2018 U. S.

NATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD

NATIONAL EXAM PART I
Prepared by the American Chemical Society Chemistry Olympiad Examinations Task Force

OLYMPIAD EXAMINATIONS TASK FORCE

Seth N. Brown, Chair, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
James Ayers, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO
Mark DeCamp, University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI (retired)
Marian DeWane, Centennial High School, Boise, ID
Xu Duan, Holton-Arms School, Bethesda, MD
Valerie Ferguson, Moore HS, Moore, OK
Julie Furstenau, Thomas B. Doherty HS, Colorado Springs, CO
Kimberly Gardner, United States Air Force Academy, CO
Paul Groves, South Pasadena HS, South Pasadena, CA
Nicolas Hamel, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
David W. Hostage, Taft School, Watertown, CT
John Kotz, State University of New York, Oneonta, NY (retired)
Jane Nagurney, Scranton Preparatory School, Scranton, PA
Sheila Nguyen, Cypress College, Cypress, CA
Ronald Ragsdale, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (retired)

DIRECTIONS TO THE EXAMINER – PART I

The USNCO Subcommittee continues conducting a survey in an effort to determine the impact of the Olympiad program on
students. At the end of the exam there are four questions, which should be answered on the same Scantron sheet students use
for the exam. These questions may be administered after the 90 minutes allotted for the exam, each student should be
encouraged to answer these questions.
Part I of this test is designed to be taken with a Scantron answer sheet on which the student records his or her responses. Only this
Scantron sheet is graded for a score on Part I. Testing materials, scratch paper, and the Scantron sheet should be made available to the
student only during the examination period. All testing materials including scratch paper should be turned in and kept secure until
April 23, 2018, after which tests can be returned to students and their teachers for further study.
Allow time for students to read the directions, ask questions, and fill in the requested information on the Scantron sheet. The answer
sheet must be completed using a pencil, not pen. When the student has completed Part I, or after one hour and thirty minutes has
elapsed, the student must turn in the Scantron sheet, Part I of the testing materials, and all scratch paper.
There are three parts to the National Chemistry Olympiad Examination. You have the option of administering the three parts in any
order, and you are free to schedule rest breaks between parts.
Part I 60 questions single answer, multiple-choice 1 hour, 30 minutes
Part II 8 questions problem-solving, explanations 1 hour, 45 minutes
Part III 2 lab problems laboratory practical 1 hour, 30 minutes
A periodic table and other useful information are provided on page 2 for student reference.
Students should be permitted to use non-programmable calculators. The use of a programmable calculator, cell phone, watch,
or any other device that can access the internet or make copies or photographs during the exam is grounds for disqualification.

DIRECTIONS TO THE EXAMINEE – DO NOT TURN THE PAGE UNTIL DIRECTED TO DO SO. Answers to questions in
Part I must be entered on a Scantron answer sheet to be scored. Be sure to write your name on the answer sheet, an ID number is
already entered for you. Make a record of this ID number because you will use the same number on Parts II and III. Each item in
Part I consists of a question or an incomplete statement that is followed by four possible choices. Select the single choice that best
answers the question or completes the statement. Then use a pencil to blacken the space on your answer sheet next to the same letter as
your choice. You may write on the examination, but the test booklet will not be used for grading. Scores are based on the number of
correct responses. When you complete Part I (or at the end of one hour and 30 minutes), you must turn in all testing materials, scratch
paper, and your Scantron answer sheet. Do not forget to turn in your U.S. citizenship/Green Card Holder statement before
leaving the testing site today.

