AP Chemistry Resources

Big Ideas in AP Chemistry: Connections Among Thermodynamics and Equilibrium

Tracy Schloemer | Sat, 10/08/2016 - 17:52

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I have a confession: thermodynamics is not my strong suit. The data set I got from the College Board confirmed my lack of confidence in the summer of 2015. With the hope of improvements, I spent some time revamping my thermo unit and I implemented it near the end of last school year. I will share an activity that I feel was quite formative for students and for me in making connections among thermodynamic principles and equilibrium.

Early Use of AP Insight with Honors Chemistry: Atomic Mass, Mass Spectrometry, and Dalton's Postulates

Allison Tarvin | Mon, 09/12/2016 - 15:12

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College Board offers an excellent online resource for teachers and students. It's not free, but my school district pays the bill. AP Insight provides curriculum outlines, teaching ideas and resources, student handouts, and digitally-graded assessments.

The Big Picture - My AP Chemistry Scope and Sequence

Tracy Schloemer | Tue, 07/05/2016 - 19:32

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In my last post, I discussed my first year chemistry scope and sequence. Here, I continue with AP chemistry scope and sequence, and a little bit with how I developed it the year before, the summer before, and during the year. Keep in mind, I consider the work I do with students to always be a project in progress. I learn so much from working with them as they engage with the content through a different perspective than I have.

AP Chemistry Post-Exam Activity: Coordination Compounds & Complex Ions

Michael Morgan | Sun, 06/19/2016 - 16:34

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I published an article about an independent study unit I use with my AP Chemistry class two years ago, A guided group inquiry lesson on coordination compounds and complex ions. In the time since it was published, I have expanded the unit quite a bit and written some new assignments to go along with it. I use this unit every year as a post AP activity and am very fond of it. I thought some of my readers might enjoy seeing how it has changed and get access to the new assignments I have developed for it.

The Big Picture- My First Year Chemistry Scope and Sequence

Tracy Schloemer | Mon, 06/06/2016 - 17:34

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Guiding principles in my scope and sequence: Start with a simple representations of the nanoscopic and dig deep. Hopefully, by the time we start with vital, albeit often more challenging symbolic representations (mole, stoichiometry, solutions), students have a decent foundation to build upon.

Give Me Back My Copper! A Simple, but Multi-Faceted Lab Activity to Review Lab Skills in Week One of AP Chemistry

Allison Tarvin | Mon, 04/18/2016 - 19:36

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In the lab, students are given a 1.5 gram samples of copper. The copper is taken through a series of five chemical reactions ending with the precipitation of solid copper. After the five reactions, students are asked to return their 1.5 gram samples of copper to the teacher.

What do you do for AP Chemistry review?

Tracy Schloemer | Mon, 04/04/2016 - 18:40

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It’s review season for AP courses! I have a love/hate relationship with the date of the AP Chemistry exam. On one hand, it’s SO early. On the other hand, because it’s the first exam, my students actually study for it (compared to later in the AP exam season when students are like, “I’m done. I don’t care anymore.”).

AP Chemistry Lab Manual Recommendation

Tracy Schloemer | Sat, 09/05/2015 - 20:06

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I just wanted to share a resource that I have been using since I started teaching AP chemistry last year.

Reflections on a Year of AP

Erica Posthuma | Sun, 05/03/2015 - 11:32

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As I write this, it is the day before the national AP Chemistry exam. We’ve been working toward this day since August. We’ve endured late hours, broken crucibles, anxiety, and tears. I’ve run weekend and evening review sessions, we’ve ta

Photoelectron Spectroscopy Special Issue Article

Deanna Cullen | Mon, 10/27/2014 - 17:58

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The new AP Chemistry curriculum is in the second year of use. Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) is a topic that generated much discussion because it is an addition to the curriculum. Jamie Benigna of Michigan teaches AP Chemistry, is an AP reader and recently wrote an article about PES for the Journal of Chemistry Education Special Issue. The article discusses the rationale for including PES in the course, explains some background of PES and provides strategies for including PES in your own course. This article is offered as a free preview of the AP Special Issue.