2020 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 Kimberly Gardner, United States Air Force Academy, CO
Jerry Bell, Simmons University, Boston, MA (retired) Paul Groves, South Pasadena HS, South Pasadena, CA
Mark DeCamp, University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI (retired) Nicolas Hamel, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
Joshua de Groot, College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID David W. Hostage, Taft School, Watertown, CT
James Dohm, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN John Kotz, State University of New York, Oneonta, NY (retired)
Xu Duan, Holton-Arms School, Bethesda, MD Michael A. Morgan, Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet HS, Los Angeles, CA
Valerie Ferguson, Moore HS, Moore, OK (retired) Jane Nagurney, Scranton Preparatory School, Scranton, PA (retired)
Julie Furstenau, Thomas B. Doherty HS, Colorado Springs, CO (retired)

DIRECTIONS TO THE EXAMINER

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 27, 2020, 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.

The USNCO Subcommittee is conducting a survey in an effort to determine the impact of the Olympiad program on students. At the
end of Part I 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.
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 and assigned ID
number on the answer sheet. 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 26, 2020
Distributed by the American Chemical Society, 1155 16th 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 ν 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 c = 2.998 × 108 m s–1
E 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   k2  Ea  1 1 
E Eo −
= ln Q =ln K     + constant ln=
   − 
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 26, 2020
 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. Iron(III) sulfide reacts with gaseous hydrogen chloride to 6. As the concentration of an aqueous solution of sodium
produce iron(III) chloride and hydrogen sulfide. How chloride increases from 1.0 M to 2.0 M, the values of
much iron(III) sulfide would be required to react with 1.5 which properties of the solution decrease?
mol HCl? I. Density
II. Freezing point
(A) 0.25 mol (B) 0.50 mol
(A) I only (B) II only
(C) 0.75 mol (D) 1.0 mol
(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II
2. How much CH4 remains after 10.0 g of CH4 reacts
completely with 15.0 g of O2 according to the following 7. Which ion gives a green flame test?
equation?
(A) Potassium (B) Calcium
CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g)
(C) Strontium (D) Barium
(A) 0.00 g (B) 2.50 g (C) 5.00 g (D) 6.25 g
8. The equilibrium constant for the formation of CoCl42-, a
3. A sample of 1.00 g of which compound contains the species that is blue in solution, is to be measured using a
greatest number of atoms? colorimeter. The colorimeter has wavelength settings of
(A) CO (M = 28.0) (B) C2H6 (M = 30.0) 470 nm (“blue”), 565 nm (“green”), and 635 nm (“red”)
to use in the experiment. What is the best setting to use?
(C) C6H6 (M = 78.0) (D) Kr (M = 83.8)
(A) 470 nm
4. 200.0 mL of aqueous nitric acid is mixed with 300.0 mL
(B) 565 nm
of 0.200 M Mg(NO3)2 solution to give a solution with a
nitrate ion concentration of 0.500 M. What is the (C) 635 nm
concentration of the nitric acid?
(D) All settings would be equally suitable for the
(A) 0.100 M (B) 0.650 M measurement.
(C) 0.950 M (D) 1.25 M 9. A student is using a coffee-cup calorimeter to determine
the enthalpy change of the endothermic reaction of two
5. A student wishes to prepare a solution with a final aqueous solutions. After both solutions are added to the
concentration of Na+ = 0.50 M and a final concentration
cup, the student neglects to put the lid on the cup. This
of HCO3– = 0.10 M by taking some NaOH and some
would cause the magnitude of the calculated ΔH° value to
trona (Na2CO3•NaHCO3•2H2O) and diluting with water
be:
to a final volume of 1.00 L. How much NaOH and trona
are required? (A) too small, since some heat will escape out of the cup.
(A) 0.05 mol NaOH, 0.15 mol trona (B) too large, since some heat will escape out of the cup.
(B) 0.20 mol NaOH, 0.10 mol trona (C) too small, since the solution will absorb heat from
the room.
(C) 0.35 mol NaOH, 0.05 mol trona
(D) too large, since the solution will absorb heat from
(D) A solution cannot be prepared with the desired the room.
concentrations of Na+ and HCO3– using only NaOH
and trona.
10. Which substance produces a toxic and explosive gas
when added to strong acids?
(A) NaN3 (B) Na2CO3
(C) NaClO4 (D) Na2SO3

Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 26, 2020 Page 3
 11. When aqueous ethanol is treated with an acidified 18. A portion of the structure of solid potassium is shown
solution of potassium dichromate, what is observed? below. In what type of unit cell are the atoms arranged?
I. Color change
II. Gas evolution
(A) I only (B) II only
(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II

12. Mixing which 0.1 M aqueous solutions results in

formation of a colored precipitate? (A) Primitive cubic
(A) BaCl2 and CH3COOH (B) Body-centered cubic
(B) BaCl2 and Na2CO3 (C) Face-centered cubic
(C) CuCl2 and CH3COOH (D) Hexagonal closest packed
(D) CuCl2 and Na2CO3 19. What is the standard enthalpy of formation of C2H2(g)?
13. Which liquid has the highest vapor pressure at 25 °C?
∆H°rxn, kJ mol-1
(A) CHCl3 (B) CFCl3
C2H2(g) + 5/2 O2(g) → 2CO2(g) +
−1229.6
(C) CCl4 (D) CBrCl3 H2O(l)
C(s, graphite) + O2(g) → CO2(g) −393.5
14. A sample of cyclohexane (C6H12, bp = 81 °C) is
introduced into an evacuated container at 40 °C. One- H2(g) + ½ O2(g) → H2O(l) −285.9
third of the cyclohexane by mass is in the form of the
liquid and two-thirds is in the form of the vapor. The (A) –2302.5 kJ mol-1 (B) –1909.0 kJ mol-1
volume of the container is then doubled, maintaining the (C) 156.7 kJ mol-1 (D) 550.2 kJ mol-1
temperature at 40 °C. What happens to the pressure as
the volume is doubled? 20. Which reaction occurs with the greatest increase in
(A) The pressure remains the same. entropy?
(B) The pressure decreases by 25%. (A) ClF(s) → ClF(g)
(C) The pressure decreases by 33%. (B) ClF(s) → ClF(l)
(D) The pressure decreases by a factor of two. (C) ClF(l) → ClF(g)

15. The normal boiling points of ammonia, water, and (D) ClF(g) → 1/2 Cl2(g) + 1/2 F2(g)
hydrogen fluoride increase in the order NH3 (bp = –33
°C) < HF (bp = 19 °C) < H2O (bp = 100 °C). What is the 21. A 2.00 g sample of solid RbClO4 (M = 184.92) is added
best explanation for this ordering? to 100.0 g water, both initially at 23.00 °C, in a well-
insulated container. The final temperature of the solution
(A) H2O forms a greater number of hydrogen bonds per is 21.56 °C. What is ∆H°solution of RbClO4? (Assume that
mol than NH3 or HF. the specific heat capacity of the solution is the same as
(B) H2O forms stronger hydrogen bonds than NH3 or that of pure water and neglect the heat capacity of the
HF. insulated container.)

(C) H2O has a larger dipole moment than NH3 or HF. (A) –0.615 kJ mol-1 (B) 0.615 kJ mol-1

(D) H2O has stronger London dispersion forces than (C) 13.6 kJ mol-1 (D) 56.8 kJ mol-1
NH3 or HF.
22. For a reaction studied over a wide temperature range,
16. Which gas has the smallest molar volume at STP? plots of ∆G°rxn/T vs. 1/T and of ∆G°rxn vs. T are linear.
Which of the following must be independent of
(A) He (B) NH3 (C) N2 (D) CO temperature?
I. ∆G°rxn
17. Which solid has the highest melting point? II. ∆H°rxn
(A) OF2 (B) MgF2 (C) SiO2 (D) ClO2 (A) I only (B) II only
(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II

Page 4 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 26, 2020
 23. Elemental tin forms two allotropes, white tin and gray tin. 26. An irreversible reaction A + B → products is monitored
For the conversion of white tin to gray tin, ∆H° = –2.02 in buffered aqueous solution under conditions where [B]
kJ mol-1 and ∆S° = –7.04 J mol-1 K-1. Which statement >> [A] by measuring the concentration of A as a function
best describes the stability of the two phases? of time. The decay of A is found to be first-order under
these conditions, with the half-life for its disappearance
(A) White tin is stable below 13.8 °C and gray tin is
stable above this temperature. varying as shown. What is the rate law for this reaction?

