Class 8 Chemistry – Question Bank

1. Matter

Part A – HOTS Questions

Q1. Why does a balloon filled with helium rise up in air?

A1. Helium is lighter than air, so the balloon experiences an upward buoyant force and rises.

Q2. Why does ice float on water?

A2. Because ice is less dense than liquid water due to its open lattice structure.

Q3. Why do camphor and naphthalene disappear when left in the open?

A3. Because they undergo sublimation (direct change from solid to gas).

Q4. Why does a sponge though compressible still classify as a solid?

A4. Because it has a definite shape and volume, though it contains pores filled with air.

Q5. Why do we feel comfortable in cotton clothes in summer?

A5. Cotton absorbs sweat and allows it to evaporate, taking heat from our body and keeping
us cool.

Part B – Assertion and Reason Questions

Q6. Assertion: Gases can be compressed easily.

Reason: The particles of gases are loosely packed with large intermolecular spaces.

• (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation.
• (b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation.
• (c) Assertion is true, Reason is false.
• (d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.

Answer: (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation.

Q7. Assertion: Liquids do not have a fixed shape.

Reason: The molecules of liquids can slide over one another.

• Options: (a), (b), (c), (d) as above

Answer: (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation.

Q8. Assertion: Solids cannot flow.

Reason: The molecules of solids are held together by strong intermolecular forces.

Answer: (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation.

Q9. Assertion: Diffusion takes place faster in gases than in liquids.

Reason: The particles in gases move freely and have negligible intermolecular forces
compared to liquids.

Answer: (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation.

Q10. Assertion: Water vapour is also a form of matter.

Reason: Matter must always be visible to exist.

Answer: (c) Assertion is true, Reason is false.

2. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

[Link] element.

A11.A pure substance made up of only one kind of atom.

[Link] two examples of elements.

A12. Hydrogen, Oxygen.

Q13 What is a compound?

A13 A pure substance made of two or more elements chemically combined in fixed
proportions.

Q14 Give two examples of compounds.

A14 Water (H₂O), Carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Q15 Define mixture.

A15 A substance that contains two or more elements or compounds physically mixed, not
chemically combined.

Q16 Give two examples of mixtures.

A16. . Air, Salt solution.

Q17Write one difference between a compound and a mixture.

A17 . Compounds have fixed composition; mixtures do not.

3. Language of Chemistry

Q18. What is a chemical symbol?

A18 A one- or two-letter representation of an element, e.g., H for hydrogen.

Q19. What is a chemical formula?

A19 A symbolic representation of a compound, e.g., H₂O for water.

Q20 Write the chemical formula of carbon dioxide.

A20 . CO₂.

Q21Write the formula for sodium chloride.

A21 NaCl.

Q22 What is valency?

A22. The combining capacity of an element’s atom.

Q23. What is a chemical equation?

A23 A symbolic representation of a chemical reaction using symbols and formulas.

Q24. Give one example of a chemical equation.

A24. H₂ + O₂ → H₂O.

4. Atomic Structure

Q25 Who discovered the electron?

A25 . J. J. Thomson.

Q26 Who discovered the neutron?

A26 James Chadwick.

Q27 Name the three subatomic particles of an atom.

A27 Proton, neutron, electron.

Q28 What is the charge on a proton?

A28 +1 (positive charge).

Q25. What is the charge on an electron?

A25. –1 (negative charge).

Q26. Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom?

A26. In the nucleus.

Q27. Where are electrons located in an atom?

A27. In orbits/shells around the nucleus.

Q28. What is the atomic number?

A28. The number of protons in an atom.

Q29. What is the mass number?

A29. The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Q30. Write the electronic configuration of oxygen (Z = 8).

A30. 2, 6.

2. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

Q6. Give one example each of:

(a) Element – Oxygen

(b) Compound – Water

(c) Mixture – Salt solution

Q7. Why is air considered a mixture?

A7. Because it contains several gases physically mixed without chemical combination.

Q8. Which is easier to separate – mixture or compound? Why?

