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Chemistry 6 to 12

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Chemistry 6 to 12 subject area test consists of approximately 70 multiple-choice questions. You will have two and one-half hours to complete the test.

Each of the questions will contain four response options. You will choose the best response out of the available options, and indicate A, B, C, or D.

For the Chemistry 6 to 12 test, a scientific calculator, the Periodic Table of the Elements, and a Chemistry 6–12 reference sheet will be provided on-screen during the test. Examinees may not bring their own calculator.

The table below presents types of questions on the examination and refers you to a sample question of each type.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question Sample Question
Direct Question
Choose the response option that best answers the question. 		Question 1
Graphics
Examine a question involving a number line, a geometric figure, graphs of lines or curves, a table, or a chart, and select the best response option. 		Question 6
Sentence Completion
Select the response option that best completes the sentence. 		Question 19
Scenario
Examine a situation, problem, or case study. Then answer a question, make a diagnosis, or recommend a course of action by selecting the best response option. 		Question 23
Command
Select the best response option. 		Question 27

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.

Question 1

Competency 1—Knowledge of the nature of matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is an example of a pure substance?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 2

Competency 1—Knowledge of the nature of matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

How many milliliters of 18  molar  sulfuric acid  open parenthesis H subscript two S O subscript four close parenthesis  must be added to water in order to make a total volume of 250  milliliters  of 0.20  molar   H subscript two S O subscript four ?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 3

Competency 1—Knowledge of the nature of matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A teacher wishes to demonstrate crystallization of sodium acetate. Which of the following procedures would allow the teacher to accomplish this?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 4

Competency 1—Knowledge of the nature of matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The density of hydrogen sulfide gas   open parenthesis H subscript two S close parenthesis  at  S T P  is

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 5

Competency 2—Knowledge of energy and its interaction with matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A sealed tube contains 1.0 mole of neon gas. When the temperature of the sample is increased, the pressure also increases. In terms of kinetic molecular theory, which of the following most appropriately explains this change?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 6

Competency 2—Knowledge of energy and its interaction with matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Given the following cooling curve for a closed container of  H subscript 2 O  placed in a thermostated cooling bath, what is the most likely initial temperature of the  H subscript 2 O ?

A graph of a cooling curve of water is shown. The Y-axis represents temperature in degrees Celsius and the X-axis represents time in minutes. There are no temperature units for the Y-axis, but the line indicates that temperature increases vertically from the bottom of the graph to the top of the graph. The X-axis line begins at zero minutes and extends to approximately twenty-five minutes and is marked at five-minute intervals between five and twenty minutes. The X-axis and Y-axis intersect at time equals zero, but this does not correspond to zero degrees Celsius. The cooling curve itself ranges from zero minutes to approximately twenty-three minutes. The shape of the cooling curve is as follows; the curve begins at zero minutes near the top of the temperature axis (Y-axis) and continues downward at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees for approximately two point five minutes. The curve then continues horizontally to the right for approximately eight point five minutes to an elapsed time equal to eleven minutes. The curve then continues downward at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees for approximately four minutes to an elapsed time equal to fifteen minutes. The length of the line for this forty-five degree decrease is approximately twice the length of the first forty-five degree decrease. The curve then continues horizontally to the right for approximately five minutes to an elapsed time equal to twenty minutes. The curve then continues downward at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees for approximately three minutes to a final elapsed time of twenty-three minutes. The length of the line for this final forty-five degree decrease is approximately equal to the length of the first forty-five degree decrease.
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 7

Competency 2—Knowledge of energy and its interaction with matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

What is the standard free-energy change  open parenthesis standard free-energy of reaction close parenthesis  for the following reaction at  298 K ?

open bracket standard free-energy of formation open parenthesis N H subscript three close parenthesis is equal to negative sixteen point six six kilojoules per mole closed bracket An equilibrium equation is shown. N subscript two, gas, and three H subscript two, gas, is in equilibrium with two N H subscript 3, gas.
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 8

Competency 2—Knowledge of energy and its interaction with matter

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The production of steam in a nuclear power plant is an example of a transformation from nuclear energy to

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 9

Competency 3—Knowledge of bonding and molecular structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An aqueous solution of which of the following is  start uppercase LEAST end uppercase  likely to conduct electricity?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 10

Competency 3—Knowledge of bonding and molecular structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Molecular orbital theory describes the respective bond orders in  H subscript 2  ,  H subscript 2 superscipt plus 1  , and   H subscript two superscipt negative one  as

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 11

Competency 3—Knowledge of bonding and molecular structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The correct  I U P A C  name for  capital C lowercase U capital S capital O subscript four  is

