Warwick School District

Course Description

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This AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first year of college when paired with the college-prep chemistry or honors chemistry curriculum. For many students, the course enables them to undertake, as a freshman, second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register for courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite. This course is structured around 9 units articulated in the AP Chemistry curriculum framework provided by the College Board. Topics of study include summer review and extensions, thermochemistry, molecular geometry and bonding theories, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, additional aspects of aqueous equilibria, chemical thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. AP Chemistry is rigorous but also invaluable if planning on taking chemistry at the collegiate level. Students are expected to be proficient in the college-prep/honors chemistry curriculum, so they will get their textbook before summer break to complete a short review of some 1st-year chemistry concepts in preparation for the first week of school.

Course Duration: Year-Long
Credit Hours: 1 (weighted)
Type of Course: Elective
Prerequisites for Course: At least a C in Honors Chemistry (0231) or at least a B in College Prep Chemistry (0232). A short summer textbook review assignment will be completed to brush off some of the cobwebs from 1st-year chemistry topics.

Core Curriculum Content Standards

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Science, Technology & Engineering, and Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (2023)

• Physical Science

• Grades 9-12

• Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.(3.2.9-12.A)
• Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.(3.2.9-12.B)
• Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.(3.2.9-12.C)
• Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the changes in total bond energy.(3.2.9-12.D)
• Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs.(3.2.9-12.E)
• Refine the design of a chemical system by specifying a change in conditions that would produce increased amounts of products at equilibrium.(3.2.9-12.F)
• Use mathematical representations to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction.(3.2.9-12.G)
• Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.(3.2.9-12.H)
• Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system.(3.2.9-12.J)
• Use mathematical representations of Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.(3.2.9-12.L)
• Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular- level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials.(3.2.9-12.N)
• Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.(3.2.9-12.O)
• Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as a combination of energy associated with the motions of particles (objects) and energy associated with the relative positions of particles (objects).(3.2.9-12.P)
• Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.(3.2.9-12.Q)
• Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).(3.2.9-12.R)
• Develop and use a model of two objects interacting through electric or magnetic fields to illustrate the forces between objects and the changes in energy of the objects due to the interaction.(3.2.9-12.S)
• Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.(3.2.9-12.T)
• Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning behind the idea that electromagnetic radiation can be described either by a wave model or a particle model and that for some situations one model is more useful than the other.(3.2.9-12.V)
• Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.(3.2.9-12.W)
• Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.(3.2.9-12.X)

• Environmental Literacy & Sustainability

• Grades 9-12

• Apply research and analytical skills to systematically investigate environmental issues ranging from local issues to those that are regional or global in scope.(3.4.9-12.D)

• Technology & Engineering

• Grades 9-12

• Evaluate how technology and engineering advancements alter human health and capabilities.(3.5.9-12.E)
• Evaluate ways that technology and engineering can impact individuals, society, and the environment.(3.5.9-12.H)

Units

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Unit #1 - First-Year Review

Unit #2 - First-Year Extensions

Unit #3 - Thermochemistry

Unit #4 - Molecular Structure and Bonding Theories

Unit #5 - Chemical Kinetics

Unit #6 - Chemical Equilibrium

Unit #7 - Acid-Base Equilibria

Unit #8 - Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria

Unit #9 - Chemical Thermodynamics

Unit #10 - Electrochemistry

Unit #11 - Solids and Modern Materials

Unit #12 - AP Exam Prep and Review

Unit #13 - Post AP Exam

Course Resources

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• Brown, T. L., LeMay, H. E., Jr, Bursten, B. E., Murphy, C. J., Woodward, P. M., & Stoltzfus, M. W. (2018). Chemistry: The central science (14th, AP ® Edition ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
• Flinn Scientific Advanced Inquiry Labs for AP ® Chemistry Lab Manual
• The College Board. (2014). AP ® chemistry guided-inquiry experiments: Applying the science practices (2nd Printing ed.) [PDF].