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Photo by Mr. Thaler in Yellowstone National Park
AP CHEMISTRY RESOURCES :
WHY TAKE AP CHEMISTRY?
College-bound science majors: You will probably be required to take at least one year of chemistry regardless of what science-related major you choose. You can complete it at SSHS.
College-bound, non-science majors: You will probably be required to fulfill a physical science requirement (in addition to a life science requirement, etc.). Why not fulfill that requirement here by taking AP Chem at Santa Su--in the bosom of your SVUSD family?

PREREQUISITES :
It is recommended that the AP Chemistry course be taken only after the successful completion of a first course in high school chemistry.
The mathematics prerequisite is a C or better in a second-year algebra course, and teacher recommendation.

​COURSE REVIEW :
This is an advanced placement course designed to prepare the student for the AP Chemistry exam, and covers the equivalent of one full year of college level General Chemistry. It is a rigorous math-based course, with a strong laboratory component. It is intended for students who have demonstrated a willingness to commit considerable time to studying and completing assignments outside of class, and who have successfully completed a prior course in chemistry during high school. The primary goal of the course is for students to understand the basic principles of modern chemistry--including stoichiometry, reactions, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry--while also demonstrating the ability to use that understanding in the solution and meaningful communication of mathematically based laboratory and textbook problems.


LABORATORY :
The differences between college chemistry and the usual secondary school chemistry course are especially evident in the laboratory work. The AP Chemistry Examination includes some questions based on experiences and skills students acquire in the laboratory: making observations of chemical reactions and substances; recording data; calculating and interpreting results based on the quantitative data obtained; and communicating effectively the results of experimental work.
Colleges have reported that some AP candidates, while doing well on the examination, have been at a serious disadvantage because of inadequate laboratory experience. Meaningful laboratory work is important in fulfilling the requirements of a college-level course of a laboratory science and in preparing a student for sophomore-level chemistry courses in college.
Because chemistry professors at some institutions ask to see a record of the laboratory work done by an AP student before making a decision about granting credit, placement, or both, in the chemistry program, students should keep reports of their laboratory work that can be readily reviewed.

Labs to close out the year after AP Exam :
  • Determination of the Hardness of Water
  • Determination of Phosphate in Water
  • Synthesis and Analysis of Aspirin 
  • Esterification

METHODS OF EVALUATION :
Students will be evaluated by using, but not limited to, the following strategies:
  • Teacher-constructed examinations and quizzes
  • Standardized examinations
  • Laboratory exercises and scientific-formatted lab reports (for student portfolios)
  • Homework and class work
  • Classroom participation
 PRIMARY TEXTBOOK & LAB MANUAL :
  • Zumdahl, S.S., S.A. Zumdahl, and D.J. DeCoste (2018).  Chemistry, 10th ed.  Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
  • Vonderbrink, S. A. (2001). Laboratory Experiments for Advanced Placement Chemistry. Batvia, IL: Flinn Scientific.

​SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTBOOK & LAB MANUAL :
  • Chang, R. (2002). Chemistry, 7th ed. New York: McGraw Hill.
  • Nelson, J.H., K.C. Kenneth, B.E. Bursten (2003). Laboratory Experiments for the 9th Edition of Chemistry, The Central Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.