Chemical Engineering Basics MCQ Solved Paper for UPSC CSE

1. Brittleness induced due to the presence of sulphur in steel can be reduced by adding
A. Manganese
B. Magnesium
C. Vanadium
D. Copper
Answer : A

2. Triple point of water is
A. 0°F
B. 492°R
C. 0°K
D. -273°C
Answer : A

3. __________ is not a case hardening process.
A. Carburising
B. Nitriding
C. Cyaniding
D. Annealing
Answer : A

4. The laminar boundary layer thickness in zero pressure gradient flow over a flat plate along the x-direction varies as x^0.5 while the thickness of turbulent boundary layer varies as (where, x = distance from the leading edge)
A. x^1.5
B. x^0.8
C. x^-1.5
D. x^-0.8
Answer : B

5. According to maximum shear stress failure criterion, yielding in material occurs, when the maximum shear stress is equal to __________ times the yield stress.
A. 0.5
B. 2
C. ?2
D. ?3/2
Answer : A

6. Quartz is a __________ material.
A. Diamagnetic
B. Ferromagnetic
C. Ferroelectric
D. Piezoelectric
Answer : D

7. The Al₂O₃ content of cryolite in Hall- Heroult cell is maintained between __________ percent.
A. 2-5
B. 18-20
C. 12-15
D. 6-12
Answer : A

8. Working of linear variable differential transducer (LVDT) is based on the principle of variable
A. Capacitance
B. Resistance
C. Mutual inductance
D. None of these
Answer : C

9. Maximum heat dissipation occurs from a steel wire (k = 0.5 W/m. k) of 15 mm diameter exposed to air (h = 20W/m² .k), when the insulation thickness is __________ mm.
A. 15
B. 25
C. 10
D. 30
Answer : B

10. Neutrons are present in all atoms except that of
A. He
B. C
C. H
D. Ar
Answer : C

11. Fire in fuel gas pipelines is extinguished most effectively by
A. Spraying water
B. Blanketting the area with nitrogen atmosphere
C. Fire fighting foam
D. None of these
Answer : B

12. Volume of blast furnace slag is about __________ times the volume of hot metal (pig iron) of the same weight
A. 1.5
B. 3
C. 5
D. 7
Answer : B

13. Function of fusible plug in a boiler is to
A. Drain out water and sludge from the boiler during repair
B. Put off fire in the furnace when water level in the boiler falls to unsafe limit
C. Guard the boiler in case of abnormal rise in steam pressure
D. All (A), (B) & (C)
Answer : B

14. Brinell Hardness Number (BHN) for talc is approximately in the range of
A. 1-5
B. 20-30
C. 100-150
D. 200-250
Answer : B

15. The property of material, by which a given amount of energy is absorbed by it without plastic deformation, is called the
A. Resilience
B. Toughness
C. Ductility
D. Impact strength
Answer : A

16. Which of the following commonly used condenser tube materials has the lowest thermal conductivity?
A. Admiralty brass
B. Stainless steel
C. Aluminium brass
D. Titanium
Answer : B

17. The emf of a Deniell cell Zn | Zn²⁺ || Cu²⁺ | Cu can be increased by
A. Decreasing the surface area of the electrodes
B. Increasing the concentration of zinc sulphate solution
C. Increasing the surface area of the electrodes
D. Increasing the concentration of copper sulphate solution
Answer : D

18. In the X-ray radiography technique, the tube voltage for thicker plates as compared to thin plates, should be
A. Higher, as it gives higher wavelength
B. Lower, as it gives higher wavelength
C. Higher, as it gives shorter wavelength
D. Lower, as it gives shorter wavelength
Answer : C

19. Projection welding & stud welding is categorised as the __________ welding.
A. Pressure
B. Thermit
C. Resistance
D. Arc
Answer : C

20. One ton of refrigeration is not equivalent to the heat removal rate of
A. 200 BTU/minute
B. 50 kcal/minute
C. 50 kJ/sec
D. 3.5 KW
Answer : C

21. __________ of air does not increase with increase in temperature.
A. Density
B. Thermal diffusivity
C. Viscosity
D. Thermal conductivity
Answer : A

22. The maximum stress below which a material can withstand an infinite number of cycle of stress, is termed as the
A. Fatigue strength
B. Creep strength
C. Resilience
D. Endurance limit
Answer : D

24. Which of the following has the highest value of refractive index?
A. Brine (sea water)
B. Diamond
C. Distilled water
D. Glass
Answer : B

25. Addition of __________ to steel does not help in improving its machinability.
A. Sulphur
B. Silicon
C. Lead
D. Phosphorous
Answer : B

