ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS – ANSWER KEY WITH DETAILED NCERT-BASED EXPLANATIONS

Q1. Which of the following salts is used to remove permanent hardness of water?
(a) Sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃)
(b) Sodium chloride (NaCl)
(c) Sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na₂CO₃·10H₂O)
(d) Calcium sulphate hemihydrate

Answer: (c) Sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na₂CO₃·10H₂O)

Explanation (NCERT Reference: Washing Soda - Chapter 2):
Washing soda (Na₂CO₃·10H₂O) is used to remove permanent hardness of water. It reacts with the
calcium and magnesium chlorides/sulphates present in hard water to form insoluble carbonates,
which precipitate out. For example:
CaCl₂ + Na₂CO₃ → CaCO₃↓ + 2NaCl

Q2. Which gas is evolved when an acid reacts with a metal carbonate?
(a) Oxygen
(b) Hydrogen
(c) Carbon dioxide
(d) Nitrogen

Answer: (c) Carbon dioxide

Explanation (NCERT Reference: Reaction of Acids with Metal Carbonates - Activity 2.3):
When an acid reacts with a metal carbonate, it produces a salt, water, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas.
The CO₂ gas can be tested by passing it through lime water, which turns milky.
Example: Na₂CO₃ + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H₂O + CO₂↑

Q3. Sodium hydroxide is termed as an alkali, while ferric hydroxide is not because:
(a) Sodium hydroxide is a strong base, while ferric hydroxide is a weak base.
(b) Sodium hydroxide is a base soluble in water, while ferric hydroxide is a base but insoluble in
water.
(c) Sodium hydroxide is a strong base, while ferric hydroxide is a strong acid.
(d) Both are strong bases, but sodium hydroxide is more soluble in water.

Answer: (b) Sodium hydroxide is a base soluble in water, while ferric hydroxide is a base but
insoluble in water.
Explanation (NCERT Reference: Definition of Alkali):
All alkalis are bases, but all bases are not alkalis. An alkali is specifically a base that dissolves in
water to release OH⁻ ions. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is soluble in water, hence it is an alkali. Ferric
hydroxide [Fe(OH)₃] is also a base, but it is insoluble in water, so it is not termed an alkali.

Q4. The pH of a strongly basic solution is likely to be:

(a) 2
(b) 5
(c) 7
(d) 13
Answer: (d) 13
Explanation (NCERT Reference: The pH Scale):
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH value of 7 is neutral. Values less than 7 are acidic (lower =
stronger acid). Values greater than 7 are basic (higher = stronger base). A strongly basic solution will
have a pH close to 14. Therefore, 13 is the correct choice.

Q5. Which of the following can be used as an olfactory indicator by a visually impaired student to
test whether a solution is acidic or basic?
(a) Litmus solution
(b) Turmeric powder
(c) Vanilla essence
(d) Methyl orange

Answer: (c) Vanilla essence

Explanation (NCERT Reference: Activity 2.4 - Olfactory Indicators):
Olfactory indicators are substances whose smell changes in acidic or basic mediums. Vanilla essence
is a common olfactory indicator – it loses its characteristic smell in a basic solution, but retains it in
an acidic solution. This makes it highly useful for visually impaired students, unlike litmus, turmeric,
or methyl orange, which rely on visual colour change.

Q6. Sodium carbonate is a basic salt because it is a salt of:

(a) strong acid and strong base
(b) weak acid and weak base
(c) strong acid and weak base
(d) weak acid and strong base

Answer: (d) weak acid and strong base

Explanation (NCERT Reference: Salts - Family of Salts):
Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) is formed from:

 Carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) – which is a weak acid.

 Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) – which is a strong base.

Salts derived from a weak acid and a strong base are basic in nature. When dissolved in
water, they hydrolyse to release OH⁻ ions, making the solution alkaline.

Q7. One of the constituents of baking powder is sodium hydrogen carbonate. The other
constituent is:
(a) hydrochloric acid
(b) tartaric acid
(c) acetic acid
(d) sulphuric acid

Answer: (b) tartaric acid

Explanation (NCERT Reference: Baking Soda and Baking Powder - Chapter 2):
Baking powder is a mixture of sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃) and a mild edible acid
like tartaric acid. When baking powder is mixed with water (or heated during baking), the acid reacts
with NaHCO₃ to produce carbon dioxide gas. This CO₂ causes the dough or batter to rise and become
fluffy. Tartaric acid is used specifically because it is edible and safe for consumption.

