Graduate Symposium Quiz

Rahul is getting ready for a party and sprays air freshener in one corner of his living room. Even though he stays on the couch across the room, he notices the pleasant scent reaches him in just a few moments. What phenomenon allows the scent to quickly spread across the room?

• Evaporation

• Diffusion

• Condensation

• Filtration

Neha makes her favorite tea and, while in a hurry, pours the freshly boiled, steaming tea straight into a glass cup she just took out of the refrigerator. She’s startled when the glass suddenly cracks with a loud snap, spilling tea everywhere. Why does a glass crack when hot tea is poured into it?

• The glass had microscopic manufacturing flaws

• The glass expanded unevenly from rapid temperature change

• High pressure from hot liquid built up inside

• Sudden release of dissolved gases in the tea

Zoo Challenge : What parameter best explains why sloths get stuck in the pool of syrup and cheetahs run in the track?

• Temperature

• Viscosity

• Pressure

• pH

Which IIT Madras Chemical Engineering faculty member is noted for developing heterogeneous catalysts for the selective conversion of biomass-derived platform molecules into high-value chemicals, and is actively involved in sustainable process design for circular economies?

• Dr. Sagar Sourav

• Dr. Parul Verma

• Dr. J. B. Joshi

• Dr. Pushpavanam Subramanian

Dhirubhai Ambani once dreamed big of transforming India's petrochemical industry. Starting with humble beginnings, Reliance Industries built massive plants that changed the game. Which product catapulted Reliance Industries to global prominence?

• Polyethylene

• Polyester fibers and yarn

• Ammonia

• Fertilizer

Amit loves his evening tea. One day, he pours steaming hot tea into his favorite ceramic cup and notices it stays warm for quite a while. Curious, he pours the same hot tea into a shiny metal cup and is surprised to find that the tea cools down much faster. Amit wonders Why does the tea cool faster in the metal cup than in the ceramic cup?

• The metal cup absorbs more tea flavor

• The metal cup has a smoother surface

• Metal conducts heat away from the tea much faster than ceramic

• Ceramic cups are heavier than metal cups

Surya, a college student, accidentally spills a glass of water on his wooden table. He quickly grabs a dry sponge and wipes up the spill. He notices that the sponge soaks up the water very efficiently, leaving the table dry. What is the main process taking place when the sponge removes the water?

• Adsorption

• Absorption

• Filtration

• Evaporation

How many PhD research scholars are there in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras?

• 100 PhD scholars

• 126 PhD scholars

• 143 PhD scholars

• 180 PhD scholars

Ram, a chemical engineering student from India, travels to Chicago for a conference in January. Upon arrival, he notices the city is covered in snow, and snowplows are spreading salt onto the icy roads. Curious, Ram asks his American friend, "Why do they put salt on the roads in winter?"

• Absorbs sunlight

• Lowers freezing point

• Reacts exothermically

• Increases friction

Sneha notices a plastic toy is hard and brittle in winter but soft and bendy in summer. Why is a plastic toy brittle in winter and flexible in summer?

• Glass transition temperature

• Solubility

• Density

• Optical clarity