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Science Quiz - Reactions, Equations and Formulae 01 (Questions)

This is an enjoyable way to test your knowledge about chemical reactions. What are reactants?

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This KS3 Science quiz takes a look at reactions, equations and formulae. When atoms of two or more elements join together, a chemical reaction has taken place. It is also possible to get elements and compounds to react with each other too, for example a metal and an acid. In that case, the atoms are rearranged during the reaction and new substances are formed. When you are writing down a chemical equation the substances on the left hand side are what you started with. Those on the right hand side will be different and they are what you end up with. We call the starting materials reactants (reagents means the same) and the finishing materials are the products.

Some people find writing chemical formulae a mystery. Others find it easy. A formula is a short way of writing down what atoms are present in an element or compound.

Writing down the symbol of an element means there is one atom of the element there. Writing down the symbol of an element with a small number after it tells you how many atoms of the element there are. So writing down the symbol Fe means 'here is one atom of the element iron' and O2 means 'here we have two atoms of the element oxygen chemically joined together'. Which would you prefer to write down - the longhand or the shorthand?

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1. Which of the following metals do NOT react with water or steam?
[ ] Aluminium
[ ] Copper
[ ] Tin
[ ] Zinc
2. Which of the following metals is the most reactive with acids?
[ ] Aluminium
[ ] Iron
[ ] Magnesium
[ ] Zinc
3. The formula for potassium nitrate is KNO3. This means it contains:
[ ] 1 potassium atom, 1 nitrogen atom, 3 oxygen atoms
[ ] 1 potassium atom, 3 nitrogen atoms, 3 oxygen atoms
[ ] 3 potassium atoms, 3 nitrogen atoms, 3 oxygen atoms
[ ] 3 potassium atoms, 3 nitrogen atoms, 9 oxygen atoms
4. The formula for calcium hydroxide is Ca(OH)2. This means it contains:
[ ] 1 calcium atom, 1 oxygen atom, 2 hydrogen atoms
[ ] 1 calcium atom, 2 oxygen atoms, 1 hydrogen atom
[ ] 1 calcium atom, 2 oxygen atoms, 2 hydrogen atoms
[ ] 2 calcium atoms, 2 oxygen atoms, 2 hydrogen atoms
5. The formula for copper nitrate is Cu(NO3)2. This means it contains:
[ ] 1 copper atom, 1 nitrogen atom, 6 oxygen atoms
[ ] 2 copper atoms, 2 nitrogen atoms, 3 oxygen atoms
[ ] 1 copper atom, 2 nitrogen atoms, 6 oxygen atoms
[ ] 2 copper atoms, 2 nitrogen atoms, 6 oxygen atoms
6. 2H2SO4 means 2 molecules of sulfuric acid. They contain:
[ ] 2 hydrogen atoms, 1 sulfur atom, 4 oxygen atoms
[ ] 4 hydrogen atoms, 1 sulfur atom, 4 oxygen atoms
[ ] 4 hydrogen atoms, 2 sulfur atoms, 8 oxygen atoms
[ ] 4 hydrogen atoms, 4 sulfur atoms, 8 oxygen atoms
7. During a chemical reaction new substances are formed from old ones. Which of the following is NOT ALWAYS true?
[ ] New substances can be changed back to the original ones
[ ] The total mass of products = total mass of reactants
[ ] There is often a colour change
[ ] There is often a temperature change
8. In the following reaction which are the products Mg + 2HCl → H2 + MgCl2?
[ ] Hydrochloric acid and magnesium chloride
[ ] Hydrogen and magnesium chloride
[ ] Magnesium and hydrochloric acid
[ ] Magnesium and hydrogen
9. Which of the following is the correct balanced equation for the reaction between copper with oxygen from the air?
[ ] 2 Cu + O2 → Cu2O2
[ ] 2 Cu + O2 → 2 CuO
[ ] Cu + O → CuO
[ ] Cu + O2 → CuO2
10. When zinc carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid the products are:
[ ] carbon dioxide, water
[ ] zinc chloride, carbon dioxide
[ ] zinc chloride, carbon dioxide, water
[ ] zinc sulfate, carbon dioxide, water

