UPSC 2021 Science and Technology Questions with Answers
11 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Science and Technology in the UPSC 2021 Prelims. Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 2021Science and Technology · Miscellaneous
Q11. Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because
Explanation
Water is often referred to as the "universal solvent" because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid. This exceptional ability is primarily due to its dipolar nature. A water molecule has a bent shape, with the oxygen atom carrying a partial negative charge and the hydrogen atoms carrying partial positive charges. This polarity allows water molecules to surround and interact with various solutes, effectively breaking them apart and dissolving them. Water can develop a strong attraction to another substance, such as salt (NaCl) to the point where it can interfere with the attractive forces holding the sodium and chloride in the salt complex together and dissolve it. In organic chemistry, a dipolar compound or simply dipole is an electrically neutral molecule carrying a positive and a negative charge in at least one canonical description.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2021
(a) it is dipolar in nature
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Science and Technology?
This page covers 11 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Science and Technology in the UPSC 2021 Prelims, asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Science and Technology?
Questions on Science and Technology in the UPSC 2021 Prelims are available for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
