Dear AP Chemistry Student and Parents:
I am very pleased to have you as a member of what promises to be an excellent
class. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to some aspects
of the Advanced Placement Chemistry Program to help you understand what you
might expect from it.
This course is a study of the properties of matter and principles governing
chemical reactions, commonly covered in a first-year college course in general
chemistry. Pacing is vigorous; therefore, ample study and homework time must
be put aside for this course.
Colleges expect a student to have had an “equivalent” experience to their
freshman year in college which includes a semester of Chem I (3 credits), Chem
I laboratory (1 or 2 credits), a semester of Chem II (3 credits), and Chem II
laboratory (1 or 2 credits). Since colleges differ widely in the advanced
placement policies, students should consult the catalogs of the schools to
which they intend to apply for information regarding their AP practice.
To be successful in the AP Chemistry Program, a student must accept the fact
that it is an unusual course, which makes extremely heavy demands on time and
energy. There is a tremendous amount of material to cover, a lot of work to
do, and very little time available. Students and parents should not be
surprised by course requirements that are in excess of what one would expect
from another advanced course.
In my estimation, the greatest challenge is the requirement that students
remain consistent throughout the year. In regular courses, a bright, high
ability student can let his or her effort slide from time and make up for it
with a big push right before a test. Other students may work very hard for
one semester and then let their efforts flag in the spring. These strategies
will threaten even the brightest student’s chances of passing the difficult AP
Chemistry Exam or earning a grade to be proud of.
Success in AP Chemistry will depend on your motivation and maturity, your
ability to read for comprehension, to become successful problem solvers, and
on your ability to organize yourself. Since most of your courses are more
demanding than those encountered in the general curriculum, the wise use of
time is perhaps the most important key to a success school year.
I am excited about the prospect of working with you in the AP Chemistry
Program this year, and I feel sure that we will all learn a great deal!
Sincerely, Ms. Bletsch
Course Overview:
First Quarter
Unit I Review of Chemistry Honors Topics (1-3)
Unit II Reactions in Aqueous Systems (4)
Unit III Chemical Kinetics (14)
Second Quarter
Unit IV Chemical Equilibrium (15)
Unit V Acid-Base Equilibria (16)
Unit VI Aqueous Equilibria (17)
Third Quarter
Unit VII Thermochemistry (5) / Thermodynamics (19)
Unit VIII Electrochemistry (20)
Unit IX Structure of Atoms, Properties of Elements, Chemical
Bonding, and Molecular Geometry (6, 7, 8, and 9)
Fourth Quarter
Unit X Gases (10)
Unit XI Intermolecular Forces, Liquids (11) / Properties of
Solutions (13)
Unit XII Review
Materials:
• 1” Three ring binder
• Textbook
• Scientific calculator
• 9 x 12 Envelopes (10)
• Protective Sleeves (3)
Grading Scale
• Multiple Choice 35%
• Free Response 30%
• Net Ionic Quiz 5%
• Homework 15%
• Class Participation 15%
