2026 WAEC Chemistry Objective and Essay Questions and Answers: June 11th 2026

PAPER 1

OBJECTIVE TEST (60 Questions)

Time Allowed: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Instructions

• Answer all questions.
• Choose the most appropriate option A–D.
• Each question carries equal marks.

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1.

Chemistry is the study of

A. living organisms only
B. matter and the changes it undergoes
C. energy alone
D. the earth’s crust only

Answer: B

2.

The smallest particle of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction is

A. molecule
B. atom
C. ion
D. compound

Answer: B

3.

The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of

A. neutrons only
B. protons only
C. electrons and neutrons
D. nucleons

Answer: B

4.

Which of the following is a physical change?

A. Rusting of iron
B. Burning of paper
C. Melting of ice
D. Digestion of food

Answer: C

5.

A substance made up of two or more elements chemically combined is called

A. mixture
B. atom
C. compound
D. solution

Answer: C

6.

The formula of sodium chloride is

A. NaCl
B. Na₂Cl
C. NaCl₂
D. Na₂Cl₂

Answer: A

7.

Which of the following is a mixture?

A. Water
B. Salt
C. Air
D. Ammonia

Answer: C

8.

The process of separating crude oil into components is called

A. sublimation
B. crystallization
C. fractional distillation
D. filtration

Answer: C

9.

The relative molecular mass of H₂O is

A. 16
B. 18
C. 20
D. 22

Answer: B

10.

The SI unit of amount of substance is

A. gram
B. litre
C. mole
D. kilogram

Answer: C

11.

The discovery of the nucleus was made by

A. Dalton
B. Rutherford
C. Bohr
D. Thomson

Answer: B

2026 WAEC Chemistry Objective and Essay Questions and Answers: June 11th 2026

12.

The particles found in the nucleus are

A. electrons and protons
B. electrons and neutrons
C. protons and neutrons
D. protons only

Answer: C

13.

An isotope differs from another isotope of the same element by the number of

A. protons
B. electrons
C. neutrons
D. valence electrons

Answer: C

14.

Elements in the same group have the same

A. atomic mass
B. number of shells
C. valence electrons
D. neutron number

Answer: C

15.

Chlorine belongs to Group

A. I
B. II
C. VII
D. VIII

Answer: C

16.

The most reactive group of metals is

A. Group I
B. Group II
C. Group III
D. Group IV

Answer: A

17.

Which of the following is a noble gas?

A. Chlorine
B. Argon
C. Sulphur
D. Sodium

Answer: B

18.

The periodic law was developed by

A. Mendeleev
B. Dalton
C. Bohr
D. Lavoisier

Answer: A

19.

The electronic configuration of sodium is

A. 2,8,1
B. 2,8,2
C. 2,6
D. 2,7

Answer: A

20.

The valency of oxygen is

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Answer: B

21.

The bond formed by transfer of electrons is

A. covalent bond
B. ionic bond
C. metallic bond
D. hydrogen bond

Answer: B

22.

Methane contains

A. ionic bonds
B. metallic bonds
C. covalent bonds
D. electrovalent bonds

Answer: C

23.

Which compound exhibits ionic bonding?

A. H₂O
B. NH₃
C. NaCl
D. CH₄

Answer: C

24.

The formula of ammonia is

A. NH₂
B. NH₃
C. N₂H
D. N₂H₄

Answer: B

25.

A shared pair of electrons forms

A. ionic bond
B. covalent bond
C. metallic bond
D. coordinate bond

Answer: B

26.

The pressure of a gas is caused by

A. colour of gas
B. molecular collisions
C. temperature alone
D. volume only

Answer: B

27.

Charles’ law relates volume and

A. pressure
B. mass
C. temperature
D. density

Answer: C

28.

Boyle’s law states that pressure is inversely proportional to

A. density
B. volume
C. temperature
D. mass

Answer: B

29.

STP means

A. Standard Temperature and Pressure
B. Simple Temperature Pressure
C. Standard Thermal Point
D. System Temperature Point

Answer: A

30.

The molar volume of a gas at STP is

A. 22.4 dm³
B. 24 dm³
C. 18 dm³
D. 32 dm³

Answer: A

31.

Litmus turns red in

A. alkali
B. acid
C. neutral solution
D. salt solution

Answer: B

32.

A common laboratory acid is

A. sodium hydroxide
B. hydrochloric acid
C. sodium chloride
D. ammonia

Answer: B

33.

A base soluble in water is called

A. acid
B. salt
C. alkali
D. oxide

Answer: C

2026 WAEC Chemistry Objective and Essay Questions and Answers: June 11th 2026

34.

The pH of a neutral solution is

A. 0
B. 5
C. 7
D. 14

Answer: C

35.

Neutralization produces

A. acid only
B. base only
C. salt and water
D. hydrogen only

Answer: C

36.

Which of the following is an alkali?

A. HCl
B. H₂SO₄
C. NaOH
D. CO₂

Answer: C

37.

The common indicator used in acid-base titration is

A. iodine
B. methyl orange
C. chlorine
D. copper sulphate

Answer: B

38.

Sulphuric acid is

A. monobasic acid
B. dibasic acid
C. tribasic acid
D. weak acid

Answer: B

39.

The formula of nitric acid is

A. HNO₃
B. H₂SO₄
C. HCl
D. H₂CO₃

Answer: A

40.

The gas evolved when zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid is

A. oxygen
B. hydrogen
C. nitrogen
D. chlorine

Answer: B

41.

The simplest hydrocarbon is

A. methane
B. ethene
C. propane
D. butane

Answer: A

42.

