CONTEST 39

ROUND 1

PREAMBLE: Express the recurring decimal as a rational number.

1. 5.111. . .
ANSWER: 46/9 [ x = 5.111 . . ., 10x = 51. 111 . . . , 9x = 46, x = 46/9]
2. 7.333 . . .
ANSWER: 22/3 [x = 7.333 . . ., 10x = 73.333 . . ., 9x = 66, x = 66/9 = 22/3]
3. 2.777 . . .
ANSWER: 25/9 [x = 2.777 . . ., 10x = 27.777 . . . , 9x = 25, x = 25/9]
−5 −1
PREAMBLE: The thermal expansivity of gold is 1.4 × 10 K .
4. Find the change in length when the temperature of a 0.2 mlong gold wire is changed from 50 K to 100 K .
ANSWER: 0 . 1 mm
−5 −1 −4
Δ l=lα Δ T =0.2 m×1.4 × 10 K ×50 K=1.4 × 10 m
5. Find the change in length when the temperature of a 2 mlong gold wire is changed from 0 ℃ to 50 ℃ .
ANSWER: 1 mm
−5 −1 −3
Δ l=lα Δ T =2m ×1.4 × 10 K × 50 K=1.4 × 10 m
6. Find the change in temperature that results in a change in length by 0.7 mm of a 2 mlong wire.
ANSWER: 25 K
7. Explain how alluvial gold is formed.
ANSWER: Gold bearing rocks are subjected to the effects of the weather or running river.
The weathering of the rocks loosens the gold which is then deposited as small
particles or pebbles on river beds or at river banks.
8. Which metals are referred to as coinage metals?
ANSWER: copper, silver, and gold
9. Gold is generally resistant to chemical attack. There are however 3 reagents that attack gold easily.
Name one of them.
ANSWER: a) It dissolves in potassium/sodium cyanide solution in the presence
of oxygen/air.
4Au + 8CN- + 2H2O + O2 → 4[Au(CN)2]- + 4OH-
b) It is dissolved by Aqua Regia – a 1 : 3 mixture of concentrated of HCl
and concentrated HNO3, (Gold forms HAuCl4).
c) It is dissolved by boron trifluoride.

1
10. What name is given to a cluster of flowers with a common Stalk?
ANSWER: Inflorescence
11. What name is given to the stalk of an inflorescence?
ANSWER: Peduncle
12. What name is given to the point at which the flower parts are attached to the peduncle?
ANSWER: Receptacle
PREAMBLE: Solve the indicial equation:
13. 33x-4 = 9x
ANSWER: x=4 [3x – 4 = 2x, x – 4 = 0, x = 4]
14. 2x + 5 = 43x
ANSWER: x=1 [x + 5 = 6x, 5x = 5, x = 1]
15. 54x = 125x + 1
ANSWER: x=3 [4x = 3(x + 1), x = 3]
PREAMBLE: The position in meters at time t in seconds of a simple harmonic oscillator is given by
20 sin ( 5 πt ).
16. What is the amplitude of the oscillator?
ANSWER: 20 m
17. What is the frequency of the oscillator?
ANSWER: 2 .5 Hz
18. What is the maximum speed of the oscillator? Give your answer in terms of π .
ANSWER: 100 π m / s
19. How many elements are present in Group (III) or 13 of the Periodic Table?
ANSWER: 5 Elements
20. How many elements are present in Group (II) of the Periodic Table?
ANSWER: 6 Elements
21. How many elements are present in the third period of the Periodic Table?
ANSWER: 8 Elements
22. Name the two forms of energy that are commonly used by living organisms to synthesize their
organic requirements.
ANSWER: Chemical and light energy
23. What name is given to living organisms that obtain energy by the oxidation of electron donors in their
environments?
ANSWER: Chemotrophs
24. What name is given to parasites that cause diseases in living organisms?

