100 Chemistry MCQs with answers and explanations for Army, Navy and PAF initial tests

100 Chemistry MCQs with Answers and Explanations for Army, Navy and PAF Tests

By admin / October 14, 2026

About these Chemistry MCQs

This set of 100 Chemistry MCQs is made for candidates preparing for the Pak Army, Pak Navy and PAF initial tests. Every question has four options, the correct answer and a short reason, so you understand the concept behind each answer and not just the result.

The chemistry section of an academic test checks school level knowledge: chemical symbols, atomic number, formulas, acids and bases, gases, the periodic table, bonding, metals and the separation of mixtures. The questions below cover all of these topics. Work through them in order, or jump straight to any topic from the list.

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Topics covered in these 100 Chemistry MCQs

Tip: attempt the question before you open the answer.

Atoms and Chemical Symbols MCQs Q1–10

1What is the smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical properties?

  1. Molecule
  2. Atom
  3. Electron
  4. Compound
View answer

B) Atom because an atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical identity.

2What is the chemical symbol of oxygen?

  1. Ox
  2. O
  3. Og
  4. On
View answer

B) O because O is the chemical symbol for oxygen.

3What is the chemical symbol of sodium?

  1. S
  2. So
  3. Na
  4. N
View answer

C) Na because sodium’s symbol comes from its Latin name, natrium.

4What is the chemical symbol of potassium?

  1. P
  2. Po
  3. K
  4. Pt
View answer

C) K because potassium’s symbol comes from its Latin name, kalium.

5What is the chemical symbol of iron?

  1. Ir
  2. Fe
  3. I
  4. In
View answer

B) Fe because iron’s symbol comes from its Latin name, ferrum.

6What is the chemical symbol of gold?

  1. Gd
  2. Go
  3. Au
  4. Ag
View answer

C) Au because gold’s symbol comes from its Latin name, aurum.

7What is the chemical symbol of silver?

  1. Si
  2. S
  3. Ag
  4. Au
View answer

C) Ag because silver’s symbol comes from its Latin name, argentum.

8What is the chemical symbol of mercury?

  1. Mg
  2. Me
  3. Hg
  4. H
View answer

C) Hg because mercury’s symbol comes from its Latin name, hydrargyrum.

9What is the chemical symbol of lead?

  1. L
  2. Pb
  3. Le
  4. Pl
View answer

B) Pb because lead’s symbol comes from its Latin name, plumbum.

10What is the chemical symbol of copper?

  1. Co
  2. Cu
  3. C
  4. Cp
View answer

B) Cu because copper’s chemical symbol is Cu.

Atomic Number and Subatomic Particles MCQs Q11–20

11What is the atomic number of hydrogen?

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
View answer

A) 1 because hydrogen has one proton in its nucleus.

12What is the atomic number of carbon?

  1. 4
  2. 6
  3. 8
  4. 12
View answer

B) 6 because carbon has six protons.

13What is the atomic number of oxygen?

  1. 6
  2. 7
  3. 8
  4. 16
View answer

C) 8 because oxygen has eight protons.

14What is the atomic number of nitrogen?

  1. 5
  2. 6
  3. 7
  4. 14
View answer

C) 7 because nitrogen has seven protons.

15What is the atomic number of sodium?

  1. 10
  2. 11
  3. 12
  4. 23
View answer

B) 11 because sodium has eleven protons.

16What is the mass number of an atom?

  1. Number of electrons only
  2. Number of protons plus neutrons
  3. Number of neutrons only
  4. Number of protons minus electrons
View answer

B) Number of protons plus neutrons because these particles make up nearly all an atom’s mass.

17Which subatomic particle has a negative charge?

  1. Proton
  2. Neutron
  3. Electron
  4. Nucleus
View answer

C) Electron because electrons carry a negative electric charge.

18Which subatomic particle has a positive charge?

  1. Electron
  2. Proton
  3. Neutron
  4. Photon
View answer

B) Proton because protons carry a positive electric charge.

19Which subatomic particle has no electric charge?

