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Topic States of matter
Asked 6 times across 4 UPSC exams over 8 years (2017–2025), peaking in 2022.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 2 of 6 PYQs
- Most asked in 2022
- Recurs across 5 years (2017–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2017 → NDA 2022 → CISF 2022 → GEO 2025
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (6 of 6) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
GEO2025
Consider the following elements
- Bromine
- Phosphorus
- Mercury
- Radon
How many of the above elements are found in liquid form at 25 °C and at 1 atm?
- A 1
- B 2 ✓
- C 3
- D 4
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2023
Consider the following reaction : 2HgO → 2Hg + O2 The respective state of HgO, Hg and O2 in the above reaction is
- A Liquid, solid, gas
- B Solid, solid, gas
- C Liquid, solid, liquid
- D Solid, liquid, gas ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2022
Vapours of sulphur escaping from a volcano often form a crust on the rocks. The process involved is an example of
- A condensation
- B precipitation
- C deposition ✓
- D evaporation
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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