Property of ACS USNCO ‒ Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018
Distributed by the American Chemical Society, 1155 16 th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036
All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
 ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS CONSTANTS
amount of substance n Faraday constant F molar mass M
ampere A free energy G mole mol R = 8.314 J mol–1 K–1
atmosphere atm frequency  Planck’s constant h R = 0.08314 L bar mol–1 K–1
atomic mass unit u gas constant R pressure P F = 96,500 C mol–1
Avogadro constant NA gram g rate constant k
F = 96,500 J V–1 mol–1
Celsius temperature °C hour h reaction quotient Q
centi– prefix c joule J second s NA = 6.022  1023 mol–1
coulomb C kelvin K speed of light c h = 6.626  10–34 J s
density d kilo– prefix k temperature, K T
electromotive force E c = 2.998  108 m s–1
liter L time t
energy of activation Ea measure of pressure mm Hg vapor pressure VP 0 °C = 273.15 K
enthalpy H milli– prefix m volt V 1 atm = 1.013 bar = 760 mm Hg
entropy S molal m volume V Specific heat capacity of H2O =
equilibrium constant K molar M
4.184 J g–1 K–1

EQUATIONS

RT  H o   1  k  E  1 1 
E  Eo  ln Q ln K       constant ln  2   a   
nF  R  T   k1  R  T1 T2 

1 PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS 18

1A 8A
1 2
H 2 13 14 15 16 17 He
1.008 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A 4.003

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be B C N O F Ne
6.941 9.012 10.81 12.01 14.01 16.00 19.00 20.18
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Al Si P S Cl Ar
22.99 24.31 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 8B 8B 1B 2B 26.98 28.09 30.97 32.07 35.45 39.95

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
39.10 40.08 44.96 47.88 50.94 52.00 54.94 55.85 58.93 58.69 63.55 65.39 69.72 72.61 74.92 78.97 79.90 83.80
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
85.47 87.62 88.91 91.22 92.91 95.95 (98) 101.1 102.9 106.4 107.9 112.4 114.8 118.7 121.8 127.6 126.9 131.3
55 56 57 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
132.9 137.3 138.9 178.5 180.9 183.8 186.2 190.2 192.2 195.1 197.0 200.6 204.4 207.2 209.0 (209) (210) (222)
87 88 89 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
Fr Ra Ac Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
(223) (226) (227) (261) (262) (263) (262) (265) (266) (281) (272) (285) (286) (289) (289) (293) (294) (294)

58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
140.1 140.9 144.2 (145) 150.4 152.0 157.3 158.9 162.5 164.9 167.3 168.9 173.0 175.0
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
232.0 231.0 238.0 (237) (244) (243) (247) (247) (251) (252) (257) (258) (259) (262)

Page 2 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018
 DIRECTIONS
 When you have selected your answer to each question, blacken the corresponding space on the answer sheet using a soft, #2
pencil. Make a heavy, full mark, but no stray marks. If you decide to change an answer, erase the unwanted mark very carefully.
 There is only one correct answer to each question. Any questions for which more than one response has been blackened will not
be counted.
 Your score is based solely on the number of questions you answer correctly. It is to your advantage to answer every question.

1. Upon heating in a stream of hydrogen gas, 0.688 g of a 6. A salt whose formula is Na2SxOy is 47.5% sulfur by mass.
manganese oxide is reduced to metallic manganese and What is the value of x in the formula?
forms 0.235 g water. What is the formula of the oxide?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
(A) MnO (B) Mn2O3 (C) Mn3O4 (D) MnO2
7. Which salt is diamagnetic?
2. Which 1.00 g sample of an element contains the greatest
(A) K2[NO(SO3)2] (B) K4[Fe(CN)6]
number of molecules?
(C) Ce2(SO4)3 (D) Hg[Co(SCN)4]
(A) Buckminsterfullerene, C60
(B) Ozone, O3 8. Which titration would NOT require the addition of an
indicator?
(C) White phosphorus, P4
(A) Determination of oxalate ion by titration with
(D) Sulfur, S8
permanganate ion in acidic solution
3. Hydrogen gas reacts with 5.00 L of nitrogen gas under (B) Determination of chloride ion by titration with silver
constant temperature and pressure conditions to form ion
10.0 L of ammonia gas. What is the minimum volume of
(C) Determination of acetic acid by titration with sodium
hydrogen gas required to produce this amount of
hydroxide
ammonia?
(D) Determination of ammonia by titration with
(A) 5.00 L (B) 7.50 L (C) 15.0 L (D) 30.0 L
hydrochloric acid
4. Phosphoric acid can be manufactured according to the
9. A 1 mL sample of a 0.1 M solution of a divalent metal
following reaction:
ion is pale pink. To it is added 1 mL of concentrated
Ca3(PO4)2 + 3 SiO2 + 5 C + 5 O2 + 3 H2O  HCl, which causes a color change to bright blue. What is
3 CaSiO3 + 5 CO2 + 2 H3PO4 the metal ion?
If equal masses of calcium phosphate (M = 310.) and (A) Ca2+ (B) Mn2+ (C) Co2+ (D) Cu2+
silica (M = 60.0) are reacted with excess carbon, oxygen,
and water to produce 1.00  103 kg phosphoric acid 10. A copper-nickel alloy is analyzed by dissolving it in 8 M
(M = 98.0), what mass of calcium phosphate was used, nitric acid, diluting the solution with water, and then
assuming 100% yield? adding 1 mL of this diluted solution to an excess of
aqueous potassium iodide. What are the principal forms
(A) 610. kg (B) 800. kg of copper and nickel in this final mixture?
(C) 920. kg (D) 1580 kg (A) Cu2+(aq), Ni3+(aq) (B) CuI2(s), NiI2(s)
5. After mixing 30.0 mL of 0.30 M Ca(NO3)2 solution and (C) CuI(s), Ni2+(aq) (D) Cu+(aq), Ni(s)
15.0 mL of 0.60 M NaF solution, which ions are present
in solution at concentrations of at least 0.10 M?
I. Ca2+ II. F–
(A) I only (B) II only
(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II

Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018 Page 3
 11. A dilute solution of sulfuric acid is titrated into a solution 14. Carbon tetrachloride, CCl4, has a higher normal boiling
of barium hydroxide and the conductivity of the solution point than chloroform, CHCl3 (77 ºC vs. 61 ºC).
is measured as a function of the added volume of sulfuric Differences in which interactions contribute the most to
acid. Which graph represents the results of this this difference in boiling point?
experiment?
(A) Hydrogen bonding
(A) (B)
(B) Dipole-dipole interactions
(C) London dispersion forces
(D) Covalent bonding

15. The diagram represents a molecular view of a sample of

liquid methanol, CH3OH. Which letters in the diagram
show hydrogen bonds?
(C) (D)

12. Which is the best way to prepare 500 mL of a 2.00 M

solution of aqueous H2SO4 from deionized water
(M = 18.02, density = 1.00 g mL–1) and concentrated
H2SO4 (M = 98.08, density = 1.84 g mL–1)?
(A) Weigh 98.1 g concentrated sulfuric acid into a
500-mL beaker, then slowly add deionized water
to the beaker, with occasional swirling, until the
liquid reaches the 500 mL mark. (A) A only (B) B only

(B) Weigh 98.1 g concentrated sulfuric acid into a (C) C only (D) A and C
500-mL volumetric flask, slowly add deionized
water to the mark, and mix. 16. The triple point of ammonia is 195.40 K at 0.006 bar,
while its melting point is 195.42 K at 1 bar pressure.
(C) Weigh 98.1 g concentrated sulfuric acid into a Which statement about ammonia is correct?
100-mL beaker, then slowly pour the H2SO4 into a
500-mL beaker with about 250 mL deionized water (A) Solid ammonia is denser than liquid ammonia at
in it. Pour this solution into a 500-mL volumetric 195.4 K.
flask and fill to the mark with deionized water and (B) Ammonia vapor cannot coexist with liquid ammonia
mix. at equilibrium at 195.5 K.
(D) Weigh 446.6 g deionized water into a 500-mL (C) Ammonia vapor cannot coexist with solid ammonia
volumetric flask, fill to the mark with concentrated at equilibrium at 195.3 K.
sulfuric acid, and mix.
(D) Solid ammonia and liquid ammonia cannot coexist
13. A substance has a density of 2.38 g mL–1 and is not at equilibrium at 195.5 K.
significantly compressible. The substance is most likely
in which physical state?
(A) Solid
(B) Liquid
(C) Gas
(D) Solid or liquid; there is not enough information
given to distinguish between the two

