RRB JE General Science Flashcards

24 sample cards from the General Science deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. How do atomic radius and electronegativity vary across a period and down a group?

   Across a period (left to right): atomic radius decreases, electronegativity increases. Down a group (top to bottom): atomic radius increases, electronegativity decreases.

2. Name the groups: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, and noble gases by group number.

   Alkali metals = Group 1; alkaline earth metals = Group 2; halogens = Group 17; noble gases = Group 18.

3. What are the three main types of chemical bonds?

   Ionic bond (transfer of electrons between metal and non-metal), covalent bond (sharing of electrons between non-metals), and metallic bond (sea of delocalised electrons among metal cations).

4. What is the octet rule?

   Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons so as to attain a stable configuration of eight electrons in their outermost shell (like the nearest noble gas).

5. Distinguish ionic and covalent compounds by their typical properties.

   Ionic compounds have high melting points, conduct electricity when molten/dissolved, and are usually water-soluble; covalent compounds have low melting points, are poor conductors, and are often insoluble in water.

6. What is a hydrogen bond, and give one example of its importance?

   A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom (N, O, F) and another electronegative atom. It gives water its high boiling point and holds together DNA strands.

7. What are hydrocarbons, and how are alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes distinguished?

   Compounds of carbon and hydrogen. Alkanes have only single C–C bonds (CₙH₂ₙ₊₂), alkenes have at least one C=C double bond (CₙH₂ₙ), alkynes have at least one C≡C triple bond (CₙH₂ₙ₋₂).

8. What is a functional group? Name the functional group in alcohols and carboxylic acids.

   A functional group is the atom/group responsible for the characteristic reactions of a compound. Alcohols contain the hydroxyl group (–OH); carboxylic acids contain the carboxyl group (–COOH).

9. What are isomers? Name the two broad types.

   Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms. The two broad types are structural (constitutional) isomers and stereoisomers.

10. What is the general process of esterification?

    A carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol, in the presence of an acid catalyst, to form an ester and water (acid + alcohol ⇌ ester + water). It produces the sweet smell used in flavours/perfumes.

11. Differentiate between a metal and a non-metal by typical physical properties.

    Metals are usually lustrous, malleable, ductile, good conductors of heat/electricity, and solid at room temperature (except mercury). Non-metals are generally dull, brittle, poor conductors, and may be solid, liquid, or gas.

12. What is the difference between an acid and a base in terms of pH and ions?

    Acids have pH below 7 and release H⁺ (hydrogen) ions in water; bases have pH above 7 and release OH⁻ (hydroxide) ions. A neutral solution has pH 7.

13. Name the two most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere and their approximate percentages.

    Nitrogen (~78%) and oxygen (~21%); the remaining ~1% is mostly argon, with traces of carbon dioxide and others.

14. What is the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell?

    A plant cell has a cell wall, large central vacuole, and chloroplasts; an animal cell lacks these (no cell wall or chloroplasts, only small vacuoles) but has centrioles.

15. Name the powerhouse of the cell and state its function.

    The mitochondrion; it produces energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration.

16. What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

    Prokaryotic cells (e.g., bacteria) lack a true membrane-bound nucleus and organelles; eukaryotic cells (plants, animals, fungi) have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

17. Who is known as the father of genetics, and what did he study?

    Gregor Mendel; he studied inheritance of traits in pea plants and formulated the laws of inheritance (segregation and independent assortment).

18. What is the difference between a gene and a chromosome?

    A chromosome is a thread-like structure of DNA carrying many genes; a gene is a specific segment of DNA coding for a particular trait or protein.

19. How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have, and which pair determines sex?

    Humans have 23 pairs (46 chromosomes). The 23rd pair determines sex: XX in females and XY in males.

20. State Mendel's law of segregation.

    The two alleles of a gene separate (segregate) during the formation of gametes, so each gamete carries only one allele for each trait.

21. Name the four chambers of the human heart and the blood each handles.

    Two atria (upper) and two ventricles (lower). The right side (right atrium and ventricle) handles deoxygenated blood; the left side handles oxygenated blood.

22. Where does photosynthesis occur, and what is its overall equation?

    In the chloroplasts of plant cells. Overall: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ (glucose) + 6O₂, using chlorophyll.

23. What is transpiration in plants?

    The loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant, mainly through the stomata of leaves; it helps in water uptake, mineral transport, and cooling.

24. Distinguish xylem from phloem in plants.

    Xylem transports water and dissolved minerals upward from roots to leaves; phloem transports food (sugars) made in leaves to the rest of the plant (translocation, in both directions).

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