AP Chemistry

The AP Chemistry course offers students a college-level foundation that prepares them for more advanced studies in chemistry. Through inquiry-based investigations, students deepen their understanding of various chemistry topics, including:
-Atomic Structure and Properties
-Compound Structure and Properties
-Properties of Substances and Mixtures
-Chemical Reactions
-Kinetics
-Thermochemistry
-Equilibrium
-Acids and Bases
-Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry

Course Overview

The AP Chemistry course outlined in this framework reflects the consensus among chemistry teachers, professors, and researchers on the primary objective of a college-level general chemistry course: to help students build a strong conceptual foundation in chemical principles that can be applied to both future studies and real-world phenomena. The course encourages students to examine chemical phenomena through multiple conceptual perspectives—macroscopic, microscopic, sub-microscopic, and symbolic.

Throughout the course, students develop and apply essential science practices, such as describing, interpreting, and analyzing models; designing experiments and interpreting data; creating representations of data and chemical systems; employing mathematical routines to solve problems; and using evidence and reasoning to support scientific claims.

College Course Equivalent

AP Chemistry is comparable to a general chemistry course at the college level.

Prerequisites

Students should have successfully completed a high school chemistry course and Algebra II or an equivalent course.

Course Content

The course content is organized into commonly taught units, arranged in a logical sequence that aligns with the structure of many college courses and textbooks. The nine units in AP Chemistry, along with their respective weightings on the multiple-choice section of the AP Exam, are listed on the following page.

Pacing recommendations at the unit level, as well as the Course at a Glance, offer guidance on how to teach the required content and administer Progress Checks. These suggested class periods are based on a schedule where the class meets five days a week for 45 minutes each day. While these recommendations are provided to assist in planning, teachers should adjust the pacing according to their students’ needs, alternative schedules (such as block scheduling), or their school’s academic calendar.

This table summarizes the major topics covered in each unit and the percentage of the exam score each unit represents:

Unit	Title	Topics Covered	Exam Weighting
Unit 1	Atomic Structure and Properties	Moles and molar mass, Mass spectra of elements, Elemental composition of pure substances, Composition of mixtures, Atomic structure and electron configuration, Photoelectron spectroscopy, Periodic trends, Valence electrons and ionic compounds	7%–9%
Unit 2	Compound Structure and Properties	Types of chemical bonds, Intramolecular force and potential energy, Structure of ionic solids, Structure of metals and alloys, Lewis diagrams, Resonance and formal charge, VSEPR and hybridization	7%–9%
Unit 3	Properties of Substances and Mixtures	Intermolecular forces, Solids, liquids, and gases, Kinetic molecular theory, Solutions and mixtures, Properties of photons, Spectroscopy	18%–22%
Unit 4	Chemical Reactions	Introduction for reactions, Net ionic equations, Representations of reactions, Physical and chemical changes, Stoichiometry, Types of chemical reactions	7%–9%
Unit 5	Kinetics	Reaction rate, Introduction to rate law, Elementary reactions, Collision model, Introduction to reaction mechanisms, Multistep reaction energy profile, Catalysis	7%–9%
Unit 6	Thermochemistry	Endothermic and exothermic processes, Heat transfer and thermal equilibrium, Heat capacity and calorimetry, Energy of phase changes, Introduction to enthalpy of reaction, Enthalpy of formation, Hess’s law	7%–9%
Unit 7	Equilibrium	Introduction to equilibrium, Calculating the equilibrium constant, Calculating equilibrium concentrations, Introduction to Le Châtelier’s principle, Introduction to solubility equilibria	7%–9%
Unit 8	Acids and Bases	Introduction to acids and bases, pH and pOH of strong acids and bases, Acid-base reactions and buffers, Molecular structure of acids and bases, pH and pKa, Properties of buffers, pH and solubility	11%–15%
Unit 9	Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry	Introduction to entropy, Gibbs free energy and thermodynamic favorability, Thermodynamic and kinetic control, Free energy and equilibrium, Free energy of dissolution, Galvanic (voltaic) and electrolytic cells, Electrolysis and Faraday’s laws	7%–9%

AP Chemistry Science Practices

The following table outlines the key science practices that students are expected to develop during the AP Chemistry course. These practices are central to many tasks on the AP Chemistry Exam.

The Unit Guides integrate and reinforce these practices throughout the course, offering teachers a structured approach to ensure students get ample practice and repetition. This prepares students to effectively apply these science practices in the AP Chemistry Exam.

