AP Chemistry · 84 questions from 12 exams
Past free-response questions
Practice released AP Chemistry free-response questions from 2014 to 2026. Each one opens College Board's own question beside a space to write your answer, part by part, and then College Board's scoring guidelines so you can score it yourself.
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2026
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Potassium chloride dissolution and calorimetry Compare potassium species and use temperature data to evaluate solution enthalpy and the solubility of rubidium chloride. Unit 1, Unit 6, Unit 7
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Chromate structure, electrolysis and kinetics Draw a resonance structure and use electrochemical and concentration data to analyze chromium plating and reaction kinetics. Unit 2, Unit 9, Unit 5
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Nitrous acid ionization and titration Analyze weak acid equilibrium at two temperatures and interpret a titration curve, equilibrium constants and indicator choice. Unit 8, Unit 7
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Phosphorus gas equilibrium Compare phosphorus bond lengths, calculate a gas equilibrium constant and use entropy to assess the sign of reaction enthalpy. Unit 2, Unit 7, Unit 9
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Halogenated methane structure and boiling Compare bond polarity and angles, then explain how intermolecular attractions influence the boiling points of two carbon compounds. Unit 2, Unit 3
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Vanadium solutions and absorbance Use a calibration curve and particle diagrams to compare solution concentrations and reason about spectrophotometry measurements. Unit 3
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Sodium oxide formation and thermodynamics Calculate formation enthalpy and reaction heat, then explain a difference in lattice enthalpies using ionic attractions. Unit 6, Unit 4, Unit 2
2025
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Magnesium isotopes and solubility Complete a mass spectrum, examine an ionic mixture and calculate solubility changes in magnesium hydroxide solutions. Unit 1, Unit 3, Unit 7
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Ascorbic acid composition and reactions Determine composition from combustion, interpret a titration and use initial rates and molecular attractions to study ascorbic acid. Unit 1, Unit 8, Unit 5, Unit 3
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points White phosphorus reactions and energetics Complete a phosphorus model and analyze reaction favorability, calorimetry, enthalpy and equilibrium for its compounds. Unit 2, Unit 9, Unit 6, Unit 7
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Methanol and formaldehyde attractions Identify carbon hybridization, show a hydrogen bond and calculate the energy removed as methanol vapor condenses. Unit 2, Unit 3
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Silicon compound structure and boiling Compare molecular geometry and intermolecular attractions, then reason about a heated mixture and calculate gas pressure. Unit 2, Unit 3
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points An aluminum and zinc galvanic cell Write electrode and overall reactions, compare mass changes and calculate quantities associated with a galvanic cell. Unit 4, Unit 9
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Glycolate equilibrium and catalysis Identify a proton acceptor, calculate acid and base constants and evaluate a proposed catalyst in a reaction mechanism. Unit 8, Unit 5
2024
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Lactic acid titration and calorimetry Interpret titration curves and particle models, identify an acidic hydrogen and calculate the heat released by neutralization. Unit 8, Unit 6, Unit 4
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Maleic acid and sodium bicarbonate Analyze reactant amounts and reaction rate, then relate thermodynamic favorability to acid dissociation and buffer composition. Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 9, Unit 8
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Silver tarnish and rhodium plating Investigate oxidation and alloy structure, balance electrochemical reactions and calculate the time needed for metal plating. Unit 2, Unit 4, Unit 9
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points A metal in a calorimeter Use temperature measurements and particle motion to determine the heat capacity of an unidentified metal sample. Unit 6, Unit 3
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Hydrogen iodide at equilibrium Represent a gas mixture at equilibrium and reason about the effect of changes to conditions in the container. Unit 7
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Nitrogen dioxide decomposition and structure Interpret concentration graphs, compare reaction rates and draw a Lewis model to reason about molecular geometry. Unit 5, Unit 2
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Preparing a chromatography solvent Plan a salt solution preparation and predict how the length of a chromatography run affects separation. Unit 1, Unit 3
2023
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Manganese compounds and a battery Use composition measurements and atomic structure to analyze a manganese compound, then examine reactions inside an alkaline battery. Unit 1, Unit 9
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Aluminum chloride reactions and equilibrium Connect reaction enthalpies, bonding models, a potential energy curve and particle representations to aluminum chloride gas equilibrium. Unit 4, Unit 6, Unit 2, Unit 7
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Calcium carbonate reacting with acid Analyze how acid concentration and particle size affect a reaction, then calculate changes in concentration and heat. Unit 5, Unit 4, Unit 6
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Preparing a methylamine buffer Calculate a reagent mass, complete a buffer preparation procedure and compare the response of two buffer solutions. Unit 8
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Hydrogen chloride gas and aqueous acids Use gas measurements, represent hydration around an ion and distinguish acid solutions using a particle model. Unit 3, Unit 8
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Comparing hydrogen bromide and hydrogen fluoride Compare intermolecular attractions, vaporization enthalpies and bond lengths using molecular structure and electron arrangements. Unit 3, Unit 6, Unit 1
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Strontium hydroxide solubility Evaluate an ionic diagram and use hydroxide concentration to compare solubility in water and a common ion solution. Unit 7, Unit 8
Earlier exams
College Board no longer posts these on its site. Each one opens College Board's own PDF as the Internet Archive saved it, with the scoring guidelines saved the same way.