Page 4 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018
 17. Acetone, C3H6O, has a vapor pressure of 0.307 bar at 21. The Ksp of AgBr is 5.0  10–13 at 25.0 ºC and 6.5  10–12 at
25 ºC. A sample of 0.100 mol acetone is added to a 50.0 ºC. What is ∆Hºrxn for the precipitation of AgBr
container that contains 1.00 L of argon gas at 1.00 bar shown?
pressure and 25 ºC. The volume of the container is then
increased to 4.00 L while maintaining the same Ag+(aq) + Br–(aq)  AgBr(s) ∆Hºrxn = ???
temperature. What is the pressure in the container after
the expansion? (A) –82 kJ mol–1 (B) –1.1 kJ mol–1

(A) 0.250 bar (B) 0.307 bar (C) 1.1 kJ mol–1 (D) 82 kJ mol–1

(C) 0.557 bar (D) 0.870 bar 22. For benzene, C6H6, the heat of fusion is 9.9 kJ mol–1 at its
melting point of 5 ºC, its heat of vaporization is 30.8 kJ
18. What is the formula of the oxide whose unit cell is mol–1 at its normal boiling point of 80 ºC, and the molar
shown? heat capacity of the liquid is 135 J mol–1 K–1. To a
system consisting of 1.00 mol pure solid C6H6 at 5 ºC is
added 20.0 kJ of heat while maintaining the pressure at 1
atm. In what phases is the benzene found?
(A) Mixture of solid and liquid
(B) Liquid only
(C) Mixture of liquid and gas
(D) Gas only

23. The natural logarithm of the Ka of NH4+ is plotted below

as a function of the reciprocal of the absolute
temperature.

(A) Ce7O4 (B) CeO (C) Ce2O3 (D) CeO2

19. A spontaneous endothermic chemical reaction takes place

at constant pressure and volume in a well-insulated
container. As the reaction proceeds, what happens to the
temperature of the system and to the internal energy of
the reactants as they are transformed into products?
(A) Both the temperature and the reactants’ internal
energy increase.
(B) The temperature increases while the reactants’
internal energy decreases.
(C) The temperature decreases while the reactants’
internal energy increases.
Which statements are correct?
(D) Both the temperature and the reactants’ internal
energy decrease. I. The pH of a 0.100 M solution of NH4NO3 increases as
the temperature is raised.
20. What is the standard heat of formation (∆Hºf) of gaseous II. ∆Sº for the acid dissociation of ammonium ion is
ethylene, C2H4(g)? positive.
H2(g) + ½ O2(g)  H2O(g) ∆Hº = –242 kJ mol–1 (A) I only (B) II only

2 C(s, graphite) + 3 H2(g) + ½ O2 (g)  C2H5OH(l) (C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II
∆Hº = –278 kJ mol–1
C2H4(g) + H2O(g)  C2H5OH(l) ∆Hº = –88 kJ mol–1

(A) 16 kJ mol–1 (B) 52 kJ mol–1

(C) 83 kJ mol–1 (D) 285 kJ mol–1

Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018 Page 5
 24. The molar heat capacity of ice is 37 J mol–1 29. Nitric oxide reacts with hydrogen according to the
K–1 and the molar heat capacity of liquid following equation:
water is 76 J mol–1 K–1. What can be
concluded about the relative magnitudes of 2 NO(g) + 2 H2(g)  N2(g) + 2 H2O(g)
the heat of fusion of ice at 263 K (∆H263)
compared to the heat of fusion of ice at 273 A possible mechanism for this reaction is
K (∆H273)? 2 NO(g)  N2O2(g) fast, unfavorable
(A) ∆H263 < ∆H273 N2O2(g) + H2(g)  N2O(g) + H2O(g) slow
(B) ∆H263 = ∆H273 N2O(g) + H2(g)  N2(g) + H2O(g) fast
(C) ∆H263 > ∆H273 What rate law is implied by this mechanism?
(D) No conclusion about the relative (A) Rate = k[NO][H2] (B) Rate = k[NO]2[H2]
magnitudes of the heats of fusion can be
drawn based on the information given. (C) Rate = k[NO][H2]2 (D) Rate = k[NO]2[H2]2

