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FE Chemical Cheat Sheet

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Math, Statistics & Engineering Sciences

  • 13-19% of exam
  • Calculus & Diff Eq Probability & Statistics Numerical Methods Eng Sciences & Sig Figs

Chemistry & Materials Science

  • 10-15% of exam
  • Chemistry Basics Materials Science Corrosion Electrochemistry

Fluid, Heat & Mass Transfer

  • 22-33% of exam
  • Fluid Mechanics Heat Transfer Mass Transfer & Separation McCabe-Thiele

Thermo, Balances & Reaction Engineering

  • 23-35% of exam
  • Material & Energy Balances Thermodynamics & VLE Reaction Engineering CSTR vs PFR

Process Design, Economics & Control

  • 16-25% of exam
  • Process Design & Economics Process Control Solids Handling Equipment Sizing

Safety, Health & Ethics

  • 7-12% of exam
  • Process Safety Hazard Analysis Environmental Rules Engineering Ethics

Quick Facts

  • Exam FE Chemical
  • Body NCEES
  • Questions 110
  • Time 5h 20m
  • Fee $225
  • Format CBT, Pearson VUE
  • Level Entry-level EIT
  • Handbook v10.6 (2026)

Calculus & Diff Eq MA

  • Power rule (derivative) n*x^(n-1)
  • Power rule (integral) x^(n+1)/(n+1) + C
  • Laplace e^(-at) 1/(s+a)
  • Newton-Raphson step x1 = x0 - f/f'
  • 1st-order ODE y = y0 e^(kx)

Probability & Statistics MA

  • Binomial P(x) C(n,x) p^x (1-p)^(n-x)
  • Confidence interval mean +/- z*(s/sqrt n)
  • Normal distribution bell curve, mean + sigma
  • Control chart limits mean +/- 3 sigma/sqrt(n)
  • Linear regression least-squares best-fit line

Engineering Sciences & Sig Figs MA

  • Ohm's law V = IR
  • Kirchhoff's current law currents in = currents out
  • Work-energy-power W = F*d, P = W/t
  • Significant figures match measurement precision

Molarity vs Molality CH

Molarity

  • Moles per liter solution
  • Temperature dependent

Molality

  • Moles per kg solvent
  • Temperature independent
  • Volume basis vs mass basis

Chemistry Basics CH

  • Molarity moles solute per liter
  • Molality moles solute per kg solvent
  • pH -log[H+]
  • Redox reaction electron transfer, oxidation-reduction
  • Stoichiometry mole ratios, balanced equation

Materials Science CH

  • Corrosion rate mils per year (mpy)
  • Stress-strain curve elastic then plastic region
  • Thermoplastic vs thermoset reformable vs permanently cured
  • Ferrous vs nonferrous iron-based vs non-iron metal
  • Ceramics/composites brittle, high strength materials

Heat Transfer Modes TR

  • Conduction touches, convection flows, radiation glows
  • Conduction: solid contact Convection: fluid motion Radiation: electromagnetic waves

LMTD vs NTU-Effectiveness TR

LMTD

  • Both outlets known
  • Sizing problem

NTU-Effectiveness

  • Outlet unknown
  • Rating problem
  • Sizing vs rating problem

Heat Exchanger Method Picker TR

  • Both outlet temps known → LMTD sizing
  • Outlet temp unknown → NTU-effectiveness rating
  • High fouling risk → Add fouling resistance
  • Flow arrangement choice → Counterflow over parallel

Fluid Mechanics TR

  • Reynolds number inertial over viscous forces
  • Bernoulli equation pressure + velocity + elevation head
  • Darcy-Weisbach friction hf = f(L/D)(v^2/2g)
  • NPSH avoids pump cavitation
  • Continuity equation rho A V = constant

Conduction vs Convection TR

Conduction

  • Solid contact
  • Fourier's law, uses k

Convection

  • Fluid motion
  • Newton's law, uses h
  • Solid vs fluid transfer

Fluid Flow Regime Picker TR

  • Re below 2100 → Laminar, f = 64/Re
  • Re above 4000 → Turbulent, Moody chart
  • High-speed compressible gas → Check Mach number
  • Non-Newtonian fluid → Power-law model

Heat Transfer TR

  • Fourier's law conduction flux, -k dT/dx
  • Newton's cooling law convection, q = hA*deltaT
  • LMTD sizing, known outlet temps
  • NTU-effectiveness rating, unknown outlet temps
  • Overall U sum of resistances + fouling

Absorption vs Distillation TR

Absorption

  • Gas-liquid contact
  • No reboiler needed

Distillation

  • Vapor-liquid equilibrium
  • Has reboiler/condenser
  • Solubility vs volatility driven

Mass Transfer & Separation TR

  • Fick's law diffusion flux, -D dC/dx
  • McCabe-Thiele binary distillation stage design
  • HETP/HTU packed-column transfer height
  • Relative volatility measures separation ease
  • Reflux ratio L/D, liquid over distillate

Reactor Volume Ranking TH

  • PFR needs less volume than CSTR for same conversion
  • PFR: plug flow efficient CSTR: back-mixed less efficient Series CSTR approaches PFR

CSTR vs PFR TH

CSTR

  • Uniform composition
  • Well-mixed
  • More volume needed

PFR

  • Composition varies axially
  • Plug flow
  • Less volume needed
  • Mixed vs axial flow

Balance Approach Picker TH

  • Continuous open system → Energy balance with enthalpy
  • Reaction occurring → Extent of reaction method
  • Unknowns exceed equations → Check degree of freedom
  • Transient startup/shutdown → Unsteady-state balance
  • Multiple recycle streams → Tie-component balance

Material & Energy Balances TH

  • Degree of freedom unknowns minus equations
  • Recycle/bypass stream loops around unit
  • Combustion balance stoichiometric air, excess air
  • Steady-state balance in = out, no accumulation
  • Purge stream prevents inert buildup

Balance Order Steps TH

  • Draw diagram, define system, write balance, solve unknowns
  • Draw flow diagram first Define system boundary Count DOF before solving

Raoult's Law vs Henry's Law TH

Raoult's Law

  • Ideal solution
  • High concentration solvent

Henry's Law

  • Dilute solute
  • Low concentration component
  • Concentrated vs dilute component

VLE Method Picker TH

  • Ideal, high concentration → Raoult's law
  • Dilute solute → Henry's law
  • Nonideal, azeotrope present → Activity coefficients
  • Binary distillation stages → McCabe-Thiele diagram

Thermodynamics & VLE TH

  • First law delta U = Q - W
  • Second law entropy generation >= 0
  • Raoult's law ideal VLE, p = x*Psat
  • Henry's law dilute solute, p = H*x
  • Antoine equation vapor pressure vs temperature

Reactor Selection TH

  • Small batch, liquid-phase → Batch reactor
  • Continuous, well-mixed → CSTR
  • Continuous, no back-mixing → PFR
  • Series reactions, max yield → CSTR-then-PFR train
  • Max conversion per volume → PFR over CSTR

Chemical Reaction Engineering TH

  • Arrhenius equation k = A e^(-Ea/RT)
  • Rate law order rate = k[A]^n[B]^m
  • CSTR design eq V = F(A0)X / (-rA)
  • PFR design eq integral of dX / (-rA)
  • Conversion moles reacted over fed

Time Value Factors PR

  • P grows to F, F discounts back to P
  • P: present worth F: future worth A: annual worth

Feedback vs Feedforward Control PR

Feedback

  • Measures output
  • Reacts after disturbance

Feedforward

  • Measures disturbance
  • Acts before output changes
  • React vs anticipate disturbance

Control Mode Picker PR

  • Offset unacceptable → Add integral action
  • Need faster response → Add derivative action
  • Disturbance is measurable → Feedforward control
  • Standard single loop → PID feedback

Process Design & Economics PR

  • PFD vs P&ID major equipment vs instrumentation
  • NPV discounted cash flow minus cost
  • IRR rate where NPV equals zero
  • Straight-line depreciation (cost - salvage) / life
  • Break-even point fixed cost / margin

Process Control PR

  • Transfer function output over input, Laplace
  • PID proportional, integral, derivative
  • Time constant 63% of final response
  • Feedback control reacts to measured output
  • Feedforward control anticipates measured disturbance

Solids Handling PR

  • Particle size distribution sieve analysis, cumulative %
  • Angle of repose max slope, flowability
  • Screening mesh separates particle sizes
  • Conveyor selection belt, screw, or pneumatic

Flammability Window SA

  • Below LFL too lean, above UFL too rich
  • LFL: lower flammable limit UFL: upper flammable limit Between: flammable range

Process Safety SA

  • LFL lower flammable limit
  • UFL upper flammable limit
  • HAZOP systematic deviation hazard study
  • LOPA layer of protection analysis
  • SDS chemical hazard data sheet

Ethics & Environment SA

  • NCEES Model Rules professional conduct code
  • RCRA regulates hazardous waste
  • CWA regulates water discharges
  • Patent vs trademark invention vs brand protection

Common Traps

Molarity ≠ Molality

  • Molarity: per liter solution ≠ Molality: per kg solvent

LFL ≠ UFL

  • LFL: too lean to burn ≠ UFL: too rich to burn

CSTR ≠ PFR Volume

  • CSTR needs more volume ≠ PFR needs less volume

Absorption ≠ Distillation

  • Absorption: solubility driven separation ≠ Distillation: volatility driven separation

Feedback ≠ Feedforward

  • Feedback reacts after disturbance ≠ Feedforward acts before disturbance

Accuracy ≠ Precision

  • Accuracy: close to true value ≠ Precision: repeatable measurements only

LMTD ≠ NTU Use Case

  • LMTD: sizing, known outlets ≠ NTU: rating, unknown outlets

Last Minute

  • 1. 110 questions, 5h20m testing time
  • 2. MEB is heaviest domain, 10-15 Q
  • 3. Bring approved calculator, spare batteries
  • 4. Raoult's Law needs ideal solution
  • 5. PFR outperforms CSTR per volume
  • 6. LMTD needs known outlet temps
  • 7. McCabe-Thiele for binary distillation stages
  • 8. Arrhenius links rate constant, temperature
  • 9. Check degrees of freedom before balances
  • 10. HAZOP finds process hazards systematically

FE Chemical

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