ASTM C1152 Chloride Ion Content in Concrete 200 Exam Practice Questions
ASTM C1152 Chloride Ion Content in Concrete
210 Practice Exam Questions with Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS (Questions 1-30)
1. What is the primary purpose of ASTM C1152?
A) To determine the compressive strength of concrete samples
B) To measure the acid-soluble chloride ion content in hardened concrete
C) To evaluate the slump of fresh concrete
D) To determine the air content in concrete mixtures
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ASTM C1152 is specifically designed to determine the acid-soluble
chloride ion content in hardened hydraulic-cement concrete using acid extraction.
It does not measure compressive strength, slump, or air content, which are
covered by other ASTM standards .
2. Which type of chloride is primarily measured using ASTM C1152?
,A) Water-soluble chloride only
B) Free chloride ions in pore solution only
C) Acid-soluble chlorides including bound and free chlorides
D) Atmospheric chloride deposits only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ASTM C1152 measures acid-soluble chlorides, which include both free
chlorides and those bound within the cement matrix. In most cases, acid-soluble
chloride is equivalent to total chloride content in hydraulic cement systems .
3. What is the main chemical reagent used in the ASTM C1152 extraction process?
A) Hydrochloric acid
B) Sulfuric acid
C) Nitric acid
D) Acetic acid
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Nitric acid (HNO₃) is the primary reagent used in ASTM C1152 to
dissolve the concrete matrix and release chloride ions. It is preferred because it
does not introduce additional chloride ions that could contaminate results .
4. Why is nitric acid preferred over hydrochloric acid in ASTM C1152?
A) It reacts more slowly with cement compounds
B) It does not introduce additional chloride ions
C) It improves concrete strength
D) It is cheaper and more accessible
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nitric acid is used because it contains no chloride ions, preventing
contamination of test results. Hydrochloric acid would add chloride to the sample
and produce erroneously high readings .
5. Which analytical method is commonly used after extraction in ASTM C1152?
, A) Gravimetric analysis
B) Potentiometric titration using silver nitrate
C) Flame photometry
D) Spectrophotometric UV analysis only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: After acid extraction, chloride ions are quantified using potentiometric
titration with silver nitrate (AgNO₃). The silver nitrate reacts with chloride ions to
form silver chloride precipitate, allowing accurate determination of chloride
concentration .
6. What is the significance of chloride content testing in reinforced concrete?
A) It determines concrete color consistency
B) It evaluates the potential for steel reinforcement corrosion
C) It measures the density of concrete
D) It determines the water-cement ratio
Correct Answer: B
ASTM C1152 Chloride Ion Content in Concrete
210 Practice Exam Questions with Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS (Questions 1-30)
1. What is the primary purpose of ASTM C1152?
A) To determine the compressive strength of concrete samples
B) To measure the acid-soluble chloride ion content in hardened concrete
C) To evaluate the slump of fresh concrete
D) To determine the air content in concrete mixtures
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ASTM C1152 is specifically designed to determine the acid-soluble
chloride ion content in hardened hydraulic-cement concrete using acid extraction.
It does not measure compressive strength, slump, or air content, which are
covered by other ASTM standards .
2. Which type of chloride is primarily measured using ASTM C1152?
,A) Water-soluble chloride only
B) Free chloride ions in pore solution only
C) Acid-soluble chlorides including bound and free chlorides
D) Atmospheric chloride deposits only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ASTM C1152 measures acid-soluble chlorides, which include both free
chlorides and those bound within the cement matrix. In most cases, acid-soluble
chloride is equivalent to total chloride content in hydraulic cement systems .
3. What is the main chemical reagent used in the ASTM C1152 extraction process?
A) Hydrochloric acid
B) Sulfuric acid
C) Nitric acid
D) Acetic acid
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Nitric acid (HNO₃) is the primary reagent used in ASTM C1152 to
dissolve the concrete matrix and release chloride ions. It is preferred because it
does not introduce additional chloride ions that could contaminate results .
4. Why is nitric acid preferred over hydrochloric acid in ASTM C1152?
A) It reacts more slowly with cement compounds
B) It does not introduce additional chloride ions
C) It improves concrete strength
D) It is cheaper and more accessible
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nitric acid is used because it contains no chloride ions, preventing
contamination of test results. Hydrochloric acid would add chloride to the sample
and produce erroneously high readings .
5. Which analytical method is commonly used after extraction in ASTM C1152?
, A) Gravimetric analysis
B) Potentiometric titration using silver nitrate
C) Flame photometry
D) Spectrophotometric UV analysis only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: After acid extraction, chloride ions are quantified using potentiometric
titration with silver nitrate (AgNO₃). The silver nitrate reacts with chloride ions to
form silver chloride precipitate, allowing accurate determination of chloride
concentration .
6. What is the significance of chloride content testing in reinforced concrete?
A) It determines concrete color consistency
B) It evaluates the potential for steel reinforcement corrosion
C) It measures the density of concrete
D) It determines the water-cement ratio
Correct Answer: B