  1. Proton
  2. Electron
  3. Neutron
  4. Ion
View answer

C) Neutron because neutrons are electrically neutral.

20Where are protons and neutrons located?

  1. In electron shells
  2. In the nucleus
  3. Outside the atom
  4. In chemical bonds only
View answer

B) In the nucleus because the nucleus contains protons and neutrons.

Chemical Formulas of Common Compounds MCQs Q21–30

21What is the chemical formula of water?

  1. CO₂
  2. H₂O
  3. H₂O₂
  4. HO₂
View answer

B) H₂O because each water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

22What is the chemical formula of carbon dioxide?

  1. CO
  2. C₂O
  3. CO₂
  4. C₂O₂
View answer

C) CO₂ because each molecule contains one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.

23What is the chemical formula of common salt?

  1. NaCl
  2. KCl
  3. NaOH
  4. HCl
View answer

A) NaCl because sodium chloride is the chemical name of common salt.

24What is the chemical formula of ammonia?

  1. NH₄
  2. NH₃
  3. NO₂
  4. N₂H
View answer

B) NH₃ because ammonia contains one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms.

25What is the chemical formula of methane?

  1. CH₄
  2. C₂H₆
  3. CO₂
  4. CH₃OH
View answer

A) CH₄ because one methane molecule contains one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.

26What is the chemical formula of hydrochloric acid?

  1. H₂SO₄
  2. HNO₃
  3. HCl
  4. NaCl
View answer

C) HCl because hydrogen chloride dissolved in water forms hydrochloric acid.

27What is the chemical formula of sulfuric acid?

  1. HCl
  2. H₂SO₄
  3. HNO₃
  4. H₂CO₃
View answer

B) H₂SO₄ because sulfuric acid contains hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen.

28What is the chemical formula of nitric acid?

  1. HNO₃
  2. H₂SO₄
  3. HNO₂
  4. NH₃
View answer

A) HNO₃ because nitric acid contains one hydrogen, one nitrogen, and three oxygen atoms.

29What is the chemical formula of sodium hydroxide?

  1. NaCl
  2. NaOH
  3. Na₂CO₃
  4. HCl
View answer

B) NaOH because sodium hydroxide consists of sodium, oxygen, and hydrogen.

30What is the chemical formula of calcium carbonate?

  1. CaO
  2. CaCl₂
  3. CaCO₃
  4. Ca(OH)₂
View answer

C) CaCO₃ because calcium carbonate contains calcium, carbon, and oxygen.

Acids, Bases and pH MCQs Q31–37

31What is the pH of a neutral solution at 25°C?

  1. 0
  2. 5
  3. 7
  4. 14
View answer

C) 7 because a neutral aqueous solution has a pH of 7 at 25°C.

32Which substance is acidic?

  1. Soap solution
  2. Lemon juice
  3. Baking soda solution
  4. Sodium hydroxide solution
View answer

B) Lemon juice because it contains citric acid.

33Which substance is basic?

  1. Vinegar
  2. Lemon juice
  3. Sodium hydroxide
  4. Carbonic acid
View answer

C) Sodium hydroxide because it is a strong base.

34Which acid is present in vinegar?

  1. Citric acid
  2. Acetic acid
  3. Sulfuric acid
  4. Nitric acid
View answer

B) Acetic acid because vinegar contains a dilute solution of acetic acid.

35Which acid is present in lemons?

  1. Citric acid
  2. Hydrochloric acid
  3. Sulfuric acid
  4. Nitric acid
View answer

A) Citric acid because lemons naturally contain citric acid.

36Which acid is found in the human stomach?

  1. Acetic acid
  2. Hydrochloric acid
  3. Sulfuric acid
  4. Carbonic acid
View answer

B) Hydrochloric acid because gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid.

37What is formed when an acid reacts with a base?

  1. Salt and water
  2. Oxygen only
  3. Hydrogen only
  4. Carbon only
View answer

A) Salt and water because an acid-base neutralization reaction generally produces salt and water.

