As a chemistry enthusiast who’s spent countless hours hosting trivia nights with friends and family, I’ve compiled this collection of 100+ chemistry trivia questions to spark curiosity and friendly competition.
Whether you’re a teacher looking to engage students, planning a science-themed party, or just want to test your knowledge, these questions hit the perfect balance of challenging and accessible.
I remember once turning a rainy afternoon into an impromptu chemistry trivia contest with my nieces and nephews; what started as a way to pass time turned into hours of laughter and learning. Even the adults were surprised by how much fun chemistry facts could be!
Basic Chemistry Trivia
Here’s a collection of foundational chemistry questions perfect for beginners or as warm-up questions. I’ve used these with middle school students and seen their confidence grow with each correct answer!
- What is the chemical symbol for water? Answer: H₂O
- Which state of matter has a definite volume but no definite shape? Answer: Liquid
- What is the most abundant element in Earth’s atmosphere? Answer: Nitrogen
- What is the pH value of pure water at room temperature? Answer: 7
- Which subatomic particle has a positive charge? Answer: Proton
- What do we call a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances? Answer: Element
- What is the chemical formula for table salt? Answer: NaCl
- Which gas makes up about 21% of Earth’s atmosphere? Answer: Oxygen
- What is the process called when matter changes from a solid directly to a gas? Answer: Sublimation
- What do we call atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons? Answer: Isotopes
- Which element has the chemical symbol ‘O’? Answer: Oxygen
- What is the chemical name for baking soda? Answer: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)
- How many elements are in the periodic table? Answer: 118
- What is the main component of natural gas? Answer: Methane
- Which type of bond involves the sharing of electrons? Answer: Covalent bond
- What is the charge of an electron? Answer: Negative
- What happens to water when it freezes? Answer: It expands
- What is the lowest possible temperature theoretically? Answer: Absolute zero (-273.15°C or 0 Kelvin)
- Which element is liquid at room temperature? Answer: Mercury
- What do we call the number of protons in an atom? Answer: Atomic number
Looking for ways to start meaningful conversations about science? Check out our collection of philosophical questions to deepen your discussions.
Elements and Periodic Table Trivia
The periodic table is like a roadmap to understanding chemistry. My son recently used these questions to prepare for his science fair, and he not only aced his presentation but sparked genuine interest among the judges!
- Who is credited with creating the modern periodic table? Answer: Dmitri Mendeleev
- What is the most abundant element in the universe? Answer: Hydrogen
- Which element has the symbol ‘Au’? Answer: Gold
- What is the atomic number of carbon? Answer: 6
- Which element is named after the Greek word for “green”? Answer: Chlorine
- What is the only letter that doesn’t appear on the periodic table? Answer: J
- Which radioactive element was discovered by Marie Curie? Answer: Radium
- What are the elements in Group 18 of the periodic table called? Answer: Noble gases
- Which element has the highest melting point? Answer: Carbon (specifically graphite)
- What does the atomic number represent? Answer: The number of protons in an atom
- Which element is represented by the symbol ‘Fe’? Answer: Iron
- What group are lithium, sodium, and potassium in? Answer: Alkali metals (Group 1)
- Which element is essential for all living organisms but toxic in its elemental form? Answer: Oxygen
- What’s the heaviest naturally occurring element? Answer: Uranium
- Which element has the chemical symbol ‘Pb’? Answer: Lead
- What are elements in Group 17 of the periodic table called? Answer: Halogens
- Which element is used in pencil “lead”? Answer: Carbon (graphite)
- What metal remains liquid at room temperature besides mercury? Answer: Gallium
- Which element was named after the planet Uranus? Answer: Uranium
- What element is represented by the symbol ‘K’? Answer: Potassium
Want to test your knowledge in other areas? Our space trivia questions and answers offer a perfect continuation of scientific exploration.
Famous Chemists and Discoveries
The history of chemistry is filled with fascinating characters and breakthrough moments. I’ve found these historical questions often spark the most interesting discussions about how scientific discoveries shape our world.