25. The rate constant k for the reaction shown is 1.63  10–6 30. The reaction A + B  C is represented by the energy
M–1 s–1. What is the overall order of the reaction? diagram shown.
2 ICl(g) + H2(g) → 2 HCl(g) + I2(g)
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3

26. The initial rate of the reaction A + B  products varies

with the initial concentrations of A and B as follows:

[A], M [B], M Initial rate, M s–1

0.20 0.30 2.1  10–4
0.40 0.30 4.2  10–4
0.20 0.90 1.9  10–3
Which statements about this reaction are correct?
What is the rate law for this reaction?
I. The overall reaction is endothermic.
(A) Rate = k[A] (B) Rate = k[A][B] II. The activation enthalpy of the reaction is 40 kJ mol–1.
(C) Rate = k[A]2[B] (D) Rate = k[A][B]2
(A) I only (B) II only
27. Polonium-210 undergoes alpha decay with a half-life of (C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II
138 d, forming the stable isotope lead-206. How much
time would it take for the activity of a 210Po sample to 31. What is the pH of a saturated solution of Co(OH)2? The
decrease to 15.0% of its initial value? Ksp of Co(OH)2 is 5.9  10–15.
(A) 138 d (B) 182 d (C) 276 d (D) 377 d (A) 7.19 (B) 9.06 (C) 9.36 (D) 9.56

28. An irreversible reaction A + B  products is studied 32. Which of the following solutions is capable of dissolving
under conditions where the initial concentrations of A and the most CaC2O4(s)?
B are equal. Under these circumstances, a graph of
(A) Pure H2O (B) 0.10 M CaCl2
ln([A]) as a function of time is linear. What is the order
in A? (C) 0.10 M H2C2O4 (D) 0.10 M HCl
(A) Zeroth order
33. Silver ion forms a complex ion with thiosulfate ion,
(B) First order Ag(S2O3)23–, with Kf = 2.8  1013. How much AgBr (Ksp
(C) Second order = 5.4  10–13) will dissolve in 1.00 L of 0.200 M Na2S2O3
solution?
(D) The order in A cannot be determined based on the
information given. (A) 0.089 mol (B) 0.10 mol
(C) 0.16 mol (D) 0.78 mol

Page 6 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018
 34. 100.0 mL 0.15 M aqueous HF (Ka = 6.8  10–4) is mixed 41. Which electrochemical cell has the greatest (most
with 125.0 mL 0.23 M NaF. What is the pH of the positive) standard cell potential?
resulting solution?
(A) 2.17 (B) 3.17 (C) 3.35 (D) 3.45 Half-Reaction Eº, V
Cd2+(aq) + 2e–  Cd(s) –0.40
35. For a given reaction, a graph of ln(Keq) vs. 1/T is linear
and has a positive slope. Which statements about this Tl+(aq) + e–  Tl(s) –0.34
reaction must be correct?
AgCl(s) + e–  Ag(s) + Cl–(aq) +0.22
I. ∆Hºrxn < 0 II. ∆Sºrxn > 0 Cu2+(aq) + 2e–  Cu(s) +0.34
(A) I only (B) II only
(A) Cu(s) | Cu2+(aq) || Cd2+(aq) | Cd(s)
(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II
(B) Tl(s) | Tl+(aq) || AgCl(s) | Ag(s), Cl–(aq)
36. The following reaction has Kp = 50.4 at 448 ºC. (C) Cd(s) | Cd2+(aq) || AgCl(s) | Ag(s), Cl–(aq)
H2(g) + I2(g) 2 HI(g) (D) Tl(s) | Tl+(aq) || Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s)
If a 3.00 L flask initially contains 0.0500 moles each of
42. The galvanic cell below has equal volumes in the two half-
H2 and I2, how many moles of HI are present when the
cells. As it is discharged at 25 ºC, the cell potential
contents have reached equilibrium at 448 °C?
gradually decreases to zero, whereupon the discharge
(A) 0.0130 mol (B) 0.0146 mol stops. What is the concentration of Cu2+(aq) when the
discharge stops?
(C) 0.0260 mol (D) 0.0780 mol
Cu(s) | Cu2+(aq), 1.00 M || Fe(CN)63–(aq), 0.200 M |
37. Iodide ion is oxidized to hypoiodite ion by permanganate Fe(CN)64-(aq), 0.200 M | Pt
ion in basic solution according to the following
unbalanced equation: Half-Reaction Eº, V

