Advanced Standing Exam - Guidelines for upperclassmen
Advanced Standing Exam - Guidelines for first term freshmen
Differences between 5.111 and 5.112

This exam is only offered once a year just before the beginning of the fall term. This year the exam is being offered on Monday, August 31st, 2009 (2pm-5pm, Walker Gym 50-340).

General Instructions
The Advanced Standing Exam in Chemistry is administered at the same time, and is the same exam as the Advanced Standing Exam for incoming freshmen. Note that an upperclassman or a second term freshman must complete a petition requesting permission to take the exam and stating that you have not taken the exam before or attended 5.111/5.112/3.091 at any time. Your advisor and the Coordinator of Chemistry Education in the Chemistry Education Office (2-204) must sign this petition. (Please make sure your advisor's room number is on the petition.) Once completed and signed, please submit your petition to the Schedules Office (5-111). The deadline for submission of the petition is August 7, 2009.

Please go to http://web.mit.edu/registrar/classrooms/exams/ase_exams.html to print out the petition form.

You will have 3 hours to complete the exam. Bring a writing implement, an acceptable calculator and your MIT ID. Water will be provided in the exam room.

Results of the Exam
All examination results are reported to the Registrar. A second term freshman must receive a C or better to receive credit for 5.111, and hence to fulfill the chemistry portion of the General Institute Requirements. However, only a passing grade will appear on your transcript. If you are an upperclassman, the grade you receive, even if it is a failing one, will remain on your permanent transcript. An upperclassman must receive a D or better to receive credit for 5.111. Your exam results will be mailed to your advisor.

Purpose and Features of the Exam
Like most MIT subjects, chemistry is oriented toward problem-solving rather than memorization. Nearly all of the problems on the Advanced Placement Exam involve calculations or analysis of information. None involve mere memorization. For example, there are no questions like: "Name the metals that are liquids at room temperature" or "What color is lead chromate?" In preparing for this exam, spend your time learning to solve problems of the type listed below quickly and accurately.

Many of the problems on the exam have numerical answers. Most of the credit for solving a particular problem will be given for providing the correct answer together with a clear demonstration of how the answer was obtained. Correct logic that leads to an incorrect numerical answer will receive some credit, but usually no more than 30-50% of the point value of the problem. The exam will be accompanied by a list of required physical constants and equations as well as a periodic table of the elements. Bring a scientific calculator (no graphing calculator) with you to the exam and a writing implement. Sophisticated calculators with extensive memory will not be allowed. You may not use notes or books during the exam. You will be allowed 3 hours of time to work the exam.

Contents of the Exam
The content of the Advanced Standing Exam parallels the major topics of Chemistry 5.111 and 5.112, which are taught from lectures, workbooks, and class notes, as well as from a textbook. The textbook is therefore not a perfect guide to 5.111 and 5.112, or to the Advanced Standing Exam, but it is a useful approximation. The textbook for 5.111 and 5.112 for Fall 2009 is Atkins, Chemical Principles, 4th edition, Houghton Mifflin 2008, 978-1-4292-0965-6. The previous text was Atkins, Chemial Principles, 3rd edition, Houghton Mifflin, 1998 ISBN 978-0-7167-5701-6. Listed below are the pertinent chapters from the 4th edition and 3rd edition of the textbook along with typical problems.

Questions from Chemical Principles, 4th Edition

Questions from Chemical Principles, Third Edition

Chapter	Title
1	Atoms: The Quantum World Problems: 9, 11, 13, 17, 35, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 67, 69, 77, 83, 85, 101
2	Chemical Bonds Problems: 33, 35, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 53, 57, 77, 79, 93
3	Molecular Shape and Structure Problems: 31, 33(b,c,d), 35(a,b,d), 37(a,d), 45, 47, 49, 53, 55, 75, 93
5	Liquids and Solids Problems: 7, 9
6	Thermodynamics: The First Law Problems: 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 71, 75
7	Thermodynamics: The Second and Third Laws Problems: 47, 49, 51, 53, 57, 59, 61, 71
9	Chemical Equilibria Problems: 11, 15, 17, 19
10	Acids and Bases Problems: 3, 5, 15, 47, 51,59, 61, 67
11	Aqueous Equilibria Problems: 5, 7, 9, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 85
12	Electrochemistry Problems: 3, 5, 9,11, 17, 21, 23, 25, 39b, 41b, 59, 61, 63
13	Chemical Kinetics Problems: 3, 5, 15, 17, 19, 23, 27, 41, 43, 45, 47, 57, 59, 61, 67
16	The Elements in the d Block Problems: 29, 31, 35, 37, 41, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59
17	Nuclear Chemistry Problems: 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 45, 49