States of matter — KCSE Chemistry

KCSE Chemistry · 63 practice questions · 4 syllabus objectives

22 easy24 medium17 hard

What You'll Learn

Key learning outcomes for this topic, aligned to the KNEC KCSE syllabus.

Describe the properties of solids, liquids and gases in terms of shape, volume and compressibility

Explain changes of state (melting, boiling, freezing, condensation, sublimation) in terms of energy changes

Distinguish between physical and chemical changes giving examples of each

States of matter

Sample Questions

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easySHORT ANSWER4 marks

State the main difference between physical and chemical changes and provide an example of each. (4 marks)

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Part (a) — 2 marks

Physical changes do not alter the chemical composition of a substance (1 mk)

Chemical changes result in the formation of new substances (1 mk)

Part (b) — 1 mark

Freezing of water to ice (1 mk)

Part (c) — 1 mark

Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (1 mk)

easySHORT ANSWER4 marks

State two examples of physical changes and two examples of chemical changes. (4 marks)

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Part (a) — 2 marks

Melting of ice to water (1 mk)

Dissolving salt in water (1 mk)

Part (b) — 2 marks

Burning of wood (1 mk)

Rusting of iron (1 mk)

easySHORT ANSWER4 marks

Name two processes that occur when a gas changes to a liquid and describe the energy changes in each case. (4 marks)

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Part (a) — 2 marks

Condensation (1 mk)

Deposition (or desublimation) (1 mk)

Part (b) — 2 marks

In condensation, energy is released as gas cools to form a liquid (1 mk)

In deposition, energy is also released as gas transforms directly into a solid (1 mk)

Name the change of state that occurs when a liquid turns into a gas and explain the energy changes involved in this process. (3 marks)

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Why Practise States of matter?

KNEC Aligned

Questions match the KCSE syllabus objectives and exam format exactly.

Detailed Marking Schemes

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States of matter — KCSE Chemistry

What You'll Learn

Sample Questions

+60 More Questions

Why Practise States of matter?

KNEC Aligned

Detailed Marking Schemes

Track Your Mastery

Master States of matter for KCSE