Chapter 2 - Acid, Bases and Salts

 

CBSE CLASS X – BOARD MODEL EXAMINATION (2026-27)
SCIENCE (CHEMISTRY) — CHAPTER 2: ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS
(Strictly Based on CBSE Board Pattern & NCERT Textbook)

Time Allowed: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Maximum Marks: 40

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General Instructions:

1. This question paper consists of 18 questions in 5 Sections (A, B, C, D, and E).

2. Section A comprises 8 Multiple Choice Questions (Q1 to Q8) of 1 mark each, including 2 Assertion-Reason questions.

3. Section B comprises 4 Very Short Answer (VSA) type questions (Q9 to Q12) of 2 marks each.

4. Section C comprises 3 Short Answer (SA) type questions (Q13 to Q15) of 3 marks each.

5. Section D comprises 2 Long Answer (LA) type questions (Q16 & Q17) of 5 marks each with internal choice.

6. Section E comprises 1 Case-Based Question (Q18) of 4 marks with internal choice in sub-question (iii).

7. All questions are compulsory. Internal choices are provided in Sections D and E.

 

SECTION A (8 Marks) — Multiple Choice Questions [1 Mark Each]

 

1. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the reaction of granulated zinc with sodium hydroxide?

(a) Hydrogen gas is evolved and sodium zincate (Na₂ZnO₂) is formed.

(b) Oxygen gas is evolved and zinc hydroxide is formed.

(c) No reaction takes place as zinc does not react with bases.

(d) Sodium hydride and zinc oxide are formed.

2. A solution reacts with crushed eggshells to give a gas that turns lime water milky. The solution contains:

(a) NaCl

(b) HCl

(c) LiCl

(d) KCl

3. Which of the following substances can be used as an olfactory indicator in a science laboratory?

(a) Phenolphthalein

(b) Methyl orange

(c) Clove oil

(d) Litmus extract

4. During the preparation of hydrogen chloride gas on a humid day, the gas is passed through a guard tube containing calcium chloride. The role of calcium chloride is to:

(a) Absorb the evolved HCl gas

(b) Moist the gas

(c) Absorb moisture from the gas

(d) Neutralise basic impurities

5. Tooth enamel is made up of a crystalline form of calcium phosphate called calcium hydroxyapatite. Tooth decay begins when the pH of the mouth falls below:

(a) 7.0

(b) 6.5

(c) 5.5

(d) 8.0

6. In the chlor-alkali process, the gases liberated at the anode and the cathode respectively are:

(a) H₂ and Cl₂

(b) Cl₂ and H₂

(c) Cl₂ and O₂

(d) O₂ and H₂

7. Assertion (A): Aqueous solutions of glucose and alcohol do not conduct electricity, while dilute HCl conducts electricity.
Reason (R): Glucose and alcohol do not ionise in water to produce free H⁺ (hydronium) ions.
Choose the correct option:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).

(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.

(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.

8. Assertion (A): While diluting concentrated sulphuric acid, water should never be added directly to the acid.
Reason (R): The dilution process is highly endothermic and absorbs a huge amount of heat from surroundings.
Choose the correct option:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).

(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.

(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.

 

SECTION B (8 Marks) — Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks Each]

 

9. A milkman adds a very small amount of baking soda to fresh milk.
(a) Why does he shift the pH of the fresh milk from 6 to slightly alkaline?
(b) Why does this milk take a longer time to set as curd?

[2]

10. Why does dry HCl gas not change the colour of dry blue litmus paper, whereas moist blue litmus paper turns red when exposed to it? Write the relevant chemical equation.

[2]

11. Five solutions A, B, C, D, and E when tested with universal indicator show pH values of 4, 1, 11, 7, and 9 respectively.
(a) Which solution is: (i) Strongly alkaline, (ii) Strongly acidic?
(b) Arrange the solutions in increasing order of their hydrogen ion [H⁺] concentration.

[2]

12. Write the chemical name and formula of Plaster of Paris. Why should it always be stored in a moisture-proof container?

[2]

 

SECTION C (9 Marks) — Short Answer Type Questions [3 Marks Each]

 

13. Equal lengths of magnesium ribbons are taken in test tubes A and B. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added to test tube A, while acetic acid (CH₃COOH) of the same concentration is added to test tube B.
(a) In which test tube will fizzing occur more vigorously and why?
(b) Write balanced chemical equations for both reactions.

[3]

14. (a) What is meant by 'water of crystallisation'?
(b) State the colour change observed when blue crystals of copper sulphate are strongly heated in a dry test tube. Write the balanced equation.
(c) What happens when 2-3 drops of water are added back to the heated sample?

[3]

15. A metal carbonate 'X' on reacting with an acid produces a gas 'Y' which turns lime water milky. If excess of gas 'Y' is passed through lime water, the milkiness disappears due to formation of 'Z'.
(a) Identify the gas 'Y' and the soluble substance 'Z'.
(b) Write balanced chemical equations for all the reactions involved.

[3]

 

SECTION D (10 Marks) — Long Answer Type Questions [5 Marks Each]

 

16. (a) What is the chlor-alkali process? Why is it named so? Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction involved.
(b) Name the gases liberated at the anode and the cathode during this process, and write one important industrial use of each.
(c) Write one important use of the chemical solution formed near the cathode.

[2 + 2 + 1 = 5 Marks]

― OR ―

16. [OR] (a) A compound 'P' of sodium is used in the kitchen for making crispy pakoras and is also an ingredient in antacids.
    (i) Identify 'P' and write its chemical formula and chemical name.
    (ii) How is 'P' prepared from sodium chloride? Write the balanced chemical equation.
    (iii) What happens when 'P' is heated during cooking? Write the equation.
(b) How is washing soda obtained from compound 'P'? Write its chemical formula and one industrial use.

[3 + 2 = 5 Marks]

17. Explain the importance of pH in everyday life with respect to each of the following:
(a) Human digestive system during indigestion and how antacids work.
(b) Cause and prevention of tooth decay in human mouth.
(c) Self-defence mechanisms in honeybees, ants, and nettle plants, along with their remedies.
(d) Survival of aquatic life during acid rain events.

[1.5 + 1 + 1.5 + 1 = 5 Marks]

― OR ―

17. [OR] (a) What is bleaching powder? How is it manufactured? Write the balanced chemical equation.
(b) Write two important uses of bleaching powder.
(c) A baker found that the cake baked by him was hard and small in size. Which ingredient did he forget to add? Explain the role of this ingredient with chemical equations.

[2 + 1 + 2 = 5 Marks]

 

SECTION E (4 Marks) — Case-Based / Passage-Based Question [4 Marks]

 

18. Case Study: Investigation of Salt Hydrolysis and pH Nature
A science teacher provided four unlabeled test tubes containing 0.1 M aqueous solutions of four different salts: Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl), Sodium Acetate (CH₃COONa), and Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃) to students for laboratory analysis.
The students tested each solution with blue litmus paper, red litmus paper, and universal indicator paper to measure their approximate pH values and deduce the nature of the parent acid and parent base for each salt.

Based on your understanding of salts and pH, answer the following questions:

(i) Which of the given salt solutions will turn red litmus paper blue? State its pH range (pH > 7 or pH < 7).

[1]

(ii) Identify the acidic salt among the four and name the parent acid and base from which it is formed.

[1]

(iii) Explain why an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) is neutral to litmus paper, while an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) is basic in nature.
OR
(iii) [OR] What will be the action of aqueous ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) solution on blue litmus paper? Write the parent acid and base involved and justify its acidic nature.

[2]


 

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