Are You Prepared for Chemistry 131?
This page was prepared by the Chemistry Dept. several years ago prior to the existence of the Chemistry
Assessment Test. Students who take the Chemistry Assessment Test must answer at least 21 out of 42
questions correctly. This document is offered to you not as a preparation for the test but as a sample of the
concepts that you are expected to know PRIOR to enrolling in CHEM 131 Principles of Chemistry I.
Expectations of CHEM 131 Principles of Chemistry students:
It is expected that students who are beginning CHEM 131 are proficient in the following concepts, taught in CHEM 099:
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chemical nomenclature
writing chemical formulas from a name
balancing chemical equations
mole calculations
stoichiometry
About CHEM099 Introductory Chemistry is a 3 semester hour review course non-lab course (non-credit) intended to
prepare students for Chemistry 131. This course is required if you do not score highly enough on the Chemistry
Assessment Test. No knowledge of chemistry is needed to enroll in CHEM 099. There is a significant math component in
this course, but nothing beyond basic college algebra. Because majors requiring Chemistry are usually VERY competitive
(biological sciences, pre-med, pre-pharmacy, nursing), entering CHEM 131 with borderline skills and getting a C is not
the way to go.
If you’re still not sure... whether you are adequately prepared for Chemistry 131, take the sample exam on the
following pages. Give yourself 30 minutes, no more than that, and have a calculator and a periodic table handy. If you
really struggle with this exam, you may struggle with the Chemistry Assessment Test. If you struggle only moderately,
you might survive by doing an intensive review on your own in addition to CHEM131 [ www.khanacademy.org is
helpful]. If you feel confident after this sample, then the Chemistry Assessment Test is your next step.
By the way… if you are taking Chemistry 131 just to satisfy a graduation requirement for a lab science, you might want
to consider Chemistry 109A and Chemistry 109B, Chemistry and Society. CHEM109A is the lecture course for 3 credits,
and CHEM109B is a separate 1 credit course which is the laboratory to accompany CHEM109A. Taken together,
CHEM109A/CHEM109B will satisfy the graduation requirement for a lab science. These courses assume no prior
knowledge of chemistry, and the course uses a very non-mathematical approach to chemistry, emphasizing applications
of chemistry to environmental issues like air and water pollution, energy resources, plastics and polymers, etc.
CHEM109A/B does not meet graduation requirements for anyone majoring in science, engineering, or pursuing a preprofessional program, like pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy.
Am I Ready for CH131 - Quiz
1..
Give the correct name for each of the following (spelling counts):
a.
Fe3(PO4)2 __________________________________________
b.
Al2(CO3)3 __________________________________________
c.
ClF4 _____________________________________________
d.
H3PO4 (name as acid)
e.
(NH4)3P ___________________________________________
________________________________
2.
3.
Give the formula of each of the following compounds:
a.
chloric acid
b.
silver nitrate
c.
calcium sulfide
d.
tin (IV) chlorate
e.
diphosphorous pentaoxide
Balance the following equations using the smallest whole number coefficients:
a.
P4O6 + H2O  H3PO3
b.
Ca3(PO4)2 + C  Ca3P2 + CO
c.
(NH4)2SO4 + NaOH  NH3 + H2O +
d.
Fe2(SO4)3 + NH3
+
e.
Al2S3 + H2O 
Al(OH)3
H 2O
Na2SO4

Fe(OH)3 + (NH4)2SO4
+
H 2S
For the following problems, show all calculations, follow rules for significant figures, and please circle your final answer.
4.
5.
Perform the following conversions:
a.
How many atoms of F are in 5.88 mg of ClF3?
b.
How many grams of Ca3(PO4)2 are in a 0.54 mole sample?
Glucose burns in oxygen according to the following balanced equation:
C6H12O6(s) + 6O2(g)  6CO2(s) + 6H2O(l)
a.
What mass, in grams, of CO2 would be formed by burning 5.00g of glucose (C6H12O6)?
b.
How many moles of O2 would be needed to react with the 5.00 g sample of glucose?