VIRUS TEAM – MCQ ON SECTION ONE NP
1. What is the IUPAC name of nicotine?
a) 1,3,7-trimethyl xanthine
b) 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)pyridine
c) 2,4-dimethyl purine
d) 1-methylpyrrolidine
2. Nicotine is classified as:
a) A carbohydrate
b) A protein
c) An alkaloid
d) A lipid
3. Nicotine is:
a) A polar compound
b) A non-polar compound
c) Partially polar and oily
d) Completely insoluble in organic solvents
4. Which plant family is nicotine mainly found in?
a) Nightshade family
b) Legume family
c) Grass family
d) Cactus family
5. Why is nicotine considered a potent neurotoxin?
a) It disrupts the nervous system
b) It is insoluble in water
c) It forms salts easily
d) It is odorless
6. Why is petroleum ether or chloroform used in this protocol?
a) To dissolve nicotine effectively
b) To remove NaOH from the mixture
c) To enhance nicotine’s boiling point
d) To neutralize nicotine
7. Why is NaOH used in the extraction process?
a) To dissolve the tobacco
b) To convert nicotine into its freebase form
c) To neutralize the organic solvent
d) To act as a co-solvent
8. Which property of petroleum ether makes it useful in this extraction?
a) Its density is higher than water
b) It is immiscible with water
c) It reacts with nicotine
d) It is miscible with water
9. Chloroform is chosen as a solvent because:
a) extracts nicotine efficiently
b) It reacts with tobacco
c) It is less toxic than petroleum ether
d) It neutralizes NaOH
10. If chloroform is used, the organic layer will be:
a) The upper layer
b) The lower layer
c) Mixed with the aqueous layer
d) Nicotine-free
11. When using petroleum ether, the upper layer in the separatory funnel is:
a) Aqueous layer
b) Organic layer
c) Tobacco residue
d) NaOH solution
12. If chloroform is used as the organic solvent, the aqueous layer will be:
a) The upper layer
b) The lower layer
c) Mixed with nicotine
d) Completely evaporated
13. Why does nicotine prefer the organic layer?
a) It is polar
b) It forms ionic bonds with NaOH
c) It is non-polar in its freebase form
d) It is heavier than water
14. The role of heating the NaOH-tobacco mixture is to:
a) Speed up the dissolution of nicotine
b) Neutralize nicotine
c) Dissolve the organic solvent
d) Lower the pH of the solution
15. The purpose of filtration after heating is to:
a) Remove nicotine
b) Separate solid tobacco particles from the liquid extract
c) Remove NaOH completely
d) Evaporate the solvent
16. The final step of evaporation is conducted to:
a) Remove impurities
b) Separate nicotine from the organic solvent
c) Neutralize NaOH
d) Dissolve the aqueous layer
17. The density of the organic solvent determines:
a) The polarity of nicotine
b) Whether it forms the upper or lower layer
c) The boiling point of the solution
d) The filtration efficiency
18. Nicotine is isolated in its freebase form because:
a) It is less reactive with NaOH
b) It is more soluble in organic solvents
c) It has a lower boiling point
d) It is denser than the solvent
19. Why is tobacco ground before extraction?
a) To neutralize nicotine
b) To increase surface area for better extraction
c) To remove impurities
d) To reduce density
20. What is the role of reduced pressure during evaporation?
a) To prevent solvent mixing
b) To lower the boiling point of the solvent
c) To increase the solubility of nicotine
d) To neutralize NaOH
