Pre-AP Chemistry
Course Outline
August/September
Topics to cover
Elements
Symbols (spelling and symbol memorization)
% in earth’s surface, water, universe, body, etc.
Lab Safety and Equipment
Safety contracts
Check in lab – signature that they have all equipment and policy for replacing broken
equipment
Basic lab procedures – using balance, lighting burner, using graduated cylinder
Metric System
Basic units for mass, volume, distance, temperature
Prefixes – focus on milli- centi- and kilo-
Conversions – teach dimensional analysis
Significant Figures
Dimensional Analysis Problems (advanced)
Mass, weight, volume, density
Law of conservation of mass
Energy, heat and temperature
Endo and exothermic
Transformations between energy
Law of conservation of energy
Phases/states of matter
Solids, liquids, gases, plasma descriptions and properties
Energy involved in changing phases
Classifying matter
Elements, compounds, and mixtures descriptions and properties
Identify real world examples
Physical and chemical properties and changes
Recognize differences and label examples as chemical or physical
Identify clues that chemical changes have occurred
Possible activities, labs, and/or demonstrations
Lab check in
Scientific method – design an experiment
Measurements
Density
Compounds, elements, and mixtures
Carbon allotropes
Physical and chemical properties changes
October/November/December
+
Topics to cover
Atomic theory – historical experiments (very brief)
Parts of atom- identify and describe properties
Atomic number
Mass number
Isotopes
Electromagnetic Radiation
Types of EMR
Wavelength, frequency and relationships
Electron structure and quantum theory
Shells, subshells, etc.
Orbitals – contain only two electrons with opposite spin
Valence electrons – use chart to find number of
Lewis Dot structures
Electron configurations (exceptions included)
Orbital notations
Periodicity and trends of periodic table
Families and characteristics
Series
Predict size, activity, electronegativity, ionization energy, define only electron affinity
Bonds
Ionic, covalent and metallic (brief on metallic)
Describe using electron dot structures
Resonance (heavy)
Hybridization (heavy)
Show difference between polar and nonpolar (heavy)
Discuss shape and how it influences properties (linear, bent, tetrahedral, trigonal
planar and trigonal pyramidal) – identify one common compound that has each of
those shapes
Identify sigma and pi bonds – count #’s in molecules
Possible labs, activities, and demonstrations
Prepare simple activity series
Shapes using balloons
Prepare hydrogen and study properties
Prepare oxygen and study properties
Prepare carbon dioxide and study properties
January/February
Nomenclature
Ions – learn simple ions names, symbols and charges
Name and write formulas for ionic compounds
Name and write formulas for covalent compounds
Name and write formulas for hydrates
Name common acids and know
formulas
Reactions
Recognize the five types of reactions (combustion, composition, decomposition, single
and double replacement)
Recognize evidence of a reaction occurring
Activity series (briefly discuss and explain some reactions will not go)
Predict products of reactions (very important)
Discuss endo and exo reactions
Discuss entropy
Name factors that influence the rate of a rxn. and discuss how they influence the rate
Equilibrium (briefly)
Chemical Calculations
Molar Mass
Mole Concept
Percent composition of compounds
Empirical and Molecular formulas
Mole Fraction
Stoichiometry (very important – include limiting reagents)
Possible activities, labs, and demonstrations
Composition/Decomposition reactions
Single/Double Displacement reactions
Simple Unknown using results of reactions
Simple hydrate formula determination
March/April/May
Topics covered
Intermolecular forces (define and recognize)
Van der Waals
Hydrogen bonds
Dipole/Dipole
Dispersion forces
Ion-dipole
Ion-induced dipole
Solutions
Solute and Solvent
Types of solutions
Solubility factors
Read solubility graphs
Acids/Bases
Properties
pH
Common acids and bases
Acid Rain
Nuclear chemistry (very brief)
Alpha, beta and gamma particles
Reactions – fission and fusion
Write simple equations for nuclear reactions
Nuclear energy, power plants, sun, pros and cons
Organic
Definition and description
Hydrocarbons and nomenclature
Common organic compounds
Combustion of fossil fuels (products)
Recognize functional groups
Possible activities, labs and/or demonstrations
Solutions
½ life
Cabbage juice as an indicator
Household acids and bases