Chemistry revision before a mid-term exam is not only about remembering definitions. You may know what a mixture or valence electron means but still need to explain why a change is chemical, interpret an atomic experiment, or show how an ion is formed. These are the places where active question practice becomes useful.
The PW Chemistry Mid-Term Marathon takes this approach by moving through concepts and questions during the revision session. The discussion ranges from mixtures and changes in matter to atomic structure and electronic configuration. The 18 questions selected below give you a way to revisit these areas and check how many you can answer without depending on your notes.
The PW Chemistry Mid-Term Marathon revises key areas that you need to keep clear before the exam. The session moves across mixtures, physical and chemical changes, solutions, atomic structure, electronic configuration, and bonding, with questions used to check how well you can apply these concepts.
The marathon revisits these important Chemistry concepts and uses questions to help you check your understanding. As you revise, use the points below to identify the topics you need to focus on:
|
Chemistry Area |
Key Areas Covered |
|
Matter, mixtures and solutions |
Pure substances, mixtures, homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures, solute and solvent |
|
Physical and chemical changes |
How to identify a change and give a reason for its classification |
|
Water and solutions |
Dissolving, solvent, solute and uniform composition of a solution |
|
Atomic structure |
Electrons, nucleus, subatomic particles and Rutherford’s experiment |
|
Electronic configuration and bonding |
Shells, valence electrons, ions, electron transfer and bond formation |
The marathon also discusses mixtures through processes such as coagulation and then asks questions based on mixture concepts, showing why you need to understand the process instead of relying only on its definition.
The PW Marathon includes more Chemistry questions for practice, while the 18 selected below are grouped across Matter, Mixtures and Solutions, Physical and Chemical Changes, Water and Solution-Based Concepts, Atomic Structure, and Electronic Configuration, Valency and Bond Formation.
You can check the complete marathon for additional questions and explanations as you continue your mid-term preparation.
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Q1. Which of the following is a pure substance: air, milk, distilled water, or soil? |
Distilled water is a pure substance. |
|
Q2. What is the difference between a homogeneous mixture and a heterogeneous mixture? |
A homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition throughout, while a heterogeneous mixture does not have a uniform composition throughout. |
|
Q3. In a sugar-water solution, identify the solute and the solvent. |
Sugar is the solute, while water is the solvent. |
|
Q4. Is an alloy a pure substance or a mixture? Give examples. |
An alloy is a mixture. Brass, bronze, and steel are examples of alloys. |
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Q5. Which of the following is not a physical change: melting of ice, boiling of water, dissolving sugar in water, or rusting of iron? |
Rusting of iron is not a physical change. It is a chemical change because a new substance is formed. |
|
Q6. Which represents a chemical change: melting ice, dissolving sugar in water, breaking glass, or burning coal? |
Burning coal represents a chemical change. |
|
Q7. Why is burning of coal considered a chemical change? |
When coal burns, new substances are produced. Since the original substance undergoes a chemical transformation, burning coal is classified as a chemical change. |
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Q8. Why is dissolving sugar in water considered a physical change? |
No new substance is formed when sugar dissolves in water. Sugar retains its chemical identity, so the process is treated as a physical change. |
|
Q9. What role does water play when sugar is dissolved in it? |
Water acts as the solvent because it is the medium in which sugar dissolves. |
|
Q10. What happens to the components when a homogeneous solution is formed? |
The components become uniformly distributed, giving the solution the same composition throughout. |
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Q11. Which was the first subatomic particle discussed as being discovered, and who discovered it? |
The electron was the first subatomic particle discussed, and its discovery is associated with J. J. Thomson. |
|
Q12. Which subatomic particle has the least mass? |
The electron has the least mass among electrons, protons, and neutrons. |
|
Q13. What did Rutherford’s gold-foil experiment indicate about the structure of an atom? |
Rutherford’s experiment indicated that most of an atom is empty space. It also showed that the positive charge and most of the mass of an atom are concentrated in a very small central region called the nucleus. |
|
Q14. Why was gold used in Rutherford’s alpha-particle scattering experiment? |
Gold is highly malleable, which means it can be beaten into an extremely thin foil. This made it suitable for studying the passage and deflection of alpha particles. |
|
Q15. Where are protons and neutrons found in an atom? |
Protons and neutrons are present inside the nucleus of an atom. |
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Q16. What is the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the L shell? |
The L shell can accommodate a maximum of 8 electrons. |
|
Q17. What are the electrons present in the outermost shell called? |
The electrons in the outermost shell are called valence electrons. |
|
Q18. How do sodium and chlorine form sodium chloride (NaCl)? |
Sodium has the electronic configuration 2, 8, 1, so it loses one electron and forms Na⁺. Chlorine has the electronic configuration 2, 8, 7, so it gains one electron and forms Cl⁻. The attraction between these oppositely charged ions results in the formation of sodium chloride. |
These questions give you focused practice, but the complete PW Chemistry Mid-Term Marathon covers the concepts in greater context. Use the full session to revisit explanations, connect related topics, and strengthen your preparation before the mid-term.
Some Chemistry questions can be answered with a single fact, while others test whether you can connect two or more ideas. These are the concepts worth giving another round of attention after attempting the questions above:
Physical and chemical changes: Be ready to classify a change and support your choice with a reason.
Mixtures: Keep the difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures clear and identify solute and solvent correctly.
Atomic experiments: Connect what was observed in Rutherford’s experiment with what it revealed about the atom.
Electronic configuration: Practise arranging electrons in shells rather than memorising configurations one by one.
Valence electrons: Check the outermost shell before deciding whether an atom is likely to lose or gain electrons.
Ion formation: Keep track of both the electron transfer and the charge formed.
Bond formation: Understand why oppositely charged ions attract instead of treating the final compound as something to memorise.
A useful test is to ask yourself whether you can explain a concept in two or three sentences without looking at the textbook. If you can name the answer but cannot explain the reason behind it, that concept still needs work.
The PW Chemistry Mid-Term Marathon combines concept revision with question practice, allowing you to check what you remember while revisiting important Chemistry areas. Instead of watching the entire session passively, you can use the explanations and questions to work specifically on concepts that still need attention.
Pause when a question appears and attempt it independently. Comparing your response with the explanation helps you see whether you can recall and apply the concept without support.
You do not need to revise an entire chapter every time you make a mistake. Return to the relevant explanation, clear the concept, and then attempt the question again.
Topics such as chemical changes, atomic experiments, electronic configuration, ion formation, and bonding often require an explanation along with the correct answer. Use the marathon to understand the reasoning behind these concepts rather than memorising only the final response.
Once you have revised a topic, attempt its questions again without referring to notes or solutions. This gives you a clearer idea of which concepts you can handle independently and which ones need another revision.
The PW Chemistry Mid-Term Marathon can help you make your final preparation more exam-focused. By revising important concepts, attempting questions, and returning to topics where you make mistakes, you can use the session to close revision gaps and approach the mid-term with better clarity across the Chemistry syllabus.