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AP Chemistry Unit 4 practice questions

Try 10 multiple-choice questions from Unit 4 here. Pick an answer to see why it's right or wrong, then take the timed test above for a full AP-style set.

  1. Question 1

    In the reaction between CuCu and NO3−NO_3^-, copper is oxidized to Cu2+Cu^{2+} and nitrate is reduced to NONO, resulting in a NONO coefficient of 2 when 3 moles of CuCu are consumed. If the oxidation product were Cu+Cu^+ instead, how would the coefficient of NONO change in the balanced equation?

    Decreases from 2 to 1

    Remains constant at 2

    Increases from 2 to 3

    Increases from 2 to 4

    Show answer

    Answer: (A)

    Analyzing the electron transfer ratio reveals the stoichiometric change. If CuCu forms Cu+Cu^+ (1 electron lost) instead of Cu2+Cu^{2+} (2 electrons lost), 3 moles of CuCu release 3 electrons total. Since NO3−NO_3^- requires 3 electrons to form NONO, only 1 mole of NONO is produced.

  2. Question 2

    A half-reaction reduces sulfate (SO42−SO_4^{2-}) to sulfur dioxide (SO2SO_2) in acidic solution, requiring 4 H+H^+ ions. If the reduction product were elemental sulfur (SS) instead, how would the number of H+H^+ ions required for balancing change?

    It decreases to 2 ions

    It remains at 4 ions

    It increases to 6 ions

    It increases to 8 ions

    Show answer

    Answer: (D)

    Connecting oxygen removal to hydrogen ion consumption shows the relationship. Reducing SO42−SO_4^{2-} to SS requires removing 4 oxygen atoms as 4 H2OH_2O molecules, which necessitates 8 H+H^+ ions, doubling the original requirement of 4.

  3. Question 3

    The redox reaction between Fe2+Fe^{2+} and MnO4−MnO_4^- has a stoichiometric ratio of 5:1 (Fe2+Fe^{2+}:MnO4−MnO_4^-) when Mn2+Mn^{2+} is the product. If the reduction product of permanganate changed to MnO2MnO_2, which requires 3 electrons, what would be the new ratio?

    The ratio becomes 1:1

    The ratio becomes 3:1

    The ratio becomes 5:3

    The ratio becomes 10:1

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    Answer: (B)

    Balancing the electron transfer establishes the new ratio. Fe2+Fe^{2+} oxidizes to Fe3+Fe^{3+} (1 electron), while MnO4−MnO_4^- reducing to MnO2MnO_2 requires 3 electrons (+7→+4+7 \rightarrow +4). Therefore, 3 Fe2+Fe^{2+} ions are needed to supply the electrons for 1 MnO4−MnO_4^-.

  4. Question 4

    A half-reaction reduces ClO3−ClO_3^- to Cl−Cl^- in acidic solution. If the reactant were changed to ClO4−ClO_4^- while the product remained Cl−Cl^-, how would the number of water molecules produced in the balanced half-reaction change?

    Decreases by one molecule

    Remains the same number

    Increases by one molecule

    Increases by two molecules

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    Answer: (C)

    Tracking the oxygen atoms reveals the mass balance relationship. ClO3−ClO_3^- contains 3 oxygens (producing 3 H2OH_2O), while ClO4−ClO_4^- contains 4 oxygens (producing 4 H2OH_2O), resulting in an increase of one water molecule.

  5. Question 5

    The reduction of nitrate (NO3−NO_3^-) to nitrogen monoxide (NONO) requires 3 electrons. If the reaction conditions change such that the product is ammonium (NH4+NH_4^+) instead, how does the number of electrons transferred change?

    Decreases from 3 to 1

    Increases from 3 to 5

    Increases from 3 to 6

    Increases from 3 to 8

    Show answer

    Answer: (D)

    Calculating the total change in oxidation state determines the electron transfer. Nitrogen in NO3−NO_3^- is +5, while in NH4+NH_4^+ it is -3. The total change is 5−(−3)=85 - (-3) = 8 electrons, compared to 3 electrons for NONO (+2).

