AP Unit 1 – Atomic Structure & Properties
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This is the Unit 1 Page. These resources are organized by each topic of the AP Chemistry Curriculum. Each topic will have a Concept Video that teaches the important connecting concepts that are necessary for understand, retain, and identify what skills are necessary to complete the Topic 1.1 problems. Each Topic will also have a Skills Video that will teach the skills necessary to answer the questions. We believe to maximize your success in chemistry understanding what you are doing in each topic and unit requires that you spend time internalizing these interconnecting ideas.
Please use the anchor links for each Topic in Unit 1 to move directly for those resources.
Topic 1.1 – Moles and Molar Mass
Topic 1.2 – Mass Spectra of Elements
Topic 1.3 – Elemental Composition of Pure Substances
Topic 1.4 – Composition of Mixtures
Topic 1.5 – Atomic Spectra and Electron Configuration
Topic 1.6 – Photon Electron Spectroscopy
Topic 1.7 – Periodic Trends
Topic 1.8 – Valence Electrons and Ionic Compounds
________________________________________________________________ Jump to: Top Topic 1.1 – Moles & Molar Mass –
🎥 Concept Video: This is the single most important concept in chemistry and we strongly suggest you view this video to attain all the important interconnecting concepts that lead up to the development of the mole. Most instructors unfortunately never teach this lesson and many student suffer as a consequence. The scientists I mention are important historically in the development of the mole BUT the AP curriculum does not hold you responsible for these individuals. Their contributions, however, are linked into many topics that you will be learning in Chemisty. Toward the end of the lesson I will model and solve a couple of mole and molar mass topic 1.1 problems.
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🎥 Skills Video:
This video will teach the skills necessary to solve Topic 1.1 problems and if you spent time with the concept video above for Topic 1.1 you will have the essential ability to understand what we are actually doing, why these skills are necessary and easily identify what each topic 1.1 question is asking. In the Skills video below the instructor will spend the first 10 minutes of the video reviewing “just the facts” that you need to know that are required with the skills taught. If you want to skip this review and jump head into the problems then please use the chapters in the video to move directly to the question reviews.
The companion worksheet and worksheet key are available below the video.
📄 Topic 1.1 Skill Worksheet Key
_____________________________________________________________________________ Jump to: Top Topic 1.2 – Mass Spectra of Elements –
🎥 Concept Video:
How can an atom have a mass that doesn’t exist? This concept connects the lessons from Topic 1.1, the mole concepts, and takes a deeper look into the atom, specifically the subatomic particles of the nucleus. In this Concept Lesson, you’ll discover why the atomic masses on the periodic table are decimal values even though no individual atom has that exact mass. You’ll learn how isotopes differ, how a mass spectrometer separates and identifies them, and how scientists use isotopic abundances to calculate the weighted average atomic masses shown on the periodic table. Rather than simply memorizing calculations, this lesson develops a conceptual understanding of isotopes, mass spectra, and atomic mass, providing the foundation needed to confidently interpret mass spectra and solve AP Chemistry problems.
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🚧🎥 Skills Video:
This video will teach theis review and jump head into the problems then please use the chapters in the video to move directly to the question reviews.
The companion worksheet and worksheet key are available below the video.
📄 Topic 1.1 Skill Worksheet Key