ROUTERA


Chapter 1 The Solid State

Class 12th Chemistry Chapter Assertion and Reason


Instructions for Assertion and Reason Questions

Each question consists of an assertion (A) and a reason (R). You need to select the correct option based on the given statements:

  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  3. A is true, but R is false.
  4. A is false, but R is true.

Assertion and Reason Questions with Answers and Explanations

Chapter 1: The Solid State

  1. Assertion (A): Crystalline solids are anisotropic in nature.
    Reason (R): Crystalline solids have long-range order, and their physical properties vary with direction.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Crystalline solids exhibit anisotropy because their properties depend on the orientation of the crystal lattice due to its long-range order.

  2. Assertion (A): Amorphous solids are sometimes called pseudo-solids.
    Reason (R): Amorphous solids possess a definite melting point.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: Amorphous solids are pseudo-solids because they do not have a definite melting point; instead, they melt over a range of temperatures.

  3. Assertion (A): Ionic solids have high melting points.
    Reason (R): Strong electrostatic forces of attraction exist between oppositely charged ions in ionic solids.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Ionic solids have high melting points because significant energy is required to overcome the strong electrostatic forces between ions.

  4. Assertion (A): Covalent solids like diamond are hard and brittle.
    Reason (R): Covalent solids consist of atoms connected through covalent bonds throughout the crystal.
    Answer: 2
    Explanation: While diamond is extremely hard due to its covalent bonds, brittleness is not necessarily related to its bonding nature.

  5. Assertion (A): Metallic solids are good conductors of electricity.
    Reason (R): In metallic solids, electrons are localized between metal ions.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: Metallic solids have delocalized electrons, not localized ones, which facilitate the conduction of electricity.

  6. Assertion (A): Molecular solids have low melting and boiling points.
    Reason (R): Intermolecular forces in molecular solids are weak van der Waals forces or hydrogen bonds.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The low melting and boiling points of molecular solids are due to weak intermolecular forces.

  7. Assertion (A): Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.
    Reason (R): Graphite has free electrons within its layers.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Graphite conducts electricity due to the presence of delocalized π-electrons in its planar layers.

  8. Assertion (A): Solids have definite shape and volume.
    Reason (R): The intermolecular forces in solids are weak.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: Solids have definite shape and volume because their intermolecular forces are strong, not weak.

  9. Assertion (A): Ionic solids are brittle.
    Reason (R): Ionic solids have strong covalent bonds.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: Ionic solids are brittle because displacement of ions causes repulsion between like charges, but the bonds are ionic, not covalent.

  10. Assertion (A): The packing efficiency of hcp and ccp arrangements is the same.
    Reason (R): Both hcp and ccp arrangements have a coordination number of 12.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Both hcp and ccp arrangements achieve a packing efficiency of 74% due to their identical coordination numbers and space utilization.

  1. Assertion (A): Frenkel defects do not affect the density of the solid.
    Reason (R): In Frenkel defects, ions are displaced within the crystal lattice.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Since no ions are removed from the lattice in Frenkel defects, the overall density remains unchanged.

  2. Assertion (A): Schottky defects reduce the density of a crystal.
    Reason (R): Schottky defects involve the removal of ions from the lattice, leaving vacancies.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: In Schottky defects, equal numbers of cations and anions are missing, reducing the mass per unit volume.

  3. Assertion (A): Ionic solids are soluble in polar solvents.
    Reason (R): Polar solvents stabilize ions through ion-dipole interactions.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The polarity of solvents helps dissolve ionic solids by stabilizing separated ions.

  4. Assertion (A): NaCl exhibits a Schottky defect.
    Reason (R): NaCl has a small difference in the size of its cation and anion.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: NaCl, with cations and anions of similar size, typically exhibits Schottky defects.

  5. Assertion (A): ZnO is white when cold but yellow when hot.
    Reason (R): Heating ZnO generates free electrons due to the loss of oxygen.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The yellow color arises because free electrons generated at high temperatures absorb certain wavelengths of light.

