How General Chemistry Is Tested
On the MCAT, general chemistry is applied within an experimental and often biological context rather than tested as isolated calculations. It appears prominently in the Chemical and Physical Foundations section and supports biochemistry. Questions emphasize conceptual understanding and data interpretation — reading a titration curve or reasoning about a reaction — so building intuition matters more than memorizing formulas alone.
High-Yield Topics
Prioritize acid-base chemistry and equilibrium, including pH, buffers, and titrations, which are frequently tested and connect to physiology. Thermodynamics (enthalpy, entropy, free energy, and spontaneity) and chemical kinetics (rates, rate laws, and catalysis, including enzymes) are core. Electrochemistry, solutions and their properties, gases, and atomic and bonding fundamentals round out the high-yield content.
Connecting to Biochemistry and Physics
General chemistry does not stand alone on the MCAT. Acid-base and buffer concepts underlie blood pH and the bicarbonate system; thermodynamics and kinetics connect to enzyme function and metabolism; and solution chemistry links to physiology. Recognizing these connections both deepens understanding and reflects how the exam integrates the sciences, so studying gen chem alongside biochemistry is efficient.
How to Study Gen Chem
Study conceptually and practice application. Make sure you can reason through, rather than merely memorize, acid-base problems, thermodynamic relationships, and rate laws, and be comfortable interpreting graphs and experimental data. Emphasize the high-yield topics above, and use AAMC and third-party passages to train the applied, data-driven style the MCAT uses, connecting gen chem to biochemistry as you go.
General chemistry guides, topic by topic
Each guide below follows the AAMC content outline and includes worked examples and practice.
| Topic | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Atomic structure | Quantum numbers, electron configurations, spectra |
| Periodic trends | Atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity |
| Chemical bonding | Lewis structures, VSEPR, polarity, intermolecular forces |
| Chemical kinetics | Rate laws, activation energy, catalysts |
| Chemical equilibrium | K, Q, Le Châtelier’s principle |
| Acids and bases | pH, pKa, buffers, titrations |
| Thermochemistry | Enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy |
| Electrochemistry | Galvanic and electrolytic cells, reduction potentials |
General chemistry topics on the MCAT Chem/Phys section.