CONTEST21
ROUND 1
1. How many molecules of pyruvate are formed during glycolysis?
ANSWER: 2
2. State the total number of ATP molecules that are consumed during glycolysis.
ANSWER: 2 ATP molecules
3. State the total number of ATP molecules that are produced during glycolysis.
ANSWER: 4
4. Which of the following is conserved when two objects collide and stick together: kinetic
energy, linear momentum, mass?
ANSWER: Linear momentum
5. Which of the following is conserved in a nuclear reaction: mass, mass number, neutron
number
ANSWER: Mass number
6. Which of the following is conserved when two objects collide elastically: velocity, kinetic
energy, linear momentum?
ANSWER: Linear momentum and kinetic energy
7. If the numbers (x – 4), (x + 2) and (3x + 1) are consecutive terms of an Arithmetic
Progression find x.
ANSWER: x = 7/2 [ (x + 2) – (x – 4) = (3x + 1) – (x + 2), hence 2x – 1 = 6 and
2x = 7, x = 7/2]
8. The numbers (x – 1), (x + 1) and (x + 9) are consecutive terms of a Geometric
Progression. Find x
ANSWER: x = 5/3 [ (x + 1)2 = (x – 1)(x + 9), x2 + 2x + 1 = x2 + 8x – 9,
6x = 10 and x = 5/3]
9. The numbers x, (x + 1) and (x + 4) are consecutive terms of a Geometric Progression.
Find x
ANSWER: x = ½ [ (x + 1)2 = x(x + 4), x2 + 2x + 1 = x2 + 4x, hence 2x = 1
and x = ½ ]
10. Why does the first ionization energy decrease down each group in the Main Group
elements of the Periodic Table?
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ANSWER: Attractive forces on the valence electrons decrease as one goes down
a Group.
11. Why does the first ionization energy increase across a Period of the Main Group
Elements of the Periodic Group.?
ANSWER: The attractive forces on the valence electrons increase from to
right across the Period
12. Why do the attractive forces on valence electrons in a Period of the Main Group
elements increase from left to right?
ANSWER: Valence electrons enter the same shell but the nuclear charge
increases.
Fill in the blanks
13. Root and shoots of plants increase in length through the activity of……….
ANSWER: Apical Meristem
14. Older roots and stems increase in thickness through the activity of …..
ANSWER: vascular cambium/Lateral meristem
15. The soft, moist parts of plants consist mostly of what cells?
ANSWER: Parenchyma cells
16. Name the region of the electromagnetic spectrumwhere the Lyman seriesof the hydrogen
spectrum is located.
ANSWER: Ultraviolet
17. Name the region of the electromagnetic spectrumin which the Paschen seriesof the hydrogen
spectrum is located.
ANSWER: Infrared
18. Name the region of the electromagnetic spectrumwhere the Balmer seriesof the hydrogen
spectrum is located.
ANSWER: Visible
19. The product of two positive numbers is 100. Find the minimum possible sum of the
numbers.
ANSWER: 20 [ xy = 100, S = x + y , S = x + 100/x, dS/dx = 1 – 100/x2 = 0, x2
= 100, x = 10, y = 10, S = 20 ]
20. The sum of two numbers is 10. Find their maximum possible product.
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ANSWER: 25 [x + y = 10, y = 10 – x, P = xy = x(x – 10), dP/dx = 2x – 10 =
0, x = 5, y = 5 and P = 25]
21. Given that y = x2 + 16/x, find the maximum or minimum value of y
ANSWER: 12 minimum [ dy/dx = 2x – 16/x2 = 0. x3 = 8, and x = 2. d2y/dx2 =
2 + 3/x2, at x = 2, d2y/dx2 > 0, a minimum and y = 4 + 16/2 = 4 + 8
= 12 ]
22. Name the reagent required to convert ethene to 1,2-dibromoethane
ANSWER: Br2 in CHCl3 or CCl4
23. Name the reagent required to convert ethene to 1,2-ethanediol
ANSWER: Dilute, neutral KMnO4
24. Name the reagent required to convert ethene to chloroethane
ANSWER: HCl gas
State the function of the following structures in the larvae of mosquito
25. Anal Gills
ANSWER: For gaseous exchange (don’t accept breathing)
26. Mouth Brushes
ANSWER: For filter feeding
27. Hairs
ANSWER: For holding larvae to water surface
An object is projected from the ground at at an angle of to the horizontal
and returns to the ground after moving with negligible air resistance. Acceleration
due to gravity is .
