Sample Exam

Questions

The sample exam questions that follow illustrate the relationship between the course
framework and AP Chemistry Exam and serve as examples of the types of questions
that appear on the exam. After the sample questions is a table that shows which skill,
learning objective(s), and unit each question relates to. The table also provides the
answers to the multiple-choice questions.

Section I: Multiple-Choice
The following are examples of the kinds of multiple-choice questions found on the exam.

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

1. Which of the following species has the electron configuration shown above?
(A) O
(B) Ne
(C) K+
(D) C1+
H C = C H
 
Η Η

2. A Lewis diagram for the molecule C2H4 is shown above. In the actual C2H4
molecule, the H-C-H bond angles are closest to
(A) 90°
(B) 109.5°
(C) 120°
(D) 180°
Chromatography Paper

Solvent
Front
Final
Position
of Dye

Original
Position
of Dye

Solvent
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3. Based on the results of the paper chromatography experiment shown above,
which of the following can be concluded about the dye?
(A) It has a small molar mass.
(B) It has weak intermolecular forces.
(C) It has a weaker attraction for the stationary phase than it has for the
mobile phase.
(D) It has a stronger attraction for the stationary phase than it has for the
mobile phase.

=H
=C
=O

4. The reactants represented above are placed in a vessel and a reaction occurs.
Which of the following best represents the contents of the vessel after the
reaction has proceeded as completely as possible?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

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 Initial buret reading 2.17 mL
Final buret reading 22.17 mL

5. An antacid tablet containing Mg(OH)2(s) (molar mass 58.3 g/mol) is titrated

with a 0.100 M solution of HNO3(aq). The end point is determined by using
an indicator. Based on the data in the table above, what was the mass of the
Mg(OH)2(s) in the antacid tablet?
(A) 0.0583 g
(B) 0.583 g
(C) 5.83 g
(D) 58.3 g
HCl(aq) + CaCO3(s) → CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

The reaction between HCl(aq) and CaCO3(s) is represented by the equation above.
Two separate trials were carried out using CaCO3(s) samples of the same mass, but
one sample was a single piece of CaCO3(s), and one sample was composed of small
pieces of CaCO3(s). The loss of mass of CaCO3(s) as a function of time for both trials
is shown in the graph below.

Y
of CaCO3(s) (g)
Loss of Mass

Time (s)

6. Which of the curves, X or Y, represents the reaction with small pieces of

CaCO3(s), and why?
(A) Curve X, because it shows that the reaction proceeded at a uniform rate.
(B) Curve X, because it takes a shorter time for the reaction to go to completion
due to the larger surface area of CaCO3(s).
(C) Curve Y, because it shows that the reaction proceeded at a nonuniform rate.
(D) Curve Y, because it takes a shorter time for the reaction to go to completion
due to the larger surface area of CaCO3(s).

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 Material Initial Temperature Mass Specific Heat
Cup of Spoon of Spoon (°C) of Spoon (g) Capacity (J/g °C)

A Aluminum 20 10.0 0.90

B Ceramic 20 10.0 0.80

C Steel 20 20.0 0.45

D Silver 20 40.0 0.23

7. Four identical 50 mL cups of coffee, originally at 95°C, were stirred with four
different spoons, as listed in the table above. In which cup will the temperature
of the coffee be highest at thermal equilibrium? (Assume that the heat lost to the
surroundings is negligible.)
(A) Cup A
(B) Cup B
(C) Cup C
(D) Cup D

Ag+ + (aq) + 2 NH3(aq)  [Ag (NH3)2]+ (aq) K = 1 × 107

8. Equal volumes of 0.1 M AgNO3(aq) and 0.4 M NH3(aq) are mixed and
allowed to reach the equilibrium represented above. Which of the following
correctly lists the equilibrium concentrations of the Ag+(aq), NH3(aq), and
[Ag(NH3)2]+(aq) in order from least to greatest?
(A) [Ag+]eq < [NH3]eq < [[Ag(NH3)2]+]eq
(B) [NH3]eq < [Ag+]eq < [[Ag(NH3)2]+]eq
(C) [Ag(NH3)2]+]eq < [Ag+]eq < [NH3]eq
(D) [Ag+]eq < [[Ag(NH3)2]+]eq < [NH3]eq