Gases and the Atmosphere MCQs Q38–50

38Which gas is released when many metals react with dilute acids?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Hydrogen
  4. Carbon dioxide
View answer

C) Hydrogen because reactive metals can displace hydrogen from dilute acids.

39Which gas turns limewater milky?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Hydrogen
  3. Carbon dioxide
  4. Nitrogen
View answer

C) Carbon dioxide because it reacts with limewater to form insoluble calcium carbonate.

40Which gas supports combustion?

  1. Nitrogen
  2. Oxygen
  3. Carbon dioxide
  4. Helium
View answer

B) Oxygen because it supports the burning of many substances.

41Which gas is most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Carbon dioxide
  3. Nitrogen
  4. Hydrogen
View answer

C) Nitrogen because it makes up approximately 78% of dry air.

42Approximately what percentage of dry air is oxygen?

  1. 10%
  2. 21%
  3. 50%
  4. 78%
View answer

B) 21% because oxygen makes up about 21% of dry air.

43Which gas is used by plants during photosynthesis?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Carbon dioxide
  3. Hydrogen
  4. Helium
View answer

B) Carbon dioxide because plants use it to produce sugars during photosynthesis.

44Which gas is released by plants during photosynthesis?

  1. Nitrogen
  2. Carbon dioxide
  3. Oxygen
  4. Hydrogen
View answer

C) Oxygen because oxygen is released during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

45Which gas is commonly used in balloons because it is light and non-flammable?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Helium
  3. Chlorine
  4. Carbon monoxide
View answer

B) Helium because it is lighter than air and non-flammable.

46Which gas is commonly used in fire extinguishers?

  1. Carbon dioxide
  2. Hydrogen
  3. Oxygen
  4. Chlorine
View answer

A) Carbon dioxide because it helps suppress fires by displacing oxygen around the flame.

47Which gas is poisonous and can be produced by incomplete combustion?

  1. Carbon monoxide
  2. Oxygen
  3. Nitrogen
  4. Helium
View answer

A) Carbon monoxide because it interferes with the blood’s ability to transport oxygen.

48Which gas has the chemical formula O₃?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Ozone
  3. Nitrogen
  4. Hydrogen peroxide
View answer

B) Ozone because an ozone molecule contains three oxygen atoms.

49Which gas is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect among these options?

  1. Carbon dioxide
  2. Oxygen
  3. Nitrogen
  4. Helium
View answer

A) Carbon dioxide because it absorbs infrared radiation and contributes to Earth’s greenhouse effect.

50Which gas is used in the manufacture of ammonia by the Haber process?

  1. Nitrogen and hydrogen
  2. Oxygen and hydrogen
  3. Carbon dioxide and oxygen
  4. Chlorine and hydrogen
View answer

A) Nitrogen and hydrogen because the Haber process combines nitrogen with hydrogen to produce ammonia.

More Chemical Symbols MCQs Q51–55

51What is the chemical symbol of chlorine?

  1. C
  2. Ch
  3. Cl
  4. Cr
View answer

C) Cl because chlorine’s chemical symbol is Cl.

52What is the chemical symbol of calcium?

  1. C
  2. Ca
  3. Cl
  4. Cm
View answer

B) Ca because calcium’s chemical symbol is Ca.

53What is the chemical symbol of magnesium?

  1. Mn
  2. Mg
  3. Ma
  4. Ms
View answer

B) Mg because magnesium’s chemical symbol is Mg.

54What is the chemical symbol of zinc?

  1. Z
  2. Zn
  3. Zi
  4. Zc
View answer

B) Zn because zinc’s chemical symbol is Zn.

55What is the chemical symbol of aluminium?

  1. Al
  2. Am
  3. Au
  4. A
View answer

A) Al because aluminium’s chemical symbol is Al.

Elements and Their Properties MCQs Q56–60

56Which element is a liquid at room temperature?

  1. Iron
  2. Mercury
  3. Sodium
  4. Aluminium
View answer

B) Mercury because mercury is liquid at ordinary room temperature.

57Which non-metal is liquid at room temperature?

  1. Sulfur
  2. Carbon
  3. Bromine
  4. Iodine
View answer

C) Bromine because bromine is a liquid non-metal at room temperature.

