Assertion Reason Questions

General Instructions:
In following questions, a statement of assertion followed by a statement
of reason is given. Choose the correct answer out of the following
choices:
(a) Assertion and reason both are correct statements and reason
is correct explanation for assertion.
(b) Assertion and reason both are correct statements but reason is
not correct explanation for assertion.
(c) Assertion is correct statement but reason is wrong statement.
(d) Assertion is wrong statement but reason is correct statement.

Q.1. Assertion: CsI is highly soluble in water.

Reason: CsI has smaller hydration enthalpy of its two ions.
Ans(d). CsI is less soluble in water because it has smaller
hydration enthalpy of its two ions.

Q.2. Assertion: Increasing order of covalent character among

alkali metal halides is:
Fluoride < chloride < bromide < iodide

Reason: Higher the electronegativity difference between

metal and halogen, greater is the covalent character of alkali
metal halides.
Ans: (c). Lesser the electronegativity difference between metal
and halogen, greater is the covalent character of alkali metal
halides.

Q.3. Assertion: The alkali metal halides possess high melting

points.
Reason: These halides have less negative enthalpies of
formation.
Ans: (c). The alkali metal halides possess high melting points
because these halides have high negative enthalpies of
formation. It is also due to the fact that alkali metals are more
electropositive and halogens are most electronegative.
Consequently, alkali metal halides are the most ionic
compounds.

Q.4. Assertion: The melting and boiling points of alkali metal

halides decrease from F− to I−.
Reason: For a given metal, ∆fHo always become less
negative from fluoride to iodide.
Ans: (a). The trend of melting and boiling points of alkali metal
halides is :

Fluoride > chloride > bromide > iodide

It is because for a given metal, ∆fHo, always become less

negative from fluoride to iodide.
Q.5. Assertion: LiF is less soluble in water.
Reason: LiF possesses low lattice enthalpy.
Ans: (c). LiF is less soluble in water due to its high lattice
enthalpy.

Q.6. Assertion: (A): The atomic mass of most of the elements

are fractional.
Reason: (R): Most of the elements occur as mixture of
isotopes in nature.
Ans: (a). The atomic masses of most of the elements are
fractional because most of the elements occur as mixture of
isotopes in nature. Their atomic masses are the average
relative atomic masses of the isotopes, which depend on their
abundance.

Q.7. Assertion: (A): Some metals like platinum and palladium,

can be used as storage media for hydrogen.
Reason: (R): Platinum and palladium can absorb large
volumes of hydrogen.
Ans: (a). Pt and Pd can be used as storage media for hydrogen
because they can absorb large volumes of hydrocarbon.
Q.8. Assertion: (A): Free radicals are obtained by means of
homolytic cleavage.
Reason: (R): In homolytic cleavage, each of the atoms
acquires one of the bonding electrons.
Ans: (a).

Q.9. Assertion: (A): Cycloalkanes are isomeric with alkenes.

Reason: (R): Their general formula is same i.e., CnH2n.
Ans: (a). Cycloalkanes are isomeric with alkanes because both
have same general formula i.e., CnH2n.
Q.10. Assertion: (A): The ionization enthalpy of hydrogen is
higher than that of sodium.
Reason: (R): The size of hydrogen is smaller than sodium.
Ans: (a). The ionization enthalpy of hydrogen is higher than that
of sodium because of smaller size of hydrogen than of sodium.

Q.11. Assertion: (A): Reaction proceeds forward when Qc < Kc.

Reason: (R): In this case, change in free energy will be
positive.
Ans: (c). A reaction proceeds forward when Qc < Kc.
∆G = ∆Go + RT ln Qc
∆G = – RT ln Kc + RT ln Qc

∆G = RT ln
If Qc < Kc, then ∆G will be negative, for the reaction to proceed
in the forward direction.
Q.12. Assertion: Staggered from least stable than the eclipsed
form.
Reason: Staggered form has the least torsional strain.
Ans: (d). Staggered form is more stable than the eclipsed form
because of least torsional strain in staggered form.

Q.13. Assertion: Alkane are saturated hydrocarbons.

Reason: Alkanes contain carbon−carbon sigma bonds.
Ans: (a). Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons because they
contain C—C single bonds.

Q.14. Assertion: In alkanes, there is free rotation about C−C

single bond.
Reason: Electron distribution of the sigma molecular orbital
is symmetrical around the internuclear axis of the C−C bond.
Ans: (a). In alkanes, there is free rotation about C—C single
bond because electron distribution of the sigma molecular
orbital is symmetrical around the internuclear axis of the C—C
bond.

