Chemistry & Physics

Question 1

CFC-based refrigerants trademarked by DuPont
Identified by Thomas Midgley in the 1930s

Answer 1

FREON

Question 2

Trioxygen molecule
Pollutant at ground level
Protective UV barrier layer in the stratosphere (with an annual hole discovered in the 1980s)
Layer damaged by CFCs
Smell left behind after lightning

Answer 2

OZONE
O3

Question 3

So-called “4th state of matter”
Ionized gas (to oversimplify)
Present in stars, solar wind, aurorae, lightning

Answer 3

PLASMA

Question 4

Proposed as “anti-electron” in by Paul Dirac in 1930
Discovered and named in 1932
Antimatter/antiparticle of electron

Answer 4

POSITRON
(from POSITIVE ELECTRON)

Question 5

“Destructive” process in which antimatter and matter (such as electron and positron) meet and release energy

Answer 5

ANNIHILATION

Question 6

Discovered by Pierre Curie
Effect in which mechanical stress causes some materials, like quartz, to release a charge

Answer 6

PIEZOELECTRIC EFFECT

Question 7

Alloy of primarily copper, with ~12% tin

Answer 7

BRONZE

Question 8

Naturally occurring alloy of silver & gold

Answer 8

ELECTRUM

Question 9

Alloy of copper & zinc
Subject of “rubbing” by British hobbyists

Answer 9

BRASS

Question 10

Alloy of iron & carbon

Answer 10

STEEL

Question 11

Element that makes steel “stainless”

Answer 11

CHROMIUM

Question 12

Previously “glucinium”
Element #4
Alkaline Earth metal

Answer 12

BERYLLIUM
Be

Question 13

Alliterative alloy of iron, carbon & chromium

Answer 13

STAINLESS STEEL

Question 14

Steel with a high carbon content is referred to with this “animal” name

Answer 14

PIG IRON

Question 15

Austrian physicist
1887 paper on supersonic velocities
Name given to a supersonic “cone” as well as the “number” that is the ratio of one’s speed to the speed of sound

Answer 15

ERNST MACH

Question 16

Yeast enzyme that converts carbs/sugars to CO2 & alcohol

Answer 16

ZYMASE

Question 17

Element 101
Named for the Russian chemist who established the periodic table

Answer 17

MENDELEVIUM
Md

Question 18

Element 117
Named for the location of Vanderbilt University and Oak Ridge Lab

Answer 18

TENNESSINE
Ts

Question 19

Hypothetical room-temperature nuclear fusion
In 1989 Pons & Fleischmann claimed to have discovered it but were debunked

Answer 19

COLD FUSION

Question 20

Radioactive emission of a high-speed positron or electron
Converts a proton to a neutron or vice versa

Answer 20

BETA DECAY/RAY/RADIATION/PARTICLE

Question 21

Russian chemist
Established modern periodic table & his “Periodic Law” (1869)
Namesake of element 101 (Md)

Answer 21

DMITRI MENDELEEV

Question 22

Precursor to vitamin A
Red/orange antioxidant
Found in carrot, sweet potato, squash, cantaloupe, fall leaves, and flamingoes

Answer 22

BETA-CAROTENE

Question 23

Sugar substitute
Discovered in 1879 by Constantin Fahlberg while doing coal tar experiments
Derived from toluene
Over 300x sweeter than sucrose, though bitter aftertaste
Early Monsanto product
Sold as Sweet’N Low

Answer 23

SACCHARIN

Question 24

Sugar substitute
Discovered 1965, FDA approved in 1981
~200x sweeter than sucrose
Sold as Equal & NutraSweet

Answer 24

ASPARTAME

Question 25

Sugar substitute Derived from chlorinating sucrose Sold as Splenda

Answer 25

SUCRALOSE

Question 26

Element #112 Named for Polish astronomer

Answer 26

COPERNICIUM

Question 27

Hydrogen isotope Has 1 proton and 0 neutrons Most common

Answer 27

PROTIUM

Question 28

Hydrogen isotope 1 proton & 1 neutron 1 in 6500 "Heavy hydrogen" Used in ___ oxide, "heavy water" 1943 Norwegian commandos cut off Nazi supply 2 collide in an H-bomb/fusion bomb

Answer 28

DEUTERIUM

Question 29

Hydrogen isotope 1 hydrogen & 2 neutrons Also called Hydrogen-3 or 3H Radioactive, half-life of 12 years

Answer 29

TRITIUM

Question 30

Ratio of a quanta's energy to its frequency Named for German physicist Max

Answer 30

PLANCK CONSTANT

Question 31

Poison gas used in WWI Also called "sulfur ____" or "yperite" Named for its smell SCH2CH2CL

Answer 31

MUSTARD GAS

Question 32

Nerve gas Developed 1938 Causes paralysis Used in 1995 Tokyo subway attack Used by Iraq against Kurds

Answer 32

SARIN

Question 33

Fertilizer Caused 2020 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon NH4NO3

Answer 33

AMMONIUM NITRATE

Question 34

Ammonium carbonate & perfume Used for fainting Victorian ladies & NFL players

Answer 34

SMELLING SALTS

Question 35

3-letter unit 1 atmosphere = ~14.7 of them

Answer 35

PSI POUND PER SQUARE INCH

Question 36

Subatomic particle Charm quark plus a charm antiquark

Answer 36

PSI PARTICLE J/PSI MESON

Question 37

Evidence of the Big Bang Can appear as TV static

Answer 37

(COSMIC MICROWAVE) BACKGROUND RADIATION