Skip to content

JAMB UTME 2020

JAMB Chemistry 2020 past questions

7 objective questions from the 2020 JAMB Chemistry paper. Answer each one, then reveal the answer and explanation.

All JAMB Chemistry past questions

  1. Question 1

    Separation techniques

    Which method separates a mixture of salt and sand?

    1. Option A: Distillation only
    2. Option B: Dissolution, filtration, and evaporation
    3. Option C: Sublimation
    4. Option D: Chromatography
    Show the answer to question 1

    Answer: B, Dissolution, filtration, and evaporation

    Salt dissolves in water, sand is filtered off, and evaporation recovers the salt.

  2. Question 2

    Mole concept

    How many moles are there in 392 g of tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid (H₂SO₄)? [H = 1, S = 32, O = 16]

    1. Option A: 8 mol
    2. Option B: 2 mol
    3. Option C: 40 mol
    4. Option D: 4 mol
    Show the answer to question 2

    Answer: D, 4 mol

    Moles = mass ÷ molar mass = 392 ÷ 98 = 4 mol.

  3. Question 3

    Electronic configuration

    What is the electronic configuration of oxygen (atomic number 8)?

    1. Option A: 2, 5
    2. Option B: 2, 7
    3. Option C: 2, 6
    4. Option D: 2, 8
    Show the answer to question 3

    Answer: C, 2, 6

    Fill the shells in order, 2 then 8 then 8: oxygen has 8 electrons, arranged 2, 6.

  4. Question 4

    Chemical symbols

    What is the chemical symbol of lead?

    1. Option A: L
    2. Option B: Le
    3. Option C: Pb
    4. Option D: P
    Show the answer to question 4

    Answer: C, Pb

    Lead is Pb, from its Latin name plumbum.

  5. Question 5

    Acids, bases and salts

    A solution of calcium hydroxide is commonly called

    1. Option A: brine
    2. Option B: caustic soda
    3. Option C: limewater
    4. Option D: baking soda
    Show the answer to question 5

    Answer: C, limewater

    Limewater is aqueous calcium hydroxide.

  6. Question 6

    Organic chemistry

    What is the molecular formula of ethane?

    1. Option A: C₂H₄
    2. Option B: C₂H₆
    3. Option C: C₂H₂
    4. Option D: C₂H₅
    Show the answer to question 6

    Answer: B, C₂H₆

    Alkanes follow CₙH₂ₙ₊₂, so ethane with 2 carbon atoms is C₂H₆.

  7. Question 7

    Periodic table

    In which group of the periodic table is aluminium found?

    1. Option A: Group VI
    2. Option B: Group VII
    3. Option C: Group 0
    4. Option D: Group III
    Show the answer to question 7

    Answer: D, Group III

    Aluminium (configuration 2, 8, 3) is in Group III.

Practise JAMB Chemistry on SchoolEasy CBT

In SchoolEasy, students answer timed questions on screen, see an explanation for every answer, and track their progress topic by topic. Teachers turn past questions into class tests that mark themselves.

Practise in the appRequest a demo for your school

School management made effortless.

We strive to build the best school management software for schools from all over the world.

Available soon on all digital platforms

Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play