ICSE Board

Chemistry
Sample Paper – 1
Time: 2 hrs Total Marks: 75

General Instructions:
1. All questions are compulsory.
2. Questions 1 to 15 carry one mark each.
3. Questions in 2A and 2B carry one mark each.
4. Questions in 3A and 3B carry one mark each.
5. Question 4A and 4B carry five marks each.
6. Questions in 5A and 5B carry one mark each.
7. Questions in 6A and 6B carry one mark each.
8. Questions 7A and 7B carry five marks each.

Question 1
Choose the correct answer out of the four available choices given under each question. [15]

1. The phenomenon of existence of a substance in various physical forms but the same
chemical form is known as _________.
(a) Catenation
(b) Isomerism
(c) Polymerisation
(d) Allotropy

2. Alkali metals such as __________ and ___________ are soft metals and can be cut easily with
a knife.
(a) Lithium, aluminium
(b) Calcium, lithium
(c) Sodium, potassium
(d) Lead, zinc

3. Carbon has __________ unpaired electron(s) in its outermost shell.

(a) Four
(b) One
(c) Three
(d) Six
4. Which of the following is not a mixture?
(a) Sulphur
(b) Gunpowder
(c) Sugar syrup
(d) Milk

5. Liquids have
(a) less compressibility than solids
(b) more compressibility than gases
(c) more compressibility than solids
(d) the least compressibility among the three states of matter

6. Which of the following gases dissolves in rainwater and forms nitric acid?
(a) Nitrogen dioxide
(b) Nitrogen trioxide
(c) Ammonia
(d) Nitride

7. When the temperature of water increases above 0°C up to 4°C, its density
(a) decreases
(b) increases
(c) becomes zero
(d) remains unchanged

8. When an electric current is passed through acidulated water, _________ volume of

hydrogen is formed at the cathode and __________ volume of oxygen is formed at the
anode.
(a) one, two
(b) one, three
(c) three, one
(d) two, one

9. ___________ is the process of sterilisation of water by the addition of chlorine and acts as a
treatment against bacterial infection.
(a) Chlorination
(b) Precipitation
(c) Sedimentation
(d) Decantation
10. The valency of Cu in cupric chloride is.
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4

11. The formation of gas bubbles in a liquid during a reaction is called

(a) Precipitate
(b) Effervescences
(c) Fumes
(d) Vapours

12. The phenomenon of the existence of a substance in various physical forms but the same
chemical form is known as
(a) Catenation
(b) Isomerism
(c) Polymerisation
(d) Allotropy

13. Graphite is made of layers of crystals, where each crystal is __________.

(a) Tetrahedral cubical
(b) Cubical
(c) Hexagonal
(d) Spherical

14. Which element has symbol derived from its Latin name Argentum?
(a) Gold
(b) Silver
(c) Aluminium
(d) Argon

15. Which of the following substances are bitter to taste?

(a) Baking soda
(b) Lemons
(c) Oranges
(d) Tamarind
Question 2
(A) Give the molecular formula of the compounds: [5]
1. Common salt
2. Sand
3. Marble
4. Acetic acid
5. Aluminium oxide

(B) Fill in the blanks and rewrite the sentences: [5]

1. The unique ability of the carbon atom to combine with innumerable carbon atoms
and atoms of other elements resulting in the formation of millions of organic
compounds is called _________.
2. Alkalis are bases which are _________ in water.
3. If the outermost shell of an atom is filled, the valency is ________.
4. Metals are __________ because metals readily __________ electrons and form positively
charged ions.
5. Hydrogen can be prepared in the laboratory by the reaction of zinc and __________.

Question 3
(A) State whether the following statements are true or false. Rewrite the false statement. [5]
1. Lignite is the third stage in the formation of coal.
2. Balanced chemical equation shows both the number of molecules and the number
of atoms involved in the reaction.
3. Dehydration of carbohydrates is a physical change.
4. The mass of a proton is equal to that of a neutron.
5. Positively charged ions are called cations.

(B) Name the following: [5]

1. The subatomic particle with negative charge and negligible mass.
2. Protons and neutrons present in the nucleus.
3. The electrons present in the outermost shell.
4. The number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom.
5. Atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but different mass
number.

