FE Chemical practice problems and timed practice exams

What the exam covers

FE Chemical knowledge areas

NCEES divides the FE Chemical exam into 17 knowledge areas and publishes a range for each: how many of the exam’s 110 questions can come from that area. PassFEPE sorts every FE Chemical problem into the same areas, so you can work on one at a time or mix them all.

1. 1

   Mathematics

   Analytic geometry, logarithms, and trigonometry · Calculus (e.g., single-variable, integral, differential) · Differential equations (e.g., ordinary, partial, Laplace) · Numerical methods (e.g., error propagation, Taylor's series, curve fitting, Newton-Raphson, Fourier series) · Algebra (e.g., fundamentals, matrix algebra, systems of equations) · Accuracy, precision, and significant figures

   6–9 exam questions5–8% of the exam90+ practice problems

2. 2

   Probability and Statistics

   Probability distributions (e.g., discrete, continuous, normal, binomial) · Expected value (weighted average) in decision making · Hypothesis testing and design of experiments (e.g., t-test, outlier testing, analysis of the variance) · Measures of central tendencies and dispersions (e.g., mean, mode, standard deviation, confidence intervals) · Regression and curve fitting · Statistical control (e.g., control limits)

   4–6 exam questions4–5% of the exam60+ practice problems

3. 3

   Engineering Sciences

   Basic dynamics (e.g., friction, force, mass, acceleration, momentum) · Work, energy, and power (as applied to particles or rigid bodies) · Electricity, current, and voltage laws (e.g., charge, energy, current, voltage, power, Kirchhoff's law, Ohm's law)

   4–6 exam questions4–5% of the exam20+ practice problems

4. 4

   Materials Science

   Chemical, electrical, mechanical, and physical properties (e.g., effect of temperature, pressure, stress, strain, failure) · Material types and compatibilities (e.g., engineered materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals) · Corrosion mechanisms and control · Polymers, ceramics, and composites

   4–6 exam questions4–5% of the exam20+ practice problems

5. 5

   Chemistry and Biology

   Inorganic chemistry (e.g., molarity, normality, molality, acids, bases, redox reactions, valence, solubility product, pH, pK, electrochemistry, periodic table) · Organic chemistry (e.g., nomenclature, structure, balanced equations, reactions, synthesis) · Analytical chemistry (e.g., wet chemistry and instrumental chemistry) · Biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology (e.g., organization and function of the cell; Krebs, glycolysis, Calvin cycles; enzymes and protein chemistry; genetics; protein synthesis, translation, transcription) · Bioprocessing (e.g., fermentation, biological treatment systems, aerobic, anaerobic process, nutrient removal)

   7–11 exam questions6–10% of the exam20+ practice problems

6. 6

   Fluid Mechanics/Dynamics

   Fluid properties · Dimensionless numbers (e.g., Reynolds number) · Mechanical energy balance (e.g., pipes, valves, fittings, pressure losses across packed beds, pipe networks) · Bernoulli equation (hydrostatic pressure, velocity head) · Laminar and turbulent flow · Flow measurement (e.g., orifices, Venturi meters) · Pumps, turbines, compressors, and vacuum systems · Compressible flow and non-Newtonian fluids

   8–12 exam questions7–11% of the exam30+ practice problems

7. 7

   Thermodynamics

   Thermodynamic properties of pure components and mixtures (e.g., specific volume, internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, free energy, ideal gas law) · Properties data and phase diagrams of pure components and mixtures (e.g., steam tables, psychrometric charts, T-s, P-h, x-y, T-x-y) · Thermodynamic laws (e.g., first law, second law) · Thermodynamic processes (e.g., isothermal, adiabatic, isentropic, phase changes) · Cyclic processes and efficiencies (e.g., power, refrigeration, heat pump) · Phase equilibrium (e.g., fugacity, activity coefficient, Raoult's law) · Chemical equilibrium · Heats of reaction and mixing

   8–12 exam questions7–11% of the exam30+ practice problems

8. 8

   Material/Energy Balances

   Steady-state mass balance · Unsteady-state mass balance · Steady-state energy balance · Unsteady-state energy balance · Recycle/bypass processes · Reactive systems (e.g., combustion)

   10–15 exam questions9–14% of the exam20+ practice problems

9. 9

   Heat Transfer

   Conductive heat transfer · Convective heat transfer (natural and forced) · Radiation heat transfer · Heat-transfer coefficients (e.g., overall, local, fouling) · Heat-transfer equipment, operation, and design (e.g., double pipe, shell and tube, fouling, number of transfer units, log-mean temperature difference, flow configuration)

   8–12 exam questions7–11% of the exam20+ practice problems

10. 10

    Mass Transfer and Separation

    Molecular diffusion (e.g., steady and unsteady state, physical property estimation) · Convective mass transfer (e.g., mass-transfer coefficient, eddy diffusion) · Separation systems (e.g., distillation, absorption, extraction, membrane processes, adsorption) · Equilibrium stage methods (e.g., graphical methods, McCabe-Thiele, efficiency) · Continuous contact methods (e.g., number of transfer units, height equivalent to a theoretical plate, height of transfer unit, number of theoretical plates) · Humidification, drying, and evaporation

