FAD1018 Exam Leaks 2025-2026

Comprehensive exam focus tips compiled from multiple student sources for the 2025-2026 academic year final examination.

Exam Information

  • Course: FAD1018 — Basic Chemistry II
  • Academic Year: 2025-2026
  • Format: Two sections (A and B), 8 questions each
  • Key Insight: Majority of organic chemistry is merged with stereochemistry

Section A — Structured Questions (8 topics)

# Topic Key Details Source
A1 Alcohol Reactions, mechanisms Qash, Victoria
A2 Carbonyl Aldehydes & ketones Qash, Victoria
A3 Phenol Acidity, reactions Qash, Victoria
A4 Amine Basicity, reactions Qash, Victoria
A5 Ionic Equilibrium Basic calculations Qash, Victoria
A6 Thermochemistry Definitions critical Victoria, Dvesh
A7 Chemical Kinetics Rate laws, graphs Qash, Victoria
A8 Electrochemistry No definitions expected Qash, Victoria

Section A — Detailed Tips

A6: Thermochemistry Definitions (Critical)

From Dvesh (academic clinic attendee):

  • "Enthalpy of formation" — do NOT mention standard conditions (25°C, 1 atm)
  • "Enthalpy of formation under standard condition" — THEN mention 25°C, 1 atm
  • Reference: PYP 22/23 Q7

[!warning] Exact Wording Matters The distinction is subtle but important. Only mention standard conditions if the question explicitly asks for "standard condition" in the wording.

Section B — Long Questions (8 topics, pick subset)

# Topic Key Details PYP Reference
B1 Chemical Equilibrium Standard problems PYP 22/23 Q10
B2 Ionic Equilibrium Acid-base titration focus PYP 24/25 Q12
B3 Phase Equilibrium Ideal solution, graphs PYP 24/25 Q13, PYP 22/23 Q11
B4 Alcohol Combined with stereochem PYP 24/25 Q15, PYP 22/23 Q14
B5 Carboxylic Acid Combined with stereochem PYP 22/23 Q15
B6 Amino acid + Polymer Definitions expected —
B7 Kinetic Chemistry Graph analysis —
B8 Electrochemistry No definitions —

Section B — Detailed Tips by Topic

B2: Ionic Equilibrium (Acid-Base Titration)

From Victoria:

  • Draw titration graph — similar to TUTO3 Q4
  • Heavy calculations — weak acid/base problems
  • Memorize chemical formulas — they may only give names:
    • Pyridine = C5H5N
    • Know common weak acids and weak bases by heart

Definitions to Study:

  • Arrhenius
  • Brønsted-Lowry
  • Lewis

From Dnesha (academic clinic):

Probability is high for definition of either Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, or Lewis.

Also study:

  • Buffer solutions
  • Salt hydrolysis

B3: Phase Equilibrium (Major Focus Area)

From Victoria and Dnesha:

Primary Focus:

  1. Ideal solution
  2. Raoult's Law
  3. Dalton's Law
  4. Colligative properties
  5. Formulas

Graph Requirements (Very Important):

  • Axis — label correctly
  • Shape — extremely important
  • Labels — know which component has higher/lower vapor pressure

Reference: PYP 24/25 Q13, PYP 22/23 Q11

B4 & B5: Organic Chemistry + Stereochemistry

Combined Topics Alert:

Combination PYP Reference
Alcohol + Stereochem PYP 24/25 Q15, PYP 22/23 Q14
Carboxylic Acid + Stereochem PYP 22/23 Q15
Polymer + Stereochem PYP 23/24 Q14, PYP 23/24 Q15
Carbonyl + Amines + Amino PYP 23/24 Q15

B5: Carboxylic Acid (Sir Farhan's Topics)

From Dnesha (academic clinic):

  • Questions like Tutorial 9, Question 2
  • Many "puzzle-type" questions (teka-teki)
  • Sir won't give many hints in the question
  • Remember reaction mechanisms for every reaction

B6: Amino Acid + Polymer

From Dr Syazreen: Definitions for amine and/or amino acid expected.

B7: Kinetic Chemistry

From Victoria:

Graph-based question:

  • Straight line with k as gradient and t as x-axis
  • Y-axis depends on reaction order:
    • Zero order: [A]₀
    • First order: ln[A]₀
    • Second order: 1/[A]ₜ

B8: Electrochemistry

From Victoria:

  • Overpotential — most likely to appear
  • Can ask about: Nernst equation, Galvanic Cell, Electrolytic cell

Solubility Product (Additional Topic)

From Victoria (Dnesha's notes):

  1. Simple calculation — Section A
  2. Section B — integrated with ionic equilibria
  3. Precipitate formation — Q > Ksp (Tutorial questions)

Organic Chemistry — Additional Tips

Brady's Reagent (Ammonia Derivatives)

From Anthonny:

  • Lecturer said to focus on Brady's reagent only for ammonia derivatives

Key Topics Checklist

Physical Chemistry

  • [ ] Thermochemistry definitions (enthalpy of formation — with/without standard conditions)
  • [ ] Ionic equilibria (Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, Lewis definitions)
  • [ ] Acid-base titration graphs
  • [ ] Weak acid/base formulas (memorize: pyridine = C5H5N)
  • [ ] Phase equilibrium graphs (ideal solution, Raoult's Law)
  • [ ] Kinetics graph interpretation (order determination from linear plots)
  • [ ] Electrochemistry (overpotential, Nernst, Galvanic vs Electrolytic)
  • [ ] Solubility product (Q vs Ksp, precipitation)

Organic Chemistry

  • [ ] Alcohol reactions + mechanisms
  • [ ] Carbonyl reactions + mechanisms
  • [ ] Phenol acidity
  • [ ] Amine basicity
  • [ ] Carboxylic acid reactions (Tutorial 9 style)
  • [ ] Stereochemistry combined with all organic topics
  • [ ] Amino acid definitions
  • [ ] Polymer chemistry
  • [ ] Brady's reagent

PYP Questions to Review

PYP Questions Topics
22/23 Q7 Thermochemistry definitions
22/23 Q10 Chemical Equilibrium
22/23 Q11 Phase Equilibrium
22/23 Q14 Alcohol + Stereochem + Polymer
22/23 Q15 Carbonyl + Carboxylic + Stereochem
23/24 Q14 Alcohol + Stereochem + Polymer
23/24 Q15 Carbonyl + Amines + Amino
24/25 Q12 Ionic Equilibrium (titration)
24/25 Q13 Phase Equilibrium
24/25 Q15 Alcohol + Stereochem

Tutorial References

Tutorial Question Topic
Tuto 3 Q4 Acid-base titration graph
Tuto 9 Q2 Carboxylic acid (puzzle-type)

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