28. How high does the object rise?
ANSWER:
29. How long is the object airborne?
ANSWER:
Time to highest point is
so
flight time is .
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30. How far from the launch point does the object land?
ANSWER:
Range .
31. Find a vector of length 10 parallel to the vector a = 2i – 2j.
ANSWER: [ |2i – 2j| 4 4 2 2 , hence vector is
10
(2i 2 j ) 5 2(i j )
2 2 ]
32. Find a vector perpendicular to the vector a =3i + 4j and of length 10
ANSWER: (8i 6 j ) [Vector perpendicular to given vector is 4i – 3j,
required vector is 8i – 6j, or – 8i + 6j ].
33. Find the scalar product of the vectors a = 5i -7j and b 14i + 10j. What can you
conclude?
ANSWER: 0. The vectors are perpendicular [ a.b = 5(14) – 7(10) = 70 - 70 = 0 ]
34. Which forms of energy come into play when solid NaOH dissolves in water?
ANSWER: Lattice energy and heats of hydration of the ions
35. When solid ammonium chloride dissolves in water heat is absorbed. How do you
explain this observation?
ANSWER: The energy absorbed to break up the lattice/lattice energy is greater
than heat given out as a result of the hydration of the ions/
hydration energy
36. When concentrated H2SO4 is dissolved in water a lot of heat is generated. How do
you account for this?
ANSWER: Hydration energy is higher than energy required to break inter-
molecular forces/H-bonding and dissociate the molecules/
dissociation energy
37. If a parent cell has 14 chromosomes then the daughter cells following meiosis will
have how many chromosomes.
ANSWER: 7 chromosomes
38. The tendency for traits to be passed from parents to offspring is called
ANSWER: Heredity
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39. What name is given to an allele which has the ability to mask its complementary
allele?
ANSWER: Dominant Allele
40. What is the distance through which a 15 kg object is lifted if of work is done in lifting
it and acceleration due to gravity is ?
ANSWER:
41. What is the average current through a water heater operated at if it delivers 36 kJ of
heat in one minute?
ANSWER:
42. How much electrical work is done when an object carrying a charge of is moved
through a potential difference of ?
ANSWER:
43. Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment with endpoints A(-
(-2, 3) and B(4, -3)
ANSWER: y = x + 5 [midpoint is (1, 0), slope of segment (-3 – 3)(4 –(-2)) = -
6/6 = -1
Slope of perpendicular line is 1, hence y – 3 = 1(x + 2), or y = x + 5]
44. Find the equation of the line through the point A(4,6) and perpendicular to the line
with equation 2x + 3y = 6.
ANSWER: y = 3x/2 [slope of line is -2/3, slope of perpendicular line
is 3/2, equation of perpendicular line is (y – 6) = (3/2)(x – 4) =
3x/2 – 6, hence y = 3x/2
45. Find the equation of the line through the point A(5, 5) and parallel to the line with
equation 3x – 5y = 10.
ANSWER: y = 3x/5 + 2 [slope of given line = 3/5, hence y – 5 = (3/5)(x – 5) ,
y – 5 = 3x/5 – 3, y = 3x/5 + 2
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46. Tetraoxomanganate VII ion reacts with ethanedioate ion in acid solution to give
manganese II ion, carbon IV oxide and water. Write the balanced equation for the
reaction.
ANSWER: 2MnO4- + 5C2O42- + 16H+ → 2Mn2+ + 10CO2 +
8H2O
47. Hexaoxo-μ-oxo-dichromate VI ion reacts with iron II ion in acid medium to give
chromium III ion, iron III ion and water. Write the balanced equation for the reaction.
ANSWER: Cr2O72- + 6Fe2+ + 14H+ → 2Cr3+ + 6Fe3+ + 7H2O
48. Sulphur IV oxide is obtained in commercial quantities from the roasting of iron
pyrites FeS2, an ore of iron which on roasting gives iron III oxide. Write the balanced
equation for the reaction.
ANSWER: 4FeS2 + 11O2 → Fe2O3 + 8SO2
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PROBLEM OF THE DAY
You are provided with about 250 cm3 of a mixture of two organic
solvents, one with a boiling point of 65oC and the other with a boiling
point of 80oC. Outline a method by which the two solvents can neatly be
separated.
