100 General Science Questions and Answers for WBCS Prelims 2026 (Part 1)

Preparing for the WBCS Prelims 2026 examination requires a strong command of General Science, as it is one of the most important scoring sections in the syllabus. To help aspirants revise quickly and effectively, we have compiled “100 General Science Questions and Answers for WBCS Prelims 2026 (Part 1)” covering important topics from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Human Physiology, and Everyday Science.

These carefully selected questions are based on previous year exam trends and commonly asked concepts in competitive examinations. Whether you are a beginner starting your preparation or an advanced aspirant looking for quick revision notes, this collection will help strengthen your fundamentals and improve your confidence before the exam.

Practice these questions regularly, revise the answers thoroughly, and stay consistent with your preparation. More useful study materials, MCQs, and practice sets for WBCS and other competitive exams will be published soon.

Important General Science One-liners for WBCS Prelims 2026 (1-100)

Q1: Which is the largest endocrine gland in the human body?
Ans: Thyroid gland

Q2: The instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure is:
Ans: Barometer

Q3: Which instrument is used to measure wind speed?
Ans: Anemometer

Q4: Which radioactive isotope is used as a power source in heart pacemakers?
Ans: Plutonium-238

Q5: Which highly reactive non-metal is stored in water?
Ans: White Phosphorus

Q6: Which enzyme present in human saliva digests starch?
Ans: Ptyalin / Salivary Amylase

Q7: The working principle of a rocket is based on the law of:
Ans: Conservation of linear momentum

Q8: Non-stick cooking utensils are usually coated with a polymer called:
Ans: Teflon

Q9: Which medical instrument is used for listening to the internal sounds of an animal or human body?
Ans: Stethoscope

Q10: Which non-metal is a good conductor of heat but a bad conductor of electricity?
Ans: Diamond

Q11: Which is considered the purest form of natural water?
Ans: Rain water

Q12: A substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change itself is called:
Ans: Catalyst

Q13: The scientific study of cancer and tumours is known as:
Ans: Oncology

Q14: Which pigment gives papaya its yellow colour?
Ans: Caricaxanthin

Q15: Which is the largest and most complex part of the human brain?
Ans: Cerebrum

Q16: Which gas mixture is used by deep-sea divers for breathing?
Ans: Oxygen and Helium

Q17: Which is the most malleable metal?
Ans: Gold

Q18: What is the chemical name of slaked lime?
Ans: Calcium hydroxide / Ca(OH)₂

Q19: Which acid causes the foul smell in rancid butter?
Ans: Butyric acid

Q20: What connects one bone to another bone in the human body?
Ans: Ligament

Q21: What is the pH value of human gastric juice?
Ans: 1.5 to 3.5

Q22: What is the chemical name of Vitamin K?
Ans: Phylloquinone

Q23: Which disease is caused by cadmium pollution?
Ans: Itai-Itai / Ouch-Ouch disease

Q24: Which highly poisonous gas is formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon fuels?
Ans: Carbon Monoxide / CO

Q25: The scientific study of fruits is called:
Ans: Pomology

Q26: Which gas is filled in potato chips packets to prevent oxidation?
Ans: Nitrogen

Q27: The basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system is:
Ans: Neuron

Q28: What is the chemical name of Caustic Soda?
Ans: Sodium Hydroxide / NaOH

Q29: What is the chemical name of saltpetre?
Ans: Potassium Nitrate

Q30: What is the chemical name of Epsom salt?
Ans: Magnesium Sulphate

Q31: Which part of the plant is used to obtain saffron?
Ans: Stigma of the flower

Q32: Which gas is passed through vegetable oils in the preparation of Vanaspati Ghee?
Ans: Hydrogen

Q33: Which is the largest cell in the human body?
Ans: Ovum / Egg cell

Q34: Deficiency of Vitamin E causes:
Ans: Infertility / Sterility

Q35: Which part of the central nervous system controls reflex actions?
Ans: Spinal cord

Q36: Which metal is present in chlorophyll?
Ans: Magnesium

Q37: Which chemical compound is commonly used as a water purifier and is known as ‘Red Medicine’?
Ans: Potassium Permanganate / KMnO₄

Q38: Who discovered the neutron?
Ans: James Chadwick

Q39: Which type of lens is used in a magnifying glass?
Ans: Convex lens

Q40: Which is the lightest gas?
Ans: Hydrogen

Q41: Which element is common to all organic compounds?
Ans: Carbon

Q42: Which acid is widely used as a food preservative?
Ans: Benzoic acid / Sodium benzoate

