50 Objective Questions + Answers on Matter, Changes, Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

50 Objective Questions + Answers on Matter, Changes, Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

Looking for practice questions on Matter and its properties? Here are 50 well-structured objective questions covering definitions, physical & chemical properties, types of changes, classification of matter, and separation techniques — complete with correct answers.

Perfect for WAEC, NECO, JAMB and daily Chemistry revision. Attempt them now and check your answers at the bottom.

1. 1. What is the basic definition of matter given in the material?
      A. Anything that has volume only
      B. Anything that has mass and occupies space
      C. Anything that is visible to the eye
      D. Anything that can be touched
   2. Mass is best described as:
      A. The space occupied by an object
      B. A measure of the quantity of matter in an object
      C. The weight of an object under gravity
      D. The density of an object
   3. The practical unit for measuring mass is:
      A. Newton
      B. Kilogram
      C. Joule
      D. Pascal
   4. Which of the following is NOT listed as a physical property of matter?
      A. Boiling point
      B. Density
      C. Rusting
      D. Malleability
   5. Chemical properties of matter are associated with:
      A. Changes of state only
      B. Formation of new substances
      C. Reversible changes
      D. No heat change
   6. A homogeneous mixture is also called:
      A. Suspension
      B. Solution
      C. Colloid
      D. Emulsion
   7. Which of the following is an example of a heterogeneous mixture?
      A. Salt solution
      B. Air
      C. Concrete
      D. Copper metal
   8. Which process is an example of a physical change?
      A. Burning of wood
      B. Rusting of iron
      C. Dissolution of common salt in water
      D. Fermentation
   9. Which of these is NOT a physical change?
      A. Magnetization of iron
      B. Melting of ice
      C. Burning of magnesium ribbon
      D. Evaporation of water
   10. A chemical change is generally characterized by:
       A. Being easily reversible
       B. No new substance formed
       C. Formation of new substance(s)
       D. No heat change
   11. The reaction CaO(s) + H₂O(l) → Ca(OH)₂(aq) is an example of:
       A. Physical change
       B. Combustion
       C. Slaking of lime (chemical change)
       D. Sublimation
   12. In physical changes, there is usually:
       A. A large heat change
       B. No change in mass
       C. Formation of new matter
       D. Permanent change
   13. Which statement correctly differentiates physical and chemical changes?
       A. Physical changes always produce new matter
       B. Chemical changes are generally easily reversible
       C. Physical changes produce no new kind of matter
       D. Chemical changes show no heat change
   14. An element is a substance that:
       A. Can be split into simpler substances by chemical means
       B. Cannot be split into simpler substances by ordinary chemical process
       C. Contains two or more different atoms
       D. Is always a gas
   15. How many elements are known according to the material?
       A. 92
       B. Over 118
       C. Exactly 100
       D. 108
   16. Which group of elements ionizes by gaining electrons?
       A. Metals
       B. Metalloids
       C. Non-metals
       D. Transition elements
   17. The symbol Cl₂ + 2e⁻ → 2Cl⁻ represents the behavior of:
       A. A metal
       B. A non-metal
       C. A metalloid
       D. A noble gas
   18. A compound is formed when:
       A. Two or more elements are physically mixed
       B. Two or more different elements are chemically joined
       C. Only one element is present
       D. Mixtures are separated
   19. The chemical formula of limestone is:
       A. NaCl
       B. CaCO₃
       C. H₂O
       D. SiO₂
   20. Which substance has the formula C₆H₁₂O₆?
       A. Ethanol
       B. Sugar
       C. Common salt
       D. Soap
   21. Mixtures can be separated by:
       A. Chemical methods only
       B. Physical methods
       C. Electrolysis only
       D. Combustion
   22. The properties of a compound are:
       A. The same as the sum of its elements
       B. Completely different from its component elements
       C. Identical to its elements
       D. Always gaseous
   23. Which separation technique separates solids of different particle sizes?
       A. Filtration
       B. Sieving
       C. Distillation
       D. Chromatography
   24. Magnetic separation is useful for separating:
       A. Two immiscible liquids
       B. Magnetic substances from non-magnetic ones
       C. Solids that sublime
       D. Miscible liquids
   25. Sublimation is used to separate solids that:
       A. Have very high boiling points
       B. Change directly from solid to gas on heating
       C. Are soluble in water
       D. Are magnetic
   26. Which substance is commonly used as an example of sublimation?
       A. Sodium chloride
       B. Iodine
       C. Sand
       D. Sugar
   27. Fractional distillation is mainly used to separate:
       A. Immiscible liquids
       B. Miscible liquids with close boiling points
       C. Magnetic substances
       D. Sublimable solids
   28. The main product fractions obtained from fractional distillation of crude oil include:
       A. Only petrol
       B. Petrol, kerosene, gas oil, bitumen, etc.
       C. Only water and salt
       D. Only gases
   29. A separating funnel is used to separate:
       A. Miscible liquids
       B. Immiscible liquids of different densities
       C. Solids from gases
       D. Magnetic materials
   30. Chromatography separates components based on:
       A. Difference in boiling points
       B. Difference in rates of movement over an adsorbent medium
       C. Difference in density only
       D. Magnetic properties

1. The most common and simplest type of chromatography mentioned is:
   A. Gas chromatography
   B. Paper chromatography
   C. Ion exchange chromatography
   D. Column chromatography
2. Decantation is commonly used to separate:
   A. Two miscible liquids
   B. A liquid from settled solid particles or two immiscible liquids
   C. Gases from liquids
   D. Sublimable solids
3. In filtration, the liquid that passes through the filter paper is called:
   A. Residue
   B. Filtrate
   C. Sublimate
   D. Distillate
4. Which separation method is used in water purification plants to remove solid particles?
   A. Sieving
   B. Filtration
   C. Sublimation
   D. Magnetic separation
5. Which of these is a chemical change?
   A. Evaporation of petrol
   B. Rusting of iron
   C. Dissolving sugar in water
   D. Melting wax
6. The reaction 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO is:
   A. A physical change
   B. A reversible change
   C. A chemical change (combustion)
   D. A separation technique
7. Which process is an example of fermentation?
   A. Melting of ice
   B. Chemical change
   C. Physical separation
   D. Sieving
8. The rusting of iron is represented by the formula involving:
   A. Fe + O₂ → FeO
   B. 4Fe + 3O₂ + xH₂O → 2Fe₂O₃·xH₂O
   C. Fe + H₂O → Fe(OH)₂
   D. Fe + HCl → FeCl₂
9. Which of the following is a metalloid?
   A. Iron
   B. Oxygen
   C. Silicon
   D. Sodium
10. Soap has the chemical formula:
    A. C₁₇H₃₅COONa
    B. C₂H₅OH
    C. NaCl
    D. CaCO₃
11. Which statement is true about mixtures?
    A. They are always homogeneous
    B. They can be represented by a chemical formula
    C. Their properties are the sum of individual constituents
    D. They cannot be separated by physical methods
12. The major difference between compounds and mixtures is that compounds:
    A. Have properties similar to their elements
    B. Can be separated by physical methods
    C. Are always heterogeneous
    D. Have properties different from their component elements
13. Which separation technique makes use of a fractionating column?
    A. Simple distillation
    B. Fractional distillation
    C. Filtration
    D. Decantation
14. Benzoic acid can be purified by:
    A. Filtration
    B. Sublimation
    C. Chromatography
    D. Sieving
15. The separation of petrol and water is best done using:
    A. Filter paper
    B. Separating funnel
    C. Fractionating column
    D. Sieve
16. Paper chromatography is commonly used to separate:
    A. Crude oil fractions
    B. Dyes in coloured ink
    C. Magnetic impurities
    D. Large solid particles
17. Which of the following is NOT a separation technique listed?
    A. Evaporation
    B. Distillation
    C. Electrolysis
    D. Crystallization
18. In ascending paper chromatography, the adsorbent medium is:
    A. Glass column
    B. Filter paper
    C. Magnetic plate
    D. Sieve mesh

Answers

1. B
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. B
7. C
8. C
9. C
10. C
11. C
12. B
13. C
14. B
15. B
16. C
17. B
18. B
19. B
20. B
21. B
22. B
23. B
24. B
25. B
26. B
27. B
28. B
29. B
30. B
31. B
32. B
33. B
34. B
35. B
36. C
37. B
38. B
39. C
40. A
41. C
42. D
43. B
44. B
45. B
46. B
47. C
48. B
49. C
50. C