41 chemistry trivia questions and answers
The current material introduces element symbols, familiar substances, atomic nuclei, pH, oxidation, catalysts, phase changes, allotropes, and the bonding range of carbon.
Updated
Questions 1–20
What element has the chemical symbol O?
easy
Oxygen
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen?oldid=1356586589
Which element has the symbol Au?
easy
Gold
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold?oldid=1364204831
Which familiar substance is an inorganic compound?
hard
Water
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water?oldid=1365146386
Which gas fills many party balloons so they float safely?
easy
Helium
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium?oldid=1366031206#Flight
What element makes up diamond and graphite?
medium
Carbon
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon?oldid=1356422152#Characteristics
Which element has a form that becomes ferromagnetic below its Curie point?
hard
Iron
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron?oldid=1364467036#Magnetic_properties
What does the pH scale measure?
medium
The activity of hydrogen cations in the solution
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH?oldid=1365068287
Which element gives table salt the first half of its chemical name, sodium chloride?
easy
Sodium
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_chloride?oldid=1361150387
Why does an iron nail rust?
medium
The reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust?oldid=1361494391
Which noble gas produces a reddish-orange glow in signs?
easy
Neon
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon?oldid=1363486808#Lighting_and_signage
What does an atomic nucleus consist of?
easy
Protons and neutrons
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_nucleus?oldid=1358772000
How does a catalyst change a chemical reaction?
hard
An alternative reaction mechanism
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalysis?oldid=1358271976#Catalytic_reaction_mechanisms
Which element was named after the planet Uranus?
easy
Uranium
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium?oldid=1364652270
What is sublimation?
medium
The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublimation_(phase_transition)?oldid=1362966876
Why can carbon form an exceptionally large variety of compounds?
hard
Stable chemical bonds with many elements, particularly with other carbon atoms
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon?oldid=1356422152#Characteristics
According to conservation of mass, can mass be created or destroyed in a closed system?
medium
Mass can neither be created nor destroyed
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_mass?oldid=1365127168
How does an exothermic process affect energy?
medium
Releases energy from the system to its surroundings
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exothermic_process?oldid=1343544837
What does an endothermic process absorb?
medium
Absorbs heat from its surroundings
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process?oldid=1346147892
What force holds oppositely charged ions together in ionic bonding?
medium
Electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionic_bonding?oldid=1359556665
How are electrons involved in a covalent bond?
medium
Sharing of electrons to form electron pairs between atoms
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covalent_bond?oldid=1347405474
Questions 21–40
How many elementary entities are in one mole?
hard
6.02214076×10^23 elementary entities
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(unit)?oldid=1363520051
How do isotopes of the same element differ in their nuclei?
medium
Different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotope?oldid=1364129642
What count gives an element its atomic number?
easy
The number of protons
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_number?oldid=1364260281
In a redox reaction, what is oxidation?
medium
Oxidation is the loss of electrons
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redox?oldid=1361520460
What is exchanged when a Brønsted-Lowry acid reacts with a base?
hard
A proton
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%B8nsted%E2%80%93Lowry_acid%E2%80%93base_theory?oldid=1364155633
How does blue litmus paper react in an acidic medium?
medium
Blue litmus paper turns red
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litmus?oldid=1357365761
Which two operations separate a liquid mixture during distillation?
medium
Selective boiling of the mixture and the condensation of the vapors
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distillation?oldid=1360136339
What is chromatography used to separate?
hard
A mixture into its components
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatography?oldid=1360629607
What is the solid formed during precipitation called?
hard
The precipitate
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation_(chemistry)?oldid=1349299573
When is a solution considered aqueous?
medium
The solvent is water
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueous_solution?oldid=1354245868
What are the non-solvent substances in a solution called?
medium
Solutes
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution_(chemistry)?oldid=1364066841
How does a buffer solution respond to dilution or a small acid or base addition?
hard
The pH does not change significantly
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_solution?oldid=1357017702
How can a polymer be recognized from its structure?
medium
Many repeating subunits
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer?oldid=1358323290
How does an electrolyte conduct electricity?
hard
Through the movement of ions
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte?oldid=1361995977
What chemical does the Haber process produce industrially?
hard
Ammonia
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haber_process?oldid=1352979226
Which two metals are the main constituents of brass?
medium
Copper and zinc
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass?oldid=1364113336
Which metal is the primary constituent of bronze?
medium
Copper
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze?oldid=1364724780
How can an amphoteric compound behave in acid-base chemistry?
hard
React both as an acid and as a base
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphoterism?oldid=1360318972
What can a flame test quickly detect in a sample?
medium
The presence of some elements
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flame_test?oldid=1362632327
What substance is dry ice the solid form of?
easy
Carbon dioxide
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_ice?oldid=1364696874
Questions 41–41
Chemically, what is soap?
hard
A salt of a fatty acid
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap?oldid=1363901391
How to play
Read element symbols as individual letters when the question shows a symbol, but do not volunteer a symbol when the player is being asked to supply it. Keep process questions open until the answer explains what changes, not merely the process name.
Plan the round and team scores
8 turns × 60 seconds = 8 minutes of play, plus instructions and breaks.
60
These are adjustable house rules. Pause whenever the group needs more time.
Team 1: 0
Team 2: 0