  6. Assertion (A): The coordination number of Na+ in NaCl is 6.
    Reason (R): NaCl has a cubic close-packed structure.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: In NaCl, each Na+ is surrounded by six Cl− ions due to its ccp arrangement.

  7. Assertion (A): The void space in a simple cubic lattice is 32%.
    Reason (R): The packing efficiency of a simple cubic lattice is 68%.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: The packing efficiency of a simple cubic lattice is 52%, not 68%, and the void space is 48%.

  8. Assertion (A): All solids are crystalline in nature.
    Reason (R): Solids have regular arrangements of particles.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: Some solids, like amorphous solids, do not have a regular arrangement of particles.

  9. Assertion (A): Covalent solids are poor conductors of electricity.
    Reason (R): Covalent bonds involve localized electrons.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The absence of free electrons or ions in covalent solids prevents electrical conductivity.

  10. Assertion (A): Silicon doped with phosphorus is a p-type semiconductor.
    Reason (R): Phosphorus contributes extra electrons to the silicon lattice.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: Phosphorus doping results in an n-type semiconductor because it provides extra electrons.


  1. Assertion (A): The number of atoms per unit cell in a bcc lattice is 4.
    Reason (R): The bcc lattice has one atom at the center and eight at the corners.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: The number of atoms per unit cell in a bcc lattice is 2, not 4.

  2. Assertion (A): The unit cell of a hexagonal close-packed structure has six atoms.
    Reason (R): The hcp structure has an ABAB type of arrangement.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The hcp unit cell contains six atoms and exhibits an ABAB pattern.

  3. Assertion (A): Diamond has a high melting point.
    Reason (R): Diamond consists of covalent bonds extending throughout the structure.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Diamond's strong covalent bonding throughout the lattice gives it a high melting point.

  4. Assertion (A): Glass is an amorphous solid.
    Reason (R): Glass has a long-range order of particles.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: Glass lacks long-range order, making it an amorphous solid.

  5. Assertion (A): Ionic solids are good conductors of electricity in the solid state.
    Reason (R): Ionic solids have free ions in the solid state.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: Ionic solids do not conduct electricity in the solid state because ions are not free to move.


  1. Assertion (A): In a face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice, the packing efficiency is 74%.
    Reason (R): The coordination number in fcc lattices is 12.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The high packing efficiency of fcc lattices is due to the close packing and coordination number of 12.

  2. Assertion (A): CsCl and NaCl have the same type of crystal structure.
    Reason (R): Both CsCl and NaCl are ionic compounds.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: CsCl has a bcc structure, while NaCl has a ccp structure.

  3. Assertion (A): Metals are malleable and ductile.
    Reason (R): Metallic bonds are non-directional.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The non-directional nature of metallic bonds allows metals to deform without breaking.

  4. Assertion (A): Crystalline solids have sharp melting points.
    Reason (R): Crystalline solids have a regular arrangement of particles.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Sharp melting points result from the uniformity of the crystal lattice.

  5. Assertion (A): Quartz is an example of an amorphous solid.
    Reason (R): Quartz has a regular three-dimensional arrangement of particles.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: Quartz is a crystalline solid due to its long-range ordered structure.

  1. Assertion (A): A crystal with a point defect always loses its electrical neutrality.
    Reason (R): Point defects disrupt the overall balance of positive and negative charges.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: Electrical neutrality is maintained in most point defects like Frenkel and Schottky defects.

  2. Assertion (A): The packing efficiency of a simple cubic lattice is lower than that of a body-centered cubic lattice.
    Reason (R): The atoms in a body-centered cubic lattice are more closely packed than in a simple cubic lattice.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The packing efficiency of a bcc lattice (68%) is greater than that of a simple cubic lattice (52%).

  3. Assertion (A): Amorphous solids are isotropic.
    Reason (R): Amorphous solids have no long-range order in their structure.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Isotropy in amorphous solids results from the random arrangement of particles, making properties uniform in all directions.