I–(aq) + MnO4–(aq)  IO–(aq) + MnO2(s) Cu2+(aq) + 2e–  Cu(s) +0.337

What is the ratio of hydroxide ions to iodide ions in the Fe(CN)63–(aq) + e–  Fe(CN)64–(aq) +0.360
balanced equation?
(A) 0.80 M (B) 0.96 M (C) 1.04 M (D) 1.20 M
(A) 3 : 1 (B) 2 : 1 (C) 1 : 1 (D) 2 : 3
43. In which gas-phase atom are the 2s electrons closest on
38. In the carbon monoxide complex Na[V(CO)6], what is the average to the nucleus?
oxidation number of vanadium?
(A) N (B) O (C) Al (D) Si
(A) –1 (B) +3 (C) +5 (D) +6
44. Which electron configuration corresponds to a gas-phase
39. What is the Ksp of Fe(OH)2 at 298 K? oxygen atom in an excited state?

Half-Reaction Eº, V (at 298 K)

(A) 1s21p22s22p2 (B) 1s22p6

Fe2+(aq) + 2e–  Fe(s) –0.44 (C) 1s22s22p3 (D) 1s22s22p4

Fe(OH)2(s) + 2e–  Fe(s) + 2 OH–(aq) –0.89 45. Alkali metals (Group 1) differ from alkaline earth metals
(Group 2) of the same period in which way?
(A) 2.4  10–8 (B) 6.0  10–16
(A) Alkali metals have larger ionic radii.
(C) 1.0  10–45 (D) 8.3  10–46
(B) Alkali metals have higher melting points.
40. A 0.100-g sample of an alloy of copper and silver is (C) Alkali metals have greater first ionization energies.
dissolved in nitric acid to give a solution containing Cu2+
and Ag+ ions. This mixture is electrolyzed exhaustively (D) Alkali metals have greater densities.
to redeposit all the metal ions as the elemental metals,
requiring a current of 0.150 A for 1429 s. What is the
mass percent of copper in the alloy?
(A) 20.0% (B) 58.3% (C) 70.6% (D) 77.2%

Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018 Page 7
 46. Atoms of which element release the most energy when an 53. What is the coordination geometry of cobalt in the
electron is added to them in the gas phase? complex ion [Co(H2NCH2CH2NH2)2Br2]+?
(A) C (B) O (C) Si (D) S (A) Tetrahedral (B) Square planar
(C) Octahedral (D) Trigonal prismatic
47. How many unpaired electrons does a ground-state gas-
phase Cr2+ ion have?
54. Sulfur tetrafluoride adopts a see-saw geometry with two
(A) 0 (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 6 axial F atoms with a F–S–F angle of about 180º and two
equatorial F atoms at about 90º from the axial fluorines.
48. Which nuclide undergoes beta decay? Which statement most accurately describes the axial and
11C 13N 19O 22Na equatorial S–F bonds?
(A) (B) (C) (D)
(A) The axial S–F bonds are longer because the two
49. Which molecule has a nonzero dipole moment? fluorines must share bonding to the same orbital on
sulfur.
(A) BF3 (B) CF4 (C) NF3 (D) SF6
(B) The axial S–F bonds are longer because they
50. What is the geometry of XeF4? experience greater repulsion from the other fluorine
atoms in the molecule.
(A) Square planar (B) Tetrahedral
(C) The equatorial S–F bonds are longer because the
(C) See-saw (D) Square pyramidal
equatorial F–S–F bond angle is the smallest in the
molecule.
51. Which statements are correct about the cyanate ion,
NCO–? (D) The equatorial S–F bonds are longer because they
I. Cyanate is more thermodynamically stable than its experience greater repulsion from the lone pair on
isomer fulminate (CNO–). sulfur.
II. The carbon-nitrogen bond is shorter than the
55. Which statement about the branched hydrocarbon shown
carbon-oxygen bond in gas-phase cyanate ion.
is correct?
(A) I only (B) II only
(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II

52. Which statement best describes the results of attempted

separation by fractional distillation of the two isomers of (A) Its IUPAC name is 4-methylhexane.
1,2-dichloroethene?
(B) It is chiral.
(C) It has six primary hydrogens.
(D) Radical chlorination gives 1-chloro-4-methylhexane
as the major product.