2022
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Salicylic acid synthesis and titration Calculate product yield and heat transfer, then interpret and sketch titration curves for two related weak acids. Unit 4, Unit 6, Unit 8
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Methanol decomposition at equilibrium Analyze oxidation states, bonding, entropy and gas equilibrium for the decomposition of methanol over a catalyst. Unit 4, Unit 2, Unit 7, Unit 9
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Aluminum reacting with silver ions Prepare a silver nitrate solution, complete a particle diagram and analyze the electrochemical reaction with aluminum. Unit 1, Unit 4, Unit 9, Unit 3
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Chloramine and nitrogen trichloride Compare solution behavior and intermolecular forces, and calculate the energy needed to vaporize nitrogen trichloride. Unit 1, Unit 3, Unit 6
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Dinitrogen pentoxide decomposition kinetics Use a rate law and concentration measurements to determine a rate constant and assess a proposed mechanism. Unit 5
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Permanganate colorimetric analysis Select a wavelength, prepare calibration standards and identify a procedural error in a permanganate concentration measurement. Unit 3
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Oxalate structure and silver oxalate solubility Identify carbon hybridization in oxalate and use a solubility product to analyze a silver salt solution. Unit 2, Unit 7
2021
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Methanoic acid and a catalyzed reaction Calculate a weak acid equilibrium, complete a Lewis structure and analyze gas formation in a catalyzed reaction. Unit 8, Unit 2, Unit 4, Unit 5
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Silicon structure and thermodynamics Interpret silicon spectra and use bonding and thermodynamic reasoning to analyze the properties and reactions of its compounds. Unit 1, Unit 3, Unit 9
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Measuring copper sulfate concentration Determine solution concentration by precipitation and spectrophotometry, including dilution procedures and potential sources of error. Unit 4, Unit 3
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Iron oxidation in a hand warmer Use temperature data and reaction enthalpy to estimate reacting iron and compare the effects of changing its mass. Unit 6, Unit 4
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Electrolysis of molten magnesium chloride Represent electron flow and calculate the voltage and time needed for electrolysis of molten magnesium chloride. Unit 9, Unit 4
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Comparing calcium and lead sulfate Relate conductivity and solubility to particulate models and predict the effect of adding a common ion. Unit 7, Unit 3
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Oxygen in a cylinder and piston Calculate gas density and reason about how changes in volume and temperature affect the behavior of oxygen. Unit 3
2019
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Urea solubility and dissolution Draw an intermolecular attraction and use solubility and energy measurements to analyze the thermodynamics of dissolving urea. Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 6, Unit 9
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Halogen properties and equilibrium Compare halogens and intermolecular forces, then calculate gas equilibrium and bond energy for bromine chloride. Unit 1, Unit 3, Unit 7, Unit 6
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Carbonate concentration and precipitation Complete an ionic particle model and use precipitation and acid base reasoning to analyze an unknown carbonate solution. Unit 4, Unit 8, Unit 3
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Heating carbon dioxide in a container Use gas laws and kinetic molecular theory to compare ideal predictions with a measured pressure after heating. Unit 3
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points A photoelectron spectrum and photon energy Identify atomic features from a spectrum and calculate the radiation wavelength needed to remove an electron. Unit 1, Unit 3
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Nitrogen dioxide decomposition kinetics Interpret concentration plots, write a rate law and evaluate proposed reaction mechanisms for nitrogen dioxide decomposition. Unit 5
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Oxalic acid and permanganate titration Analyze oxidation and reduction, interpret buret readings and calculate reactant quantities in an acid titration. Unit 4
2018
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Calorimetry of a redox reaction Analyze oxidation states, solution preparation and calorimetry data to determine the enthalpy of a redox reaction. Unit 4, Unit 6
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Nitrogen oxides and acid titration Use particle and Lewis representations, gas equilibrium and a titration curve to analyze reactions of nitrogen oxides. Unit 7, Unit 2, Unit 8, Unit 9
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Iron ions and a titration Compare iron ion structure and hydration, then calculate iron content using titration and precipitation measurements. Unit 1, Unit 4
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Carbon sulfide boiling and gas pressure Compare intermolecular attractions in two compounds and calculate the pressure of a heated carbon disulfide sample. Unit 3
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Hydrofluoric acid ionization Choose a particle model and use percent ionization to evaluate weak acid equilibrium before and after dilution. Unit 8, Unit 3
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points A silver and chromium galvanic cell Identify a missing cell component and use electrode potentials to explain the voltage of a galvanic cell. Unit 9
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points A spectrum and radioactive decay Identify an element from its photoelectron spectrum and use a half-life to calculate radioactive decay quantities. Unit 1, Unit 5
2017
