ACS CP Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ACS CP facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which analytical technique is most commonly used for measuring trace metal concentrations in environmental water samples? → Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
2. Which process describes the increase in concentration of a persistent pollutant at each successive trophic level in a food chain? → Biomagnification
3. Which of the following correctly expresses the Gibbs-Helmholtz relationship at constant pressure? → ΔG = ΔH - TΔS
4. Which of the following best promotes ethical collaboration? → Properly crediting contributors
5. In atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), what is measured? → Absorption of light by atoms
6. Which experimental technique determines the order of a reaction with respect to individual reactants? → Method of initial rates
7. The Eyring equation from transition state theory expresses the rate constant in terms of: → The enthalpy of activation ΔH‡ and entropy of activation ΔS‡
8. In collision theory, the Boltzmann factor e^(-Ea/kBT) in the rate constant expression represents: → The fraction of molecular collisions possessing energy ≥ Ea
9. Which technique separates components of a mixture based on boiling points? → Distillation
10. The Ostwald process for nitric acid production involves catalytic oxidation of ammonia over which catalyst? → Platinum-rhodium gauze
11. Living polymerization techniques (ATRP, RAFT, NMP) are valued in polymer chemistry primarily because they allow: → Precise control of molecular weight, narrow PDI, and synthesis of block copolymers
12. The GHS (Globally Harmonized System) hazard communication standard uses how many signal words on labels? → One (either 'Danger' or 'Warning')
13. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is particularly useful for characterizing: → Secondary structure content (alpha-helix, beta-sheet) of proteins in solution
14. For a mechanism with a fast pre-equilibrium step (K₁) followed by a slow rate-determining step (k₂), the observed rate law: → May include concentrations from the pre-equilibrium step via K₁
15. Which element is common to all organic compounds? → Carbon
16. Which polymer property describes the distribution of molecular weights in a polymer sample? → Polydispersity index (PDI)
17. Which organization publishes chemical safety guidelines? → ACS
18. The EU's Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation aligns with which international framework? → UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
19. Which type of water treatment process uses microorganisms to break down organic contaminants? → Activated sludge process
20. Turnover frequency (TOF) in catalysis is defined as: → Number of substrate molecules converted per active site per unit time
21. Process safety management (PSM) under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 applies to facilities that: → Handle highly hazardous chemicals above specified threshold quantities
22. The citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) primarily functions to: → Oxidize acetyl-CoA to CO2 while generating reduced electron carriers (NADH, FADH2)
23. The steady-state approximation in reaction kinetics assumes that: → The concentration of reactive intermediates remains approximately constant
24. What is the general formula for alkenes? → CnH2n
25. Which physical property measures a substance's resistance to flow? → Viscosity
26. Nylon 6,6 is an example of which type of polymer? → Condensation polymer formed from a diamine and a diacid
27. Which industrial process converts heavy petroleum fractions into lighter, more valuable gasoline-range hydrocarbons? → Catalytic cracking (FCC)
28. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are regulated as air pollutants primarily because they contribute to formation of: → Ground-level ozone and photochemical smog
29. A homogeneous catalyst increases reaction rate primarily by: → Providing an alternative pathway with lower activation energy
30. DNA replication is described as semi-conservative, meaning: → Each new double helix contains one original strand and one newly synthesized strand