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Chemical reactivity

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Science Quiz - Reactions, Equations and Formulae 01 (Answers)
1. Which of the following metals do NOT react with water or steam?
[ ] Aluminium
[x] Copper
[ ] Tin
[ ] Zinc
Copper is low in the reactivity series
2. Which of the following metals is the most reactive with acids?
[ ] Aluminium
[ ] Iron
[x] Magnesium
[ ] Zinc
When a reactive metal reacts with dilute strong acids, hydrogen is produced
3. The formula for potassium nitrate is KNO3. This means it contains:
[x] 1 potassium atom, 1 nitrogen atom, 3 oxygen atoms
[ ] 1 potassium atom, 3 nitrogen atoms, 3 oxygen atoms
[ ] 3 potassium atoms, 3 nitrogen atoms, 3 oxygen atoms
[ ] 3 potassium atoms, 3 nitrogen atoms, 9 oxygen atoms
There are no small numbers written down after the symbols for potassium and nitrogen therefore there is only one atom of each of these elements. That immediately rules out the other three options as being the correct answer
4. The formula for calcium hydroxide is Ca(OH)2. This means it contains:
[ ] 1 calcium atom, 1 oxygen atom, 2 hydrogen atoms
[ ] 1 calcium atom, 2 oxygen atoms, 1 hydrogen atom
[x] 1 calcium atom, 2 oxygen atoms, 2 hydrogen atoms
[ ] 2 calcium atoms, 2 oxygen atoms, 2 hydrogen atoms
Multiply everything inside the bracket by the number outside - just the same as you would do in maths
5. The formula for copper nitrate is Cu(NO3)2. This means it contains:
[ ] 1 copper atom, 1 nitrogen atom, 6 oxygen atoms
[ ] 2 copper atoms, 2 nitrogen atoms, 3 oxygen atoms
[x] 1 copper atom, 2 nitrogen atoms, 6 oxygen atoms
[ ] 2 copper atoms, 2 nitrogen atoms, 6 oxygen atoms
Did you remember to multply everything inside the brackets by two?
6. 2H2SO4 means 2 molecules of sulfuric acid. They contain:
[ ] 2 hydrogen atoms, 1 sulfur atom, 4 oxygen atoms
[ ] 4 hydrogen atoms, 1 sulfur atom, 4 oxygen atoms
[x] 4 hydrogen atoms, 2 sulfur atoms, 8 oxygen atoms
[ ] 4 hydrogen atoms, 4 sulfur atoms, 8 oxygen atoms
Each molecule contains 2 hydrogen atoms, 1 sulfur atom, 4 oxygen atoms but the '2' in front of the formula means that there are two molecules so you need to double everything to get the right answer
7. During a chemical reaction new substances are formed from old ones. Which of the following is NOT ALWAYS true?
[x] New substances can be changed back to the original ones
[ ] The total mass of products = total mass of reactants
[ ] There is often a colour change
[ ] There is often a temperature change
Most chemical changes are not reversible under normal conditions
8. In the following reaction which are the products Mg + 2HCl → H2 + MgCl2?
[ ] Hydrochloric acid and magnesium chloride
[x] Hydrogen and magnesium chloride
[ ] Magnesium and hydrochloric acid
[ ] Magnesium and hydrogen
Metal plus acid gives hydrogen and a salt
9. Which of the following is the correct balanced equation for the reaction between copper with oxygen from the air?
[ ] 2 Cu + O2 → Cu2O2
[x] 2 Cu + O2 → 2 CuO
[ ] Cu + O → CuO
[ ] Cu + O2 → CuO2
There should be exactly the same number of each atom on both sides of an equation otherwise it has not been written down correctly AND all the formulae should be correct. Answers 1 and 4 look OK but the formula for copper oxide is wrong. Answer 3 also seems balanced, but the formula for oxygen from the air is O2 and not O
10. When zinc carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid the products are:
[ ] carbon dioxide, water
[ ] zinc chloride, carbon dioxide
[x] zinc chloride, carbon dioxide, water
[ ] zinc sulfate, carbon dioxide, water
A carbonate + dilute acid always produces a salt + carbon dioxide + water
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