Question 4
(A) Explain Modern Atomic Theory... [5]

(B) Explain catalyst and their actions? [5]

Question 5
(A) Draw the orbital diagrams representing the atomic structures of the following: [5]
1. Silicon
2. Neon
3. Copper
4. Calcium
5. Sodium

(B) Give one use of each of the following acids: [5]

1. Citric acid
2. Acetic acid
3. Tartaric acid
4. Boric acid
5. Carbonic acid

Question 6
(A) Define the following terms: [5]
1. chemical Bond
2. valency
3. Boiling point
4. Radicals
5. Mass number

(B) Match the column: [5]

Name Symbol
Ammonium Al3+

Nitrite NH4+
Aluminium CO32

Carbonate NO2-

Question 7
(A)
1. How can you prove that hydrogen burns in air to produce water?
[3]

2. Differentiate between oxidation reaction and reduction reaction.

[2]
(B)
1. Give reason: Although hydrogen is lighter than air, it is not collected by the
downward displacement of air. [2]
2. What are protons, neutrons and electrons? [3]
 Solution

Question 1
1. (d) Allotropy
The phenomenon due to which an element can exist in more than one structural form in
the same physical state is called allotropy.

2. (c) Sodium, potassium

Alkali metals such as sodium and potassium are soft metals and can be cut easily with a
knife.

3. (a) Four
Carbon has four unpaired electrons in its outermost shell.

4. (a) Sulphur
Sulphur is an element.

5. (c) more compressibility than solids

The intermolecular space between the particles of liquids is more than that of solids.
The particles in liquid can slip and slide over each other. Thus, liquids have more
compressibility than solids.

6. (a) Nitrogen dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide dissolves in water and gives nitric acid.

7. (b) Increases
At 0°C, water becomes ice and has a density of 0.92 g/cm3.

8. (d) two; one

When an electric current is passed through acidulated water, two volumes of hydrogen
are formed at the cathode and one volume of oxygen is formed at the anode (by
electrolysis).

This concludes that water contains hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 2:1.
Reaction:

2H2O 
Electric Current
 2H2 + O2

[Acidified water] [Cathode] [Anode]

9. (a) Chlorination
 Chlorination is the process of sterilisation of water by the addition of chlorine. It is used
as a treatment against bacterial infection.
10. (b) 2
An element exhibits two different positive valencies.
For higher valency, use suffix –ic at the end of the name of the element.
Cuprous [Copper(I)]
Cupric [Copper(II)]

11. (b) effervescences.

The formation of gas bubbles in liquid during a reaction is called effervescences.

12. (d) Allotropy

The phenomenon due to which an element can exist in more than one structural form in
the same physical state is called allotropy.

13. (c) Hexagonal

A graphite crystal has a layered structure in which every carbon atom is bonded to
three carbon atoms which are at equal distance from it.
These three carbon atoms are again in turn bonded to three carbon atoms each.
Thus, six carbon atoms form a hexagon and are at specific distances from one another.

14. (b) Silver

Silver has symbol derived from its Latin name Argentum.

15. (a) Baking soda

Baking soda is bitter to taste and soapy to touch. This is because these substances are
basic in nature.
Question 2
(A)

i. Common salt
Sodium chloride NaCl
ii. Sand
Silicon dioxide SiO2
iii. Marble
Calcium carbonate CaCO3
iv. Acetic acid
CH3COOH
v. Aluminium oxide
Al2O3

(B)
1. The unique ability of the carbon atom to combine with innumerable carbon atoms
and atoms of other elements resulting in the formation of millions of organic
compounds is called catenation.
2. Alkalis are bases which are soluble in water.
3. If the outermost shell of an atom is filled, the valency is zero.
4. Metals are electropositive because metals readily lose electrons and form
positively charged ions.
5. Hydrogen can be prepared in the laboratory by the reaction of zinc and dilute
sulphuric acid.

Question 3
(A)
1. False. Bituminous is the third stage in the formation of coal.
2. True.
3. False. Dehydration of carbohydrates is a chemical change
4. True
5. True

(B)
1. Neutron
2. Nucleon
3. Valence electrons
4. Atomic number
5. Isotopes
Question 4
(A)
Modern Atomic Theory

According to the modern, standard model of atom:

1.An atom comprises of three fundamental particles. They are electron, proton and
neutron.

2.There are two structural parts of an atom.

(i) The nucleus

(ii) The orbits or the shells described in the empty space that surrounds the nucleus.

3.The nucleus is the positively charged, central part of an atom. Protons and neutrons are
present inside the nucleus of the atom. Hence, they are also known as nucleons.

4.They are held firmly in the nucleus by strong nuclear forces.

5.The entire mass of an atom lies in its nucleus, since electrons have negligible mass.

6.The positive charge of the nucleus is due to the protons present in it. The protons remain
unaffected by the neutrons since the latter have no electrical charge.

7.Orbits (or shells) are the imaginary paths traced by the electrons in the empty space
surrounding the nucleus.

8.Each orbit is associated with a fixed amount of energy.

9.The negatively charged electrons revolve round the nucleus in these orbits. The shell (or
the orbit) lying closest to the nucleus carries the lowest amount of energy and the shell that
lies farthest from it carries the highest amount of energy.

10.An atom is electrically neutral because the number of protons and the number of
electrons present in it are the same thus, balancing the charge budget of the atom.
(B)

A catalyst is a substance which either increases or decreases the rate of a chemical reaction
without itself undergoing any chemical change during the process.

Some chemical reactions need a catalyst to change the rate of the reaction.

i. Positive catalyst

When catalyst increases the rate of reaction, it is known as a positive catalyst.

Example:

On being heated to 7000C, potassium chlorate decomposes to evolve oxygen. But when
manganese dioxide is mixed with it, the decomposition takes place at a much lower
temperature, at about 3000C. In this reaction,

manganese dioxide acts as catalyst and remains unaffected.

ii. Negative catalyst

When catalyst decreases the rate of reaction, it is known as a negative catalyst.

Example:

Phosphoric acid acts as negative catalyst to decrease the rate of decomposition of

hydrogen peroxide.

Alcohol also act as a negative catalyst in certain chemical reactions.

Question 5
(A)
1. Silicon

2. Neon

3. Copper
 4. Calcium

5. Sodium

(B)
1. Citric acid: Food preservation and vitamin C preparation
2. Acetic acid: Table vinegar, cooking food
3. Tartaric acid: Baking powder
4. Boric acid: Antiseptic, eye wash
5. Carbonic acid: Flavoured drinks
Question 6
(A)
A chemical bond is the attractive force which holds two or more atoms of a molecule
together in a compound.
1. Valency: An element may exhibit one valency in one compound and another valency
in other compound. This property is called variable valency
2. Boiling point: The constant temperature at which a liquid becomes gas upon
absorbing heat under normal pressure is called as the boiling point of that liquid.
3. Radicals: Two or more non-metals which collectively accept or donate one or more
electrons and become negatively or positively charged in the process are called
radicals.
4. Mass number: The sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons
present in the nucleus of an atom of an element is called the mass number of that
element. It is denoted by the letter A.

(B)

Name Symbol
Ammonium NH4+

Nitrite NO2
Aluminium Al3+

Carbonate CO32 -

Question 7
(A)
1.

Hydrogen, produced by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on zinc, is passed through
anhydrous calcium chloride and then lighted at the end of a jet.

Water droplets are produced which condense on the cold surface of a flask.

The droplets can be tested by sprinkling a few drops of it on white anhydrous

copper sulphate.

The white colour of anhydrous copper sulphate changes into blue hydrated copper
sulphate.
 2.

Oxidation Reduction
1. Addition of oxygen 1. Removal of oxygen
2. Removal of hydrogen 2. Addition of hydrogen
3. Addition of electro-negative ion 3. Removal of electro-negative ion or
or atom atom
4. Removal of electro-positive ion or 4. Addition of electro-positive ion or
atom atom
5. Loss of electrons 5. Gain of electrons

(B)
1. Hydrogen is not collected by the downward displacement of air because a mixture
of hydrogen and air forms an explosive mixture.

2. Protons are positively charged particles [+1] found in the nucleus of an atom. They
have a unit mass [1].
Neutrons are particles without any charge (no charge) [0] found in the nucleus of an
atom. They have a unit mass [1].
Electrons are negatively charged particles [−1] found in the space outside the
nucleus of an atom. They have a negligible mass [0].