The CSET Science Subtest 2 Chemistry (218) is organized into three content domains: Structure and Properties of Matter, Chemical Reactions and Chemical Bonding, and Energy. Candidates should be familiar with the structure of the periodic table and be able to answer complex questions regarding the nature of chemical reactions. The CSET Science Subtest II Chemistry is administered over a period of two hours and contains 50 multiple choice and 3 short answer questions. All candidates will have a 15-minute tutorial before the exam begins. Each Content Domain is described in more detail below.
More detailed curriculum here.
Candidates should be prepared to answer questions about the various characteristics of matter. They will need to know how matter is structured and how solutions behave.
Test takers will be evaluated on their understanding of atoms. They should be familiar with the model of an atom and how it was developed over time. They need to know the characteristics of the different components of an atom, including the electrons and protons.
Questions in this section may examine topics in the periodic table. Test takers must know how valence electrons impact the properties of various elements, which in turn helps determine where the element is located on the periodic table. They should be able to describe periodic trends and identify families of elements.
Candidates will be tested on their knowledge of phase diagrams and kinetic molecular theory. They must be able to compare different types of matter, such as liquids vs. solids, and understand how inter- and intramolecular forces help determine the properties of a substance.
Candidates will need to demonstrate their understanding of different laws that may be used to solve problems. For example, they need to know how to convert temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin and be familiar with how to apply Graham's law of effusion. Questions may also ask about ideal gas laws.
Specifically for solutions, test takers must know how solubility is impacted by various factors, such as pressure. They need to know how to determine the concentration of a solution and be aware of techniques that can be used to separate mixtures, including chromatography.
Test takers will have to answer questions about acids and bases too. They have to understand how to find the pH and determine if an acid or base is strong or weak. They should also be able to solve problems that include buffer solutions.
Finally, in this domain, candidates have to understand nuclear processes, including fission and fusion. They should be able to discuss the differences between these processes and know how to calculate the half-life of a substance.
Candidates must know how mass and energy relate in nuclear processes. They have to understand the differences between various kinds of decay, such as alpha decay vs. gamma decay. Questions may ask about the radiometric dating process for rocks.
Test takers will need to be familiar with different kinds of chemical reactions. They must understand chemical bonding and different areas of chemistry, including biochemistry.
Candidates need to be aware of methods for determining the product of different types of chemical reactions. They need to know how to read potential energy diagrams from chemical reactions and figure out if a reaction is endo- or exothermic. Variables, such as catalysts, that can affect reaction rates may also be discussed.
Candidates should be prepared to answer questions about chemical equilibrium. They need to know about Le Chatelier's principle and be able to solve problems involving equilibrium constants. They also have to understand the spontaneity of reactions.
Test takers must be familiar with different models that can be used to represent chemical bonds, such as Lewis dot structures. They need to know the differences between ionic and covalent bonds, as well as how metallic bonding occurs. They should also be aware of the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) model and how to predict the geometry of a molecule.
Candidates need to be prepared to make various kinds of calculations for this portion of the exam. They have to understand how to determine the percent yield and products of a reaction after balancing the chemical equation. They should be able to find the molar mass or volume of different compounds. They also need to understand how to balance oxidation and reduction equations and apply the conservation of matter law.
Test takers must know about carbon bonds and be familiar with organic functional groups. This includes knowing about esters, alcohols, and amines. They should also understand how these different functional groups behave during basic chemical reactions.
Questions may ask test takers about the 10 simple hydrocarbons. They need to know about biological monomers and polymers, such as the process of nucleotides becoming nucleic acids. They should be aware of how different natural resources can be used to make various materials, including medicines.
In the final domain candidates' knowledge of energy and energy transfer will be tested. They have to know how energy is involved in chemical processes.
Candidates must have knowledge of the different forms of energy, such as thermal energy or light. They need to know how energy is represented by the position and motion of particles and be able to discuss energy in a system. This includes knowing the differences between kinetic and potential energy.
Candidates will be tested on their understanding of heat. They should be able to read heating and cooling curves and solve problems involving specific heat and the enthalpy of reaction. They need to know what happens to chemical bonds during energy changes.
Finally, test takers will be evaluated on their knowledge of how energy and chemistry are used in everyday life. They need to understand how nuclear energy and radiation are used, as well as be familiar with some of the hazards of using this type of energy.
Test takers have to know how energy is harnessed from the sun. They should be able to discuss the various ways that electric power can be formed, such as through fossil fuels or solar energy. They also need to know about the processes of cellular respiration and photosynthesis and how energy is made through these processes.
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