2
 ANSWER: Pathogens
PREAMBLE: Evaluate the numerical expression

25. (10 permutation 2)

ANSWER: 90 [10!/8! = 10 x 9 = 90]

26. (6 permutation 3)
ANSWER: 120 [6!/3! = 6 x 5 x 4 = 120]

27. (7 permutation 3)
ANSWER: 210 [7!/4! = 7 x 6 x 5 = 7 x 30 = 210]
PREAMBLE: A particle has mass 2 ×10−30 kg .The Planck constant is approximately 7 ×10−34 J s.
28. What is the de Broglie wavelength associated withthe particle when it is moving at 700 m / s?
−7
ANSWER: 5 ×1 0 m=0 . 5 μ m
λ ≅ h / ( mv )
29. Find the speed at which the de Broglie wavelength of the particleis 5 μ m.
ANSWER: 70 m / s
v ≅ h / ( mλ )
30. Find the change in de Broglie wavelength when the speed of the particle changes from 100 m / sto 200 m / s.
ANSWER: −2 μ m

Δ λ≅ (
h 1 1
)
− =−1.75 μ m
m v f vi
31. The name, 1,3-dimethylpropane is incorrect. Give the correct systematic name.
ANSWER: Pentane
32. The name, tert-butylmethane is incorrect. Give the correct systematic name.
ANSWER: 2,2-dimethylpropane
33. The name, 2-ethylpentane is incorrect. Give the correct systematic name.
ANSWER: 3-methylhexane.
34. Name the pads of fibre and cartilage that separate one vertebra from another.
ANSWER: Intervertebral disc/ intervertebral fibrocartilage
35. What name is given to the body of vertebra that provides support and protection for the spinal cord?
ANSWER: Centrum
36. In histology, what name is given to a small space containing an osteocyte in bone or chondrocyte in
cartilage?
ANSWER: lacuna

3
PREAMBLE: State the converse of the given statement and indicate whether the converse is True or
False.
37. If a number is divisible by 9, then it is divisible by 3.
ANSWER: If a number is divisible by 3, then it is divisible by 9 False (2 + 1)
38. If a number is divisible by 9, then the sum of its digits is a multiple of 9 (2 + 1)
ANSWER: If the sum of the digits of a number isa multiple of 9, then it is divisible by 9, True
39. If a number is divisible by 5, then it is divisible by 10.
ANSWER: If a number is divisible by 10, then it is divisible by 5 True (2 + 1)
PREAMBLE: Acceleration due to gravity is approximately 10 m / s2.
40. What is the height attained by a projectile launched at 30 ° to the horizontal with speed 100 m / s? Neglect air
resistance.
ANSWER: 125 m
h=u2 sin2 30 ° / 2 g= (100 m / s × 0.5 ) ÷ ( 2 ×10 m / s 2) =125 m
2

41. Find the flight time of a projectile launchedat 100 m / s horizontally 20 m above a flat horizontal surface.
ANSWER: 2s
t=√ 2 h / g=√ 2 ×20 m ÷ ( 10 m / s )=2 s
2

42. A projectile launched vertically upward from the ground is airborne for 50 s . Find the launch speed.
ANSWER: 250 m / s
2
u=¿=10 m / s ×25 s=250 m / s
43. Calculate the pH of 0.10 moldm-3 solution of a weak acid of pKa 5.2.
ANSWER: pH = ½ pKa - ½ logCa
= 5.2/2 + 0.5 = 3.1
44. Calculate the pH of 0.1 moldm-3 solution of NH4Cl given that the pKb of ammonia is 4.76.
ANSWER: pKa of NH4+ = 14 - pKb (NH3) = 9.24
Therefore, pH = ½ pKa - ½ logCa
= 9.24/2 - 0.5 = 5.12
45. Calculate the pH of 0.10 moldm-3 ammonia solution given that the pKb of ammonia is 4.76.
ANSWER: pOH = ½ pKb - ½ logCb
= 4.76/2 + 0.5 = 2.88
Therefore, pH = 14 - pOH = 11.12.
PREAMBLE: Name the type of food stored in the following plant parts.
46. Seed of beans
ANSWER: Starch and protein

4
47. Seed of groundnut
ANSWER: Oil and protein
48. Rhizome of ginger
ANSWER: Oil and starch

5
 PROBLEM OF THE DAY
In an acid – base titration the following three titre values were obtained as follows: 16.43

cm3, 16.22 cm3 and 16.34 cm3

1. Calculate the average titre.

2. Calculate the average deviation.

3. Determine the precision of the titration.

4. Write down the final form of the average titre to include the precision.

5. If the true value of the titre was supposed to be 16.50 cm3, determine the accuracy of the

exercise.

