AP Chemistry

Course Duration: Full Year

Category: Advanced Placement, Electives, High School, Science

Prerequisite: Chemistry, Algebra II

Assessment: Pre-Test, Lesson Practice, Unit Exams, Mid-Term Exam, Final Exam

Language: English

Course Overview

AP Chemistry has been audited and approved by the College Board to provide students with a college-level learning experience. Structure and states of matter, intermolecular forces, and reactions are some of the topics covered. Students should successfully complete Chemistry prior to taking this course. AP Chemistry is especially recommended for those planning a college career path in a STEM field of study. Acellus AP Chemistry is A-G Approved through the University of California.

This course was developed by the International Academy of Science. Learn More

Scope and Sequence

Unit 1After an introduction to the course, students discuss matter and change. They study accuracy and precision. They review significant figures, scientific claims, and error analysis techniques, as well as the law of multiple and definite proportions. They break down the periodic table and review nomenclature.Unit 2In this unit students study mass spectrometry and isotopes. They discover the mole (Avogadro's Number), and molar mass. They learn to do one-step and multi-step mole conversions. They explore composition and empirical formulas, as well as empirical formulas by elemental analysis. They discuss indications of chemical and physical change, conservation of mass and balancing equations, and modeling chemical reactions at the microscopic level. They understand stoichiometry, empirical formula by combustion analysis, limiting reactants, and percent yield. They investigate how to determine a product identity, and they ponder free response questions on empirical formula and stoichiometry.Unit 3Next students explore solutions and solvation, electrolytes, and precipitation reactions. They learn about creating compounds, acid-base neutralization reactions, and gas-forming reactions. They consider writing chemical equations where precipitation occurs and where acid-base and gas form. They discover molarity calculations, molarity concepts, and solution stoichiometry. They discuss free response questions about solutions. They examine titration and are introduced to redox and oxidation numbers. They investigate single replacement reactions, balancing redoc reactions in acidic solution, and balancing redox reactions in basic solution.Unit 4In this unit student discus heat and temperature, the universe and thermal energy, and enthalpy and thermochemical equations. They explore thermal equilibrium, heat capacity and calorimetry, and coffee cup calorimetry. They study constant volume (bomb) calorimetry, Hess' Law and manipulating enthalpy, and enthalpy of formation. They investigate calculating reaction enthalpy with formations. They are introduced to entropy and learn to calculate entropy. They consider Gibbs free energy and thermodynamic favorability. They analyze free response questions about thermodynamics.Unit 5Students begin this unit with a review of redox principles. They discuss free response questions about redox titration. They are introduced to electrochemical cells. They investigate voltaic/galvanic cells, SHE cells and reduction potentials, and electrolytic cells. They study electrolytic net ionic equations, faraday calculations, electricity, and free energy. They ponder free response questions about electrochemistry.Unit 6Next students investigate the electromagnetic spectrum. They observe EMR and the photoelectric effect, spectra and the Bohr atomic model, and the Beer-Lambert Law. They study photoelectron spectroscopy. They compare all of the atomic models that have been proposed up through the Bohr model and on to the quantum mechanical model. They consider quantum numbers and orbitals, electron configurations, and applications of electron configurations. They discuss free response questions on Beer's Law and electron configurations. They explore interactions between subatomic particles, particle size trends, and ionization energy. They contemplate electron affinity and electronegativity. They review free response questions on periodic trends.Unit 7In this unit students learn about polarity and types of bonds. They study forming covalent bonds, influences on bond length and strength, bond enthalpy, movement of electrons, and spectroscopy. They explore Lewis Structure basics and exceptions. They consider resonance, sigma, and Pi bonding, as well as formal charge. They investigate polarity and VSEPR theory, and they analyze molecules through VSEPR. They discuss free response questions on covalent bonding. Following this unit students are presented with the Mid-Term Review and Exam.Unit 8After the Mid-Term, students consider kinetic molecular theory, gas laws (combined and ideal), and applications of the Ideal Gas Law. They discuss free response questions on kinetic molecular theory. They study Dalton's Law and collecting gas over water. They compare effusion with diffusion. They investigate intermolecular force basics and real gases. They contemplate free response questions on Kinetic Molecular Theory #2.Unit 9Next students explore states of matter. They study advanced intermolecular forces, properties of liquids, vapor pressure, and changes of state. They investigate heating and cooling curves, calculations involving heating curves, and phase diagrams. They discuss free response questions about states of matter. They delve into types of solids, metallic solids, and network solids. They examine network solids and conductivity, as well as ionic solids. They consider free response questions about liquids and solids.Unit 10In this unit students investigate types of mixtures. They explore saturation and solubility curves, concentration calculations, and solution thermodynamics. They discuss free response questions on solution thermodynamics. They study factors affecting solubility, including structure, temperature, and pressure. They learn about separating mixtures, and they study concepts of colligative properties, including calculations and Raoult's Law. They consider free response questions on solutions.Unit 11Next students are introduced to kinetics and collision theory. They study factors affecting reaction rate, describing reaction rates, Rate Laws, and order of reactions. They discuss differential rate laws and free response questions about relative and differential rate laws. They investigate integrated rate laws (equations and graphs), applications of integrated rate laws, elementary steps, and reaction mechanisms. They explore steady state approximation and revisit temperature effects and catalysts. They consider free response questions about the kinetics kitchen sink.Unit 12In this unit students are introduced to equilibrium. They examine the Equilibrium Constant, applications of K, and the Reaction Quotient. They study Keq Calculations, including known concentration and squares, complex reactions, tiny K values, and mixed-up calculations. They discuss free response questions about general equilibrium. They explore the Le Chatelier Principle, Ecell, G, K, and non-standard cells. They contemplate solubility equilibrium and altering solubility. They ponder free response questions about Le Chatelier and thermodynamics, and about electrochemistry and KSP.Unit 13Students begin this unit with an introduction to acid-base equilibrium. They study strengths of acids and bases. They investigate Kw. They learn how structure affects acid strength. They examine the pH scale. They comprehend calculating acid-base systems, Ka of an unknown acid, and weak equilibrium calculations. They explore polyprotic acids and hydrolysis. They discuss free response questions about acid-base equilibrium.Unit 14In this unit students extend their understanding of the common ion effect. They are introduced to buffers and study buffer calculations, designing a buffer, and titration graphs. They explore strong/strong titration calculations, titration and conductivity, and WA-SB titration calculations. They investigate modeling titrations at the particle level, indicators, and free response questions about buffers and titrations. Following this unit students are presented with the Final Review and Exam.