58Which element is the hardest naturally occurring substance in its pure form?

  1. Iron
  2. Diamond
  3. Copper
  4. Gold
View answer

B) Diamond because its carbon atoms form a very strong three-dimensional covalent network.

59Which form of carbon is commonly used in pencil leads?

  1. Diamond
  2. Graphite
  3. Charcoal only
  4. Coal
View answer

B) Graphite because graphite layers slide over one another and leave marks on paper.

60Which element is essential for respiration in humans?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Helium
  3. Neon
  4. Argon
View answer

A) Oxygen because human cells use oxygen in aerobic cellular respiration.

Periodic Table and Groups MCQs Q61–70

61What is the modern periodic table arranged according to?

  1. Increasing atomic number
  2. Increasing atomic mass only
  3. Alphabetical order
  4. Density
View answer

A) Increasing atomic number because elements are arranged by their proton number.

62How many periods are there in the modern periodic table?

  1. 6
  2. 7
  3. 8
  4. 18
View answer

B) 7 because the modern periodic table has seven horizontal periods.

63How many groups are there in the modern periodic table?

  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 18
  4. 20
View answer

C) 18 because the modern periodic table has eighteen vertical groups.

64Which group contains the noble gases?

  1. Group 1
  2. Group 2
  3. Group 17
  4. Group 18
View answer

D) Group 18 because helium, neon, argon, and the other noble gases belong to this group.

65Which group contains the alkali metals?

  1. Group 1
  2. Group 2
  3. Group 16
  4. Group 18
View answer

A) Group 1 because the alkali metals are located in the first group, excluding hydrogen from the metal category.

66Which group contains the halogens?

  1. Group 1
  2. Group 2
  3. Group 17
  4. Group 18
View answer

C) Group 17 because fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine are halogens.

67Which of the following is a noble gas?

  1. Chlorine
  2. Neon
  3. Sodium
  4. Calcium
View answer

B) Neon because neon is a chemically unreactive noble gas.

68Which of the following is an alkali metal?

  1. Sodium
  2. Calcium
  3. Aluminium
  4. Iron
View answer

A) Sodium because sodium belongs to Group 1.

69Which of the following is a halogen?

  1. Helium
  2. Chlorine
  3. Sodium
  4. Magnesium
View answer

B) Chlorine because chlorine belongs to Group 17.

70Which of the following is a transition metal?

  1. Iron
  2. Neon
  3. Oxygen
  4. Hydrogen
View answer

A) Iron because iron is a transition metal.

Chemical Bonding and Valency MCQs Q71–75

71What is a chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons called?

  1. Covalent bond
  2. Ionic bond
  3. Metallic bond only
  4. Hydrogen bond
View answer

B) Ionic bond because electron transfer produces oppositely charged ions that attract each other.

72What type of bond forms when atoms share electron pairs?

  1. Ionic bond
  2. Covalent bond
  3. Nuclear bond
  4. Magnetic bond
View answer

B) Covalent bond because covalent bonding involves sharing electron pairs.

73Which type of bond is present in sodium chloride?

  1. Covalent
  2. Ionic
  3. Metallic
  4. Hydrogen
View answer

B) Ionic because sodium transfers an electron to chlorine, forming Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions.

74What is the valency of oxygen in water?

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
View answer

B) 2 because oxygen normally forms two covalent bonds in water.

75What is the valency of hydrogen in most of its compounds?

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
View answer

A) 1 because hydrogen normally forms one bond.

Everyday Chemicals and Formulas MCQs Q76–83

76What is the chemical formula of oxygen gas?

  1. O
  2. O₂
  3. O₃
  4. O₄
View answer

B) O₂ because ordinary oxygen gas consists mainly of molecules containing two oxygen atoms.

77What is the chemical formula of nitrogen gas?

  1. N
  2. N₂
  3. N₃
  4. NO₂
View answer

B) N₂ because nitrogen gas normally exists as diatomic molecules.

78What is the chemical formula of ozone?