Q.15. Assertion: There are different spatial arrangements of

atoms of alkanes in space which change into one another.
Reason: It is due to free rotation about C−C single bond.
Ans: (a). There are different spatial arrangement of atoms of
alkanes in space which can change into one another because
of free rotation about C—C single bond.

Q.16. Assertion: The rotation around a C−C single bond is not

completely free which is hindered by a small energy barrier of
1−20 KJ mol−1.
Reason: It is due to strong repulsive interaction between the
adjacent bonds.
Ans: (c). The rotation around a carbon−carbon single bound is
not completely free because weak repulsive interaction
between the adjacent bonds.

Q.17. Assertion: (A): A liquid crystallises into solid. The sign of

entropy change for this reaction is negative.
Reason: (R): Entropy decreases as solid is a less ordered
state.
Ans: (c). The sign of entropy changes for crystallization of liquid
into solid is negative because solid is a more ordered state.

Q.18. Assertion: (A): Alkyl groups act as electron donors when

attached to a π-system.
 Reason: (R): It is due to hyperconjugation.
Ans: (a). In hyper conjugation, the sigma electrons of the C—H
bond of an alkyl group are delocalized which is attached to an
unsaturated system. e.g.,

Q.19. Assertion: (A) : Bohr's orbits are called energy levels.

Reason: (R) : They are associated with fixed amount of
energy.
Ans: (a).

Q.20. Assertion: (A): π bond is stronger than σ bond.

Reason: (R): The extent of overlapping in σ bond is greater
than in π-bond.
Ans: (d). Sigma bond is stronger than π bond because the
extent of overlapping in sigma bond is greater than in π bond.

Q.21. Assertion: (A): The line spectrum of an element is known

as finger prints of its atom.
Reason: (R): Each element has a unique line emission
spectrum.
Ans: (a). The line spectrum is of greater interest in the study of
electronic structure. Each element has a unique line emission
spectrum. The characteristics in atomic spectra can be sued in
chemical analysis to identify unknown atoms in the same ways
as finger print are used to identify people.

Q.22. Assertion: (A): HNO3 acts as oxidizing agent while

HNO2 can act both as reducing and oxidizing agent.
Reason: (R): HNO3 forms nascent oxygen while HNO2 does
not form nascent oxygen.
Ans: (b). Maximum oxidation number of N is +5 because it has
five electrons in its valence shell.
Minimum oxidation number of N is –3 because it can accept 3
more electrons to get noble gas configuration.

Since, oxidation number of N in HNO3 is maximum, so, it can

only decrease. Hence, HNO3 can act as an oxidizing agent.
Since, oxidation number of N in HNO2 is +3. Hence, it can
increase by losing electrons or can decrease by accepting
electrons. Hence, HNO2 can act both as reducing and oxidizing
agent.
Q.23. Assertion: The greater the s character of hybrid orbitals,
the greater is the electronegativity.
Reason: The change in hybridization influences the
electronegativity of carbon.
Ans: (a). The greater the s-character of hybrid orbital, the
greater is the electronegativity.

Q.24. Assertion: The sp hybrid orbital is closer to its nucleus.

Reason: The sp hybrid orbital has less s character.
Ans: (c). The sp hybrid orbital has more s character.

Q.25. Assertion: The shape of methane molecule is tetrahedral.

Reason: It possesses sp2 hybridization.
Ans: (c). The shape of methane (CH4) molecule is tetrahedral
as it possesses sp3 hybridization.
Q.26. Assertion: The sp hybrid orbitals form shorter and
stronger bonds than the sp3 hybrid orbital.
Reason: The sp hybrid orbital contains more s character.
Ans: (a). Since the sp hybrid orbital contains more s character
(50%) than the sp3 hybrid orbital (s character = 25%), so the sp
hybrid orbital forms shorter and stronger bonds than the
sp3 hybrid orbital.
Q.27. Assertion: The length and enthalpy of the bonds formed
by sp2 hybrid orbital are intermediate between sp and sp3 hybrid
orbitals.
Reason: The sp2 hybrid orbital has more s character than
sp3 hybrid orbital.
Ans: (b). The sp2 hybrid orbital is intermediate in s character
between sp2 and sp3 hybrid orbitals.
Q.28. Assertion: (A): BF3 does not contain proton but still acts
as an acid.
Reason: (R): It is an electron deficient species.
Ans: (a). BF3 does not contain proton (H+) but still acts as an
acid because it is an electron deficient species. It acts as Lewis
acid.
Q.29. Assertion: (A): Acetylene is acidic but it does not react
with sodium hydroxide.
Reason: (R): It is a very weak acid.
Ans: (a). Since acetylene is very weak acid (Ka = 10–25) So, it
does not react with sodium hydroxide.
Q.30. Assertion: (A): The completely filled and half-filled
sub−shells are stable.
Reason: (R): It is due to symmetrical distribution of electrons.
Ans: (a). The completely filled and half-filled sub-shells are
stable because of symmetrical distribution of electrons.

