CLEP Chemistry Practice 2026 practice questions and answers. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q1Which of the following units is not a standard unit of volume in chemistry?
✓ Correct answer: D. Quart (qt)
Answer: Quart (qt) Volume in chemistry is typically measured in liters, milliliters, cubic meters, etc. A quart is not a standard unit of volume in the International System of Units (SI) used in chemistry.
Q2During an experiment, a student needs to separate a mixture of salt and sand. What common laboratory technique should the student use to achieve this separation?
✓ Correct answer: E. Filtration
The correct answer is Filtration. Filtration is a common laboratory technique used to separate solid particles from liquids or gases. The sand in the mixture is captured by the filter paper, while the salt passes through as a solution.
Q3In an experiment involving photosynthesis, scientists measure the absorption of specific wavelengths of light by chlorophyll. What is the approximate range of wavelengths of light that chlorophyll primarily absorbs?
✓ Correct answer: A. 400-700nm
Answer: 400-700nm Chlorophyll primarily absorbs light in the blue (around 430nm) and red (around 680nm) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The approximate range of wavelengths of light that chlorophyll absorbs is therefore between 400 and 700nm.
Q4A gold necklace often contains a mixture of gold and copper (copper is cheaper). You have a necklace that appears gold and weighs 6.5g. You want to determine whether it is pure gold. To make this calculation, which piece(s) of information do you need? i. Molar mass of gold ii. Volume of the necklace iii. Density of pure gold iv. Density of pure copper
✓ Correct answer: E. ii. and iii.
Answer: ii. and iii. With the necklace's volume, you can calculate its density (mass/volume). Compare this to the density of pure gold; if it is not identical, then you know the necklace is impure. (You would need the density of pure copper if you wanted to determine whether copper was the impurity, but that is not what the question asked.)
Q5Where would you look on the periodic table to find all the elements with the same number of valence electrons?
✓ Correct answer: A. A single column
Answer: A single column In the periodic table, columns are called groups or families. Elements within the same group have the same number of valence electrons, which contributes to similar chemical properties. Each row is called a period and contains elements with increasing atomic numbers, but varying valence electron counts.
Q6What are the Group IA elements most commonly known as?
✓ Correct answer: C. Alkali metals
Answer: Alkali metals Group IA contains elements like lithium, sodium, potassium, and cesium, which are highly reactive and readily form hydroxides with water. These elements are called alkali metals because they form alkaline solutions.
Q7Which functional groups are found in all monosaccharides?
✓ Correct answer: D. Aldehyde or ketone and hydroxyl group
Answer: Aldehyde or ketone and hydroxyl group All monosaccharides contain either an aldehyde or ketone group, along with multiple hydroxyl (OH) groups. This molecular structure is what classifies them as simple sugars and allows them to undergo chemical reactions essential to metabolism.
Q8In descriptive chemistry, what does "chelation" mean?
✓ Correct answer: C. Formation of a complex where a metal ion is bonded to a single molecule (ligand) through multiple bonds
Answer: Formation of a complex where a metal ion is bonded to a single molecule (ligand) through multiple bonds Chelation involves a single ligand forming multiple bonds with a metal ion, effectively creating a ring structure. This can stabilize the metal ion and is often seen in biological systems, where metal ions are involved in enzyme active sites or transport mechanisms.
Q9Consider the halogens in the periodic table. Where would you expect to find the strongest oxidizing agent?
✓ Correct answer: A. First element of the halogens
The correct answer is: First element of the halogens. The trends among the halogens mirror the trends for electronegativity and oxidizing strength in the periodic table. The oxidizing strength increases towards the top of the column.
Q10Consider fluorine and nitrogen, which are both in the same period of the periodic table. Which has greater electron affinity (EA)? Which has greater atomic radius (AR)?
✓ Correct answer: B. Fluorine has greater EA and nitrogen has greater AR
Fluorine has greater electron affinity (EA) and nitrogen has greater atomic radius (AR). EA generally increases across a period due to the greater nuclear charge attracting electrons more strongly, while AR decreases across a period due to the additional protons pulling electrons closer to the nucleus.
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