A8. Mixtures, because their components are not chemically combined.

Q9. Why is water a compound and not a mixture?

A9. Because hydrogen and oxygen combine in a fixed ratio (2:1) chemically.
HOTS Q10. Brass is a mixture but water is a compound. Why?

A10. Brass is an alloy with variable composition (Cu and Zn), while water has fixed ratio of
hydrogen and oxygen.

3. Language of Chemistry

Q11. What does the formula Na₂SO₄ represent?

A11. Sodium sulphate – 2 sodium atoms, 1 sulphur atom, and 4 oxygen atoms.

Q12. Write the valency of chlorine.

A12. 1.

Q13. Write the chemical equation for burning of magnesium ribbon.

A13. 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO.

Q14. What are reactants and products?

A14. Substances taking part in a reaction are reactants; new substances formed are products.

Q15. Why should chemical equations be balanced?

A15. To obey the law of conservation of mass.

HOTS Q16. Write the balanced equation for the decomposition of water into hydrogen and
oxygen.

A16. 2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂.

4. Atomic Structure

Q17. Who gave the nuclear model of an atom?

A17. Ernest Rutherford.

Q18. Who gave the planetary model of an atom?

A18. Niels Bohr.

Q19. What is the nucleus?

A19. The small, dense, positively charged central part of an atom containing protons and
neutrons.

Q20. Write the electronic configuration of sodium (Z = 11).

A20. 2, 8, 1.

Q21. Why is the overall charge on an atom zero?

A21. Because the number of protons (+) equals the number of electrons (–).

Q22. Name one element with valency 2.

A22. Oxygen.

Q23. What is the valency of magnesium (Z = 12)?

A23. 2.

HOTS Q24. An atom has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons.

(a) What is its atomic number?

(b) What is its mass number?

A24. (a) Atomic number = 6 (Carbon)

(b) Mass number = 12.

Reasoning Q25. Why do noble gases not form compounds easily?

A25. Because they have completely filled outermost shells (stable configuration).

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. Matter is anything that has:

(a) Energy and force

(b) Mass and occupies space

(c) Shape and color

(d) Volume only

Ans: (b) Mass and occupies space

Q2. Which of the following is a compound?

(a) Air

(b) Water

(c) Brass

(d) Soil
Ans: (b) Water

Q3. The symbol of Sodium is:

(a) S

(b) Na

(c) So

(d) Sd

Ans: (b) Na

Q4. The electron was discovered by:

(a) Rutherford

(b) Chadwick

(c) J. J. Thomson

(d) Bohr

Ans: (c) J. J. Thomson

Q5. Atomic number is equal to:

(a) Number of protons

(b) Number of neutrons

(c) Protons + neutrons

(d) Number of electrons + neutrons

Ans: (a) Number of protons

Section B: Fill in the Blanks

Q6. Solids have a definite ______ and definite ______.

Ans: shape, volume

Q7. The smallest unit of an element is an ______.

Ans: atom

Q8. A pure substance made of two or more elements chemically combined is called a
______.

Ans: compound

Q9. The combining capacity of an atom is called its ______.

Ans: valency

Q10. Protons and neutrons are present in the ______ of an atom.

Ans: nucleus

Section D: Short Answer Questions

Q12. Why is air called a mixture?

Ans: Because it is made up of several gases (like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide)
physically mixed in variable proportion.
Q13. Why should a chemical equation be balanced?

Ans: To obey the law of conservation of mass.

Q14. Give two differences between a compound and a mixture.

Ans:

1. Compounds have fixed composition; mixtures do not.

2. Compounds are chemically combined; mixtures are physically combined.

Section E: HOTS/Reasoning

Q15. Why can gases be compressed easily but solids cannot?

Ans: Because gas particles are far apart with large intermolecular space, while solid particles
are tightly packed.

Q16. Brass is a mixture but water is a compound. Why?

Ans: Brass is an alloy with variable composition (Cu + Zn), while water has hydrogen and
oxygen in a fixed ratio (2:1).