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 12

Competency 3—Knowledge of bonding and molecular structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following functional groups causes the greatest increase in the aqueous solubility of an organic compound?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 13

Competency 4—Knowledge of chemical reactions and stoichiometry

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to the following equation, what volume of oxygen gas, measured at  S T P , is theoretically required for the complete combustion of 28.05  grams  of ethylene  parenthesis C subscript two H subscript four close parenthesi  to produce carbon dioxide and water?

 offscreen  A chemical equation is shown. C subscript two H subscript four, gas, reacts with three O subscript two, gas, to yield two C O subscript two, gas, and two H subscript two O, gas
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 14

Competency 4—Knowledge of chemical reactions and stoichiometry

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to Le Châtelier's principle, what is the effect of a decrease in temperature on the following equilibrium reaction?

An equilibrium equation is shown. Six C O subscript two, gas, and six H subscript two O, liquid, are in equilibrium with C subscript six H subscript twelve O subscript six, solid, and six O subscript two, gas the standard enthalpy change equals two thousand eight hundred and one point six nine kilojoules per mole
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 15

Competency 4—Knowledge of chemical reactions and stoichiometry

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

What is the conjugate acid of  N H subscript three  in the following reaction?

 A chemical reaction is shown. N H subscript three, aqueous, reacts with H subscript two O, liquid, to yield N H subscript four superscript plus one, aqueous, and O H superscript negative one, aqueous. 
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 16

Competency 4—Knowledge of chemical reactions and stoichiometry

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which half reaction indicates the oxidation process for the following reaction?

 A chemical reaction is shown. Two capital A lowercase L, solid, reacts with three capital P lowercase B open parenthesis N O subscript three close parenthesis subscript two, aqueous, to yield three capital P lowercase B, solid, and two capital A lowercase L open parenthesis N O subscript three close parenthesis subscript three, aqueous. 
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 17

Competency 4—Knowledge of chemical reactions and stoichiometry

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The given chemical reaction is an example of which class of chemical reactions?

A chemical reaction is shown. Capital F lowercase E, solid, reacts with capital N lowercase I open parenthesis N O subscript three close parenthesis subscript two, aqueous, to yield capital F lowercase E open parenthesis N O subscript three close parenthesis subscript two, aqueous, and N lowercase I, solid.
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 18

Competency 5—Knowledge of atomic theory and structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An atom containing 50 protons, 50 electrons, and 69 neutrons has a mass number of

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 19

Competency 5—Knowledge of atomic theory and structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A complete octet of valence electrons usually leads to an element that has

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 20

Competency 5—Knowledge of atomic theory and structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The alpha emitter superscript 226 subscript 88 capital R lowercase A has a half-life of 1590 years. How much of a  12 gram  sample of superscript 226 subscript 88 capital R lowercase A would remain after  127 times 10 to the fourth power  years?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 21

Competency 5—Knowledge of atomic theory and structure

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The contour representation depicted in the diagram corresponds to which of the following orbitals?

A graphic is shown depicting the coordinate axes X, Y, and Z. Present in the graphic are two symmetrical ellipses originating near the X, Y, Z origin. The ellipses extend out in opposite directions from the origin along the Z-axis and they are centered on the Z-axis.
Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 22

Competency 6—Knowledge of the nature of science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A team of researchers performs an experiment and obtains results they did not expect. Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for the researchers to do next?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 23

Competency 6—Knowledge of the nature of science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In a solubility experiment, students add various solutes  such as  salt, sugar to the same amount of water. The students observe that equal amounts of water dissolve different amounts of solutes. Identify the independent variable in the experiment.

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 24

Competency 6—Knowledge of the nature of science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The discovery in the 1940s that the nuclei of many elements possess an inherent spin is the basis of what modern day technology?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 25

Competency 7—Knowledge of measurement

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is equivalent to 550 nm?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Question 26

Competency 7—Knowledge of measurement

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The expected result from a laboratory activity is 3.50 grams of a substance. Which of the following sets of values shows high precision and low accuracy?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 27

Competency 7—Knowledge of measurement

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

 Find the density of an object with a mass of one point five zero times ten raised to the power of two grams and a volume of three point zero times ten raised to the power of one, cubic centimeters. 

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Question 28

Competency 8—Knowledge of appropriate laboratory use and procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A student would like to observe the pigments that make up the ink in a water-soluble black marker. Which of the following techniques is most appropriate for conducting this experiment?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Question 29

Competency 8—Knowledge of appropriate laboratory use and procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

School chemical waste disposal procedures are governed by the

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Question 30

Competency 8—Knowledge of appropriate laboratory use and procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is a violation of chemistry laboratory safety procedures?

Choose an answer
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.