HKDSE Chemistry – A Modern View

Part I Planet Earth

Multiple Choice Questions

Chemistry: Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Chemistry

Combined Science (Chemistry Part): Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Chemistry

Sections 1.1−1.2
|!|EMA010101001O|!|
Which of the following parts of our modern lives do chemistry plays an important role
in?
(1) Clothing
(2) Medical care
(3) Food
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
□
##D##

|!|EMA010101002O|!|
In which of the following is chemistry involved?
(1) Making of glass
(2) Gardening
(3) Fire fighting
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
□
##D##

Section 1.3
|!|EMA010101003O|!|
Which of the following substances is an element?
A. Ice
B. Coal

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C. Sand
D. Iron
□
##D Ice is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen. Coal is a mixture of carbon,
hydrocarbons and other compounds. Sand is mainly a compound of silicon and
oxygen.##

|!|EMA010101004O|!|
Which of the following is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust?
A. Aluminium
B. Oxygen
C. Iron
D. Nitrogen
□
##A Oxygen is the most abundant element but it is not a metal. Nitrogen is most
abundant only in air (about 78%). Although iron is the most commonly used metal, it
is only the second most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust.##

|!|EMB010101005O|!|
Which of the following is NOT a decomposition of a compound?
A. Heating mercury(II) oxide strongly in a Bunsen flame.
B. Electrolysis of water.
C. Dissolving salt in water.
D. Ammonia → hydrogen + nitrogen
□
##C Mercury(II) oxide is decomposed into mercury and oxygen on strong heating.
Water is electrolyzed to give hydrogen and oxygen. Ammonia is a compound of
hydrogen and nitrogen, so it shows a chemical change.##

|!|EMA010101006O|!|
Which of the following is a pure substance?
A. Distilled water
B. Air
C. Sea water
D. Petroleum
□
##A Distilled water is pure water. Air is a mixture of different gases such as oxygen
and nitrogen. Sea water is a mixture of different substances such as water, salts, etc.

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Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons of different kinds.##

|!|EMA010101007O|!|
Which of the following is NOT true for a compound?
A. The composition by mass of the constituent elements is fixed.
B. Heat is usually given out or absorbed when the compound is formed.
C. Properties are entirely different from those of the constituent elements.
D. Constituent elements can be separated by physical methods such as
distillation.
□
##D Constituent elements in a compound can only be separated by chemical
methods.##

|!|EMB010101008O|!|
Which of the following combinations is INCORRECT?
Substance Description
A. Coca-cola Pure compound
B. Air Mixture
C. Vinegar Mixture
D. Aluminium oxide Pure compound
□
##A Coca-cola is a mixture of water, sugar, carbonic acid and food additives. Air is a
mixture of different gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour, etc. Vinegar is
mainly a mixture of water and ethanoic acid. Aluminium oxide is a pure compound.##

|!|EMB010101009O|!|
Sodium chloride is a compound because it
A. is formed when sodium and chlorine react.
B. forms cubic crystals.
C. has a sharp melting point.
D. is not decomposed by heat.
□
##A##

|!|EMB010101010O|!|
Iron(II) sulphide is a compound because
A. it consists of more than one element.
B. the percentage masses of its constituent elements are fixed.

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C. it reacts with an acid.

D. it is non-magnetic.
□
##B##

Section 1.4
|!|EMA010101011O|!|
Which of the following are physical properties of a substance?
(1) Density
(2) Melting point
(3) Colour
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
□
##D##

|!|EMA010101012O|!|
Which of the following is a chemical property of water?
A. Water boils at 100oC at room conditions.
B. Water causes iron to rust at room conditions.
C. Water floats on oil at room conditions.
D. Water is a colourless liquid at room conditions.
□
##B Iron will react slowly with water and oxygen in air to form hydrated iron(III)
oxide, i.e. a new substance is formed during the change.##

|!|EMB010101013O|!|
Which of the following is NOT a chemical property of sodium?
A. Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide.
B. Sodium tarnishes rapidly when exposed in air.
C. Sodium can be cut into small pieces easily with a knife.
D. Sodium burns vigorously in air with a golden yellow flame.
□
##C It is only a change in size and no new substance is formed. New substance is
formed in other options. Sodium reacts with oxygen to give sodium oxide.##