Q8. Plaster of Paris is prepared from gypsum by heating it at 373 K. Which of the following
statements about Plaster of Paris is INCORRECT?
(a) It is used for setting fractured bones.
(b) Its chemical formula is CaSO₄·2H₂O.
(c) On adding water, it changes back to gypsum.
(d) If heated above 373 K, it forms dead burnt plaster.
Answer: (b) Its chemical formula is CaSO₄·2H₂O.
Explanation (NCERT Reference: Plaster of Paris - Chapter 2):

 Plaster of Paris (POP) is calcium sulphate hemihydrate and its correct formula
is CaSO₄·½H₂O.

 The formula CaSO₄·2H₂O is the formula for gypsum, not Plaster of Paris.

 POP is used for setting fractured bones (Option a is correct).

 On adding water, POP changes back to gypsum (Option c is correct).

 Heating POP above 373 K removes all the water molecules and forms "dead burnt plaster"
which does not set (Option d is correct).
Therefore, (b) is the incorrect statement.

Q9. Why does dry HCl gas not change the colour of dry litmus paper?
(a) Litmus paper requires moisture to show colour change.
(b) HCl gas is a neutral gas.
(c) Hydrogen ions (H⁺) are not released in the absence of water; litmus changes only in the presence
of H⁺/H₃O⁺ ions.
(d) Dry litmus paper reacts only with bases, not acids.

Answer: (c) Hydrogen ions (H⁺) are not released in the absence of water; litmus changes only in the
presence of H⁺/H₃O⁺ ions.
Explanation (NCERT Reference: Activity 2.6 - Acids in the Absence of Water):
Acids produce H⁺ ions (or hydronium H₃O⁺ ions) only in the presence of water. Dry HCl gas does not
dissociate to give H⁺ ions because it lacks water molecules. Since the colour change of litmus paper is
caused by the presence of H⁺ ions, dry HCl gas does not affect dry litmus paper. Moisture is essential
for acidic behaviour.

Q10. In a dilute aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, which of the following ions are present?
(a) H₃O⁺ and Cl⁻
(b) H₃O⁺ and OH⁻
(c) Cl⁻ and OH⁻
(d) Only unionized HCl molecules
Answer: (a) H₃O⁺ and Cl⁻
Explanation (NCERT Reference: Hydronium Ions - Chapter 2):
When HCl gas is dissolved in water, it dissociates completely into ions because it is a strong acid. The
H⁺ ions released cannot exist alone; they combine with water molecules (H₂O) to form hydronium
ions (H₃O⁺). Thus, an aqueous solution of HCl contains H₃O⁺ ions and Cl⁻ ions.
Equation: HCl + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + Cl⁻

POLYNOMIALS – ANSWER KEY WITH DETAILED NCERT-BASED EXPLANATIONS

Q1. The zeroes of x² – 2x – 8 are:

(a) (2, -4)
(b) (4, -2)
(c) (-2, -2)
(d) (-4, -4)

Answer: (b) (4, -2)

Explanation: To find the zeroes, factorise the quadratic:
x² – 2x – 8 = x² – 4x + 2x – 8
= x(x – 4) + 2(x – 4)
= (x – 4)(x + 2)
Setting each factor to zero: x – 4 = 0 → x = 4; and x + 2 = 0 → x = –2.
Therefore, the zeroes are 4 and –2.

Q2. What is the quadratic polynomial whose sum and the product of zeroes is √2 and ⅓
respectively?
(a) 3x² – 3√2x + 1
(b) 3x² + 3√2x + 1
(c) 3x² + 3√2x – 1
(d) None of the above

Answer: (a) 3x² – 3√2x + 1

Explanation:
If α and β are the zeroes, the standard quadratic polynomial is:
k[x² – (α + β)x + αβ], where k is any non-zero constant.
Given: α + β = √2 and αβ = ⅓.
So, polynomial = k[x² – √2x + ⅓].
To eliminate the fraction, take k = 3:
= 3[x² – √2x + ⅓]
= 3x² – 3√2x + 1.
Hence, option (a) is correct.

Q3. If the zeroes of the quadratic polynomial ax² + bx + c, c ≠ 0 are equal, then:
(a) c and b have opposite signs
(b) c and a have opposite signs
(c) c and b have the same signs
(d) c and a have the same signs

Answer: (d) c and a have the same signs

Explanation:
For a quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0 to have equal zeroes, its discriminant (D) must be equal to 0.
D = b² – 4ac = 0
→ b² = 4ac
Since b² is always positive (for any real b ≠ 0), the right-hand side (4ac) must also be positive.
For 4ac to be positive, a and c must have the same sign (both positive or both negative).
Hence, option (d) is correct.