  6. Question 6

    The reaction 2Al+3Zn2+→2Al3++3Zn2Al + 3Zn^{2+} \rightarrow 2Al^{3+} + 3Zn transfers 6 moles of electrons. If Zn2+Zn^{2+} is replaced by Ag+Ag^+, which reduces to AgAg, how many moles of Ag+Ag^+ are required to react completely with 2 moles of AlAl?

    1 mole of Ag+

    2 moles of Ag+

    3 moles of Ag+

    6 moles of Ag+

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    Answer: (D)

    Equating total electron loss and gain solves the stoichiometry. Two moles of AlAl lose 6 moles of electrons (2×32 \times 3). Since each Ag+Ag^+ accepts only 1 electron, 6 moles of Ag+Ag^+ are needed to accept all 6 moles of electrons.

  7. Question 7

    The oxidation of iodine (I2I_2) to iodate (IO3−IO_3^-) releases 10 electrons per reaction unit. If the reaction conditions change to produce periodate (IO4−IO_4^-) instead, which of the following describes the change in the number of electrons released?

    Decreases from 10 to 5

    Remains constant at 10

    Increases from 10 to 12

    Increases from 10 to 14

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    Answer: (D)

    Analyzing the oxidation states reveals the electron difference. I2I_2 (0) to 2 IO3−IO_3^- (+5) releases 2×5=102 \times 5 = 10 electrons. I2I_2 (0) to 2 IO4−IO_4^- (+7) releases 2×7=142 \times 7 = 14 electrons.

  8. Question 8

    In a balanced redox equation, the coefficient of the oxidant depends on the electrons lost by the reductant. If the reductant is changed to a species that loses twice as many electrons per mole, how does the coefficient of the oxidant change?

    It is halved

    It is unchanged

    It is doubled

    It is quadrupled

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    Answer: (C)

    Applying the principle of electron conservation shows the direct relationship. If the reductant releases twice as many electrons, twice as many oxidant molecules are required to accept those electrons (assuming the oxidant's electron capacity is constant).

  9. Question 9

    A particulate representation of the reaction between solid magnesium and aqueous silver ions shows two silver ions colliding with one magnesium atom, resulting in the transfer of two electrons from the magnesium atom to the silver ions. Which half-reaction correctly represents the oxidation process described by this model?

    Mg→Mg2++2e−Mg \rightarrow Mg^{2+} + 2e^-

    Ag++e−→AgAg^+ + e^- \rightarrow Ag

    Mg2++2e−→MgMg^{2+} + 2e^- \rightarrow Mg

    2Ag++2e−→2Ag2Ag^+ + 2e^- \rightarrow 2Ag

    Show answer

    Answer: (A)

    Extracting the oxidation component requires identifying the species losing electrons. The model describes magnesium losing two electrons to form a charged ion, which corresponds to the oxidation half-reaction Mg→Mg2++2e−Mg \rightarrow Mg^{2+} + 2e^-.

  10. Question 10

    A model of the reduction of dichromate ions (Cr2O72−Cr_2O_7^{2-}) in an acidic solution illustrates the conversion of one dichromate ion into two chromium(III) ions (Cr3+Cr^{3+}). Based on the conservation of mass and charge depicted in such a model, how many electrons are required to balance the half-reaction?

    6 electrons

    3 electrons

    9 electrons

    12 electrons

    Show answer

    Answer: (A)

    Determining the electron count requires analyzing the change in oxidation states shown in the model. Chromium changes from +6 in Cr2O72−Cr_2O_7^{2-} to +3 in Cr3+Cr^{3+}. Since the model shows two chromium atoms reacting, the total electron transfer is 2×(6−3)=62 \times (6 - 3) = 6 electrons.

What's on the AP Chemistry Unit 4 practice test

The standard version takes about 60 minutes and follows the timing and directions of the AP exam, sized to one unit:

  • 20 Multiple Choice Questions (30 minutes)
  • 1 FRQ – FRQ 1 – Long Answer (15 minutes)
  • 1 FRQ – FRQ 4 – Short Answer (15 minutes)

Questions are drawn from 1848 multiple-choice questions and 71 FRQs written for Unit 4, Chemical Reactions.

Practice AP Chemistry Unit 4 FRQs

Answer the unit's free-response questions one at a time and get a score on every part.

Review Unit 4 before you start

Other AP Chemistry unit tests