AP Chemistry Summer Practice and September Preview
Welcome to AP Chem!
The purpose of summer practice is to allow you to be fully prepared for September and the first few tests, which will be based primarily on prior knowledge from first-year chemistry. Some of this material will not be reviewed in depth, but will be tested, so you should definitely review on your own before school starts so that you are prepared to expand on this learning during the first few weeks of AP Chem.
Prior knowledge
· Basic chemistry terminology
o precision v. accuracy, atom/molecule/compound; heterogeneous mixture, etc.
· Common Ions and Nomenclature
o Memorize the AP Common Ions Memorizing the list of ions is not difficult, but it does take time. You are unlikely to pass the ion test if you wait until September to start memorizing. Many people like using flash cards.
o Learn correct spellings, formulas and charges
o Be able to read charges for type I ions from the periodic table
o First test: Friday September 4. I will give you names of ions, you will write the formulas and charges.
o Second test: Friday September 11. I will give you compound names (you write the formulas) and compound formulas (you write the names). Yes, spelling counts. Capitalization also counts.
· Basic calculations
o You are required to use dimensional analysis (aka ‘factor-label’) for most calculations. Learn it this summer if you don’t already know how to convert quantities using conversion factors, canceling out units to organize your work.
o Memorize metric unit conversions (ex. # mg in a gram).
o Unit conversions (cal to J; g to mol, etc).
o Composition calculations (percent composition, empirical and molecular formulas)
o Stoichiometry (calculations involving balanced equations), including limiting reactant calculations, percent yield, and calculating amount of excess reactant
o Gas laws, Q=msDT, [H+] and pH
Tests will be given in September to verify your prior knowledge. The periodic table on this site is the only one you can use for quizzes, tests and the AP exam. The first test—on the third day of class—might be harder just because the weather will still be nice and you might not have fully transitioned back to your usual studious selves. The second test, on nomenclature, will be a week later. It feels a lot better to get A’s on the first few tests than it does to get C’s or D’s. Please see the calendar (below) for the plan for the first few weeks of school.
You can contact me at or see me in room 122.
[I probably won’t check my mail during July, but I will check periodically in August.]
Have a great summer, and I’ll see you in September!
Ms. Polk
Chemistry: The Central Science (10th ed., 2006), Brown, LeMay, and Bursten; Pearson Education
Chapter Titles
1. Introduction: Matter and Measurement prior knowledge / summer practice
2. Atoms, Molecules and Ions prior knowledge / summer practice
3. Stoichiometry: Calculations with Formulas and Equations prior knowledge / summer practice
4. Aqueous Reactions and Solution Stoichiometry September
5. Thermochemistry October; Unit Test 1 (ch 1-5)
6. Electronic Structure of Atoms October
7. Periodic Properties of the Elements October
8. Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding October
9. Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories October
10. Gases November; Unit Test 2 (ch 1-10)
11. Intermolecular Forces, Liquids and Solids November
12. [Modern Materials]
13. Properties of Solutions December
14. Chemical Kinetics December
15. Chemical Equilibrium January; Midterm (ch 1-13)
16. Acid-Base Equilibria January
17. Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria February/march
18. [Chemistry of the Environment]
19. Chemical Thermodynamics March
20. Electrochemistry March
21. Nuclear Chemistry
22. [Chemistry of the Nonmetals]
23. [Metals and Metallurgy]
24. [Chemistry of Coordination Compounds]
25. The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry
Chapters not in bold will not be covered; chapters in italics may be covered if there is time
Review April
AP Exam 1st Monday of May
Post-Exam Activities (including Science and Society paper) May/June
9/2 First Day of School; Half-day; Introduction/questionnaire
HW: Cover textbook; memorize ions
9/3 Half-day; 2 Atoms, Molecules and Ions: summer practice review: ions
HW: Memorize ions; get safety contract signed (turn in by 9/11)
9/4 Test: Ions; 2 Atoms, Molecules and Ions: Review: nomenclature
HW: Practice naming compounds and writing formulas; get safety contract signed
9/7 No School [Labor Day]
9/8 2 Atoms, Molecules and Ions: Review: nomenclature
HW: Practice naming compounds and writing formulas; get safety contract signed
9/9 3 Stoichiometry: Review problem solving strategies
HW: Ch 3 odd# problems; Practice nomenclature
9/10 3 Stoichiometry: Review problem solving strategies
HW: Ch 3 odd# problems; Practice nomenclature
9/11 Test: Nomenclature (5-15 min); 3 Stoichiometry: Review problem solving strategies
HW: Ch 3 odd# problems; Practice nomenclature
9/14 3 Stoichiometry: HW review
HW: Write problem-solving guide for ch3 test
9/15 Lab: Hydrate
HW: Lab report (due next lab period)
9/16 Test: Stoichiometry
HW: Preview ch 4: identify what is new; review the rest
9/17 4 Aqueous Reactions and Solution Stoichiometry: General Properties; Ionic Equations
HW: 4.17-27; 31- 43
9/18 4 Aq Reactions and Solution Stoich: Oxidation-Reduction
HW: 4. 47- 57