SOLUTION:
1. The liquid mixture is transferred into a 500 cm3 round bottom flask with a funnel.
2. A few boiling chips are added.
3. The flask is clamped over a water bath or in a heating mantle.
4. A fractionating column is connected to the flask, followed by a still head with a
thermometer.
5. A water/Liebig condenser with a receiver adapter is attached.
6. With the water running in the condenser and a receiver in place, the heating of the
water bath is started.
7. As the mixture boils drops of the first solvent collect in the receiver.
8. The temperature is watched and the moment it rises to 65oC the receiver is
changed and the collection of the first solvent begins.
9. When all the first solvent distills off, the temperature drops.
10. The receiver is changed, the bath temperature increased and kept at a steady
temperature until all the second solvent distills off.
11. The distillation is stopped when about 5 cm3 is left in the flask.
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ROUND 3 – True or False
1. When two figures are similar, they are also congruent.
ANSWER: FALSE
2. Two congruent figures are identical in shape and size
ANSWER: TRUE
3. Similarity involves same shape but not size.
ANSWER: TRUE
4. In a kite, the shorter diagonal bisects the angles at its ends
ANSWER: FALSE
5. In a triangle, for any two unequal sides, the longer side has the greater angle opposite
it
ANSWER: TRUE
6. In a parallelogram a diagonal is an axis of symmetry an axis of symmetry
ANSWER: FALSE
7. The oxidation state of sulphur in the compound Na2S4O6 is +2
ANSWER: FALSE It is 2.5
8. The oxidation state of oxygen in H2O2 is -1
ANSWER: TRUE
9. The oxidation state of iodine in HIO4 is +7
ANSWER: TRUE
10. 1-Butanol and 2-methyl-2propanol are isomers
ANSWER: TRUE
11. 2-Methyl-2-propanol can bend the plane of polarized light.
ANSWER: FALSE lacks a chiral/asymmetric carbon.
12. 2-Methyl-2-propanol can be oxidized to a an alkanone
ANSWER: FALSE it is tertiary alkanol hence cannot be oxidized to alkanone
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13. The pitch a guitar string produces increases as the mass per unit length of the string
increases.
ANSWER: False
14. The pitch a piano string produces increases as the tension in the string increases.
ANSWER: True
15. The pitch of the fundamental note a piano string produces increases as the length of the
string increases.
ANSWER: False
16. A charged hollow conductor has charge only on the outside surface of the conductor.
ANSWER: True
17. A charged spherical conductor has more charge on its top half than on its bottom half.
ANSWER: False
18. A charged conical conductor has more charge at the tip of the cone than on any other part.
ANSWER: True
19.Lizards have homodont teeth.
ANSWER: True
20.The fore limbs in lizards are longer than hind limbs
ANSWER: False
21.The lizard obtains oxygen though the lungs
ANSWER: True
22.Cocoyam is a rhizome
ANSWER: False
23.Rhizome is a modified root
ANSWER: False
24.Ginger is a bulb
ANSWER: False
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ROUND 4 – Riddles
Riddle #1
1. I am one of the polymers that occur in nature.
2. Chemically I am a condensation polymer
3. I am a major source of energy to some large families in the animal kingdom.
4. My monomers are joined through carbon-oxygen-carbon bonds
5. Unfortunately human beings cannot break me down in their system.
6. Like starch I am made up of glucose units
Who Am I? –
ANSWER: Cellulose
Riddle #2
1. I am an optical instrument.
2. I can make objects appear larger than they are.
3. I can also make objects appear smaller.
4. I am usually made with glass.
5. I have two surfaces.
6. One of my surfaces is convex.
7. I am called converging.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Converging lens
Riddle #3
1. I am a deep sea animal abundant in warm waters
2. Even though I do not know how to write, I have an ink gland that ejects a cloud of ink
which protects me from detection by predators
3. Devil fish is an alternate (and rather obsolete) name of me
4. But my real name literally means 8 feet and indeed, I have eight arms surrounding my
head.
WHO AM I?
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ANSWER: Octopus
Riddle #4
1. I am a quadrilateral.
2. I have two pairs of congruent sides but I am not a parallelogram.
3. Mind you I have only one pair of congruent opposite angles.
4. I have one diagonal as the only axis of symmetry.
5. My diagonals intersect perpendicularly.
6. I can be flown and in some sense I can fly.
7. Mind you I am a bird of prey.
Who am I?
ANSWER: KITE
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