100+ Free IB Chemistry SL Practice Questions

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Which property is a direct consequence of metallic bonding?

Good electrical conductivity in the solid state

Low melting point and softness in all metals

Poor thermal conductivity

Brittleness and shattering when bent

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Key Facts: IB Chemistry SL Exam

1-7

Grading scale

IBO

May 2025

First exams new syllabus

IBO Chemistry Guide

150 hours

SL teaching time

IB Chemistry Subject Brief

100

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IB Chemistry SL (first exams 2025) covers Structure (atomic, bonding, classification) and Reactivity (thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, mechanisms). Assessment is Paper 1 (MCQ + data, 1h 30min), Paper 2 (1h 30min), and a 10-hour Internal Assessment, graded 1-7.

Sample IB Chemistry SL Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your IB Chemistry SL exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which subatomic particle has a relative mass of approximately 1 and no electrical charge?

A.Neutron

B.Proton

C.Electron

D.Positron

Explanation: Neutrons have a relative mass of ~1 (1.675 x 10^-27 kg) and carry no charge. Protons also have mass ~1 but carry a +1 charge.

2How many neutrons are present in an atom of the isotope ^37Cl?

A.20

B.17

C.37

D.18

Explanation: Neutron number = mass number minus atomic number. Chlorine has atomic number 17, so ^37Cl has 37 - 17 = 20 neutrons.

3Chlorine has two isotopes: ^35Cl (75.0%) and ^37Cl (25.0%). What is its relative atomic mass?

A.35.5

B.36.0

C.35.0

D.37.0

Explanation: Weighted average = (35 x 0.75) + (37 x 0.25) = 26.25 + 9.25 = 35.5.

4What is the full electron configuration of a sulfur atom (Z = 16)?

A.1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^4

B.1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6

C.1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^2

D.1s^2 2s^2 2p^4 3s^2 3p^6

Explanation: Sulfur has 16 electrons. Filling order: 1s^2 (2) + 2s^2 (4) + 2p^6 (10) + 3s^2 (12) + 3p^4 (16).

5Which of the following best describes an emission spectrum of hydrogen?

A.Discrete coloured lines on a dark background

B.A continuous rainbow of colour

C.Dark lines on a continuous spectrum

D.A single peak in the ultraviolet only

Explanation: Excited electrons fall to lower energy levels, emitting photons of specific frequencies. The result is a line emission spectrum — discrete coloured lines on a black background.

6The lines in the visible region of the hydrogen emission spectrum correspond to electron transitions ending at which energy level?

A.n = 2

B.n = 1

C.n = 3

D.n = infinity

Explanation: The Balmer series (visible) corresponds to electrons falling from higher n to n = 2. The Lyman series ends at n = 1 (UV) and Paschen at n = 3 (IR).

7Which transition in a hydrogen atom releases a photon with the highest frequency?

A.n = 4 to n = 1

B.n = 4 to n = 2

C.n = 3 to n = 2

D.n = 2 to n = 1

Explanation: Photon frequency is proportional to the energy gap. The largest gap is to n = 1 from the highest given starting level, so n = 4 to n = 1 releases the highest-frequency photon.

8How many electrons can occupy the 3d sub-shell?

A.10

B.6

C.2

D.14

Explanation: A d sub-shell has 5 orbitals, each holding 2 electrons (Pauli), so 5 x 2 = 10 electrons maximum.

9What is the condensed electron configuration of the iron(II) ion, Fe^2+?

A.[Ar] 3d^6

B.[Ar] 3d^6 4s^2

C.[Ar] 3d^4 4s^2

D.[Ar] 3d^8

Explanation: Fe (Z = 26) is [Ar] 3d^6 4s^2. When forming a 2+ cation, transition metals lose 4s electrons first, giving [Ar] 3d^6.

10Which element has the ground-state electron configuration 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^1?