Q43: Which is the smallest bone in the human body?
Ans: Stapes

Q44: What is the protective outer membrane covering the brain and spinal cord called?
Ans: Meninges

Q45: Which element is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones?
Ans: Iodine

Q46: What is the speed of sound in air at 0°C?
Ans: 332 m/s

Q47: What is the SI unit of a solid angle?
Ans: Steradian

Q48: What is the main active, stimulating ingredient in tea and coffee?
Ans: Caffeine

Q49: Which gland is known as the ‘Biological Clock’ of the human body?
Ans: Pineal gland

Q50: What connects a muscle to a bone?
Ans: Tendon

Q51: Which gland regulates the body temperature in humans?
Ans: Hypothalamus

Q52: Which structural protein is the key component of human hair, nails, and outer skin?
Ans: Keratin

Q53: What is the normal lifespan of human blood platelets?
Ans: 7 to 10 days

Q54: Which blood vessels carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?
Ans: Pulmonary vein

Q55: Which was the first organic compound artificially synthesized in a laboratory?
Ans: Urea

Q56: The scientific study of dreams is called:
Ans: Oneirology

Q57: Which is the largest internal organ of the human body?
Ans: Liver

Q58: Which alloy is used in the heating element of an electric iron or heater?
Ans: Nichrome

Q59: Which instrument is used to measure the depth of the ocean?
Ans: Fathometer

Q60: Which components of blood are primarily responsible for blood clotting?
Ans: Platelets

Q61: Which principle explains the working of a hydraulic press?
Ans: Pascal’s law

Q62: Which gas is responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer?
Ans: Chlorofluorocarbon / CFC

Q63: How many bones are there in the human face?
Ans: 14

Q64: Which element has the highest electron affinity in the periodic table?
Ans: Chlorine

Q65: Which is the largest flower in the world?
Ans: Rafflesia

Q66: What is the SI unit of luminous flux?
Ans: Lumen

Q67: What is the chemical formula of marble?
Ans: CaCO₃ / Calcium Carbonate

Q68: Which acid is used for etching on glass?
Ans: Hydrofluoric acid / HF

Q69: Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs?
Ans: Pulmonary Artery

Q70: What is the total number of ribs in a human body?
Ans: 24 or 12 pairs

Q71: Which blood group is known as the universal recipient?
Ans: AB Positive (AB+)

Q72: What is the speed of sound in a vacuum?
Ans: Zero

Q73: Isotopes of an element have the same number of:
Ans: Protons

Q74: The saliva of a healthy person is slightly acidic. What is its approximate pH?
Ans: 6.8

Q75: Which important metal is mainly extracted from sea water?
Ans: Magnesium

Q76: What is the SI unit of surface tension?
Ans: Newton per meter (N/m)

Q77: The liquid or fluid part of blood is called:
Ans: Plasma

Q78: The SI unit of magnetic field strength is:
Ans: Tesla

Q79: What is the SI unit of power?
Ans: Watt

Q80: Monazite is an ore of which element?
Ans: Thorium

Q81: What is the total number of temporary teeth (milk teeth) in human beings?
Ans: 20

Q82: What is the total number of chromosomes in a normal human cell?
Ans: 46 or 23 pairs

Q83: Which catalyst is used in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils?
Ans: Nickel

Q84: Which vitamin cannot be stored in the human body?
Ans: Vitamin C

Q85: Which acid is predominantly found in tomatoes?
Ans: Oxalic acid

Q86: What is the name of the pigment responsible for human skin colour?
Ans: Melanin

Q87: Which disease is transmitted by the bite of the female Aedes mosquito?
Ans: Dengue

Q88: Which gas is used along with oxygen for welding and cutting of metals?
Ans: Acetylene

Q89: Which is the smallest flower in the world?
Ans: Wolffia

Q90: Which noble gas is not naturally found in the Earth’s atmosphere?
Ans: Radon

Q91: Who discovered the smallpox vaccine?
Ans: Edward Jenner

Q92: Which device is used to convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC)?
Ans: Inverter

Q93: Which endocrine gland is prominent in childhood but gradually disappears in old age?
Ans: Thymus gland

Q94: The medical study of kidneys and its diseases is called:
Ans: Nephrology

Q95: Which vector is responsible for the transmission of Kala-azar (Black fever)?
Ans: Sandfly

Q96: What is the chemical formula of ammonia?
Ans: NH₃

Q97: Who is known as the father of Microbiology?
Ans: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Q98: Who discovered the cell?
Ans: Robert Hooke

Q99: Sound waves are what type of waves?
Ans: Longitudinal waves

Q100: Zinc blende is the principal ore of which metal?
Ans: Zinc

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