CHEMIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION

TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS

TOPICS
No. of
AND Weight
Items
OUTCOMES
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY (25%)

A. ATOMS, IONS AND MOLECULES 6 6

1. Describe matter and its structure in terms of atoms, molecules, and
ions
2. Identify compounds and their corresponding chemical formula
B. APPLICATION OF MASS RELATIONSHIP IN CHEMICAL REACTIONS 6 6
1. Describe quantitative chemical reactions and perform calculations
involving chemical principles such as molar mass, Avogadro’s number,
percent composition of compounds, chemical reactions and chemical
equations
C. QUANTUM THEORY AND ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS 6 6
1. Explain and predict the behavior of atoms and molecules in terms of
their electronic structure and interactions (electromagnetic radiation
concepts, quantum mechanics, atomic orbitals/electron
configuration, Aufbau, Pauli exclusion principle, Hund’s rule)
D. PERIODIC RELATIONSHIP AMONG ELEMENTS 10 10
1. Predict the behavior of elements in terms of their classification in the
periodic table
2. Relate the chemical properties to nuclear charge, atomic size,
ionization energy, and electronic affinity
E. PRINCIPLES OF CHEMICAL BONDING 10 10
1. Recognizes the principles, theories, concepts of formation of chemical
bonds
2. Predict the geometries of various molecules in relation to chemical
bonds
a. Ionic bonds, Lewis structures, octet rule, bond strength
b. Molecular Geometry
c. VSEPR model
d. Valence bond theory, basic MO theory
F. PRINCIPLES OF INORGANIC SOLIDS AND MATERIAL CHEMISTRY 10 10
1. Characterize inorganic solids and materials in terms of crystal
structures and the nature of bonding
G. REACTIVITIES OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS 12 12
1. Apply key concepts in inorganic chemistry to explain and predict the
reactivities of inorganic compounds
H. MAIN GROUP ELEMENTS AND THEIR COMPOUNDS 12 12
1. Recognize differences in the optical, physical and chemical properties
of the main group elements and their compounds
2. Analyze reactions of the main group elements in terms of electronic
and structural properties
I. TRANSITION METALS AND COORDINATION COMPOUNDS 12 12
1. Recognize the structure, geometry, and isomerism in coordination
compounds
2. Predict and explain the reactions and mechanisms involving transition
elements
J. NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY 10 10
1. Recognize and apply the concepts of nuclear stability, radioactivity,
and nuclear transmutations in solving problems
2. Discriminate between different types of radioactive emissions and
describe their interactions
K. APPLY PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY TO 6 6
INDUSTRIAL PROCESS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ATMOSPHERIC
CHEMISTRY, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED MATERIAL

BIOCHEMISTRY (15%)

A. BIOMOLECULES AND CELLS 10 10

1. Identify types of cells
2. Describe cell structure, organization and supramolecular assemblies
3. Identify biochemical composition and function of cell organelles
4. Review properties of water, acid-base equilibria, buffers
B. PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 14 14
1. Identify amino acids in proteins; describe amino acid structure,
properties and classification
2. Describe levels of protein structure; identify the force/s that stabilize
each level and the nature/shape of the protein
3. Describe the peptide bond and the formation of peptides
4. Describe the biological functions of proteins
a. Identify specific proteins with their corresponding functions
b. Describe structure-function relationship by differentiating two
proteins; hemoglobin and myoglobin
5. Describe protein separation, purification and sequencing; and
denaturation of proteins
6. Enzymes and coenzymes
a. Describe naming and classification of enzymes
b. Classify chemical reactions based on reaction rate
c. Explain principles of enzyme-catalyzed reaction, kinetics and
describe enzyme inhibition through Michaelis-Menten and
Lineweaver-Burk plots
d. Identify the coenzymes used in metabolism, the reactions in
which they are involved and their precursors
C. CARBOHYDRATES 12 12
1. Describe the structure, function/s and general properties
2. Describe the classes
3. Describe analysis of carbohydrates
 4. Identify the carbohydrate/s present in the biological systems and their
corresponding role/s