- Who discovered radioactivity? Answer: Henri Becquerel
- Which scientist proposed the atomic theory in the early 1800s? Answer: John Dalton
- Who discovered the electron? Answer: J.J. Thomson
- Which female scientist discovered the elements polonium and radium? Answer: Marie Curie
- Who created the pH scale? Answer: Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen
- Which scientist is known for discovering penicillin? Answer: Alexander Fleming
- Who developed the theory of chemical bonds? Answer: Linus Pauling
- Which chemist is known for the discovery of oxygen? Answer: Joseph Priestley (though Antoine Lavoisier is also credited)
- Who discovered the neutron? Answer: James Chadwick
- Which scientist created the periodic table? Answer: Dmitri Mendeleev
- Who discovered the structure of DNA? Answer: James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, and Maurice Wilkins
- Which chemist gave uranium its name? Answer: Martin Heinrich Klaproth
- Who discovered the noble gases? Answer: Sir William Ramsay
- Which scientist developed the quantum theory of the atom? Answer: Niels Bohr
- Who discovered the proton? Answer: Ernest Rutherford
- Which scientist discovered nuclear fission? Answer: Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner
- Who created the model of the atom with electrons orbiting the nucleus? Answer: Niels Bohr
- Which chemist discovered aluminum? Answer: Hans Christian Ørsted
- Who is known as the “father of modern chemistry”? Answer: Antoine Lavoisier
- Which scientist developed the theory of chemical equilibrium? Answer: Henry Louis Le Chatelier
If you enjoy testing your knowledge, you’ll love our collection of science trivia that covers various scientific disciplines.
Everyday Chemistry Trivia
I don’t know about you, but I find chemistry most fascinating when we can relate it to our daily lives. These questions always get the most “aha!” moments during my family trivia nights.
- What causes bread to rise? Answer: Carbon dioxide produced by yeast
- What is the chemical compound in chili peppers that makes them spicy? Answer: Capsaicin
- What gas makes soda fizzy? Answer: Carbon dioxide
- What happens chemically when soap cleans dirt? Answer: Soap molecules form micelles that trap dirt particles
- Which vitamin is produced when our skin is exposed to sunlight? Answer: Vitamin D
- What is the main acid in vinegar? Answer: Acetic acid
- What causes metal to rust? Answer: Oxidation (reaction with oxygen)
- What gas do plants produce during photosynthesis? Answer: Oxygen
- What chemical element gives blood its red color? Answer: Iron
- What is the active ingredient in antacids that neutralizes stomach acid? Answer: Usually sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, or magnesium hydroxide
- What happens chemically when milk turns sour? Answer: Bacteria convert lactose into lactic acid
- What substance causes onions to make you cry? Answer: Syn-propanethial-S-oxide
- What gives fireworks their different colors? Answer: Different metal salts
- What’s the chemical that gives stainless steel its corrosion resistance? Answer: Chromium
- What is the chemical formula of laughing gas? Answer: N₂O (Nitrous oxide)
- What compound causes the distinctive smell after rain? Answer: Geosmin
- What chemical reaction occurs during cooking that browns meat? Answer: Maillard reaction
- What gas makes up the bubbles in champagne? Answer: Carbon dioxide
- What acid is present in lemon juice? Answer: Citric acid
- What chemical compound is responsible for the smell of rotten eggs? Answer: Hydrogen sulfide
For those looking to engage in deeper conversations about scientific topics, our deep topics to talk about collection offers thought-provoking starting points.
Advanced Chemistry Challenges
These tougher questions are perfect for chemistry students or enthusiasts looking for a real challenge. When I use these at our neighborhood science club, even the chemistry majors get stumped by a few!
