Welcome Knights AP Chemistry The key concepts and content for AP Chemistry are organized around six principles called “THE BIG IDEAS.” The big ideas encompass the core scientific principles, theories, and processes governing matter and chemical systems. For each big idea, enduring understandings are identified, which incorporate the core concepts that students should retain from the learning experience.

Ap chemistry 1 st Concept: Atoms & Elements The chemical elements are fundamental building materials of matter, and all matter can be understood in terms of arrangement of atoms. These atoms retain their identity in chemical reactions.

Ap chemistry 2 nd Concept: Properties of matter Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them.

Ap chemistry 3 rd Concept: Chemical Reactions Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons.

Ap chemistry 4 th Concept: Kinetics Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions.

Ap chemistry 5 th Concept: thermodynamics The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter.

Ap chemistry 6 th Concept: Equilibrium Any bond or intermolecular attraction that can be formed can be broken. These two processes are in a dynamic competition, sensitive to initial conditions and external conditions.

Ap chemistry Essentials: Reading Comprehension We are using a college chemistry text book. Students are expected to read the text and take notes on the assignment before class. This way, in class, we can spend time clarifying and expounding instead of stopping and taking notes. If desired: students can purchase their book online – so they can annotate and underline in their books.

Ap chemistry Essentials: Reading Comprehension Studies show that students need to see information a minimum of 3 times before they retain it. Class should not be the first time they are introduced to the information.

Ap chemistry Essentials: Labs Because inquiry-based labs take more time than traditional labs, the number of labs has been reduced from 22 to 16. These are student-directed labs that provide opportunities for students to design plans for experiments, collect data, apply mathematical routines, develop explanations, make predictions, and communicate their work.

Ap chemistry Essentials: Lab Reports A common lab structure has the following sections: Purpose or background Hypothesis Procedure & materials Data & observations Calculations Graphs Results & error analysis Conclusions Not all of these components are necessary or appropriate for all labs. Lab reports are written in third person.

Ap chemistry Essentials: Writing skills Chemistry/Lab writing is NOT creative writing. Students must be clear and concise. Incomplete or out-of-order lab procedures may lead to an ineffective or even dangerous outcome for the lab. Penmanship/handwriting is also important. If I can’t ready it, I don’t grade it. If you can’t explain it simply, You don’t understand it well enough. -- Albert Einstein

Ap chemistry Essentials: Math skills Simple algebra and manipulation of formulas PV=nRT rearrange to solve for R R = PV/nT

Ap chemistry Math is the language of science Science is a measure of change Science is based on patterns

Ap chemistry Essentials: Organizing Skills Binders need to be organized and neat. Lab books need to be organized. Time management is essential to covering all the material required for an AP course.

Ap chemistry Essentials: Paperwork Syllabus Lab Safety Contract HOMEWORK: Read, Understand and Sign the syllabus and lab safety contract