26. The product out from a cupola is called
A. Wrought iron
B. Pig iron
C. Cast iron
D. None of these
Answer : C

27. A material being tested for endurance strength is subjected to the __________ load.
A. Impact
B. Completely reversed
C. Dynamic
D. Static & dynamic
Answer : B

28. Use of water as a manometric liquid suffers from the disadvantage of its
A. Low vapour pressure
B. Corrosive nature
C. High vapour pressure
D. High boiling point
Answer : C

29. A thin, flat & square plate measuring 2 m × 2 m is freely hanging in ambient air at 25°C. It is exposed to the solar radiation falling on one side of the plate at the rate of 500 W/m². The plate temperature will remain constant at 30°C, if the convective heat transfer co-efficient is __________ W/m² °C.
A. 50
B. 100
C. 150
D. 200
Answer : B

30. Pick out the wrong statement.
A. The equivalent stiffness of two springs (of equal stiffness 'S') in series is S/2 while in parallel is 2S
B. For a helical spring, deflection is proportional to D³ (D = mean coil diameter) or d⁴ (d = wire diameter)
C. Crushing load or columns is less than the buckling load
D. Modulus of resilience is proportional to (stress at elastic limit)²
Answer : C

31. Which of the following is an unconventional source of energy?
A. Thermal power
B. Hydroelectric power
C. Nuclear-fusion power
D. Solar power
Answer : D

32. The joint for soldering is supported by binding wire made of
A. Mild steel
B. Copper
C. Soft iron
D. Stainless steel
Answer : C

33. A material being tested for endurance strength is subjected to the __________ load.
A. Impact
B. Completely reversed
C. Dynamic
D. Static & dynamic
Answer : B

34. Non-ferrous alloys used for making cutting tools need not have high
A. Abrasion resistance
B. Toughness
C. Red hardness
D. Cutting speed
Answer : B

35. During decarburising of a plain carbon steel, the thickness of ferrite layer growth is proportional to
A. Time
B. Square root of time
C. Square of time
D. Cube of time
Answer : B

36. In inventory control theory, the economic order quantity (EOQ) is the
A. Lot size corresponding to break even analysis
B. Average level of inventory
C. Optimum lot size
D. None of these
Answer : C

37. The elastic strain in copper is due to the
A. Motion of dislocations
B. Stretching of atomic bonds
C. Breakage of atomic bonds
D. None of the above
Answer : A

38. Silicon percentage in silicon steel used for electrical equipments is about
A. 1
B. 4.0
C. 8
D. 14
Answer : B

39. Which of the following forces does not act on a fluid at rest?
A. Viscous force
B. Gravity force
C. Hydrostatic force
D. Surface tension force
Answer : A

40. Air intake for an air compressor should be preferably taken from
A. A site, where cooling towers are located nearby
B. A site, where open coal yard in located nearby
C. An air conditioned room maintained at a temperature of 18°C
D. An outside atmosphere at 10°C
Answer : D

41. A material in which the atoms are arranged regularly in some directions but not in others, is termed as 'mesomorphous material'; an example of which is
A. Lead
B. Glass
C. Mica
D. Silver
Answer : A

42. Midrex process of sponge iron production uses reformed natural gas as the reducing agent, which uses iron ore in the form of
A. Lumps
B. Pellets
C. Briquettes
D. Sinter
Answer : B

43. The surface tension of a liquid, at critical temperature is
A. Indeterminate
B. Zero
C. Infinity
D. Same as that at any other temperature
Answer : B

44. Which of the following has the least value of ultimate tensile strength (UTS)?
A. Medium carbon steel
B. High carbon steel
C. Cast iron
D. Wrought iron
Answer : B

45. Enzymes belong to the category of
A. Proteins
B. Carbohydrates
C. Vitamins
D. Fats
Answer : A

46. Cemented carbide tools are not suitable for cutting
A. Aluminium
B. Brass
C. Cast iron
D. Steel
Answer : A

47. Carnot cycle is also termed as the constant __________ cycle in thermodynamics.
A. Entropy
B. Pressure
C. Volume
D. Heat
Answer : D

48. Out of the following, the joint produced by __________ has the lowest strength.
A. Soldering
B. Welding
C. Brazing
D. Riveting
Answer : A

49. A polymer is termed as an 'elastomer', if its percentage elongation is more than 100%. An elastomer is termed as 'rubber' if its percentage elongation is more than __________ percent.
A. 150
B. 200
C. 300
D. 400
Answer : B

50. Materials having __________ lattice structure are usually the most ductile.
A. Body centred cubic (bcc)
B. Hexagonal close packed (hcp)
C. Face centred cubic (fcc)
D. None of these
Answer : C