(B) Gray tin is stable below 13.8 °C and white tin is [B] pH Half-life for disappearance of A
stable above this temperature. 0.100 M 1.00 120 s
(C) White tin is stable below 0.3 °C and gray tin is 0.200 M 1.00 60 s
stable above this temperature. 0.200 M 1.50 190 s

(D) Gray tin is stable below 0.3 °C and white tin is (A) Rate = k[A][B][H+] (B) Rate = k[A]/[B]
stable above this temperature. (C) Rate = k[A][H+]2/[B] (D) Rate = k[A][B][H+]2
24. The plot of the natural logarithm of the molar solubility 27. The thermal decomposition of NOCl is a second-order
(S) of Ag2SO4 as a function of the reciprocal of the process, and the rate constant k for the disappearance of
absolute temperature is shown below. NOCl at 160 °C is 0.0037 M-1 s-1. What is the
concentration of NOCl, initially at 0.043 M, after 20.0
minutes at 160 °C?
(A) 0.00051 M (B) 0.036 M
(C) 0.040 M (D) 0.042 M

28. Bismuth-212 undergoes both α decay (35.9%) and β

decay (64.1%) with an overall half-life of 60.6 minutes.
What is its half-life for α decay?
(A) 21.8 min (B) 38.8 min
(C) 94.7 min (D) 169 min
What is ∆H°rxn for the following reaction?
Ag2SO4(s) → 2 Ag+(aq) + SO42-(aq) 29. A reaction A B is reversible, with Keq = 1.00.
The forward reaction is first-order in A. In a reaction
(A) –19.8 kJ mol-1 (B) –10.5 kJ mol-1
initially containing only A at an initial concentration of
(C) 5.74 kJ mol-1 (D) 17.2 kJ mol-1 [A]0, which plot will be linear over the course of the
reaction?
25. A reaction A → 2 B was monitored over time. What is
(A) ln([A]) vs. time
the average rate of disappearance of A between t = 0 and
t = 10 minutes? (B) ln([A]–0.5[A]0) vs. time
(C) 1/[A] vs. time
(D) 1/([A]–0.5[A]0) vs. time

30. The decomposition of nitryl chloride takes place

according to the following equation:
2 NO2Cl(g) → 2 NO2(g) + Cl2(g)
The following mechanism is proposed for this reaction:
NO2Cl(g) NO2(g) + Cl(g)
NO2Cl(g) + Cl(g) → NO2(g) + Cl2(g)
Which rate laws are INCONSISTENT with the proposed
mechanism, regardless of the relative rates of the two
steps?
(A) 0.03 M min-1 (B) 0.04 M min-1 I. Rate = k[NO2Cl]
(C) 0.06 M min-1 (D) 0.07 M min-1 II. Rate = k[NO2Cl]2
(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 26, 2020 Page 5
 31. A sample of SO2Cl2 is introduced into a movable piston 36. A gas X reacts reversibly and independently to form two
with the pressure maintained at 1.00 atm and the different gases, Y and Z:
temperature at 450 K. The volume increases as the X(g) ⇄ Y(g) KY
sulfuryl chloride equilibrates according to the following X(g) ⇄ Z(g) KZ
endothermic reaction: At a certain temperature, the time evolution of the
SO2Cl2(g) SO2(g) + Cl2(g) ∆H° > 0 pressures of the three gases are shown. What is the
equilibrium constant KY at this temperature?
Which changes would decrease the number of moles of 5

SO2Cl2(g) present in the piston at equilibrium? In each

P
X

case, the pressure is maintained at 1.00 atm. 4 Y

P
Z

I. The temperature of the system is increased to 3

500 K.

Partial Pressure (atm)