  1. O
  2. O₂
  3. O₃
  4. CO₃
View answer

C) O₃ because each ozone molecule contains three oxygen atoms.

79What is the chemical formula of hydrogen peroxide?

  1. H₂O
  2. H₂O₂
  3. HO
  4. H₃O
View answer

B) H₂O₂ because each molecule contains two hydrogen and two oxygen atoms.

80What is the chemical formula of baking soda?

  1. NaCl
  2. NaHCO₃
  3. NaOH
  4. Na₂O
View answer

B) NaHCO₃ because baking soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate.

81What is the chemical name of washing soda?

  1. Sodium chloride
  2. Sodium carbonate decahydrate
  3. Sodium hydroxide
  4. Calcium carbonate
View answer

B) Sodium carbonate decahydrate because washing soda is commonly represented as Na₂CO₃·10H₂O.

82What is the chemical name of quicklime?

  1. Calcium oxide
  2. Calcium hydroxide
  3. Calcium carbonate
  4. Calcium chloride
View answer

A) Calcium oxide because quicklime has the formula CaO.

83What is the chemical name of slaked lime?

  1. Calcium oxide
  2. Calcium hydroxide
  3. Calcium carbonate
  4. Sodium hydroxide
View answer

B) Calcium hydroxide because slaked lime has the formula Ca(OH)₂.

Fuels, Metals and Corrosion MCQs Q84–90

84What is the main component of natural gas?

  1. Ethane
  2. Methane
  3. Propane
  4. Butane
View answer

B) Methane because natural gas consists mainly of methane.

85Which fuel is commonly used in many domestic LPG cylinders?

  1. Pure oxygen
  2. Propane and butane
  3. Nitrogen and helium
  4. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen
View answer

B) Propane and butane because LPG commonly contains these hydrocarbon gases.

86What is rust mainly composed of?

  1. Iron oxide compounds
  2. Copper sulfate
  3. Sodium chloride
  4. Calcium oxide
View answer

A) Iron oxide compounds because rust forms when iron reacts with oxygen and moisture.

87Which process protects iron from rusting by coating it with zinc?

  1. Distillation
  2. Galvanization
  3. Sublimation
  4. Filtration
View answer

B) Galvanization because a zinc coating helps protect iron from corrosion.

88Which metal is commonly used for electrical wiring?

  1. Copper
  2. Sulfur
  3. Phosphorus
  4. Carbon
View answer

A) Copper because it has high electrical conductivity and is ductile.

89Which metal is extracted from bauxite ore?

  1. Iron
  2. Aluminium
  3. Copper
  4. Zinc
View answer

B) Aluminium because bauxite is the principal ore used to produce aluminium.

90Which metal is the main component of steel?

  1. Copper
  2. Iron
  3. Aluminium
  4. Silver
View answer

B) Iron because steel is primarily iron alloyed with carbon and sometimes other elements.

States of Matter and Changes MCQs Q91–95

91What is the change of a liquid into a gas at its surface called?

  1. Freezing
  2. Condensation
  3. Evaporation
  4. Deposition
View answer

C) Evaporation because liquid particles escape from the surface into the gas phase.

92What is the change of a gas into a liquid called?

  1. Melting
  2. Condensation
  3. Sublimation
  4. Freezing
View answer

B) Condensation because a gas loses energy and changes into a liquid.

93What is the direct change of a solid into a gas called?

  1. Freezing
  2. Condensation
  3. Sublimation
  4. Melting
View answer

C) Sublimation because the solid changes directly into gas without becoming liquid first.

94What is the change of a solid into a liquid called?

  1. Melting
  2. Freezing
  3. Condensation
  4. Deposition
View answer

A) Melting because a solid absorbs energy and becomes a liquid.

95What is the change of a liquid into a solid called?

  1. Evaporation
  2. Melting
  3. Freezing
  4. Sublimation
View answer

C) Freezing because a liquid changes into a solid as it loses energy.

Separation Methods and Atomic Theory MCQs Q96–100

96Which separation method is used to separate an insoluble solid from a liquid?

