AP Chemistry
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About the Course
Learn about the fundamental concepts of chemistry including structure and states of matter, intermolecular forces, and reactions. You’ll do hands-on lab investigations and use chemical calculations to solve problems.
Note: Save your lab notebooks and reports; colleges may ask to see them before granting you credit.
Skills You'll Learn
Designing experiments and procedures to test a prediction or theory
Creating graphs, diagrams, and models that represent chemical phenomena
Explaining how the microscopic structure of a substance determines its chemical properties
Balancing a chemical equation
Making a scientific claim and supporting it with evidence
Equivalency and Prerequisites
College Course Equivalent
A one-year, introductory college general chemistry course
Recommended Prerequisites
High school courses in chemistry and Algebra II
Exam Date
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Mon, May 1, 2023,
12 PM LocalAP Chemistry Exam
This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Chemistry Exam.
About the Units
The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.
Course Content
Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties
You’ll learn about the composition of atoms and ways scientists measure and categorize these molecular building blocks.
Topics may include:
- Moles and molar mass
- Mass spectroscopy of elements
- Elemental composition of pure substances
- Composition of mixtures
- Atomic structure and electron configuration
- Photoelectron spectroscopy
- Periodic trends
- Valence electrons and ionic compounds
On The Exam
7%–9% of exam score
Unit 2: Molecular and Ionic Compound Structure and Properties
You’ll discover the range of chemical bonds and how their structure can affect the properties of the molecules created.
Topics may include:
- 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 bond hybridization
On The Exam
7%–9% of exam score
Unit 3: Intermolecular Forces and Properties
You’ll explore how atoms come together to create solids, liquids, and gases, and how subatomic forces govern the properties of everything around you.
Topics may include:
- Intermolecular forces
- Solids, liquids, and gases
- Kinetic molecular theory
- Solutions and mixtures
- Photoelectric effect
On The Exam
18%–22% of exam score
Unit 4: Chemical Reactions
You’ll learn how to differentiate physical and chemical processes, and how to measure and express chemical reactions via chemical equations.
Topics may include:
- Introduction for reactions
- Net ionic equations
- Representations of reactions
- Physical and chemical changes
- Stoichiometry
- Types of chemical reactions
On The Exam
7%–9% of exam score
Unit 5: Kinetics
You’ll explore various methods to observe the changes that occur during a chemical reaction and the effects of a series of reactions.
Topics may include:
- Reaction rate
- Introduction to rate law
- Elementary reactions
- Collision model
- Introduction to reaction mechanisms
- Multistep reaction energy profile
- Catalysis
On The Exam
7%–9% of exam score
Unit 6: Thermodynamics
You’ll learn about energy changes in chemical reactions and how a transfer of energy can change a substance’s physical qualities.
Topics may include:
- 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
On The Exam
7%–9% of exam score
Unit 7: Equilibrium
You’ll chart how chemical reactions change over time, what causes substances to reach equilibrium, and how systems react when that equilibrium is disturbed.
Topics may include:
- Introduction to equilibrium
- Calculating the equilibrium constant
- Calculating equilibrium concentrations
- Introduction to Le Châtelier’s principle
- Introduction to solubility equilibria
- pH and solubility
- Free energy of dissolution
On The Exam
7%–9% of exam score
Unit 8: Acids and Bases
You’ll learn more about pH, the qualities and properties of acids and bases, and how they interact in chemical reactions.
Topics may include:
- 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
On The Exam
11%–15% of exam score
Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics
You’ll be introduced to the concept of “thermodynamic favorability” for reactions, meaning how likely they are to occur given energy changes and environmental factors.
Topics may include:
- Introduction to entropy
- Gibbs free energy and thermodynamic favorability
- Thermodynamic and kinetic control
- Free energy and equilibrium
- Galvanic (voltaic) and electrolyte cells
- Electrolysis and Faraday’s law
On The Exam
7%–9% of exam score
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Course Resources
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AP Classroom Resources
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AP Chemistry Course and Exam Description
This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and AP Program in general. The CED was updated in the summer of 2022 to incorporate the change to the calculator policy for the exam.
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Majors
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