Tips For Chemistry Exam

Command Word	Description	Example
Define	Write a concise statement to say what something is or means.	Example: Define the meaning of cation. Suggested Answer: Ion that is attracted to the cathode.
State	Write a short, concise answer/fact without explaination.	Example: State one use of PVC. Suggested Answer: To manufacture water pipe.
List	Give a number of points in a list. Each point might only be a single word or a short phrase or sentence.	Example: List three raw materials needed in the Contact process. Suggested Answer: Oxygen, sulphur, oleum.
Determine	The answer cannot be measured directly but is obtained by calculation or perhaps, by taking a reading from the graph.	Example: Determine the heat of combustion for alcohol with 5 carbon atoms per unit molecule.
Explain	Give reasons for the observation/ happening.	Example: Explain why small marble chips have a higher rate of reaction. Suggested  Answer: Small marble chips have a larger total surface area. Frequency of collision between H+ ion and CO32- ion in the solid calcium carbonate increases. Frequency of effective collision also increases.
Predict or deduce	Deduce an answer from information in the question or from an earlier answer. You are not expected to produce an answer from memory.	Example: Element X is lower than potassium in Group 1. Predict the reactivity of element X. Suggested Answer: The reactivity of element X is higher than potassium.
Describe	Write in full and systematically, what has been carried out, observed or deduced and with diagram of apparatus used.	Example: Describe how ethanol can be produced by fermentation in the laboratory. Suggested Answer: Your answer should contain the following: #Simple diagram of the apparatus #One or two sentences saying what you should do, including : -Material used(i.e. sugar, yeast, water) -Conditions(i.e. leave in a warm place for a few days; plug the flask so that the air cannot get in) -Equation (if you know it is) or at least mention that glucose decomposes into ethanol and carbon dioxide)
Compare and contrast	Give the differences and similarities between two terms/phenomena	Example: Compare and contrast between hexane and hexene. Suggested Answer: #Both hexane and hexene are colourless liquids. #Complete combustion of hexene and hexane produce carbon dioxide and water. #Hexene undergoes addition reaction, hexane undergoes substitution reaction. #Hexene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon, hexane is a saturated hydrocarbon.