Q17. An atom has 11 protons, 11 electrons, and 12 neutrons.

(a) What is its atomic number?

(b) What is its mass number?

(c) Which element is this?

Ans:

(a) Atomic number = 11

(b) Mass number = 23

(c) Sodium (Na)

Q1.

Balance the following:

H₂ + O₂ → H₂O

Answer:

• LHS: H = 2, O = 2
• RHS: H = 2, O = 1
• To balance oxygen → put 2 before H₂O:

H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O

• Now H = 4 (RHS), so put 2 before H₂:

2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O

Q2.

Balance:

Mg + O₂ → MgO

Answer:

• LHS: Mg = 1, O = 2
• RHS: Mg = 1, O = 1
• Put 2 before MgO → Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
• Now Mg = 2 (RHS), so put 2 before Mg:

2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO

Q3.
Balance:

Zn + HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂

Answer:

• LHS: Zn = 1, H = 1, Cl = 1
• RHS: Zn = 1, H = 2, Cl = 2
• Put 2 before HCl:

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂

Balanced equation:

Q4.

Balance:

Fe + O₂ → Fe₂O₃

Answer:

• LHS: Fe = 1, O = 2
• RHS: Fe = 2, O = 3
• To balance, take LCM of O (2,3) = 6 → multiply O₂ by 3 and Fe₂O₃ by 2:

Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃

• Now Fe = 4 (RHS), so put 4 before Fe:

4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃

Q5.

Balance:
Ca(OH)₂ + HCl → CaCl₂ + H₂O

Answer:

• LHS: Ca = 1, O = 2, H = 3, Cl = 1
• RHS: Ca = 1, O = 1, H = 2, Cl = 2
• Put 2 before HCl:

Ca(OH)₂ + 2HCl → CaCl₂ + 2H₂O

• Check: Ca = 1, O = 2, H = 4, Cl = 2 (Balanced)

Balanced equation:

Q6.

Balance:

Na + H₂O → NaOH + H₂

Answer:

• LHS: Na = 1, H = 2, O = 1
• RHS: Na = 1, O = 1, H = 3
• Put 2 before Na and 2 before H₂O:

2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂

Balanced equation:

Q7.

Balance:

Al + O₂ → Al₂O₃
Answer:

• LHS: Al = 1, O = 2
• RHS: Al = 2, O = 3
• LCM of O (2,3) = 6 → multiply O₂ by 3 and Al₂O₃ by 2:

Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃

• Now Al = 4 on RHS → put 4 before Al:

4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃

Important points to remember

1. Isotopes

Definition:

Isotopes are atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different mass
numbers.

Explanation:

• Since the atomic number (protons) is the same, isotopes belong to the same element.
• The difference comes from the number of neutrons.

Examples:

1. Hydrogen isotopes:

• Protium (^1H): 1 proton, 0 neutrons

• Deuterium (^2H): 1 proton, 1 neutron
• Tritium (^3H): 1 proton, 2 neutrons

All three are hydrogen (Z = 1) but with different mass numbers (1, 2, 3).

2. Carbon isotopes:
 • Carbon-12 (^12C): 6 protons, 6 neutrons
• Carbon-14 (^14C): 6 protons, 8 neutrons

Both are carbon (Z = 6), but masses differ.

2. Isobars

Definition:

Isobars are atoms of different elements having the same mass number but different atomic
numbers.

Explanation:

• They have the same total number of nucleons (protons + neutrons).

• But since atomic numbers differ, they are different elements with different chemical
properties.

Examples:

1. Calcium-40 and Argon-40

• Calcium (^40Ca): Atomic number = 20 (20 protons, 20 neutrons)

• Argon (^40Ar): Atomic number = 18 (18 protons, 22 neutrons)

Both have mass number 40, but are different elements.

2. Potassium-40 and Calcium-40

• Potassium (^40K): Atomic number = 19

• Calcium (^40Ca): Atomic number = 20

Both have mass number 40 but are different elements.