Description and Objectives

AP Chemistry is a comprehensive advanced chemistry course, in which students will learn about the fundamental properties of the materials in the world around us, and the ways in which these materials are formed and transformed. The course builds on the topics covered in Introductory Chemistry, focusing especially on mathematical problem-solving.

The curriculum corresponds to two semesters of university chemistry for science, engineering, or pre-medical majors. Topics include Atomic Structure, Bonding, States of Matter, Stoichiometry, Aqueous Reactions, Oxidation-Reduction Reactions, Acid-Base Reactions, Chemical Kinetics, Equilibria, Thermodynamics, Nuclear and Organic Chemistry. Laboratory concepts and techniques will also be covered.

Textbooks

Our primary source will be the College Board’s AP Chemistry Classroom website, which has a detailed description of the material in the curriculum, video classes, and an abundance of exercises and problems.

Chemistry: Structure and Dynamics, Spencer, Bodner & Rickard, 4^th ed. will also be made available. The lead author of this textbook was the head of the College Board team that produced the current AP Chemistry curriculum. The textbook was first prepared on behalf the American Chemical Society, with the aim of setting chemistry education on a firmer theoretical foundation.

Course Requirements

Notebooks, textbooks, review books and handouts will be made available. A scientific calculator must be purchased; it need not be a graphing calculator.

Homework will be assigned and checked daily. It is worth 20% of a student’s grade (this includes lab reports). Tests will consist of AP Chemistry problems from the College Board, and will be worth 80% of the grade.

Since this course corresponds to two semesters of a college-level lab science, in contrast to the one semester covered by most AP courses, students will find that this course takes more time than most other AP courses.

Successful Students

Successful students will study each night until they thoroughly understand all new material. This will allow them to focus in class on the finer points and problem-solving techniques rather than on basic understanding. Test preparation should consist in reviewing material rather than in trying to master it for the first time.

A student who fully understands a chemical concept can use it to solve problems; problem-solving is a major course emphasis. Chemistry problems require an orderly method, attention to detail, and patience. In most cases, the correct answers will be available. When a student’s first attempt to solve a problem results in a wrong answer, it is crucial to review the lesson and figure out how to get the correct answer. Nothing contributes more to mastering concepts than figuring out your mistakes in solving problems.

An orderly method of problem-solving includes: parsing each sentence of a problem to identify what quantities are given and what must be found; identifying equations that describe the relationships of known and unknown quantities; and writing out each step of your calculations, including the equations you are using, the values you are substituting in for the equations’ variables, and the units for each quantity. Working in an orderly fashion ends up saving time by reducing false starts and mistakes and making it easier to figure out the source of mistakes.

This course will serve as an excellent foundation for those students who go into math or science in the future, and the mental discipline and habits it develops will serve students in whatever field they eventually choose.