  4. Assertion (A): Ionic solids in molten state conduct electricity.
    Reason (R): Ionic solids in molten state have free ions that move under an electric field.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Free ions in the molten state facilitate electrical conductivity.

  5. Assertion (A): Silicon is used as a semiconductor.
    Reason (R): Silicon has a diamond-like covalent structure with a small energy gap between valence and conduction bands.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The small energy gap allows silicon to behave as a semiconductor.

  6. Assertion (A): Graphite is used as a lubricant.
    Reason (R): Graphite has a layered structure with weak van der Waals forces between the layers.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The layers in graphite can slide over each other, making it an effective lubricant.

  7. Assertion (A): Non-stoichiometric defects can lead to color in solids.
    Reason (R): Non-stoichiometric defects produce free electrons or electron holes that absorb specific wavelengths of light.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Non-stoichiometric defects can cause color changes due to electronic transitions.

  8. Assertion (A): Crystalline solids are generally incompressible.
    Reason (R): In crystalline solids, particles are closely packed, leaving no space for compression.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The tightly packed structure of crystalline solids makes them incompressible.

  9. Assertion (A): In a face-centered cubic lattice, each atom touches four other atoms.
    Reason (R): In a face-centered cubic lattice, the coordination number is 12.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: In an fcc lattice, each atom touches 12 other atoms, not 4.

  10. Assertion (A): Molecular solids like ice have low melting points.
    Reason (R): Molecular solids are held together by strong covalent bonds.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: Molecular solids are held together by weak intermolecular forces, not covalent bonds.


  1. Assertion (A): An interstitial defect increases the density of a crystal.
    Reason (R): Interstitial defects occur when extra atoms occupy positions in the voids of the crystal lattice.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Adding atoms to the voids increases the mass without changing the volume significantly, increasing density.

  2. Assertion (A): In Frenkel defect, there is no change in the electrical neutrality of the compound.
    Reason (R): In Frenkel defect, ions simply shift from their lattice points to interstitial sites.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: No ions are lost; they are displaced, maintaining electrical neutrality.

  3. Assertion (A): The coordination number of an atom in a simple cubic lattice is 8.
    Reason (R): In a simple cubic lattice, each atom is in contact with 8 other atoms.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: The coordination number in a simple cubic lattice is 6, not 8.

  4. Assertion (A): The electrical conductivity of semiconductors increases with an increase in temperature.
    Reason (R): Heating provides energy for more electrons to jump into the conduction band.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: At higher temperatures, electrons gain energy to move to the conduction band, increasing conductivity.

  5. Assertion (A): All crystalline solids are anisotropic.
    Reason (R): Anisotropy arises due to a regular arrangement of particles in different directions in a crystal.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The direction-dependent properties of crystalline solids result from their lattice arrangement.

  6. Assertion (A): The number of atoms in a unit cell of a cubic close-packed structure is 4.
    Reason (R): In a cubic close-packed structure, atoms are present at the corners and face centers.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: The calculation of atoms in an fcc unit cell gives 4 atoms per unit cell.

  7. Assertion (A): Impurities in semiconductors alter their electrical conductivity.
    Reason (R): Impurities create additional energy levels in the semiconductor.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Impurity levels enhance conductivity by allowing more charge carriers to participate.

  8. Assertion (A): NaCl is a good conductor in the solid state.
    Reason (R): Ionic mobility in NaCl is high in the solid state.
    Answer: 4
    Explanation: NaCl is not a conductor in the solid state due to the immobility of ions.

  9. Assertion (A): Diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon.
    Reason (R): Diamond has a layered structure, while graphite has a three-dimensional network.
    Answer: 3
    Explanation: Diamond has a 3D network structure, while graphite has a layered structure.

  10. Assertion (A): The packing efficiency of hexagonal close packing is higher than that of a simple cubic lattice.
    Reason (R): Hexagonal close packing utilizes space more efficiently than a simple cubic lattice.
    Answer: 1
    Explanation: Hexagonal close packing achieves 74% packing efficiency, compared to 52% for a simple cubic lattice.