Practice	Description	Skills
Practice 1: Models and Representations	Describe models and representations, including across scales.	1.A: Describe components and quantitative information from models that illustrate particulate-level properties only. 1.B: Describe components and quantitative information from models that illustrate both particulate- and macroscopic-level properties.
Practice 2: Question and Method	Determine scientific questions and methods.	2.A: Identify a testable scientific question based on an observation, data, or model. 2.B: Formulate a hypothesis or predict the results of an experiment. 2.C: Identify experimental procedures aligned to a scientific question. 2.D: Make observations or collect data from laboratory setups. 2.E: Identify or describe potential sources of experimental error. 2.F: Explain how modifying procedures alters results.
Practice 3: Representing Data and Phenomena	Create representations or models of chemical phenomena.	3.A: Use appropriate graphing techniques, including correct scale and units. 3.B: Represent chemical substances or phenomena using diagrams or models. 3.C: Represent relationships between structures and interactions across multiple levels or scales.
Practice 4: Model Analysis	Analyze and interpret models and representations on a single scale or across multiple scales.	4.A: Predict and/or explain chemical properties or phenomena using chemical theories, models, and representations. 4.B: Explain if a model is consistent with chemical theories. 4.C: Explain the connection between particulate and macroscopic properties using models. 4.D: Assess how well a model describes the link between particulate- and macroscopic-level properties.
Practice 5: Mathematical Routines	Solve problems using mathematical relationships.	5.A: Identify quantities needed to solve a problem using various formats (text, graphs, tables, etc.). 5.B: Select the correct theory, definition, or mathematical relationship to solve a problem. 5.C: Explain how changes in one variable affect another. 5.D: Use graphical information to solve problems. 5.E: Determine balanced chemical equations. 5.F: Calculate or predict unknown quantities from known data.
Practice 6: Argumentation	Develop an explanation or scientific argument.	6.A: Make a scientific claim. 6.B: Support claims with evidence from experimental data. 6.C: Use evidence from models or representations at the particulate level to support a claim. 6.D: Justify claims using chemical principles or laws. 6.E: Use connections between particulate- and macroscopic-levels to justify claims. 6.F: Explain how experimental results relate to chemical concepts. 6.G: Explain how experimental errors might affect results.

This table outlines the essential science practices that students should develop throughout the AP Chemistry course.

AP Chemistry Exam Overview

The AP Chemistry Exam evaluates students’ ability to apply science practices and their understanding of the learning objectives outlined in the course framework. The exam lasts 3 hours and 15 minutes and consists of two sections: 60 multiple-choice questions and 7 free-response questions. A scientific or graphing calculator is recommended for both sections. Students are provided with a periodic table and a formula sheet with relevant formulas.

Exam Format:

Section	Question Type	Number of Questions	Exam Weighting	Timing
Section I	Multiple-choice	60	50%	90 minutes
Section II	Free-response	7	50%	105 minutes
	Long questions (10 pts)	3
	Short questions (4 pts)	4

Unit Exam Weighting (Multiple-Choice Section):

Units of Instruction	Exam Weighting
Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties	7–9%
Unit 2: Compound Structure and Properties	7–9%
Unit 3: Properties of Substances and Mixtures	18–22%
Unit 4: Chemical Reactions	7–9%
Unit 5: Kinetics	7–9%
Unit 6: Thermochemistry	7–9%
Unit 7: Principles of Equilibrium	7–9%
Unit 8: Acids and Bases	11–15%
Unit 9: Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry	7–9%

How Student Learning Is Assessed on the AP Exam

Section I: Multiple-Choice

Science Practices 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are assessed in the multiple-choice section with the following weighting:

Science Practice	Exam Weighting
Practice 1: Models and Representations	8–12%
Practice 2: Question and Method	8–12%
Practice 4: Model Analysis	23–30%
Practice 5: Mathematical Routines	35–42%
Practice 6: Argumentation	8–12%

Section II: Free-Response

All six science practices are assessed in the free-response section with the following weighting:

Science Practice	Exam Weighting
Practice 1: Models and Representations	2–4%
Practice 2: Question and Method	10–16%
Practice 3: Representing Data and Phenomena	8–16%
Practice 4: Model Analysis	5–9%
Practice 5: Mathematical Routines	43–53%
Practice 6: Argumentation	15–24%

Common Task Verbs in Free-Response Questions:

• Calculate: Perform mathematical steps to reach a final answer, including algebraic expressions, proper substitution, and correct labeling of units and significant figures.
• Describe: Provide relevant characteristics of a specified topic.
• Determine: Make a decision or conclusion after reasoning, observation, or calculations.
• Estimate: Roughly calculate values, signs, or quantities based on evidence or provided data.
• Explain: Provide information on how or why something occurs, using evidence or reasoning to support a claim. “How” typically involves analysis of relationships or processes, while “why” involves the motivations behind them.
• Identify/Indicate/Circle: Provide specific information or circle the required data. Also phrased as “What is?” or “Which?”.
• Justify: Provide evidence and reasoning to support or qualify a claim.
• Make a Claim: Assert a statement based on evidence or knowledge.
• Predict: Anticipate the effects of changes or disruptions in relationships, processes, or systems.
• Represent/Draw/Write an Equation/Complete a Diagram: Use graphs, symbols, or models to describe phenomena or relationships.

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