The general formula of alkanes is

A. CnH2n
B. CnH2n+2
C. CnH2n−2
D. CnHn

Answer: B

43.

Ethene belongs to the family of

A. alkanes
B. alkenes
C. alkynes
D. alcohols

Answer: B

44.

Fermentation of sugar produces

A. ethanol
B. methane
C. ammonia
D. chlorine

Answer: A

45.

The functional group of alcohols is

A. –COOH
B. –OH
C. –CHO
D. –NH₂

Answer: B

46.

Soap is produced through

A. cracking
B. polymerization
C. saponification
D. esterification

Answer: C

47.

Petrol is obtained from

A. coal
B. crude oil
C. limestone
D. wood

Answer: B

48.

The process of breaking large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones is

A. cracking
B. polymerization
C. hydrogenation
D. distillation

Answer: A

49.

Polyethene is made from

A. ethene
B. methane
C. propane
D. ethanol

Answer: A

2026 WAEC Chemistry Objective and Essay Questions and Answers: June 11th 2026

50.

The IUPAC name of CH₃CH₂OH is

A. methanol
B. ethanol
C. propanol
D. butanol

Answer: B

51.

The main component of natural gas is

A. methane
B. ethane
C. propane
D. butane

Answer: A

52.

Acid rain is mainly caused by

A. oxygen and nitrogen
B. sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
C. carbon and hydrogen
D. chlorine gas

Answer: B

53.

The process used to manufacture ammonia industrially is

A. Contact process
B. Haber process
C. Solvay process
D. Ostwald process

Answer: B

54.

The Contact Process is used in manufacturing

A. nitric acid
B. hydrochloric acid
C. sulphuric acid
D. ammonia

Answer: C

55.

Corrosion of iron produces

A. copper oxide
B. rust
C. limestone
D. carbon

Answer: B

56.

Water hardness is caused mainly by

A. sodium salts
B. potassium salts
C. calcium and magnesium salts
D. iron salts

Answer: C

57.

Temporary hardness can be removed by

A. boiling
B. filtration
C. distillation only
D. evaporation

Answer: A

58.

An oxidizing agent

A. loses oxygen
B. gains electrons
C. accepts electrons
D. forms acids only

Answer: C

59.

Electrolysis involves

A. heating compounds
B. use of electricity to decompose substances
C. cooling solutions
D. crystallization

Answer: B

60.

The positive electrode in electrolysis is called

A. cathode
B. anode
C. electrolyte
D. ion

Answer: B

PAPER 2

ESSAY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question 1

(a) Explain the kinetic theory of matter.

(b) State five differences between solids and gases.

Answer

The kinetic theory of matter states that all matter is composed of tiny particles that are in constant random motion. The degree of motion depends on temperature. As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of particles also increases.

Differences Between Solids and Gases

Question 2

(a) Define an acid according to Arrhenius.

(b) Describe how standard sodium hydroxide solution can be prepared in the laboratory.

(c) Explain neutralization reaction with an example.

Answer

An Arrhenius acid is a substance that produces hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water.

Preparation of Sodium Hydroxide Solution

1. Weigh the required mass of sodium hydroxide pellets.
2. Dissolve in distilled water.
3. Transfer into a volumetric flask.
4. Add water to the calibration mark.
5. Shake thoroughly.

Neutralization

Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base to produce salt and water.

Example:

HCl+NaOH→NaCl+H2OHCl + NaOH \rightarrow NaCl + H_2OHCl+NaOH→NaCl+H2​O

Hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium chloride and water.

2026 WAEC Chemistry Objective and Essay Questions and Answers: June 11th 2026

Question 3

(a) What is crude oil?

(b) Explain fractional distillation of crude oil.

(c) State four products obtained from crude oil and their uses.

Answer

Crude oil is a naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons found beneath the earth’s surface.

Fractional Distillation

Crude oil is heated in a furnace and vaporized. The vapours enter a fractionating column where they condense at different temperatures according to their boiling points.

Products and Uses

Question 4

(a) Define oxidation and reduction.

(b) Explain electrolysis.

(c) State three applications of electrolysis.

Answer

Oxidation

Oxidation is the loss of electrons or gain of oxygen.

Reduction

Reduction is the gain of electrons or loss of oxygen.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the chemical decomposition of an electrolyte by the passage of electric current.

Applications

1. Electroplating.
2. Purification of copper.
3. Extraction of aluminium.

Question 5

(a) Explain the manufacture of ammonia by the Haber Process.

(b) State the conditions necessary for the process.

(c) Mention four uses of ammonia.

Answer

The Haber Process is an industrial method for producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases.

The reaction is:

N2+3H2⇌2NH3N_2 + 3H_2 \rightleftharpoons 2NH_3N2​+3H2​⇌2NH3​

Conditions

1. Temperature of about 450°C.
2. Pressure of about 200 atmospheres.
3. Finely divided iron catalyst.
4. Continuous recycling of unreacted gases.

Uses of Ammonia

1. Production of fertilizers.
2. Manufacture of nitric acid.
3. Refrigeration systems.
4. Production of explosives.

Question 6

(a) Define hydrocarbons.

(b) Differentiate between alkanes and alkenes.

(c) State three properties and three uses of ethanol.

Answer

Hydrocarbons are compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen.

Differences Between Alkanes and Alkenes

Properties of Ethanol

1. Colourless liquid.
2. Miscible with water.
3. Flammable.

Uses of Ethanol

1. Industrial solvent.
2. Fuel additive.
3. Manufacture of alcoholic beverages.

This structure closely follows the standard WAEC Chemistry format, covering Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and calculation-related theory questions.