Q.31. Assertion: (A): Ionic compounds are soluble in water.

Reason: (R): These compounds are non−polar in nature.
Ans: (c). Ionic compounds are soluble in water because these
compounds are polar in nature.

Q.32. Assertion: (A): Dipole moment of CH3F is greater than

that of CH3Cl.
Reason: The C−F bond length in CH3F is smaller than C−Cl
bond length in CH3Cl.
Ans: (d). Dipole moment of CH3Cl is greater than that of CH3F.
It is due to smaller C—F bond length in CH3F than C—Cl bond
length in CH3Cl. The charge separation in C—F bond is more
than in C—Cl bond as fluorine being more electronegative than
chlorine. The bond length has greater effect than the charge
separation. Hence, the dipole moment of CH3Cl is greater than
that of CH3F.
Q.33. Assertion: (A): A reaction A + B → C + D + q is found to
have entropy change. The reaction is possible at higher
temperature.
Reason: (R): The reaction is exothermic and possess
entropy change.
Ans: (d). A + B → C + D + q

This reaction is possible at any temperature because the

reaction is exothermic (∆H < 0) and has ∆S > 0 and both these
factors favour spontaneity. So, it is feasible at any temperature.

Q.34. Assertion: Alkanes are almost non-polar molecules.

Reason: It is due to covalent nature of C − C and C − H
bonds.
Ans: (a). Alkanes are almost non-polar molecules because of
covalent nature of C—C and C—H bonds present in them and
also due to very little difference of electronegativity between C
and H atoms.

Q.35. Assertion: Higher Alkanes are hydrophobic in nature.

Reason: It is due to non-polar nature of alkanes.
Ans: (a). Higher alkanes are hydrophobic in nature because of
non-polar nature of alkanes.

Q.36. Assertion: The boiling point of pentane is higher than 2,

2-dimethylpropane.
Reason: In branched chains of alkanes, week inter-molecular
forces take place between spherical molecules.
Ans: (a). 2, 2-Dimethylpropane is branched chain alkane, due
to branching, its molecule attains spherical shape and possess
weak intermolecular forces.
Q.37. Assertion: The boiling point of alkanes increases with
increases in molecular mass.
Reason: Intermolecular van der Waals forces decrease with
increase of the molecular mass.
Ans: (c). Intermolecular van der Waals forces increase with
increase of molecular mass of alkanes.

Q.38. Assertion: The alkanes having C1 to C4 are liquids.

Reason: They possess week van der Waals forces.
Ans: (d). The alkanes having C1 to C4 are gases because they
possess week van der Waals forces.
Q.39. Assertion: (A): An aqueous solution of aluminium chloride
shows pH less than 7.
Reason: (R): It gives week acid in water.
Ans: (An aqueous solution of aluminium chloride shows pH less
than 7 because it gives weak base (aluminium hydroxide) and
strong acid (hydrochloric acid) in water.).

Q.40. Assertion: (A): Heisenberg's uncertainty principle can be

applied to a stationary electron.
Reason: (R): Velocity of stationary electron is zero. So, its
position cannot be measured accurately.
Ans: (d). Heisenberg's uncertainty principle cannot be applied
to a stationary electron because its velocity is zero due to which
its position cannot be measured accurately.

Q.41. Assertion: (A): Molality is preferred over molarity of a

solution.
Reason: (R): Molarity of solution changes with temperature
while molality of a solution does not change with temperature.
Ans: (a). It is because molarity of a solution changes with
temperature while molality of a solution does not change with
temperature.
Q.42. Assertion: (A): Hydrogen spectrum consists of a large
number of lines.
Reason: (R): Different possible transitions are observed in
hydrogen spectrum.
Ans: (a). Large number of lines are there in hydrogen spectrum
because different possible transitions can be observed which
leads to large number of spectral lines.