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Carbon tetrachloride synthesis Use gas pressure, collision energy and molecular structure to analyze carbon tetrachloride synthesis and product separation. Unit 3, Unit 5, Unit 2
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Fulminic and isocyanic acid isomers Compare Lewis structures and thermodynamic favorability, then interpret rate data and plan a test of reaction conditions. Unit 2, Unit 9, Unit 5
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Nitrogen monoxide and nitrous acid buffers Analyze gas equilibrium and use acid base calculations and particle models to compare nitrite buffer solutions. Unit 7, Unit 8
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Separating dyes by chromatography Compare dye polarity and identify a component of an unknown mixture using chromatography results. Unit 3
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Combustion of 2-propanol Use water temperature measurements to calculate combustion heat and assess how changes in setup affect the result. Unit 6, Unit 4
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Magnesium hydroxide dissolution Calculate dissolved mass from a solubility product and compare energy involved in separating and hydrating ions. Unit 7, Unit 2, Unit 3
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Choosing a titrant for hydrogen peroxide Calculate cell potentials for alternative redox reactions and choose a titrant using the resulting values. Unit 9, Unit 4
2016
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Enthalpy of solution for lithium and sodium salts Use calorimetry and atomic structure to compare lattice energies and dissolution of two alkali metal chlorides. Unit 6, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Baking soda and acetic acid Analyze limiting reactants, reaction rate and favorability, then draw a bicarbonate model and reason about a buffer. Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 2, Unit 8
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Identifying a metal through its iodide Calculate an unknown metal’s molar mass and analyze the reaction, physical properties and reduction of iodine. Unit 4, Unit 3
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Phenol acidity and buffer pH Calculate the pH of a weak acid solution and select buffer pH values that favor its deprotonated form. Unit 8
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Butadiene reaction rate Use gas pressure and concentration plots to determine reaction order and calculate a rate constant. Unit 3, Unit 5
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Barium and EDTA equilibrium Calculate equilibrium concentrations for a barium complex and predict the response of the equilibrium to dilution. Unit 7
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Titration of an unknown acid Read a buret, calculate an acid concentration and evaluate the effect of adding excess titrant. Unit 4
2015
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Metal air electrochemical cells Analyze ion motion, mass changes and cell potentials for metal air cells using several different electrode materials. Unit 9, Unit 1
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Producing ethene from ethanol Calculate reaction yield and thermodynamic favorability, complete a Lewis diagram and compare the solubility of products. Unit 4, Unit 9, Unit 2, Unit 3
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points Titrating a potassium sorbate solution Calculate concentration and sketch a titration curve while analyzing indicator choice and weak acid equilibrium. Unit 4, Unit 8
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Calcium hydroxide solubility Calculate solubility with a common ion and complete a particle diagram showing how water molecules surround ions. Unit 7, Unit 3
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Bleach oxidation of food coloring Interpret spectrophotometry data to determine reaction order and plan a rate experiment with another dye. Unit 5, Unit 3
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Ionic compound character and basicity Evaluate how ion properties affect bonding character and identify a compound that produces a basic solution. Unit 2, Unit 4
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points Purifying and extracting aluminum Calculate heat needed to melt aluminum and use reaction enthalpy to analyze extraction from aluminum oxide. Unit 6
2014
This paper allotted 90 minutes to seven questions, with suggested times of 20 minutes for each long question and 7 for each short question. The current exam has 7 free-response questions in 105 minutes. The skills these questions practice still count.
- Question 1 · Long answer · 10 points Determining iodide in tablets Use precipitation measurements and mass data to calculate iodide content and evaluate experimental precision. Unit 4
- Question 2 · Long answer · 10 points Propanoic acid equilibrium and titration Calculate a weak acid equilibrium and assess a titration procedure for finding an unknown acid concentration. Unit 8
- Question 3 · Long answer · 10 points A copper and tin galvanic cell Trace ion movement in a salt bridge and analyze electrode changes and cell potentials under different conditions. Unit 9
- Question 4 · Short answer · 4 points Calcium carbonate decomposition equilibrium Use pressure data to study the decomposition of calcium carbonate and the effect of adding carbon dioxide. Unit 3, Unit 7
- Question 5 · Short answer · 4 points Fluorine compounds and molecular geometry Draw a chlorine fluoride structure and evaluate a hypothesis relating the formulas of nonmetal fluorides to atomic structure. Unit 2, Unit 1
- Question 6 · Short answer · 4 points Polymer beads and intermolecular attractions Compare polymer properties and use combustion enthalpies to reason about the relative energies of related compounds. Unit 3, Unit 6
- Question 7 · Short answer · 4 points A catalyzed butene isomerization Use half-life data to identify reaction order, calculate a rate constant and compare reactions under different conditions. Unit 5
The questions, scoring guidelines and Chief Reader reports are College Board's. Recent years open from College Board's site and earlier years from the Internet Archive. The titles and summaries on this page are ours.