📌 Topics for Short Questions – Chapter 1 (States of Matter and Phase Changes)
Short questions in board exams usually come from these topics:
| # | Short Question | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is chemistry? | Branch of science dealing with matter and its changes |
| 2 | Define organic chemistry. | Study of carbon compounds |
| 3 | Define inorganic chemistry. | Study of compounds without carbon-hydrogen bonds |
| 4 | What is physical chemistry? | Study of physical properties and energy changes |
| 5 | Define analytical chemistry. | Separation, identification, and quantification |
| 6 | What is biochemistry? | Chemical processes in living organisms |
| 7 | Define environmental chemistry. | Chemical phenomena in the environment |
| 8 | What is nuclear chemistry? | Study of nuclear reactions |
| 9 | Define polymer chemistry. | Study of polymers and plastics |
| 10 | What are the three states of matter? | Solid, liquid, gas |
| 11 | Define a solid with examples. | Definite shape and volume (ice, iron) |
| 12 | Define a liquid with examples. | No definite shape but definite volume (water, milk) |
| 13 | Define a gas with examples. | No definite shape or volume (air, oxygen) |
| 14 | What are the properties of solids? | Definite shape, high density, incompressible |
| 15 | What are the properties of liquids? | No definite shape, slight compressibility |
| 16 | What are the properties of gases? | No definite shape, low density, easily compressible |
| 17 | Define melting with an example. | Solid → Liquid (ice melting) |
| 18 | Define freezing with an example. | Liquid → Solid (water freezing) |
| 19 | Define evaporation with an example. | Liquid → Gas (water boiling) |
| 20 | Define condensation with an example. | Gas → Liquid (steam on mirror) |
| 21 | Define sublimation with an example. | Solid → Gas (dry ice, iodine) |
| 22 | What is an element? Give examples. | Pure substance, one type of atom (O₂, Fe) |
| 23 | What is a compound? Give examples. | Chemical combination (H₂O, CO₂) |
| 24 | What is a mixture? Give examples. | Physical combination (air, saltwater) |
| 25 | Define allotropy. | Same element different structural forms |
| 26 | Name the allotropic forms of carbon. | Diamond, Graphite, Fullerene |
| 27 | Name the allotropic forms of oxygen. | Oxygen (O₂), Ozone (O₃) |
| 28 | Name the allotropic forms of sulphur. | Rhombic, Monoclinic |
| 29 | What is a true solution? Give examples. | Homogeneous, <1nm (salt in water) |
| 30 | What is a colloidal solution? Give examples. | Heterogeneous, 1-1000nm (milk) |
| 31 | What is a suspension? Give examples. | Heterogeneous, >1000nm (muddy water) |
| 32 | What is the Tyndall effect? | Scattering of light by colloids |
| 33 | Define solubility. | Maximum solute that can dissolve |
| 34 | What is an unsaturated solution? | Can dissolve more solute |
| 35 | What is a saturated solution? | Cannot dissolve more solute |
| 36 | What is a supersaturated solution? | Contains more solute than normal |
| 37 | How does temperature affect the solubility of solids? | Increases with temperature |
| 38 | How does temperature affect the solubility of gases? | Decreases with temperature |
| 39 | What is plasma? | Ionized gas (fluorescent tubes) |
| 40 | What are liquid crystals? | Intermediate state between liquid and solid (LCDs) |