AP Chemistry

Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties

Students study the composition of atoms and how chemists measure, identify, and categorize matter at the particle level. On the AP exam: 7%-9%.

• Topic 1.1: Moles and molar mass Study Notes
• Topic 1.2: Mass spectra of elements Study Notes
• Topic 1.3: Elemental composition of pure substances Study Notes
• Topic 1.4: Composition of mixtures Study Notes
• Topic 1.5: Atomic structure and electron configuration Study Notes
• Topic 1.6: Photoelectron spectroscopy Study Notes
• Topic 1.7: Periodic trends Study Notes
• Topic 1.8: Valence electrons and ionic compounds Study Notes

Unit 2: Compound Structure and Properties

Students connect chemical bonding and molecular structure to the properties of compounds. On the AP exam: 7%-9%.

• Topic 2.1: Types of chemical bonds Study Notes
• Topic 2.2: Intramolecular force and potential energy Study Notes
• Topic 2.3: Structure of ionic solids Study Notes
• Topic 2.4: Structure of metals and alloys Study Notes
• Topic 2.5: Lewis diagrams Study Notes
• Topic 2.6: Resonance and formal charge Study Notes
• Topic 2.7: VSEPR and hybridization Study Notes

Unit 3: Properties of Substances and Mixtures

Students examine how particles interact in solids, liquids, gases, solutions, and mixtures. On the AP exam: 18%-22%.

• Topic 3.1: Intermolecular forces Study Notes
• Topic 3.2: Properties of solids, liquids, and gases Study Notes
• Topic 3.3: Gas laws and kinetic molecular theory Study Notes
• Topic 3.4: Solutions, mixtures, and solubility Study Notes
• Topic 3.5: Photons and the electromagnetic spectrum Study Notes
• Topic 3.6: Spectroscopy and Beer–Lambert law Study Notes

Unit 4: Chemical Reactions

Students represent chemical change, classify reactions, and use stoichiometry to connect particle ratios with measurable quantities. On the AP exam: 7%-9%.

• Topic 4.1: Reaction Overview and Unit 4 Review Study Notes
• Topic 4.2: Net ionic equations Study Notes
• Topic 4.3: Representations of reactions Study Notes
• Topic 4.4: Physical and chemical changes Study Notes
• Topic 4.5: Stoichiometry Study Notes
• Topic 4.6: Redox, Acid-Base Reactions, and Titration Study Notes

Unit 5: Kinetics

Students investigate reaction rates, rate laws, collision theory, mechanisms, energy profiles, and catalysts. On the AP exam: 7%-9%.

• Topic 5.1: Reaction Rates and Unit 5 Review Study Notes
• Topic 5.2: Rate Laws and Concentration Changes Over Time Study Notes
• Topic 5.3: Elementary Reactions Study Notes
• Topic 5.4: Collision Theory and Activation Energy Study Notes
• Topic 5.5: Reaction Mechanisms Study Notes
• Topic 5.6: Reaction Energy Profiles Study Notes
• Topic 5.7: Catalysis Study Notes

Unit 6: Thermochemistry

Students study heat transfer and enthalpy changes in chemical and physical processes. On the AP exam: 7%-9%.

• Topic 6.1: Endothermic and Exothermic Processes and Unit 6 Review Study Notes
• Topic 6.2: Heat Transfer and Thermal Equilibrium Study Notes
• Topic 6.3: Heat Capacity and Calorimetry Study Notes
• Topic 6.4: Energy of Phase Changes Study Notes
• Topic 6.5: Reaction Enthalpy and Bond Enthalpies Study Notes
• Topic 6.6: Enthalpy of Formation Study Notes
• Topic 6.7: Hess's Law Study Notes

Unit 7: Equilibrium

Students describe reversible reactions, equilibrium constants, equilibrium concentrations, and system shifts. On the AP exam: 7%-9%.

• Topic 7.1: Dynamic Equilibrium and Unit 7 Review Study Notes
• Topic 7.2: Equilibrium Constants, Expressions, and Reaction Quotients Study Notes
• Topic 7.3: Equilibrium Concentrations and ICE Tables Study Notes
• Topic 7.4: Reaction Quotients and Le Châtelier's Principle Study Notes
• Topic 7.5: Solubility Equilibria, Ksp, and Precipitation Study Notes

Unit 8: Acids and Bases

Students connect acid-base models, pH calculations, buffers, molecular structure, and solubility effects. On the AP exam: 11%-15%.

• Topic 8.1: Acid-Base Foundations, pH, and Unit 8 Review Study Notes
• Topic 8.2: Strong Acids and Bases: pH and pOH Study Notes
• Topic 8.3: Acid-Base Reactions and Neutralization Study Notes
• Topic 8.4: Molecular Structure and Acid-Base Strength Study Notes
• Topic 8.5: Weak Acids and Bases: Ka, Kb, pKa, and Salts Study Notes
• Topic 8.6: Buffers and Henderson-Hasselbalch Study Notes
• Topic 8.7: Acid-Base Titrations and Indicators Study Notes

Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics

• Topic 9.1: Entropy and Unit 9 Review Study Notes
• Topic 9.2: Gibbs Free Energy, Temperature, and Coupled Reactions Study Notes
• Topic 9.3: Thermodynamic Favorability vs. Reaction Rate Study Notes
• Topic 9.4: Free Energy, Reaction Quotients, and Equilibrium Study Notes
• Topic 9.5: Free Energy of Dissolution Study Notes
• Topic 9.6: Electrochemical Cells, Cell Potential, and the Nernst Equation Study Notes
• Topic 9.7: Electrolysis and Faraday’s Law Study Notes