II. A sample of Ar(g) is injected into the piston. 2

(A) I only (B) II only 1

(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II 0

Time

32. Equal volumes of 0.500 M HCO2H and 0.100 M (A) 3.0

Na(O2CCH3) are mixed. What is the pH of the resulting
solution? The pKa of HCO2H is 3.75 and the pKa of (B) 8.0
CH3CO2H is 4.75. (C) 9.3
(A) 2.18 (B) 3.15 (C) 3.75 (D) 4.25 (D) It cannot be determined because the system has not
yet reached equilibrium.
33. The formation constant Kf of the hexamminecadmium
ion, Cd(NH3)62+, is 2.6 × 105. In a solution whose 37. When the following reaction is balanced under basic
ammonia concentration is 0.12 M, what percentage of the conditions, what is the ratio of the coefficients of
cadmium in solution is in the form of Cd(NH3)62+? Mn(OH)2(s) to MnO42-(aq)?
(A) 44% (B) 51% (C) 78% (D) > 99% Mn(OH)2(s) + MnO4–(aq) → MnO42-(aq)
(A) 3 : 1 (B) 1 : 3 (C) 1 : 4 (D) 1 : 5
34. The Ksp of Sr(OH)2 is 2.0 × 10-3. What is the pH of a
saturated solution of Sr(OH)2? 38. What is the standard reduction potential for the reduction
(A) 11.30 (B) 12.65 (C) 12.90 (D) 13.20 of permanganate ion to managanese dioxide in acidic
solution?
35. When 0.100 M HCl was added to a 10.0 mL sample of Half-Reaction Eº, V
aqueous NaOH, it generated the titration curve shown as MnO4–(aq) + 8 H+(aq) + 5 e– → Mn2+(aq) +
+1.51
a solid line. If the same number of moles of NaOH, but 4 H2O(l)
initially at a volume of 20.0 mL, were titrated with 0.100 MnO2(s) + 4 H+(aq) + 2 e– → Mn2+(aq) +
+1.23
M HCl, which of the dashed curves would best describe 2 H2O(l)
this new titration? MnO4–(aq) + 4 H+(aq) + 3 e– → MnO2(s) +
???
(A) (B) 2 H2O(l)
(A) +0.28 V (B) +1.37 V
(C) +1.43 V (D) +1.70 V

39. A current of 1.20 A passed through a solution of a metal

nitrate for 153 minutes plates out 3.92 g of the metal.
(C) (D) What is the metal?
(A) Ni (B) Cu (C) Rh (D) Ba

Page 6 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 26, 2020
 40. Which changes will lead to an increase in the theoretical 44. The first three ionization energies (in kJ mol-1) of four
cell potential for a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell? metallic elements are listed below. Which element would
I. A more efficient catalyst is used at the cathode. form the chloride salt with the lattice energy that is largest
II. The temperature is increased from 298 K to 320 in magnitude?
K.
(A) 419, 3052, 4420 (B) 503, 965, 3600
(A) I only (B) II only
(C) 520, 7298, 11815 (D) 590, 1145, 4912
(C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II
45. Which element releases the greatest amount of energy
41. Metallic gold will not dissolve in nitric acid alone, but upon addition of an electron to a gas-phase atom?
will dissolve in a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids.
(A) N (B) O (C) P (D) S
Which is the best explanation for this observation?
(A) Chloride ion complexes gold(III), stabilizing it as 46. Which species is the strongest oxidant in aqueous
AuCl4–. solution?
(B) Nitric acid is a stronger oxidant in more acidic (A) TcO4– (B) RuO4
solution.
(C) ReO4 – (D) OsO4
(C) Nitric and hydrochloric acids react to form NO2Cl,
which reacts readily with metallic gold. 47. Which gas-phase atom contains the greatest number of
unpaired electrons in its ground state?
(D) Nitric and hydrochloric acids react to form Cl2,
which reacts readily with metallic gold. (A) Be (B) Al (C) Ti (D) Cu

42. A concentration cell is set up with a metal M and aqueous 48. A clean sample of magnesium metal is irradiated under
solutions of the Mn+ ion. The cell potential at 298 K as a vacuum with a 1 W laser. If the laser wavelength is 400
function of the logarithm of the [Mn+] in the anode is nm, nothing happens, but if the wavelength is 300 nm,
graphed below. What may be concluded about the value then electrons with 45.6 kJ mol-1 of energy are ejected
of n? from the Mg surface. What happens if a 2 W laser is
M(s) | Mn+(aq, variable concentration) || used instead?
Mn+(aq, 1.00 M) | M(s)
(A) There is no change at 400 nm, but at 300 nm twice
as many electrons are emitted at 45.6 kJ mol-1.
(B) There is no change at 400 nm, but at 300 nm,
electrons are emitted at 91.2 kJ mol-1.
(C) There is no change at 400 nm, but at 300 nm,
electrons are emitted at 444 kJ mol-1.
(D) At 400 nm, electrons are emitted at 245 kJ mol-1,
while at 300 nm, electrons are emitted at 444 kJ
mol-1.
(A) n = 1 49. Which species has the strongest bond?
(B) n = 2 (A) HF (B) HCl (C) HBr (D) HI
(C) n = 3
50. Which species has the smallest bond angle?
(D) n cannot be determined from the information given.
(A) NO3– (B) NO2– (C) FNO2 (D) NF3
43. A hydrogen atom emits light as it changes from a state
with a principal quantum number n+3 to a state with 51. Which ions are linear?
principal quantum number n. Which change causes the I. N3–
greatest change in the energy of the emitted photon? II. N2O22-
(A) The initial state is changed to n+4. (A) I only (B) II only
(B) The initial state is changed to n+2. (C) Both I and II (D) Neither I nor II
(C) The final state is changed to n+1.
(D) The final state is changed to n–1.

Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 26, 2020 Page 7
 52. Which is the most stable arrangement of the atoms in 58. Which compound will NOT react readily in aqueous
space in formamide, HC(O)NH2? sodium hydroxide solution?
(A) (B) (A) (B)

(C) (D)
(C) (D)

59. Treatment of acetyl chloride with an equimolar amount of

53. Molecular chlorine, Cl2, has a smaller ionization energy diethylamine at room temperature in diethyl ether gives
than atomic chlorine, Cl (IE = 1108 kJ mol-1 for Cl2 and no more than a 50% yield of N,N-diethylacetamide.
1256 kJ mol-1 for Cl). Which is the best explanation for Which is the best explanation for this observation?
this difference?
(A) Half of the diethylamine is consumed by the
(A) Cl2 has a covalent bond while Cl does not. neutralization of HCl produced in the reaction.
(B) Cl2 has no unpaired electrons while Cl has one (B) Hydrogen bonding between diethylamine molecules
unpaired electron. makes the reaction second-order in diethylamine.
(C) The electron ionized from Cl2 comes from an orbital (C) Traces of water in the solvent convert at least half of
that has antibonding character. the acetyl chloride into acetic acid.
(D) The electron ionized from Cl2 comes from an orbital (D) Diethylamine is a strong base, but a weak
that has d orbital character. nucleophile.
54. How many stereoisomers are possible for the complex ion 60. Guanine, one of the bases in DNA, is susceptible to attack
[Co(NH3)2(CN)2Cl2]–? by alkylating agents. Which nitrogen in guanine is most
(A) 4 (B) 5 (C) 6 (D) 8 prone to alkylation?

55. Replacing which hydrogens with chlorine would give a

chiral molecule?

(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D

(A) I only (B) II only

(C) Either I or II (D) Neither I nor II END OF TEST
56. Which carbon-carbon bond is the shortest?
PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
FOUR QUESTIONS

THANK YOU!
(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D
When you have finished answering this examination or time has
57. What is the best description of the geometry at carbon in been called by the Examiner, please provide responses to the
the transition state of the following reaction? following 4 items. Your answers will not affect your score on
OH– + CH3Br → CH3OH + Br– the exam but will help with a study being conducted by the U.S.
National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) Subcommittee.
(A) Trigonal planar (B) Tetrahedral
(C) Trigonal bipyramidal (D) Square pyramidal
Questions on the next page.

Page 8 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 26, 2020
 61. The amount of time I spend doing experiments in the
laboratory per week on average during my chemistry course
was/is?
(A) less than ½ hour
(B) between ½ and 1 hour
(C) between 1 and 2 hours
(D) more than 2 hours

The following questions should be answered using the scale

(A) Strongly agree
(B) Agree
(C) Disagree
(D) Strongly disagree

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.

Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 26, 2020 Page 9
Page 10 Property of ACS USNCO – Not for use as USNCO National Exam after April 26, 2020
 Olympiad 2020
USNCO National Exam Part I
KEY

Number Answer Number Answer

1. A 31. C
2. D 32. B
3. B 33. A
4. B 34. D
5. A 35. A
6. B 36. B
7. D 37. D
8. C 38. D
9. C 39. C
10. A 40. D
11. A 41. A
12. D 42. A
13. B 43. D
14. B 44. D
15. A 45. D
16. B 46. B
17. C 47. C
18. B 48. A
19. C 49. A
20. A 50. D
21. D 51. A
22. B 52. A
23. B 53. C
24. D 54. C
25. A 55. B
26. A 56. D
27. B 57. C
28. D 58. B
29. B 59. A
30. B 60. C