Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

The acid that powers industry

Sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄, is one of the most produced industrial chemicals in the world, used in fertilisers, batteries and metal processing. Its name comes from the Latin word for sulfur, and it is a strong acid that can cause serious burns in concentrated form. Because it is so widely used, production levels of sulfuric acid are sometimes treated as a rough indicator of a country's industrial activity.

A handball that became football folklore

Diego Maradona is best remembered for the "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup, followed minutes later by a solo effort often called the Goal of the Century. Argentina went on to win that tournament, and Maradona's mix of brilliance and controversy made him one of the most talked-about players in the sport's history.

A city frozen in volcanic ash

Pompeii was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, and the ash preserved buildings, streets and even graffiti for centuries. Excavations began in the 18th century, and today the site draws millions of visitors each year. Nearby Herculaneum was also destroyed in the same eruption.

Why Bern, not Zurich, is Switzerland's capital

Bern has been the seat of the Swiss federal government since 1848, when the modern federal state was created. Zurich is the country's largest city and a major financial centre, while Geneva hosts many international organisations, but neither is the capital. The choice of Bern was partly a compromise between German-speaking and French-speaking regions.

Two sets of teeth, one lifetime

Children usually have 20 milk teeth, which gradually loosen and fall out to make room for 32 permanent teeth in adults. The process typically starts around age six and continues into the early teens. Not everyone develops all four wisdom teeth, so the adult total can vary from person to person.