  1. Filtration
  2. Distillation
  3. Chromatography only
  4. Sublimation
View answer

A) Filtration because a filter retains the insoluble solid while the liquid passes through.

97Which method separates liquids with different boiling points?

  1. Filtration
  2. Distillation
  3. Sieving
  4. Magnetic separation
View answer

B) Distillation because it separates substances based on differences in boiling points.

98What is a substance made of two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio called?

  1. Mixture
  2. Compound
  3. Solution only
  4. Alloy only
View answer

B) Compound because its elements are chemically bonded in a definite proportion.

99What is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances called?

  1. Element
  2. Compound only
  3. Solution
  4. Isotope
View answer

C) Solution because its components are uniformly distributed.

100Who proposed the modern atomic theory in the early nineteenth century?

  1. John Dalton
  2. Isaac Newton
  3. Niels Bohr
  4. Ernest Rutherford
View answer

A) John Dalton because he developed an influential early modern atomic theory.

How to solve each type of Chemistry question

Symbols and atomic numbers

Learn the symbols in two groups: the ones that match the English name, such as O, C, Ca and Cl, and the ones that come from Latin names, such as Na, K, Fe, Au, Ag, Hg and Pb. Remember the atomic numbers of the first ten elements, plus sodium (11), as they appear very often.

Formulas and everyday chemicals

Write the formula and the common name side by side: NaCl is salt, NaHCO₃ is baking soda, CaO is quicklime, Ca(OH)₂ is slaked lime and CH₄ is methane. Counting the atoms in the name helps, as in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitric acid (HNO₃).

Acids, bases and gases

Match each acid to its source: acetic acid in vinegar, citric acid in lemons and hydrochloric acid in the stomach. A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. For gases, remember one test or use for each, such as limewater for carbon dioxide and oxygen for combustion.

Periodic table and bonding

Know that the table is arranged by atomic number, with 7 periods and 18 groups. Group 1 holds the alkali metals, Group 17 the halogens and Group 18 the noble gases. An ionic bond transfers electrons and a covalent bond shares them.

States of matter and separation

Link each change to its name: melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation and sublimation. For mixtures, use filtration for an insoluble solid in a liquid and distillation for liquids with different boiling points.

A simple practice plan

  1. Attempt 20 to 25 MCQs a day, starting with your weakest topic.
  2. Check every answer and read the reason, even when you were right.
  3. Keep one small notebook for symbols, formulas and atomic numbers, and revise it daily.
  4. Combine this set with 100 Physics MCQs, 100 English MCQs and 200 Verbal Intelligence MCQs, and finish the week with a timed Chemistry Test.

Frequently asked questions

What are Chemistry MCQs for Army, Navy and PAF initial tests?

They are multiple-choice questions on school-level chemistry, such as chemical symbols, atomic structure, formulas, acids and bases, gases, the periodic table and bonding. The academic section of an initial test checks how well you remember these basics.

Are these Chemistry MCQs useful for Pak Army, Pak Navy and PAF preparation?

Yes. Academic papers for the armed forces commonly include chemistry along with English, mathematics, physics and other subjects, so regular practice builds speed and accuracy. This is a practice set and not an official paper.

How many Chemistry MCQs should I solve each day?

Solving 20 to 25 questions a day with careful review works better than rushing through all 100 in one sitting. At that pace, the full set takes about four to five days.

Does every question have an answer and explanation?

Yes. Tap View answer under any question to see the correct option and the reason. The Show all answers button opens every answer at once.

How can I improve my Chemistry for the initial test?

Learn the symbols, atomic numbers and common formulas first, revise one topic at a time, and note your mistakes before each practice session. Then take a timed test to check your speed.

Official recruitment sources

For dates, eligibility and test details, always check the official portals: Join Pak Army, Pakistan Navy and Join PAF. This page is not affiliated with any of them.

Related practice

Open Chemistry MCQs for more untimed practice, try the Chemistry Test, or read 100 Physics MCQs. You can also browse the Academic Test page and find preparation pages for the Pak Army, Pak Navy and Pak Air Force.

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