56. In which dimethylcyclohexane are both methyl groups

equatorial in its most stable chair conformation?
(A) The two isomers can be separated by fractional (A) (B)
distillation, with isomer 1 boiling at the lower
temperature.
(B) The two isomers can be separated by fractional
distillation, with isomer 2 boiling at the lower
temperature.
(C) The two isomers cannot be separated by fractional (C) (D)
distillation because both isomers have the same
boiling point.
(D) The two isomers cannot be separated by fractional
distillation because they interconvert rapidly at the
temperatures at which they distill.

Page 8 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018
 57. How many distinct acyclic compounds have the formula
C5H10? PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6
FOUR QUESTIONS

58. When acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) reacts in methanol THANK YOU!

(CH3OH) solution under basic conditions, which
compound is NOT formed? When you have finished answering this examination or time has
(A) CH3CH(OH)(OCH3) (B) CH3CH(OCH3)2 been called by the Examiner, please provide responses to the
following 4 items. Your answers will not affect your score on
(C) CH3CH(OH)CH2CHO (D) CH3CH=CHCHO the exam but will help with a study being conducted by the U.S.
National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) Subcommittee.
59. In what way does the reactivity of CH3C≡CH differ from
CH3CH=CH2? 61. The amount of time I spend doing experiments in the
(A) Propyne is deprotonated by NaNH2, while propene laboratory per week on average during my chemistry course
is not. was/is?
(A) less than ½ hour
(B) Propyne does not react with bromine, while propene (B) between ½ and 1 hour
reacts readily with bromine. (C) between 1 and 2 hours
(D) more than 2 hours
(C) Propyne undergoes catalytic hydrogenation over
platinum, while propene does not.
The following questions should be answered using the scale
(D) Propyne is readily hydrated at pH = 0, while propene (A) Strongly agree
is not. (B) Agree
(C) Disagree
60. An enzyme catalyzes the transformation of a substrate (D) Strongly disagree
into a product P, with the appearance of product over
time as shown below: 62. As a result of my participation in the USNCO program,
I plan to study more chemistry.

63. As a result of my participation in the USNCO program,

I plan to major in chemistry in college.

64. As a result of my participation in the USNCO program,

I have a more positive view of chemistry than I did before
participating.
Under the same conditions, except in the presence of a
competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, which graph best
represents the appearance of product over time?
(A) (B)

(C) (D)

END OF TEST

Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 23, 2018 Page 9
 Olympiad 2018
USNCO National Exam Part I
KEY

Question Correct % Correct Question Correct % Correct

Answer Answer Answer Answer
1. B 69% 31. C 60%
2. B 86% 32. D 70%
3. C 86% 33. A 24%
4. D 78% 34. D 53%
5. A 25% 35. A 47%
6. D 34% 36. D 42%
7. B 31% 37. D 47%
8. A 50% 38. A 35%
9. C 53% 39. B 59%
10. C 40% 40. B 37%
11. D 53% 41. D 54%
12. C 45% 42. C 44%
13. D 64% 43. D 50%
14. C 67% 44. B 69%
15. B 87% 45. A 75%
16. A 46% 46. D 12%
17. C 49% 47. C 51%
18. D 45% 48. C 60%
19. C 66% 49. C 80%
20. B 90% 50. A 68%
21. A 31% 51. C 42%
22. B 62% 52. B 48%
23. D 15% 53. C 27%
24. A 34% 54. A 11%
25. C 73% 55. B 45%
26. D 90% 56. C 34%
27. D 88% 57. D 18%
28. D 7% 58. B 26%
29. B 78% 59. A 31%
30. D 54% 60. B 47%