AP Chemistry

Avon Lake City Schools 

Curriculum Framework

AP Chemistry

Course Overview:

This program provides an opportunity for high school students to pursue and receive credit for college level Chemistry course work while in high school. In order to give the students this opportunity, the course is designed to meet the expectations set forth by the AP Chemistry Course Description and the AP Chemistry Learning Objectives which can be found at www.apcentral.collegeboard.com.

The AP Chemistry course is designed to provide a comprehensive first-year college chemistry experience, both in lecture and in the laboratory. Topics studied include molar relationships, periodicity, atomic theory, bonding, geometry, gas laws, chemical kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, redox reactions, buffer systems, coordination complexes, and organic chemistry. Emphasis is placed on problem solving and critical thinking skills. Students are required to take the AP Chemistry exam. Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry (regular or honors) with a final chemistry grade of “A” or “B” and recommendation of chemistry teacher. Concurrent enrollment in Pre-calculus or Calculus is recommended. This class meets eight periods per week for ½ unit of credit each semester.

Textbook (Title and Publishing Company): 

Chemistry AP Edition Zumdahl 

Online/Supplemental Materials:

https://login.cengage.com/cb/ access codes provided at the start of the course

Assessments: 

Cumulative tests twice a quarter (midpoint and end) along with the Midterm and AP Chem test 



Content/Topics/Learning Goals

Subject to Pacing and Schedules

1st Quarter- 

  • Big Idea #1 The chemical elements are fundamental building materials of matter, and all matter can be understood in terms of arrangements of atoms. These atoms retain their identity in chemistry reactions.

  • Big Idea #2 Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them.

  • Big Idea #3 Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons

  • Big Idea #5 The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter.

 Content:

  • Scientific method

  • Classifying matter

  • Atomic theory

  • Organic functional groups/structure

  • Stoichiometry

  • Reaction type

  • Solution Stoichiometry

  • Redox reactions

  • Gases/gas laws

  • Enthalpy

  • Hess’s law

  • Standard Heat of Formation

2nd Quarter- 

  • Big Idea #2 Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them 

  • Big Idea #4 Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions

  • Big Idea #6 Any bond or intermolecular attraction that can be formed can be broken. These two processes are in a dynamic competition, sensitive to initial conditions and external perturbations.

 Content:

  • Atomic Structure

  • Periodic Trends

  • Bonding

  • Lewis Structures

  • Covalent Bonding

  • Localized Electron Model

  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy

  • Intermolecular forces

  • Rate Laws

3rd Quarter- 

  • Big Idea #2 Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them

  • Big Idea #3 Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons

 

Content:

  • Rate Laws

  • Mechanisms

  • Equilibrium

  • Le Chatlier’s Principle

  • Acids and Bases

  • Acid/Base Equilbrium

  • Solubility Product

  • Complex ions

4th Quarter -  

  • Big Idea #3 Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons

  • Big Idea #5 The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter.

 Content:

  • Enthalpy

  • Entrophy

  • Gibbs Free Energy

  • Electrochemistry

Last Updated:

September, 2023