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|!|EMA010101014O|!|
Which of the following is a physical property of water?
A. It has a density of 1 g dm−3 at room conditions.
B. Ice melts at 0°C under 1 atmospheric pressure.
C. Ice sublimes at room conditions.
D. It is a good conductor of electricity.
□
##B##

|!|EMA010101015O|!|
Which of the following is a chemical property of carbon dioxide?
A. It is a colourless gas.
B. It is denser than air.
C. It can be cooled to make dry ice.
D. It turns limewater milky.
□
##D##

|!|EMA010101016O|!|
Which of the following would best represent the arrangement of one layer of mercury
atoms at room temperature? (Mercury is a liquid.)
A. B.

C. D.

□
##A##

Section 1.5
|!|EMA010101017O|!|
Which of the following substances can sublime at one atmospheric pressure?
A Ice
B. Sugar

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C. Iodine
D. Table salt
□
##C Iodine solid can sublime to form vapour on heating, while the other substances
will not sublime even on heating.##

|!|EMA010101018O|!|
Which of the following is NOT a physical change?
A. Ice melts.
B. Water boils to become steam.
C. Carbon burns in oxygen.
D. Dry ice sublimes to become carbon dioxide gas.
□
##C It is a chemical change. A physical change is a change in which no new
substances are formed. Carbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a new
substance formed. Other options just involve changes of states.##

|!|EMA010101019O|!|
Which of the following is a chemical change?
A. Electrolysis of water to give hydrogen and oxygen
B. Dissolving salt in water to give a salt solution
C. Condensing water vapour to water
D. Melting of wax in a burning candle
□
##A New substances (hydrogen and oxygen) are formed during electrolysis. Other
options just involve changes of states.##

Section 1.6
|!|EMA010101020O|!|
Which of the following activities is NOT included as an observation in chemistry?
A. Smelling with nose
B. Hearing with ears
C. Feeling with hands
D. Tasting with tongue
□
##D It is a dangerous action to put chemicals into the mouth for any kind of
testing.##

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|!|EMA010101021O|!|
Which of the following combinations is INCORRECT?

Hazard warning label Meaning

A. Corrosive

B. Flammable

C. Explosive

D. Toxic

□
##B The label should be described as oxidizing. The correct label for flammable

should be ##

|!|EMA010101022O|!|
Which of the following combinations is INCORRECT?

Apparatus Name of apparatus

A. Test tube rack

B. Beaker

C. Funnel

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D. Safety spectacles

□
##D The apparatus shown is a conical flask. Safety spectacles should look like this:

##

Each question below consists of two separate statements. Decide whether each of
the two statements is true or false; if both are true, then decide whether or not
the second statement is a correct explanation of the first statement. Then select
one option from A to D according to the following table:

A. Both statements are true and the 2nd statement is a correct explanation of
the 1st statement.
B. Both statements are true and the 2nd statement is NOT a correct
explanation of the 1st statement.
C. The 1st statement is false but the 2nd statement is true.
D. Both statements are false.

Sections 1.1−1.3
|!|EMB010101023O|!|
In carbon dioxide, the ratio by mass of Carbon dioxide is a compound.
carbon to oxygen is fixed.
□
##A Carbon dioxide is a compound formed by elements carbon and oxygen. The ratio
by mass of carbon to oxygen in carbon dioxide is 12:32 = 3:8##

Sections 1.4−1.5
|!|EMB010101024O|!|
Passing electricity through the Heat and light energy are produced
tungsten filament inside a light bulb is when a light bulb is lit.
a physical change.
□
##B No new substances are formed when electricity is passed through the filament.##

Section 1.6
|!|EMA010101025O|!|
Great care must be taken not to spill Mercury is quite expensive.
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mercury on the benches or the floor.
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□
##B##

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