N2(g) + 3 H2(g)  2 NH3(g)

A 2.0 L reaction vessel contains an equilibrium mixture of the system represented

above. The partial pressures of the components of the mixture at equilibrium are
listed in the table below.
Pn2 Ph2 Pnh3
0.30 atm 0.50 atm 0.20 atm

9. Which of the following is the best estimate of the total pressure of the system
when the volume of the container is reduced to 1.0 L at a constant temperature?
(A) Ptotal = 1.00 atm
(B) 1.00 atm < Ptotal < 2.00 atm
(C) Ptotal = 2.00 atm
(D) Ptotal > 2.00 atm

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 Beaker X Beaker Y

50 mL H2O 100 mL 1.0 M NaCl

10. Beaker X contains 50 mL of distilled water and beaker Y contains 100 mL

of 1.0 M NaCl. Solid AgCl is added to each of the beakers. After thoroughly
stirring the contents of the beakers, some solid AgCl remains at the bottom of
each beaker, as shown above. Which of the following is true?
(A) [Ag+] is zero in both beakers.
(B) [Ag+] is the same, but not zero, in both beakers.
(C) [Ag+] is greater in beaker X.
(D) [Ag+] is greater in beaker Y.

11. The value of Kw for water at 0°C is 1 × 10−15. What is the pOH of water at 0°C?
(A) 6.5
(B) 7.0
(C) 7.5
(D) 8.0

Half-Reaction E°(V)
Ag (aq) + e → Ag(s)
+ –
 0.80
Cr3+(aq) + 3 e– → Cr(s) –0.41

12. Based on the standard reduction potentials in the table above, what is the value
of E° for a standard galvanic cell made with Ag/Ag+ and Cr/Cr3+ half-cells?
(A) 0.39 V
(B) 1.21 V
(C) 1.99 V
(D) 2.81 V

Questions 13–15 refer to the information below.

A 0.50 g sample of Mg(s) was placed in a solution of HCl(aq), where it reacted
completely.
13. Which of the following equations best represents the reacting species in the
reaction described above?
(A) Mg(s) + 2 H+(aq) → Mg2+(aq) + H2(g)
(B) Mg(s) + HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
(C) Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → MgCl2(s) + 2 H+(aq)
(D) Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → Mg2+(aq) + Cl2(g) + H2(g)

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14. In another experiment, a small piece of Mg(s) is weighed, then placed in a flask
containing excess 1 M HCl(aq). The student wants to determine number of
moles of gas produced. Which of the following is the best way to conduct the
experiment for accurate data collection?
(A) Conducting the experiment at different temperatures to see which generates
the most gas
(B) Completing the entire reaction in a large Erlenmeyer flask of known
volume to measure the volume of the gas collected
(C) Collecting the gas in a eudiometer tube and measuring the volume of the
gas collected
(D) Conducting the reaction in a graduated cylinder and measuring the volume
of the gas collected

15. In a third experiment, 0.10 g samples of Mg(s) are placed in excess HCl(aq) of
various concentrations: 0.050 M, 0.10 M, 0.25 M, and 0.50 M. The reactions
are run in successive order from 0.050 M to 0.50 M, and the time required
for each reaction to go to completion is recorded. As the concentration of HCl(aq)
increases from 0.050 M to 0.50 M, which of the following is the expected result?
(A) The reaction time increases, and the rate of the reaction decreases.
(B) The reaction time decreases, and the rate of the reaction increases.
(C) Both the reaction time and the rate of the reaction increase.
(D) Both the reaction time and the rate of the reaction decrease.

Section II: Free-Response

The following are examples of the kinds of free-response questions found on the
exam. Note that on the actual AP Exam, there will be three long free-response
questions and four short free-response questions.
Relative Number
of Electrons

1000 100 10 1 0.1

Binding Energy (MJ/mol)

1. The complete photoelectron spectrum of an unknown element is given above.

(a) Draw an X above the peak that corresponds to the orbital with electrons
that are, on average, closest to the nucleus. Justify your answer in terms of
Coulomb’s law.
(b) Based on the spectrum, write the complete electron configuration of
the element.
(c) On the graph, draw the peak(s) corresponding to the valence electrons of
the element that has one more proton in its nucleus than the unknown
element has.

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