AP Chemistry is an introductory college-level chemistry course. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based lab investigations as they explore the four Big Ideas: scale, proportion, and quantity; structure and properties of substances; transformations; and energy.
Quarter 1
Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties
Calculate quantities of a substance or its relative number of particles using dimensional analysis and the mole concept.
Explain the quantitative relationship between the mass spectrum of an element and the masses of the element’s isotopes.
Explain the quantitative relationship between the elemental composition by mass and the empirical formula of a pure substance.
Explain the quantitative relationship between the elemental composition by mass and the composition of substances in a mixture.
Represent the electron configuration of an element or ions of an element using the Aufbau principle.
Explain the relationship between the photoelectron spectrum of an atom or ion and: a. The electron configuration of the species. b. The interactions between the electrons and the nucleus.
Explain the relationship between trends in atomic properties of elements and electronic structure and periodicity.
Explain the relationship between trends in the reactivity of elements and periodicity.
Unit 2: Molecular and Ionic Compound Structure and Properties
Explain the relationship between the type of bonding and the properties of the elements participating in the bond.
Represent the relationship between potential energy and distance between atoms, based on factors that influence the interaction strength.
Represent an ionic solid with a particulate model that is consistent with Coulomb’s law and the properties of the constituent ions.
Represent a metallic solid and/or alloy using a model to show essential characteristics of the structure and interactions present in the substance.
Represent a molecule with a Lewis diagram.
Represent a molecule with a Lewis diagram that accounts for resonance between equivalent structures or that uses formal charge to select between nonequivalent structures.
Based on the relationship between Lewis diagrams, VSEPR theory, bond orders, and bond polarities: a. Explain structural properties of molecules. b. Explain electron properties of molecules
Unit 3: Intermolecular Forces and Properties
Explain the degree to which a model or representation describes the connection between particulate-level properties and macroscopic properties.
Explain the connection between particulatelevel and macroscopic properties of a substance using models and representations.
Represent visually the relationship between the structures and interactions across multiple levels or scales (e.g., particulate to macroscopic).
Quarter 2
Explain the relationship between variables within an equation when one variable changes.
Explain chemical properties or phenomena (e.g., of atoms or molecules) using given chemical theories, models, and representations.
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using connections between particulate and macroscopic scales or levels.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Represent visually the relationship between the structures and interactions across multiple levels or scales (e.g., particulate to macroscopic).
Identify experimental procedures that are aligned to the question (which may include a sketch of a lab setup).
Explain the degree to which a model or representation describes the connection between particulate-level properties and macroscopic properties.
Explain chemical properties or phenomena (e.g., of atoms or molecules) using given chemical theories, models, and representations.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Identify or describe potential sources of experimental error.
Unit 4: Chemical Properties
Formulate a hypothesis or predict the results of an experiment.
Determine a balanced chemical equation for a given chemical phenomena.
Represent chemical substances or phenomena with appropriate diagrams or models (e.g., electron configuration).
Support a claim with evidence from experimental data.
Explain the relationship between variables within an equation when one variable changes.
Represent chemical phenomena using appropriate graphing techniques, including correct scale and units.
Describe the components of and quantitative information from models and representations that illustrate both particulate level and macroscopic-level properties.
Describe the components of and quantitative information from models and representations that illustrate both particulatelevel and macroscopic-level properties.
Determine a balanced chemical equation for a given chemical phenomena.
Unit 5: Kinetics
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using connections between particulate and macroscopic scales or levels.
Explain the relationship between variables within an equation when one variable changes.
Quarter 3
Identify an appropriate theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem.
Determine a balanced chemical equation for a given chemical phenomena.
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using connections between particulate and macroscopic scales or levels.
Represent chemical substances or phenomena with appropriate diagrams or models (e.g., electron configuration).
Describe the components of and quantitative information from models and representations that illustrate both particulate level and macroscopic-level properties.
Identify an appropriate theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem.
Identify an appropriate theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem.
Represent chemical substances or phenomena with appropriate diagrams or models (e.g., electron configuration).
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using connections between particulate and macroscopic scales or levels.
Unit 6: Thermodynamics
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using chemical principles or laws, or using mathematical justification.
Represent chemical phenomena using appropriate graphing techniques, including correct scale and units.
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using connections between particulate and macroscopic scales or levels.
Make observations or collect data from representations of laboratory setups or results, while attending to precision where appropriate.
Describe the components of and quantitative information from models and representations that illustrate both particulate-level and macroscopiclevel properties.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Identify quantities needed to solve a problem from given information (e.g., text, mathematical expressions, graphs, or tables).
Unit 7: Equilibrium
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using chemical principles or laws, or using mathematical justification.
Explain the degree to which a model or representation describes the connection between particulate-level properties and macroscopic properties.
Represent chemical phenomena using appropriate graphing techniques, including correct scale and units.
Explain the relationship between variables within an equation when one variable changes.
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using chemical principles or laws, or using mathematical justification.
Identify quantities needed to solve a problem from given information (e.g., text, mathematical expressions, graphs, or tables).
Represent chemical phenomena using appropriate graphing techniques, including correct scale and units.
Quarter 4
Represent visually the relationship between the structures and interactions across multiple levels or scales (e.g., particulate to macroscopic).
Explain the connection between experimental results and chemical concepts, processes, or theories.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Identify an appropriate theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem.
Explain how modifications to an experimental procedure will alter results.
Make observations or collect data from representations of laboratory setups or results, while attending to precision where appropriate.
Explain the degree to which a model or representation describes the connection between particulate-level properties and macroscopic properties.
Unit 8: Acids and Bases
Identify an appropriate theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem.
Identify an appropriate theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem.
Explain the relationship between variables within an equation when one variable changes.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Identify information presented graphically to solve a problem.
Support a claim with evidence from representations or models at the particulate level, such as the structure of atoms and/or molecules.
Make observations or collect data from representations of laboratory setups or results, while attending to precision where appropriate.
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using chemical principles or laws, or using mathematical justification.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Explain how potential sources of experimental error may affect the experimental results.
Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics
Support a claim with evidence from representations or models at the particulate level, such as the structure of atoms and/or molecules.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using connections between particulate and macroscopic scales or levels.
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using connections between particulate and macroscopic scales or levels.
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using chemical principles or laws, or using mathematical justification.
Explain the degree to which a model or representation describes the connection between particulate-level properties and macroscopic properties.
Explain how modifications to an experimental procedure will alter results.
Calculate, estimate, or predict an unknown quantity from known quantities by selecting and following a logical computational pathway and attending to precision (e.g., performing dimensional analysis and attending to significant figures).
Provide reasoning to justify a claim using chemical principles or laws, or using mathematical justification.
Identify an appropriate theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem.