197 Chemistry Trivia Questions with Answers
197 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Chemistry trivia spans the periodic table, chemical laws, laboratory discoveries, molecular names, and landmark experiments. This broad collection ranges from elements discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie to the synthesis of element 117, along with questions about acetone, dry ice, X-ray spectra, and Rutherford’s model of the atom.
The questions connect textbook foundations with the history of science. Players may need to identify the law of definite proportions, recognize the 1913 relationship between X-ray frequency and atomic number, or explain the gold-foil experiment that revealed the atomic nucleus. Chemistry trivia works well for classroom review, science clubs, academic competitions, and pub quizzes with a technical edge.
Which element, first synthesized in 2010, has atomic number 117?
Answer
Tennessine
Who formulated the law of definite proportions around 1794?
Answer
Joseph Proust
What is the IUPAC name of acetone?
Answer
Propanone
What is the common name for solid carbon dioxide?
Answer
Dry ice
Which element was first discovered by spectroscopy in 1860?
Answer
Caesium
Which experiment led Ernest Rutherford to propose the atomic nucleus in 1911?
Answer
Gold foil experiment
What is the simplest alcohol, with formula CH3OH?
Answer
Methanol
Which molecule has the formula C60 and is shaped like a truncated icosahedron?
Answer
Buckminsterfullerene
Which isotope defines the unified atomic mass unit?
Answer
Carbon-12
What polymer is commonly known by the brand name Teflon?
Answer
Polytetrafluoroethylene
What constant is exactly 6.02214076×10^23 per mole?
Answer
Avogadro constant
Which acid is the main acid naturally found in lemons and limes?
Answer
Citric acid
What principle states that no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers?
Answer
Pauli exclusion principle
What radioactive isotope of carbon is used in radiocarbon dating?
Answer
Carbon-14
Which scientist proposed the planetary model of the atom?
Answer
Ernest Rutherford
What is the molar volume of an ideal gas at STP?
Answer
22.4 L/mol
Which element is a halogen with atomic number 35?
Answer
Bromine
What element is represented by the symbol 'K'?
Answer
Potassium
Which acid is found in vinegar?
Answer
Acetic acid
What is the most common isotope of uranium found in nature?
Answer
Uranium-238
Which scientist discovered the law of conservation of mass?
Answer
Antoine Lavoisier
What is the pH of human blood?
Answer
7.4
Which noble gas is used in neon signs?
Answer
Neon
What is the name of the reaction where an acid and base neutralize each other?
Answer
Neutralization
What is the main component of natural gas?
Answer
Methane
What is the principle that electrons fill orbitals starting from lowest energy?
Answer
Aufbau principle
Which scientist developed the first nuclear chain reaction?
Answer
Enrico Fermi
What is the name of the process by which plants make food using sunlight?
Answer
Photosynthesis
What is the common name for H2O2?
Answer
Hydrogen peroxide
What is the IUPAC name for acetic acid?
Answer
Ethanoic acid
What is the formula of water?
Answer
H2O
What is the chemical name of the compound responsible for banana scent?
Answer
Isoamyl acetate
What element was first discovered in the sun's spectrum?
Answer
Helium
What is the half-life of carbon-14?
Answer
5,730 years
What is the process of separating mixtures based on boiling points?
Answer
Distillation
Chemistry trivia — quick answers
What are good chemistry trivia questions?
Good chemistry trivia questions cover elements, atomic numbers, chemical nomenclature, scientific laws, discoveries, and famous experiments. Examples include identifying polonium, naming element 117, recognizing the IUPAC name of acetone, and explaining the experiment that led Rutherford to propose the atomic nucleus.
How hard is chemistry trivia?
Chemistry trivia ranges from moderate to difficult because it combines general science knowledge with precise terminology. Questions about dry ice or common elements are accessible to many players, while IUPAC names, spectroscopy, atomic theory, and historical laws are better suited to students and science enthusiasts.
Which element did Marie and Pierre Curie discover and name after Poland?
Marie and Pierre Curie discovered polonium in 1898 and named it after Poland, Marie Curie’s homeland. The discovery came during their research into radioactivity, and polonium became one of the elements associated with the Curies’ pioneering work on radioactive materials.
What is the IUPAC name of acetone?
The IUPAC name of acetone is propan-2-one, also written as 2-propanone. It is the simplest ketone and has the molecular formula C3H6O. Acetone is widely used as a solvent, including in some nail-polish removers and laboratory applications.
What experiment led Rutherford to propose the atomic nucleus?
Rutherford’s gold-foil experiment led him to propose the atomic nucleus in 1911. Alpha particles were directed at thin gold foil, and although most passed through, a small number were deflected sharply. Rutherford concluded that atoms are mostly empty space with a tiny, dense, positively charged center.