A.Potassium

B.Sodium

C.Calcium

D.Chlorine

Explanation: Counting electrons: 2 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 6 + 1 = 19. Z = 19 is potassium (K). The 4s sub-shell fills before 3d.

About the IB Chemistry SL Exam

IB Chemistry SL is a Group 4 Science course in the IB Diploma Programme. The new syllabus (first exams 2025) is structured around two themes — Structure and Reactivity — and is assessed through two written papers and an Internal Assessment (scientific investigation).

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours of written papers (Paper 1: 1h 30min, Paper 2: 1h 30min) plus Internal Assessment

Passing Score

Grade 4/7 typically considered a pass; minimum 24 points for the full IB Diploma

Exam Fee

Approx. US$119 per subject registration plus school fees (International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO))

IB Chemistry SL Exam Content Outline

25%

Structure 1: Models of the particulate nature of matter

Subatomic particles, isotopes and mass spectrometry, electron configuration in s/p/d sub-shells, emission spectra and the Bohr model, periodic trends in atomic radius, ionisation energy and electronegativity

25%

Structure 2: Models of bonding and structure

Ionic, covalent (polar/nonpolar, dative), and metallic bonding; VSEPR molecular geometries and bond angles; intermolecular forces (London, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding); allotropes of carbon

10%

Structure 3: Classification of matter

Periodic table organisation, metals vs nonmetals vs metalloids, ionic vs covalent vs metallic compounds, physical vs chemical changes

15%

Reactivity 1: What drives chemical reactions?

Enthalpy changes and energy profiles, standard enthalpies of formation and combustion, calorimetry (q=mcDeltaT), Hess's law, mean bond enthalpies, entropy and Gibbs free energy

15%

Reactivity 2: How much, how fast, how far?

Collision theory, factors affecting rate, Le Chatelier's principle, reaction quotient Q vs Kc, strong and weak acids/bases, pH calculations, conjugate acid-base pairs

10%

Reactivity 3: Mechanisms of chemical change

Redox and oxidation numbers, OIL RIG, voltaic and electrolytic cells, complete and incomplete combustion, nucleophilic substitution, addition reactions, organic functional groups

How to Pass the IB Chemistry SL Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Grade 4/7 typically considered a pass; minimum 24 points for the full IB Diploma
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 3 hours of written papers (Paper 1: 1h 30min, Paper 2: 1h 30min) plus Internal Assessment
Exam fee: Approx. US$119 per subject registration plus school fees

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

IB Chemistry SL Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise the IB data booklet — Paper 1A and Paper 1B are open-data-booklet, so know where to find constants, equations, and the periodic table fast

2For Paper 2, structure extended answers with clear chemical equations, balanced where required, and define terms before using them

3Train calculation accuracy with significant figures and units; mark schemes deduct for sloppy presentation

4Use past papers from May 2025 onwards — earlier syllabus papers cover different topic numbering and are only partly relevant

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IB Chemistry SL exam format?

IB Chemistry SL has two external papers — Paper 1 (1h 30min, split into Part A multiple choice and Part B data-based questions) and Paper 2 (1h 30min, short-answer and extended response). An Internal Assessment scientific investigation contributes 20% of the final grade.

When did the new IB Chemistry syllabus start?

The new IB Chemistry syllabus had first teaching in August 2023 with first exams in May 2025. It is organised around the unifying themes of Structure and Reactivity rather than the previous numbered topics.

What is the difference between IB Chemistry SL and HL?

SL is allocated 150 teaching hours and HL is allocated 240 hours. HL covers all SL content plus additional depth (e.g. transition metals, organic mechanisms, spectroscopic identification) and has a longer Paper 2 and an extra HL section in Paper 1.

How is IB Chemistry SL graded?

IB subjects are graded on a 1-7 scale. A 4 is typically the minimum considered a pass, with 7 being the highest. The final grade combines marks from Paper 1, Paper 2, and the Internal Assessment.

100+ Free IB Chemistry SL Practice Questions

IB Chemistry SL