AP Chemistry Multiple-Choice Review Tips Notes

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AP Chemistry Multiple-Choice Review

Tips
1. Know the types of multiple-choice questions. On the AP Chem exam, you will have 90 minutes
to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. These consist of either discrete questions or question sets.
Discrete questions are stand-alone questions with four answer choices. Question sets are based on
graphs, experiments, a set of data, or another stimulus given to you at the beginning of the question
set and also have four answer choices.
2. Know what the multiple-choice questions look like. Many of the AP Chem multiple-choice
questions can be pretty involved. You’ll need to analyze diagrams, graphs, images, and charts of data,
to arrive at your answers, while other questions will include a paragraph to base your answers on.
Let’s take a look at a few examples.
The first example is based on information given to you in paragraph form. This is an example
of a discrete stand-alone question, since there is only one question based on the given data.
A 100g sample of a metal was heated to 100 degrees Celsius and then quickly transferred to
an insulated container holding 100g of water at 22 degrees Celsius. The temperature of the
water rose to reach a final temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. Which of the following can be
concluded?
(A) The metal temperature changed more than the water temperature did; therefore the metal
lost more thermal energy than the water gained.
(B) The metal temperature changed more than the water temperature did, but the metal lost
the same amount of thermal energy as the water gained.
(C) The metal temperature changed more than the water temperature did; therefore the heat
capacity of the metal must be greater than the heat capacity of the water.
(D) The final temperature is less than the average starting temperature of the metal and the
water; therefore the total energy of the metal and water decreased.
The next example is a question set, which includes multiple questions based on one table of
data.
Questions 8–10 refer to three gases in identical rigid containers under the conditions given in
the table below.
Container A B C
Methan Ethan Butan

Gas
e e e
Formula CH4 C2H6 C4H10
Molar mass
16 30. 58
(g/mol)
Temperature (°C) 27 27 27
Pressure (atm) 2.0 4.0 2.0
8. The average kinetic energy of the gas molecules is
(A) greatest in container A

(B) greatest in container B
(C) greatest in container C
(D) the same in all three container
9. The density of the gas, in g/L, is
(A) greatest in container A
(B) greatest in container B
(C) greatest in container C
(D) the same in all three containers
10. If the pressure of each gas is increased at constant temperature until condensation occurs, which
gas will condense at the lowest pressure?
(A) Methane
(B) Ethane
(C) Butane
(D) All the gases will condense at the same pressure.
Source: College Board AP Chemistry Course Description
It’s important to note that the emphasis of AP Chemistry multiple-choice questions is not on
fact recalling, but on analyzing data given to you using your in-depth knowledge of chemistry
concepts.
3. Know the calculator policy. Calculators are NOT allowed on the multiple-choice section of the
AP Chemistry exam. That being said, there are still going to be math-based questions. However, these
calculations will only require simple arithmetic and can be done quickly, either mentally or on paper.
Some questions only require estimation, so brush up on your estimation skills as well.
4. Use standard multiple-choice test taking strategies. When in doubt, fall back on some standard
multiple-choice test-taking strategies. For the AP Chem exam:
 Answer ALL questions (there is no penalty for wrong answers)

 Examine each question for a maximum of 40 seconds
 Watch out for reverse questions that include the word “EXCEPT”
 Make educated guesses using the process of elimination
 Read the questions before looking at the given data
5. Don’t underestimate the power of practice! In order to get a firm understanding of how to
answer sometimes-complicated AP Chem multiple-choice questions, you need to practice regularly.
You can find sample questions from the College Board’s AP Chemistry Course Description, review
books, a variety of online resources, and at Learnerator. Answer a few questions everyday, making
note of the questions you struggle with.

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How to Study for AP Chemistry General Advice

AP Chemistry Multiple-Choice Review

Methan Ethan Butan

Formula CH4 C2H6 C4H10

Pressure (atm) 2.0 4.0 2.0

8. The average kinetic energy of the gas molecules is

(A) greatest in container A

(C) greatest in container C

(D) the same in all three container

9. The density of the gas, in g/L, is

(A) greatest in container A

(B) greatest in container B

(C) greatest in container C

(D) the same in all three containers

(D) All the gases will condense at the same pressure.

Source: College Board AP Chemistry Course Description

 Answer ALL questions (there is no penalty for wrong answers)

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