AP® Chemistry Self-Paced

In this course, students will explore four big ideas:  

(1) Scale, Proportion, and Quantity: Quantities in chemistry are expressed at both the macroscopic and atomic scale. Explanations, predictions, and other forms of argumentation in chemistry require understanding the meaning of these quantities, and the relationship between quantities at the same scale and across scales.  

(2) Structure and Properties: Properties of substances observable at the macroscopic scale emerge from the structures of atoms and molecules and the interactions between them. 

(3) Transformations: At its heart, chemistry is about the rearrangement of matter. Understanding the details of these transformations requires reasoning at many levels as one must quantify what is occurring both macroscopically and at the atomic level during the process.   

(4) Energy: Energy has two important roles in characterizing and controlling systems, the first being accounting for the distribution and redistribution of energy in a system and the second being the enthalpic and entropic driving forces for a chemical process. 

Students will build on prior knowledge of chemistry and will investigate topics such as chemical reactions, stoichiometry, atomic theory, periodicity, bonding, states of matter, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium.   

This course incorporates a variety of textbook and multimedia resources and has a comprehensive lab program that meets College Board requirements. Students will perform hands-on lab work using materials from their lab kit, conduct virtual experiments, and analyze larger data sets. Students will

Students will be expected to enroll in My AP Classroom through their VHS Learning AP course and will be guided to complete review work in My AP Classroom throughout the year. My AP Classroom resources include AP Daily Videos and unit-based Personal Progress Checks, which include AP-style multiple-choice and free-response questions.   

Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement courses with a passing grade are expected to take the AP Exam. Students register for AP exams through their local school or testing site as “Exam Only” students.  AP exam scores will be reported to VHS Learning through My AP Classroom; exam results will not affect the student's VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.

About the Self-Paced Course Model

Self-Paced courses are comprehensive, self-paced courses designed for students who need or desire more flexibility in their academic schedule. VHS Learning teachers will regularly interact with students in asynchronous discussions, will host weekly office hours, and will invite students to monthly 1-on-1 progress meetings. Teachers will support students, answer questions, and provide feedback on work. Students will work independently on course activities; the course does not include class discussion assignments or other collaborative work.