    8–12 exam questions7–11% of the exam20+ practice problems

11. 11

    Solids Handling

    Particle properties (e.g., surface and bulk forces, particle size distribution) · Processing (e.g., crushing, grinding, crystallization) · Transportation and storage (e.g., belts, pneumatic, slurries, tanks, hoppers)

    3–5 exam questions3–5% of the exam20+ practice problems

12. 12

    Chemical Reaction Engineering

    Reaction rates and order · Rate constant (e.g., Arrhenius function) · Conversion, yield, and selectivity · Type of reactions (e.g., series, parallel, forward, reverse, homogeneous, heterogeneous, biological) · Reactor types (e.g., batch, semibatch, continuous stirred tank, plug flow, gas phase, liquid phase) · Catalysis (e.g., mechanisms, biocatalysis, physical properties)

    7–11 exam questions6–10% of the exam20+ practice problems

13. 13

    Economics

    Time value of money (e.g., present worth, annual worth, future worth, rate of return) · Economic analyses (e.g., break-even, benefit-cost, optimal economic life) · Uncertainty (e.g., expected value and risk) · Project selection (e.g., comparison of projects with unequal lives, lease/buy/make, depreciation, discounted cash flow)

    4–6 exam questions4–5% of the exam60+ practice problems

14. 14

    Process Design

    Process flow diagrams and piping and instrumentation diagrams · Equipment selection (e.g., sizing and scale-up) · Equipment and facilities cost estimation (e.g., cost indices, equipment costing) · Process design and optimization (e.g., sustainability, efficiency, green engineering, inherently safer design, evaluation of specifications, product design) · Design standards (e.g., regulatory, ASTM, ISO, OSHA)

    7–11 exam questions6–10% of the exam20+ practice problems

15. 15

    Process Control

    Dynamics (e.g., first- and second-order processes, gains and time constants, stability, damping, and transfer functions) · Control strategies (e.g., feedback, feedforward, cascade, ratio, PID controller tuning, alarms, other safety equipment) · Control loop design and hardware (e.g., matching measured and manipulated variables, sensors, control valves, conceptual process control, distributed control system [DCS] programming, programmable logic controller [PLC] programming, interlocks)

    4–6 exam questions4–5% of the exam20+ practice problems

16. 16

    Safety, Health, and Environment

    Hazardous properties of materials, including SDS (e.g., corrosivity, flammability, toxicity, reactivity, handling, storage, transportation) · Industrial hygiene (e.g., toxicity, noise, PPE, ergonomics) · Process safety, risk assessment, and hazard analysis (e.g., layer of protection analysis, hazard and operability [HAZOP] studies, fault and event tree analysis, dispersion modeling) · Overpressure and underpressure protection (e.g., relief, redundant control, inherently safe) · Waste minimization, waste treatment, and regulation (e.g., air, water, solids, RCRA, CWA, other EPA, OSHA) · Reactivity hazards (e.g., inerting, runaway reactions, compatibility)

    5–8 exam questions5–7% of the exam20+ practice problems

17. 17

    Ethics and Professional Practice

    Codes of ethics (professional and technical societies) · Agreements, contracts, and contract law (e.g., noncompete, nondisclosure, memorandum of understanding) · Public health, safety, and welfare (e.g., public protection issues, licensing, professional liability, regulatory issues) · Intellectual property (e.g., copyright, trade secrets, patents, trademarks)

    3–5 exam questions3–5% of the exam50+ practice problems

How PassFEPE helps

Practice that fits around work and classes.

• Practice problems

  610+ FE Chemical problems, sorted by knowledge area. Choose the areas and how many to do in a set.

• Timed practice exams

  5 full-length FE Chemical practice exams on the exam clock, with the scheduled break and a review screen before you submit.

• Step-by-step solutions

  Every problem has a worked solution, so you see how the answer is reached and where a wrong one goes astray.

• Tailored study plan

  Your results decide what comes next. PassFEPE ranks the FE Chemical knowledge areas that need the most work and sizes a set for each.

• Your handbook, searchable

  Add your own NCEES FE Reference Handbook PDF. Search it, jump between sections and keep it open beside every question. It stays on your device.

• Progress by topic

  Accuracy in each of the 17 knowledge areas, and your pace against the exam clock, so every session goes where it counts.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

How many questions are on the FE Chemical exam?

110 questions in 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time, in two sections with an optional 25-minute scheduled break after about half the questions (PassFEPE’s simulator breaks after question 55). NCEES publishes the question count, the times and the break; PassFEPE’s simulator follows them.

Which knowledge area carries the most questions on the FE Chemical exam?

Material/Energy Balances: NCEES publishes a range of 10–15 of the 110 questions for it, 9–14% of the exam. PassFEPE has 20+ practice problems in it.

Are these real FE Chemical exam questions?

No. They are practice problems written for PassFEPE in the style of the computer-based exam, sorted by the NCEES knowledge areas for FE Chemical.

Do I need the NCEES FE Reference Handbook?

It is the reference NCEES supplies on screen during the exam, so it is worth practicing with. PassFEPE doesn’t include it, because it is copyrighted: add your own legally obtained PDF and it opens beside your questions, searchable. The file stays on your device.

Is PassFEPE affiliated with NCEES?

No. PassFEPE is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCEES.