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Through 1997, the AP Chemistry Examination required students to answer one essay and choose two others. The subjects of the essays from 1988 to 1995 are identified below.  Question 5 was the required essay in each case.  This information was downloaded from  

http://www.shs.nebo.edu/Faculty/Haderlie/apchem/apchem.html

YEAR 
QUESTION NUMBER and  TOPIC 
 
1995 

5 Conductivity explanation based on chemical bonding and/or atomic or molecular structure. 
6 Phase diagram explanation. 
7 Explanation in terms of electronic structure and bonding. 
8 Solubility, thermodynamics explanation. 
9 Chemical reaction potential energy diagram explanation. 

1994 

5 Provide explanations for various physical and chemical phenomena. 
6 Thermodynamics. S°, G°, H° and spontaneity. 
7 Acid-base titration curve. 
8 Various chemical principles. Ice melted with salt. Ammonia is a gas, water is a liquid at room temperature. Graphite is lubricant, diamond is abrasive. Vinegar in kettle used for boiling, fizzes. 
9 Atomic structure and bonding explanations. 

1993 

5 Explain reactions of H₂SO₄ using acid/base theory, oxidation-reduction, and bonding and/or intermolecular forces. 
6 Principles of atomic structure: ionization energy, atomic radii, magnetic fields, and geometry of molecules. 
7 Galvanic cell diagram. 
8 Thermodynamics. S°, G°, H°, and spontaneity. 
9 Kinetic Molecular Theory. Atomic explanations of gas observations. 

1992 

5 Rate law. LeChatlier's Principle, potential energy vs reaction coordinate, distribution of molecular energies. 
6 Buffer solutions. Identify buffer pairs, preparation of buffer, manipulations with buffers. 
7 Identification of four bottles of substances. Describe tests to identify the four from each other. 
8 Physical properties explained by atomic and molecular forces and/or intermolecular forces. 
9 Lewis dot structures. Provide bond angles, hybridization and dimerization. 

1991 

5 Thermodynamics. Prediction of sign of S for a reaction, predict sign of H, spontaneity based on temperature. 
6 Laboratory experiment. Determine molecular mass of liquid by vapor density method. 
7 Electrolysis. Anode, cathode reactions, explanation for observations on potential changes as concentration changes. 
8 Physical properties differences explained by structure and bonding. 
9 Nuclear chemistry. Alpha, beta particles and fission and fusion. 

1990 

5 Bond lengths and angle measurements explained by structure and bonding models. 
6 Ionization energy differences explained by atomic structure. 
7 Factors which affect reaction rates. Collision theory, temperature, and catalysts. 
8 Strength of acids explanation. 
9 Laboratory experiment. Empirical formula determined experimentally. 

1989 

5 Lewis dot structures and VSEPR theory for prediction of geometry, angles and polarity. 
6 Melting point differences as explained by bonding principles. 
7 Descriptive chemistry. Identification of three metals by chemical tests. 
8 Reaction rates. Explanation of changes in reaction rates when changes occur in concentration, temperature, surface area. 
9 Nuclear chemistry. Alpha, beta particles and balanced nuclear equations. C-14 dating. 

1988 

5 Explain physical properties based on bonding and intermolecular forces. 
6 LeChatlier's principle. 
7 Acid/Base titration. Explain shape of titration curve, how to select indicator, differences in shape of curve with strong or weak acid and strong or weak base. 
8 Phase diagram. 
9 Laboratory experiment. Heat(Enthalpy) of neutralization for strong acid/strong base.