⚗️ New York Physical Setting/Chemistry Regents Exam Past Papers (2012-2026)
Access the complete collection of official New York State Physical Setting/Chemistry Regents examination past papers, answer booklets, scoring keys, rating guides, and conversion charts from January 2012 to January 2026. Essential resources for students studying atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, and laboratory skills.
📋 Exam Format: The Physical Setting/Chemistry Regents consists of 85 questions completed over 3 hours. Part A includes approximately 30 multiple-choice questions. Part B-1 has about 20 multiple-choice questions. Part B-2 contains approximately 10 short constructed-response questions. Part C features about 20 extended constructed-response questions requiring detailed explanations and calculations. The Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Chemistry are provided during the exam.
📚 Complete Past Papers Collection
🎯 Key Content Areas in Chemistry
Atomic Structure & Periodicity
10-15% of contentAtomic models, subatomic particles, electron configuration, orbital diagrams, periodic table organization, periodic trends (electronegativity, ionization energy, atomic radius), and valence electrons.
Chemical Bonding
15-20% of contentIonic bonding, covalent bonding, metallic bonding, Lewis structures, molecular geometry, VSEPR theory, polarity, intermolecular forces, and network solids.
Chemical Reactions & Equations
15-20% of contentTypes of chemical reactions (synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, combustion), balancing equations, redox reactions, oxidation numbers, and predicting products.
Stoichiometry & Calculations
15-20% of contentMole concept, molar mass, percent composition, empirical and molecular formulas, stoichiometric calculations, limiting reactants, theoretical yield, percent yield, and solution concentration.
States of Matter & Gas Laws
10-15% of contentProperties of solids, liquids, and gases, kinetic molecular theory, phase changes, gas laws (Boyle's, Charles's, Gay-Lussac's, combined, ideal), STP conditions, and partial pressure.
Solutions & Solubility
10-15% of contentSolution terminology, concentration calculations (molarity, molality, percent), factors affecting solubility, solubility curves, colligative properties, and electrolytes vs nonelectrolytes.
Acids, Bases & pH
10-15% of contentAcid-base theories (Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry), pH and pOH scales, strong vs weak acids/bases, neutralization reactions, titration, indicators, and hydrolysis.
Thermochemistry & Energy
10-15% of contentEndothermic vs exothermic reactions, enthalpy, heat calculations, specific heat capacity, calorimetry, potential energy diagrams, activation energy, and Hess's Law.
Kinetics & Equilibrium
10-15% of contentReaction rates, factors affecting rates (temperature, concentration, surface area, catalysts), collision theory, equilibrium systems, Le Châtelier's principle, and equilibrium constants.
Organic Chemistry
5-10% of contentHydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes), organic functional groups, nomenclature, isomers, organic reactions, and properties of organic compounds.
Nuclear Chemistry
5-10% of contentRadioactive decay, types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma), half-life calculations, nuclear equations, fission, fusion, and applications of radioactivity.
Electrochemistry
5-10% of contentOxidation-reduction reactions, electrochemical cells, voltaic cells, electrolytic cells, half-reactions, activity series, and applications of electrochemistry.
📖 How to Use These Resources Effectively
Study Strategy for Chemistry Regents
- Master the Reference Tables: Familiarize yourself with the Chemistry Reference Tables provided during the exam. Practice locating and using information quickly.
- Complete Full Practice Exams: Work through entire past papers under timed conditions (3 hours) to build stamina and time management skills.
- Review Rating Guides Carefully: Study the rating guides to understand exactly what graders look for in constructed-response answers, especially for Part B-2 and Part C questions.
- Focus on Calculations: Practice stoichiometry, molarity, pH, and gas law problems extensively. Show all work using proper units and significant figures.
- Analyze Your Mistakes: Use the scoring keys to identify weak areas. Create targeted study sessions focusing on specific topics where you struggle.
- Use the Conversion Chart: Understand how raw scores convert to scaled scores. Know how many points you need to achieve your target grade.
- Practice Laboratory Skills: Review common laboratory procedures, safety, measurement techniques, and data analysis as these appear throughout the exam.
💡 Pro Tip: The Chemistry Reference Tables contain all the formulas, constants, and data you need for the exam. Don't memorize them—instead, practice using them efficiently. Many students lose points not because they don't know chemistry, but because they can't find information quickly in the reference tables.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
📚 Need More Practice Materials?
Visit Official NYS Chemistry Regents Page