Q.43. Assertion: (A): BeH2 molecule has a zero dipole moment

although the Be-H bonds are polar.
Reason: (R): Two equal bond dipoles point in same
directions.
Ans: (c). In BeH2 molecules, the two equal bond dipoles point in
opposite direction and cancel the effect of each other. Hence,
BeH2 molecule has a zero dipole moment (μ = 0).

Q.44. Assertion: (A): Hydrogen shows resemblance with alkali

metals of Group 1.
Reason: (R): Hydrogen behaves as a metal.
Ans: (c). Hydrogen shows resemblance with alkali metals of
Group 1 because it has ns1 configuration and it has a tendency
to form H+ ion like that of alkali metals.
Q.45. Assertion: Beryllium is not considered as an alkaline
earth metal.
Reason: Its oxide and hydroxide show amphoteric behaviour.
Ans: (a). Beryllium is not considered as an alkaline earth metal
because its oxide and hydroxides show amphoteric behaviour
i.e., acidic as well as alkaline.

Q.46. Assertion: Lithium and beryllium exhibit some properties

like other members of the respective group.
Reason: Both these elements exhibit anomalous behaviour.
Ans: (d). Li and Be exhibit some properties which are different
to other member of the respective group as they exhibit
anomalous behaviour.
Q.47. Assertion: Group 1 and 2 belong to the p−block of the
Periodic Table.
Reason: s−orbital of the elements of these groups can
accommodate only 2 electrons.
Ans: (d)
Q.48. Assertion: Group 1 elements are collectively called alkali
metals
Reason: These elements form hydroxides on reaction with
water which are strongly alkaline in nature.
Ans: (a). Group 1 elements are collectively called alkali metals
because their hydroxides are strongly alkaline in nature.
Q.49. Assertion: Group 2 elements except Be are collectively
called alkaline earth metals.
Reason: Their oxides and hydroxides are amphoteric in
nature.
Ans: (c). Group 2 elements except Be are collectively called
alkaline earth metals because their oxides and hydroxides are
alkaline in nature.
Q.50. Assertion: (A) The intensity of red colour decreases when
oxalic acid is added to a solution containing iron (III) nitrate and
potassium thiocyanate.
Reason: (R) Oxalic acid reacts with Fe3+ ions to form a stable
complex ion [Fe(C2O4)3]3−.
Ans: (a). When oxalic acid is added to a solution containing iron
nitrate and potassium thiocyanate, oxalic acid reacts with
Fe3+ ions to form a stable complex ion [Fe(C2O4)3]3–, thus,
decreasing the concentration of free Fe3+ ions which in turn
decreases the intensity of red colour.
Q.51. Assertion: (A) Molality of the solution is affected by
temperature.
Reason: (R) Mass remains unchanged with temperature.
Ans: (d). Molality of the solution is not affected by temperature
because mass remains unchanged with temperature.
Q.52. Assertion: (A) Ionization enthalpy of nitrogen is more than
that of oxygen.
Reason: (R) Nitrogen has completely filled p−orbital.
Ans: (c). 7N = 1s2, 2s2, 2px1, 2py1, 2pz1
8O = 1s , 2s , 2px , 2py , 2pz
2 2 2 1 1

Nitrogen has half-filled p-orbital which are more stable than

incompletely filled p-orbitals of oxygen. So, ionization enthalpy
of nitrogen is more than that of oxygen.

Q.53. Assertion: (A) The electronic energies in an atom are

quantized.
Reason: (R) The lines are obtained in line spectrum due to
electronic transitions between the energy levels, which
correspond to definite wavelengths.
Ans: (a). In line spectrum, the lines are obtained due to
electronic transitions between the energy levels, which
correspond to definite wavelength. So, the electrons in these
levels have fixed energy i.e., quantized values.

Q.54. 14. Assertion: (A) When the added electron goes to the
smaller n = 3 quantum level, the electron−electron repulsion is
much less.
Reason: (R) The added electron occupies a smaller region of
space.
Ans: (c). It is because of the fact that the added electron
occupies a larger region of space.

Q.55. Assertion: (A) A piece of magnesium ribbon continues to

burn in 502.
Reason: (R) The reaction is highly endothermic.
Ans: (c). Magnesium is a strong reducing agent. It reduces
SO2 to sulphur. The reaction is highly exothermic so a piece of
magnesium ribbon continues to burn in SO2.
2Mg + SO2 → 2MgO + S + heat