 – 4log3 = 3a – 4b]

31. An element has a valence shell whose configuration is 4s23d6. What will be its common valency or
valencies?
ANSWER: Common valencies are +2 and +3
32. An element shows the following in its compounds: -1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6 and +7. What is
likely to be the electronic valenciesconfiguration of its valence shell?
ANSWER: ns2np5
33. Why is the valency shell of chromium written as 4s13d5 and not 4s23d4?
ANSWER: In the former the sub-shells are both half-filled but not in the latter.
Half filled sub-shells are stable
34. What name is given to the pairs of chromosomes that associate together in prophase I of meiosis?

ANSWER: Homologous chromosomes

35. What name is given to homologous chromosomes with sister chromatids joined by nucleoprotein?

ANSWER: Bivalent/tetrad

36. The exchange of segments between non-sister chromatids of a bivalent during meiosis is known as
…………..

ANSWER: Crossing over

37. A body is acted upon by a 4 N force towards the eastand a 3 N force towards the north. What is the
magnitude of the resultant force on the body?

ANSWER:

38. A body of mass 5 kg is acted upon by a 10 N force towards the east and a 10 N force towards the
south. What is the magnitude of the acceleration the body?

ANSWER:
 39. A2 N force towards the west and a 6 N force towards the east act on an object. What is the work
done when the object moves 2 m under the action of the forces?

ANSWER:

Differentiate the given function with respect to x

40. y = 5x4 – 6x2 – 10

ANSWER: dy/dx = 20x3 – 12x

41. y = 3x -3 + 5x2 -7x + 8

ANSWER: dy/dx = -9x-4 + 10x – 7

42. y = 5x3 – 6/x3

ANSWER: dy/dx = 15x2 + 18x-4

43. The electrode potentials of two half cells M+/M and Q+/Q (where M and Q are metals), are -
0.65 and -0.92volts, respectively. Calculate the initial emf of a cell that can be formed from
the half cells. Indicate the anode of the cell.
ANSWER: Emf = oxidation potential + reduction potential(oxd pot = -red pot of same
½ cell)
This sum must be positive for a spontaneous reaction
Hence Emf = +0.92 + -0.65 = 0.27 v
Anode (oxidation) hence Q metal

44. Two half cells, X+/X and Y+/Y (where X and Y are metals) with electrode potentials +0.45
and -0.76volts respectively are used to construct an electrochemical cell. What will be the
initial emf and which metal will be the cathode?
ANSWER: Emf = +0.76 + +0.45 = 1.21 v
Cathode (reduction) hence X metal
45. Two half cells, A+/A and B+/B (where A and B are metals) with electrode potentials +0.32
and +0.80volts respectively are used to construct an electrochemical cell. What will be the
initial emf and in which direction will the current flow in the external circuit?
ANSWER: Emf = -0.32 + +0.80 = 0.48 v
Current flows from oxidation/anode to the reduction/cathode
Hence, current flows from metal A to metal B in the external circuit.
Find the set of values of x for which

46. 4 + 5x > 20 – 11x

ANSWER: {x : x > 1} [4 + 5x > 20 – 11x, hence 16x > 16, and x > 1]

47. 17 – 5x < 9x + 45

ANSWER: {x : x > -2} [ 17 – 5x < 9x + 45, -14x < 28, 14x > - 28, x > - 2 ]

48. 9x – 17 + 6x – 8 > 20

ANSWER: {x : x < 3} [ 9x – 17 + 6x – 8 < 20, 15x < 45, x < 3]

PROBLEM OF THE DAY

The roots of the quadratic equation x 2  bx  c 0 are  and  .

a) Evaluate i)    ,
2 2
ii) (   )
2

b) Find the quadratic equation whose roots are (    ) and (   )

2 2 2

SOLUTION
a)     b ,  c (2 Marks)

i)    (   )  2 b  2c
2 2 2 2
(2 Marks)
ii) (   )     2 b  2c  2c b  4c
2 2 2 2 2
(2 Marks)

b) sum of roots = (   )  (   ) b  2c  b  4c 2b  6c

2 2 2 2 2 2
(1 Mark)

product of roots = (   )(   ) (b  2c)(b  4c)

2 2 2 2 2
(1 Mark)
Equation of the quadratic equation:
x 2  (2b 2  6c) x  (b 2  2c)(b 2  4c) 0 (2 Marks)
Total: 10 Marks

ROUND 3 – True or False

1. Sin 2A = 2sinA
ANSWER: FALSE
2. Cos 2A = 1 – 2sin2A
ANSWER: TRUE
3. Cos(A – B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB
ANSWER: TRUE
4. The curved surface area of a sphere is given by A = 4 r where r is the radius.
2

ANSWER: TRUE
5. The volume of a pyramid is given by V = a half base area times height
ANSWER: FALSE [V = a third base area times height]
1
 D2
6. Area of a circle is A = 2 where D is the diameter
1
 D2
ANSWER: FALSE [A = 4 ]
7. For a given amount of gas at a constant temperature a plot of V vs1/P will give a straight line.
ANSWER:TRUE [PV = nRT for a given amount, R and T are constant]
8. A reaction is likely to be spontaneous if ΔHreaction is negative.
ANSWER: TRUE
9. In the Haber Process the catalyst does not alter the yield of ammonia.
ANSWER:TRUE [Catalysts hasten the attainment of equilibrium, they do not change
the equilibrium constant.]
10. Kerosene and aviation fuel are usually obtained from different fractions in the distillation of
crude oil.
ANSWER:FALSE
11. Reforming a distillate of crude oil involves transforming saturated hydrocarbons to
unsaturated hydrocarbons.
ANSWER:FALSE

12. Branched chain hydrocarbons burn more smoothly than straight chain hydrocarbons of the
same molar mass.
ANSWER:TRUE
13. Lightning is an atmospheric electrical discharge event.
ANSWER:TRUE
14. Lightning can strike from ground to sky.
ANSWER:TRUE
15. Charge on a hollow conductor resides on the outside of the conductor.
ANSWER:TRUE
16. A Wheatstone bridge is used for comparing the masses of wires.
ANSWER:FALSE
17. A battery delivers maximum power when the load applied to it equals its internal resistance.
ANSWER:TRUE
18. A semiconductor becomes a perfect conductor at 0 K.
ANSWER:FALSE
19. The pigment in the eyes of insects absorbs shorter wavelengths of light than retina of humans
ANSWER:TRUE
20. Bees are blind to ultraviolet light
ANSWER:FALSE(They can see)
21. Bees are blind to red light
ANSWER:TRUE
22. Vascular cambium and cork cambium are absent in monocotyledonous plants
ANSWER:TRUE
23. In dicotyledonous plants, vascular bundles of stem are scattered
ANSWER:FALSE
24. In monocotyledonous plants, flower parts occur in fours and multiples of four
ANSWER:FALSE

ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. You may refer to US as a twin organ, since we occur in pairs.
2. We are located on either side of the vertebral column, just below the diaphragm where we enjoy
partial protection by the lower rib cage.
3. We are shaped like beans and appear reddish brown in humans.
4. We are responsible for the production of urine in mammals.

WHO ARE WE?

ANSWER: KIDNEY

Riddle #2
1. I am a special geometric figure.
2. I am formed by two rays with a common endpoint.
3. That makes me an angle.
4. My measure is always greater than that of an acute angle but less than that of an obtuse angle.
5. In a straight angle, there are two of me.
6. In the right type of triangle I am opposite the hypothenuse

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: A RIGHT ANGLE

Riddle #3
1. I am a binary compound.
2. I am very soluble in water.
3. I am normally gaseous at room temperature.
4. I am produced in an industrial process whose chemistry is often used to illustrate Le
Chaterlier’s Principle.
5. I or my aqueous solution turns red litmus blue.
6. My geometry is described as trigonal pyramid
WHO AM I?
ANSWER: AMMONIA/NH3
Riddle #4

1. I am a vector quantity.
2. I am derived from another vector quantity.
3. I am just the rate of change with time of that other vector.
4. .My magnitude can be constant while I am changing.
5. When that happens I describe uniform motion on a circle.
6. My magnitude is called speed.

WHO AM I?
ANSWER: VELOCITY