D. LIPIDS AND BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES 12 12

1. Describe the structure, function/s and general properties of lipids
2. Identify the classes of lipids
a. Differentiate fats and oils from waxes
b. Identify the important lipids present in biological membranes
3. Describe the nature and roles of phospholipids and cholesterol
4. Describe the nature of biological membranes
5. Oxidations and reductions
E. NUCLEIC ACIDS 12 12
1. Describe the general properties and structures of purine and
pyrimidine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleic acids
2. Describe the central dogma of molecular biology, DNA replication,
transcription, translation; and regulation of gene expression
3. Identify mutations; types of mutation, types of mutagens, DNA repair
systems, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis
4. Describe basic recombinant technology; basic cloning, cDNA,
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
F. BIOENERGETICS – describe energy relationships and energy 10 10
transformation in the following:
1. Free energy, high energy compounds and coupled reactions
2. Biological oxidation-reduction reactions
3. Reduction potentials and the arrangement of electron carriers in the
Electron Transport Chain
4. Electron transport system and oxidative phosphorylation
5. ATP synthesis
6. P/O ratio
G. METABOLISM – Identify reactions and important enzymes involved and
their regulation 12 12
1. Carbohydrate metabolism
a. Glycolysis
b. Tricarboxylic acid cycle
c. Phosphate pentose pathway
d. Glycogenolysis
e. Glycogenesis
f. Gluconeogenesis
g. Photosynthesis
2. Lipid metabolism 12 12
a. Lipolysis (catabolism of triglycerides)
b. Beta oxidation of fatty acids
c. Formation of ketone bodies
d. Biosynthesis of fatty acids
e. Biosynthesis of triglycerides
f. Biosynthesis of cholesterol
3. Nitrogen metabolism 6 6
a. Nitrogen fixation
 b. Metabolism of amino acids
c. Urea cycle

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (20%)

A. IDEAL AND REAL GASES 10 10

1. Apply the general gas equation, PV = nRT in calculations
2. Apply Dalton’s law to determine properties and composition of
mixture gases
3. Explain the behavior of real gases, and state and apply the equations
of state for real gases
B. FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS 15 15
1. Describe the behavior of and calculate work, internal energy, enthalpy
and heat capacity during state changes occurring at different
conditions (isothermal, isobaric, isochoric, adiabatic, reversible and
irreversible changes)
2. Discuss the principle of thermochemistry and apply the first law to
chemical changes
3. Explain the thermodynamic significance of the Joule-Thomson
experiment
C. SECOND AND THIRD LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS 15 15
1. State the second and third laws of thermodynamics and discuss the
significance of these laws
2. Describe the behavior of entropy, internal energy, Gibbs free energy
and Helmholtz free energy during state changes, phase changes and
chemical reactions occurring at different conditions
3. Apply the laws of thermodynamics in calculating the various state
functions (ΔS, ΔG, ΔA) in state changes, phase changes and chemical
reactions under different conditions
4. State and apply the various criteria for equilibrium and spontaneity
D. PHASE EQUILIBRIUM 10 10
1. State and apply the mathematical expressions for phase equilibrium
involving pure substances
2. Discuss and apply the thermodynamics to phase equilibria occurring
in solutions
3. Discuss and apply the phase rule to two- and three-component
systems
4. Construct, analyze and interpret phase diagrams for two- and three-
component systems
E. EQUILIBRIUM ELECTROCHEMISTRY 10 10
1. Discuss and construct diagram of the structure of electrochemical
cells
2. Decide through calculations whether a cell will generate electric
current spontaneously
3. Describe and apply through calculations on concentrations cells with
and without transference
4. Apply electrochemical principles for the measurement of pH,
equilibrium constants and potentiometric titrations
F. KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY SOLUTIONS OF ELECTROLYES 10 10
1. Discuss the postulates of the kinetic molecular theory of gases and
apply them to explain the properties of gases
2. Apply the equations based on the kinetic theory of gases to calculate
molecular speeds, collision frequency and mean free path
3. Describe and calculate the different quantities used to describe the
property of gas to conduct electricity
4. Discuss the different methods for the determination of the mobility
and transport number of ions in a solution
5. Apply conductivity data for the calculation of degree of ionization and
molar solubility
G. CHEMICAL KINETICS 10 10
1. State and apply the rate law/equation for simple chemical reactions
of different orders
2. Calculate the half life for reactions of different orders
3. Discuss and apply the different methods for determining the order of
a reaction
4. Apply the Arrhenius equation to calculate the activation energy and
the reaction rate at different temperatures
5. Write the rate law for complex reactions
6. Apply the steady-state approximation to obtain the rate equations of
complex reactions
H. SURFACE CHEMISTRY AND COLLOIDS 10 10
1. Explain surface phenomena in terms of equilibrium and dynamic
processes
2. Discuss surface tension and the effect of concentration on surface
tension
3. State and apply the equations of describing absorption
4. Discuss the properties of solutions of macromolecules
5. Describe the properties of the different types of colloids
I. QUANTUM CHEMISTRY 10 10
1. Discuss and apply the equations describing the three phenomena that
led to the birth of quantum mechanics
2. Discuss the postulates of quantum mechanics and relate them to the
Schrödinger equation
3. Apply the formalism of quantum mechanics to simple systems and
compare the results with the behavior predicted by classical
mechanics
4. Construct spectroscopic state for elements
5. Construct the wave equation for polyelectronic atoms
6. Describe the quantum mechanical model for diatomic molecules in
terms of the Schrödinger equation; wave functions and energy level
diagrams
 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (15%)

A. STRUCTURE AND BONDING 10 10

1. Apply the concepts of organic structural theory to predict physical and
chemical properties of organic compounds
2. Predict chemical reactivity of organic compounds
B. STEREOCHEMISTRY 5 5
1. Recognize stereochemical differences in the three-dimensional
structure of organic molecules
2. Relate stereochemical differences to optical, physical and chemical
properties
C. IDENTIFY ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ACCORDING TO FUNCTIONAL GROUP 25 25
1. Alkane, alkenes, alkynes
2. Alkyl halides
3. Alcohols, ethers and epoxides
4. Aldehydes and ketones
5. Carboxylic acids
6. Aromatic compounds
7. Amines
D. DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS 25 25
1. Addition reactions
2. Elimination reactions
3. Substitution reactions
4. Rearrangement reactions
5. Oxidations and reductions
E. REACTION MECHANISMS 15 15
1. Write out the detailed reaction mechanisms of common organic
reactions
2. Analyze organic reactions using structural, mechanistic,
thermodynamic and kinetic considerations
F. SYNTHESIS OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS 10 10
1. Map out strategies for the synthesis of organic compounds from
simpler starting materials
G. ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS 10 10
1. Apply chemical methods and spectroscopic techniques for the analysis
of simple organic compounds
 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (25%)

A. CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE 10 10

ANALYSIS
1. Select and use appropriate instruments and laboratory apparatus to
perform measurements of physical and chemical properties of
substances
2. Relate the properties of chemicals to their safe handling and disposal
and interpret safety data information
3. Distinguish units of measurements and determine how these relate to
each other
4. Recognize the concepts of stoichiometry, moles, concentrations,
dilution, aliquot, and apply these to solving problems in quantitative
analysis
B. CONCEPTS, PRINCIPLES, APPLICATION OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN 15 15
ANALYTICAL PROCESSES AND RESULTS
1. Identify appropriate sampling protocols and sample preparation
procedures, and wet chemistry methods
2. Discriminate sources and estimate errors and uncertainties in
chemical analysis
3. Apply statistics in evaluating quality of analytical data
4. Report analytical results with the correct significance figures and
measurement uncertainty
5. Interpret and apply the performance characteristics (or figure of
merits) of analytical methods
6. Apply linear regression in constructing calibration curves
7. Recognize standard organization and their requirements for
accreditation of testing laboratories
C. CONCEPTS, PRINCIPLES, APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND 15 15
CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIA
1. Relate charge and mass balance to the concentrations of chemical
species in equilibrium
2. Apply the concepts of equilibrium constants, ionic equilibria, activity,
and activity coefficients in solving problems in quantitative analyses
in the following systems
a. Acid-base equilibria
b. Solubility equilibria
c. Complex ion equilibria
d. Redox equilibria
e. Buffers
D. PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION OF ANALYTICAL SEPARATIONS 10 10
1. Recognize the general principles of preliminary separation methods
such as solvent extraction, ion-exchange, complex formation,
precipitation, electrodeposition, and solid phase extraction
2. Solve problems applying concepts of separation methods
 E. PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION OF VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS 10 10
1. Recognize the principles involved in acid-base titrations, precipitation
titrations, complexometric and redox titrations
2. Solve problems applying concepts of volumetric analyses
3. Integrate multi-method analysis in solving real-world problems
F. PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION OF GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS 5 5
1. Apply the concepts of solubility products and factors affecting
solubility to gravimetric analysis
G. CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES AND OF INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF 10 10
ANALYSES
1. Identify a variety of instrumental techniques for chemical analysis and
recognize the basic components (including basic electronics) and
characteristics of each method.
a. Atomic spectroscopy (AAS, AES, XRF, ICP-MS)
b. Molecular spectroscopy (UV-Vis, IR, MS, NMR, Raman)
c. Electrochemical methods (Voltammetry, Potentiometry,
Coulometry)
d. Chromatographic methods (GC, LC, SFC, Electrophoresis)
e. Radioanalytical Methods
H. APPLICATIONS OF INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES IN CHEMCIAL ANALYSIS 25 25
1. Develop critical thinking skills in the use of the instrumental
techniques (as given in Section G), to solve real world chemical
problems
2. Develop an appropriate method for a specific problem

SOURCE:
Professional Regulation Commission (Manila)
Professional Regulatory Board of Chemistry
Resolution No. 12
Series of 2018

Issuance and Promulgation of the Tables of Specifications (TOS) of the Subjects for
the Chemists Licensure Examination

As published in the Philippine Star

Classifinder, B7
Sunday, June 10, 2018