FE Chemical Safety, Health, and Environment Practice Problems

The current FE Chemical specification assigns 5-8 of the 110 exam questions to Safety, Health, and Environment. Form A contains 5 original problems in this area. The sample below is published in full, with the same worked-solution format used throughout the book.

Free sample problem

A vapor leak enters ventilation air at 2.0 kg/h while clean air flow is 1,000 kg/h. Assuming dilute mixing, vapor mass fraction is most nearly:

  1. (A)0.0002
  2. (B)0.002
  3. (C)0.02
  4. (D)0.5
Show worked solution

Answer: (B)

Mixed mass fraction is 2/(1,002)=0.001996, about 0.20 wt%.

A dilute steady enclosure balance places leak mass in total exhaust flow.

Total mixed flow is 1,002 kg/h.

FE Reference Handbook — Safety: Ventilation and Dispersion

Why the other choices appear

  • (A)Using 10,000 kg/h instead of 1,000 kg/h understates concentration.
  • (C)Using 100 kg/h ventilation overstates concentration tenfold.
  • (D)Assuming equal leak and air flows ignores the stated dilution.

The complete FE Chemical practice exam contains 5 problems in this area and 110 problems overall, with an answer key, full solutions, and a score sheet by knowledge area.

Retaking this exam? The FE exam retake guide turns the NCEES diagnostic report into an area-by-area plan.