Contact Information
Christine Upright
Spackenkill High School
845-463-7810
Course Description
The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first year of college. The course aims to develop students' skills in critical thinking, scientific reasoning, problem solving, and laboratory techniques/precision. The pacing of this course is vigorous. It is expected that students will take the AP Chemistry Exam in May.
Supply List
Binder (with loose leaf)
Graphing Calculator
Pens/pencils
Chromebook
Optional: wired headphones
Course Content
Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties
Students will examine the atomic theory of matter, the fundamental premise of chemistry.
Unit 2: Compound Structure and Properties
Students will apply their knowledge of atomic structure at the particulate level and connect it to the macroscopic properties of a substance.
Unit 3: Properties of Substances and Mixtures
Students will explain the properties of solids, liquids, and gases while building proficiency in mathematical reasoning skills.
Unit 4: Chemical Reactions
Students will explore chemical transformations of matter.
Unit 5: Kinetics
Students will develop an understanding of the rates at which chemical changes occur and the factors that influence the rates.
Unit 6: Thermochemistry
Students will develop an understanding of the laws of thermodynamics, and the essential role of energy in changes in matter.
Unit 7: Principles of Equilibrium
Students will develop an understanding of chemical equilibrium, a dynamic state in which opposing processes occur at the same rate.
Unit 8: Acids and Bases
Students will learn more about pH, the qualities and properties of acids and bases, and how they interact in chemical reactions based on concepts learned previously.
Unit 9: Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry
Students will connect principles and calculations from previous units to the thermodynamics of a chemical equation.
About the Exam
The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and has two sections: multiple-choice and free-response.
Students will be supplied with a periodic table of the elements and a formula and constants chart to use on both the multiple-choice and free-response sections of the exam.
Section I: Multiple Choice | ~60 Questions | 1 hour and 30 minutes | 50% of Exam Score | Calculator Allowed
Questions are either discrete questions or question sets, in which you are provided with a stimulus or a set of data and a series of related questions.
Section II: Free-Response | 7 Questions | 1 hour and 45 minutes | 50% of Exam Score | Calculator Allowed
There are three long- and four short-answer questions
The questions assess the following skills: experimental design; quantitative/qualitative translation; analysis of authentic lab data and observations to identify patterns or explain phenomena; creating or analyzing atomic and molecular views to explain observations; and following a logical/analytical pathway to solve a problem.
Course Syllabus and Expectations
For more detail, please see Google Classroom for assignment updates.