Bond, Covalent Bond Trivia Quiz

Answer: Barium

There are several bad jokes involving the names (or symbols) for elements. They all involve the similarity of the element's name with similar words in English. Some of the puns are truly excruciating. The joke above is actually one of the better (and more famous) ones! Another involves a chemist who, while chasing after a man who'd just stolen his wallet, keeps calling out "Cs, Cs" (Cs = cesium, groan!).

Answer: Avocado's Number

Avogadro's number is one of the most important constants in chemistry. It is equal to the number of carbon-12 atoms in 12.000 g of carbon-12. This number is also called the 'mole' and bears no resemblance to the mammal of the same name!

Answer: For you, no charge!

Neutrons are uncharged subatomic particles, which together with the positively charged protons, make up the nucleus of atoms. Generally, large atoms are involved in fission (e.g. some isotopes of uranium), not the subatomic particles.

Answer: Yes, I'm positive

Atoms are composed of equal numbers of protons (positively charged) and electrons (negatively charged). So when a electron is lost, the atom has one more proton than electron and is hence positively charged. The gaining and loss of electrons is the basis of most chemical reactions.

This positively charged entity is called a cation (pronounced as 'cat-iron', it does not rhyme with station).

Answer: No, but I know exactly where I am.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle stipulates that you cannot simultaneously know the position and momentum of a fundamental particle. In the joke, Heisenberg knows his position hence therefore can't know his speed, or more precisely his velocity (since momentum is mass x velocity).

Answer: Seawater

The pun is CH2O is C followed by H2O which is then read as sea-water. Formaldehyde is a clear, strong smelling liquid and is used as a disinfectant and a preservative for biological specimens. Seawater is a much funnier answer!

Answer: Helium doesn't react.

Noble gases are extremely unreactive. Helium can undergo fusion, provide the temperature is high enough (like in the sun). Helium won't form acids and definitely does not explode. This lack of reactivity arises from their completely full outer shell of electrons. Compounds of some of the larger noble gases (such as Xenon) have been made but are quite esoteric.

Answer: A salt and battery

Yes, an appalling pun! Sodium chloride is commonly known as "salt". Dissolving this salt in water means the solution formed will readily conduct electricity (from the 9V battery in a suitable circuit), whereas pure water is a poor conductor.

Answer: No, I'm travelling light.

A photon is a discrete amount (a 'quantum') of light energy, first hypothesized by Max Planck and leading to the seminal work of Bohr and others on quantum mechanics. This energy is related to the wavelength of light. Ultraviolet light has more energy than visible light. Einstein won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 for his investigations into the photo-electric effect, where he explained how light shining on a metallic surface could generate an electric current.

Answer: Bond, Polar Bond!

All of the options are real types of chemical bonds. Bonds are formed using the electrons from the two (or more) atoms involved. The number of electrons in the outer shell of each element is a very important factor determining what type of bond that element forms. Elements with full outer shells (the Noble Gases) generally don't form bonds.

A polar bond occurs where the two electrons in the bond on average spend more time closer to one nucleus (the more electronegative atom) than the other.