6. Write down the final form of the average titre to include the accuracy

SOLUTION

1. Average titre = (16.43 + 16.22 + 16.34)/3 = 16.33 cm3

2. Average deviation = (0.10 + 0.11 + 0.01)/3 = 0.07 (one significant figure)

3. Precision = Average deviation = ± 0.07

4. Average Titre = (16.33 ± 0.07) cm3.

5. Accuracy = absolute error

= 16.50 – 16.33 = 0.17 = 0.2

6. Average Titre = (16.3 ± 0.2) cm3.

6
 ROUND 3

TRUE OR FALSE

1. The only common divisor of an even number and an odd number is 1.

ANSWER: False [consider 6 and 3]
2. If a number is divisible by 4 and 5, it is divisible by 20.
ANSWER: True
3. If a number is divisible by 4 and 6, it is divisible by 24.
ANSWER: False [12 is divisible by 4 and 6 but not by 24]
4. The atom produced when the nucleus of an atom absorbs a neutron has the same chemical properties
as the parent atom.
ANSWER: True
5. The atom produced when the nucleus of an atom absorbs a proton has the same chemical properties as
the parent atom.
ANSWER: False
6. The atom produced when the nucleus of an atom absorbs a photon has the same chemical properties as
the parent atom.
ANSWER: True
7. A simple fruit can either be dry or fleshy.
ANSWER: True
8. A simple fruit develops from a single flower with numerous simple pistils.
ANSWER: False (Aggregate fruit)
9. An aggregate fruit is one formed from a cluster of flowers called an inflorescence.
ANSWER: False (Multiple fruit)
10. The shape of the ammonia molecule is tetrahedral.
ANSWER: False Trigonal pyramid
11. The shape of the ethene molecule is trigonal planar.
ANSWER: False Planar
12. The shape of the ammonium ion is tetrahedral.
ANSWER: True
13. If an angle is obtuse, its supplement is acute.
ANSWER: True

7
14. If an angle is acute, its complement is also acute.
ANSWER: True
15. Vertically opposite angles are congruent because they have the same supplementary angles.
ANSWER: True
16. A diamagnetic material is weakly repelled by a strong magnet.
ANSWER: True
17. The magnetic properties of a paramagnetic material are independent of temperature.
ANSWER: False
18. A ferromagnetic material becomes paramagnetic when its temperature is increased beyond a critical
temperature.
ANSWER: True
19. Viruses are facultative endoparasites.
ANSWER: False
20. Viruses are highly specific to their host.
ANSWER: True
21. Viruses can pass through filters that retain bacteria.
ANSWER: True
22. There is more aluminum than iron in the earth’s crust.
ANSWER: True
23. There is more silicon than oxygen in the earth’s crust.
ANSWER: False (O 47%, Si 25.7%).
24. There is more silicon than aluminum in the earth’s crust.
ANSWER: True (Si 25.7%, Al 7.45%)

8
 ROUND 4
RIDDLE

Riddle #1
1. I was first demonstrated theoretically.
2. But countless experiments affirm my validity.
3. I describe the radiation emitted by a heated object.
4. I am a law.
5. That relates the temperature of an object and the wavelength for peak emission from the object.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Wien’s displacement law

Riddle #2

1. I am the oldest of all lineages of land plants.

2. I am believed to be a vital link in the migration of plants from aquatic environments onto land.
3. I am also a traditional name used to refer to all land plants that do not have true vascular tissue.
4. I have a life cycle with alternation of generations.
5. I produce enclosed reproductive structures.
6. I produce neither flowers nor seeds, but I reproduce via spores.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Bryophyte

9
Riddle #3
1. I am a binary compound of triatomic molecules.
2. My constituent elements are both non-metals.
3. I am not as sociable as my younger sibling.
4. We both suffer from a form of physical deformity, that is, we have bent backs.
5. I tend to form insoluble, mostly black or brown precipitate with metal cations in solution.
6. You may like everything about me but not my offensive, rotten-egg odour.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Hydrogen sulphide/H2S

Riddle #4
1. I may be direct or indirect.
2. Implications are a part of me.
3. I am not a theorem.
4. I am indispensable in mathematical logic.
5. I am the process of establishing a theorem.
6. I am a sequence of statements leading to a final statement called the conclusion.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Proof

10