Q4. The degree of the polynomial x⁴ – x² + 2 is:

(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 1
(d) 0

Answer: (b) 4
Explanation:
The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable present in the expression.
Here, the terms are x⁴, –x², and 2. The highest exponent is 4 (from x⁴).
Therefore, the degree is 4.

Q5. If one of the zeroes of the cubic polynomial x³ + ax² + bx + c is -1, then the product of the other
two zeroes is:
(a) b – a – 1
(b) b – a + 1
(c) a – b + 1
(d) a – b – 1

Answer: (b) b – a + 1
Explanation:
Let the zeroes be α, β, and γ. Given that one zero, say α = –1.
For a cubic polynomial x³ + ax² + bx + c:

 Sum of product of zeroes taken two at a time (αβ + βγ + γα) = b (coefficient of x).
So, αβ + βγ + γα = b.
Substitute α = –1:
(–1)β + βγ + γ(–1) = b
→ –β + βγ – γ = b
→ βγ – (β + γ) = b ...(Equation 1)

Also, sum of zeroes (α + β + γ) = –a (coefficient of x² with negative sign).

–1 + β + γ = –a
→ β + γ = –a + 1 ...(Equation 2)
Substitute (β + γ) from Equation 2 into Equation 1:
βγ – (–a + 1) = b
→ βγ + a – 1 = b
→ βγ = b – a + 1.
Thus, the product of the other two zeroes is b – a + 1.

Q6. The maximum number of zeroes that a polynomial of degree 4 can have is:
(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four

Answer: (d) Four

Explanation:
By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and the NCERT theorem, a polynomial of degree 'n' can
have at most 'n' real zeroes (because its graph can intersect the x-axis at most n times).
Since the degree is 4, the maximum number of zeroes it can have is 4.

Q7. If α and β are the zeroes of the polynomial p(x) = x² – 5x + 6, then what is the value of α² + β²?
(a) 25
(b) 13
(c) 19
(d) 11

Answer: (b) 13
Explanation:
For p(x) = x² – 5x + 6:

 Sum of zeroes (α + β) = –(coefficient of x) / (coefficient of x²) = –(–5)/1 = 5.

 Product of zeroes (αβ) = constant term / coefficient of x² = 6/1 = 6.
We know the identity: α² + β² = (α + β)² – 2αβ.
Substitute the values:
= (5)² – 2(6)
= 25 – 12
= 13.

Q8. A polynomial p(x) is such that p(2) = 0 and p(–3) = 0. Which of the following must be a factor of
p(x)?
(a) (x – 1)(x + 3)
(b) (x – 2)(x + 3)
(c) (x + 2)(x – 3)
(d) (x – 2)(x – 3)
Answer: (b) (x – 2)(x + 3)
Explanation:
The Factor Theorem states: If p(a) = 0, then (x – a) is a factor of p(x).
  Since p(2) = 0, (x – 2) is a factor.

 Since p(–3) = 0, (x – (–3)) = (x + 3) is a factor.

Therefore, the product (x – 2)(x + 3) must definitely be a factor of p(x).

Q9. If the graph of a quadratic polynomial touches the x-axis at one point only, what can we say
about its zeroes?
(a) No real zeroes
(b) Two distinct real zeroes
(c) Exactly one real zero (equal roots)
(d) Three zeroes

Answer: (c) Exactly one real zero (equal roots)

Explanation:
When the graph of a quadratic polynomial (a parabola) touches the x-axis at exactly one point, it
means that the vertex lies on the axis. In this case, the quadratic equation has two equal roots (the
same zero repeated). So, we say it has exactly one real zero (or two equal zeroes).
If it had two distinct zeroes, the graph would cut the x-axis at two points. If it had no real zeroes, it
would not touch the x-axis at all.

Q10. The number of polynomials having zeroes –3 and 5 is:

(a) Exactly one
(b) Exactly two
(c) At most two
(d) More than 3 (infinite)

Answer: (d) More than 3 (infinite)

Explanation:
Any polynomial that has zeroes –3 and 5 can be written in the form:
p(x) = k(x + 3)(x – 5), where k is any non-zero real number (constant).
Since k can take infinitely many values (1, 2, 3, ½, –1, etc.), each value of k gives a different
polynomial (differing by a scalar multiple). All of them will have the same zeroes –3 and 5.
Hence, the number of such polynomials is infinite (more than 3).