Jump Start to AP & Honors Chemistry

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to fundamental chemistry concepts, preparing students for success in AP or Honors Chemistry. Students will develop a strong foundation in atomic structure, electron configuration, and chemical bonding, enabling them to confidently tackle advanced topics and problem-solving in chemistry.

Atomic Structure & Composition

• Explore the fundamental building blocks of matter, including atoms, elements, and isotopes.
• Learn about the structure of the periodic table — understand the information encoded within each element tile.
• Understand what compounds are and how they're formed.

Electron Configuration & Quantum Mechanics

• Master the rules governing electron behavior, including the Aufbau principle, Hund's rule, and the Pauli exclusion principle.
• Learn how to determine the electron configuration of elements using both standard and shorthand notation — understand the exceptions to these rules.
• Understand the relationship between electron configuration and the organization of the periodic table.

Energy Levels and Orbitals

• Explore the concept of energy levels and sublevels within atoms, and how they relate to electron configuration.
• Visualize atomic orbitals (s, p, d, f) and their shapes and energy levels.
• Deep dive into electron configurations.

Chemical Bonding

• Investigate the formation of chemical bonds — ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds.
• Understand the relationship between bond type and the properties of compounds.

Periodic Trends

• Analyze trends in ionization energy, electron affinity, and electronegativity across the periodic table.
• Relate periodic trends to atomic structure and electron configuration.
• Understand how to use these trends to predict chemical behavior.

Molecular Geometry & VSEPR Theory

• Apply VSEPR theory to predict the shapes of molecules.
• Understand how molecular geometry influences the physical and chemical properties of compounds.

Ionizing Energy and Electron Affinity

• Define ionizing energy — explore the factors influencing ionization energy trends across the periodic table.
• Investigate the concept of electron affinity — understand how it relates to the stability of ions.