Skip to main content
ExamWize
Sign up

FE · 7% of the exam

Chemistry and Biology practice questions

10 free Chemistry and Biology questions for the FE Chemical Exam (FE) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question FE quiz

What this domain covers

Inorganic, organic and analytical chemistry, with the basic biology behind bioprocessing.

Exam weight
7%
On a real exam
≈ 8 questions
In our bank
42 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Molarity, normality, molality and stoichiometry
  • Acids, bases, pH, pK and solubility products
  • Redox reactions and electrochemistry
  • Organic nomenclature, structures and reactions
  • Cell structure, enzymes and fermentation

How to study it

Work through concentration conversions and weak-acid pH problems until they are routine; they show up here and again in balances and reaction questions.

Sample Chemistry and Biology questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) measures:

    • AOxygen in the air above the water
    • BOxygen dissolved in pure water at saturation
    • COxygen used by microbes breaking down organic matter
    • DOxygen in the chemical formula of the waste
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Oxygen used by microbes breaking down organic matter

    • AIncorrect. That isn't BOD.
    • BIncorrect. That's dissolved oxygen.
    • CCorrect. It indicates biodegradable pollution.
    • DIncorrect. That isn't BOD.

  2. Question 2

    Adding more product to a system at equilibrium shifts the equilibrium:

    • AToward the reactants
    • BToward the products
    • CNowhere; equilibrium is fixed
    • DToward whichever side is exothermic
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Toward the reactants

    • ACorrect. Le Chatelier's principle: the system consumes some added product.
    • BIncorrect. That happens when reactant is added.
    • CIncorrect. The composition shifts, though K is unchanged.
    • DIncorrect. Heat effects matter for temperature changes.

  3. Question 3

    In anaerobic fermentation, yeast converts glucose mainly into:

    • AEthanol and carbon dioxide
    • BWater and oxygen
    • CMethane only
    • DProtein
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Ethanol and carbon dioxide

    • ACorrect. C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂.
    • BIncorrect. That's not fermentation.
    • CIncorrect. That's methanogenesis.
    • DIncorrect. It produces ethanol and CO₂.

  4. Question 4

    Isomers are compounds that have:

    • AIdentical properties in every respect
    • BDifferent molecular formulas but the same name
    • CThe same structure and different formulas
    • DThe same molecular formula but different structures
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) The same molecular formula but different structures

    • AIncorrect. Isomers differ in properties.
    • BIncorrect. Names follow structure.
    • CIncorrect. That's impossible.
    • DCorrect. Butane and isobutane are an example.

  5. Question 5

    In living cells, ATP serves mainly as:

    • AThe store of genetic information
    • BAn energy carrier
    • CA structural part of the cell wall
    • DAn enzyme that speeds up reactions
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) An energy carrier

    • AIncorrect. That's DNA.
    • BCorrect. Hydrolyzing its phosphate bonds releases energy for cell work.
    • CIncorrect. That isn't its role.
    • DIncorrect. ATP is a nucleotide, not an enzyme.

  6. Question 6

    Taking water's molar mass as 18 g/mol, 36 g of water is:

    • A648 mol, multiplying
    • B2 mol
    • C0.5 mol, inverting the ratio
    • D18 mol
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 2 mol

    • AIncorrect. Divide mass by molar mass.
    • BCorrect. Moles = mass ÷ molar mass = 36 ÷ 18.
    • CIncorrect. That's 18 ÷ 36.
    • DIncorrect. That's the molar mass.

  7. Question 7

    Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂, has a molar mass of 74 g/mol. Its equivalent weight as a base is:

    • A37 g/eq
    • B74 g/eq
    • C148 g/eq
    • D24.7 g/eq
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 37 g/eq

    • ACorrect. It supplies 2 OH⁻ per mole.
    • BIncorrect. Divide by 2 equivalents.
    • CIncorrect. Divide, don't multiply.
    • DIncorrect. It has 2 OH⁻ groups, not 3.

  8. Question 8

    In aerobic respiration, the final electron acceptor is:

    • AGlucose
    • BOxygen
    • CCarbon dioxide
    • DEthanol
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Oxygen

    • AIncorrect. Glucose is the electron donor.
    • BCorrect. It's reduced to water.
    • CIncorrect. That's a product.
    • DIncorrect. That's a fermentation product.

  9. Question 9

    A carboxylic acid reacting with an alcohol to form a new compound and water is called:

    • ASaponification
    • BHydrogenation
    • CEsterification
    • DPolymerization by addition
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Esterification

    • AIncorrect. That's base hydrolysis of an ester.
    • BIncorrect. That adds hydrogen.
    • CCorrect. The product is an ester.
    • DIncorrect. This is esterification.

  10. Question 10

    Reducing 1 mol of Fe³⁺ to iron metal requires:

    • A1 mol of electrons
    • B3 mol of electrons
    • C2 mol of electrons
    • D6 mol of electrons
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 3 mol of electrons

    • AIncorrect. That gives Fe²⁺.
    • BCorrect. Fe³⁺ + 3e⁻ → Fe.
    • CIncorrect. That starts from Fe²⁺.
    • DIncorrect. That doubles the requirement.

Chemistry and Biology: FAQs

How much of the FE exam is Chemistry and Biology?

Chemistry and Biology is 7% of the FE exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 110-question form works out to roughly 8 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Chemistry and Biology domain cover?

Inorganic, organic and analytical chemistry, with the basic biology behind bioprocessing.

How should I study Chemistry and Biology for FE?

Work through concentration conversions and weak-acid pH problems until they are routine; they show up here and again in balances and reaction questions.

Where can I practise more Chemistry and Biology questions?

This page has 10 free Chemistry and Biology questions with answers. The ExamWize FE question bank has 42 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other FE topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the FE cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Chemistry and Biology exam-ready

The full FE bank has 42 Chemistry and Biology questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full FE practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with NCEES; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.