Science for 11th Graders Trivia Quiz

Answer: hydrogen

The Haber process is a chemical reaction which uses nitrogen from the air and hydrogen to produce ammonia (NH3) but the conditions must be right to get the best possible yield. The ammonia is needed for the production of fertilizer which is crucial for food production.

The Haber process (or Haber-Bosch process) was developed by German chemist Fritz Haber in 1909. Haber won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918 for his discovery. It was subsequently adapted for industrial production by German chemical engineer Carl Bosch.

Answer: a

Asexual reproduction occurs when one plant or animal creates offspring alone, without a partner. This involves cell division by mitosis (when one cell divides into two identical daughter cells). The offspring are genetically identical to the parent.

The advantage of asexual reproduction is that it removes the necessity of finding a mate. The disadvantage is that there is no genetic diversity so undesirable traits will persist in the population and the process of adaptation does not occur. Some variation is possible in plants that pollinate themselves - although there is not as much variation as would be possible if there were two separate plants involved.

Examples of plants that rely on asexual reproduction include strawberries, potatoes, garlic, ginger, and daffodils. Animal examples include sponges, jellyfish, sea stars, aphids and some species of sharks.

Answer: non-metals with non-metals

Non-metals will readily bond with both metals and other non-metals, but the type of bond differs based on electronegativity. They typically form ionic bonds with metals (by transfer of electrons) and covalent bonds with other non-metals (by sharing electrons) in order to achieve stability.

Some examples of covalent bonding include water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2).

Answer: Saturn

The eight planets of our solar system are divided into four inner and four outer planets. The four inner planets, also known as terrestrial planets, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The four outer planets, also known as Jovian planets or gas giants, are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

The major characteristics of the inner planets are that they are smaller in size than the gas giants, have rocky surfaces and are highly dense. They tend to have few or no moons and no ring systems.

Answer: Diffraction

Diffraction, refraction, dispersion and reflection refer to four different ways in which light waves behave. Diffraction occurs when light waves bend and spread when they pass through a narrow gap or bend around the edges of an object.

Reflection refers to the change in direction of the wave when it hits a surface. All objects reflect some light but the amount depends on the nature of the surface; i.e. its colour, and how smooth and shiny it is.

Refraction occurs when light bends as it passes through one transparent substance into another, such as from air into water or glass.

Dispersion of light refers to the process where white light separates into different colours (the colours of the rainbow) when it passes through a transparent substance such as a prism or a drop of water.

Answer: r

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disorder which causes red blood cells to become rigid, sticky and sickle-shaped, blocking blood flow and causing anaemia, pain, infections, and organ damage. Sickle-shaped means crescent or C-shaped, like the blade of a farming tool called a sickle.

It is caused by a recessive allele which means a person has to have inherited the allele from both parents in order to be a sufferer of the disease. If only one allele is inherited, the person is not affected but is a carrier and could pass the allele on to their children.

Answer: Fluorine

Halogens are a special group of highly reactive non-metal elements found in Group 17 of the periodic table. In order of increasing atomic number, they are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine, and tennessine. As the atomic number increases, the halogens get less reactive. The word "halogen" actually means "salt-former".

Fluorine is a pale yellow, highly toxic gas which can cause severe chemical burns. It is the most reactive element on Earth and reacts with almost everything except a few special gases. It is so reactive that it never exists alone in nature, but is always paired with other elements.

Answer: Microwaves

Electromagnetic waves are waves of energy that have electric and magnetic fields. There are seven types of electromagnetic waves. In order from low to high frequency these are: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Frequency is the number of wave peaks (or crests) that pass a specific point in one second. Frequency tells us how fast the wave vibrates - the more waves per second the higher the frequency. It is measured in a unit called Hertz (Hz), where 1 Hertz is one wave per second.

Answer: Neutron star

A supernova is the massive explosion of a huge star. It happens when the star's core runs out of fuel and collapses under its own gravity. A supernova explosion can result in a nebula and either a neutron star or a black hole. A nebula is a vast cloud of dust, hydrogen and helium. A black hole is a region in space where gravity is so powerful that nothing, not even light, can escape.

A neutron star is the dense leftover core of the supernova. The shockwave from a supernova explosion spreads through the surrounding space, compressing clouds of gas and dust to form new, younger stars.

Answer: sulphur dioxide

Acid rain is a result of air pollution. Human activities, such as industrial processes and the use of cars, produce waste gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which rise up and mix with water, oxygen and other chemicals in the clouds, forming sulfuric and nitric acids, which then fall to the ground as acid rain, snow or fog. Normal rain is slightly acidic (with a pH of about 5.6), but acid rain is much stronger (with a pH of 4.0 or lower).