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.
Question 1
In the reaction between and , copper is oxidized to and nitrate is reduced to , resulting in a coefficient of 2 when 3 moles of are consumed. If the oxidation product were instead, how would the coefficient of change in the balanced equation?
Decreases from 2 to 1
Remains constant at 2
Increases from 2 to 3
Increases from 2 to 4
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Answer: (A)
Analyzing the electron transfer ratio reveals the stoichiometric change. If forms (1 electron lost) instead of (2 electrons lost), 3 moles of release 3 electrons total. Since requires 3 electrons to form , only 1 mole of is produced.
Question 2
A half-reaction reduces sulfate () to sulfur dioxide () in acidic solution, requiring 4 ions. If the reduction product were elemental sulfur () instead, how would the number of 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
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Answer: (D)
Connecting oxygen removal to hydrogen ion consumption shows the relationship. Reducing to requires removing 4 oxygen atoms as 4 molecules, which necessitates 8 ions, doubling the original requirement of 4.
Question 3
The redox reaction between and has a stoichiometric ratio of 5:1 (:) when is the product. If the reduction product of permanganate changed to , 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. oxidizes to (1 electron), while reducing to requires 3 electrons (). Therefore, 3 ions are needed to supply the electrons for 1 .
Question 4
A half-reaction reduces to in acidic solution. If the reactant were changed to while the product remained , 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. contains 3 oxygens (producing 3 ), while contains 4 oxygens (producing 4 ), resulting in an increase of one water molecule.
Question 5
The reduction of nitrate () to nitrogen monoxide () requires 3 electrons. If the reaction conditions change such that the product is ammonium () 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
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Answer: (D)
Calculating the total change in oxidation state determines the electron transfer. Nitrogen in is +5, while in it is -3. The total change is electrons, compared to 3 electrons for (+2).
Question 6
The reaction transfers 6 moles of electrons. If is replaced by , which reduces to , how many moles of are required to react completely with 2 moles of ?
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 lose 6 moles of electrons (). Since each accepts only 1 electron, 6 moles of are needed to accept all 6 moles of electrons.
Question 7
The oxidation of iodine () to iodate () releases 10 electrons per reaction unit. If the reaction conditions change to produce periodate () 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. (0) to 2 (+5) releases electrons. (0) to 2 (+7) releases electrons.
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).
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?
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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 .
Question 10
A model of the reduction of dichromate ions () in an acidic solution illustrates the conversion of one dichromate ion into two chromium(III) ions (). 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
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Answer: (A)
Determining the electron count requires analyzing the change in oxidation states shown in the model. Chromium changes from +6 in to +3 in . Since the model shows two chromium atoms reacting, the total electron transfer is 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.
- FRQ 1 – Long Answer (11 questions)
- FRQ 2 – Long Answer (3 questions)
- FRQ 3 – Long Answer (5 questions)
- FRQ 4 – Short Answer (17 questions)
- FRQ 5 – Short Answer (15 questions)
- FRQ 6 – Short Answer (3 questions)
- FRQ 7 – Short Answer (17 questions)
Review Unit 4 before you start
- 4.1 Introduction to Reactions
- 4.2 Net Ionic Equations
- 4.3 Representations of Reactions
- 4.4 Physical and Chemical Changes
- 4.5 Stoichiometry
- 4.6 Introduction to Titration
- 4.7 Types of Chemical Reactions
- 4.8 Introduction to Acid-Base Reactions
- 4.9 Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) Reactions