- What’s Avogadro’s number? Answer: 6.022 × 10²³
- What does DNA stand for? Answer: Deoxyribonucleic acid
- What is the pH of a solution with a hydrogen ion concentration of 10⁻³ mol/L? Answer: 3
- What is the most electronegative element? Answer: Fluorine
- What type of bonding occurs in metals? Answer: Metallic bonding
- What is chirality in chemistry? Answer: When a molecule can’t be superimposed on its mirror image
- What is the chemical formula for sulfuric acid? Answer: H₂SO₄
- What is meant by the term “denaturation” in protein chemistry? Answer: The alteration of protein structure by heat or chemicals
- What is a catalyst? Answer: A substance that increases reaction rate without being consumed
- What phase change occurs during precipitation? Answer: Dissolved solute becoming solid
- What are the products of neutralization reactions? Answer: Salt and water
- What is the law of conservation of mass? Answer: Mass is neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions
- What is the IUPAC name for C₂H₅OH? Answer: Ethanol
- What’s the difference between an exothermic and endothermic reaction? Answer: Exothermic releases energy; endothermic absorbs energy
- What is the molecular formula for glucose? Answer: C₆H₁₂O₆
- What is the hybridization of carbon in methane? Answer: sp³
- What is Le Chatelier’s principle? Answer: When a system at equilibrium is disturbed, it shifts to counteract the change
- What is the octet rule? Answer: Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve eight electrons in their outer shell
- What is the purpose of a buffer solution? Answer: To resist changes in pH
- What does STP stand for in chemistry? Answer: Standard Temperature and Pressure
Challenge your mind further with our collection of science riddles that combine scientific knowledge with puzzle-solving skills.
Fun and Quirky Chemistry Facts
These questions showcase the lighter, more surprising side of chemistry. My daughter used some of these for her high school science club’s trivia night, and they were a huge hit!
- Which element’s name comes from the Greek word for “smell”? Answer: Osmium
- What substance is both the hardest natural material and a form of carbon? Answer: Diamond
- What element is named after a village in Scotland? Answer: Strontium
- Which element is named after the Norse god of thunder? Answer: Thorium
- What gas gives the smell to rotten eggs? Answer: Hydrogen sulfide
- Which metal was once more valuable than gold? Answer: Aluminum
- What element is liquid at room temperature and named after a planet? Answer: Mercury
- Which element was discovered in human urine? Answer: Phosphorus
- What element’s name means “artificial” in Greek? Answer: Technetium
- Which element is named after the scientist Albert Einstein? Answer: Einsteinium
- What common kitchen item contains sodium chloride? Answer: Salt
- Which gas makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere? Answer: Nitrogen
- What element has the shortest name? Answer: Tin
- Which element is named after the Latin word for “rainbow”? Answer: Iridium
- What’s the only letter that doesn’t appear in the periodic table? Answer: J
If you enjoy learning interesting facts, our general knowledge trivia collection offers a broad range of fascinating information.
Why Chemistry Trivia is Educational and Fun
Chemistry trivia offers the perfect blend of entertainment and education. Unlike dry textbook learning, these bite-sized questions make complex concepts accessible and memorable. Every time I host a chemistry trivia night, I’m amazed at how even self-proclaimed “science-phobes” get caught up in the excitement of discovering how chemistry shapes our everyday world.
The beauty of chemistry trivia is that it shows how science isn’t just confined to laboratories—it’s in our kitchens, medicine cabinets, and even the air we breathe. I’ve found that people retain information better when it’s presented as interesting trivia rather than formal lessons.
The best way to start exploring deeper science topics is with engaging questions that spark curiosity.
Final Thoughts
Chemistry trivia is more than just fun facts—it’s a doorway to understanding the world around us. From the air we breathe to the foods we eat, chemistry explains so much about our daily lives. I hope these questions have sparked your curiosity and perhaps given you some conversation starters for your next gathering!
Whether you’re using these questions for classroom activities, family game nights, or just personal enrichment, remember that the goal is both learning and enjoyment. Did you know all the answers? Which ones surprised you the most?
For science enthusiasts looking to expand their knowledge even further, check out our periodic table trivia for more element-specific questions that will challenge and entertain.
Happy exploring the wonderful world of chemistry!